herein I shall be serviceable to all good women that shall well mind and seriously consider what I write 1. If the Courses stop by Conception or being with Child there is retained cominonly the natural complexion but others usually are pale and ill-coloured 2. The Symptoms which women with Child have at the first do daily decrease but in other stoppage of the terais by how much the longer the terms stop by so much the more the Symptoms increase mark it 3. In women with Child after the third or fourth moneth there may be perceived the situation and motion of the Infant by laying a warm hand upon the inferior belly in others there is a tumor to befelt but it is flegmatick not hard neither is it proportionable to the womb 4. If a wise and ingenious Midwife touch the inward mouth of the womb it will not be so close shut as it is in women with Child but rather hard contracted and full of pain 5. Women with Child are commonly merry and little disturbed but when terms are otherwise stopped they are sad and forrowful Cure Supposing the suppression of the the Courses by obstructions of the veins of the womb You may begin the Cure with Blood-letting if it do plainly offend either in quality or quantity only be advised where and when Then proceed to the use of these things one after another which are prescribed for the Cure of the Green-sickness but if their disease be so rebellious as not to give way to the former Remedies my advice then is that you Purge with this following Take Pil. Arabica which the Apothecary will help you to two scruples and of Oil of Amber four drops mixed with it be in your Chamber that day and drinking Posset as is ordinary in taking Physick Two or three days after make this medicine following of which give four ounces every morning the first thing and every night the last thing viz. Take Gromwell seed Aniseed Misselto of the Oak of each six drams Ditany of Creet and Cammomil flowers of each two drams Saffron and Cinnamon of each one dram beat what is to be beaten and steep all night in two quarts of good white wine in the morning boil it a little keeping it close cover'd then strain it and use it begging Gods blessing obtaining which undoubtedly it will answer expectations All these being principal receipts amongst the Galenical tribe But if these do not produce such effect as may be and is expected despair not for there is yet other things in our hands which is out of your reach being Chymical preparations that will undoubtedly reach and answer all intentions desires and purposes the blessing of God concurring And let not others through their Pride and Covetousness nor your self by your ignorance and wilfulness upon any account be kept from using those things that the God of all grace hath provided for you for a though slanderously by a vailed generation of men Chymical medicines are accounted and reported dangerous which is the great Bugbear with which they would fright people that so they might keep up their babble I do affirm I am willing at any time to justifie God bearing me witness that I never made or prepared a Chymical medicine in my life neither shall I but what hath been and may safely and without the least danger be given unto little Children And so I come 3. To the Immoderate flux of the Courses a disease which is not without detriment to many good women Womens monethly Courses being moderate in quantity and flowing in due season are natural but if they exceed in quantity or come too often or stay too long they are to be accounted immoderate and besides the intent of nature c. Signs are manifest by the definition however it s known by 1. Ill bearing of the Patient 2. Decay of strength 3. Want of appetite to meat 4. Indigestion of humors 5. Ill habit of body 6. Colour of the face like a dead Corps 7. Swelling of the legs and other most grievous maladies caused by decay of natural heat Cure It must begin by blood-letting in the arm not all at once but by degrees and so she must bleed plentifully as much as her strength can bear And if the Patient can bear the same a Vomit will be convenient especially if the party be prone or apt to vomit which may be done with warm water a pint and Syrup of Squiles two ounces tickling the throat immediately after with a feather After which let this following medicine be given every morning and every night the first and last thing Take the rind of four sower Oranges Bistort and Tormentil of each one ounce the outward rind of the Mulberry-tree two ounces Plantain and Sheepherds Purse of each a handful slice and bruise those things that require it and boil for a full hour in six pints of water then strain it and adde Syrup of Quinces four ounces the Dose is half a pint as aforesaid Outwardly apply a Plaister to the belly spread upon leather and bound on of the ointment called Vnguentum Comitisse it s to be had at the Apothecaries Let them drink Beer and Milk often wherein is quenched red hot Steel and before Diuner for sometime together let them take old Conserve of red Roses one ounce with one dram of the powder of Egg-shells which said things not often fail sometimes do and then we must come to our higher Arcanums and specifical medicines with which I am provided and have cured many not only old in years but old inveterate fluxes to the praise of God I speak it The next thing is the Whites A woman is said to have the whites the woman-flux the flux of the womb or the white menstruals when excrementitious humors do flow from her womb either continually or at least without any certain order or course of time observed in their flowing being sometimes white and flegmatick sometimes pale or yellow sometimes greenish and waterish by the admixture of serous humors Also this disease is wont for the most part to seize upon grown women and those of riper years yet are not Virgins all free from the same so that some have done ill in affirming that such Maids as are troubled with this disease have lost their Virginity my reason is this If Virgins have the veins of their wombs so large that their wonted courses can flow through them why may not the whites drop out of the same passages seeing they are many times more thin and fluxive than the blood it self which is an experienced truth and daily Practice teacheth as much viz. That the most chast and perfect Virgins in the world have had this infirmity c. Signs The disease is easily known by the relation of the party and is oftentimes attended with divers symptoms c. 1. Paleness of the face 2. Want of appetite sometimes with fickness of the stomach 3. Short breathing and weakness 4. Swelling of the Eyes 5.
or cut without sense 6. It sends forth a stinking carrion-like smell In order to Cure In this most grievous and mortal disease because you are not proper subjects in these cases I must be silent only I have holpen you by the signs delivered that timely you may if fearing these things look out for help And let me tell you I am not without Authority to assure you that women have been cured of this disease sometimes the gangrenated place falling of it self by application of proper medicines and sometimes hath been cut off by suitable instruments and the womens lives saved the blessing of God concurting with both remedies and operation Sixthly Of wombs wind water-swelling or Dropsie of the womb It is a blowing up of the womb sometimes to a greater bigness sometimes less causing the belly to swell as in other Dropsies and being with Child Note There is a twofold Dropsie of the womb one from wind like unto that called Timpany another arising from a wheyish and watery humor answering to the Dropsie of the belly called Ascites Signs In laying down which looking upon it as very necessary I shall enquire into a threefold question 1. How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from that of the whole body 2. How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from a woman being great with Child And Thirdly How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from a Mole In answering these three questions you may gather the distinct signs of this peculiar Dropsie of the womb subject only unto women 1. How may this particular Dropsie of the womb be known and distinguished from that Dropsie of the whole body Answ It is distinguished from an universal dropsie of the belly in that the womb-dropsie swells chiefly the lower part of the belly whereas the universal dropsie distends equally the whole belly in all the parts thereof Again in the womb-dropsie paleness and falling away of the flesh of the whole body are not so soon discerned as in the universal dropsie in which also for the most part there is evident thirst and driness of the tongue which are not found in the womb-dropsie Again in the womb-dropsie some wind breaks out of the womb by fits through the privities or else a little water comes away sometimes which evidently declares that wind or water are contained in the womb Quest How may this particular womb-dropsie be known and distinguished from a woman great with Child Many good women were deceived in this case these last two years and I am afraid more will be this year I speak to my own knowledge and have to several told them what after some time they would and not before imbrace for truth who at their reckonings expiring came furtherto enquire which trouble of enquiry if you mark I save you by what follows in answer to this question Ans When a woman is big with Child the swelling is not so even and depressed but it is sharp buncheth out and seems greater about the Navel than elsewhere Secondly In greatness with Child after some months women are for the most part somewhat better than they were but the dropsie of the womb the further it proceeds the worse it grows Thirdly In greatness with Child the child is manifestly perceived to stir after the third or fourth month which is not in the womb-dropsie Yet observe and this is that which deceived so many It falls out sometimes a certain palpitation or motion is perceived in the womb in this disease but it is distinguished from the moving of a Child thus The moving of a child is more even and equal the moving of a child is perceived in divers parts of the belly that motion felt chiefly in one part thereof the motion of the infant in greatness of child inlargeth it self weekly more and more and is to be caused by a warm hand or cloth more than ordinary Fourthly In women with child womens dugs swell but in the dropsie of the womb they sometimes are extenuated and become smaller if not they continue at one stay By these signs well heeded any understanding woman may give a near guess whether she be a true Mother and would have it saved or of no concernment and so would have it destroyed for as the Mother by her affection signified to Solomon whose child it was so this by its motion and other signs signifies of what linage or generation it is and so accordingly may be delt withall 3. Quest Is How the womb-dropsie may be known from a Mole or false-conception Answ That in a Mole women find a kind of heaviness in their wombs which is not so felt in womb-dropsie and when they lie on one of their sides they perceive the weight of the Mole to roul like a stone to that side Again in a Mole violent flux of Courses come sometimes by fits namely every third or fourth month which happens not in the womb-dropsie Again in a Mole the dugs swell and sometimes have milk which is not thus in a womb-dropsie I have been the larger in these things because I judge them worth your knowledge and are of a great concernment to you Now then if you by these signs and tokens find your selves to have the womb-dropsie at any time and are sure you are not with child for blood cries high then for the removal of it use these things following with prayer and supplication First then give this Vomit Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce syrup of Squils half an ounce mix them and give it in a morning warm drinking Posset sometimes after it c. A few days after give Pil. Arabicae half a dram oil of Juniper berries three drops mixed Let her swallow in them days between the Vomit and the Pills six Pepper corns every morning fasting After one days rest after the Pills take this following Take roots of Smallage and Madder of each two ounces Savin Feverfew Peniroyal Germander and Mother-time of each one handful Carraway and Carrots-seed of each half an ounce Saffron and Cinnamon of each one dram boil all together being sliced bruised and stirred as they require in mugwort-Mugwort-water three quarts to two quarts strain it add to the remaining part honey or Sugar sufficient to make it pretty toothsome the Dose is a quarter of a pint every morning fasting using exercise after it Drink every night going to bed a small glass of Doctor Stevens his water outwardly the belly must often be anointed with oil of Dill Rue Wormwood and Southernwood Glisters also are to be administred made of the decoction of Wormwood Peniroyal Rue Centaury in which Glisters dissolv two drams of Elect. Theriaca Diatessaron These things being duly used and the disease not overcome and expelled other things there are which you cannot be directed to the use of them being out of your Element yea and other medicines there are also some
in the womb or its neck 2. Voiding of snotty matter or quitter out of the womb 3. If the neck of the womb be the place afflicted then it is to be known by the parties hand the Midwives finger or genial embracements in which there will be troublesome pain 4. If the bottom of the womb have an Ulcer then the pain is felt about the share and the excrements flow most abundantly 5. If the Ulcer being single and benigne the quitter is little white and not stinking but if malignant and eating the quitter will be greenish lead colour coming away with great pain and stink 6. If it shall arise of the Lechers Pox Gonorrhs will usher it in or attend upon it and other tokens of that foul disease will appear Cure The Cure lieth in hindring the flowing of such humors as either beget or cherish the Ulcer to cleanse and heal the same Blood-letting in this disease is not requisite except an inflamation be joyned therewith Give therefore twice or thrice a week one ounce of Diacatholicon a known Electuary at night drinking Posset in the morning or broth made thin which is more proper But if the Patient be in such condition that she may and nothing forbid give in the first place a vomit of Crocus Metallorum one ounce syrup of Squils half an ounce which you may repeat at some times distance after either of which give this vulnery decoction Take Egrimony Burnet Knot-grass Plantain of each two handfuls Yarrow and Mugwort of each one handful China roots Birthwort roots Bislort roots of each half an ounce Lignum vitae two ounces boil all being shred pounded or sliced in three pottles of water to two pottles strain it and drink half a pint every morning and evening sweetning it with a little honey c. It is also excellent in this disease to drink often warm milk with Sugar of Roses and a little honey mixed therewith There are several other things in order to cure this disease as Injections Cataplasms Ointments c. But because they are to be used and altered as there is occasion which I must not lanch into here I must omit this being work wherein we cannot direct with Pen as we may by Tongue at delivery of our medicines upon a most strict examination and therefore I pass that and come to Thirdly Of a Scirrhus of the Womb. It is a hard tumor without pain bred of thick blood and hardned in the womb Signs of such a swelling bred in the womb are 1. A hardness felt in the region of the womb and heaviness also 2. A sense of some weight bearing down especially when the sick woman stands as though the womb would fall into the water-gate which is not felt when they sit or lie down 3. There is no feaver nor pain wherein it differs from an inflamation or if any it is very small c. But now I know the question will be how shall this disease be known for a Mole or false Conception For general satisfaction in this cafe I aiming at your better judgment and information concerning your selves Observe 1. That this tumor or swelling usually is brought by womens taking cold or drinking cold things when they have their Courses flowing 2. In a Mole if the courses flow they flow disorderly but in this disease they keep their order And 3. In a Mole a womans dugs strout with Milk but in this disease they are extenuated and lessened Cure Bleeding in this case first in the arm then the foot and afterwards with leeches upon the Hemorrhoid veins will be necessary and profitable ordering him when and place where discreetly Then purge three days in one week with these Pills following The first day Take Pil. tapis lazuli half an ounce oil of Amber three drops make them into Pills and swallow them in a morning expecting them to work The next Dose Take Pil. lapis luzuli two scruples oil of Juniperberries four drops And the next Dose Take Pil. Arabica two scruples oil of Assafoetida four drops c. In the mean time the Patient may freely drink a little Mul'd Sack or burnt White-wine only let the spice used be Cinnamon to refresh and comfort her after which to make an issue in one or both legs will be convenient Outwardly you must anoint with this following ointment Take of the gums called Bedellium Ammoiacum and Galbanum of each equal quantities dissolve them with a gentle heat in Vinegar then strain it unto which put oil of Lilies sweet Almonds and Roses of each equal Mucilage of Fenugrick-seed extracted with White-wine one ounce or two according as the quantity you make Hens Gooses and Ducks fat each equal Hogs-grease a little Wax and Turpentine as much as will suffice use it with well and tender rubbings in with a pan of coals These things being used in time and order doubtless by Gods blessing will prove succesfull Other things there are if these fail which as they are too high for you to make so beyond your capacities to administer therefore I pass this and come in the next place which is Fourthly Of the Cancer of the womb A Cancer is a hard swelling of the body or neck of the womb which resisteth the touch and causeth a vehement pain as it were pricking and cutting the part affected and if it be ulcerated it sends forth matter and quitter sometimes yellow sometimes black and stinking Signs It may be known by the definition of the disease before rehearsed and no other signs adjoyned only we for full satisfaction sometimes make use of a womb-perspective instrument made on purpose for our use in such and some other cases of this nature Cure This disease is accounted incurable being so you may not easily be perswaded of help and cure though you are offered the same Some persons to get monies in hand will promise any thing Being therefore so dangerous a distemper I shall forbear any instructions to you concerning this only drinking of whey a good quantity pretty often with two or three drops of Spirit of Vitriol in every draught hath been found effectual after purging and bleeding is necessary A palliative cure therefore only is expected to which end and purpose and to give ease of that cruel pain I am not without medicines but I dare not say positively they will cure this disease perfectly especially if an Ulcer preceded or that be ulcerated Danger being here and daily advice being requisite of either an able Chyrurgion or Physician I rest it here and pass to Fifthly Mortification or Gangrenation of the womb A gangreen is the corruption or mortification of a part beginning c. Signs these Signs of the beginning of a gangreen are 1. An unusual heat felt about the part 2. Horror and trembling upon the Patient 3. Languishing and quick beating pulse 4. Often faintings and swooning 5. The neck of the womb is discovered to be soft lead-colour black and carrion-like and may be prickt