Symptoms but it is not so bad as a true Epilepsie And if you give proper Medicines it never returns The Cure of the Fit Use things as in Suffocation of the Womb or Mother-fits as Rue and Castor are good against both Also out of the fit you must cure it as the Mother using things that respect the womb and the Head As Take Piony-roots Scorzonera Misleto of the Oak each half an ounce Polipody of the Oak an ounce Rue Penny-royal Calaminths each a handful Seseli Piony Agnus castus seeds each three drams Carthamus-seeds bruised half an ounce flowers of Rosemary Sage Stoechas Borage each two pugils boil them to a pint and half strain and add juyce of Bettony Yarrow Mercury Mugwort Senna five ounces Agarick Epithimum each half an ounce Rhubarb Cloves each two drams Anise Fennel-seed each three drams boil strain with Sugar and half an ounce of Cinnamon make a Syrup give two ounces And these Pills twice in a week a scruple or a dram an hour afore Supper Take Piony-roots Senna each half an ounce Mugwort Bettony Rue Yarrow each half a handful boil them clarifie the Decoction and juyce of Mercury an ounce Aloes an ounce and half Let it settle pour off the clear add Rhubarb sprinkled with Cinnamon-water two drams Agarick half an ounce Mastich Epileptick-powder each half a dram with syrup of Mugwort make Pills To strengthen the Head and the Womb and to mend its Distemper Take Fecula of Piony a dram of Briony Amber Misleto of the Oak each half a dram Bezoar-stone Mans-skull each a scruple make a powder give half a dram with Scorzonera or Tile-flower-water or with Sugar make Rouls An Electuary Take Conserve of Balm Tile-flowers Rosemary Lilly-convals Scorzonera-roots candied each an ounce Diamoschu dulce a dram powder of Agnus castus seeds and Piony-roots each two drams with syrup of Scoechas Chap. 8. Of pain of the Head from the Womb. MAny pains come from the Womb but the chiefest and greatest are in the Head all over or on one side or in the Eyes Matter ascends to the Membranes of the Head by the Veins and Arteries from the Womb. The Causes It is a vapor or humor from blood and humors sometimes bad blood that is thin goes from the womb-vessels to the great Vessels and gets to the Head and to the Membranes there and causeth a stretching ulcerated or pricking or beating pain when it is carried through the Arteries being full of blood They think their Head will be torn The Signs and the Membranes and it is behind in the Head or when the terms flow or are disordered from consent with the womb If it be from a vapor there is no heaviness and it ceaseth presently If from a humor there is heaviness These pains are great and cause watching The Prognostick The Cure We have spoken of the Head-ach but here it is from the Womb therefore consider what humors offend in the womb and let them be purged and the distemper of the womb amended as we shewed in the Distemper of the Womb. There is also a pain in the Loins because bad humors go from the veins of the womb and Arteries to the great Vessels and so are sent by the Capillar-veins into the Membranes and stretch them and cause pain 〈…〉 must have prâ—â—â—â— Purges Question In what part of the Head is the pain that comes by consent from the Womb It is in the Crown before and behind but chiefly behind by reason of the joyning of the back with the womb for the womb is nervous and consents with the Membranes of the brain by the Membranes of the Marrow of the back and so Nerves suffer with Nerves either by communication of matter or pain and because the original of the Nerves is in the hinder part of the Head women are more pained there then men because of the Womb. Chap. 9. Of the Diseases of the Heart and beating of the Arteries in the Back and Sides from the Womb. THe Heart beats and the Arteries also as we shewed in the Green-sickness and it is by evil vapors sent by the Arteries to the Heart from the womb that arise from the terms and evil humors gathered in the womb and this is known by other Signs and Symptoms of a distempered Womb. The Cure To discuss the malignant Vapors from the Heart give Cordials as in Chap. 3. Of Palpitation of the Heart as Aqua vitae Cinnamon-water and Epithems Bags and Liniments The Arteries also beat with the Heart as in Widows on the left Hypochondrion and Back where there is a great Artery and the Artery that beats in the back is part of the great Artery they which beat in the Hypochondrion are the lesser splenitick and mesenterick branches therefore the beating is more in the back then in the Hypochondrion but both pulsations come from the same cause The Causes The Inflammation of the Arteries is the cause of this beating when evil humors are sent from the womb into the great branches of the Artery and there beat the Heart being over hot Sometimes the motion of this Artery is all the body over and from a hot humor the hot humors go to the heart and cause a feaver but because there is little putrefaction it vanisheth presently If the heat of the humors go to the brain by the arteries there is madness Some seek the cause in the veins and say that the arteries suffer from the blood too hot in them You may feel it with your hand laid upon the Hypochondrion The Signs and there are signs of a distempered womb and melancholy from the womb if heat continue in the arteries and go to the whole body it consumeth it It is seemingly a small disease The Prognostick but it is not without danger because it comes from a bad cause that weakens the bowels It is cured as melancholy from the womb The Cure and stopping of the terms and as Hypochondriack melancholy from the womb which follows Chap. 10. Of the Diseases of the Spleen and the Hypochondriack Disease from the Womb. SOmetimes the Spleen and the Hypochondria suffer from the womb so that you may doubt what disease it is It is from the womb by the arteries The Causes the womb hath two one from the preparing arteries another from the Hypogastrick artery That from the Hypogastrick goes almost to all parts of the Abdomen and most branches of the spleen therefore when bad blood is bred in the womb and gets out of the arteries upward to the Hypogastrick artery it gets easily from thence to the coeliack artery to the spleen and the parts adjacent in the abdomen and the sooner because Nature useth to send bad humors to ignoble parts These humors are gathered by suppression of Terms which though they seem to be only in the veins yet they get to the arteries by their Anastomosis Therefore those women that have hot blood and their
a Feaver that will come long after Travel If the Lochia flow not in due time or be stopt then the blood and foul humors go back to the great Veins and Liver Hippocr 1. epid tex 21. The Signs and make a putrid Feaver or inflame those parts A Feaver from milk comes the fourth day and there is heaviness of back and shoulders and the Lochia flow well it not there is the sign of a Feaver If the humors putrifie in the womb there is foul stinking matter voided the belly is swollen and is pained when toucht If the Feaver be not from milk and the Lochia flow it comes from bad humors especially if when she was big with child she kept not a good diet A Feaver from milk is without danger The Prognostick and ceaseth the eighth or tenth day that which comes from suppression of the Lochia or After-flux is dangerous and often deadly except there follow a flux of the belly If black stinking matter flow from the womb they escape If the Feaver come from a Cacochymy before Delivery it is worse because it argues much humors which Nature cannot discharge by the after-flux and the strength is dejected by hard travel A Feaver from milk requires only good diet The Cure and sweating must not be hindred for it cures That which is from stoppage or diminishing of the Lochia must be cured by provoking the after-flux or by another evacuation instead of it as purging bleeding in the foot to provoke the flux or by scarifying the thighs and legs after cupping while the time is that the after-flux should be not afterwards For if that time be past if strength permit open a vein in the arm and bleed plentifully For purging some purge them in a Pleurisie after the seventh day Valer. lib. 5. obs 10. merc 4. de morb mul. c. 11. but beware by reason of the weakness after travel and because Purges may hinder the after-flux which is dangerous it is good to evacuate only by the womb but if the flux of blood cease and Nature would purge something from the womb you may give a gentle Purge of Rhubarb Cassia Manna Syrup of Roses Senna Alterers are thus to be ordered Avoid too cold and sharp things lest the evacuation by the womb should be disturbed by cold things The Diet. Let it be thin the first daies of lying in then thicker and so increasing take heed of too much drink especially of cold drink Question What Veins are to be opened in Women that lie in and have a Pleurisie They have Symptomatical Feavers also from inflammation of the Pleura Jaws or Liver because some of the foul humors are sent to some private part and make an inflammation to which the Feaver is joyned and the causes are as before mentioned If there be a Pleurisie she is in great danger The Question is Whether she must bleed above or below I say thus First This Feaver is not properly Symptomatical but primary and hath the inflammation its associate while nature sends part of the matter to the Pleura or other part Secondly Note That Nature is in an error while she sends the vitious humors which she should expel by the womb to the Pleura Thirdly Note That the vitious motion of Nature is not to be helped therefore which should be done if you should presently open a vein in the arm but the blood is to be voided by the womb which is Natures way Fourthly If the Pleurisie be not abated by opening a vein in the ankle for revulsion but the Symptoms continue or increase you must not continue to open the veins beneath because they evacuate not from the part affected which is necessary in such a dangerous disease It is a sign that the matter is fastned to the part that it cannot again be brought to the womb by revulsion Therefore then you may open a vein in the arm on the same side to evacuate and drive the blood from the part or there about or she will be in danger of death And fear not that Nature will be taken from her ordinary motion towards the womb thereby for the vein that was opened in the foot prevented that and if you fear any danger you may prevent it by Frictions and cupping of the leggs while you let blood in the arm And you may give Clysters that may cause the humors moving upwards to come down and loosen the passages of the womb that blood may flow out the better As Take Pellitory of the Wall Mallows Althaea red Coleworts each a handful Chammomil-flowers half a handful Foenugreek and Linseed each half an ounce boyl them in Water to a pint strained add lenitive Electuary an ounce Diacatholicon or Cassia half an ounce Oyl of Violets two ounces make a Clyster If the Feaver abate and the time of the flux of the Lochia be past give a gentle Purge Cure the rest as an ordinary Pleurisie onely take heed that while the After flux lasts you give no binding Medicine Also she may have a Quinzy while she lies in while the vicious matter flows to the jaws The Cure of which bleeding is to be done as in the Pleurisie but the rest is to be done as in the Quinzy And if the Liver be inflamed by the motion of the humors to it you must bleed as in the Pleurisie and Quinzy Yet it is not so needful in the Arm as in the Pleurisie by reason of the greater distance of the Liver from the Arm for the Pleura and the Breast are nearer and consent more with the Arms but the Vein in the Legg is near to the hollow Vein as the distribution of the upper Veins to the Arms. The rest of the Cure of the Inflammation of the Liver is in Lib. 3. onely observe that you must not use too great Coolers or Binders in women in Child-bed but things that are of thin parts lest the flux called Lochia or after-After-blood should be stopped THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART Of the Diseases of Womens Breasts THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of the increased number of Breasts and greatness extraordinary THough Nature hath ordained two in all Women Card. l. 8. c. 43. de rerum varice Cabrol obs 7. yet some have Breasts like Men others have had two on each side that had Milk The figure of the Breasts is round pointed at the nipple a little it ought not to be soft nor hard and of an indifferent bigness and it is better they be indifferent though they hold not so much milk lest they be subject to Cancers and Inflammations and when they are too big they have not a temperate heat The Causes of over-great Breasts is much blood and the strength of heat attracting and concocting it these are remote causes but the immediate cause is the largeness of the passages and loosness which is in the first conformation and furthered by idleness much sleep and few terms and
same scents are put to the privities the womb is refreshed with them and the Spirits are quiet or move to the scents And so the humors if there be any are still or else move downward But stinks on the contrary by reason of their Antipathy with the Womb voided by the Spirits and so the humors move downwards and often there is an abortion thereby What is spoken of sweet Scents may be understood of all sweet things and this is our Judgement in a matter so difficult THE FOURTH BOOK THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptoms in the Terms and other Fluxes of the Womb. Chap 1. Of the Flux of the Terms BY Divine providence the blood which is voided every month is kept in when there is a Child For if it be its Nature it is not ill but only superfluous till they conceive nor is it more an Excrement then Seed and Milk The terms commonly begin at fourteen and then the hair appears on the privities the breasts swell and women begin to be lecherous and the blood can no longer stay in the Veins but breaks out at the Veins of the Womb. In some they begin at twelve and they are very lustful commonly and of shorter lives they continue till fifty and some till sixty and then stop In some they begin at seventeen or eighteen And in some they stop before fifty according to the variety of Nature and Diet. Nature doth not send forth every day what is gathered but staies till the plenty offends and doth only once in a month otherwise it would be filthy and unpleasant and hinder Conception Nor do they flow at one time in all exactly but there are twenty two daies or at most thirty between the purgings In some they last three daies which was usual in the time of Hippocrates In some four or five or more as their Liver is greater or their diet is higher or lower Hippocrates saith they should bleed but a pint and half or two pints this is is not alike in all but differs in respect of age and diet As for the quality it must not be too thick nor too thin but of a middle substance without scent of a red colour yellower in cholerick persons in melancholick black in flegmatick whiter and it must flow without any great Symptom The passages are the veins of the womb being double from the double branch on both sides it the Spermatick and Hypogastrick that they may evacuate superfluities from all parts And from this Description of a natural Flux you may gather what is preternatural Question Whether can a Woman conceive that never had Terms They are called by some Flowers because they go before Conception as flowers do before fruit but many have conceived that never had their flowers being hotter by Nature as the Indians that never had any Flowers and Viragoes that use more exercise but if these have no more blood then will nourish their body they are barren If any thing abound that is not required for nourishment of the parts and is so much that Nature cannot endure it in the body the Womb draws it to it when it hath conceived to make up the child of which hereafter Question 2. Whether Menstruous blood is only superfluous in quantity or bad in respect of quality Writers disagree about this Some say it is bad in quantity and quality and venomous by the effects as making Ivory obscure and infecting Looking-glasses corrupting Wine by a Vapor from the Body of a Woman that hath her Flowers Others say they offend only in plenty for if it were venomous it would not be a whole month in the body and it could not from the child nor would Nature make Milk of it Therefore menstruous blood only offends in quantity and not in any manifest or hidden quality But it hath strange qualities when it is mixed with bad humors or is kept too long in the Body to be corrupted and cause great Symptoms but this is when it is mixed with bad humors or is out of its Vessels and so corrupt Question 3. Of the Text of Aristotle 7. de hist. Animalium cap. 2. and how it is to be understood Aristotle writes thus 7. De histo ani c. 2. Constantly every month some have their Terms but most in the third as if he should say Few women have their courses every month but many have them every third month This is against Galen and against experience For it is certain that among six hundred women scarce one hath them every third month Therefore this is either an errour in the Greek Text or in the Translation or great Men do often lie which is probable and so did Aristotle in this of Physick therefore it is in vain to defend their Errour Chap. 2. Of the Terms flowing too soon ORdinarily they begin at fourteen but many have had them sooner A child of eleven daies old had a bloody humor flowing Her saxonia vidit venetiis ser 6. part 5. c. 16. from the Privities Another of five years old had every month a moderate flux Fernel reports that a Girl of eight years old had the terms but are rare and for the most part very lecherous and short lived Chap. 3. Of want and stopping of the Terms SOme Women have them not till eighteen or twenty Some before and then they stop for a time without either giving suck or being with child Some have been without them three five or seven months and then they came again This is an evil constitution or suppression of that which it ought to flow from the fault of the blood and stoppage of the passages The Causes When Terms are wanting either blood is wanting or stopt It is wanting either because it is not made or dispersed or turned to other uses for nature being more sollicitous to preserve the individual person then to propagate the species spends it in preserving of the person Blood is not made from divers causes as age cold constitution of Liver Heart or a disease which distempers the bowels Or often bleeding from great Vessels or from having many issues which take from the blood It is spent other waies as before ripe age and when women are with child or give suck or in hot Natures and fat women in whom it is turned to fat It is in vain to provoke Terms in these They are either external evident causes of stopping of the Terms as too great labour troubles sadness fear but these last do not only waste the blood but cool and corrupt it and cause obstructions 2. Epid. sec 8. in fine as Hippocrates speaks of Phatusa the wife of Pytheus The proper causes are the straitness of the passage or evil conformation of the parts through which it should flow Or the closing of the womb of which we spake but I speak here of the vessels The usual cause of obstructions is thick slimy humors from the blood too thick or mixed with melancholy which comes
worse For if blood be not bred in such a quantity that may prick Nature forward to expel it the purging of it is differed till there be enough to stir up Nature to expel it If thick humors are in the blood the passage stopt and the faculty weak the Terms must needs be disordered and the purging of them differed longer If it be from want of blood The Signs she hath either lived poor in diet or exercised too much and she finds no inconvenience by the want of her Terms If it be from gross slimy blood there are signs of Cachochymy The weakness of the faculty is known by the cold distemper of the womb It is not so dangerous as stoppage of the terms The Prognostick but it is bad enough in a plethorick or cacochymical body If little blood be use a fuller diet The Cure and exercise not If blood be gross and foul make it thin and cut it and after Preparatives let the humors mixed therewith be evacuated It is good to purge presently after the Terms and to use Calamints and to purge often Also four or five dayes before the Terms scarifie the ankles and hold the feet in warm water rub the legs apply Cupping-glasses without Scarification to the inside of the thighs and use Fumes and Pessaries Anoint the bottom of the belly with things to provoke the Terms If there be a numness use things against the Palsie Chap. 11. Of the Terms voided another way SOmetimes they come out at the Nose or are vomited up or flow out by the Haemorrhoid veins 1. De morb mul. 5. apho 32. obser medit c. 15. Lib. 1. de affect mul. c. 7. The Causes Hence Hippocrates saith that a woman that vomits blood is cured by having her Terms or by a Bloody-flux Sometimes they are pissed forth Dodonaeus saies That they come out at the eyes like tears sometimes Amatus Lusitanus saith they will come forth at the Teats of the breasts and at the navel at the little finger or ring finger every month as Mercatas observed thrice Are stoppage of the Terms from straitness of the vessels in the womb or evil conformation of the womb The Prognostick It is more troublesome then dangerous and hinders conception It is best when they come out at the Nose for it is a part that Nature useth to disburden her self by The Cure First Bring the blood to the womb again and abate it Open the ankle-ankle-vein three daies before she begins to bleed Or cup the thighs or rub them Or use Baths Fomentations Oyntments Womb-Clysters Pessaries and the like mentioned in Suppression of the Terms Chap. 12. Of the Whites IT is a foul excretion from the womb white and sometimes blew or green or reddish nor at a set time nor every month but disorderly longer or shorter Before or after the Terms and when they are stopt Virgins seldom have this disease and women with child have it sometimes It differs from the running of the reins for it is in less quantity whiter and thicker and at a greater distance It differs from night pollution which is only in sleep with the imagination of Venery The immediate Cause is an excrementitious humor flegm choler or melancholy The Causes Sometimes it is like waterish blood It is gathered in the whole body or in the stomach liver or spleen For they who have crudities in the stomach are subject to this disease Sometimes the womb alone is distempered after often mischances or when the womb is very cold and moist This matter flows through the veins of the womb or of the neck of it which use to carry blood and Nature abuseth them to carry excrements especially if they are bred in the womb The remote causes are whatsoever doth breed bad humors some have it after strong purges or long bathing Sometimes they are pale sometimes blew red The Differences waterish and green sometimes slimy or cold or sharp or stinking In young people it is reddish The face is discoloured the urin thick The Signs there is loathing and heart-ach If the humor be sharp and corrupt there is a Feaver If it be flegmatick and much the ligaments of the Womb are loose and it falls out thus Hippocrates Lib. de natur mulierum and there are saith he swelled eyes evil colour and short breathing If it be not bred in the womb the humor is from a Cacochymy If it be from a fault in another part the signs of that will appear If it come only from the Womb there will be but little If from the whole body there will be more The Prognostick It is often long with little inconvenience but it must be looked to lest it be worse for it often breaks ulcers Cachexy falling out of the womb Consumption Fainting Convulsions when the matter is sent to the brain or nerves And the worse the humor is the greater is the disease The Cure It must not be suddenly stopt lest it go to the noble parts First see whether it be from the whole body or any part or from the Womb it self If from the whole body which is often make general evacuation and turn the humors from the womb and keep a good diet lest they come again I allow not bleeding in the arm if the terms be stopt for they cause a Cacochymy which admits no bleeding Moreover the mass of blood may be made foul by them therefore find out whether it comes from Cacochymy or Plethory And when it is most like to come from Cacochymy bleed not Therefore if flegm abound which is most usual after general purging consume the reliques with Guajacum and Sarsa and a drying diet and by provoking Urin of which hereafter If sharp and cholerick humors abound temper them with gentle astringents as Succory Endive Sorrel to prepare purge with Rhubarb Triphera Persica aggregative Pills and Pills of Rhubarb If it be melancholy do as in melancholy If it be water cure it as Galen did the Wife of Boethus c. 8. lib. de prognost ad Posth If it be in the stomach liver or the like prevent it from increase and because it is most about the stomach give a Vomit but not too strong Then strengthen the stomach with hot and dry Medicines If Choler abound the Distemper is hot and then cool it If it come from the Womb do as I shewed from what cause soever it is Baths are good to evacuate and divert and strengthen and take away a moist distemper provided they are proper for the Constitution Use Dryers and Astringents As Take Conserve of red Roses four ounces of Succory two ounces red Coral Snakeweed Tormentil-roots Ivory each two drams with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Or Take red Coral Bole sealed Earth each an ounce Pearl prepared a scruple Mastich half a dram Cypress-roots two scruples Mace half a scruple with Sugar of Roses as much as all make a powder Or Take
The Cure first see if there be Inflammation and then abate pain As Take Oyl of Linseed and Roses each an ounce Oyl of Eggs half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar Or Take Pellitory Mallows Althaea each half a handful Chamomil-flowers two pugils Linseed and Foenugreek each half an ounce Boil them to a pint add Oyl of Roses three ounces inject it with a Syringe If there be no Inflamation use Driers and Repellers as Vervain Ivy Acacia Pomegranate-peels and flowers for Baths and Fomentations and after add Discussers as Chamomil and Thyme If it be old and hard first soften it with the same and after thrice using them use Digesters and Driers that are strong as a Powder Take round Birthwort a dram Savin Hermodactils burnt each two drams burnt Allum two drams red Lead a dram Calcitis half a dram sprinkle it upon the loofe flesh Or Take Aloes Frankincense Mirrh each a dram Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar a dram and half Allum two drams red Lead two drams Galls half a dram Turpentine Oyl of Tartar each a dram with Oyl of Roses and Wax make an Oyntment This is very strong Take Turpentine an ounce Oyl of Nutmegs two ounces read Lead two drams Allum Vitriol each a dram Verdegreece half a dram Sublimate a scruple with Wax make an Oyntment or of Balsom of Mercury Tetrab 4. serm l. c. 3. If Medicines will not do the Ancients advise Burning of which see Aetius Chap. 7. Of Warts in the Neck of the Privities of the Womb. THey are from a gross feculent and malignant humor sent to the skin turned to a Node The Signs They are known by their shape the malignant are known by their hardness and heat and blewness filth and pain The Prognostick They are often hard to be cured because the pox is with them and they are in a place to which Medicines are hard to be applied and to continue The Myrmeciae are not cut off but they leave a great ulcer the Thymi and Clavi grow again Acrochordones once cut leave no root After Universals and order of diet The Cure either use Medicines or cut or burn them to discuss then use Sage dried with Figs Organ Rue burnt dry Savin Frankincense with Wine and Vinegar or Snakes skins with Figs these also dry These corrode eat and burn as juyce of wild Cowcumbers with Salt Milk of Figgs Sheeps-dung Goats-gall with Niter Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur Butter of Antimony Take heed that you hurt not the parts adjacent but defend them with Bole sealed Earth Rose-water and Vinegar if you put the Corrosives into Nut-shells change them twice or thrice in a day and wash the part with a cleansing Decoction and then cut or burn Chap. 7. Of the Haemorrhoids of the Womb. THe veins that end in the neck of the womb often swell like the Haemorrhoids it is from gross blood that comes to these veins out of the time of the terms Inordinate flux of terms may occasion it The Causes when they flow out of the usual time they grow thick and cannot get out of the veins but swell them They are to be touched The Signs and with a Speculum matricis to be seen There is pain and bleeding without order she is pale and lazy The Cure Correct the blood purge and bleed in the arm to derive and revel of which in the diseases of the womb If pain be abate it by sitting in a Decoction of Mallows Althaea Chamomel Melilot flowers Moulin Linseed Foenugreek of which also make Fomentations and Oyntments with Butter Populeon and Opium if there be pain Take Populeon Oyl of Roses and sweet Almonds fresh Butter each half an ounce Saffron a scruple with the yelk of an Egg make an Oyntment Or Take Mucilage of Quinces Althaea each half an ounce Oyl of Roses and Hens-grease each a dram the yelk of an Egg and Saffron half a dram mix them in a Leaden Mortar If pain be gone or abated and they bleed not use Dryers of Bole Earth of Lemnos Acacia Ceruss froath of Silver Lead burnt and washed long Birthwort Allum Verdigreece If they swell with blood evaporate it or foment with the Decoction of Mallows Althaea Pellitory Chamomil-flowers Moulin Melilot seeds of Line and Foenugreek If they do not good open them by Fig-leaves rub'd upon them or by Horsleeches of which Chap. 2. If there be proud flesh take it off as is shewed If they bleed gently let Nature alone to the work for it is good and frees from other diseases If the flux be great and abate the strength open a vein in the arm divers times and do as in overflowing of the Terms Question How do the Haemorrhoids differ from the Terms flowing or stopt Mercurialis saith That though a flux of Terms be immoderate yet it hath its periods and is without pain and makes not the body lean but it is contrary in the Haemorrhoids But this is not true for the body is not made lean alwaies by the Haemorrhoids nor do the Courses keep their periods alwaies Besides the pain which is almost alwaies in the Haemorrhoids they differ in that the terms flow from the veins of the womb and its neck but the Haemorrhoids are when the blood flows too much to the veins that nourish the privities and sticks or is evacuated Chap. 8. Of Ulcers in the Neck of the Womb. THey are seldome cured in the body of the womb and they are simple and clean or sordid and malignant Are a flux of sharp humors that lasts long in the Pox and Gonorrhaea Corrupt after-births The Causes and courses after child-bearing detained inflammations turned to imposthumes these are the internal The external are sharp Medicines hard travel a great child taken out by force violent lechery wounds falls strokes Are pain and constant biting that increaseth The Signs especially in copulation or when Wine or Hydromel is injected You may also see it with a Speculum also there is matter gentle or filthy if the ulcer go towards the bladder they piss hot and often there is pain in the roots of the eyes to the hands and fingers fainting and a little Feaver sometimes The external Causes are to be related by the Patient If it be from the Pox or Gonorrhoea the signs of them will appear of which Hippocrates They are hard to be cured because they are in a part fit to receive humors soft and moist and that hath consent with many parts Hence are divers Symptoms the great old and foul are worst when they corrode and are hollow they are seldome cured they that may easily have Medicines applied to them are easiest cured The Cure First stop the flux of humors to the part if it be either from the whole body or any part And amend the distemper of the womb that it may neither breed nor receive bad humors If the French Pox be with it resist that first If there
Sope Stavisacre each a dram quick Brimstone half an ounce Quick-silver 2 drams with Rose-vinegar and Hens-grease make an Oyntment Let the meat be of good juyce cooling and moistning Take heed of Spices sharp and salt meats Chap. 3. Of pain in the Womb. THere is pain in the body of the womb with other diseases sometimes as the Colick-pains woven in the bottom of the Belly and in the Loins and Hips and is called the pain of the Womb. It is often in women with child as the inflammation of the womb It is burning and beating it binds the Belly and stops the Urin. The Causes Solution of unity is the cause of all pains and this is from the stretching of the Womb and its Vessels or corrosion Stretching is from wind or clotted blood in the cavity of it and when Nature cannot expel it by reason of the straitness of the part there is pain Also pain is from stretching of the vessels before the terms flow when they are close and the blood thick and this pain is increased by external cold especially after heat Sometimes there is a gathering of humors about the womb when the terms flow and are foul and they get into the membranes and stretch them The same may be from corrupt Seed that stretcheth the vessels Or from sharpness and corrosion in the neck of the womb The Signs when sharp humors flow through it and twitch it The pain is manifest but let us look at the signs of the causes If it be from clotted blood there was a flux of the same and the pain is fixed about the orifice of the womb If there were external causes the patient will relate If it be from Seed there is suffocation of the Womb. The greater the cause is The Prognostick The Cure and the more vehement it works the more is the danger If there be pain and fear of fainting look to that before the cause with Anodynes and Narcoticks if need be If it be from wind see inflation of the Womb. If it be from clotted blood dissolve and evacuate it with hot and attenuating Medicines made into Fomentations Baths and Oyntments It is good to apply Treacle to the region of the Womb or put it in with Rue and Honey Or give a Clyster to the Womb of Rue Foenugreek-seed and Oyl of Rue and Orris Or give Treacle and Cinnamon-water If the vessels of the womb are not open enough for the terms See in the stoppage of the terms If there be wind make a Clyster thus Take Mercury Mugwort Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Chamomil and Melilot-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce boyl them in a pint strained dissolve Hiera Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce make a Clyster Give Mugwort Zedoary-water Essence of Castor Treacle or Womans Aqua vitae of which before Make a Clyster for the Womb thus Take Mugwort Calamints Bettony each half a handful Gith Cummin Carrot Aniseeds each a dram Spike Schoenanth Nutmeg Cinnamon each a dram boyl them in Wine Then fill an Ox bladder half full with Oyl of Lillies and Dill and apply it to the belly Or Take Oyl of Lillies Orris each an ounce distilled Oyl of Angelica a dram Goose and Hens grease each half an ounce Mucilage of Line and Faenugreek-seed made with Mugwort-water each three drams seeds of Cummin Carrots Caraway each a dram with Wax make a soft Oyntment Or Take Pellitory two handfuls Mercury a handful beat them add Chamomil-flowers Cummin Anise Carrots-seeds each a dram two yelks of Eggs and Oyl of Lillies make a Cataplasm for the Belly Apply Plaisters to the Navel and Cupping-glasses with great flame to the Region of the womb or dry Fomentations of Oats Milium Anise Cummin Carrot-seed in a Bag. And use Pessaries as Take Harts Marrow Turpentine Wax Goose-grease each three drams Saffron a dram yelks of Eggs seven with Oyl of Lillies make Pessaries If the humors and wind is malignant mix Scorronera Bezear seeds and roots of Angelica water of Zedoary Treacle Mithridate and the like in Suffocation of the womb Chap. 4. Of the Diseases of the Womb that come from sweet scents and stinks THere is a particular Symptom in the womb which breeds great admiration that it delights in sweet scents and is offended with stinks And it is certain for if Musk Civit or the like be but put to the Nose of the woman that is subject to fits of the Mother they grow sick and if the same be put to their privities and stinks to the Nose the fit of the Mother ceaseth It is hard to give the reason of this many wise Men have given their opinion but they disagree among themselves and satisfie me not neither do I promise to satisfie others But it is probable to me that the womb is not delighted with scents as scents for the privities have no smelling and the sense of smelling doth not reach so far but the quality by which it is well or ill is occult and not to be explained and to be separated from the odours If any ask what the quality is I answer There are many qualities in Nature that are hid from our senses and yet we cannot deny them because we see their effects as the quality in a Dogs Nose we cannot apprehend but the Dog perceives it But how these qualities come to the womb Quomodo uterus bene olentia recipiat is by no other way but by the open way by the privities by which Spirits get into the womb and in the suffocation of the womb sweet things profit because they strengthen it by a peculiar quality to disperse the venemous air and draw down the spirits and humors But if they be put to the Nose Quomodo bene olentia hystericis noceant the womb consents by the Sympathy of the organ of smelling and the brain with it This is by the Nerves and Arteries for the heart is presently refreshed with a sweet scent because it presently pierceth into it being spiritual and there is a great consent of the womb with the brain and the smelling as is seen by the tryal of Barrenness by a Fume from Hippocrates 5. Aphor. But we must observe that sweet scents are acceptable to all Wombs and stinks are not but the same Symptomes are not in all Women from them for they who have a Womb of a good constitution with no evil humors in it endure sweet things well and delight in them but they who are unclean hate sweet things and osten fall into fits by them because while the womb is delighted with that sweet and hidden quality with which it hath a peculiar Sympathy the evil humors that lie in the Womb especially if there be any corruption from Seed and the Seed also are stirred and when the Spirits flie up they take the bad humors with them and send bad vapors to the heart which cause suffocation and others Symptoms But when the
and add Fennel-seed Calamus Cinnamon Cassia lignea Cardamoms each half an ounce distil them again Or give Syrup of Calamints Mugwort Or Take water of Penny-royal Savin Calamints each four ounces Syrup of Mugwort four ounces Cinnamon-water an ounce give it at four times Rouls Take Extract of Savin a scruple of Angelica half a scruple of Elicampane six grains Oyl of Cinnamon five drops of Cloves two drops with Sugar dissolved in Balm-water Or make an Electuary of Steel six ounces Cassia lignea Cinnamon each two drams Cloves a dram Raisins two ounces with Sugar dissolved in Mugwort-water Or Take Troches of Mirrh a dram Extract of Gentian and Savin each a scruple Castor half a scruple make Pills give two scruples or give every third day Pills of Hiera Use outward Medicines but provoke not sweat by them Take Althaea and Lilly-roots each two ounces Birthwort an ounce Mallows Mercury Mugwort Savin Motherwort Calamint Penny-royal Marjoram Bayes each two handfuls flowers of Chamomil Lavender Cheir each a handful Foenugreek-seed an ounce Juniper and Bayberries each half a handful boil them in Water foment with Spunges And then anoint with this Take Oyl of Lillies an ounce of Lavender-seeds stilled half a dram Calamints and Gith-powder each a dram Storax Calamite a scruple To Virgins that must take no Pessaries give Fumes with the head defended they will open the mouths of the vessels and cut thick humors As Take Mirrh Bdellium Storax each a dram Benzoin two scruples Gallia moschata Ivet each half a scruple with liquid Storax make Troches Then use Clysters and Injections into the Womb with Purgers As Take Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Gith-seed Turbith each a dram Coloquintida half a dram boyl it in Wine inject it into the Womb. If it be hot after it inject the Decoction of Mallows with Milk or Barley-water And because the neck of the womb lies upon the strait gut give Clysters Take Lilly-roots an ounce Orris Valerian each half an ounce Mercury two handfuls Mugwort Savin each a handful Chamomil Lavender-flowers each a pugil Caraway Gith-seed each a dram boyl add Hiera and Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce Oyl of Cheir two drams Electuary of Bayberries half an ounce If she be no Virgin put Mercury bruised in a Bag for a Pessary with Centuary-flowers Or Garlick beaten with Oyl of Spike Begin still with the mildest as Mugwort Mercury Penny-royal Marjoram Rue and then add Mucilages and Juyces to loosen the womb let not Pessaries lie long lest they cause a Feaver If it be from a tumor provoke not the Terms but look to the tumor Let diet be hot and attenuating of good juyce with Parsley Savory Rosemary Cloves Cinnamon Little sleep and much exercise Question 1. Whether are the other Causes of stoppage of the Terms Some say the blood going to other parts is a cause but it is rather contrary and the suppression of terms is cause of that For the Veins of the Womb are large enough to evacuate blood Others say The strength of the womb is a cause which thickens the Vessels that they receive blood But the Womb is made to receive it when it abounds Others accuse the strength which is to be denied but when it is so strong that it is too hot or too dry and will not receive the blood and that is a sign of weakness But there must be strength in the whole body to cast out superfluous blood or there will be other mischiefs Question 2. What Veins must be opened when the Terms are stopt Authors disagree in this as Aetius and Galen Lib. de sang miss cap. 11 18 19. who alwaies speaks of the Ankle-veins and most are of his mind being it is rational For a Vein opened in the Arm doth rather revel from the Womb then draw the blood to it But in the Ankle brings it to its place and opens Obstructions and doth both lessen and bring blood to the womb and move that which is in the womb fixed Open the Ankle therefore twice or thrice Lib. de sang miss adver craesis rather then the Arm once Therefore Galen commends Hippocrates that he opened a Vein in the Ankle in the Servant of Schimarg though she had a Plethory But in other diseases of the womb as Inflammation dropping or too many terms it is good to open a vein in the Arm. The Saphaena is opened by putting the foot in warm water before and after Question 3. At what time must a Vein be opened against the stoppage of the Terms Galen saith It must be when Nature may be helped be the blood moved that is three or four daies before the usual time of their coming as if she had been always in the full of the Moon and they have been stopt some months Bleed three or four daies before the full to put Nature in mind of her duty and to make the blood run again Chap. 4. Of Fewness of the Terms IT is when they flow less then they use or ought to flow The Causes It is either from the blood or in the expulsive Faculty in the passages As if blood be little the terms are few and slow If the retentive Faculty is weak and the expulsive strong they come at due time but in small quantity If the terms are slow the fault is in the quality of the blood being too thick Also straitness of the passages may be a cause for if they be not wide enough the blood cannot flow freely The Signs The patient will tell the disease but the cause of it is to be found in the Chapter aforegoing Few Terms from little blood is not dangerous if they be stopt from thick blood The Prognostick there follow Diseases as Erysipelas Scirrhus or Cancer See the Chapter aforegoing for the Cure The Causes and if it be from thickness of blood it is often cured by a general purge for the whole Body Chap. 5. Of Dropping of the Terms THis is a Flux and lasts long and there is pain The blood flows not conveniently at the due time and manner and the privities are alwaies wet as when the urin drops Are from the blood and the passages of it The Causes and the retentive faculty as when the blood is too thick and sharp which stir up Nature to let it out and because it stretcheth the Membranes there is pain Also the weakness of the retentive faculty is a cause The women declare it The Signs but if it be from thick blood and sharp and straight passages there is a stretching pain about the womb If it be from crudity of blood and weakness of the retentive faculty the blood flows without pain and is not much felt It is troublesom to women and if it last long The Prognostick The Cure causeth Ulcers and Inflammations It is all in mending of the thick and sharp blood and in opening the passages which are the two chief causes of it of which
it by one Sometimes there is only short breath sometimes the animal actions are hurt the whole Body is cold from a malignant vapor sent up from the Womb. The Causes The immediate Cause is a vapour malignant and venomous sent up by the Arteries Veins and Nerves that hurt the actions of the parts it goes to This vapor is like air or wind thin and little but very strong to get presently through the whole Body It chiefly ascends to the Gullet and causeth choaking as eating of Mushrooms Hellebore and other poysons There is often short difficult breathing with Heart-ach Vomiting and Loathing If the vapor go first to the heart the motion of it ceaseth and there is swounding and she falls down If it go to the Brain the animal actions are hurt When seed and terms corrupt in the Womb with other bad humors they breed this evil vapor because they are the best substance and the beginning of generation they are worst when corrupted especially seed to hurt the whole Body Gal. cit 1. Sometimes it is in Women with child when they have not their after-purging but evil humors are left and corrupt in the Womb. The chief cause of this humor is in the trumpet of the womb and stones the body of which is hollow and loose the stones being in Bladders and have hollowness full of water which in hysterical women is yellow and thicker then ordinary Vesal de corp human Fabr. lib. 5. c. 15. This trumpet and the stones are often taken from the womb it self when they are swollen with corrupt seed and humors and wind and reach to the Navel of which in the Chapter of Ascent of the Womb. This disease is breeding sooner or longer as the matter is more or less sometimes corrupt humors lie still and if they be stirred they send a venom or vapor to the whole body Now in women subject to this disease sweet scents to the Nose or taken in or anger will move these humors and vapors They are according to the variety of the Symptoms and efficient cause or venomous humors The Differences for corrupt blood especially seed puts on another Nature That Suffocation is at hand The Signs it appears by laziness weakness of the Legs paleness sad countenance and the motion of something like a Ball in the Belly with noise like Frogs Snakes or Crows so that some think it is devillish There is also Belching Yawning Yexing short Wind Heart-beating Loathing Dulness Laughter at the coming of the fit from the vapor getting into the Membrane of the Breast that tickle them some cry some both laugh and cry These Symptoms increase when the fit comes and the Jaws are closed that she seems to be choaked and sense and motion is gone or depraved Some have Convulsions some hear what is done about them but cannot speak the pulse is less the whole body is cold and the Eyes shut as if they were dead When the fit declines humors flow from the Privities the Guts rumble the Eyes open the Cheeks grow red and the body warm the animal actions return and the Patient sighs and comes to her self It is known to be from corrupt seed if the terms are in order and short breath and low voice Suffocation and Convulsions and all Symptoms are then more vehement and at the end of the fit there flows a humour like seed out of the privities It is from the terms if they be stopt or flow not orderly and if there be a disease in the womb it is neither from the seed nor the terms The Prognostick 1. If there come Swounding or a great Convulsion or quenching of natural heat it is deadly 2. Suffocation from corrupt seed is more dangerous then that which is from the terms mixt with melancholick humors 3. The longer it lasts and the worse the Symptoms the more is the danger It ceaseth in young Women when they begin to bear children 4. The oftner the fit comes the more you may fear the quenching of the natural heat by weakning of the Heart often and if she foam at the mouth she dies The Cure of the Fit In the fit you must discuss the malignant vapors that rise from the womb and turn it from the principal parts and you must evacuate the matter that breeds it and prevent its return Call upon her loud pluck the hairs of her privities and Ears make strong Ligatures and Frictions cup the Legs and Thighs and Groyns hold stinks to the Nose as Partridge-feathers burnt hairs Leather Horn Castor Assa-foetida Galbanum Oyl of Amber Rue the warts on Horses legs dried and the powder upon coals burnt makes a Fume which if taken in the nose suddenly raised them Apply sweet Scents to the Privities as Civet Musk Gallia and Alipta moschata or powder of Cloves Or Take Storax calamita Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple make Troches with Gum traganth and let the Fume be taken into the VVomb by a Fennel A Liniment Take Storax Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple Civet four grains liquid Storax half a scruple with Cotton put it into the Womb. Clysters to discuss wind draw down the matter Take the Carminative Decoction a pint Electuary of Hiera six drams Benedicta laxativa an ounce Oyl of Rue and Bayberries each a dram Use VVomb-clysters and Pessaries to women that have known man Take Electuary of Hiera and Diaphaenicon each two drams Turpentine half an ounce Honey of Mercury an ounce Castor half a dram with Wooll make a Pessary Oyl of Tin applied to the Navel doth remove the fit Or Rue Castor and sneesing Powders As Take white Hellebore half a scruple long Pepper and Ginger each half a dram or put Oyl of Amber into the Nose and Ears Apply to the VVomb this Take Oyl of Rue Bayes each two ounces Cummin-seed Castor dissolved in Vinegar each two drams with Wax make a Liniment Or use a Plaister of Galbanum Castor and Assa-foetida A Compound distilled VVater Take Zedoary Parsnep-seeds Lovage-roots each two ounces Mirrh Castor each half an ounce Piony-roots four ounces Misleto of the Oak gathered in the wain of the Moon three ounces and water of Motherwort four ounces and half Spirit of Wine a pint and half steep them eight daies distil and give a spoonful with Tile-flower or Mugwort-water or Oyl of Amber some drops Or Take Castor Assa-foetida each a scruple Pepper half a scruple with syrup of Mugwort make Pills give three The Cure out of the Fit First prevent the seed from corrupting in the womb and if it be corrupt evacuate it presently with Womb-Clysters and Pessaries then disperse the reliques and strengthen the womb But first give a general Purge that is gentle often and use things that prevent the breeding of Seed Strengthen with Plaisters and Oyntments to the Region of the Womb. As Take liquid Storax two drams Avens Agnus castus seeds Angelica each half a dram
an action of the womb after fruitful seed both male and female is received mixed and nourished and its strength is stirred up to do its office Seed and Coema differ seed is that which comes from both male and female but Coema is that which is mixed of both and is called Conception which produceth a child This Conception is presently when two seeds meets in the womb in less then seven hours after they are spent if the heat of the Womb preserve them Nature is not idle a moment but presently falls to conformation Lib. de genit Therefore Hippocrates saith that the beginning of Conception is to be reckoned from the day that the Seed is retained and if she conceives not from the weakness of the seeds or womb the seed will fall out in seven days for Hippocrates saith Lib. de septim partu 3. De hist ani c. 3. That Conception and Abortion are judged in the same time as a disease health and death are judged And Aristotle saith If seed remains within till the seventh day there is certain Conception As for Formation the Soul lying in the seed makes its own house for all acknowledge a forming faculty and you must then suppose there is a substance from whence this faculty flows And though Aristotle saith that seed is a living creature in power not that there is not the essence of the Soul in the seed and that it is not a living creature in respect of the first act but because it is not come to the second act for want of fit Instruments which being perfected it hath the second act and all its operations which for defect of Organs it cannot produce There are divers opinions of the time of Formation they are best that say the membranes are first made which wrap the child with the Navel-vessels by which it is joyned to the Mothers womb and receives nourishment for the child Then all other parts are made sooner or later as the child requires for dignity or necessity We intend here to speak of womens diseases Therefore there are three things required for the Formation of a Child 1. Fruitful seed from both parents in which the Soul remains that hath a forming quality to make its own habitation 2. The Mothers blood is required to enlarge the Child to perfection 3. There is required a good constitution of the womb to nourish the seed and stir the concealed force If these three be right there is a child that is sound and perfect that will be born but if any of these be wanting there are Twins or more and other faults of which in order Chap. 5. Of the Generation of Twins and many Children NAture hath ordained that a woman should conceive but one child in these and other Countries especially and that every year yet in many places she hath more one had five at every birth twenty at four lyings in A Margaret the Countess of Holsterne in the time of the Emperour Henry the Seventh had three hundred sixty four at one labour And another Countess in the time of Frederick the Eleventh had five hundred and fourteen children at once being Boys these are so seldom that they seem incredible I speak nothing of the Causes of such Monstrous Productions but of Twins or Three The Causes or Four It is certain they are got at one time and this differs from Superfoetation which is at many times And you must not impute it to the divers Cells of the womb for women have no such Cells but only a Line that divides the left-side from the right but it comes from the division of the seed into divers parts and the least forming force in the side is compleat and makes a child of every part of it And because the cavity of the womb cannot admit so many parts of seed being no bigger than a Bean and if it do admit them how can the seed be divided at one copulation into so many parts I suppose that such women have naturally a larger womb so that much seed is divided And as Twins are begot at the same time so they have but one Placenta or part that receives the Navel-vessels of both but they have their several Coats It is hard to know whether a woman have conceived Twins onely their belly is not even The Signs but divided with seams and wrinkles and the weight is commonly greater and the motion is not one not alike If a woman have two children and be weak The Prognostick she is in danger in her travel Twins of one Sex are more lively then of both Sexes And one is by experience weaker and shorter lived then the other Chap. 6. Of Superfoetation IT is seldom that a woman hath many children at divers Copulations but it is sometimes and is called Superfoetation that is a new conception after a former 5. Aphor. 15. Though Hippocrates writes That the mouth of the Womb after Conception is so shut that you cannot put in a Needles point yet a woman with child may take such pleasure after that she may a little open the womb to receive seed again and draw it in which may form another child The Causes Therefore the Cause is the pleasure the woman hath which opens the womb again to attract seed And it is necessary that the seed received be in its proper membrane and peculiar receptacle The Differences These come sometimes sooner sometimes later sometimes the same day or the following sometimes longer after Sometimes they have a third Superfoetation so that they have two living children and one mischance The Signs It is known only by the motion of the Infant when it is conceived long after the first The Prognostick It is dangerous for the Mother for fear of abortion and for loss of much blood by two births at no great distance of time The Cure It is best to leave the whole work to Nature and women ought to take heed of Superfoetation therefore after they have conceived let them meddle no more Chap. 7. Of the ill Formation of the Child IN the Formation of the child there are divers Symptoms 1. In the weakness of the child 2. The parts are more or fewer to which you may refer Hermaphrodites 3. The parts are greater or less as Dwarffs or Gyants 4. There is some part out of place or shape as Histories shew abundantly You must find the Causes in the seeds terms The Causes womb and error in Formation the cause of these is the action hurt of the forming faculty This is not always from it self but from the unfitness of the matter and fault in the place which keeps it from the intention for actions of active things are not but in a disposed patient Sometimes there is an extraordinary cause as imagination when the Mother is frighted or imagineth strange things or longeth vehemently for some meat which if she have not the child hath a mark of the colour
month especially if they have no Feaver and are strong As Celsus saith A strong Child and a lusty old Man and a healthy Woman with Child Lib. 2. c. 10. may be safely let blood And Hippocrates forbids bleeding only lest the child should want nourishment Question 3. Whether may a Woman with Child be purged You must not give strong Purges lest their force which moveth the humors should reach to the womb and cast out the child Therefore you must not purge women with child in all diseases nor at all times but only in the fourth month till the seventh and that sparingly And if the matter swell and abound 4. Aph. 1. as Hippocrates shews For the danger from the turgent matter is easily avoided thereby for it will be purged with more ease then when it is fixed and quiet 1. Therefore only purge in an acute disease 2. From the beginning of the fourth only to the end of the sixth 3. Use no vehement Medicine nor very bitter as Aloes which is an enemy to the child and opens the mouths of the vessels nor Coloquintida nor Scammony nor Turbith but use Caffia Manna Rhubarb Agarick and Senna but Diacydonium purgans is best with a little of the Electuary of the juyce of Roses If there be a chronick disease she may also be purged safely especially if she be used to it and strengthners be applyed to the navel Question 4. Whether Purging or Bleeding is most dangerous for a Woman with Child We shewed in the last Question the necessity of purging and its danger by the great motion of humors which if it reach to the womb causeth abortion because it causeth pain in the belly and provokes the terms But bleeding disturbs the humors less nor doth hurt any way but by taking nourishment from the child And this you need not fear if there be too much blood Therefore purging is more dangerous then bleeding Question 5. Whether it is lawful to cause an Abortion to preserve the Mother A Christian may not cause an Abortion for any cause for it is wicked and the Gentiles in Hippocrates his time never allowed it they would not hinder Conception much less would they destroy it when made Nor must the mother be preserved by the loss of the child For we must not do evil that good may come thereby But if to preserve the mother the Physitian purge or bleed and the abortion follow the fault is not in the Physitian that intended it not but in the weakness of Nature and of the Child and is better to preserve the Mother then by neglecting the lawful means let both die Also the dead child must presently be thrown out Question 6. Whether are Clysters Diureticks and Sweats proper for a Woman with Child Though women deny Clysters to them yet if they have been used to them they may be given in a small quantity such as only mollifie and supple nor do they more hurt then Lenitives Diureticks or things that provoke Urine are not safe because they provoke the Terms You may not give gentle Sweats for Nature will receive strength by the casting off of her enemies You must use Alterers that are proper as this Syrup Take the juyce of unripe Grapes about the beginning of September three galons add Pomecitrons or Lemons bruised half a pound boil them till they are soft and strain them and with half a pound of Sugar make a Syrup Chap. 4. Of the Symptoms that befal Women with Child in the first Months THey are loathing meat Pica or evil appetite pewking vomiting belly-ach flux of the belly tooth and head-ach giddiness These all come from the stoppage of the terms especially in a Cacochymy or evil juyce for it goes to the stomach and so to the head First They loath meat 5. Apho. 45. which Hippocrates saith is a sign of Conception And this is when the child takes the purest blood and leaves the impure which gets into the mouth of the stomach and infects it and hence comes the loathing of some sorts of meats Sometimes this ceaseth of it self but if there be danger of a Consumption in the mother lest the child should be in danger for want of food give a gentle Vomit or Stomach-Pills with things that strengthen the Stomach As Take Conserâ—â— of red Roses half an ounce of Bettony an ounce preserved Quinces three drams Aromaticum Rosatum half a dram Pearl prepared half a scruple with Syrup of green Ginger and Quinces make an Electuary Anoint the stomach with oyl of Mastich Mints Quinces Wormwood Mirtles c. Give astringents and powerful things with meat and let it be roasted rather then boyled Pica is when they desire strange and absurd things as Coals Ashes c. As she that longed for her husbands flesh and though she loved him very well she killed him eat part and powdered up the rest Of this disease we spake in the third Book Juyce of young Vine-leaves with Syrup of Quinces is good against this or the water that drops in May from the Vines This keeps the child from suffering by the mothers appetite Or this Spirit Take Citron-peels Oranges Piony-roots as much as you please and Malmsey digest them some dayes then beat the roots and peels add more Malmsey and distil them The third is loathing and vomiting from an evil vapour or humour in the stomach from blood retained If vomiting give her ease stop it not but leave it to nature it will cease after a month or two If it be with trouble give a gentle Vomit or strengthen the stomach or give a little Rhubarb The fourth is pain of the belly from wind and humors about the womb that go to the guts discuss them as in Chap. 3. Of the Cholick Avoid moist Fomentations give Cinnamon-water or spiced wine The fifth is a loosness which must be suddenly stopt lest it cause an abortion First Hippocr 5. Aphor. 34. give a gentle cleanser and strengthener as Rhubarb with syrup of Roses solutive then Quinces at the first course at meals and Rice Starch Almonds Conserve of Roses Quinces Apply to the navel a Pultis of Quinces Mastich Nutmegs Mace Cloves The sixth is the Tooth-ach from a sharp humor from retention of the terms that goes to the root of some tooth and hurts the membranes It ceaseth commonly of it self yet if it be great use a Plaister of Mastich and Tacamahacca to the temples and hold in the mouth the decoction of Fern-roots Cinquefoyl Snakeweed Sage Mulberry-barks c. The seventh is Head-ach when the vapors from the terms stopt ascend and twitch the membranes of the brain it must be repelled and abated with Lenitives of which in Lib. 1. Part 3. Sect. 1. Cap. 3. Of Head-ach The eighth of the Megrim from the vapors disturbing the Spirits that go to the head by the veins and arteries or by the gullet If it cease not discuss vapors and strengthen the brain inwardly and outwardly as in Vertigo
Chap. 5. Of the Symptoms in Women with Child in the middle Months THey are cough heart-beating fainting watching pains in the loyns and hips and bleeding 1. The cough is from a sharp vapor that comes to the jaws and rough artery from the terms or from a thin part of that blood gotten into the veins of the breast or falling from the head to the breast This endangers abortion and strength fails from watching therefore purge the humors that fall from the head to the breast with Rhubarb Agarick and strengthen the head as in a Catarrh and give sweet Lenitives as in a Cough 2. Palpitation of heart and fainting is from vapors that go to it by the arteries or from blood that aboundeth and cannot get out at the womb but ascends and oppresseth the heart Use Cordials as in Syncope inwardly and outwardly If it be from too much blood as in Plethory open a vein 3. Watching is from dry sharp vapors that trouble the animal Spirits Then use Frictions and wash the feet at bed time and give Syrup of Poppies dryed Roses Emulsions of sweet Almonds and white Poppy-seeds 4. There is pain in the loyns and hips from the weight of the child or from the terms stopt or growth of the child that stretcheth the ligaments of the womb and parts adjacent if there be Plethory bleed If it be from weight of the child hold it up with swathing Bands about the neck 5. There is flux of bood at the womb nose or Hoemorrhoids from plenty or from the weakness of the child that takes it not in or from evil humors in the blood that stir up nature to send it forth Also the vessels of the Womb may be broken or torn by motion fall cough or trouble of mind This is dangerous 5. Aphor. 60. of which Hippocrates saith The child cannot be well if it be from blood only there is less danger so it flows by the veins of the neck of the womb for it takes away Plethory or take not nourishment from the child If it be from the weakness of the child that draws it not abortion often follows or hard travel or she goes beyond her time If it flow by the inward veins of the womb there is more danger by the openness of the womb If it come from evil blood the danger is alike from Cacochymy which is like to fall upon both If there be Plethory open a vein warily and use astringents As Take Pearls prepared a scruple red Coral two scruples Mace Nutmegs each a dram Cinnamon half a dram make a powder or with Sugar Rouls or give this powder in Broth. Take red Coral a dram Pearl half a dram pretious Stones each half a scruple red Sanders half a dram Bole a dram sealed Earth Tormentil-roots each two scruples with Sugar of Roses and Manus Christi with Pearl six drams make a powder You may strengthen the child at the navel If there be Cacochymy alter the humors and if you may evacuate You may use Amulets in the hands and about the neck In flux of Haemorrhoids beware of the pain Let her drink hot Wine with a roasted Nutmeg Chap. 6. Of the Symptomes that are in the last Months 1. THe Urin is stopt from suppression of the neck of the bladder Let her then lye down and let the bladder be fomented with a Bag of Pellitory Parsly-roots Mallows Linseed and the like or use the Catheter 2. The belly is bound from a hot and dry Liver when the child draws all the moisture to it or presseth the guts Let her then use Moistners as Butter Mallows Borage in Broaths or that Clysters in a small quantity 3. The veins appear in the hips and legs as varicous only then keep them from walking and let their feet be laid upon a stool 4. The legs swell from serous blood but this goes away with the After-birth and is the signs of a female child but if she cannot walk foment with Lye made of Vine branches and Wine or with a Decoction or Organ Penny-royal Chamomile Calamints Or Take Bean and Lupine-flour each two ounces Tartar an ounce Pidgeons-dung half an ounce with steeled-water and juyce of Coleworts make a Pultis Rub and wash the feet with salt water in which Chamomil Organ and Dill were boyled 5. The skin of the belly is cleft with stretching after the fourth month therefore use loosning Liniments to keep off deformity as marrow of Veal and Sheeps-legs Oyl of sweet Almonds Hens-grease 6. The water gathered in time of being with Child between the membranes that hold the Child comes forth too soon because the membranes are broken by leaping or a contusion This makes difficult birth for that water was to moisten the parts Therefore let her keep a good diet and strengthen the child inwardly and outwardly Chap. 7. Of Weakness of the Child THis is either from weak seed or little nourishment or bad and causeth many diseases in the child To hinder abortion and death of the child know rightly the weakness as Hippocrates saith 5. Aph. 53. They that will abort have first breasts that fall away which is from want of nourishment in the common veins of the womb and breasts 5. Aph. 52. Hippocrates hath a second sign which is this If a Woman with child hath much milk flowing from her breast her child is weak 3. Hippocr 5. aph 56. If the terms flow often the nourishment is taken from the child 4. A mother often and long being sick shews that her child is weak because her blood is not good and the bad humors with the blood go to nourish the child which makes him sick 5. When the mother hath a flux of the belly the child is weak 6. When it begins to move and is scarce felt it is weak If it be from these causes take them away and strengthen the child first seed the mother high with meats of good juyce and sweet Almonds steept in Honey Raisins Quinces outwardly thus Take Malmsey three pints dissolve it in Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half an ounce add powder of Cloves Rue each half an ounce Rose Sage Marjoram Penny-royal-water each a pint Aqua-vitae three ounces Dip Spunges in it and apply them under the left breast to the arm-pits hams pulses soles of the feet and when they dry wet them again Chap. 8. Of Crying in the Womb. CHildren have sometimes cryed in the womb as Fabricius saith in his Epistle to his Brother James Fincel and Weinridick of Monsters writes thus In this City of Bressa a Child was heard to cry in the Womb three daies before the Travel when he was a man he was miserable with poverty and diseases till he died Andreas Libavius writes the same and others Some say It portends evil to the Mother or Child or Countrey It is a voice by the expulsion of the air through the rough artery The Causes and some air may in the cavities from vapors or spirits as in
dram red Roses Pomegranate-flowers each half a dram with Gum traganth make Troches to be burnt Oyntments Take Oyl of Mirtles Quinces each two ounces juyce of Plantane Solomons-seal Horse-tail each an ounce boil the juyces away add Bole Plantane-seed Mirtle-berries Ceruss each half an ounce with Wax make an Oyntment Or use the Countesses Oyntment to the Loins and Pecten Cataplasms Take Quinces Pearls boiled in red Wine add Bole Mastich Sanguis Draconis Acacia make a Cataplasm or a Cerot Or Take Sorrel and Plantane-seed Purslane-seed Bole Sanguis Draconis each two drams Frankincense Mastich Mirrh each three drams Turpentine an ounce with juyce of Plantane and Yarrow and Wax make a Cerot after the Juyces are boiled away Fomentations are better than Baths for they make the humors flow more Let them be astringent and cool Or wash the Legs and Hips in cold water Lay Epithems to the Liver Oyntments Cerots or Plaisters If Choler offend give Rhubarb and Conserve of Roses to evacuate the Cacochymy If blood flow from a vein broken use Coral Bole Mirtles Comphry Acacia Hypocistis or apply a Pultis of whites of Eggs and astringent Powders If it come from a vessel corroded use stoppers and glutinaters that are slimy as Dropwort-roots a dram with a rear Egg. Let the diet be as the Physick is In a flux from plethory eat little and that of little nourishment and in other cases give things to close the vessels Sleep long and use little Venery little or no exercise Anger hurts and other passions Question Whether Frictions or Ligatures in the Legs may be made for Revulsion Hippocrates and Galen are misconstrued in his 8. Book of Blood-letting and they are not to be used in the flux of the Terms Chap. 7. Of the Terms-flowing with pain and Symptoms THe Symptoms are pain in the Loyns or Thighs Head-ach biting at the mouth of the Stomach pain in the Belly and Loyns fainting They are as in suppression of Terms The Causes but less vehement and are in them that have not conceived There is obstruction thick and gross blood that stretcheth the vessels and the blood flows not orderly A little before the Terms there is head-ach The Signs biting at the stomach pain in the loyns and bottom of the stomach with beating at the heart and fainting When the pain is from thick blood it comes forth in clodds and the pain is worse than before If it be from wind it is sudden and staies not in a place and there is rumbling in the belly The Prognostick Take heed it turn not to the stoppage of terms if it be neglected It is greater in barren women and Virgins then in those who have had children The Cure Take away the cause if they be thick humors evacuate them after they are prepared If sharp temper them These attenuate blood water of Grass-roots Maidenhair Decoctions of the opening Roots Syrup of Maidenhair of the five Roots Treacle and the like in the stoppage of the Terms Against pain use the Fomentations and Oyntments in the Chapter of pain of the Womb. Chap. 8. Of evil discoloured Terms THis is called the Terms depraved by bad humors and so they are voided The Causes Blood is foul either from evil diet or evil humors or stoppage of it The humors are flegm choler or melancholy mixed with it and then the Terms are either pale blew green or black and stinking or white and flegmatick They are so from a fault in the stomach The pale and yellow are from too great heat in the Liver The black are from the spleen disordered The Signs That blood which is natural is different from the bad in colour and substance it is like that of a new slain sheep nor thicker nor thinner and the bad Terms come not seasonably but sooner or later of which Hippocrates Lib. de morb mulier You may know by the colour what humor predominates and by the substance The flegmatick and melancholy are long in coming and the cholerick waterish Terms come quicker The more they differ from the natural state The Prognostick the worse they are black and stinking are worst The mattery are worst of all If these flow seven eight or nine daies she is cured if they ulcerate the womb she is barren Hippocrates saith The Cure 5. Aphor. 36. they must be purged and prepared with proper things as we shewed in the distempers of the womb But take heed that you move not the Terms when you attenuate for that will melt the serous humors and fix them more in the vessels use neither Vinegar nor sharp things After purging consume the reliques by sweat if choler be in fault that must not be sweated out discuss it with warm Baths and do so in melancholy Use Pessaries Fomentations and Fumes to the womb Give Treacle Mithridate or the Decoction of Angelica-roots if cold humors are the cause Chap. 9. Of Terms coming before their time THese shew an ill constitution And it is a depraved excretion of the Terms that comes for the time often for sometimes they flow sooner or twice in a month The immediate Cause is hurt of the retentive and expulsive faculty The Causes so that the blood flows not or sooner or later or oftner the cause why they come sooner is in the blood that stirs up the expulsive faculty in the whole body or in the womb sometimes all causes meet the blood is too much or too sharp and hot and if the retentive faculty in the womb be weak and the expulsive strong and of quick sense it is sooner A fall stroke or passion are the evident Causes The Signs They will relate it and the signs of the causes are these If it be from much blood there are the signs of plethory heat thinness and sharp humors are known by the distemper of the whole The weakness of the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels is known from a loose and moist habit of body The Prognostick The Cure It is not dangerous but troublesome and hinders conception If they come too soon from hurt in the faculty provoked by too much plethory Let blood use a spare diet and much exercise If it be from sharp blood temper it by good diet and Medicines as in the cholerick distemper of the womb Use Baths of Iron-water that corrects the distempers of the bowels then evacuate If it come from the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels correct the cold and moist distemper with gentle astringents If it be from a stroke or fall cure it as the vessels opened are cured of which before Chap. 10. Of the Terms that come after their usual time WHen they stay longer then ordinary and return without order at no set time the causes are little and thick blood straitness of the passages weakness of the expulsive faculty and dulness Either of these causes may stop the Terms but if all meet the disease is