thereon and renders them uncapable of conceiving One I have heard of who was afflicted with this disease and voided a great great deal of putrified blood by a certain fumigatio that I taught her was cured I can say this of a certainty that after this Woman had voided this putrefaction she came to see me with a very lusty child and was bigg of another for being discharged of the burden of putrified blood she found her self marvelously free for conception for the Matrix that began to be ulcerated was now fortified and strengthened again and the natural heat began to take possession there again A good Observation in the choice of Nurses THere be two sorts of Nurses which I have found the one is of such Women as are of an ill humor or juice which humors settle all in the milk for that is the place where these fluxes discharge themselves these Women are in a better condition being Nurses then when they are not Nurses and being not Nurses are subject to pains sometimes in the arms and sometimes in the shoulders sometimes in one of their leggs or Thighs or else they are subject to the watring of the eyes or swelling in the corner of the eye or nose these are good Nurses as long as children are fat but the fat is soft and the Infants dul sottish giving no great signs of vivacity coming to bear teeth are very sickly and do ordinarily dye by reason of the flux that pusheth out too great company of teeth at once The children that escape this are more il juic'd in their infancy then are their Fathers and Mothers in their old age If the flux that afflicts them be salt the milk is of a blackish and blewish colour if it be of choler it is more dangerous then the other for that is very dangerous and venemous to the children There is another sort of Nurses more dangerous then these I have now spoken of who presently after they have lain in that is three or four or five or six moneths are taken with their purgations a thing which never happens to good Nurses for this is the course of Nature that all the blood which is retained is dedicated to the nourishment of the Infants This is caused by an immoderate heat which is in their blood and to say truth as soon as ever this happens the Infant must be taken away for they are more apt to conceive then to nurse and if they continue Nurses they do but ruine the children this is too much experimented and I speak this to save the lives of a great many children when seeing them suck I have discovered their want of milk so that I may say there dies a third part of the children for want of taking care in this particular which seem fat and in good case This is the cause of great cholicks and vvindinesses in children vvhich kils them in a moment for the least Fever that takes them carries them avvay Bâ—side this there are some whose milk is so little but vvithall so thick that it sticks upon the tongue palate and throat which causes as it were a vvhite canker vvhich is more and more heated by reason of their forcible drawing in vain possesseth all the throat vvhereby they are hindred froÌ„ sucking These Nurses wil milk after this a drop or two out of their breasts crying look ye the child cares not for sucking I never knew more abuse in any thing then in Nurses for let them make vvhat excuse they vvill it is nothing but necessity that reduceth them to be such although the greatest part do say that it is to get acquaintance yet vvhen they have a childe vvhether they have milk or no yet they desire not to part vvith it no more then they do to drown themselves vvhereby the Parents are often deceived And therefore the mothers ought to have a great care and to make it their business to surprize the Nurses at their ovvn houses that if there be any miscarriage they may find it out And indeed it is very reasonable that the cause of these poor creatures that cannot complain should not be neglected and these she-murderers be made known that they may not go unknown Of a VVoman which I laid two several times and of the difference of her bearing of two children proceeding from several causes I VVas called to lay a Woman who said she was gone her ful time she had the same pains that Women are wout to have in the time of Travail but her waters came not down at one forcible throw she cast forth a great membrane like a hoggs bladder all united within and without only that it had divers branches of veins as you shal see in a bladder which I presently cut and found therein a little Infant wel shaped swimming in black waters it had gone its ful time and was so lean that it resembled a meer picture it had the Navel-string holding fast to the bladder where it is to be supposed those smal branches of the veins do end here as I guess as long as it found any bloud it lay languishing but that beginning to fail it dyed and presently voided those excrements that were contained in the Intestines which being mingled in the waters made them black and as for the Woman her self she was the fullest of humor that ever I saw in my life Another time I brought the same VVoman to bed who was delivered of a child that came the ordinary way into the world with the head formost now I perceiving her in Labour found nothing at first but a certain softness as if the waters were coming down afterwards I perceived a certain bag with hair a thwart which I saw certain great knobs or heads the Infant being come forth was not yet formed the face and the head were like vizards more then any face it had the form of a nose but it was soâ—t like wool the head was ful of water and those knobs which appeared were nothing but the futures of the head which the too great abundance of water had disjoynd in the hands it had nothing but hair in stead of bones and the toes were of the same the VVoman her self was said to be extreamly cholerick and moist Instructions of a famous and dying Midwife to her Daughter touching the practice of this Art DAughter if the excellencies of what is to be known in this world are to be found not in one but in several Countrics certainly they are most able to instruct who have had the greatest experience and longest travel in the world which is the reason that in this small Treatise I have not tyed my self up to the rules solely of my own Nation but have searched the studies also of other Nations that thou mayest be bettered not only by my experience but by the labour of others In the first place therefore I exhort thee to be diligent and to leave nothing unsearched that may tend to the
in their travail nor afterwards to which if remedies be not applied the women do run great hazards and dangers in their lying in great suffocations of the matrix and continual feavers this may be remedied being first enformed of their natural disposition afore they were with child knowing that when they had their purgations they had them in great quantity and for a good while together as also when they came being a gross and thick bloud and therefore seeing that now they do not purge in great quantity and that they have divers unquietnesses weaknesses of the stomach and pains of the head wherefore you may give her in the morning a little syrrup of Maiden-hair and Hysop water mingled together and syrrup of Wormwood with White-wine in their broths you may boyl Jacines and opening herbs keeping the belly soluble with Glysters they must eat no solid meat she must be well chafed from the groines down to the very ankle-bone alwayes stroaking and carrying the hand downward bloud letting also in the foot in the morning is not amiss as also some fumigation that Cleanses the matrix and draws downe the blood yet care must be had that these last remedies be not used before the Matrix be put into its place for feare that these remedies should draw it down too low but about eight or ten days after the Matrix was put into its place for cleansing the matrix you may use this receit Take Pellitory Sanicle Camomile Melilot greene Balm red Balme whit Mulleine Mallowes Marsh-mallowes Betony Margeram Nipp March Violets Mugwort take of each a like quantitie and cut them small and let them boyle in a new pot with three pints of good white wine let the woman take the fume of this receite three times in a day if she have any gross blood in the matrix it will undoubtedly bring it down You may also chafe the womans belly with oyle of violets this helpes the purgations being once dissolved The reason why this thick blood stayes in these partes is because the woman having it before she was with child the heate of the womb when she is with Child redoubling thickens it more so that when she comes to lye down it cannot flow so that it is to be taken away as much as may be with the aforesaid reasons Mollifying fomentations are also proper for this purpose while the woman sits over the fumigation CHAP. XIII For those who have but a little blood THose women that have but little bloud ought not to live in their beds as those who have a great deal They out to take good nourishment in a little quantity As eggs well boyled in the shell in a morning The juyce of Mutton and Veal squeezed out and Mutton broth and all these being mingled together nourish very much and make very good bloud as also Pigeons Partridg Mutton Quaile and such other meats good for the stomach CHAP. XIV What is to be done to the Infant THe Midwife having tied up the Navel string as is beforesaid she ought next to cleanse the Infant not only in the face but also over the whole body anointing the groins hips buttocks thighs and joynts with oyl of sweet Almonds or fresh Butter this makes the skin more firm shuts up the pores of the skin so that the exteriour air cannot come to hurt it and besides this it strengthens all the parts of the bodie It would not be amiss to make a bath or decoction of Roses and Sage in Wine and with that to wash the Infant every morning After the Infant is thus well anointed and after that well dried and wrapped up you may give to the Infant a little Sack and Suger in a spoon or else the quantity of a pease bigness of Mithridate or Treacle dissolved in wine with a little Carduus water CHAP. XV. How to govern women in Child-bed THere is great difference in the governing women in Childbed for she that thinks to order an ordinarie labouring or countrie woman like a person of qualitie kills her and she that thinks to govern a person of qualitie like an ordinarie Countrie-woman does the same to her for the stomack and Constitution of the one is tender and weake and the Constitution and stomack of the other strong and lustie which will not be satisfyed with ordinary viands for if you give to one of these strong stomachs presently after their delivery any strong broth or eggs or a draught of milke are like mills that allways grind and empty as fast as they pour in and that that gives one woman a feaver keeps another from it and therfore women in Childbed are to be governed by their several constitutions As for women that are delicate and have been accustomed to live delicately greater care must be taken of them giving them meats that breed good nourishment and do not clog the stomach forbearing also to give her those meats to which she has too great a dislike agreeing to her humour provided that the meats which she loves be not hurtful and giving her for the first eight days of her lying in boyled meats rather then rosted as gellies c. the juyce of Veal or Capon but not mutton it being too feverish giving her to drink barly water or else water boyled wherein is boyled a dram of Cinamon to every pint and two ounces of sugar dissolved or if she do not love sugar Coriander seed water if she drink wine let it be two thirds of water to one third of wine giving her in the morning White wine and in the afternoon Claret taking care of eating any thing that may breed any crudities she may also take at the discretion of those about her Almond milk now and then There are some women that cannot be kept from sleeping and others that cannot sleep at all It will not be amiss to give to those that cannot sleep French barly water the way to make it well is to let it boyl well and to take the broth without streining it neither ought it to be taken after the eight dayes are past by reason that it nourishes exceedingly and does not a little obstruct the Liver CHAP. XVI Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in TAke a good handful of old or new Chervil and boyl it in a sufficient quantity of water then taking it from the fire add to it a spoonful of Mel Rosatum or hony of Roses this draws down the purgations clenses and heals the parts The herb it self may serve for a fomentation to take away any inflamation There are some that use milk to the purpose aforesaid affirming that it is a great asswager of the pain but that having been proved by others hath been observed rather to engender filth then to be any way a clearer by reason that the sharp humour causes it to curdle CHAP. XVII How a woman ought to govern her self in case a woman be to be delivered
of two children THe travaile of a woman bringing forth two Infants is more tedious and it many times happens that one of the children comes forth very well and the other comes forth very scurvily And this is certain that that which comes forth first is always the strongest having the power to goe before the other and to break the membranes that enveloped it And ofttimes while the second is born the other remaines behinde wrapt in such membranes as the former was so that it remaines a good space behind the other somtimes two houres and yet it hath bin very well borne Now knowing that that which came first was the stronger it would not be amiss to assist the other in coming forth by breaking the membranes that contain the waters and if that faile by giving strong Glysters to excite the paine which were it not many times done the child would never be able to endure the paine of coming into the world by reason of its extraordinary weaknes which is so great somtimes that the bone of the forehead is devided and separated down to the nose although the Infant being born it joynes together againe and the Infant does very well which if it happen you must have a great care to bind some kind of soft pillow upon the place that the aire may not enter in If the second Child come forth ill you must not delay to breake the membranes and to draw the Infant gently out by the feet for having used all its endeavour to come forth to keep it there or to prolong the travaile any longer is more dangerous then profitable sometimes two come so suddainely the one after the other that there seemes to be but one deliverie of both there being but a little membrane that separates them In this case holding the first you must cut the navel string and bind it about and tye it about the Hipp while they draw forth the other Infant which by a longer stay would be much weakened CHAP. XVIII Of the danger that a woman hath to purge her selfe for the first days of her lying in IT is an ordinary thing for women that lye in by reason of their bed to loose the benefit of their bellyes which hinders the evacuation of their milke which causes fevers by sending gross vapours to the head yet can they not bee freed by any purgation taken in at the mouth but it would be much to the purpose to take pertinent Glisters which hinder the foresaid evills causing their breasts to become full and to be come stiff taking them as ocasion requires once in two or three dayes There are some unskilfull women that not understanding the ill consequences which may follow who doe give Sene to women in the first days of their lying in of which some have bin very ill and others have dyed For nature is now weakned by the travaile and while it is labouring to restore the body to its former Estate is not to be disturbed with violent purgations And therfore Glisters are always most proper Neither are laxative broths nor the broth of prunes nor baked apples fasting for these things doe engender wind but rather some good suppositories would be more usefull CHAP. XIX Of the second washing for women THe second washing for women ought to be with Province roses put into little baggs and boyld in water and wine of each a like proportion and this to be done for the second eight dayes CHAP. XX. What is to be done to Infants assoon as they are born IT is an approved Maxime that as soon as a child is born you ought to give it a spoonfull of pure wine for that assists and helps the child to regaine its spirits Another advantage is this that the wine cutts the flegme which the Child has in its throat besides the spirits of the wind rising up to the head comforts and strengthens it and them less subject to be drunk it hinders them also from the Epilepsie which proceeds from the debilitie of the braine This being done and the Mother fully delivered you must tie the Navel Veine with a silk well twisted and many times doubled and if there be any blood in the veine you must be sure to emptie it for feare if it should be left it should turne into corruption then it must be well dryed with pouder of rotten wood you must tye it two fingers breadth from the belly and leave it long three fingers breadths above the tying place and if it be fatt you must close it over and aboue that the veine may be well closed then wind the string twice about it knitting as many knots but if the child be come a fore its time you need not tye it so strong for feare of cutting it with the silke but if the Navel veine be full of water and wind you ought then having tyed it one time and wrapt a linnen cloth about the end of it which is still to be held upward to uncover it againe about half an hour after and then to tye it and wrap it about againe still keeping the end up for feare that if the veine were not fully closed that there might be some danger in the bleeding Some people give to the Infant Treacle dissolved in wine but this must be don warily in a very small quantitie and that not commonly neither The Infant must be washed with water and wine luke warm to clense it After wards wash the face as also chafe the throate the Armes and hands with oyle of wallnuts drawn without fire which some say will keep them from sunburning then put one hand upon the bone of the forehead and another upon the bone called the Coronal bone and softly close up the gap which was made during the time of travaile closing also the suture one against another exactly then gently put your finger under the tongue to see if the Infant have the string or no and if it have it may be clipt away with the poynt of a paire of sharp cizers without danger There are some that thinke they can shape the head and nose of a child as if it were of wax But let such take notice that have flat nosed Children rather to let the nose alone then by squeezing and closing it too much to render the nose obstructed for that compressing the Gristles of the nose renders the child liable either to speake alway in the nose or to lose his smelling There are some children that are borne with their noses awry for the help of which you may with your finger moystened in fair water gently stroke the nose but lay no stress upon it That happens by reason that the nose of the child lights upon some bone of the Mother as it was comming into the world CHAP. XXI Of the last washing for Women THe last washing for women is to be for four days with Province Roses boyled in wine and myrrh-Myrrh-water CHAP. XXII Of an Astringent for Women when they shall
let her be brought to the bed and anointed with this oyntment Take oyle of sweet Almonds Hens fatt Oyle of Lillies Muscilage of Althoea of each halfe an ounce Mingle all these with as much wax as is sufficient and make an oyntment This being done give her this little doss Take two yolkes of egges and boyle them in ould wine then mix with them these spices Cinamon half an ounce rind of Cassia two drams or you may leave out the Cassia and instead thereof put in the more Cinnamon saffron halfe ascruple Savine Betonie Venus-haire Dittanie Fenugreeke Lawrel berries Mint of each one dram The bone of the heart of a Hart Pearles prepared Mingle all these with sugar and make a thick pouder and give it If the secondine come before the child and hinder the egress of the child it is to be cut of and this following pessarie to be put up Take Marsh-mallows with the rootes two hand fulls Mother wort one handfull Rue one ounce and a half Fenugreek Line-seed of each an ounce ten figgs make of these a decoction with as much water as is sufficient and when you have streined it add this to it Oyle of Lillies oyle of Line of each two ounces Musk one graine In this decoction let the pessary be dipt and put up she may afterwards use this electuarie ℞ Take Myrrh Castor Calamum Arom of each two dramms Cinamon one ounce saffron halfe a scruple Mace Savin of eace a scruple clarified hony halfe a pound you may also make an electuary with the water of Thyme and mother worte wherein have bin boyled Fenu-greek Line-seed Graines of Iuniper of each one spoonful Now after that the woman hath bin weakned with these impediments you may give her in broth species Loetificans or Manus Christi or Diamargaritont CHAP. XXVII How the secondines are to be hastened out THe secondines afore that the Infant is born may be many ways hindred first by the debilitie or weaknes of the Matrix which happens by the frequent motion and endeavouring of the Infant as also by reason of the difficultie of the birth or by reason that the womb doth not continue distended or because it is many times streightened by which the womb is so weakned that by its own force it is not able to expell the secondines Besides the secondines may inwardly stick close to the womb which happens many times through the abundance of superfluous humors that are retained in the matrix by reason of which Glutinous humors the secondines stick to the Matrix These are noe way else to be pulled away but by the hand of the midwife Thirdly the secondines are hard to come away if all the waters come away with the Infant for then the secondines being left without moisture cannot come away by reason of the drines of the womb besides that the Matrix and the neck of the womb are rougher by reason of the driness therof for these waters render the way slipperie and easie both for the infant and for the secondines which being slipped away the womb is to be anoynted with juices and oyles Fourthly when the mouth of the Matrix by reason of the paines of child-bearing swells as often happens unless there be a provident care taken to prevent it Fiftly when the neck of the Matrix is streighter and more close and for that reason fat women travaile with much more difficultie Therefore when the secondines doe make any extraordinary stay the Midwife is to use all her endeavour to make way for them for that retention causes suffocation and divers other evils for being long detained they putrifie and cause an evil smell which ascending up to the heart liver stomach diaphragma and so to the brain cause pains in the head and lungs shortness of breath faintness cold sweats so that there is great danger and also Apoplexies and Epilepsies are not a little to be feared Now in all the time of their stay the women are to be refreshed with convenient food to add strength to them giving them sometimes the yolks of eggs boyled in old wine with Sugar and sprinkled over with Saffron and Cinamon or some broth made of Capon or Hen seasoned with Cinamon and Saffron It may not be amiss to make certain perfumes for the woman to receive up into her womb made of Saffron Castor Myrrh annd Cinamon of each the quantity of a bean and care must be had that the fume pass no further then the Matrix and this may be done till the fume of these spices shall cease After this a little sneezing-pouder is to be put into her nostrils composed of Hellebore or such like the woman shutting her mouth hard and keeping her breath If these things prevail not give her this following potion ℞ Trochisch of Myrrh ʒ j ten grains of Saffron one scruple of Cinamon Peny-royal two ounces make of this one draught and give her after she hath taken this and rested a little while let a pessary of Hellebore and Opoponax wrapt up in pure wool be thrust up into the neck of the womb This will certainly bring down the seconds for it is of so great vertue that it is efficacious in expelling the child which is dead together with the seconds Take Mallows Hollihock Wormwood Mugwort Calamint Origanum an M. j. make a bath and let her sit therein up to the navel and stroke ever downwards with her hands and give her inwardly Myrrh ℈ i j. Cinamon pouder'd in nutmeg-Nutmeg-water or wine or drink Calamint or Penyroyal in wine Neither will it be amiss to anoint the Matrix with the oyntment called Basilicon if this doth nothing avail toward the bringing down of the seconds and that the woman is in great danger of her life then with the consent of her husband and kinred give her seven of the following Pils which being taken let her lie still till the vertue of them do provoke new pains for they are of so great vertue also that they do expel the dead child together with the secondines yet herein it will not be amiss to consult the skilful Physician The Pills are these ℞ Of Castor Myrrh Liquid storax of each a scruple the bark of Cinamon or Cassia and Birthwort of each half a scruple Agaric half an ounce Diagridion six grains Saffron Siler of the mountain Savin of each three graines Thebaic Opium Assa faetida of each one grain mingle all these with as much extracted Cassia as is sufficient and make of them certain Pils as big as pease and give them to the woman in a small quantity of Peny-royal-water It may be also expedient to apply this ensuing plaster ℞ one part of Coloquintida boyled in water and as much of the juce of Rue with these mingle Line-seed Fenugreek Barley of meal of each a spoonful let them all boyl together and the plaster made of these must be laid upon all that part from the navel to the privities CHAP. XXVIII Of Cases of Extremity
it is often seen that children do partake more of the conditions of the Nurse then the Mother and therefore care must be taken that the Nurse be good conditioned good teeth brown hair of a healthy generation that neither she nor her husband may have had the French disease that she be not peevish nor cholerick that she have milk in abundance and a good fleshy breast that her breast be not over-fleshy that she be not too fat and above all that she be not of too amorous a humour and desirous to be with her husband for that is perfect venome to the milk What is to be done in the extream pains of the childe IF a child have extream throws presently after it be born you must rub it with Pelitory and fresh butter or Spinach or else with Hogs grease and apply it upon the navel having first a great care that it be not too hot Or else make a little cake of eggs and oyl of nuts and apply in the very same place if this avail not give it a little Glyster of milk the yolke of an egge and a little Sugar this easeth the pain of the intestines What is to be done with those children that are troubled with flegme THere are some children born of ill constitution'd women or else of women that have not used good nourishment in the time of their being with child who are very full of flegme these you must lay upon one side and sometimes upon the other for if you lay them upon their backs you may perchance choak them you must be sure to keep their bellies soluble causing them to void that bloud kept in the entrails from the time of their being in the womb by giving it a little suppository of black soap well rubbed in fresh butter to take away the Acrimony of it then give it a spoonful of syrrup of violets this causes the flegm to pass down if you perceive that the Infant hath not much heat you may mix with it half the quantity of oyl of sweet Almonds and half of the syrrup of violets and continue it stroaking the stomach and the belly of the Infant with fresh butter every time that they undress him That which ought to he done to children that have their cods full of wind VVHen Infants have their cods full of wind ye must examin whether it be with wind or water if it be water by rubbing and chafing the skin with fresh butter the waters will sweat out if it be wind the children must be stirred and swung gently mingling in their drinke the decoction of aniseeds How to take away the canker from the mouths of Infants THere have been known certaine children which have been nourished with cold milk which hath bin thick and in great quantity which a few days after its birth hath heated the mouth of the infant in such a fashion that it caused a white canker which presently possessed the tongue palate the gums the throat and all the mouth whereupon it was taken with a fever and it could no longer suck all the assistance that could be was still applyed and when no other medicine did avayle there was found one a particular remedie which was half a handfull of sage a handfull of cherveil brused a little and boyled in a sufficient quantitie of water a bout a dozen seethings to which you must add a spoonfull of vinegre when you have streined it you must put to it an ounce of mel rosatum then you must have a little hooked stick with a little peice of scarlet tyed at the end then putting the water in a sawcer dip the end of the stick where the scarlet is tyed and then rub the place affected gently and you shall find the cancer to asswage by little and a little What is to be done to children whose intestines are fallen THere are a great many infants whose great gut fals which is a thing very easily remedyed at the beginning and therfore you must put it up againe first lay the child with his head lowermost then you must have a thick cushion soaked in smiths water then you must have an emplaister made of the roots of great Consound scraped and put upon it as an oyntment then looking to it every day taking care that it crie but little and never unbind him but as hee lyes lest the gut tumble down againe and so the cure be delayed as the child grows big the hole lessens and the Intestine grows big This is an experienced way To make an oyntment to strengthen the thighs and leggs of a child and make him goe TAke Sage Marjoram Dwarfe Elder-bruise them a good while together till you have beaten out a good deale of juice then put it into a glass viol till it be full and stop up the hole with past and round the sides also put the said past put it then in an oven to bake as long as a good bigg loafe then draw it forth and suffer it to coole then breake the past which is round the viol breake the bottle and keep up that which is with in which you shall find turnd to an oyntment and when you would use it you must add to it some of the marrow of the hoofe of an oxe melting it all together and when you have so done you must rub the hinder part of the leggs and thighs of the child This hath been done to a child whom a famous Physitian after three yeares having in hand gave over saying that it would never goe Of the relaxations of the Matrix and the cause There are many causes of the relaxation of the Matrix the one proceeding from great fluxes which fal down upon the ligaments thereof causing them to wax loose Others come to this disease by some falls others by reason of carring in their womb too great burdens others by streining themselves in travaile before their time and because the orifice of the womb is not open somtimes and very often by reason of the midwifes who putting up their hands into the womb teare downe they know not what which is often times apart of the Matrix to the bottom of which the secondines adhere drawing down part of the womb which they take to be the secondines which is often times brought also to a worse condition when the unskilfull women force her to the remedies for bringing down the secondines as holding baysalt in her hand streining to vomit and the like For remedie wherof all these relaxation of the Matrix by the same remedies except those which are occasioned by strong fluxes for in this case other remedies are not sufficient being that you are to take away the cause of those defluxions before you can proceed to the cure of the relaxation Among the rest I will relate one that hath been found very profitable and experienced which is this astringent Take Gall nuts Cypress nuts and Pomegranate flowers Roche Alum of each two ounces Province Roses four ounces
courses from abortion c. The cure is performed after the same way that other cures are remedied among those things that purge Species Hierae and Diaphaenicon with Castor are most commended for Fumes Nutmeg is counted the best for potions Nutmegs bruised and boiled with the roots of Mather and drunk in six ounces of wine and two drams of sugar Sometimes this winde gets into the cavity of the womb and then the neck and orifice of the womb is closed so that nothing can go forth when the woman is moved or when the Midriffe is pressed down with her hand and then a kinde of noyse and sound is perceived Sometimes the winde gets into the tunicles of the womb and then the mouth of the womb may be open by reason of the shutting up of the windy vapours in a narrow place there goes a noyse forth and the pain grows greater and extends farther This is more hard and difficult to be cured then that which is in the concavity of the womb Of the inflammation of the Womb. THe inflammation of the womb is a swelling of the same through the putrefaction of blood which is fallen down into its substance having many symptoms now tending to a Scirrhus now toward an Apostem The signes are various There is a swelling in the womb with heat and pain and a retraction of the womb to the more inward parts the neck of the womb appears red with little veins scattered up and down in it like the web of a spider There is sometimes a difficulty of breathing with some kinde of pleurisie because the interior tunicle of the womb being extended which rises from and is joyned to the Peritoneum the parts also to which that coheres are stretched The excrements of the belly and bladder are detained by reason of the heat and drinesse of the belly and the compression of the passages Sometimes the whole body of the belly seemeth empty and filled with water and the navell hangs forward and the mouth of the womb is made very slender and close and upon a sudden a few depraved courses come down then happens a burning Fever by reason of the great sympathy with the womb and the heart occasioned through the Arteries and great vessels There is a pain in the breastâ— with a swelling in them by reason of the consent and agreement between the groyns the hips the septum transversum clavicularum and the fore-part of the head which is extended to the roots of the eyes as also from the vapours which rise from the putrified blood to the head through the arteries that run along through the neck passing by both parts of the infundibulum into the fore-part of the head The cause of this consists in the blood which is sometimes mixed with choler and sometimes with melancholy The cure is difficult if the blood in that part be wholly putrified for that causeth a sordid humor vvhich consumes the patient vvith a continual Fever If it be an Erisypelas or St. Anthonies fire there is no cure at all because the Birth dies by reason of the excessive heat which causes abortion to follow which kils the woman if it turn to a gangreen it is deadly it is cured as other inflammations which may be observed in the following Chapters Only observe that for revulsion you must not let blood in the veinâ—s of the thighs for that draws down the blood to the womb but in the arm the blood flowing from the liver and the parts adjoyning For deriving of the matter you may cut a vein in the hamm unlesse the woman be with child for that wil cause abortion Refrigerating and moistning topicks without any binding faculty may be wel applyed to which purpose the decoction of Serpillus prepared with Chalybeat water and outwardly applyed with a sponge is an excellent Remedy These inflammations sometimes affect the whole womb and sometimes either side of the womb which causes the heat to descend into the hip because of the ligaments of the womb which are carried thither the thigh is difficultly moved and the groins are inflamed sometimes the inflammation possesseth the posterior part which causes the Belly to be bound and a pain in the loines and back bone sometimes it possesseth the forepart which because it coheres to the Bladder the urine is suppressed or made very difficultly and the paine is extended above the privities sometimes it possesses the bottom of the womb which causes such a pain in the lower part of the Belly that it is hardly to be touched and the pain extends to the navel There is another inflammation which degenerates into a Scitrhus where all the symptoms are not so dangerous yet there is a great heaviness perceived in the parts adjoyning This evil is diuturnal and commonly ends in the Dropsie sometimes it turns to an Apostem swelling til it break In this case the body is troubled with a shivering especially towards the evening when the Apostem is broken sometimes it empties it self into the concavity of the womb wherein there is lesse danger and sometimes into other parts of the body which causes sometimes a stoppage in the Urine and sometimes in the belly with a swelling of the hairy parts and the feeling of something floating up and down Of the Scirrhus of the Womb. THe Scirrhus of the Womb is a hard swelling of the said part without paine begot by some thick earthy and feculent humor the signes â—esides others that are general are these in particular The flowers at the beginning are either wholly stopt or flow very sparingly the evil increasing there is a great Flux of blood by intervals the mouths of the veines being opened more then ordinary or because the Womb is not able to receive or to retaine its wonted proportion of blood it is distinguished from the Mole because in that distemper the Flowers if they flow flow inordinately the breasts swel with milk which in the Scirrhus grow very lank The cause of this is a gross feculent humor being a thick blood sometimes Flegmy sometimes Melancholy which happens to those who decline in their age or to those who have been troubled with a squeamishand naught stomach often it arises from an ill cured inflammation through the use of medecines that cool too much The cure is difficult either because having been dryed for a long time they cannot be softned or because the natural heat in those places where the Scirrhus is is for the most part extinct and then because while the humour is mollifying if it have conceived any putrefaction it easily turns to the Canker for the cure it is the same as of the Breasts It differs either as being in and possessing the substance of the womb which causes the womb to lean downward upon the hip and back and there begets pain sometimes possessing the neck of the womb which is discerned by touching it and is cured more easily then the former if it be in the upper part
with a viscous and slimy flegme which lies in the passages of espiration if the humor flowing down be hot the face of the Infant will be red if it come of a cold humor the child must be kept indifferently warme giving it a little oyl of sweet Almonds and sugar candy it wil not be amiss also to wash the feet of the child in ale wherein certain Cephalick herbs have been boyled and after that to anoint the plants or soles of his feet with Gooses fat The breast of the child may be also rubbed with oyl of sweet Almonds and fresh butter and upon this put little linnen clothes something warm If it be accompanied with any viscous matter or flegme you may give the Infant a little syrup of Maidenhaire or syrup of Liquoriss and Hysop mingled together or give the Infant this water to drink Take of Rain water and Fountain water of each a pint white sugar one ounce honey an ounce Vinegar two drams boyl them all together and clarifie them and let the Infant drink it Of breeding Teeth IN breeding Teeth the difficulty and paine that the child endures is easily perceived and whether that be the thing which the child is afflicted with may be easily guessed at by the time of breeding teeth which is about the seventh moneth beside the Infant is perceived to be often putting his fingers in his mouth and the Nurse perceives the infant to gripe her breasts hard c. the place where the teeth are about to break out looks white watchings and the sense of a very great paine The swelling gums are to be anointed with Hares brains boyled or the fat of it If they be inflamed wash them with oyl of Roses and white wax and the juice of Nightshade if they be exulcerated anoint them with butter that hath no salt in it with a little honey and powder of Frankincense Of the inflammation of the Navel-string in Infants SOmetimes after the binding of the Navel-string it happens to exulcerate For the cure use an Emplaster of Pompholyx or anoint iâ— with oyl of Roses and a little Populeon Of the Worms OFtentimes children are extreamly troubled they are generated of a viscous and flegmie humour they are sometimes round and then commonly the children are troubled with a Fever and grow lean their appetite fails them they start in their sleep they have a dry cough joyned with it with a stinking breath and an ill colour in their faces the eyes hollow and dark with a kind of irregular Fever which comes three or four times a night and they often rub their noses if they be little worms they have alwayes a desire to go to the stoole and their excrements are very purants If the Infant be young the Nurse must be sure to keep a good dyet abstaining from all raw fruits pease and Beans and all milkie things and any thing that shall be of a hard concoction next you may lay a plaister of the mass of Pils sine quibus half a dram powder of Wormwood one dram myrrh and Aloes of each two scruples meale of Lupines a dram and a half the gall of an Ox as much as sufficeth if the Infant be any thing grown you may give him in a little broth a smal quantity of Harts-horn You may also give the Child if he be able to take it a little of the decoction of Pourpied and the shavings of Harts-horn adding to it a little of the juice of Citron Of the Convulsion in Infants THe signes of Convulsion are the hanging backward of the head insomuch that the hinder part of the head seemeth to touch the shoulders sometimes the head and the neck hang so far forward that the chin touches the breast The cure of this if it come of too great abundance of humors let the aire wherein the child is nursed be hot and dry and exercise much let her not sleep long especially after dinner and let her dyet be rather drying then any way moist If the child do not suck he must avoid meats that do trouble the head and fil it with vapours or slimy meats that may stop the passages of the veins sweet things are very hurtful but honey and water wherein a little Sage and Betony have been boiled it wil not be amiss to give him if purgation be needful let the Nurse rather then the child purge which may be performed with Cassia or Manna If the Child be any thing bigg let his belly be kept loose by giving him a little water wherin Sena hath been steeped for four and twenty hours tempering therewith a very smal quantity of the juice of Citron or you may give him a little of the powder of Diacarthamum in the pap of an apple If the Convulsion come of driness or emptines or by reason of some great evacuation flux of the belly vomiting hunger or the like the child must be nursed in an aire more moist then dry his dyet must be the same The best and most approved Remedy is to apply a cautery in the hinder part of the head to the nook of the neck between the second and third Vertebrae which may be done to new-born Children Frictions also of the leggs backbone and thighs are very profitable as also Cupping-glasses applied to the thighs and leggs It the Convulsion come by reason of the Worms you may give him this Clyster Take of simple Hydromel 4. ounces new butter one ounce powdered Aloes half a dram and make a clyster Or you may give him two drams of Earth-worms killed dryed and powdered sugar powdered one ounce and let the child take two drams of it every day in a spoonful of Lettice water If any venemous vapour be the cause hereof let him take six grains of Treacle or Mithridate in Pourpied water Of the swelling of the Hypochondria in Infants WHich causeth children by reason of the narrowness of the mouth of the stomack to be troubled with a difficulty of breathing it ariseth from the greediness of the Infant which either sucks too great a quantity of milk or of other meats The inward cure of this is performed by administring the powder of the root of Orrice or Paeonie Of Costiveness in Children THis proceeds from the unskilfulness of the Nurse in the dyeting of the child or from a cold and dry distemper of the guts or from the hot and dry distemper of the bowels in this case the belly may be well loosened with Cassia or with a liniment composed of new oyl of sweet Almonds Goose fat May-butter Ointment of Dial thea of each two drams Colocynth gr 16 one scruple of salt Species Hierae one scruple Diagridion 4 grains make of this anointment and anoint the navel Or it proceeds from a viscous flegme which wraps about and holds the dreggs which may be remedied by a suppository of Mouse-dung and Goats suet or by the use of an Emplaster of Aloes Buls gall Myrrh and May-butter to be laid upon the
altogether impatient seeing her to doubt the report of the Midvvives therefore said he here is a Chirurgeon hard by vvho may be sent for to resolve the doubt of the Midvvives he sent for him just about the hour that the Woman vvas to be brought to bed The Chirurgeon vvhen he came savv that the child vvas ready to come forth The Midvvives vvho had given vvay to the Chirurgeon thinking to take their place again as soon as he had touched her to make his report were deceived for he seeing the business ready to be done told her Husband that it was necessary for him to operate but that he would proceed with so much industry that he would not only bring forth a sound a lusty child but moreover that he would render his Wife also in a safe condition The Midwives when they would have spoken were put to silence The Gentlewoman vvas presently delivered and he stayed but a litle while to receive thus the Midwives that had attended long and all the while of the Travail were despised and put off and the Chirurgeon extolled and praised and wel rewarded with several most obliging and curteous invitations About a year after he was entertained upon the former score like a Prince the hour of her Labour came again and the Gentleman was gone to visit some of his friends having such a confidence in the Chirurgeon that he set his minde at rest for any danger The labour of this child was not like the labour of the other child for it came with the feet foremost and when the whole body was come forth the head could not be got forth he had brought with him no instruments thinking that this Delivery would have been like the other but seeing himself at a stand he sent to a Chirurgeon not far off for an instrument in the mean time he sent into the kitchen for the ladle with the hook at the end thereof to draw forth the child he drew so wel that he drew away the life of the childe and without seeking any further for any body to saddle his horse or bidding any body farewel he fled his wayes This may be an instruction to those that are so ready to entertaine Mountebanks and Empericks then vvhom there are no men more prodigal of the life of another for money Of a Woman that because she would not be ruled in her Lying in dyed I Was one day called to the Labour of a Woman vvhich had good Deliveries of her Sons and Daughters at their due time although her deliveries of Boyes vvere alwaies more difficult then those of her Daughters being come to her I found her vvalking in the Chamber with her leggs bare in a season that was not over-hot I caused her to be put into her bed to vvarm her again but she vvould by no means indure it although I prayed her she vvas angry with me and told me this vvas not the rule to be constrained the Mistriss and the Nurse combined against me the night approached the waters being come dovvn I feared the ill success of this business that her disease vvould be irrecoverable by reason of her self-vvilness I desired her Husband to use his endeavour but he could do no more vvith her then I about midnight I prayed her to go to bed again and to vvarm her self and unless she could do so I could do nothing she told me I understood nothing in respect of a certain Surgeon who whē she had such a kinde of Labour before only toucht her with his finger and delivered her that she would have him I was content so she sent for him he came very confidently but his work vvas not at so easie a pass as formerly he put a good large Table Napkin before him trussing it up to his elbows saying he was as able to deliver her as before she would no more see me after his arrival the Chirurgeon to whom I represented after his arrival all that I had understood and seen and the fear which I had of her told me that all would be well At day break a neighbour of mine calling me away I desired her Husband to let me go but he vvas unvvilling unless I vvould promise to come again vvhich I did and as soon as the door vvas open one of the servants told me another Midvvife vvas sent for her Husband desired me again that since the Chirurgeon failed of his skil I would use my skil but it was too late for the Chirurgeon left them and the Woman dyed See here hovv ill a thing it is to be opinionated for I could easily have delivered her if she vvould have been ruled by me Of certain Women that bear Children and lye in before their time and others at their full time who grow bigg and ful of humors which causeth the death of the child presently after their Delivery their children being nourished in their Bellies like fish only with water I Knew a Gentlewoman who had lain in three times but yet none of her children lived I desired her to take a Physitian that might give advice both to her and me and to ordain her some remedies and a government of dyet to keep her from suffering the like accidents for time to come we chose a Physitian who prescribed certain Tablets or Trochisques to take from the time she began to grow bigg until the time of her Delivery twice a week as also to take the water of Indian Bul-rush and of Sarsaparilla to mix in her drink or broth as often as she would having a due regard to the heat of her blood she observed every tittle of his directions which made her to bear a Son alive sound and healthful she continued these Remedies four years together but the next time she grew big with childe she thought that Nature of it self would be sufficient I counseled her to the contrary but she he arkned not so that when her Time came she was brought to bed of a dead child I shal give you the Receit of the Tablets and of the Water for the benefit of Women that are subject to an ill Delivery by reason of the great quantity of waters which hindreth the child from turning in the womb the water is made in this manner R. Two pints or 2 pints and a half of water put therein half an ounce of the root of Indian Bulrush and an ounce of Sarsaparilla put this in the drink and let it infuse one night mix it with the drink or else drink it pure The Tablets are made of this fashion R. Mace Saunders Rhubarb Pearl and Coral Sene of each 25 grains with one ounce and half of sugar let every Tablet weigh 6 drams The observation of a VVoman who was thought unable to bear any more Children yet contrary to expectation was delivered of one and the reason thereof THere are certain Women who have the neck of the Womb long and hardned by a cold humor that fals down
have to make water p. 89. of the inflammation of the Almonds of the eares p. 90. of vomiting ibid. of the Hicquet p. 91. of the pain of the belly in children ibid. of the small pox in children p. 92. Certain other instructions grounding upon practicall observations fit to be known by all Midwives and child-bearing women c. p. 95. A Second observation of a Woman that had been in Travail nine dayes p. 99. of a Woman here in Town that bare her Child eleven Moneths and could not be Delivered p. 101. of the common opinion that a woman seven moneths gone ought to walk very much and of the accidents that happen thereby p. 1â—3 of a child which they thought sick of the Epilepsie occasioned by the sicknesse of the Mother and of the cause p. 106. of a young woman who being struck upon the belly by her Husband with his foot was in great pain could not be brought to bed without the help of a Chirurgion p. 108. of two Deliveries of one Woman p. 109. of a Woman that because she would not be ruled in her Lying in died p. 111. of certain Women that bear children and lye in before their time and others at their full time who grow big and full of humors which causeth the death of the child presently after their Delivery their children being nourished in their Bellies like fish only with water p. 113. The observation of a woman who was thought unable to bear any more Children yet contrary to expectation was delivered of one and the reason thereof p. 114. A good observation in the choice of Nurses p. 115. of a Woman which I laid two several times and of the difference of her bearing of two children proceeding from several causes p. 117. Instruction of a famous and dying Midwife to her Daughter touching the practice of this Art p. 119. The natural forme of a child lying in the womâ— To be sold by N Brooke at the Angel in Cornhil G. F. 〈◊〉 THE COMPLEAT MIDWIFE HER PRACTICE Of the Genitals or vessels dedicated to Generation in Men and Women THe consideration of these things is so necessary for the purpose of this book that they require not onely a deep meditation but the praeeminence to take up the first thoughts of those who would arrive to the knowledg of a thing so much needful to all mankinde And it may be lawfully feared that many women do miss their design because they know nothing but the outside of things so that in matters of extremity because they are ignorant of the structure of the parts they cannot tell how to go about their work We shall therefore begin with an easie Anatomy of the privy parts both of men and women so far as shall be requisite to the gaining of so great a skill In the first place therefore we shall begin with man in whom those things which are called the vessels of preparation are first to be considered CHAP. I. Of the vessel of preparation AMong the Spermatic vessels are to be considered first two veins and two arteries these are carried downward from the small guts to the Testicles and are much bigger in men then they are in women The original of these veines is not alwayes the same for commonly the right vein riseth out of the hollow veine a little below the source or original of the Emulgent but the least takes his original from the lower part of the Emulgent it self Yet sometimes it hath a branch carried to it from the trunk of the hollow vein The middle part of these veines runs directly through the Loyns resting upon the Lumbal Muscle a thin Membrane only intervening and thus having gone about half its journey it branches out and distributes it self to the near adjoyning filmy parts of the body The uttermost part of these vessels is carried beyond the Midriff to the Stones yet do they not pass through the Peritonaeum but descends with a small nerve and the muscle called Cremaster through the Duplicity of the Midriffe when it approaches neer the stones it is joyned with an artery and now these vessels which were before a little severed one from the other are by a film rising from the Peritoneum closed up and bound both together and so twisting up like the young tendrils of a vine they are carried to the end of the stones fig 1. fig 2. CHAP. II. Of the Parastatae or vessels where the bloud is first changed THese four vessels after many ingraftings and knittings together seem at length to become onely two bodies full of little crumplings like the tendril of a vine white and in the form of a Piramid resting the right upon the right stone the left upon the left stone These are called Parastatae which as they stand pierce the tunicles of each stone with certain fibers or extraordinary small veines which afterwards dispearse 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 CAAP. III. The use of the preparing vessels THe use of those vessels which are called the vessels of preparation is chiefly to attract out of the hollow vein or left Emulgent the most pure and exquisitely concocted bloud which is most apt to be converted into seed which they contain and prepare giving unto it a certain rude form of seed in those parts that lie as it were in certain pleights or folds which they do by a peculiar property bequeathed to them Another use of them is gathered by their scituation for as they are now scituated that is to say the right vein coming from the hollow vein and the left from the Emulgent this inconvenience is avoided that the left vein is not forced to pass over the great artery and so be in danger of breaking by reason of the swift motion of the artery Moreover there being a necessity that male and female should be begot it is fit that there should be seed proper for the generation of both sexes whereof some must be hotter and some must be colder and therefore nature hath so ordered it that the hotter seed should proceed from the right vein for the generation of man and the colder from the left for the generation of females The left vein hath also this property to draw from the Emulgent the more serous and less pure bloud to the intent that the serous humour might stir up venery by its salt and acrimonius substance and therefore it is observed that those who have the left stone bigger are most full of seed and most prone to venery The use of the Parastatae is this to contain the bloud and stay it in their windings and wrinkled bodies and by power received from the stones to change the colour of the bloud CHAP IV. Of the Testicles in general THe stones are in number two very seldome
say thus much that they ought to forbear as much as in them lies assuring them that such trash does not only endanger their own health but the health of the childe Yet if they cannot command that depraved appetite let them so provide though it be by giving some small satisfaction to their depraved longings that they do not hasten any further inconvenience for though those strange meats be very contrary to nature yet the strange desire that they have to them does not a little avail to the disgestion of them For her drink let it be small Ale though now and then a cup of pure wine does not amiss to comfort the stomach and the parts dedicated to generation Her time of sleep Her sleeping is best in the night for the concoction of those meates which she hath eate in the day time she must avoid by all meanes the sleeping after dinner she may sleep full out nine houres her sleeping beyond that time is prejudiciall She may exercise Her exercise her self moderately for violent exercise loosens the Cotyledons through which the Infant receives his nourishment the riding in coaches is forbid especially for the last three months She ought to avoyd great noises Other precepts as the noise of Guns or great bels Laughing crying if it be immoderate is extremely hurtfull as also immoderate anger In the first four moneths she ought not to lye with her husband for that shakes and moves the fruite of her womb and causes the flowers to descend she must also abstain in the sixth and eight but in the seventh and ninth it is not denyed and is thought to facilitate the delivery She ought also to keep her body soluble which if it should come of it self she must take loosing syrups to help nature Assoon as ever they perceive themselves to be with child they must lay a side their busks and not straighten themselves any way for feare of hurting the fruit of their womb by not giving it its full libertie of growth CHAP. VII How women ought to govern themselves in the time of their going with childe FIrst that her breasts Precepts concerning the breasts after her delivery may not grow bigge and swell over-much as also to a void the danger of two much blood which being converted into milke may chance to curd and breed some disease in the breast Therefore as soon as she perceives her selfe with child let her cary about her neck a small neck-lace of gold though some do more esteem of a neck-lace of steel or a little ingot of steel to hang between the two breasts you may also foment the breasts a quarter of an hour every morning with the distilled waters of sage perwincle or ground-Ivy making them first luke warme when the third or fourth moneth of her time is come Concerning the belly and that she perceives the Infant begin to move about which time the belly begins to swell and to grow big she may swathe it with a linen swath-band which she may anoint with some convenient pommatum this keeps the belly smooth and from wrinkles and from hanging down like a tripe She may use this liniment or Pommatum â„ž the gall of a kidd and of a sow of each â„¥ iij. capon greass and goose greass of each an ounce and an halfe cut these into little peices and melt them in an earthen dish putting therto as much water as will suffice to keep them from burning then straine it through a linen cloath and afterwards having washed it in faire water untill it be very white add to it of the marrow of a redd deare about an ounce then wash it againe in rose water or some other water of a good sent and anoint the swath-band therewith Or this â„ž of the grease of a dog and the fat of mutton which is about the kidnyes of each two ounces the fat of a whale about an ounce oyle of sweet Almonds about an ounce and a halfe prepare the greases as above-said then mingle them with the other things and wash them in rose water as before Some women that are loath to grease their bellyes with these oyntments doe carry the skin of a dog or else the outward and thin pilling of a sheeps skin take the skin of a dog ready drest for the making of gloves wash it a good many times in faire water first and afterward in rose water then drye it in the shade and moisten it in the foresaid oyles Take this one more Liniment â„ž a quarter of a pound of fresh butter well washed in faire Water of rose water and of oyle of sweet Almonds an ounce of the seed of a a Whale half an ounce melt these altogether and anoint the belly These oyntments are to be kept in a Galley-pot covered over with rose water The woman having attained the ninth moneth of her time and still continuing these oyntments she may now begin to use more exercise walking gently before dinner for the first twelve or fifteen dayes of that moneth afterwards she may use a more strong exercise that is for the eight or ten next dayes In the first days of this moneth it might not be unprofitable to be bathed in the following decoction for the space of a quarter of an houre and being afterwards put to bed to let her selfe be well rubbed and afterwards anoynted with some good oyntment all about the navill along the Os sacrum and the bone of the small guts and all about her hips and thighs You may use this Bath â„ž of Mallows marsh-mallows mother-wort of each two handfuls roots of Lillies three ounces of Camomil and Melilot flowers of each a good handful the seed of Line Quinces and Fenugreek of each an ounce boyl all these in fair water to make a decoction and for a half bath You may use this Oyntment â„ž Hens grease three ounces the grease of a Duck an ounce and an halfe oyle of Linseed an ounce and an half fresh butter two ounces melt all these together and then wash them well either in pellitorie water or in the water of mugwort adding thereto two ounces of the muscilage of Marsh-mallows If the woman all her time doe complaine that she feels little or no motion of the child let her carry upon her navel this following quilt which will give strength to the Infant â„ž powder of Roses red Corral Gillow-flowers of each three ounces and an half seed of Angelica two drams Mastick a dram and an half Ambergrease two grains Musk one grain put all these in a sack of fine Linen and quilt them together for the use aforesaid Thus much is to be observed by women with childe that are in health and have no other diseases hanging upon them but of the other diseases incident to women with childe we shall take a time hereafter to treat SECT IV. Of the formation of the childe in the womb CHAP. I. Of the mixture of the seed of both Sexes as
the woman herselfe she must be of a good heart and force her selfe by striving as much as possible she can stopping her mouth and keeping her breath as if she were doing the ordinary deeds of nature As for the collick if it seize women in travaile you may read the remedies in the following chapter CHAP. III. How to expell the Collick from women in Childbed There are some women who at the same instant that they are in travaile are taken with fits of the collick which is often caused by the crudities and indigestions of the stomach which doe torment women so extremely that it exceeds the paine of their travaile and while this paine lasts a woman advances nothing toward the end of her travaile the paine of travaile being hardly to be distinguished from it For her ease therefore the woman ought to take these remedies two ounces of oyle of sweet Almonds with an ounce of Cinnamon-water or else some wind dispelling Glyster and if the first time suffice not you may reiterate it sometimes fomentations that are proper for the dispelling of winde are very necessary for this purpose CHAP. IV. How the Midwife may know when the pains of travail do seize a woman VVHen the woman begins to cry out and hath sent for her Midwife the first thing that the Midwife is to ask is when she did conceive 2. Then is she to look diligently upon the belly of the woman and to mark it well for if she do behold the upper parts of the belly sunk and hollow and the lower parts of the belly full and big she may then conclude that the child is fallen down 3. She ought then to ask her some questions concerning her pains for if they be quick and strong beginning at the reins and sliding down all along the belly without ending at the navel but still falling down upon the groins and inwardly at the bottom of the belly below which is the interiour neck of the womb these are certain signs that the woman begins to be in labour 4. But for more certaintie the midwife may put up her hand being anointed first with fresh butter and if she perceive the interior neck of the womb to dilate it selfe t is a certaine signe that the paines of childbed are upon the woman or if she perceive any thing to push forwards her travaile is also undoubtable CHAP. V. Of the falling down of the waters a good while before the woman travails There are some women who have their waters come from them a long time before their travaile sometimes twelve days sometimes eight dayes somtimes six and sometimes foure though the ordinary time be not aboue three houres before her travaile they remaining for the most part not above twenty four howers This is caused by some ruptures of the membranes where from the beginning of the formation of the child the humour is contained rather then by the abundance of humours and therefore though a woman that hath abundance and that the membranes containing them are so strong that they wil not breake suddaine though the woman shall not travail till they breake yet the midwife ought not to break them but rather hold the woman over a vessel of warme water and also use some softening linniment to soften the membranes that so the mother straining the head or other member of the child may breake them more easily But for those women that have these evacuations so long before they travaile they must refraine going into the aire for feare of injuring themselves the passages being open for though the air cannot hinder the childe from coming forth by reason of its weight yet oft times getting within the secondine it not onely streightens the vessels and mouthes of the veines that are at the bottom of the womb but also causes several convulsions to the great danger of the woman but it is an easie thing to remedy these accidents by keeping close in her chamber having also a special regard to distinguish whether they be the waters of the birth or any Hydropick humour of the Matrix CHAP. VI. What the Midwife ought to do in time of travaile THe Midwife seeing the birth come naturally the pains now coming thicker and thicker the womb also opening to be delivered of its burthen and the endeavours of the childe being seen to come forth The Midwife must now encourage her patient admonishing her to shut her mouth and to hold her breath and to strein and endeavour with her lower parts Neither ought the Midwife be too hasty either to widen or force the passage of the Infant or to break the membranes but to stay till the membranes do burst of their own accord And here is to be noted Note the ignorance of some women who for haste to be gone to other women do tear the membranes with their nail to the danger both of the woman and of the childe which then remains dry without that moisture which makes the passages slippery which must of necessity augment the pain of the woman When the head comes forth of the womb the Midwife must take it gently between her two hands and then when the pains increase slipping down her hands under the arm-holes gently drawing forth the Infant yet staying her hand always but when the pains come upon the woman This must be done with a very delicate and tender hand lest the child by any rude or harsh handling should receive any deformed shape of body When the child is come into the world which is commonly with his face downward it must be suddenly turned upon his back lest it should be stifled for want of air Then let her cut the navel-string leaving the length of four fingers tying it with a silk thread as near the belly as may be Which done the childe if it be well may be laid aside only care must be had that the head and the stomach be well covered and that nothing come upon his face CHAP. VII How to draw forth the Secondines THis childe being thus drawn forth and in safety the midwife must now apply her selfe to the drawing out of the secondines which must be don by wagging and stirring them up and down and then gently drawing them forth causing the woman to take salt in both her hands and to shut them close and then to blow in them whereby you shall know whether they be broken or noe it may be done also by causing her to put one finger in her mouth to provoke a desire of vomiting or else by stirring as when she is doing the ordinary deeds of nature or as nature it selfe constrained her to doe before the head of the child was come forth All this must be don speedily yet if this be not sufficient she may take the yolke of an egg raw or she may take a small draught of raw elder-elder-water or you may cause her to smell to a peice of Assa Foetida If she be troubled with winde collicks or have
taken cold which often times doth breed wind which is a great hinderance to the coming forth of the secondines The Midwife ought to chafe the womans belly with her hand which does not only breake the wind but causes the secondine to come downe If this failes the midwife may with her hand dilate the exterior orifice of the womb drawing it forth gently and by degrees CHAP. VIII What may be given to a woman in travaile In the first place hot and violent remedies are to be avoyded Hot things to be avoided but in cases of great necessitie for it many times happens that they are the cause of dangerous fevers Two other things are also very dangerovs to a woman in Travaile too much repletion As also emptiness and fulness and too much emptiness for the stomack of a woman with child doth not digest her meat in so short a time as women that are not with child doe Therfore the midwife ought to informe her self how long it was since she eat and in what quantitie and if it were long since she did eate and that she grow feeble they may give in the intermissions of her paines some warme cherishing and cordial broths or the yolke of a potched egg if her travaile endure long then to strengthen her and comfort her she may take a draught of Cinamon water not exceeding an ounce or at twice a dram of the confection of Alkermes dissolved in two spoonfulls of Claret wine and not more then one of these three things For if they take too much as is before said it causes fevers and heats the whole body of which follows many inconveniences for it stopps the purgations of which many strange diseases ensue CHAP. IX How to put the Womb again in its place SOme women newly brought to bed are many times afflicted with greater paines then those of their travaile by reason that the womb is not well put into its place or if it have the swath-band being loose it is apt to roule upwards in the belly This happens to women that are not well purged after their deliverie for remedie hereof having put the matrix right into its place roule up two linen swathes pretty hard bringing them also round the hipps then take whites of eggs beaten and a dram of Pepper in pouder which being spread upon Toe is to be applyed warme to the navil then let the bellie be well swathed this is the only remedy to ease the paine CHAP. X. Against the extreme loss of blood which happen to women immediately after their delivery THere are many women who immediately after their delivery doe suffer great losse of blood which proceeds from a great plenitude or fullness or by reason that in their travaile they took too many hot and corosive medicines or by streining themselves too hard over-heated the blood so that after travaile it runs from them in great quantitie To remedie this the woman ought to take often a small quantitie of wine in a spoon and if the weakness be much let her mix half a dramme of Alkermes with a draught of wine and take care that she be well swathed upward for that presses downe and streightens the vessels and hinders the violent flux give her also the yolke of an egg to take for that recalls the natural heat to the stomach which was dispersed through the whole It would be necessary also to spread a long the reines of the woman and all along the back-bone by reason of the hollow veine a napkin dipt in Oxicrat or water mingled with vinigre You may also lay upon each groin a skeine of raw silk moistened in cold water Take also of that well tempered earth of which they make the floor of an oven and steep it in strong vinigre then spread it upon a linnen cloath and lay it upon the reines this moderates the heat of the blood and stoppes the violent flux of it Great care must be also had that all the while the Blood comes from her she do not sleep for many times they are taken away in that weakeness when the people thinke they doe not take their rest but when you see this great flux moderated you may take away the astringent medicines by little and little that so the blood may cease running by degrees lest any bloud should be retained that may chance to doe mischeife CHAP. XI What is to be done to a woman presently after her delivery PResently after a woman is delivered if she have had a sore travail they ought to cast her into the skin of a sheep flead alive and put about her reins as hot as may be Upon her belly also lay the skin of a Hare flead alive having cut the throat of it afterwards and rubbed the skin with the bloud which is to be clapt as warm as may be to her belly This closes up the dilatations made by the birth and chases from those parts the ill and melancholly bloud These remedies are to be kept on two hours in Winter and one hour in Summer After this swath the woman with a napkin about a quarter of a yard large having before chafed the belly with oyl of St John's wort Then raise up the Matrix with a linen cloth many times folded then with a little pillow about a quarter of a yard long cover her flanks then use the swath beginning a little above the hanches yet rather higher then lower winding it pretty tight Lay also warm cloaths upon the nipples letting alone those remedies which are proper for the driving back of the milk which are not so soon to be applied for the body is now all in a commotion and there is neither vein nor artery which doth not beat wherfore those remedies that chase away the milk being all dissolving therefore it is not proper to put such medicines upon the breast during that commotion for sear that those medicines should make a stop of any thing hurtful in those parts and therefore it is better to give ten or twelve hours for the bloud to settle in as also for that which was cast upon the Lungs by the agitation of travail to distil down again into its place You may also make a restrictive of the white and yellow of an egg beaten togeiher with an ounce of oyl of St John's wort and an ounce of oyl of roses an ounce of rose water and an ounce of plantine water beat all these together very well in this you may dip a linen cloath folded double and apply it without warming of it to the breasts this comforts and eases the pains of that part She must not sleep presently but a matter of four hours after her delivery you may give her some nourishing broth or candle and then if she will she may sleep CHAP. XII Of women that have a great deal of bloud and purge not neither in their travail nor after SOme women have great superfluity of bloud and yet purge not at all neither
have occasion Take Galls Cypress nuts and Pomgranate flowers Roch Alome of each two ounces Province Roses four ounces knot grass a good Handfull the rind of Cassia the rind of Pomegranates Scarlet berries of each three ounces the nature or sperm of a whale one ounce Rose water Myrrh water and Burnet water of each an ounce and a half wine and water of a smiths forge of each four ounces and a half then make two little baggs about a quarter of a yard long and half a quarter of a yard broad then boyle all these in the foresaid water in a new pot using the baggs one after another as occasion serveth CHAP. XXIII To make searcloaths for women TAke white wax halfe apound the sperme of a whale and venice turpentine well washed in rose water plantaine water of each an ounce and a halfe then melt all these together then mingle with them an ounce of venice white Lead then order you your cloth as you please making some for the bellie and some for the nipples having first rubbed it over with oyle of Acorns or the sperme of a whale CHAP. XXIV To cleanse a woman before she rises TAke bitter Almonds and peel them make thereof a past with the powder of Iris and the yolk of eggs and put it in a little bagg of Tammy and temper it within the bag with black wine luke-warm and afterwards use it upon the places where the sear-clothes have been laid then wash the places with black wine mingled with orange flower CHAP. XXV How a woman lying in of her first child may avoid the gripings of her belly THere are some women lying in of their first childe who are troubled much with gripings in the belly and these women commonly endure pains when their terms come down by reason of the smalness of the veins which conveigh the bloud into the Matrix such women have griping in their bellies when they lie in of their first child which other women are not troubled with by reason that they have larger vessels yet although they have them not in their first lying in it would not be amiss to use some proper remedies that so they may be never troubled with them which if they receive not at their first lying in they will be uncapable of receiving them ever after for though they may take remedies afterwards to lessen the pain yet they can never cure it wholly Now that which is ordinarily done to women is as soon as ever they are brought to bed is to give them two ounces of oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire with two ounces of syrrup of Maiden-hair t is true this is good to make her purgations part away but not to remedy the griping Some there are that do take two drops of the bloud which comes out of the navel-string of the Infant and give it mingled to the woman in the foresaid syrrups though there is much fault to be found with this by reason of the nastiness of it Others do boyl a white Chicken in the which they do put two ounces of Sugar a dram of fine Cinamon half a Nutmeg grated two or three Dates five or six Cloves the Fowl being boyled you may put into it a small quantity of Claret then boyl it altogether again letting it boyl till the Fowl be well soaked then strain it and give it to the woman as soon as she is laid down for want of a white Hen you may take a Pigeon or a red Partridg for want of either Onely take heed to give her this if she be feverish because it is something hot The seed of Savory taken in warm broth is very good and it is also very good for those that have the collick The Queen of France her Receit Take a dram of the root of the greater Consound or Comfrey one of the kernels of peaches nutmegs of each two scruples yellow Amber half a dram Amber-grease half a scruple mingle all this together and give it to the woman as soon as she is laid down the quantity of a dram mingled in white wine or if the woman be feverish in some good warm broth CHAP. XXVI Certain precepts hindering the delay and difficulty of bringing forth BEing now come to talke of the impediments of the birth you must know that the birth is hindered by a twofold manner the one natural the other not natural of the unnatural we shall treat of in its place for the natural take these following directions But in the first place let the Midwife be very skilful that she may decline as much as in her lies all the impediments that may be avoided If the birth be hindred by the driness and straightness of the neck of the womb take a little beaten Hellebore or Pepper and blow it into the nostrils of the mother Her mouth must be held close her breath kept in and sneesing must be provoked as much as may be whereby the spirits being forced to the lower parts may be the more available to force down the childe You may also give her Shepherds-purse dried in a little broth or wine also a little quantity of hony mingled with twice as much luke-warm water and give her will not be unprofitable The milk also of another woman mixt with maiden-hair and applied warm to the navel She may take also oyl of Laurel in wine or warm broth two grains of Pepper being taken inwardly do not only force out the birth but also drive out the secondines This is also an excellent remedy against a difficult travail Take Trochischs of Myrrh one dram grains of Saffron ten Cinnamon one scruple mingle all this with two ounces of Peny-royal water and give it the woman to drink Let her drink it warm and let her go to her bed for an hour till she finds the operation of the drink moving her to her labours If this profit and that the Infant coming with his head foremost stick in the womb you may use these pills of which she may take seven and then rest â„ž Gum Bdelium Myrrh Savin-seed Liquid Storax or Stacte Castor Agaric of each half a scruple Diagridium six grains mingle all these with Cassia extracted as much as suffices and make up pils about the bigness of pease You may also use a pessary as long and as thick as your finger of pure wool which must be covered over with silk and dipt in the juice of Rue where Scammony hath been dissolved and so used If these things prove without effect she may use this ensuing bath above her belly Take of the roote and herb Althea six handfulls Mallows Camomile Melilot Parsley of each foure handfulls Line-seed and seed of fenugreek of each two pound Lavender and Laurel leaves of each two handfulls Let all these things be boyled to gether in water where in the woman is to sit or else to have those parts well wet and moistened with spunges which being done and the woman well dryed with warme cloaths
and first what is to be done to a woman who in her travail is accompanied with a flux of bloud and with convulsions IN the first place great care must be had as to the situation of the woman The woman in this case must be laid cross her bed where she must be held by some one that hath strength that she may not slide or move her self in the operations of the Chirurgion Her thighes must be held hard and wide abroad with her leggs bent backwards towards her hipps and her head leaning upon a bolster the reines of her back and her Crupper being alittle elevated with certaine pillows put under neath her thighes besides this she must be well covered with linnen cloaths laid upon her stomacke belly and thighes to defend her from the cold and wind Being thus situated the Chirurgion ought to putt up his hand being first well opened with in the neck of the womb to remove all those clotts of blood which may lie there to obstruct the passages of the blood He may then trye if the interior neck of the womb be sufficiently dilated that he may put in his hand and move the Infant if it be needfull which must be done as gently and with as little violence as may be he must anoynt it on all parts with sweet butter or good Pomatum and so opening it by little and a little he may put his hand quite in and if the waters are not yet come downe he may without any difficultie let them forth and then at the same instant if the Infant Come with the head forwards he shall gently turn it to find out the feet and when he hath found one of them he shall gently draw it forth and immediately tye a riband about it with a knott hanging downe ward then let him put it in a gaine suffering part of the riband to hang out that he may more easily be able to find out the other foot which he shall quickly doe by thrusting up his hand a long the thigh of the Infant when he hath found it he shall take the other foot and draw them both together at an even length giving the woman now and then some leisure to breath but urging her still to streine her selfe when she feeles the paines coming on her then shall the Chirurgion or midwife take a fine linnen cloath and wrap about the thighs of the child least by taking it naked his fingers should slip in that manner drawing it forth till it appeare all come forth observing still that the belly and the face be still kept downward Now if the woman have a flux of bloud and that the neck of the Matrix be open the Chirurgion ought then to consider whether the Infant or the secondine come forth first of all for it oftentimes happens that the secondines passing toward the mouth of the Matrix do so stop and obstruct it that they do not give leave for the childe or the waters to come forth so that some perceiving that softness are presently of opinion that the mouth of the womb is not open But this the Midwife or Chirurgion may easily discern by thrusting up the middle finger as high as may be and feeling therewith the circumference of the neck of the womb by which they wil soon perceive whether the womb be dilated or no and whether it be the secondines that present themselves Now when it is found to be the secondines and that they cannot easily come forth the Midwife may with her two fingers widen the passage that he may have thereby the liberty to put up his hand and seek for the Infant Now if the secondines are not placed in the middle they must be turned a little as quickly as may be that you may more conveniently seek for the feet of the Infant to draw it forth as we have said In such a case as this all care must be had that nothing be broken and that every thing be brought out whole for so though the woman should dye the Midwife or the Chirurgion would be blameless If the secondines come first the best way is to deliver the woman withall the expedition that may be by reason of the great fluxes of blood that will follow by reason that the veins are opened but here are two things to be considered the first is whether the secondines are much or little come forth if they are but little advanced they must be put back with care and diligence and if the head of the child appeare first it must be guided directly toward the neck of the womb as in the most naturall birth but if there appear any difficulty in the birth by reason of the weakness either of the childe or of the mother then the most convenient way will be to seek for the feet as we have said before Another thing to be observed is that if the secondine be so far advanced that they cannot be put back and that the childe follows it close then are the secondines to be pulled away with all the care and expedition that can be and to be laid aside without cutting the entrail that sticks to them for by that you may be guided to the Infant which whether it be alive or dead it is to be pulled out by the feet with as much care and quickness as may be though it is not to be done but in cases of great necessity for otherwise the secondines ought to come last If the childe be dead in the womb of the mother Of the child dead in the mothers belly the woman is then to be situated in the same posture as when she is troubled with a flux of bloud If it present it selfe dead with the head formost and that ther is little or no hope that the woman may be delivered without assistance and that her strength begins to faile her the most certaine and safe way is to put up the hand for the Chirurgion must then slide up his left hand being hollowed as when a man strives to hold water in it causing it to slide in the neck of the womb along the lower part thereof toward the feet and that betweene the head of the Infant and the neck of the Matrix and having thus opened the womb with his left hand he shall with his right put up his hook above his left hand between the head of the child and the flat of his hand and fix it in the bone of the temples toward the eare or else in the hollow of the eye or in the Occipital bone keeping his left hand still in its place after this gently moving and stirring the head with his left hand with his right hand holding the hook well fixed he shall draw the child forth by degrees exhorting the woman all the while to force and streine her selfe with all her power and then is the best time to draw forth the child when the paines shall seize her now if it happen that he loose his
that meanes be delayed to the damage of the woman in childbed The fourteenth form If there be twins in the womb and one of them endeavour to come forth with the head formost and the other with the feet First of all the Midwife must consider which of the two the woman may be delivered of with most expedition if the head of the one be less forward then the feet of the second it will be most convenient to draw that forth by the feet turning the head of the other a little to the other side and that being delivered she must presently lay hold of the head of that which is within and direct it just to the passage of the womb which may be done with more ease by reason of the gap which the formost hath made If it happen that in drawing forth the first by the feet that the other chang its situation the midwife may then draw forth the other by the feet as she did the first and if the head of the first be more forward then must she put back the feet of the first and receive that which comes with the head formost If both of them press together to the passage of the womb the midwife must take great care and therfore she must put up her hand to see which of them is most forward as also to try whether it be not some monstrous conception as two heads upon one body or two bodies joyned in one either at the shoulders or at the sides which may be known if she put up her hand gently between the two heads as high as she can and if she find that they are twins she may gently put the one to one side to make way for the passage of the other which is most advanced which must be directed just to the orifice of the womb having a great care that she do not change the situation of the second and as she feeles the pains of the mother coming on her she must by all means bring forward the childe that she would receive still keeping the other back with two or three fingers of the left hand and thus having delivered the first if the second be not well situated she must bring the head to the neck of the womb where it will find the passage open to it by the delivery of the first Now lest the first childe should be in danger of its life you must take it from the mother and carefully tie up the navel string as is formerly mentioned also bind again with a large and long fillet that part of the navel which is fast to the secondines that they may be the more easily found Then the second child being born the Midwife must see if there be not two secondines for by reason of the shortness of the ligature it may have happened to retire back againe to the damage of the woman and therfore the secondines must be hastened forth as soon as may be least the womb should close If the two Infants have but one body the better way is to turn the head upwards and to draw it forth by the feet then by the head taking care when you come to the hipps to draw it forth as quick as may be The fifteenth form The second forme of the unnaturall birth is very dangerous and therfore requires the greater care of the midwife First therfore let her well anoynt the womb of the woman that the passage may be more slipperie which being done let her take hold of the hands of one of the Infants and keeping them close to the sides direct the head to the orifice of the womb that being born let her proceed in the same manner toward the other If she cannot come to take hold of either of the Infants armes she must bring the woman againe to her bed and trye if by the foresaid Agitation of her body the infants may be Brought to a more convenient forme of delivery CHAP. XXIX Of ordering the woman after she is delivered IN the first place she must keep a temperate dyet having a great care not to over fill her selfe after so great an evacuation and indeed her dyet must be like that of wounded persons neither are the tales of Nurses to be beleived who exhort them to fill after so great an emptines telling them that the loss of bloud must be restored for these are meer fooleries for as for that blood which she hath lost it is but unnecessary blood such as is usually kept for the space of nine months which to voyd is much conducing to her health besides their nourishment for the first days must be but slender for feare of falling into a fever besides the abundance of milke which it would bring into the brest where it might be in danger of curdling or apostematizing and therfore for the first five days let her use broths Panadas potched eggs Gellies abstaining from flesh or french Barly In the Morning broth will be expedient at dinner broth or eggs or Panada and at supper the same with some Gellies for her second courses If she intend to nourse her childe she may feed more plentifully and drinke some Barly-water where in some corianders or fennell seed may be put In Italie the persons of most account doe use this water Take two Capons the fethers being well pulled of and the bowels wholly taken out which you shall boyl in a glaz'd earthen pot in a sufficient quantitie of water till they be halfe boyled then must they be taken out of the pot together with the broth and being cutt to peices are to be put into a Lembick in manner following â„ž Bugloss Borache and Time two good handfulls and with that cover the bottome of the shell then lay upon that a row of flesh then upon that a ranck of leaf gold with a dram of powder of pearles and upon that pover the broth let all this be distilled in Balneo Mariae drawing forth a pint at a time which you shall reiterate as often as you have any thing left to give to the woman in child-bed for the space of ten or twelve dayes This water must be drawn six weeks or two months before it be used If the woman be not troubled with a fever let her drinke a little white wine or Claret with twice as much hot water If she haue a mind to drink between meales or at night it may be convenient to give her some syrrup of maidenhaire or any other syrrup that is not astringent with a little boyled water After the suspition of fever or heat of her brests is over she may be nourished more plentifully and you may give her together with her broth some other meat as Pullet Capon Pigeon Mutton or Veale boyled After the eight day is past at what time the Womb is well purged and discharged it will be expedient to give her cold meat in greater quantitie that she may be enabled to gaine strength during all this time
often changed Or else you may dip linnen cloaths also in a decoction of Camomil flowers and Violet flowers with a small quantity of oyl of Roses and a drop of vineger or two or you may use this fomentation Take of the juyce of Nightshade oyl of Roses of each an ounce and a half of the decoction of Fenugreek Camomil and Lineseed two ounces vineger one ounce This medicine you may use by dipping a spunge therein and so washing and fomenting the breast therewith Or you may apply this Cataplasme take of the leaves of Nightshade and Melilot half a handful of each let them be boyled extracted through a course cloth then add to them bean meal two ounces Oxymel and oyle of sweet Almonds of each one ounce of this make a Cataplasm and apply it If the disease be more prevalent you must use more forcible remedies and among the rest this fomentation Take of the leaves of Mallows Violets Dill of each one handful flowers of Camomil and Melilot of each a small handful and a halfe boyl these together adding to them a little wine and oyl of Dill or Mustard first let the breast be fomented with this and afterwards with an oyntment composed of equal parts of new butter oyl of violets and Hens fat But if these things avail not to dissipate the humour you must observe whether the inflamation tend either to a suppuration or induration If you find that it tends to a hardness you must try all means to hinder it by the way of mollifying plaisters among which this is not a little experimented Take the marrow of a Calves leg two ounces Sheeps grease one ounce Saffron four scruples Cumminseed bruised two scruples mingle all these and make a plaister If the inflamation doth not harden but doth altogether tend to a suppuration which may be known by these signs that is to say the increasing of the tumour the beating and excessive heat pain which rages about those parts so vehemently that do not admit them to be touch'd But now the suppuration is to be hastened with hot and moist medicines which have an Emplastick faculty for which purpose this is much commended Take the leaves of Mallows one handful roots of Althea one ounce boyl these together and when they are mashed draw them out and add to them bean meal and Fenugreek of each one ounce the whites of two eggs myrrh and Assa faetida of each one dram Saffron one scruple mingle all these together and make a Cataplasm for your use to this you may either add Capons grease Hogs grease or fresh butter If these remedies do not suddenly bring the inflammation to a suppuration you must then take of the shells of snails bruised and lay them upon the Cataplasm in such a manner that the snail shell may come to touch that part of the tumour which is most elevated and pointed whence it appears that the matter will first issue If these remedies avail not it will be necessary to open the said Apostem with a Lancet and this must be done when you are sure that the matter is ready to come forth which may be known by these signs when the beating ceases when the fever the pain and the heat of the part do begin to diminish when you perceive the place pointed and raised and enclining to a blackish colour When the wound is open you must first apply to it a digestive composed of an ounce of turpentine half an ounce of oyl of Roses and the yolk of an egge After this you must cleanse it with honey of roses Turpentine and barly meal or with the oyntment of the Apostles or the oyntment called Aegyptiacum then you may put on the top of the place the oyntment called Basilicon or Paracelsus plaister which doth digest cleanse carnifie cicatrize after a very extraordinary manner This is furthermore to be observed that an ulcer in the breast is not easily cured if the milk be not dried out of the other breast and therefore the milke is to be dried up by keeping the child from sucking and by putting upon the breasts of the woman cloaths dipped in cold water together with bean barly and vineger and such like remedies THE COMPLEAT MIDWIVES Practice Of windy Tumours in the Breasts THe flatuous tumor of the breasts is caused by a thick vapour which rises from the menstruall blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix The causes of which are first the suppression of the flowers or when the flowers are not discharged into their proper place and in their proper time as also from the corruption of the humours by which are ingendred divers bad fumes and vapours for this being received into the breasts cause a distention much like a true swelling The signes by which it is known is the pain which it brings along with it which is sharp and pricking causing a distention of the part The heart is not a little out of order by reason of the windinesses which lie so neer it and commonly the left breast is most swoln communicating its pain to the arm shoulder and ribs of the same side And these signes differ from those of a Canker for in this distemper the breast is white and shining by reason of the distention and if you touch it it sounds like a Drum And if you presse it with your hands you wil finde that it is sweld in all parts alike and not in one more then another This is cured first by a good order of diet taking little victuals whereby crudities may be avoided that do afford matter to the obstructions and increase windinesse for which cause she must also drink little that water boyld with Cinamom Anis-seed and rinde of Citrons The next remedy is by using things which are good to provoke the courses among which use this receit strein Selandine stampt into posset-ale and drink it four dayes before the new moon and four dayes after And it will not be amisse to let blood three or four times in the year about the time that the courses ought to begin For by this means you may provoke the flowers hinder the increase either of a Scirrhus or of a Canker to which purpose bathes frictions and infections are not a little to be used In the next place you must prepare the humours that foment this windinesse both in the Matrix and in the veins and that by syrups which do expell flegme and melancholy after which you must purge your patient for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sene three ounces Anis-seed one scruple let them boyle in foure ounces of Borage water vvhen it is streined infuse into it Confection Hamech vvithout Scammony Colloquint and Cathol Dupl Rheo of each an ounce and a halfe when it is streined dissolve in it one ounce of syrup of Roses solutive this potion must be given two hours before eating You may also use this gentle Apozem Take of the
form of a plaister You may also use for this purpose plaisters of Melilot or Oxycroceum At length if all remedies faile the operation of the hand must be the last succour which we leave to the Chirurgion Of the Canker in the Breasts THe Canker is a venemous tumour hard and very much sweld hot and durable more exasperated oftentimes by remedies then asswaged The Canker proceeds from a feculent and grosse humour vvhich being gathered together in the spleen is chased away from thence after it growes too hot vvhich vvhen Nature cannot void it most commonly in Women empties it self upon the breast by reason of this cavernous and spongy nature the matter of it is a hot melancholy blood and it is known by the crooked vvinding and retorted veins that are about it stretching out long roots a good vvay from it being sometimes blackish and sometimes inclined to black and blew It is soft to see to but it is very hard to the touch extending the pain as far as the shoulders It wil sometimes remain for two years together no bigger then a bean afterwards it grows to be as big as a nut then to the bigness of an Egg and after that increasing daily to a larger size When the skin breaks there issues out a great deal of pestilent mattier thin and blackish and having a very bad smel The ulcer it self is very unequal the lips orifice thereof being sweld with hardness and inverted a light fever possesseth the body and often swoonings And many times the pestilencie of the humor having corroded a vein there issues out a great deal of blood If the canker be ulcerated or in any inward part of the body no medicine can prevail for remedies do more exasperate then help it To burn it with iron is pestilent and if it be cut with a penknife it returns again as soon as it is but skind over But if it be an exulcerated canker which is easily known arises from a more sharp matter for then the flesh is corrupted sending forth a very noysom mattier being very irksom to the sight and accompanied with a gentle Fever and swooning and issuing out of blood The cure of this is to be done by drying refrigerating medicines or by incision to the quick expression of the corrupted blood afterwards after which the wound must be wel cleansed for which purpose the powder which is called Hartmans blessed powder is very prevalent The diet must be of meats that moisten refrigerate blood-letting also is profitable as also preparatiō of the humor w th the juice of sweet smelling Apples and extract of Ellebore and often purgation with Lapis Lazuli pills and particularly if the Canker be not ulcerated you may apply this ointment Take Litharge one ounce beat it in a marble mortar with a leaden pestle incorporating into it two ounces of Rose water and oyle of Roses In case the pain be great use this remedy Take white poppy-seed one ounce oyle of Roses four ounces Henbane-seed and Opium of each a dram and a halfe gum Arabick halfe an ounce a little wax of which you may make an ointment If the Canker be already ulcerated take this water Take of the juices of Nightshade Housleek Sorrell Scabious Honysuckles Mullein Figwort dropwort Plantain Linarum Agrimony of each halfe a pound juyce of green Olives one pint the flesh of Frogs and river Crabs of each a pound and a half the whites of six Eggs Alum three ounces Camphire one dram let all these be distilled in a leaden Limbeck with the distilled water foment the part affected Take also Alum as much as a Nut Hony two peny worth red wine a pint seeth them together till the fifth part be spent strein it through a cloth and wash the Canker therewith Of the greatness of the Breasts THe greatness of the breasts is very unsightly the cause of their greatness is often handling of them store of windy vapours and retention of the monthly courses the cure of them is not to be neglected because the lesser the breasts be the less subject they are to be cankered they are cured by diet first wherein the use of astringent meats is to be recommended so that they be not windy by repercussion of the humors and bloud which flow to that part such are the juice of hemlock and the anointing of the place with partridge eggs or you may use this following cataplasm Take of the juice of hemlock three ounces of white lead Acacia and Frankincense of each three drams of Vinegar one ounce mingle all these together to which you may add powder of spunge burnt alum burnt lead Bole Armoniack and of these with a sufficient quantity of wax and myrtle make a very profitable ointment Thirdly by the discussion of that which is gathered together in that part for which purpose you may make an ointment in this manner Take of the mood or lome found in molis Tonsorum two ounces oyl of myrtle one ounce Vinegar half an ounce or thus take of the same lome and Bole Armoniack of each an ounce white lead two drams oyl of mastick two ounces and a halfe of the emulsion of henbane-seed one dram and a halfe anoint the breast with this and then upon that put a linen cloth dipt in the decoction of Oke Apples 4ly By compression of the part which is done by using a kind of plate of lead upon the breast anointed within side with oyle of Henbane-seed Of the defect abundance and coagulation of the Milk THe defect of milk arises from a double cause for either it is a defect in the blood which is dried up by reason of some hot maladies of the body either through intemperancie of the Liver through fasting or too much evacuation If the deficiency of milk come from these causes it may be increased again either by prepared chrystal the leaves also root and seed of Fenel do avail much in this particular and the powder of Earth-worms prepared and drunk in Wine as also the Electuary called Electuarium Zacuthi There is another cause which proceeds from the Lactifying quality which is many times so weak that it can neither attract nor concoct the blood by reason of some outward refrigerating and astringent qualities or by reason of some other diseases The cure of which being looked after in their respective places much conduceth to the restoring of that defect The redundance of blood proceeds from too great a plenty of blood and a strong lactifying quality In the cure of which the increase of blood is to be impeded which is done by drying up that humor and diversion to which blood-letting conduceth much Medicines also that drive it back are to be put upon the breasts toward the arms to which purpose Hemlock boyld in Chervile water and vinegar avails Curdling of the milk is when the thinner part of the milk exhales and the more grosse and heavy part stayes behinde which many
the place where the Child casts its eyes Moistness of the ears by reason of the moistness of the head which gather quantity of humors together the cure of this must not be over hasty yet the urine of children distilled and dropt into the ear is a very approved Remedy Bigness and swelling of the Head in little Children SOmetimes in children that are newly born the head grows to an extraordinary bigness which comes to pass either by reason of abundance of water contained in the same which water is contained either between the skin and the Pericranium or between the bone and the pericranium or between the bone and the membranes called the dura Mater and the Pia Mater Or by reason of abundance of vapours gathered together between the bones and the skin of the head which cause the head to grow to such an extraordinary bigness that it causes often times the death of the child If water be gathered together between the bone of the head and the membranes of the brain it causes a giddeness and Epilepsie to the Infant without being able to take any rest For the cure of the windy affection you may use fomentations in case the wind be contained only between the skin and the Pericranium for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sage Betonie Egrimony Calamus and Origan of each a handful Anis-seed and Fenel-seed of each two drams Camomil Flowers Melilot and Red Roses of each one handful boyl all these in common water adding to it a little wine and thereof make a Fomentation for the part affected which may be assisted with a plaister made of Oyl of Anis-seeds and bitter Almonds of each one ounce Oyl of Camomil an ounce and a half Laurel and Juniper-berries of each two drams Anis-seeds and Fennel-seeds of each one dram and a half of the best Wine a pint boyl them to the comsumption of the wine adding to the rest half an ounce of Venice Turpentine and as much wax as is sufficient As for the watry distemper though it be difficult to cure yet you must try this Fomentation to digest the humor Take Wormwood Betony creeping Time Penyroyal leaves of each a handful red Rose leaves and leaves of Stoechas a little handful Cypres Nut Orange flowers and Florentine orrice of each two drams boyl them all in a lye made of Vine twiggs and stalks after which you may use this plaister Take the powder of Betony Sage and Wormwood of each two drams Oyl of Camomil and Roses of each 2 ounces Vnguenti comitissae one ounce as much wax as is sufficient but if these Remedies profit nothing the only means left is to open the head Of the diseases of the Eyes Ears and Noses in Children MAny times children are troubled with a light inflammation in their eyes with a certain gum and thickness which hinders them from opening the eye-lid the most present remedies are either for the Nurse to wash the eyes with a little of her breast milke or else with a little Plantain and rose-Rosewater mixt together Sometimes the nostrils are so stopt that they are not able to draw their breath but with much pain For the cure of which the Nurse must moisten a linen cloth in a little ointment of Roses or a little very good Pomatum till the hard matter within be dissolved Many times there flows a moist humor from their heads which happens to those who have moist brains In the cure of this it must be the care of the Nurse to cleanse the eares both within and without afterwards let her drop into them a little oyle of bi ter Almonds and hony of Roses mixt together Of certain Vlcers in childrens mouths THere do many times grow a certain kinde of ulcers in childrens mouths For the cure of which the Nurse in the first place must use a good and sound diet then must the ulcers themselves be rub'd with a little Mel Rosatum and syrup of violets with a drop or two of Plantain water or you may wash them with half an ounce of Rose-water or Plantain water in which put half a dram Dâ—aigret of vitriol if they be very red and inflamed take Brambles flowers of Pomegranates Roses Santall of each two drams Alum half a dram boyle them in water afterwards strain them to the quantity of three ounces in which dissolve halfe an ounce of syrup of Mulberries If they be white take Amber Frankincense wood Cypresse nuts Pomegranate flowers of each two drams flowers of Roses and Myrtles of each half a handful boyl them in water to the consumption of foure ounces wherein dissolve an ounce and a half of hony of Roses Of certain other Tumours called Paroulis and Espoulis PAroulis is a little swelling red and inflamed and is ingendred commonly of a hot cholerick blood or else from a salt flegme that fals down upon the gums causing not only the gums but the neck and chaps to be swelled For the cure hereof you may anoint the gums with this Ointment Take of Amili 11 drams powder of Tragacant one dram burnt Alum one scruple Rosewater one ounce if there be any inflammation rub the gums with a muscilage made of the seed of Quinces made with Rose-water and Plantain-water adding to it a little syrup of Jujubes If the swelling be obstinate bring it to a suppuration with figgs Raisins Jujubes Licorass and French barley wel boyled when it is opened and lanced cleanse and dry it with mel Rosatum syrup of Roses and Cherries The Espoulis is a little excrescence of flesh hapning in the lungs between the teeth but most commonly the great teeth R. The root of Bugloss an ounce and half Plantain Agrimony a handful whole Barley a smal handful red Roses half a handful Pomgranate flowers two drams four Dates a dram and a half of Liquoriss make a decoction and straine it and then add to it an ounce of syrup of Roses and Pomgranates to wash the place affected you also may wash it with this Remedy Take of the juice of Pomgranates and Quinces of each half an ounce juice of Berberies and Lettice of each two drams with a little of the decoction of Lentils and red Roses Of the two strings under the Tongue of a Child THere is one of these strings or ligaments which appears reaching from the bottom of the tongue and extending it self to the top of the tongue this must be cut off first with a pair of cizers and the place rubbed with a lit-little Mosche salt There is another Ligament which rises from the root and extendeth it self to the middle of the tongue which is more hard and large which hinders the tongue either from being stretched out or to be moved in the mouth The cure hereof belongs wholly to the Chirurgeon Of the Cough in Children THe Cough in Children comes either from the distillation of some cold and sharp humour distilling from the brain if the humor be cold the child is also troubled
navel Of Looseness in Children LOoseness of the belly happens either in the time of Teeth breeding or out of the time in the time of breeding teeth either by reason of the corruption of the nutriment or by reason of over-much watching through the pain of the teeth or by reason of a Fever and some unnatural heat it must not be suddenly stopt if it be not overcopious and that the infant can indure it the belly must be afterwards cleansed with Roses solutive and afterwards stopped great observation being had whether the cause come from a hot or cold distemper Of Burstness in Children BUrstness happens to children either by reason that the peritonaeum is burst through crying or falling or splaying with the thighs For the cure whereof the child must be kept quiet and stil from crying upon which after the part affected is wel bound up you may give the child inwardly of the essence of the greater Consound one spoonful with two drops of Balsam of sal Gemma You may also foment the place with a Fomentation made of the roots of the greater Consound and Osmundi regulis the bark of Elme and Fraxi of each half an ounce the leaves of Plantain Mullein Centinode Herniar Horsetail flowers of Camomil red Roses and Meliot of each a handful and a half Balust Cypress nuts and acrons of each two drams put these into two sacks and boyl them in equal parts of sour wine and Smiths water for a Fomentation to be used for a quarter of an hour then you may lay on a Plaister of the red drying Ointment eleven ounces powder of Mastick Olibanum and Sarcocol Cypress-nuts of each one dram with a little wax and oyl of Mastick to make a plaister which must be put upon the place affected and bound down with a little pillow Sometimes this burstness proceeds from a watry humor abounding in the Abdomen which descending into the Codds causeth them to swel for which you may use with good success this Ointment Take of Vnguent Comitiss and the red drying Ointment of each two ounces Pigeons dung half an ounce live Sulphure three drams powder of Lawrel berries and mustard-seed of each a dram oyle of Dill and Venice Turpentine of each 3 drams wax as much as sufficeth this is also an extraordinary Remedy for the Burstness proceeding from wind Of the Inflammation of the Navell THe inflammation of the Navel ariseth when the blood gathers thither by reason of some external hurt the danger is very great if it should apostemate and so the guts fall down and therefore suppuration must be hindred as much as may be Of the jutting forth of the Navel THis differs from the inflammation because here the Navel doth not give way to the touch neither is the colour of the skin changed neither is there any very great paine or pulse unless the intestines are very much fallen it proceeds from the ill binding thereof at first which is incurable or when a greater portion then necds of the Navel string is left Secondly from a laxation of the Peritonaeum and then the tumor is equal nor doth the Navel jut forth very far in the cure hereof you must let the child abstain from all windy meats and from much crying Sometimes it is occasioned by the rupture of the Peritonaeum and then the swelling is hardly perceived when the child lies upon his back but increaseth and swels forward when he walks sits cries and bawls in the cure of this the mosse that grows upon the wild Prune-tree is very much commended or you make little Swathbands of Leather and anoint them with Oxycroceum Of the Stone in the Bladder THis is known by the coming forth of the Urine by drops and with paine which is sometimes unmixed sometimes containing a kinde of serous humor sometimes dyed with a little blood it is produced either by the milk which is ingendered of meats that do increase the Stone or through a hot distemper of the Liver which attracts the Chylus and sends it unaltered to the bladder for the Cure you must use Baths among which this is commended to anoint the bladder withall take Oyl of Scorpions oyl of bitter Almonds Conies-grease and Hens grease of each an ounce and a half and of the juice of Parietarie Or take sal Tartar one ounce parsley-water a pint mix them through a fine paper rubd over with the rindes of Oranges and give a smal quantity thereof Of the not holding of the Vrine THis ariseth either from the muscle which shuts the orifice of the Bladder which is so disposed that it is loosed upon the least exciting of the Urine and grows so into a habit that it many times accompanies them to their graves or from the stone in the bladder or from the weakness of the sphincter proceeding from a cold moist distemper which is cured partly by the good dyet of the Nurse and partly by convenient Medecines among which a bath made of Sulphure Nitre and the leaves of Oak is exceeding good Of the Intertrigo WHen the little skin in the hips is separated from the true skin it arises first from the sharpness of the Urine especially in children that are more corpulent by reason of the dirt which frets the skin being gathered together in the wrinkles Bathe the place and then sprinkle upon it either white Nihili or anoint it with oyl of Litharge Of Leanness THis arises either from a subtle kinde of Worms which are generated in the most musclely parts of the back and arms and consume the body They break forth sometimes like to black haires if you wash those parts with a Bath mixed with bread and hony they are taken away either with a Razor or with a crust of bread Secondly it arises from the smal quantity of milk which is often-times remedied by changing the Nurse Of the difficulty which Children have to make water IF the Disease proceed from sharpness of the Urine the Nurse must use such a way of dyet as is proper for the tempering and cooling of the blood she must be purged let blood using afterwards cooling refrigerating broths If it proceed from any gross humor ingendered in the bladder the Nurse must abstain from all meats that do breed gross humors as milky meats Pease and Beans and such like If the child be troubled with gravel which may be perceived by the whiteness and rawness of the Urine with a gravelly setling at the bottom and the continual pain in making water if the Child be any thing bigg let a potion be given him of an ounce and half of sweet Almonds an ounce of Pellitory water and two drams of the juice of Limons use as much of this at a time as is convenient Or take of this powder of the blood of a Hare six ounces of the root of Saxifrage one ounce burn them in an earthen â—ot if the Infant suck give him a scruple of this powder in a little milk
Of the Inflammation of the Almonds of the Ears IF the child be very smal you must wash the throat as neer the root of the tongue as may be with a linen cloth tied to a stick dipped in this gargarisme take of new extracted Cassia one dram syrup of dry Roses one dram and a half with six ounces of the decoction of Coriander Or you may anoint the neck with oyl of Violets and Camomil binding the neck with a little roller well anointed with the same when the child goes to bed you may give him in a spoon a little syrup of dry'd Roses of Pavot and Nenuphar mingled together Oxycroceum alone doth also make an excellent Gargarism If they come to a suppuration you must use this gargarisme Take of the decoction of Barley Plantain Agrimony Veronicae Honysuckle and herb Rob six ounces in which dissolve mel Rosatum and Sugar-candie of each half an ounce to make a gargarism Of Vomiting IF it proceed from abundance of milk which the child sucks you must take care that the child suck less and often If it come from any ill humor contained in the stomack besides that the Nurse must keep a very good dyet the Infant must be purged with a smal expression of Rheubarb giving it afterwards a little Codignac to comfort the stomack mingling with it a little tablet of Diarrhodium putting afterwards upon his stomack this plaister Take of the pulp of condited Quinces two ounces red Roses Wormwood and red Sanders of each two drams Oyl of Quinces as much as sufficeth make a plaister of this and lay it upon the stomack of the child Of the Hicquet IF it come from an over-much repletion it wil not be amiss to make him vomit of whatsoever age he be or if it be necessary that a greater force should be used you must try to make him vomit by putting down the throat a Fether dipt in oyl if from the badness of the Nurses milk she must be changed for a better if from the coldness of the stomack you must use remedies to comfort it as little tablets of Diarrhodium of which you must dissolve a scruple in the milk of the Nurse you must also chafe the stomack of the child with oyl of Wormwood Mastick and Quinces Of the pain of the Belly in Children IF the Disease come from indigestion and moistness the little Infant wil vomit and be troubled with a flux of the belly and the belly wil be hard In which cases you may give the infant an ounce of sweet Almonds drawn with out fire and mingled with a quantity of Sugar-candy or anoint the belly with this Ointment Take oyl of Camomil and oyl of sweet Almonds of each an ounce and a half mingle them and therewith anoint the belly if wind be the cause you may mingle a little oyl of rue in the foresaid Ointment Of the Smal-Pox in Children THe signes of this Disease are paine in the head accompanied with a Fever redness about the eyes a dry Cough and you shal mark in the skin up and down the body certain little spots upon the face back brest and thighs the Smal-pox is dangerous if they come forth with much pain if they be greenish blewish or blackish For the cure of this if the Infant suck the Nurse must keep a good order of dyet she may eat broth of Hens with Endive Cichorie Bugloss and Borage boyled therein Now to make the Smal-Pox come forth the more quickly if the Child be little the Nurse must drink this following Potion Take of Caricarum Pinguium one ounce peeled Lentils half an ounce Gum Lacca two drams Gum Tragacant and Fenel-seed of each two drams and a half make of this a decoction in fountain-Fountain-water and strein it to the quantity of two pints sweeten this either with sugar or syrup of Maidenhair let her drink of this in the morning a good glassful Or you may give the child if it be able to take it this Julep to be used very often take of Cordial waters two ounces and a half syrup of Limons one ounce mingle it and use it often 4. or five hours after give him of powder of Unicorns-horn and Bezoar Now to keep this venemous humor from attaching the eyes temper a little Saffron in a smal quantity of Plantain and Rose-water and rub the eyelids or you may anoint them with Tutie For keeping them from the nose take Rose-water and Betonie-water of each an ounce Vinegar half an ounce juice of Pomgranates six ounces in which steep two drams of Santalum and two drams of the powder of Citron peel adde to this six grains of Saffron and make a medecine for the child to smel often to the same Medecine wil serve for the ears by stopping them with a little cotton To preserve the mouth and throat and tongue take this gargarism take whole Barley one handful Plantain leaves leaves of Oxalis Arnogloss Agrimonie and Verbena of each one handful boyl this to the quantity of six ounces dissolving in it syrup of dry Roses and Pomgranates of each half an ounce Saffron half a scruple To preserve the Lungs use syrup of Jujubes Violets and Nenuphar when they are fully come out to make them dye the more quickly rub the face with oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire Or use this Ointment take old Lard cut it in smal pieces and melt it in a pot then strein then beat it and mingle it with water for your use When the Pox is totally dead take this Remedy to take away the marks Take Halke the weight of two Crowns clear cream 2. ounces mix them together and with a Fether dipt therein anoint the face of the child two or three daies this causeth the skin to grow smooth leaving not a pit in the face Certain other Instructions grounded upon practical Observations fit to be known by all Midwives and Child-bearing Women c. IN the yeare One Thousand six hundred and Ten a young Lady whom I was wont to bring to bed passing by my house came in to me and told me that she was four moneths gone and that she perceived the Infant to stir about a moneth after she came to see me and told me that she was in much pain for that she had not perceived the Infant to stir in two dayes and that therefore she believed that it was dead by reason of a certain very great fright which she had had for at the time that she was frighted she perceived the childe to move but after that never and her belly began by little and little to wax less and about three weeks after she had that reflux of milk that Women use to have that lye in when this was gone she had no grievance yet seeing her often and knowing her to be bigg with child she asked me my advice to know what she should do Whereupon I asked her if any ill vapours rose up into her mouth she told me no. If she had
in women c. 15. p. 42. Of the utilitie of the stones c. 16. p. 43. Sect. 3. Of the signs of conception c. 1. p. 44. Whether she hath conceived a Male c. 2. p. 46 Whether a Female c. 3. p. 47. Of the conception of Twins c. 4. p. ibid. Of false conception c. 6. p. 48. How women with child ought to govern themselves c. 6. p. 54. How to govern themselves in the time of their going with child c. 7. p. 57. c. Sect. 4. Of the mixture of the seed of both Sexes as also of its substance and form c. 1. p. 62. of the three tunicles which the birth is wrapt in in the womb c. 2. p. 64. Of the true generation of the parts and the increase of them according to the several daies and seasons c. 3. p. 65. Of the nourishment of the birth in the womb c. 4. p. 69. Of the condition of the Infant in the womb in the sixth seventh and eight moneth c. 5. p. 71 Sect. 4. Of the situation of the child in the womb p. 72. Sect. 5. Of Midwifes c. 1. p. 75. What ought to be observed when shee is neer the time of her lying down c. 2. p. 76. How to expell the Collick from women in child-bed c 3. p. 79. How the Midwife may know when the pains of travail do seize a woman c. 4. p. 80. Of the falling down of the waters a good while before the woman travails c. 5. p. 81. What the Midwife ought to do in time of travaile c. 6. p. 82. How to draw forth the Secondines c. 7. p. 84. What may be given to a woman in travaile c. 8. p. 85. How to put the Womb again in its place c. 9. p. 86. Against the extreme losse of blood which happen to women immediately after their delivery c. 10. p. ib. What is done to a woman presently after her delivery c. 11. p. 88. Of women that have a great deal of bloud and purge not neither in their travail nor after c. 12. p. 90. For those who have but a little bloud c. 13. p. 92. What is to be done to the Infant c. 14. p. ib. How to govern women in Child-bed c. 15. p. 93. Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in c. 16. p. 95. How a woman ought to govern her self in case she be to be delivered of two children c. 17. p. 95. Of the danger that a woman hath to purge her selfe for the first dayes of her lying in c. 18. 97. Of the second washing for women c. 19. p. 98. What is to be done to Infants as soon as they are born c. 20. p. 98. Of the last washing for Women c. 21. p. 101. Of an Astringent for Women when they shall have occasion c. 2â— p. ibid. To make searcloaths for women c. 23. p. 102. To cleanse a woman before she rises c. 24. p. ibid. How a woman lying in of her first child may avoid the gripings of her belly c. 25. 103. The Queen of France her Receit p. 104. Certain precepts hindering the delay and difficulty of bringing forth c. 26. p. 105. How the secondines are to be hastened out c. 27. p. 108. Pills for the purpose p. 111. Of Cases of Extremity and first what is to be done to a woman who in her travail is accompanied with a flux of bloud and with convulsions c. 28. p. 112. Of ordering the woman after she is delivered c. 29. p. 129. What is to be done to the breast Belly and lower parts of the woman in child-bed p. 131. An Oyntment p. 132. An oynment to keep the milk from clotting p. 133. A Fomentation much commended ibid. Of the choise of a good Nurse p. 135. What is to be done in the extream parts of a child p. 1. 36. What is to be done to such children as are troubled with flegme p. 137. What is to be done to children that have their Cods full of wind p. 138. How to take away the Canker out of the Infants mouth ibid. What is to be done to children whose intestines are fallen p. 139. To make an oyntment to strengthen the thighs and legs of a child and make him goe ibid. Of the relaxations of the Matrix and the cause p. 140. of a disease that happens by reason of the fall of the Matrix p. 143. To remedie the fall of the fundament in Infants p. 144. of the Diseases of women and first of the inflammation of the brest ibid. of windy Tumours in the breasts p. 1. of the watry tumour in the brests p. 4. of the kernell in the breast p. 7. of the Scirrhus of the breasts p. 9. of the Canker in the breasts p. 12. of the greatnesse of the breasts p. 14. of the defect abundance and coagulation of the Milk p. 16. of the Diseases of the neck of the womb and first of the disease called Tentigo p. 17. of the narrownesse of the neck of the womb p. 19. of wheales condilomas of the womb and of Hemorrhoids p. 20. of the Vlcers of the neek of the womb p. 23. of the womb being out of temper p. 26. of then arrownesse of the vessels of the womb p. 30. of the puffing up of the womb p. 31. of the inflammation of the womb p. 33. of the Scirrhus of the womb p. 36. of the Dropsie of the womb p. 38. of the falling of the womb p. 40. of the ascent of the Matrix as also of the wounds and ulcers of the same p. 42. of the paine of the womb p. 44. of the suppression of the flowers p. 46. of the dropping of the flowers and the difficulty of their comming down p. 51. of the discolouring of the flowers p. 53. of the inordinate flux of the Flowers p. 54. of the over-abundance of the Courses p. 56. of the whites Gonorrhea in women p. 59. of the Green sicknesse p. 61. of the suffocation of the Matrix p. 62. of barrennesse p. 66. of bringing up of children and their diseases of the diseases of the head p. 71. Bignesse and swelling of the head in little children p. 73. of the diseases of the eyes ears and noses in children p. 75. of certain ulcers in Childrens mouths p. 76. of certain other tumors called Paroulis and Espoulis p. 77. of the two strings under the tongue of a child p. 78. of the Coughing children ibid. of breeding teeth p. 79. of the inflammation of the Navel-string in Infants p. 80. of the Worms ibid. of the convulsion in Infants p. 81. of the swelling of the Hypocondria in Infants p. 83. of Costivenesse in children ibid. of loosenesse in children p. 84. of Burstnesse in children ibid. of the inflammation of the Navel p. 86. of the jutting forth of the Navel p. ibid. of the stone in the bladder p. 87. of the not holding of the Vrine ibid. of the Intertrigo p. 88. of Leannesse ibid. of the difficulty that children