go before it is impregnated with saline particles whereby the Citron colour is to be imparted to it whereof we have daily experiment in those that drink much especially of thin and attenuating Liquors for then their Urine is very clear in which case the blood being over-power'd by that quantity of serum and being wholly unable to retain it puts it off quite clear not yet died by the juice of the Body by reason of its too short stay As to the Cold by which the external parts are so often chilled it is very manifest that that happens because the Spirits forsaking their stations too officiously intrude themselves into this or that part Nor is it to be doubted that weeping and laughing fits which often seise hysterical women without any occasion are procured by the Animal Spirits forcing themselves violently upon the Organs that perform these Animal functions And now I suppose it is manifest that this whole Disease is occasioned by the Animal Spirits being not rightly disposed and not by seed and menstruous blood corrupted and sending up malignant Vapours to the parts affected nor from I know not what depravation of the juices and congestion of acrid humors as others think but from those Causes we have assignâ—d for that the fomes of the Disease does not lurk in matter will plainly appear by this one instance viz. A Woman that used to enjoy perfect health being delicate and of a thin habit of body if she chance to be weakned and exhausted by some error or by some strong Vomit or Purge will certainly be afflicted with some one of those Symptoms that accompany this Disease which would rather be removed than occasioned by such Vomiting or Purging if the fomes of the Disease was contained in matter The same may be said of a great loss of blood whether it is taken away by opening a vein or flows immoderately in Labour or of emptiness or too long abstinence from Flesh all which would rather prevent hysteric Diseases than occasion them if the fomes of them was involved in some matter whereas on the contrary nothing does so constantly occasion this Disease as these evacuations But tho' it is apparent enough that the Original fomes of this Disease is not lodged in the humors yet it must be confessed that the confusion of the Spirits produces putrid humors in the Body by reason the function as well of these parts which are distended by the violent impulse of the Spirits as of those which are deprived of them are wholly perverted and most of these being as it were separatory Organs designed for the reception of the impurities of the blood if their functions are any way hurt it can not be but a great many feculencies will be heaped up which had been elimmated and so the mass of blood purified if the Organs had performed their office which they had certainly done if a due Oeconomy of the Spirits had invigorated them To this Cause is to be attributed great Cachexies loss of appetite a Chlorosis and the White Fever in young Women which is a species of hysteric Diseases and the source of many miseries From what has been said it is very manifest that that is the chief indication in this Disease which directs the corroboration of the blood that is the Fountain and Origin of the Spirits which being done the invigorated Spirits can preserve that tenure that is agreeable to the Oeconomy of the whole body and the particular parts and therefore when the confusion of the Spirits has vitiated the humors by long continuance it will be proper first to lessen those humors so corrupted by bleeding and purging if the Patient has sufficient strength before we endeavour to corroberate the blood and which indeed we can scarce do whilst a feculent heap of humors lies in the way But forasmuch as Pains Vomiting and Looseness are sometimes so very severe that they will not bear a truce so long until we have satisfied the first intention of fortifying the blood therefore sometimes we must begin the Cure by quieting the effects the cause being let alone a little while with some anodyne Medicine and then we must endeavour to rectifie the Spirits whose infirm constitution is the cause of this Disease by which we may again endeavour to Cure such kind of Symptoms And because experience teaches that there are many stinking things that will repell the inordination of the Spirits and contain them in their places which are therefore call'd hysterics we must make use of them when we would answer such intentions According to what has been said I order the Sick to be blooded in the arm and that after bleeding she be purged three or four Mornings following The Woman thinks her self worse of those days she is blooded and purged for these evacuations promote the confusion of the Spirits which I take care to forewarn her of that she may not despair the Disease of it self being apt to incline her so to do But however those ill humours heapt up by the long continuance of the Disease are in some sort to be evacuated before we can well answer the prime intention After these evacuations some steel Remedy must be prescribed to be taken about a Month to comfort the blood and so consequently the Spirits that proceed from it and nothing will more certainly answer your intention in this case than steel for it raises a volatile ferment in the vapid and languid blood whereby the weak Spirits are roused that before were kept down by their own weight and this is very manifest for as often as Chalybeats are given in the Green Sickness the Pulse are presently greater and quicker and the outward parts grow warm and the pale and dead Countenance is changed and becomes fresh and lively But here we must take notice that bleeding and purging must not always be used before Chalibeats or when the Woman is weak and almost worn out by the long continuance of the Disease they may and ought to be omitted and you must begin with steel which must be well minded I think steel is most conveniently given in substance and as I never observed nor heard that so taken it ever injur'd any person so I have been fully satisfied by frequent experience that the bare substance performs the Cure sooner and better than any of the common Preparations of it for busie Chymists make this as well as other excellent Medicines worse rather than better by their perverse and over-officious diligence I have also heard and if it be true it much strengthens our assertion that the crude Mine as it is digg'd out of the Earth is more effectual in curing Diseases than Iron that has pass'd the Fire and bin purified by fusion So the Author affirms but I have not yet try'd whether it be so or not This I certainly know that there is no excellent and powerful Remedy which has not received its chief Vertues from Nature Upon which account grateful Antiquity
the Infant The third Tunicle within all these compasses the whole Birth round about defending it from all sharp exteriour humours being very soft and tender CHAP. III. Of the true generation of the parts and the increase of them according to the several days and seasons AFTER the Womb hath received the Genital Seed and by its heat hath shut them both up curdled and coagulated together from the first to the seventh day are generated many fibres bred by a hot motion in which not long after the Liver with its chief Organs is first formed Through which Organs the vital spirit being sent to the Seed within the tenth day forms and distinguishes the chiefest members This Spirit is let in through certain Veins of the Secondine through which the Blood flows in and out of which the Navel is generated At the same time in the clotted Seed there do appear three white lumps not unlike curdled Milk out of which arise the Liver the Brain and the Heart Presently after this a Vein is directed through the Navel to such the thicker sort of the Blood that remains in the Seed for the nourishment of the parts This Vein is two-forked In the other branch of this Vein is a certain blood collected out of which the Liver is first framed for the Liver is nothing but a certain mass of Blood or Blood coagulated and hardned to a substance And here you may see what a company of Veins it hath which serve both for the expulsive and attractive faculty In the other Branch are generated those Textures of Veins with a dilatation of other Veins as also of the Spleen and the Guts in the lower part of the Belly by and by all the Veins like branches gathering into one Trunk toward the upper part of the Liver meet all in the Concave or hollow Vein This Trunk sends other branches of Veins to constitute the Diaphragme others it sends into the upper part of the back-bone seated about the Diaphragme as also the lower parts as far as the Thighs Afterwards the Heart with its Veins directed from the Navel to that part of the Seed and carried as far as the Back-bone is formed These Veins suck the hottest and most subtil part of the Blood out of which the heart is generated in the membrane of the heart otherwise called the Pericardium being by nature thick and fleshy according as the heat of the Members requires Now the hollow vein extending it self and piercing the interior part of the right side of the heart carries blood thither for the nourishment of the heart From the same branch of this vein in the same part of the heart arises another vein called by some the still vein because it beats not with so quick a Pulse as the others do ordained to send the most purely concocted blood in the heart to the lungs being encompassed with two Tunicles like Arteries But in the concavity of the left part of the heart arises a great beating vein called the Aorta diffusing the vital spirit from the heart into all the beating veins in the body Under the said vein called the Aorta in the concavity of the heart there is another vein called the veiny Artery which was therefore framed to carry the cool air from the lungs to temper the great heat of the heart Now there being many veins which running from the concavity of the heart are inserted into the lungs therefore by these veins the lungs are also framed for the vein which proceeds from the right concavity produces a most subtile blood which is turned into the substance of the lungs By the great veins of the heart and liver the hollow vein and the Aorta is the whole breast generated and after that the arms and legs in order Within the foresaid time is generated the last and chiefest part of this substance that is to say Brain in the third little skin of this mass For the whole mass of the Seed being repleat with vital spirits that vital spirit contracts a great part of the Genital moisture into one certain hollowness where the Brain is formed outwardly it is covered with a certain covering which being baked and dried by the heat is reduced into a bone and so is the Skull made Now the Brain is so formed as to conceive retain and change the nature of all the vital spirits whence are the beginings of Reason and of all the Senses for as out of the Liver arise the Veins out of the Heart arise the Arteries so out of the Brain arise the Nerves of a more soft and gentle nature yet not hollow like Veins but sollid These are the cheifest instruments of all the Senses and by which all the motion of the Senses are made by the vital Spirit After the Nerves is generated by the Brain also the pith of the back-bone which cannot be called Marrow For the Marrow is a superfluous substance begot out of the Blood destined for the moistening and for the strengthening of the bones but the brain and pith of the back-bone take their beginning from the Seed being not destined for the nourishing or strengthning of the members but to constitute certain private and particular parts of the body for the motion and use the Senses that all the other Nerves may take their begining thence for from the pith of the back-bone do arise many Nerves by which the body obtains both sense and motion Here is also to be noted that out of the Seed it self are generated gristles bones tunicles for the Veins of the Liver the arteries of the heart the brain with its Nerves besides the tunicles and pannicles and the other coverings which the Infant is wrapt in Now of the proper blood of the Birth the flesh is formed and whatever parts are of a fleshy substance as the heart the liver the lights Then are all these nourished by the menstrous blood which is attracted through the veins of the Navel This is all distinctly done from the conception unto the eighteenth day of the first month in all which time it is called Seed After which it receives the name of Birth CHAP. IV. Of the nourishment of the Birth in the Womb. WHilst the Birth remains in the Womb it is cherished up with blood attracted through the Navel which is the reason that the flowers do cease alwayes in Women as soon as they have conceived Now this blood presently after conception is distinguished into three parts the purest of it drawn by the Child for the nourishment of it self the second which is less pure and thin the Womb forces upwards to the breast where it is turned into milk The third and most impure part of the blood remains in the Matrix and comes away with the Secondines both in the Birth and after the Birth Now the Infant being thus formed and perfected in the womb for the first month sends forth its Urine thro' the passages of the navel but in the last month that
small Veins which afterwards disperse themselves through the body of those Stones The substance of these Parastatae is between that of the Stones and that of the Preparing Vessels for they neither altogether consist of Membranes neither are they altogether Glandulous or Kernelly Upon the Stones as yet clad with the tunica albuginea are fixed the epididymidae called also Parastatae these do not differ from the Stones only these consists of divers ducts but those after their six or seven Roots that rise out of the Stone are united which they are in a short space but of one only a little thicker and the Parastatae differ not from the vasa deferentia saving that those go by a winding passage and these by a streight and that those are a little softer and narrower CHAP. IV. Of the Testicles in general THE Stones are in number two very seldom one and much seldomer 3 or 4 The situation of the Stones in Men is without the Midriff at the root of the Yard under the belly and that for two causes to keep men more chaste it being observed that those creatures which carry their stones within their Bodies are more salacious and bring forth in great numbers Their bigness is not always alike in all Creatures but in men as big as a Pigeons Egg or as a small Hens Egg and commonly the left is bigger than the right In the Anatomy of the Stones divers things are to be considered Their Tunicles or the skins in which they are wrapt as well those which are common to both as those which are peculiar to either next the muscles then the substance of which they are composed and lastly the Vessels which are dispersed through the body of the stones The Stones in Latin are called Testes either because they testifie one to be a Man or because amongst the Romans none could bear witness but he that had them They have a peculiar substance such as is not in all the Body besides whitish and soft made up of an innumerable little Ropes of Seed carrying Vessels There is no cavity in them but those said Vessels are continued to one another and carry the Seed in their undiscernable hollowness Hippocrates held the right to be bigger and hotter than the left and therefore called it the Male-getter and the left the Female-getter these fancies seem ridiculous seeing there is no such difference of their bigness and that their Vessels are common they have Arteries and Veins from the preparing Vessels which some have thought to reach only to the inmost coat because they are not conspicuous in the inner substance but that comes to pass by reason that the arterial Blood presently loses its colour and by the seminifick faculty of the Stones is turned into Seed which being whitish of the same colour with the Vessels makes them undiscernible yet in those men that have died of languishing Diseases and whose Stones have their faculty impaired Diemerbroeck says that he has often seen Blood-bringing Vessels in the inmost parts of the Stones and has shew'd them to many in the publick Anatomick Theatre As to Nerves Dr. Willis affirms that he could never observe more to go to them than one from a vertebral pair and that too was most of it spent upon the Muscle cremaster Concerning the Use of this Nerve there is a great Controversie Dr. Glisson Dr. Wharton and others will have it convey a seedy Juice which makes the greatest part of the Seed But Dr. Willis is of another Opinion however the Seed must needs consist of a nervous Juice and plenty of Spirits brought from the Brain because of the great weakness and enervation that is induced upon the Brain and Nerves by too great an use of Venery Lympheducts they have also arising from betwixt their coats and ascending upwards into the belly with the Vasa Deferentia these have many valves looking upwards which hinder any thing from descending by them to the Stones but permit the Lympha to ascend which they convey into the Chyliferous Vessels CHAP. V. Of the Tunicles of the Stones THE Tunicles are wrapt up in divers coverings about the number of which there hath been great dissention But they are now reduced to five whereof two are common and are called Scrotum and Dartos three particular the names of which are Elytroides Erythroides and Epididymis The first of these which is like a Satchel or Purse and is common to both consists of a skin and a cuticle This contains the two Stones like a Purse and is obvious to the touch The skin of this part differs from any other part of the skin which covers the body for whereas that is stretched out and spread close over the body this is more loose and made to stretch out or to be wrinkled up together as occasion is that is as the stones either ascend or descend they ascend commonly in the time of Conjunction they descend in Fevers weakness of the Testicles or by reason of old age The second is called Dartos because it is easily separated from the others In this the Testicles lie as it were in a nest wrapping them about more close than the Scrotum doth It takes its original from the Fleshy Pannicle which though it be thinner hereabouts than in any other part of the body yet it is full of little veins and arteries The proper Tunicles are first the Elytroides which is also called Vaginalis by reason it supplies the office of a sheath It takes its original from the production of the Peritonaeum for where the spermatick Vessels pass they do not at all bruise the Peritonaeum but carry it down to the Stones and so constitute or make this Tunicle To know this Tunicle and the original of it is very necessary for Physick because that hollowness which the Processes of the Peritonaeum do make for the passage of the spermatick Vessels is sometimes dilated as far as the beginning or source of this Tunicle and both the small guts and the Kall fall down upon the Testicles which is the cause of that kind of Burstness which by the Physicians is called Enterocele This Tunicle grows to that which is called Dartos being joyned to it by many nervous fibres Underneath this is a Tunicle called Erythroides or the red Tunicle so called from the multitude of red veins which are sprinkled up and down in it It rises from the other Membranes and is encompassed without by the first proper Tunick The third and that which immediately compasseth the stones is that which is called Epididymis it is white thick and strong to preserve the soft and loose substance of the Stones It riseth from the Tunicle of the seminal Vessels being the thickest of all the Tunicles and hath some few veins scattered up and down in it CHAP. VI. Of the suspensory Muscles TO keep the Stones from oppressing or stretching over-much the passages of the seminal Vessels Nature hath provided them two muscles
be too violent is the cause of priapism A third cause proceeds from the abundance of Urine contained in the Bladder Sometimes the heat of the reins is a cause thereof CHAP. XVI Of the use of the Yard in general THE Yard is situated under the Midriff over against the Womb. And is also placed between the thighs for the greater strengthning of it in the act of copulation neither is this the only strength which it hath for at the lower part it appears more fleshy which flesh is altogether muscely for the greater strength thereof Neither is it only contented with this Muscely flesh it having two Muscles also for the same purpose on both sides to poise it eaven in the act of erection which though they are but little yet are they exceeding strong The figure of the Yard is not absolutely round but broader on the upper side lest it should be hindered by the the convexity of the superior part in the casting forth of the Seed Concerning the bigness of the Yard it is by most esteemed to be of a just length when it is extended the breadth of nine thumbs CHAP. XVII Of the use of the parts constituting the Yard THE first thing in the constitution of the Yard that offers it self to view is the Skin which is long and loose by reason that the Yard which is sometimes to be extended and sometimes to fall down again so requires it The extremity of the skin is so ordered that it sometimes covers the Glans and sometimes draws back that whilst it covers the Nut of the Yard it may defend the Yard from frication or provoking the motion of the Seed Moreover this skin in the act of copulation shuts up the mouth of the Womb and hinders the ingress of the cold air Concerning the two nervous bodies constituting the substance of the Yard their use is for the vital spirit to run through the thin substance of them and fill the Yard with spirits Moreover by their thickness they do prevent the two hasty emptying and flying out of the spirits which are to stay in for the greater and longer erection of the Yard The use of the Urethra is for the passage of Seed and Urine through it The substance of the Urethra is much of the same with the two former bodies the inside being more thin and loose the outside more nervous and thick which is so ordained that it may be more apt to be erected with the Yard It goes forward from the place where it begins to the end of the Spermatick Vessels and the neck of the bladder and the warty Forestanders where there arises a thin and tender membrane which the Chyrurgeons ought to take a great deal of care lest they break while they thrust their Syringes toward those parts It is endued with an exquisite sense to stir up pleasure and venereal desire As to the substance of the Glans it is the same with that of the Yard only it is not invelop'd with any nervous body For this ought to be repleted and increased but not hardned lest it should injure the bone of the Womb by rubbing too hard upon it The figure of the Glans is such that at the top where it is most acute it hath a hole for the issuing forth both of Seed and Urine which part coming to the mouth of the Womb casts the seed into that concavity at which time the neck of the Womb with her overthwart fibres seems to take hold and imbrace the Glans and that it might take the better hold Nature hath framed a round circle at the bottom of the Yard for that purpose with a convenient jetting out round about from the body of the Yard by the benefit of which circle the Seed is kept in the womb and not suffered to flye out Lastly the Glans is so constituted as if all the actions of the Yard consisted in the Glans whether in the act of erection or copulation or as to the pleasure which a man perceives that lies all in this place SECT II. CHAP. I. Of the Genitals of Women AT the lower part of the belly appears the Pubes or the Region of the hair Under this place are as it were lips of flesh which in women that are ripe for man are clad with hair at the upper part because of the heat and moisture of the place and this part is that which is most properly called the Privy-member being the exteriour orifice into which the Yard of the man enters In the middle it hath a cleft on both sides of which are two fleshy protuberances beset with hair being two soft oblong bodies composed of skin and a spongy kind of flesh The parts that offer themselves to view without any diduction are the great chink with the lips the mountain of Venus and the hairs The great chink is called Cunnus by Galen by Hypocrates Natura and by many other names invented by lustful Persons and lascivious Poets It reaches from the lower part of the os Pubis to within an Inch of the Fundament being by Nature made so large because the outward skin is not so apt to be extended in Travel as the membranous sheath it is less and closer in Maids than in those that have born Children it has two lips which towards the Pubes grow thicker and more full or protuberant and meeting upon the middle of the os Pubis make that rising which is called the hill of Venus its outward substance is skin covered with hair as the lips are the inner substance of this hill which makes it bunch so up is most of it fat and serves as it were for a soft Cushion in copulation to hinder the bone of the Pubes of the Man and Woman to hit one against the other for that would be painful and disturb the venereal Pleasures Under this fat lies that Muscle that straitens the Orifice of the sheath CHAP. II. Of those parts called Nymphae and the Clytoris THE Nymphae or wings are a membrany or filmy substance soft and spongy and partly fleshy they are of a ruddy colour like the comb of a cock under his throat they are two in number though in the beginning they are joyned together by an acute Angle where they produce a carneous substance like the Praeputium which cloaths the Clytoris Sometimes these wings so far encrease that there is many times need of incision a disease common among the Egyptians The Clytoris is a certain substance in the upper part of the great Cleft where the two wings concur This in Women is the seat of Venereal pleasure It is like the Yard in situation substance composition and erection and hath something correspondent both to the Prepuce and to the Glans in men Sometimes it grows out to the bigness of the Yard so that it hath bin observed to grow out of the body the breadth of four fingers This Clytoris consists of two spongy and sinewy bodies having a
distinct original from the bone of the Pubes The head of this is covered with a most tender skin and hath a hole like the Glans though not quite through in which and in the bigness it differs only from the Yard By a little drawing aside the lips there then appear the Nymphs and Clytoris The Nymphs are so called because they stand next to the Urine as it spouts out from the Bladder and keep it from wetting the lips they are also call'd wings they are placed on each side next within the lips and are two fleshy and soft productions beginning at the upper part of the privity where they are joined in an Acute angle and make that wrinkled membranous production that covers the Clytoris like a fore-skin and descending close all the way to each other reaching but about half the breadth of the Orifice of the sheath and ending each in an obtuse angle They are almost Triangular and therefore as also for their colour are compared to the thrills that hang under a cocks throat They have a red substance partly fleshy partly membranous within soft and spongy loosly composed of small Membranes and Vessels so that they are very easily stretched by the flowing in of the animal Spirits and arterial Blood The Spirits they have from the same Nerves that run thro' the sheath and blood from one of the branches of the Iliack Artery Veins they have also which carry away the arterial blood from them when they become flaccid They are larger in old Maids than in young and larger yet in those that have used Copulation or born Children They never according to Nature reach above half way out from between the lips their use is to defend the inner parts to cover the urinary passages and a good part of the Orifice of the sheath and to the same purposes serve the lips Above betwixt the Nymphs in the upper part of the privities a part bunches out a little that is called Clytoris from a Greek word that signifies lasciviously to grope the privities It is like a mans Yard in shape situation substance repletion with Spirits and erection and differs from it only in length and bigness in some it grows to that length as to hang out from betwixt the lips of the privities yea there are many stories of such as have had it so long and big as to be able to converse with other Women like unto men and such are called Hermophridites who it is not probable are truly of both Sexes but only the Stones fall down into the lips and this Clytoris is stretched preternaturally but in most it branches out so little as that it does not appear but by drawing aside the lips it is a little long and round body consisting like a mans Yard of two nervous and inwardly black and spongy parts that arise on each side from the bunching of the bone Ischium and meet together at the Conjunction of the bones of the Pubes It lies under the hill of Venus at the top of the great Cleft in Venery by reason of the two nervous bodies it puffs up and straightning the Orifice of the sheath contributes to the embracing the Yard more closely It s outward end is like to the Glans of a Mans Yard and has the same name and as the Glans in men is the seat of the greatest pleasure in Copulation so is this in Women It has some resemblance of a hole but it is not pervious It is most of it covered with a thin Membrane by the joyning of the Nymphs which is called the Prepuce The Clytoris has two pair of Muscles belonging to it the upper are round and spring from the bones of the hip and passing along the two nervous bodies are inserted into them these by straitning the roots of the said bodies do detain the Blood and Spirits in them and so erect the Clytoris as those in men do the Yard the other arise from the Sphincter of the fundament it has veins arteries and nerves CHAP. III. Of the fleshy knobs and the greater neck of the Womb. PResently behind the wings before we go far inward in the middle of the Cleft there do appear four knobs of flesh being placed in a quadrangular form one against the other they are said to resemble Myrtle-berries in form In this place is incerted the Orifice of the bladder which opens it self into the fissure to cast forth the Urine into the common Channel Now least any cold air or dust or any such thing should enter into the Bladder after the voiding of the Urine one of these knobs is seated so that it shuts the urinary passage The second is right opposite to the first the other two collateral They are round in Virgins but they hang flagging when Virginity is lost The lips of the Womb being gently separated the neck of the Womb is to be seen In which two things are to be observed the neck it self or the channel and the Hymen which is there placed By the neck of the Womb is understood the channel which is between the said knobs and the inner bone of the womb which receives the Yard like a Sheath The substance of it is sinewy and a little spongy that it may be dilated in this concavity there are certain folds or orbicular pleights these are made by a certain Tunicle so wrinkled as if a man should fold the skin with his fingers In Virgins they are plain in Women with often copulation they are oftentimes worn out sometimes they are wholly worn out and the inner side of the Neck appears smooth as it happens to Whores and Women that have often brought forth or have bin over troubled with their fluxes In old Women it becomes more hard and grisly Now though this Channel be something writhed and crooked when it falls and sinks down yet in time of the flowers and copulation or in time of travel it is erected and extended and this over-great extension in Women that bring forth is the cause of that great pain in Child-bed CHAP. IV. Of the Hymen THE Hymen is a Membrane not altogether without blood neither so tender as the rest but more ruddy and scatter'd up and down with little veins and in a circular form it is placed overthwart and shuts up the cavity of the neck of the Womb. In the middle it hath a little hole through which the Menses are voided This at the first time of Copulation is broken which causes some pain and gushing forth of some quantity of blood which is an evident sign of Virginity for if the blood do not flow there is a suspicion of a former deflowring The Hymen is a thin nervous membrane interwoven with fleshy fibres and endowed with many little Arteries and Veins coming across the passage of the sheath behind the incertion of the neck of the bladder with a hole in the midst that will admit the top of ones little finger whereby the Courses
flow where it is found it is a certain note of Virginity but upon the first Copulation it is broke and bleeds and when it is once broke it never closes again This Blood is called the flower of Virginity and of this the Scripture makes mention Dut. cap. 22. 13.21 But tho' a man when he finds these signs of Virginity may be fully satisfied he hath married a Maid yet on the contrary it will not necessarily follow that where they are wanting Virginity is also wanting for the Hymen may be corroded by acrimonious fretting Humours flowing thro' with the courses or from the falling out or inversion of the Womb or sheath at least It sometimes happens even to Maids for if a Maid be so inconsiderate as to marry while her courses flow or within a Day after then both the Hymen and the inner wrinkled Membrane of the Sheath are so flaggy and relaxed that the Yard may easily enter with out any lett and so give suspicion of Unchastity when really she is unblameable saving for her imprudence to marry at that season Sometimes the Hymen grows so strong in old Maids that a Man is forced to make many essays before he can penetrate it and in some it is naturally quite closed up and these by this means having their courses stopt are in great danger of their life if they be not opened by some Chyrurgical Instrument Close to the Hymen lye the four Myrtle-berry Caruncles so called from their resembling Myrtle-berries The largest of them is uppermost standing just at the Mouth of the Urinary passage which it stops after rendring the Urine Opposite to this in the bottom of the sheath there is another and one on each side but of these four there is only the first in Maids the other three are not indeed Caruncles but little knobs made of the angular parts of the broken Hymen roll'd into a heap by the wrinkling of the sheath These three when the sheath is extended in Womens labour loose their roughness and become smooth so that they disappear until it be again contracted and indeed the sheath near its outer orifice has a Muscle near three Fingers broad that upon occasion contracts it so that Men and Women need not be solicitous concerning their Genitals being proportionable one to the other CHAP. V. Of the Vessels that run through the neck of the Womb. BEtween the Duplicity of the two Tunicles that constitute the neck of the Womb there are many Veins and Arteries that run along arising from those Vessels that descend on both sides the thighs and are incerted into the side of the neck of the Womb The great quantity and bigness of them deserves admiration for they are much bigger than the nature and openness of the place seems to require The cause of this is twofold first Because it being requisite for the neck of the Womb to be filled with abundance of spirits and to be extended and dilated for the better taking hold of the Yard there is required a great heat for these kind of motions which growing more intense by the act of frication doth consume a great quantity of moisture so that great Vessels are requisite and only able to make that continual supply that is needful There is another cause of the longness of these Vessels which is this Because that the monthly purgations are poured through those veins for the flowers must not come only out of the Womb but out of the neck of the Womb also Whence it happens that Women with Child do sometimes continue their purgations because that though the womb be shut up yet the passages in the neck of the womb are open This is also further to be noted in the neck of the womb that as soon as ever your sight is entred within the female fissure there do appear to the view two certain little holes or pits wherein is contained a serous humour which being pressed out in the act of copulation does not a little add to the pleasure thereof This is the humour with which women do moisten the top of a mans Yard not the Seed but a humour proper to the place voided out by the Womb. CHAP. VI. Of the Fabrick of the Womb. TO the neck of the Womb the Womb it self is adjoined in the lower part of the Hypogastrium where the hips are widest and broadest which are greater and broader thereabouts than those of men which is the reason also that they have broader Buttocks than men have The Womb is placed between the Bladder and the streight gut being joined to the bladder and leaning upon the streight gut where it lies as between two Cushions this situation of the womb was fittest that so it might have liberty to be stretched or contracted according to the bigness of the Fruit contained in it The figure of the womb is round and not unlike a Gourd that lessens and grows more acute at the one end The bottom of the womb is knit together by Ligaments of its own which are peculiar The neck of the womb is joined by its own substance and by certain Membranes to the Share-bone and the Sacred bone As to the bigness of it that varies according to the age or constitution of the body and use of Venery For it is much greater in Women that have brought forth than in those that are with Child and after the birth It is of a substance so thick as that it exceeds a thumbs breadth in thickness which after conception is so far from decreasing that it increases still to a greater bulk and proportion This substance the more to confirm it is interweaved with all manner of fibres streight oblique and overthwart The Vessels of the Womb are Veins Arteries and Nerves There are two little Veins which are carried from the spermatick Vessels to the bottom of the womb and two greater from the Hypogastricks which go not only to the bottom but to the neck The mouth of these veins pierce as far as the inward concavity in which place the extremities of them are called Acetabula which in the time of the Flowers gape and open themselves by reason of the great plenty and stream of blood that pours it self from thence and therefore they are at that time most conspicuous in women with Child that which is called the Liver of the Womb is joined to them that it might draw blood for the nourishment of the Child at which time their veins do so swell especially in the time of or near Delivery that they are as big as the Emulgent veins or at least half as thick as the Hollow vein It hath two Arteries on both sides the Spermatick and the Hypogastrick which every where do accompany the Veins The Womb hath also divers little nerves knit together in form of a Net which are carried not only to the interior part of the bottom of the Womb but also to the Neck and as
usual in Dropsies In this case the natural heat is not able to concoct the nourishment and to drive out that which is superfluous for this sort of swelling make a bath of Camomile Melilot and Lavender and the Ashes of Vines afterwards foment with Aromatic Wine and in it dip compresses to be laid on and to be repeated three or four times a day But usually these swellings go off of themselves when the Woman is delivered the whole Body being cleansed by the Child-bed purgations Many big bellied Women are subject to the piles because the courses that were wont to be evacuated monthly are collected in a great quantity and flow back upon the Body They are also occasioned by the Costivness of the body they are painful Swellings and Inflamations occasioned by a Flux of humours to the Fundament Some are internal some external some small and with little or no pain and some very big and painful It is easy enough to prevent their further growth by remedies which hinder and turn the Flux from those parts when they are small and without pain but the greatest care is to be taken when they are large and painful First therefore you must endeavour to ease the pain for as long as that remains the Flux is ever increased and if Bloud abounds she may be blooded in the Arm-once and again if the case require it to divert the humours and to lessen them If Costiveness be the cause an emollient Glister must be injected made of the decoction of Mallows Marshmallows Violets and sweet Butter or Oyl of Almonds but you must be sure to add nothing that may fret or provoke the parts least the disease should be increased thereby especially when the piles are within Some put the small end of a pullets gut upon the end of the Glister-pipe that it may be the easier injected You may else anoint the swellings with Galen's cooling Oyntment mixed with an equal part of Populeon or you may use the hot stroakings of a Cow or you may foment with a Decoction of Marshmallows and linseed Oyls of sweet Almonds Poppies and water Lillies well beaten together with the Yolk of an Egg and ground in a leaden Mortar give great ease A cooling Diet must be ordered and the woman must keep her Bed till the Flux of the Humours is gone If the Swelling do not abate upon the use of these things Leeches must be apply'd But it is to be noted that in Women with Child the bleeding of the Piles may be beneficial if the Bleeding be moderate and without pain But if it flow in too great quantity the Mother and Child will be weakened thereby therefore if so it will be necessary to apply an astringent Fomentation made of a Decoction of Pomgranate Peel Province Roses Granat Flowers and a little Allom and to turn the Blood bleeding in the Arm is requisite Women with Child are subject to several Fluxes viz. a Looseness the Flux of the Courses and Floodings There are three sorts of Loosenesses a Lientery wherein the meat passes through raw and undigested a frequent Ejection of Excrement and Humours Lastly the Bloody Flux which together with the Evacuation of Humours and Excrements voids Blood with violent pains But whatever sort of Flux it is if it be much and of long continuance the Woman is in danger of miscarrying for in a Lientary the Mother and Child are much weakened that being cast out by Stool which should be the Nourishment and the Strength and Spirits are much weakened by a common Looseness but the bloody Flux is most dangerous because the frequent endeavours to go to Stool greatly disturb the Womb. As to the Cure of these Fluxes whereof great Care ought to be had in time for they occasion Miscarriages the Woman afflicted with a Lientery ought to use meat of easie digestion and little at a time that so her Stomach may be able to concoct it and she ought to drink Claret mixed with water wherein Iron hath been quenched and before and after Meals a little burnt Wine or good Canary may be drank or a little Marmalade of Quinces may be eat If it be only a loosness and is gentle and is not of long continuance it needs not be much regarded and therefore ought to be left to Nature but if it continues five or six days some gentle purging Medicine ought to be used as Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb or the like But great care ought to be taken in the bloody flux lest by its continuance it should cause miscarriage In this case the ill humours must be first purged off with Syrup of Succory and Rhubarb or the like and Broaths made of Veal and Chicken with cooling herbs in them must be used to qualifie the Acrimony of the humours and she must drink Claret wine and Water wherein Iron has been quenched or half a Spoonful of Syrup of Quinces may be mixed with Water and every other Night at Bed time after purging she may take fifteen or 20 Drops of liquid Laudanum and Glisters may be injected made of Calves Head or Sheeps head Broath and to prevent the frequent Endeavours of going to Stool a Glister made of Milk and the Yolk of an Egg mixed may be now and then injected When a Woman is with Child generally speaking she ought not to have her Courses because their ordinary passage is stopt and also because the Blood is then employ'd for the Nourishment of the Child yet some big bellied Women have their monthly purgations till the fifth Month and yet go out their time and do very well A Woman having her courses thought she was not with Child and because she found her self indisposed she advised with a Physician who by Bleeding and purging her made her miscarry after she had bin three Months gone with Child It is to be noted that when Women with Child have a Flux of Blood you must carefully consider whither it be the ordinary Courses or a real Flooding if if it be the ordinary Courses the Blood comes at the accustomed times and flows by degrees from the Neck near the inward Orifice of the Womb and not from the Bottom of it as may be perceived if trying with a Finger you find the inward Orifice quite closed which could not be if the Blood issued from the Bottom It must be likewise considered whether the Courses flow by reason of the Superfluity of the Blood the Acrimomony of it or the weakness of the Vessels If abundance of Blood be alone the Cause there being more than enough for the Nourishment of the Child it injures neither Mother nor Child but is a Benefit to both provided it be moderate But if there be not abundance of Blood and if the Woman use to have but a small quantity of her Courses before she was with Child it is a sign that the Flux proceeds from the Heat and Acrimony of the Blood or the Weakness of the Vessels To prevent this Flux when
Senna the decoction of Dodder of Time also the decoctions of Cassia Tamarinds and the like with the purging Syrup of Apples These Humours being tough require frequent purging but the Purges must not be strong After evacuations you must endeavour revulsion to contrary parts by Frictions Cupping Issues and the like for obstructions of the Hemorrhoid Leeches may be applyed and in a suppression of the Courses a Vein may be opened in the Leg or Arm. The third intention is performed in treating the Humour it self in doing which these directions are to be followed First you must not use repeâ—â—ents for cold and tough Humours whereof these Swellings consist cannot return back as hot humours but do increase thereby In the next place you ought to be cautious in the use of Emollients alone for thereby they are frequently exasperated and end in Cancers You ought also to forbear the use of strong Discutients lest thereby you resolve the serous thin humours and convert the thicker part into a more solid substance therefore you are to consider well the habit of the body and whether the Scirrhus be old or new As to the habit of the Body young People and such as live effeminately must be treated with milder resolvents than those who live a laborious life So also a new Scirrhus whilst it is increasing requires milder applications than the confirmed and inveterate one the milder resolvents are fresh Butter Hens-grease oyl of sweet Almonds and Lillies Ducks and Goose-grease the Suet of a Calf a Goat Cow old Lard the roots of Marsh-mallows Lillies and the like the stronger are the roots of wild Cucumber Briony Solamons seal Orris Ship-pitch Liquid-pitch Turpentine Galbanum Ammoniacum Bdellium Opoponax and the like Vinegar by reason of its penetrative quality is properly mixed with other Medicines to dissolve thick humours For Fomentations use the following Take of the roots of Marsh-mallows and Lillies each four ounces of the roots of wild Cucumber two ounces of the tops of Hemlock two handfuls of the tops of Marjoram one handful of the flowers of Melilot and Elder each one Pugil of the seeds of Flax Fenugreek and Marsh-mallows each one ounce boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain-water to the strained liquor add a little Vinegar In soft Bodies when the Scirrhous is new Take of the roots of Marsh-mallows half a pound of the roots of Lillies three ounces of the seeds of Flax and Fenugreek each one ounce boyl them in Broth made of the feet and head of a Sheep then beat them and pulp them thro' a Sive and add to them of the oyl of Camomile and Lillies each two ounces of Oesypus one ounce and an half of simple Diachylon Plaister dissolved in oyl of Lillies three ounces with a sufficient quantity of white wax make a Cerate In dry bodies where the Scirrhous is more confirmed a fume of Vinegar or of Spirit of Wine sprinkled upon a hot stone are of excellent use for resolving these tumours afterwards you must chafe the part and apply the following Take of Galbanum Ammoniacum and Bdellium dissolved in Vinegar and of liquid Storax each one ounce of great Diachylon two ounces of oyl of Lillies and Goose grease each one ounce of the cerate of Oesypus two ounces melt them all together and with white wax make a soft Cerate If by the use of these Medicines the Scirrhus tend to suppuration it must be treated accordingly but be careful you be not deceived and the suppuration prove false and end in a Cancer A Gentlewoman of a full body having been long diseased by an immoderate flux of the Courses and subject to a Cough and shortness of breath and the like at length recovered her Health by the prescriptions of her Physician and enjoyed it the space of a year but was afterwards seiz'd with a straitness and pain in her right Breast which encreased much with inflamation At first sight it seemed to be a confirmed Cancer fixed to the ribs but upon more mature deliberation and handling of it the Surgeon found the Disease was in the skin and that the Glands and Musculous flesh underneath were not hard or otherwise affected than as they were bound in by the intense hardness of the skin which kept them immoveable from that uneasiness an Erisypelas was raised which overspread the skin of the Breast and parts about with great heat The Surgeon supposed the hardness proceeded from a concretion of the nutritious juices he applied over the parts affected Galen's Cerate to repress the heat and supplied her with Medicines to dress her self that she might according to her desire return to her house in the Country where she was let blood and purged with Manna and Cream of Tartar dissolved in Whey and she was afterwards purged with Epsom waters But after all growing more indisposed she returned to London at which time her Breast was inflamed and excoriated and several hard Tubercles were upon the skin that gleeted much the Scirrhus was also spread up that side of the neck by the Mastoide Muscle to the bone of the shoulder and Scapula and so under that arm-pit and down that side some of the excoriations were dressed with Vigo's Oyntment of Tutty and others with Pledgets dipt in this following Lotion Take of Frog spawn-water one pint of the seeds of Quinces two drams of the seeds of Plantain one drâ—m infuse them hot twenty four hours to the strained liquor add of the white Troches of Rhasis powdered one dram of Sugar of Saturn half a Scruple Over all was applied some of the following Cerate Take of the Muscilage of the seeds of Quinces and Fleabane extracted in Night-shade-water each four ounces Unguentum-nutritum three ounces Populeon Oyntment six ounces with a sufficient quantity of white wax make a Cerate Thus the Inflamation remitted and the Excoriations were heal'd in some places and checkt in others Many inward Remedies were also prescribed viz. Emulsions Cordials and the like according to the accidents which hapened but the Scirrhus still spreading over-ran the other Breast and side of the neck and in a few weeks made her neck stiff and immoveable and by reason of the compression which was made in the arm-pit and about the shoulder there was a stagnation of the humours and the arm swell'd to the fingers ends The arm was fomented with a decoction of the leaves and roots of Marsh mallows of the leaves of Violets Plantain Night-shade Willow Ducks-meat of the flowers of Camomile and Melilot of the seeds of Flax and Fenugreek and Embrocations Cerates Emollients and Resolvents were used to succour the parts but all this while she was afflicted either with the Collick a Looseness or Vomiting Mercurius dulcis was also used inwardly to carry off the matter and Mercurial Oyntments outwardly and the Surgeon would have Salivated her if she would have permitted The Scirrhus seized on both sides of her neck her shoulders arms breasts and sides and began to invade the skin of her
the beginning yet it is afterwards very difficult for by this means the whole body accustoms it self to send forth its excrements this way and the Womb being now weakned gathers excrements apace Sometimes it proceeds from the whole body and then you may perceive the signs of an ill humor through the whole body In the Cure of this you must avoid blood-letting for that the bad humor must not be recalled to defile the blood besides that the disease is a sufficient weakning and consuming of the body The humor is discussed by the decoction of Guaiacum and China and Lentisk-wood For the drying up of the humor the Root of Filipendula doth very much conduce For astringent Medicines you may use chiefly the powder of dead men's bones the ashes of Capons-dung in rain water The Patient must avoid sleeping upon her back lest the heat of the Lungs should carry the humors toward the Womb Frictions also of the upper parts for the diversion of the humor may be used Sometimes it is caused by the Womb it self and then there will appear signs of the affection of the Womb and the Flux is not so great For the Cure of this Suffumigations of Frankincense Labdanum Mastick and Sanders are very requisite Of the Green-Sickness THE Green-Sickness is a changing of the colour of the Face into a green and pale colour proceeding from the rawness of the humors The signs of this appear in the Face to which may be added a great pain in the Head difficulty of breathing with a palpitation of the heart a small and thick beating of the Arteries in the Neck Back and Temples sometimes inordinate Fevers through the vitiousness of the humors loathing of Meat Vomiting distention of the Hypocondriack part by reason of the reflux of the menstrous blood to the greater Vessels a swelling of the whole body by reason of the abundance of humors or of the Thighs and Legs above the heels by reason of the abundance of serous humors The Cause is the crudity and rawness of the humor and quantity withal arising from the suppression of the Courses through the natural narrowness of the vessels or through an acquired narrowness of the vessels by the eating of Oatmeal Chalk Earth Nutmegs and drinking of Vinegar or from the obstruction of the other bowels Hence arises an ill concoction in the bowels and the humors are carried into the habit of the body or become habitual thereunto The Cure is performed by the letting of blood especially in the heel if the Disease be of any continuance by Purgation preparation of the humour being first considered which is performed by the decoction of Guaiacum with â—retan Dittany purging of the humor is performed with Agarick Aloes Succotrin with the â—â—ice of Savin for the unobstructing of the humor prepared Steel the root of Scorzonera Bezoarstone in diet Vinegar is utterly to be avoided The Cure of this Disease is performed by opening Obstructions by purging off vitious Humours by correcting the intemperies of the Bowels and by strengthening them First therefore a gentle purging Medicine must be given that is agreeable to the Constitution that the first region may be emptied and if the Belly be bound a Glister must be given first of all afterwards bleeding must be ordered unless the Disease is very inveterate and the Maid be inclined to a Cachexy But a Vein in the Arm must be opened tho' the Courses are stopt for at that time if you bleed in the Foot the obstructions of the Veins and of the Womb would be increased That quantity of Blood being taken away that is necessary proper purges must be used Take of the Pill Coch. major two scruples of Castor powdered two grains of Peruvian Balsom four drops make four Pills let her take them at five in the Morning and sleep after them if she can Let these Pills be repeated twice or thrice every Morning or every other Morning according to the strength of the sick and their operation After the purging Pills let her take the following Take of the fileings of Steel eight grains with a sufficient quantity of extract of Wormwood make two Pills to be taken in the Morning and they must be repeated at five in the Afternoon She must continue this Course for a Month drinking presently after the Pills a draught of Wormwood-wine If a Bolus be more pleasing Take of the conserve of Roman Wormwood and of the conserve of the inner peell of Oranges each one ounce of candied Angelica and Nutmegs candied and of Venice Treacle each half an ounce of Ginger candied two drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges make an Electuary take of this Electuary one dram and an half of the filings of Steel well powdered eight grains with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges make a Bolus to be taken in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon drinking upon it a draught of Wormwood wine Of the suffocation of the Matrix THE signs of the Suffocation of the Womb are a weariness of the whole body with a weakness of the Thighs a paleness and sadness of the Face a nauseousness though seldom vomiting oftentimes a loathing and distate of Meat and that sometimes with a grumbling and noise in the Belly and sometimes without The signs of the present Disease are that when the Vapours are carried up to the Heart and do there stop the vital Spirits a light swooning follows the Pulse changes and is little the Body grows cold all the spirits flying up into the Heart the Vapour being thrust up to the Head and Chaps the Chaps are many times set fast the Patient seeming to be stifled the motion of the Breast and Diaphragm is disturbed and hindred so that the breath is almost stopt the Patient living only by transpiration Sometimes there is joined with it a kind of Uterine fury with talking and anger Sometimes it causes other madness sometimes the Woman falls into a dead sleep which makes her seem as though she were dead It differs from the Epilepsie because in that the Convulsive motions are more general nor is there any memory of those things which happen about them after the Fit the Pulse is great and the Mouth of the Party affected fomes with a froth It differs from the Apoplexy because in that the Fit comes suddenly without any notice and the Patient is affected with a kind of snorting and there is such a Resolution of the parts that they feel not although they be pricked It differs from a Syncope in that there are no signs when the Fit will be the Pulse ceases to the apprehension and the Patient is troubled with cold sweats They differ from dead people by sneezing which may be provoked by putting something for that purpose into the Nose The cause of this is a venemous subtle and thin Vapour piercing in one moment through the whole body and carried up from the matter in the Womb corrupted after a peculiar manner either
by it self or from external means such are perfumes anger fear c. and not only ascending through the veins but also through all the other breathing holes and secret passages of the body The Cure is doubtful if it have possessed old Women for a time for it begets weakness consumes the strength and shews abundance of humour or if it possesseth Child-bearing Women either after a difficult Travel or after an Abortion or if it possesseth Women with Child because it induces fear of Abortion there is more hope if the act of Respiration be not too much impeded and if the Fits do not return too often The Cure regards first the time of the Fit being performed first by means of interception which may be done by binding the Belly under the Navel with a girdle made of the skin of a Hart killed in the very act of Copulation Secondly by keeping the natural Spirits awaked and rouzed up by painful friction by pulling the hairs of the Privities with violence and suffumigations made with Partridge feathers burnt as also Eel-skins the application of Assa faetida and Oil of Tartar to the mouth Thirdly by way of revulsion of the humour by Frictions and Glysters dispelling the winds and the application of Cupping-glasses with much flame first to the Thighs and then to the Hips putting sweet things into the Privities such as are Oil of Sivet half a scruple Oil of Nutmegs one scruple Fourthly by discussion of the humour which is performed inwardly by the Oil of white Amber with the pouder of Walnut Flowers extract of Castor externally by an Emplaister of the fat of a black Heifer Sclarea boiled in butter adding to it a sufficient quantity of Tachamahacca and Caranna After the fit is past evacuation is to be regarded first with purgation for which purpose it will not be amiss to use these ensuing Pills Take Siler mountain Pennyroyal Madder the innermost part of Cassia Pipe Pomegranate Kernels Piony roots and Calamus of each three drams Muscus and Spike of India of each half a dram then make Pills thereof with the juice of Mugwort of which she may take every day or every other day before Supper If the disease proceed from the terms let the Woman affected take an Ounce of Agarick poudered in Wine or honied water or a dram of Agnus Castus powder'd with an ounce of Honey of Roses The Womb is also to be strengthned by the internal and external application of such things as resist the malignity of the Disease among which are numbred Faecula Brioniae and Castor The difference of this Disease consists in this that sometimes it happens that it is occasioned by the retention of the Seed which is known by this that the symptoms of the Disease are more violent and after the fit is past there flows out of the Womb a matter like to that of the seed It is cur'd by evacuation of the seed such as are Rue and Agnus Castus and anointing with odoriferous salves especially if the woman be to live without the use of man If it come from the suppression of the terms which is known by the Courses being mingled with a melancholy blood take powdered Agaric a dram of Pioney seeds or the weight of a dram and a half of Triphera magna But take this for a secret that for a married Woman in case of the present suffocation there is nothing better than for the Man to anoint the top of his Yard with a little Oyl of Gilliflowers and Oyl of sweet Almonds together and so to lye with her for this assuredly brings down the Matrix again This Disease is very frequent the Procatartick or external Causes of it are either violent motions of the body or which is much oftner vehement commotions of the Mind from some sudden assault either of Anger or Grief or the like Passions Therefore as often as Women are troubled with this or that disorder of Body the reason whereof cannot be deduced from the common Axioms for finding out Diseases we must diligently enquire whether they are not chiefly afflicted with that indisposition which they complain of when they have been disturbed in their minds and afflicted with grief which if they confess we may be fully satisfied that this disorder proceeds from this Disease we are now speaking of especially if Urine as clear as Chrystal evacuated copiously some certain times makes the Diagnostick more manifest But to these disorders of the Mind which are usually the occasions of this Disease is to be added emptiness of the stomach by reason of long fasting immoderate bleeding and a Vomit or Purge that worked too much and certainly this Disease proceeds from a confusion of the Spirits upon which account too many of them in a crowd contrary to proportion are hurried violently upon this or that part occasioning Convulsions and pain when they rush upon parts indued with exquisite sense perverting the functions of the Organs both of that into which they thrust themselves and also of that from whence they departed both being much injured by this unequal distribution which is quite contrary to the Oeconomy of Nature The Origen and Antecedent Cause of this confusion is a weak constitution of the Spirits whether it is natural or adventitious for which Reason they are easily dissipated upon any occasion and their System soon broke For as the outward Man is framed with parts obvious to sense so without doubt the inward Man consists of a due Series and as it were a Fabrick of the Spirits to be viewed only by the eye of Reason and as this is nearly joyned and as it were united with the constitution of the Body so much the more easily or more difficultly is its frame disordered by how much the Constitutive Principles that are allotted us by Nature are more or less firm That the said Confusion of the Spirits is the cause of Hysteric Diseases will appear by Mother-Fits wherein the Spirits are crowded in the lower Belly and rushing together violently towards the Jaws occasion Convulsions in every region thro' which they pass blowing up the Belly like a great Ball which is yet nothing but the rowling together or conglobation of the parts seized with the Convulsion which cannot be suppressed without great violence The external parts in the the mean while and the Flesh being in a manner destitute of Spirits by reason they are carried another way are often so very cold not only in this kind but in all other kind of Hysteric Diseases that dead Bodies are not colder but the Pulse are as good as those of People that are well nor is the Womans life in danger by this cold unless it is occasioned by some very large evacuation going before And the inordinate agitation of the Spirits disturbing the blood is the cause of the clear and copious Urine for when the Oeconomy of the blood is interrupted the Sick cannot long enough contain the serum that is imported but lets it
call'd excellent Medicines God's handicraft Next to the substance of the steel I chuse the Syrrup of it prepared with the fileings of Steel or Iron infused in the cold in Rhenish Wine 'till the Wine is sufficiently impregnated and afterwards strained and boiled up to the consistence of a Syrrup with a sufficient quantity of Sugar Nor do I use any purging Medicine at set times during the whole Chalybeat course for I think the Vertue of the Steel is destroy'd by a purge in hysterical Diseases and when the chief design is to reduce the Spirits to order and to renew and confirm their System If any one objects that fileings of Steel may hurt those that take them by sticking in their Bowels unless they are purged now and then I answer first that I never found any such thing in any one and it is much more probable that being involved in the slime and with the Excrementious humours of the parts they should at length pass away with them than when they are exagitated by purging Medicines which occasion unusual compressions twisting and contraction of the guts whereby the particles of the steel thrust upon the coats of the Bowels may penetrate deeper into them When the patient is in a Steel course remedies commonly call'd Hysterics are to be used as it were by the by to comfort the Blood and animal Spirits in that manner and form which is most agreeable to the sick But if she can take them in a solid form they will more powerfully retain the Spirits in their office and place than things that are liquid for the very substance affects the Stomach longer with its savour and works more forcibly upon the body than either decoctions or infusions Being about to answer all the indications I have touched upon above I use to prescribe these few and common things which commonly do what I desire Let eight ounces of blood be taken from the Arm the next Morning let her enter upon the use of the Pills of Coch. Major and of Castor as they are mentioned in the Chapter of the Green-Sickness and let them be repeated as it is there ordered Take of Galbanum dissolved in tincture of Castor and strained three drams Tachamacha two drams make a Plaister to be apply'd to the Navel Take of black Cherry-water of Rue-water and compound Briony-water each three ounces of Castor tyed up in a Rag and hanged in a glass half a dram of fine Sugar a sufficient quantity make a Julep whereof let her take four or five spoonfuls when she is faint dropping into the first Dose if the Fit is violent twenty drops of Spirit of Harts-horn After the Purging Pills are taken let her use the other Pills made of fileings of Steel and extract of Wormwood mentioned in the Chapter of the Green-sickness according to the directions there set down or she may take the Bolus there mention'd if she likes a Bolus better than Pills Take of choice Myrrh and Galbanum each one dram and an half of Castor fifteen grains with a sufficient quantity of Peruvian Balsome make twelve Pills of every dram let her take three every Night and drink upon them three or four spoonfuls of compound Briony-water thro' the whole Course of this process But if the Pills last prescribed move the Belly which sometimes happens in Bodies that are very easily purged by reason of the Gum that is in them the following are to be used Take of Castor one dram of volatile Salt Amber half a dram with a sufficient quantity of extract of Rue make 24 small Pills let her take three every Night But it is to be noted that Steel Medicines in whatsoever form or Dose they are taken occasion sometimes in Women great disorders both of Body and Mind and that not only on the first days which is usual almost in every body but also almost all the time they are taken in this case the use of Steel must not presently be interrupted at those times but Laudanum must be given every night for some time in some hysteric water that they may the better bear it but when the symptoms are mild and it seems that the business may be done without taking steel I think it sufficient to bleed and to purge three or four times and then to give the altering hysteric Pills above-mentioned Morning and Evening for ten days It is to be noted that some Women do so abhor hysteric Medicines that they are much injured thereby therefore they must not be given to such If the blood is so very feeble and the confusion of the Spirits so great that steel ordered to be us'd according to the method prescribed is not sufficient to cure the disease the Patient must drink some mineral waters impregnated with the Iron Mine such as are Tunbridge and some others lately found out But this is more especially to be observed in drinking of them viz. That if any Sickness happens that is to be refer'd to hysteric symptoms in this Case the Patient must forbear drinking them a day or two 'till that symptom that hindered their passage is quite gone But if the Disease by reason of its obstinacy will not yield to steel-waters the Patient must go to the Bath and when she has used these waters inwardly three Mornings following the next day let her go into the Bath and the day following let her drink them again and so let her do by turns for two whole Months Venice Treacle alone if it be used often and a long while is a great remedy in this Disease Spanish Wine medicated with Gentian Angelica Wormwood Centaury the yellow rind of Oranges and other Corroboratives infus'd in it does a great deal of good some spoonfuls of it being taken thrice a day if the woman be not of a thin and cholerick habit of Body The Peruvian-Bark also wonderfully comforts and invigorates the Blood and Spirits a Scruple being taken Morning and Evening But if any of the Remedies above-mention'd do not well agree which often happens in cholerick and thin Constitutions then a Milk Diet may be used but nothing does so much strengthen the Blood and Spirits as riding much on Horseback every day for a long while If the Disease be such or so great a one that it will not bear a truce 'till it may be cured with Medicines that corroborate the Blood and Spirits we must presently make use of hysteric Remedies as Assa-faetida Galbanum Castor Spirit of Sal-Armoniack and whatever else has a filthy and ungrateful smell To conclude if some intolerable pain accompanies this Disease or if their be violent Vomitings or a Loosness then besides hysteric Medicines above-mentioned Laudanum must be used which is only able to restrain these symptoms But in quieting these pains which vomiting occasions we must take great care that they are not mitigated either by Laudanum or any other Paregorick before due evacuations have been made unless they almost exceed all humane patience but if the