be cured of the same as shortelye as can be with such thynges the whiche appertayne to the curynge of suche desease / or yf she haue sustayned any longe famyne or hunger then lette her be fedde with good meates and drynkes moderatlye taken / and yf she haue surfeted by ouer muche eatynge and drynkynge as nowe a dayes moste commenlye people do then let her absteyne for a tyme / yf it maye be conuenientlye done / let her receaue some casy gentyll medicine / which may alleuiat and lyghten her of her surfetynge burthen ¶ Now yf it so be / that the womaÌ„ abounde in bloude / then shall it be very good a lyttell to let her bloude / bothe for her selfe and also for the byrthe / whiche throughe ouer muche adoundance of it myght happen to be suffocated and strangeled / of the which thynge also I haue spoken largely before ¶ Farthermore yf the woman feare aborcement / by reason of contynuad coughe / or ouer muche vomyte and perbrakynge / or the fluxe / or of the desease called tenasmus / or of ouer muche yssuynge of bloude / whether it be by the nose / or other partes of the bodye axe thaduyse of a physitiaÌ„ for remedy / yf for the fragilite / tendernes / and bracke / of the secondyne she feare this aborcemente / for because that in this case the secondyne shall not be able to holde and contayne the byrth / as for this / there is no other medicine to defende it / but onelye that the partie take hede that she hurte not her selfe by ouer much mouynge or stearynge / as by laborynge / daunsynge / runnynge / standynge / faste goynge / or caryenge of ponderous and weyghtye thynges / or leftynge of the same And to be short / let her with all warynesse take hede and be diligent that she exchue and abstayne frome all such thynges the which might cause and induce aborcement ¶ Of deade byrthes and by what sygnes or tokens it maye be knowen and by what meanes it maye also be expelled ¶ Cap .ix. IT shal be nowe conuenient for vs to speake of deade byrthes / howe it shall be knowen that they be deade / and howe they maye be expelled from the mother Sygnes then that the byrth is dead in the mothers wombe be these j. Fyrste yf the mothers brestes do sodenlye slake / as I touched before in the .viij. chapter .ij. Yf it moue it selfe no more beynge wont before to steare it selfe in Yf when the mother torneth her from the one syde on the other / she feale it fallynge froÌ„ the one syde to the other lyke a stone or aded wayght .iiij. Yf her bellye and nauell begyn to were colde / whiche before was wont to be temperatly hote v. Yf anye stynkynge fylthye humours flowe from the matrice / chieflye after some fell desease .vi. Yf the womans eyes wexe holowe / that her color change from whyte to swarte and dunne coloure / and that her eyes and nose wexe astoned / and haue not theyr ryght vse / and her lyppes wexe wan vij Yf benethe the nauell and aboute the secreate partes she feale greate thronge and payne / the colour of her face changynge into worsse and worsse / otherwyse then it was wonte to do .viij. Yf she haue appetyte to eate suche thynges / the whiche be agaynste nature / and not wonte to be eaten or dronken .ix. Yf she be in her slepe vexed with bayne dreames .x. Yf she be payned contynuallye with the strangurye / or that she enforce her selfe muche to the stole / and with all her power / and yet can not do any thing xi Yf her brethe begynne to stynke / the whyche thynge lyghtlye happeneth two or thre dayes after the byrthe be deade xij Yf her handes put in to verye warme water / and then layde on the womans bellye / and the chylde steare not / is a sygne that it is deade ¶ Of all these sygnes nowe the more that come to gether of theÌ„ at one tyme in one ê‘son / the surer may ye be that the byrth is ded the which being ones ded / all diligence must be had that it may be expelled out of the womans body but here must ye se agayne whether it maye be expelled / the mothers lyfe saued or no / for some tyme it chaunseth that the mother dyeth with all / and sometymes the mother dothe well and prospereth ¶ Whether the mother shall be in parell withall or no / by these thinges shal ye know yf the woman beynge in the labor sowne or fare as thoughe she ware in a transe / yf her remembraunce fayle her / and she waxe feable and scant able to mouÌ„e or steare herselfe / yf she called with a lowde voyce canne answere nothynge at all / or els very lyttell and that verye softelye / as thoughe her voyce began to fayle her yf she be inuaded or taken among in the laborynge with conuulsion or shrynkeling to gether if she refuse or can not broke meate / yf her pulces beate verye faste / the which sygnes when ye se in the woman laborynge it is an ruident tokeÌ„ that she shal not liue long after her byrth / wherfore coÌ„mit the cure of her to the handes of almyghtye god / but yf none of these sygnes do appeare / then haue good hope / for the woman shall do well / the byrthe beynge once departed wherfore geue all diligence to the expultion of it / that the woman maye be delyuered of this dead burthen the whiche thinge maye be done by two wayes / other by medicines expulsyue / or elles by certayne instrumentes made for the nonce ¶ Fyrste without instrumentes with this fumigation take other the houe or dunge of an asse / and put it on coles / and lette the woman receaue the fume vndernethe Another take the skynne of an adder / myrrhe / castoreum / brymstone / galbanum / oppoponacum / madder that the dyerres occupye / pygeons dunge / or hawkes dunge beate all these to powder / and temper them with oxe gall / and make pylles of it eche of the quantite of a fylbert nutte / and then put one after another in the coles / and receaue the fume thorowe a pype or conduyte made for that purpose in to the priuities ¶ Another take encense / oppoponacum / galbanum / brymstone / of eche lyke muche / beate them to gether and temper them with oxe galle / and make pylles of them / and then of the same make fumigations / as before ¶ A potion for the same purpose take asafetida halfe a dramÌ„ / of rue iij. dramÌ„s / of myrrhe .ij. dramÌ„s beate them to powder / and geue to the woman at eche tyme a dramÌ„ of this powder with whyte wyne / or with water in the which sauyne is soden ¶ Another take fygges / fenegreke / organnye / and sethe them in water the which gene vnto the woman
on hote coles / and let the woman receaue the fume and sauoure of it vndernethe ¶ Another perfume Take yelowe brymstone / myrrhe / mader / galbanum / oppoponacum / of eche lyke much / and temper all these to gether / makynge of them pylles / and with those also ye may make fume to be receaued vnderneth Itē the fume of culuer dunge or of hawkes dunge by puttyng to of oppoponacum / is souerayne for the same All these fumes open the poores benethe / and causeth nature to be the frear in delyueraunce ¶ Also it is very good to dyp wooll in the iuyce of rue / and the same to conuey into the secreates Also the pouder of aristolochia rotūda / or the rote called bothor martis / or malum terre / or the sede of staphisagre any of these wrapped in wooll and conueyed inwarde prouoketh calleth forthe the byrth ¶ Item take heleborus / oppoponacū / and wrap them to gether in wooll / and ministre them inwarde for that wyll brynge forthe prouoke the byrthe / whether it be alyue or dead Also the rynde and barke of cassia fistula beaten to pouder / and tempered with wyne and dronkē / prouoketh well the byrth ¶ Item asa fetida of the bygnes waight of a pese myngled to gether with castorium of the wayght of a dram̄ beaten to gether tempered with wyne myxt with water and so dronkē / is very good to prouoke the byrth Also canell dronke with wine is very good ¶ Item take a scruple of roses / with the water of the sede of fenegreke / cicercula / may denhere / all beaten to gether and soden / and the oyle of blewe flowre de luce a smal quantite tempered there with all and then geue it to the woman that laboreth / and it shall prouoke the byrthe greately Also cassia lignea and asa fetida dronke with wyne / be very good for the same Also holyoke soden in water and dronkē / is souerayn for the same purpose / it is verye good for her to washe her in the water / in the whiche this holyoke is decocte and soden in ¶ Certayne pylles the whiche make the labor easye and withoute payne TAke canell or cinamome and of sauyne of eche a dram̄ / of cassia lignea a dram̄ and a halfe / of myrrhe / aristolochia rotunda / costemary of eche a dram̄ / of storax liquida halfe a dram̄ / and of oppium the wayght of .xij. graynes / bete these all to gether / and forme them into pylles / and geue vnto the woman two dram̄s of these pylles with .ij. ounces of good olde wyne ¶ Item Safrane and Syler Montanum prouoketh the byrth of any lyuynge thynge / yf it be dronckē howe be it to a woman geue neuer passynge a drame at once of Safrane / for greater quantite sholde greately hurte ¶ Item take .v. drames of Sauyne / of rue or herbe grace one dragm̄ an halfe / of iuniper byryes .ij. dram̄s / of asa fetida / amoniacum / madder / of ech .ij. dram̄s of these make pylles / geuen to the womā in labor with water in the whiche is soden sauyne and penyryall / or els with the brothe of cicercula / and the iuyce of rue shall helpe very greately ¶ Item take .ij. dram̄s of sauyne / of asa fetida / armoniacum / madder / of eche halfe a dram̄ / these temper to gether in pilles / and geue her with wyne .ij. dram̄s of the same ¶ Item take of aristolochia longa / pepper and myrrhe / of eche lyke much / confict them to gether with wyne make pylles of them / minister them with an ounce of water of the decoction of lupynes / these pylles be of such efficacy and strength that it alleuiateth and vnpayneth the byrthe / it delyuereth the matrice or mother from all maner of byrth / be it alyue or dead ¶ Item take of whyte bedellium / myrrhe / and sauyne / of eche lyke much temper these with cassia lignea and hony / and make pylles of them of the byggenesse of pesen / of these pylles geue at eche tyme .v. to the laborer / whiche be of the same myght strength with the other pylles spoken of here nexte before ¶ Item take of myrrhe / castorium / and storax / of eche one dram̄ / temper them with hony / and make pylles of it / these for this purpose excell and passe al other / they be of such vertue and strength in operation ¶ A plaster to prouoke the byrthe Take wyld goward / seth it in water / in the same water temper myrrhe / the iuyce of rue / and barlye meale / so muche as shal be sufficient / stampe these thynges to gether / and make it plasterwyse / then laye it to the womans belly betwene the nauel and the nether part this plaster shall helpe meruelouslye ¶ And although many other thinges ther be the which haue vertue and power to prouoke byrth and to help it / yet leuyng all such thynges for breuite and shortenesse we haue set here suche thynges / which are chiefe and most principally conducent for the same purpose ¶ Howe the Secondyne or seconde byrth shall be sorsed to yssue forth yf it come not frelye of his owne kynde ¶ Cap .vi. HEre also somtyme it cometh to passe / that the Secondine / whiche is wonte to come to gether with the byrth / remayne tary behynde and folowe not And that for dyuers causes / one is For because peraduenture the woman hathe ben so sore weakened and feblysshed with trauell / dolour / and payne / of that fyrst byrth / that she hathe no strength remaynynge to helpe herselfe to the expellynge of this seconde byrth / another maye be / that it be entangled / tyed / or let within the matrice / which chāseth many tymes / or that it be destitute of humours / so that the water be flowen frō it soner then it sholde / which shold make the places more slyppery and more easye to passe thorowe / or els that the places ouer weryed with longe sore labor / for payne cōtract or gather together / enclose themselfe agayne / or that the places be swollen for anguysshe and payne / and so let the comminge forth of the seconde byrthe ¶ But to be shorte of what so euer cause it be thus stopped / the mydwyfe in anye wyse must fynde such meanes that it maye be vnloosed and expulsed For otherwyse greate inconuemency sholde chaunse to the partie / and speciallye suffocation chokynge of the matrice / whiche also must so much the more be takē hede to / for because the seconde byrth retayned kept within / wyll sone putrifye rot whereof wyll ensue yll noysom and pestiferous vapours / ascendynge to the harte / the braynes / and the mydryffe / throughe the which meanes the womā
muche langor and paynefulnes then syrst shall ye note where vpon it coÌ„meth for the cause knowen the dysease maye the more readelye be recured and causes of it be dyuers but moste espetiall those that folowe / that is to saye Of muche aboundant superfluous bloude contayned in the hole body or of muche commistion of the melancholy humor the bloude to gether / by the which the bloude is eâ—fyred and chawfed and so distendeth openeth and setteth abroade the vaynes whiche descende to the matrice Also the bloude beynge very thynne and wateryshe for so it penetrateth / thrylleth / and yssueth forthe the soner Also yf the vaynes be very large / receaue much bloude for in that case they sende forthe the more agayn Also yf the matrice be vnmyghty weakened / the vaynes lykewyse weake and large so that they can not retayne nor witholde the bloude Also yf the body of the womaÌ„ or the outward partes be very dense / cloose / and compacte to gether so that the outwarde powres be contracte and shut in such wyse that no vapours or swette can yssue out at them then this shall cause the yll humoures whiche otherwyse wolde passe thorough the powres in swette to remayne within the body / and there to engender and encreace greater fluxe and abouÌ„daÌ„ce of matter / which procedeth with the flowres augmenteth the quantite of them Also yf the vaynes / whiche be named hemorroides / in the matrice be open and flowe forth Also yf the matrice be peryshed or otherwyse viciat Also yf it chanse that the woman haue had a fall / or hath ben thrust or beaten / by all and any of this meanes maye come this inordinat fluxe of flowres ¶ Nowe stynge then that it ensueth by so manyfolde occasions causes it shal be mete that womeÌ„ in this case be nothing ashamed ne abashed to disclose theyr mynde vnto expert phisitians / showyng them euery thyng in it / as they knowe where vppon it sholde come so that the phisition vnderstandynge the womans mynde / maye the soner by his learnynge and experience consyder the true cause of it / and the very remedy to amend it And many thinges there be which sease and restrayne this ouer much flowynge of flowres bothe electuaries / confections / trochiskes pouders / clisteres / odoures / suffumigations bathes / plasters and oyntementes / of whiche for the loue of women I wyll here set forthe the moste principall and best ¶ Fyrste then to stynte and restrayne the owtragius fluxe of flowres it shal be verye good to bynde the armes very strayght and strongely not the fete or handes as some vnwyse men do teache / and then to set a ventose or boxe or cup of glasse with fyre which is called boxynge vnder the brestes / but cuttynge no part of the skynne / layeng also lynnen clothes dypped in vynâ—gâ—e on the bellye betwene the nauell and the secreates conueyenge also into the places suche thynges / whiche haue vertue to restrayne bloude / as balaustium / the ryne of pome granate / carabe / terra sigillata / bole armenyacke / sanguis draconis / hematites / the red rose / whyte frankencense / and galles all those thynges or as manye of them as ye can conuenientlye get / beate them to powder in lyke portion / and temper them with thycke and grosse wyne / making of it a plaster / the whiche so teÌ„pered put it in to a lyttell rounde bagge the quantite of a mannes thombe the which she shall put in to the preuye places ¶ Item an other plaster to be ministred lykewyse Take of the bloudestone / called Emathites / bole armenyacke of eche halfe an ounce sanguis draconis / licium / of ech .ij. dramÌ„s Karabe the cuppes of Acornes / Cipresse nuttes / Balaustium or psidiuÌ„ / of eche one dramÌ„ of the scales of yron one dramÌ„ and an halfe Turbyntyne and pyche lyke quantite / or so muche as shal be sufficient to make a plaster beate and braye all these to gether / temperinge it to a plaster and then do with it as ye dyd with the other before ¶ An oyntemente for the same purpose Take oyle Myrtine / oyle of rooses / of eche halfe a pounde Carabe / the scraping of yuerye / the scrapynge of a gootes horne / redde corall terra sigillata / whyte frankencense / of eche one ounce / of white waxe .iij. ounces / all those tempered to gether / make them in an oyntment / therewith annoynt the wombe and the secreates ¶ A batthe concernynge the same Take wurmewud / plantayne the more the lesse the toppes of vynes / fresshe braÌ„ches of wyld mulberyes / vnrype damsenes slowes / or boloes / wylde peres / medlers or myspylles / of eche .iij. handefulles / of red roose leues thre handefulles / of oke barke .iiij. handfulles / of dayses / of all sortes of thystles / of eche .ij. handfulles of cinkefoyle / the leues rotes / tormentyll the rootes / colubrine / of eche an handefull also of acorne cuppes a saw ser full / of gawlles / of acorns pylled / of bursa pastoris / of eche .ij. handefulles beate all these to powder / cuttynge and brosynge that / that wyll not be beaten to powder / sethe them to gether in rayne water / or els in water / in the which .x. or .xij. burnte sâ—ones haue bene quenchyd this done / let the woman bathe herselfe in this water vp to the nauell / and wheÌ„ she cometh forth of the bathe / geue her to drynke .ij. dramÌ„s of electuarium athanasie / or miclete / wich plantayne water / or yf she be sore thurstye with red wyne ¶ And lykewyse ye maye geue vnto her of these electuaries that folow take good olde roose sugre .ij. ounces / of red corall / burnte yuery / bole armenyacke / of eche two dramÌ„s / of hematites thre dramÌ„s / beate all these thinges to gether / temperynge it with the roose sugre / let her receaue of it in the mornynge and euenynge with two dramÌ„s of plantane water / or els the water of bursa pastoris ¶ Item take the stone Emathites / rubbe it on a whetstone / tyll the whetstone seme redde / then washe it of agayne froÌ„ the whetstone with plantaynewater / and so do oftentymes / vntyll suche tyme that thou haue a good quantite of it / and euery mornyng and euenynge let the woman drynke two or thre sponefulles of the same ¶ Farthermore there be at the apothecaries trochiskes which helpe greately in this case / as the trochiskes of karabe / and the trochiskes of bole armoniacke whiche muste be ministred a dramÌ„ or more of ether of them / with .iiij. or .v. sponeful of plantayne water Who that requyreth farther in this matter let them aske counseill of the phisytions / for we haue set here but suche thynges whiche may seme most necessarye ¶ Nowe yf it so be that there
be engendred any apostume or other dysease in the preuye places after her labor / then moste the apostumes and deseases be clensed / purged / healed / the payne and ache of it mitigated and swaged with the iuyce of the beryes of solatrum and the iuyce of plantane / also the oyle of rooses / so that all these thynges be tempered to gether / and the places annoynted therewith ¶ Itē otherwyse take the wyte of an egge / womās mylke / the iuyce of purselayne / and temper all these to gether / and conueye it to the dyseased place / also let a bathe be made of water / in the whiche be soden psida / redde rose leues / the cuppes of acornes / oke barke / tormentyll / colubryne / and cinkefoyle / the leues and the rotes / lette all these thynges be soden to gether / and in the water the womā to bathe her selfe vp to the nauell and after that the greued partes be healed and clensed let the place be annoynted with vnguentum album / or vnguentum rubeum / whiche is to be had at the apothecaries / and with suche other thynges whose propertie be to refrige rate and coole And loke what cure and remedies be mynystred to this places beynge apostumate / or otherwyse deseased / the same also seruethe / yf the matrice or anye other parte of the secreates be rupte or broken ¶ Manye tymes also it chanseth that the foundament gut commeth forth both in mā and woman / and spetially in women in this busynesse / by reason of theyr great labor and stryuynge with themselfe wherfore in this case it is the mydwifes parte with her hand warmed wet in whyt wyne / to reduce it backe into his place agayn / the which yf she can not by this meanes / for because that per aduenture it be swollen / then let her dissolue butter in whyt wyne warmed / and there in dyp wooll with the which wrappe the same gutte a while / so doynge often tymes / tyll it be swaged / that it may be retorned in agayn and ye maye vse in the stede of wyne luke warme mylke And when it is thus retourned and reduced into his place take waxe / and melt it to gether with masticke / or whyt frankencense / then sprede it vpon lynnē plasterwyse / and laye it ouer the place where it came forthe byndynge it to it with a lynnen clothe or roller for partynge of / let this be done thus so oftē as she goythe to stole after that she hath done / vntyll suche tyme that it be so setteled within / that it come no more oute / and yf ye wyll not occupye waxe / then dyp wooll in the oyle of masticke or of speke nardy / and lay it vnto the place ouer the fundament / byndynge it faste vpon the place / as before ¶ Item another way wasshe soke the gut with the water in which is decoct soden such thynges whiche exiccat drye and constrayne or combyne / as gaules / cypresse nuttes / spida / karabe / mastick / frankencense / sanguis draconis / and when it is well wasshed and soked with this water / then take the powder of an hartes horne burnte / and strue it rounde aboute the gutte / and so restore it agayne in to his place ¶ Agayne yf it chanse / that after the womans labor the matryce be remoued oute of his place / and appeare forthe / then lette it be wasshed and soked with the water in whiche be soden these thynges folowynge take of cupresse nuttes / spicanarde / psida / balaustium / acorne cuppes / of eche an ounce of mespylles and vntype wylde peres / vnrype aples / plummes / and damsens or bolous of eche a handefull and such / of those as be to be powdered beate them to powder and the reste diuide / and cutte them small then seathe them all to gether in rayn water / or els in water in the whiche stele beynge red hote hathe ben often tymes quenched and in the same water lette the partie bathe her vp to the nauell / or els dyp a spōge or a locke of wooll in it / therewith wasshe and soke the same matrice oftentymes then / euer with a fayre cleane lynnen clothe wype it cleane agayne strewe vpon it the powder folowynge / beaten verye small and searched thorough sylke ¶ Take of frankencense / karabe / galles / pside / balaustie / cypresse nuttes / alome / antymonye / bole armoniacke / masticke / of eche lyke much beate these to very fyne powder / and strewe the matrice with it / then tenderlye reduce it in to his place agayne with warme lynnen clothes byndynge it vp ¶ But yf so be that the matrice be swollē / so that by this meanes it wyll not be restored to his naturall place agayne / then dissolue butter in whyte wyne / as ye dyd before / and with the same soke it vnto suche tyme as it be asswaged / and then reduce it ¶ Agayne sometyme it chanseth that the womans nauell thoroughe labor is dyssolued / so that it openeth it selfe then make a small tente of fyne lynnen / and anoynte it with this oyntement that foloweth / and the same put it in to the nauell take whyte frankensence / and beate it to powder / and then tēper it with the whyte of an egge / so that it be after the manner of lyquyd honye with this annoynte the nauell within and withoute / annoyntynge also the tente / the which beynge putte in the hole of the nauell bynde some clothe ouer it to kepe it in his place ¶ Item many tymes it chanseth that thorowe the greate difficultie and thronges of labor the preuye parte and the foundament be come one / by reason of rupture and breakynge of the same parte in the delyueraunce of the chylde / and that by that meanes the matrice descendeth and yssueth downe / the whiche thynge chanseth sometymes by reason that the same place is very narowe and also tender / and the byrthe bygge / and of greate growethe / soo that it procedeth with suche violence / that it breakethe the waye before it ¶ When thys myshappe fallethe / then fyrste wasshe and soke the matrice / and alsoo reduce it to his place agayne / after the manner as I tolde you here immediatly before / then heale these bracke wounde sowynge of bothe sydes of it to gyther agayne with a sylken threde / as surgeons do other woundes and yf that lyke ye not then / may ye cure it otherwyse without sowyng thus ¶ Take two lyttell peces of lynnen cloth / eche of the length of the wounde / in bredth two fyngers brode spred the lyttell clothes with some faste cleauynge plaster the which wyll cause the clouthes to stycke fast where they shal be set / then fasten them the one on the one syde of the ryfte / the other on the other
to drynke / for this drynke wyl engendre lubrycyte and slypperynesse in the nether partes / and vse also some of those thynges whiche haue vertue to prouoke the byrth / wherof we entreated before ¶ Item certayn pessaries or suppositaries concernynge the same take gumme armoniacke / oppoponacum / helleborus niger / staphisagre / aristolochia longa / colocynthis without his kernelles beate all these thynges to gether / temperyng them with oxe gall and also with the iuyce of fresshe rue / then make a pessarie of wollen / and annoynt and wet the pessarie with the same / conueynge it into the secreate places ¶ Item another make a pessarie of wolleÌ„ of the lengthe thyckenesse of a fynger / and do it in the iuyce of rue in the which is dissolued a quantitie of scammome / and do with that pessarie / as before ¶ Item take aristolochia rotunda / sauyne / garde cresses / of eche lyke muche / beate them to powder / and temper them with oxe gall with this annoynt a pessarie made and ordered as before is spoken of Item yf the woman drynke the mylke of another woman / it wyll steare and expell the byrth ¶ Item take of the iuyce of dyttayne or of the powder of the roote of the same herbe .ij. dramÌ„s / and geue the same to drynke to the woman with wyne / excepte she be in greate heate / for then shall ye geue it her with luke warme water / and this shall expell the dead byrth without any parell of the mother ¶ Item take of myrrhe .iiij. drammes / of cinamome / galbanum / castoriuÌ„ / of eche two drammes of oppoponacum one dramÌ„ all those beaten / and tempered to gether with oxe gall / make pylles of them / wayenge eche of them a dramÌ„ / and with the fume of those perfume the nether partes / by this vapoure the deade byrthe is broughte forthe / inflamation and suffocation of bloude is expelled ¶ Item take of water mynte / sothernwood / muggewort / of eche a handefull / of asphaltum halfe an ounce / of madder two ounces and an halfe / of camomell / barotum / fenegreke / of eche two ounces sethe all these thynges to gether in rayne water in the whyche lette the woman bathe her selfe / then take of hensgrece and duckes grece / of eche .iiij. dramÌ„s to the which adde two ounces of oyle of anues sede / with this oyntmeÌ„t annoynt the womaÌ„s head comminge out of the bath then take datestones beate them to powder a dramÌ„ and a halfe / with a scruple of safrane tempered to gether with whyt wyne the which let her immediatlye drynke after she come forthe of the bathe ¶ Item take oppoponacum / make there of a pessarye the quantitie of a fynger / conueye it into the priuities / this expelieth the dead byrth ¶ Item take of galbanum a dramÌ„ or some what lesse of gotes mylke an ounce and a halfe or two ounces in the which the galbanum beynge dissolued / geue it to the woman to drynke ¶ Item a plaster for the same take galbanum beaten and tempered with the iuyce of motherworte / and of this make a plaster by puttyng to of wexe a certayne quaÌ„tite / than take a lynnen cloth of suche length bredth that it maye couer all the belly vnder the nauel to the priuities froÌ„ one syde to the other / on this cloth spred this plaster of the thyckenesse of a strawe / and laye it to the bellye Item take the tryacle which is called diatessaron and geue of it to the woman for to drynke / and it wyll expell this dead byrth ¶ But yf all these medicines profette not / then muste be vsed more seuere and harde remedyes / with instrumentes / as hokes / tonges / and suche other thynges made for the nonce And fyrst the woman must be layde a longe vpryght / the myddell parte of her bodye lyeng hyer then all the reste / companyed of women assistynge her aboute to comforte her / and to keape her downe / that when the byrthe is plucked oute she ryse not withall Then let the mydwyfe annoynt her left haÌ„d with the oyle of whyte lyllyes or other that may make it sople and smouth and holding out her fyngers shytting to gether her hand let her put it to the matrice to feale and perceaue after what fasshion the dead byrth lyeth in the mothers wombe so that she maye the better putte in hokes and suche other instrumentes to plucke it out with all ¶ Yf it be so that it lye the head forewarde / then fasten a hoke other vpoÌ„ one of the eyes of it / or the rofe of the mouthe / or vnder the chyn / on one of the sholders / whiche of these partes shall seme moste commodious and handsome to take it oute bye / and the hoke fastened to drawe it oute verye tenderlye for hurtynge of the woman ¶ But yf it lye the fete forewarde / then fasten the hoke on the bone aboue the priuye partes / or by some ribbe / or some of the backe bones / or of the breste bones / and when this hoke is thus fastened / the midwyfe may not by and by drawe and plucke at it / but holdynge it in her lefte hande / lette her with her ryghte hande fasten another in some other parte of the byrthe ryght agaynste the fyrste / and then tenderlye let her drawe both to gether / so that the byrth may procede and come forthe on bothe sydes equallye / mouynge it from one syde to another / tyll ye haue gotteÌ„ out alto gether / and nowe and then to helpe it in the comming forth with the fore fynger well annoynted / if it chanse to stycke or to be let any where and as it commeth forthe / alwaye to remoue the hokes farther and farther on the dead byrthe ¶ Agayne yf it chanse that one of the handes onely of the byrth do appeare / that it can not conuenientlye be reduced returned vpwarde agayne / by reason of the narownesse of the place / then byndt it with a lynneÌ„ cloth / that it slyp not vp agayne / and then to plucke it outwarde / vntyll suche tyme that the hole arme be out and then with a sharpe knyfe cut it of from the body / and euen so do yf both handes appeare fyrste at once / or one legge or bothe / yf they can not be returned backe / to be otherwyse taken out conuenient lye / as ye cutte the arme frome the sholders / soo lykewyse cuttinge the legges frome the thyghes / for the which purpose the surgeoÌ„s haue meâ—e instrumentes made for the nonce with the which such legges and armes may sone be cut frome the bodye / these partes beynge once reseâ—te and cutte frome the bodye / then turne the teste / so that it maye easylye procede with as lyttell payne to the mother / as maye be ¶
of the eares When that humours and matter yssueth out of the eares which properly commeth of aboundant humours in all the body / most spetially in the head / thē take a pese of wool / and dyppe it in hony mixt with redde wyne / to the which is put also a lyttell quantite of alome beaten to pouder / or of safrane / then make of the same as it ware a tente / and put it in the childes eare / when the wooll hath sucked and drawen to it the humour and fyl thynesse of the eare / then take it out / and put in newe / and if that / the which commeth out of the eare be as matter / then take of soden hony and tempered with water / put of it in to the eares / or elles take the pouder of galles temperynge it with vynegre / and do lyke wyse ¶ But yf the chylde haut greate payne dolor by wyndynesse / ventosyte and the humours in this place / then sethe organnye or myrrhe with oyle olyfe and so beyng warme put of it in to the eares ¶ Of Appostumation in the heade Yf there be any appostume engendred in the heade whiche many tymes chaunseth the whiche causethe the cheekes and eyes to be greatelye payned / and the eye sight to waxe wannysshe or tawnye / then must be applyed suche thynges whiche maye refrigerat and coole the braynes as take of the iuyce of gowardes and the iuyce of solatrum / and the iuyce of purcelayne / and temper them with the oyle of roses / in this dyp a pese of wooll and laye it to the head / and as ofte as it waxeth drye / dippe it agayne / and lykewyse laye it to the heade ¶ Of the swellynge or bolnyng of the eyes Agaynst swellynge bolnynge of the eyes take licium / and temper it with womans mylke / and put of it into the chyldes eye / and bynde it to the place with fyne and softe lynnen clothe / then afterwarde wasshe the eyes with water in whiche camomell and basyll haue ben soden in Yf that in this swellynge the eyes be not redde / neyther the browes swollen / then take myrrhe / aloes / safrane / the leues of roses / and temper all these / and stype them in olde wyne and bynde it to the thyldes eyes with some lynnen clothe / into the childes nose put a quantite of ambre dissolued in womans mylke ¶ Of the scum or whyte of the eye Agaynst the scum or whyte of the eye which for the most parte happeneth to chyldrē thorowe ouer much cryeng wepynge take the iuyce of solatrum / and droppe of the same in to the chyldes eye / and yf by the same chanse the vayne of the eyes wexe reddysshe / or be swollen / then annoynt them with the same iuyce ¶ Agaynst immoderat heate or the feuer Yf the infant be in great vehement heate contrary to nature / the whiche is called a feuer Fyrst it shal be the nources parte to eate and vse suche thynges the whiche coole and moystē Also to geue vnto the infant of these thynges folowynge the iuyce of pome granate / the water of gourdes / sugre / with a lyttell camphere myxed here with all / tempered well to gether Itē it is very good to prouoke it to sweiyng ¶ Itē take of the iuyce of worme wood / of plantayne / malows / syngrene / and temper them all to gether / in the whiche also myxte barly meale / and make a plaster of all these / and laye it to the chyldes breste Itē take the oyle of roses the oyle of poplar / myxte them to gether with this oyntment beyng colde / annoynt the chyldes forehead / the temples / the armes / the hādes about the wrystes pulces / the fete about the ancles Itē take of barlye meale and of dryed roses poudered / temper these with the water of roses the water of endyue / make therof a plaster / the which laye to the chyldes brest ¶ Also as often as the chylde is wasshed / let it be done with water in whiche is soden such thynges whiche coole / as lectuse / purcelayne / endyue / plantane / and such other ¶ Agaynst frettynge or knawynge in the belly Yf the chylde be vexed with frettynge and knawynge in the belly / the which thynge ye shall know by the immoderat cryeng of the chylde / and that it turneth from one syde to another with greate cryenge / then shall you take warme water / oyle olyfe / and a lyttell waxe / temperynge them to gether / and herein dyppe a pese of wooll / and there with soke the chyldes bellye oftentymes ¶ Agaynstc swellynge of the bodye When the chyldes bodye or any parte ther of is swollen and puffed vp / then take the toppes of elder tree / and of walworte and sethe them in white wyne / therein lap the infante / spetially yf it be not takē with ouer greate heate / but yf so be that with swellyng in the heade the bellye be swollen also / then take myrrhe / aloes epaticus / safrane / and beate them all to gether / and temper them with the iuyce of beanes / and laye it to the thyldes heade ¶ Agaynst often sneesynge Sometymes the infantes be sore troubled and vexed with often starnutatiō and sneesynge / which thynge yf it come of the appostume in the head then shal ye minister such thynges to the heade whiche refrigerat and coole / whether it be oyles / oyntmentes / iuyces of herbes or other thynges Yf this come of anye other cause then of appostume / then take basilicum / be it grene or drye / and put of the iuyce or pouder of it into the childes nose but yf this sneesynge come and begyn with heate / that the chyldes eyes seme as they grewe in warde for payne of this sneesynge / then laye to thyldes heade the leaues of pur celayne / or gowarde cut in thynne peces and tempered with the oyle of rooses and barley meale / and also the yowlke of an egge ¶ Of whelkes in the body and the cure These whelkes yf they appeare blacke vppon the body / they sygnify parell of lyfe / and so muche the more the greater quantite that there is of them / but yf they seme whytyshe or reddyshe / it is no parell / maye easelye be cured wherfore take the leues of the red rose the leues of myrtylles of tamariscus / and sethe these in water / and in that water wette a lynnē cloth / soke there with the whelkes Itē like wyse it is good to annoynt the same with the oyle of roses / of myrtylles / tamariscus Yf the whelke be whyte or reddyshe / then let them be rype / before ye minister any thyng to them / when they be open begyn to matterye / then annoynte them with the
and so laye it to the chyldes stomacke ¶ But yf it so be that the perbrakynge of the chylde sauer not after the fashyon of vynegre / but after some other so wre sauour / that it be not whytyshe / but pale grayesshe then geue it the iuyce of quynces / and laye this plaster vnto the chyldes stomacke take barley meale / wylde mulderyes / and psida / beate all these to gether / and temper it with roose water / and laye it to the chyldes stomacke ¶ And farthermore yf the childes stomacke be some what wateryshe and slowe in digestion / then annoynte it with the water of roses / in the which muske hath ben dyssolued / or elles the water of myrtylles and geue it to drynke the iuyce of quynces with a lyttell cloues and sugre / or with a scruple of nuttemegges / there with tempered and myxed ¶ Agaynst fearefull and terrible dreames uers other thinges there be which might be here rehersed / but this shal be suffitient ¶ Consumption or pynynge awaye of the body When the infante falleth awaye / and the flesshe rebateth remaynynge nothynge but as it ware skynne and bone / and thereby the chylde waxeth syckely / then let the infant be often bathed in water / in which hath ben soden the head the fete of a ramme / so longe tyll the flesshe parte frome the bones of his owne accorde / and euery tyme that the chyld commeth forth of the bathe / fyrst let it be wyped and dryed cleane / then annoynt it with this oyntmente take fress he butter / oyle of violettes / or oyle of rooses / of eche .ii. dram̄s / of swynesgrece .vi. dram̄s / of whyte wex .iiij. dram̄s melt all these thynges to gether / and make an oyntment of it / annoyntynge there with the chyldes body ¶ Item take whyte waxe / swenes grece / shepes tallowe / fresshe butter / melt all these thinges to gether / strayne them / making of it an oyntmēt to annoynt the chyld withall ¶ Of lassitude werynesse or heuynesse of the chyldes hodye Sometymes it chaunseth that the chyldes membres of the body be so feable / as though it hath the palsye / so that with that partes of the bodye the chylde can not helpe it selfe / neyther can it lefte vp the handes / armes / ne stande on the fete / yf the chylde haue this dysease whylst it sucketh / then let the nourse be comforted and strengthned with such thinges the whiche haue vertue to heate and to drye Also let the nourse fede onely on rosted or fryed meate / that she forbare frō mylke / fysshe / and harde or salt poudred flesshe ¶ Farthermore let not the nourse vse any watered wyne / or myxed let her bathe the childe euer before that she geue it sucke / after annoyntynge it with the oyle of castorium / or the oyle of costum / let the chylde drynke euerye daye a quantite of this electuarye folowyng Take wyld mynt / cynamome / cummyn / drye roses / masticke / fenugreke / valeriane / ameum / doronicum / zedoarium / cloues / saunders / xiloaloes / of eche a dram̄ / of muske halfe a dram̄ / beate all those to pouder / confycte them with clarifyed wyne / makynge thereof an electuarye / of the whyche euerye daye geue vnto the chylde the iiij parte of a dram̄ to drynke Yf the chylde haue this dysease in euerye parte of his bodye / then take an ounce of wexe / and a dram̄ of euforbium / temper them to gether with oyle olyfe / and make hereof a plaster / and laye it to the raynes of the backe ¶ Of trymblynge of the bodye and the membres of the bodye Yf the chylde happen to be vexed with trymblynge and quakyng of the bodye or the partes thereof / so that ye feare that shryncklyng of the parte / or that the fallynge syckenesse sholde ensue / then remeady it after this meanes take the oyle of rooses / and the oyle of nardus / and temper them to gether / warmynge it / and there with annoyntynge the backe boke or raynes and the other shakyng membres / ye maye also take any other oyle / the whiche hathe vertue to warme and calefye / as the oyle of bays / and suche other Yf thou can not cure it by this meanes / then demaunde farther counceill of the physytyons ¶ Of the stone Yf the chylde be emcombred with the stone or with anye other thynge the whiche maye lette and stoppe the vryne / the whiche maye be knowen by these tokens Fyrst yf he haue the strāgury / yf it be prouoked often to pysse and yet can do but lyttell at once / and that with greate payne and dolour / yf the vryne be thynne and clere / and also beynge a man chylde yf the prycke be euer standynge all which thynges ye shall remedye thus ¶ Fyrst bathe the chylde in water wherin is decocte malous / holyoke / lynsede / and paritorye / then geue it to drynke some suche thinge which hath qualite to prouoke vryne and also when the nourse layeth it to sleape / let her annoynte the pryuie partes with oyle and geue the chylde to drynke the water of mulberyes with mylke / or otherwyse take the bloude of a gote / and the powder of a burnt scorpion / with the oyle of scorpions / or the oyle of whyte lyllyes tempered plasterwyse / and laye it to the chyldes bellye aboue the pryuie membres ¶ Of google eyes or lokynge a squynt Yf the chylde haue google eyes / or that it loke a squynt / then fyrst set the cradel in such a place / that the lyght maye come directelye and ryght in the chyldes face / neyther in the one syde / neyther in the other / neyther aboue the heade / leste it torne the syghte after the lyght Also marke / on whiche syde that the eyes do gogle / and let the lyghte come vnto it on the cōtrary syde / so to retorne the syght And in the nyght season set a candell on the contrarye syde / so that by this meane the goglynge of the eyes maye be retorned to the ryghte place And farther it shall be good to hange clothes of diuers and freshe coloures on the contrary syde / and spetially of the coloure of lyght grene / or yelowe / for the chylde shall haue pleasure to beholde these strange coloures / and in retornynge the eye syghte towarde suche thynges / it shal be occasion to rectifye the syght agayne and this shall be sufficient for this tyme of the dyseases of chyldren / after they be borne makynge here an ende of this seconde boke THE THIRDE BOKE ¶ Of suche thynges the which shal be entreated of in this thyrde boke ¶ Cap .i. IN these two precedente bokes we haue sufficientelye for this tyme declared such thinges the which are wont to happen vnto women before theyr labor / in theyr labor /
warme the place / and alsoo drye vp the yll moystenes and humoures contayned in the same / hynderynge conception ¶ Wherfore take of sauyne / baytreleues / the flowres of camomell / melylote / maioraÌ„ / caprifolium / herba paralysis / cytron leues / and such other thynges of aromatycall and hote nature and sethe these in water to gether / and let the woman receaue the vapour and fume hereof vndernethe in to her bodye through some coÌ„duite or pype made for that purpose her clothes beynge close about her / that none of the vapour or ayre yssue oute / ouer this let her syt all a nyght / yf she may / receauyng euer the fume hereof in to her bodye / and in the mornynge let her accompany with her husbande / and she shall conceaue ¶ A bathe also for the same purpose when the tyme of her flowres aboute the ende of the laste quartar of the moone is almoste fynyshed let her bathe herself in a bathe / wher in is decocte soden caprifolium / malowes / frenche malowes / holyoke / rooses / iunyper beryes / parytarye / wylde myntes / bay leues / myrtylles / sauyne / camomell / pynpernell / myntes / maioram / cytron leues / basyll / penyryall / and suche other But before that she bathe her in this water / it shal be best for her to be purged and clensed from the colde humours with theodoricon / or with benedicta / or with the pylles which be called sinequibê° esse nolo / to be had at the apothecaryes / and then let her enter in to this foresayde bathe / and when she commeth forthe of the bathe agayne / then let her take of diamargariton / or of muscata / to the quaÌ„tite of a nutte / drynkynge it with good and odoriferous or well sinellynge wyne / other elles let her take of this electuarye folowynge / whiche is verye excellent for that purpose ¶ Take of spyke / nuttemegges / cloues / zedoarium / galyngale / longe peper / drye rosesstorax / alipta muscata / of eche of these lyke muche / then take of the roote of tormentyll as muche as of all the other forenamed thinges to gether / and beate all these to pouder / temperynge them with a sufficiente quaÌ„tite of clarifyed honye / to the whiche also adde a lyttell of pure muske Of this electuarium bothe euenynge and mornynge the space of ten dayes let the woman take to the mountenaunce of a nutte with good odoryferous wyne bathynge her selfe also euery daye the space of the sayde ten dayes at her comynge forthe of the bathe / receauyng of the foresaid electuarye / then also let her perfume her pryuities with the sauoure and fume of laudanum / frankencense / xiloaloes / storax / ambre / alipta / xilobalsamum / and suche other thinges And after this let her make a supposytarye annoynted with magna trifera / or esdra / with the pouder of olibanum / and the dyle of bays myxte and tempered to gether / and let her retayne this supposytarye in her pryuities all the day tyme the foresayd space of ten dayes / and then at the ten dayes ende the man and woman accompanynge together god wyllynge / she shal be conceaued / these be the remedyes yf the defecte lacke of conception come by reason of coldenesse and moystenesse ¶ But yf it come by distemperaunce of the matrice in hote and drye / fyrste lette the humour which is cause of it / be purged by conneniente medycynes / then euery nyght the space of ten dayes let her bathe herselfe in warme water / nothing elles beyng put vnto it / in this batthe let her remayne not long / and at her coÌ„minge forth geue her to drynke of trifera magna / with watered wyne / and after this receaue she the vapoure fume of the decoction of these herbes vnderneth into her priuy partes take violettes / beerefote / parytarye / and penyryall / sethe them in water and then conuaye in to the same place a supposytary of trifera magna with the pouder of olibanum ¶ Item a suppositarye whiche is wonderfull good in expellynge and dowyng awaye suche thynges whiche let conception take of siler montanum beaten to pouder .ij. dramÌ„s / of the renatte of an hare the .iiij. parte of a dramÌ„ / and temper these to gether with clarifyed honye and the oyle of bayes / annoynt here with a supposytarye / the whiche let the woman retayne in her secreates the space of a daye and a nyght ¶ IteÌ„ a supposytary made of hares dunge and hony tempered to gether / is verye excellent for the same purpose / but let the womaÌ„ abstayne from all maner of salte and sharpe meates / and vse to drynke good odoriferous and pleasaunt wynes alayd with water ¶ Also to drynke of the wyne in whiche is dissolued muske / or elles viscus quercinus / is good to helpe to conception / also the herte bone of an herte / and the scrapynge of yuery is very good for the same ¶ Item a supposytary for the same / which hathe ben many tymes well proued for that purpose Take garlycke pylled and clensed frome the huskes / and sethe it in the oyle of rooses / or elles the oyle of maioram vnto the tyme that it be dyssolued / and that all the moystenes be departed from it / then take it out of the oyle agayne / and stampe it / then wrappe it in wooll / and conuaye it supposytarywyse in to the pryuie partes / and there keape it the space of a daye this thynge is maruelous good for conception / and hathe ben well proued ¶ Dyuers other lettes of conception and remedyes for the same myght here haue ben declared / whiche for breuite and shortenesse we for this tyme do let passe / makynge here an ende of this treatyse / the whiche we haue composed and translated oute of Laten / to the honour of God / the vtilite and profette of all honeste matrones Deo gratias ¶ Imprynted at London / by T. R. Anno Domini M. CCCCC.XL