flat and hang it about the Womans Neck so that it may reach the pit of her Stomach and it will draw the Womb upward or keep it in its place that it shall not fall down or give the Child occasion to seek for untimely passage CHAP. XXV Of the Washing of Woman after Delivery with Directions how to make them FOR the first Wash take a good handful of young Charvil boil it in 2 pints of water which having done add to it a spoonful of Honey of Roses and let the Midwife use it at her discretion and it will draw down the Purgations heal and cleanse the afflicted part There are some that use Milk instead of Water affirming that it greatly mittigates the pain but by those whom Experience has taught better it is rejected this having been used eight days the second wash may be made Take Province Roses moist if you can but if not the dry Cakes put them in a little linnen Bag and boyl them sufficiently in half a pint of Water and half a pint of White Wine and use it as the former for other eight days viz. The liquid part being well straine The third and last wash must be made of the decoction of Province Roses decocted in a pint of VVhite VVine and a quarter of a Pint of Mirth-water and used only four days CHAP. XXVI An Astringent for Women when occasion requires as also Directions for a Cere-Chath and how to cleanse her before she rise TO make an Astringent take Pomgranets Roach Allum and Galls of each 2 ounces Knot Grass a handful of Province Roses four ounces the Rinds of Cassa and Pomgranets each 3 ounces of Scarlet-berries of Spermaceti one ounce The waters of Roses Mâ—â—â—n and Burnet of each one ounceand a half white VVine and water of the Smiths Forge of each a quarter of a Pint then take two little baggs about a quarter of a yard long and half a quarter broad boyl them in the Waters with the Drugs or Simples in them and in a new glazed Pipkin and use them successively as occasion requires To make an exceeding convenient Searcloath to ease the pain and reduce the Body into good temperament Take Virgins wax 8 ounces Spermaceti and Venice Turpentine well washed in Rose and Plantane water of each an ounce and a half adding to them whilst they are melting an ounce of white Lead of Venice pulverized and having by the operation of the Fire well mixed them together spread them Plaisterwise upon a Cloath fit to cover the Belly as far as it is convenient some of this you may lay upon the Nipples having first anointed them with Oyl of Acrons of Spermaceti and it will allay the inflammation and much strengthen them To cleanse a VVoman before she rises Take a considerable quantity of bitter Almonds peel them bruise them well and make them into a Past with the Yolk of an Egg and Powder of Grise put the Past into a bag of Shamy and dip it in black Wine tempering it well and use it upon the place where the Sear-cloaths have been laid and after that wash the said places with black Wine wherein Orange flowers have been steeped and it will cleanse these parts to admiration CHAP. XXVII How to expell the Chollick from Women in Child-Birth and the violent Griping that attend the first Delivery THese Pains frequently afflict the Woman no less than the pangs of her Labour and are by the ignorant taken many times the one for the other sometimes again they joyn Forces and happen at the same instant which is occasioned by the crudy matter in the Stomach contracted through indigestion and whilst such a Pain lasts the Woman advanceth nothing towards her Travel to expel the fits of the Chollick therefore Take two ounces of sweet Almond Oyl and an ounce of Cinnamon-water with 3 or 4 drops of Spirit of Ginger and let the Woman drink it off and if this work not your desire make a Glyster of Cammomile Baum leaves Olive-Oyl and new Milk concocting the former in the latter and having strained it very well administer it as 't is usual in such cases nor are Fomentations proper for dispelling wind amiss If the pain prove the griping or fretting of the Guts continuing long after Delivery or if it happen upon the Courses descending by reason of the smallness of the Veins which convey the Blood into the Matrix which often befalls Women lying in of their first Child wherefore it is altogether convenient to use such a Remedy at such a time as may eradicate the cause for the future and above all I recommend this most approved one used with success by many Noble Women Recepe Of the Root of great Camfory a dram Nutmegs and Peach-Kernels of each two scruples yellow Amber and Amber grease of the former a dram and the latter a scruple bruise them together and give them the Woman as soon as she is layed down in two or three Spoonfuls of White-wine but if it so happen that she be feverish then let it be in as much warm Broth. CHAP. XXVIII The approved Receipts for hindring the Monthly Flux in Women with Child also to cause Women that are fearful and subject to Abortion to contain the Birth Together with preparatory Ointments to be used before the time of Delivery and Directions for staying or preventing Vomiting much incident to Women with Child TO hinder the Superfluity or Eflux dangerous to VVomen far gone with Child Take the Oyl of Roses Virgins-wax juice of Male Knot-grass of each 3 ounces Bolearmonick Crocus Martis of each six drams melt them and bruise them till they become plyant and capable of being spread Plaster wise and when the Flux descends lay it to her Loyns whilst she lies in the bed Or to the same effect you may take Crocus Martis a dram Knot-grass juice 4 ounces Rose-water and Vinegar of each one ounce adding to them the white of an Egg and apply them cold upon a Linnen Cloath to her Loins IOf the VVoman be fearful of containing the Birth and reject to Abortion Take the Roots of Tormentile and Snake-weed of each an ounce and a half Joubertus Astringent Powder Mirtle-berries Psida Pomgraner Flowers of each six drams Dragons-blood and Spong-Bedeguar of each half an ounce Frankincense and Mastick of each 3 drams Nutmeg and Cloves of each half a dram common Pich six ounces Cinnamon a dram Venice Turpentine washed in the juice of Shepheards purse 2 ounces of Ship Pitch 3 ounces Virgin-wax two ounces melt and well imbody them till they become pliable to be spread Plaister-wise and apply the Plaister upon Leather to the Reins To make an Oyntment exceeding useful before Delivery Take the Oyls of white Lilly Roots and Cammomile each 4 ounces new Hogs-Seam strained and fresh Butter of each an ounce and a half Muscilage of the Seed of Fenegreck extracted in Mugwort-water 2 ounces the Powder of round Billwort Roots and Saffron of each two drams Wax an
ounce and a half melt them over a gentle Fire and having strained forth the suplist part anoint and supple the Womans Thighs Hips and Matrix therewith In case of Vomiting or Nauseating which too frequently befalls young Childing Women Take a Cere-cloath sprinkle it with Galbanum Powder of Cloves and Maâ—â—ick them covering it with linnen or silk in the form of a Stomacher apply it to the Stomach renewing it as the scent decays CHAP. XXIX A Pomatum for Midwives to anoint their hands with when they are about their Office as also the Womb of the Woman to be Delivered Excellent Applications to straighten and strengthen the Womb after Delivery AMongst the many Excellent Pomatums or Oyntments for Midwives Hands and anointing the Womb or Child to render the Birth easie I recommend this as chief viz. Take of Hemp seed Oyl an ounce and a half half an ounce of Castor Oyl Galmoschate half a scruple of Laudanum a scruple with a gentle fire make them into an Oyntment and attribute it to the use beforementioned To contract the Womb after Delivery Take the Leaves of Startwort and Mirtle of each 3 ounces Green Medlars Pruans and wild Pears of each 8 or 9 ounces the Stomachs of 3 Cocks fresh killed and newly taken out all which distill and dipping Cotten into the water issuing from them make it into the form of a Pessary and put it into the Womb where let it continue a considerable space To strengthen the Womb take of Borrage and Violet flowers each a handful Dittany of Creet an ounce Wood Sorrel a handful Honey of Roses half an ounce Maiden-Hair an ounce boyl them in White-wine and Inject the Liquid part into the Womb the woman taking soon after it this potion viz. Of Fennel and Bugloss Roots with Cicora ana take two ounces boy them in 24 ounces of White-wine to the consumption of two parts adding afterward Fennel water and Cicory water of each 3 ounces boyling them again till a 5th part of what remains be consumed and of this let her drink an ounce at a time continuing so to do Morning and Evening for 10 days CHAP. XXX To keep the Milk from Curdling in the Breast or to dry it up most approved Receipt as also to increase Milk IF the Milk be subject to Curd in the Breast past doubt in will contract pains or disorder there as well as in the Child that draws it forth wherefore to prevent it so doing Take the Roots of Althea half a pound boyl them in White-wine Vinegar strain them through a fine Seive adding to the liquid part Bean flower one ounce powder of Rue and dried Mint of each a dram Oyl of Mastick two ounces boyl them again till they come to the thickness or plyableness of an Oyntment To dry up the Milk take Honey newly taken from the Bees dissolve it in water and often wash the Breasts therewith or take the Juice of Speremint and Shepherds Purse of each half an ounce mix them and sweeten them with a little of the aforesaid Honey and drink them in the morning with the Broth of a Hen or Chicken Or she may take of the Oyl of Violets 3 ounces the juice of Mint and Paisley a like quantity an ounce of white-wine Vinegar Rose water two ounces boyl them over a gentle fire to the consumption of the juice adding a little wax to make them into an Oyntment and anoint the Breast therewith or for want of these take Elder tops Sage and Mint of all of them a handful boil them in Spring water loft and lay them to the Breast If the Woman be scarce of Milk and for the benefit of the Child she would increase it Let her take the Decoction of Fennel and bath her Breast therewith mixing the juice of Oak-Apples and at the same time take inwardly this following powder viz. Of Anniseeds Fennel seeds and Cummin seeds of each 2 drams beaten Ginger half an ounce of both sorts of Pepper two drams of Coral a dram of Christal and Cinnamon each a dram the Seed of Daucia a dram Silver Moâ—tanus one ounce and a half Cardamons and long Pepper of each a dram and a half of Seselcos half an ounce the Seeds of Sesamum one ounce of White-poppy one ounce mingle and dry them till they are all capable of being beaten into a powder one dram of which the Woman must take at a time Morning and Evening in a broth made of Red Colwarâ—s anointing her Breast the mean time with an Oyntment made of Venice Turpentine Vinegar of Roses and Bees wax of each an equal proportion CHAP. XXXI For a Pain in the Breast immediately upon Delivery or the Fissure TAke new Bees-wax two ounces Nut Oyl half an ounce Rape seed Oyl the like quantity as the latter when melting the Wax add the Oyls temper them well together to the thickness of a stiff Oyntment or Salve and spread them upon a cloth fit to cover the Breast and apply it with extraordinary success In case a Fissure happen in the Breast take of the Powder of Gun-Arabick one ounce Rose-water and Aqua vitae of each an ounce prepare them by beating them together till they are of an apt thickness then seeth them over the Fire and when cool apply them Plaister-wise to the Fissure or for want of these take Unguentum Rosarum and anoint the place grieved applying upon it a Poltiss of Ground Juice CHAP. XXXII The Cause of the Bellies swelling after Delivery and how to prevent it or Cure it if it happens Certain it is and Experience teachetâ— often that many Women have their bellies swelled after Delivery as much almoâ—â— as before and this happens through too much neglected carelesness in not having regard to foment them as also to apply things convenient to the privities by which means polite windiness and Vapours enter and contract in the hollow Concavities Veins and Arteries the latter of which they enter by insensible ways Now to prevent it take Origanum Night shade and Mastick of each a scruple Sagapenum a dram mix them together and make them into 7 Pills take them all at once and after them drink to the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the water of white Lillies viz. of the Flowers In câ—se it be already come let her take half a pound of Spanish Figgs the Meal of Barley and Beans fine sifted four ounces of each two ounces of well burnt Brick pulverized Cyprus Nuts one ounce boyl them in as much water of the Smiths Forge as will suffice to bring them to a thickness then spread them upon a Linnen Cloath and apply them to the Belly twice or thrice and it will retire to its wonted smallness CHAP. XXXIII Of Inflammations in the Breast and its Cures THE Inflammation of the Breast is no other than the hard swelling acâ—â—ompaâ—â—ed with a shooting pain as also a bâ—ating and redness and is mostly caused by the abundance of Blood drawn or sâ—â—wing
that the Seed has no free passage then the cause must be enquired into and this often happens the which is known by the small desire to Venery and the little or no pleasure or satisfaction received thereby a settling in the Courses and a slimy Fâ—â—gmatick matter mixed therewith as also by their inordinate flowing occasioned by the plenty of humours collected in the Womb which by reason of the abundant of windy Vapours contracted therein causes obstruction to which may be added the cruditie and wateryness of the Seed which debars the pleasure in ejection and from hence it is that sudden paleness arises in the face c. To remedy this the party must alter her Diet not eating any cold raw Flegmatick substance but rather such things as are apt to stir up Cholerick hot humours in the Body as Anniseeds or Carraway-seeds in her Bread Store of Peniroyal in her Broth let her likewise each morning for a week together make a Posset in which she must boil the Roots of Birthwort Angelico Sage Rosemary Cinamon and Burrage The takeing the Male Herb Mercury Dittany Centaury Marygolds Cubeds Safron Mugwort and Clovegilly-flowers of each a handful boil them in white Wine and eject the Concoction by little and little at sundry times as the cold or obstruction can be perceived Anointing the Belly and Reins of the back one day with Oyl of Cinamon the next with Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace and the 3d. with Oyl of Myrrh and so continuing to do for a month together When the Woman lies down Nature will be wonderfully restored and recover such force as to remove to Obstructions Barrenness is likewise caused through want of due proportion of Seed in either party to remedy which let their Diet be such as I have prescribed in the former part of this Book Chap. II. Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by inchantation but those opinion s are altogether frivolous and vain If the Womb be defective in attracting the Seed ejected Men frequently labour in vain in such a case the Woman must avoid Sorrow Anger or much Sleep Eating new Cheese Milk and raw food especially Lettis Endive Spinage Beets Nuts Cherries Purstain Oynions Garlick and the like They all being hurtful to Generation nor must she drink nor use Vinegar nor eat the Fat of Meat too frequently but the Womb must be cleansed from the over abundant moisture with the decoction of Hearts Tongue a Herb so called Cummin Fenel and Anniseed and strengthned with the Sirup of Wormwood and for a gentle opperative Purge in this case take half an ounce of Laudanun Bees-wax Sheeps Suet and Agarick of each a like quantity melt and bruise them after which make them up into little Pills and take 3 in a morning and next to them take of this conception to the bigness of an Nutmeg viz. The shavings of Ivory Ash Keys Yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler Montanus with red and white Behen of each one Dram Cinaman Galinga Long-pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam-wood Rosemary Flowers Blatiae Bezaria Gentle Marjorum and Pennyroyal of each 4 Scruples Balm Bogluss Cittern Reils of each two Scruples Pearl disolved or beaten to power one Scruple Musk two Grains White-Sugar one pound and a half bruise them and seeth them over a gentle fise in as much Malmsey as will make them into a Confection This Confection is indeed a most singular and approved one in all cases of Barrenness where cold or obstructions of the Vessels do occasion weakness in the Womb. Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows far so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its Bounds with its fatness obstructs the Passage into the Womb to prevent which the Woman must not sleep over much especially in the day time nor feed riotously but exercise her self in walking or moderate Exercises and often use Purgation and strong Glysters made of such Herbs and Drugs that are hot and dry which will in a short time remove such Obstructions But a more dangerous cause of Barrenness than yet I have named are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of an excrementitious Humour collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood incident to Yonng and Old at such times as they are capable of Generation and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art and renders Women inevitably barren occasioning Leanness Consumption Melancholly Dropsie falling of the Womb swooning Convulsions which renders it difficult and dangerous in long continuance though in the beginning it may be easily removed In the Cure of this let Phlebotomy or Blood letting be avoided for as much as the bad Humour must be by no means recalled to defile the Blood the Disease it self being a sufficient weakning of the Body and vital Spirits First then to discuss the Humour in order to its Expurgation take two ounces of Guaicum the like quantity of China and Lentick-wood decoct them in Water and Honey drinking a pint fresh made each morning then to dry â—p the Contraction of the Vessels or Humour that lodged there take the Root of â—ilipendula beat it to powder and drink it in White-wine Morning and Evening as also for Astringents use Bones burnt and beat to powder likewise the ashes of Capons Dung ejected after a long time steeping in fair water the Patient must likewise avoid sleeping upon her Back lest the Humour descend and contract in the Vessels of the Womb but let her be rubbed often to disperse them that they settle not in any one place Sometimes this occasion of Barrenness happens through the violent attraction of the VVomb and then appears signs of afflictions of the Womb the Fiux not being so great to cure which Suffumarions are the most proper and those may be made of Frankinsence Laudanum Santalum or Mastick the Woman upon such occasion having great regard to her self that she take not cold or proceed to intemperate Diet. Many women there are whose violent lust contracts a heat that destroys the Seed and renders it incapable of coagulating and mixing with the Blood which very sparingly on such occasions flow from the several parts to the womb In this case 't is requisite to avoid hot Air soft lying hot Meats and Spices and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein and Purge moderately with Electuary hâ—m de Epithijmo and juice of Roses each two drams and a half Whey half a pint mix them together and drink them fasting in the morning and so continue 4 hours after or for want of the former you may take Triphera Sarasenicia and Rhuberb of each half a dram pulverized and mixed with 2 ounces of Syrup of Roses Violets or Endive but the most excellent restorative to cool and moderate the Temper in this case is a Diet drink made as followeth viz. Take Pistacho Pingles and Eringoes of each half an ounce of Saffron a Dram Lignum Alloes Gallinga Caryophillata Mace red