so those places which then and by that were made moist and slippery will afterwards become dry and more straitned and so consequently longer time for the birth of the child and pain of the mother may be expected therefore observe it The next thing is the cure or help by medicines I shall lay down three with this observation that none of them be given till such time the Midwife assures the water is compleat or broken The first is Take oil of sweet Almonds and white-White-wine of each two ounces Saffron and Cinnamon of each twelve grains Conf. Alkermes half a dram syrup of Mugwort one ounce Chymical oil of Asasoedita two drops mixt and make a potion Another is Take Ditany of Creet Birthwort roots and cakes of Myrrh of each ten grains Saffron and Cinnamon of each twelve grains Conf. Alkermes half a dram Cinnamon water half an ounce Orange flower and Mugwort water of each one ounce Chymical oil of Juniper berries four drops make a potion Or Thirdly Take of Chymical oil of Amber twelve or fifteen drops in a glass of wine or Chymical oil of Cinnamon four or five drops in a glass of wine Or Chymical oil of Saffron seaven or eight drops or extract of Saffron five or six grains in a glass of wine Or Balsom Naturale six drops in one ounce of syrup of Savine c. And these or any of these are very good things and proper administrations being given as afore directed Indeed there is one thing more which I at present forbear to name for good reasons best known unto my self which indeed is an infallible remedy to give women speedy and easie labours being given as is and shall be directed Concerning which I am bold to say that many womens and childrens lives might be saved in a year by the taking of the same it being an experimental medicine fit and worthy to be had in every Ladyes and Gentle-womans and Midwises Closet to give and administer to them that are not able to give to themselves and for all big-belly'd women and especially those who use to have or fear hard labours I say it again that by Gods blessing nothing but great things in this case hath been done by and may be expected from it And although it be scarce to be had and the preparation sometimes difficult yet I am and have been this twelve month endeavouring to make my self master of a considerable quantity and my la 〈…〉 hath not altogether been in vain And â—o I come to the next thing only I must mind you of two things one of which should indeed have been done before accept it now i. e. Sneezing either naturally or artificially by medicines is sometimes very good and may not be forbidden to a woman labouring with a living or dead child To comfort the woman she may take now and then a little burnt wine with a blade or two of Cinnamon a little Alkermes and sweetned with syrup of Gilly-flowers what I have further in this case is to Midwives to whom I shall dedicate a Tract alone and be willing therein to learn them something that are willing to learn that so they may officiate themselves and do the work without the assistance of a man at such times as there is not absolute necessity But till then and there is information in the point Let me advise all Midwives not to juggle nor bogle in their work or stand upon terms of honour to the loss of mother or child or both as it hath been sometimes to my knowledge But things being out of their reach and capacity let them submit wisely and discreetly to them who are more able and let not thâ— presence of a man in such a business as this is scare or amaze a woman but let her submit her self in the fear of God in which fear leâ— the man work and operate and the blessing of God attend all such operations c. Fourthly The next thing in order is of a dead child In fore travel of child-birth by reason of great and long labour the child is oftentimes killed and sometimes before a womans pains come upon her through some preternatural accidents c. Signs 1. A dead child is known when the motion thereof ceaseth which either the mother did feel or the Midwife perceive by her hand laid on or either warm and strengthning things which were wont to awaken and rowse up the powers thereof when they were in a slumber or stupified 2. The mother finds a greater sense of weight with which and pain of the belly they are troubled 3. When the woman turns from 〈◊〉 side to another she perceives the child to roul or fall from one side to another like a stone 4. The lower part of her belly feels very cold their eyes hollow face pale dugs flaggy and at length a stinking moisture like water and blood flows from the womb their belly is blown up with vapours a filthy smell of the womans breath and the body all over smells unpleasingly And 5. Mark this if the after-birth be excluded before the child it is a certain token that the child is dead in the womb Cure For cure hereof it consists wholly in the exclusion or extraction of the dead child and because handy-work and operation is to co-operate with internal medicines I forbear to mention any supposing he whose imployment it is to do the business is of my mind to make use of his own remedies However all those things may be given as hopeful ones in the case of a dead as well as a living child I mean those things I spoke of in order to help a hard labour in the chapter fore-going Men fit for either of these two difficult works as to clear a dead child from a living woman or to take a live child from a dead woman as is sometimes done and is possible they had need be men fearing God and eschewing evil always minding and labouring in the discharge of their trust or work to keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man remembring that saying of the Holy Ghost That all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 5. Of the after-birth retained In a natural birth commonly the secundine or after-birth is excluded presently after the child yet sometimes it is retained in the womb or part thereof notwithstanding the Midwives care by which means the mother is in great danger of her life Signs Signs of the after-birth retained are needless it being apparent of it self yet sometimes a bit or piece thereof is severed from the whole retained which is not so easie to be known but may be known and apprehended 1. Because the womb after the birth doth yet labour to cast something forth although these endeavours are not so great as before 2. There is perceived in the womb a sense of pain and heat 3. After certain days a filthy and carrion-like smell exhales from the
or cut without sense 6. It sends forth a stinking carrion-like smell In order to Cure In this most grievous and mortal disease because you are not proper subjects in these cases I must be silent only I have holpen you by the signs delivered that timely you may if fearing these things look out for help And let me tell you I am not without Authority to assure you that women have been cured of this disease sometimes the gangrenated place falling of it self by application of proper medicines and sometimes hath been cut off by suitable instruments and the womens lives saved the blessing of God concurting with both remedies and operation Sixthly Of wombs wind water-swelling or Dropsie of the womb It is a blowing up of the womb sometimes to a greater bigness sometimes less causing the belly to swell as in other Dropsies and being with Child Note There is a twofold Dropsie of the womb one from wind like unto that called Timpany another arising from a wheyish and watery humor answering to the Dropsie of the belly called Ascites Signs In laying down which looking upon it as very necessary I shall enquire into a threefold question 1. How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from that of the whole body 2. How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from a woman being great with Child And Thirdly How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from a Mole In answering these three questions you may gather the distinct signs of this peculiar Dropsie of the womb subject only unto women 1. How may this particular Dropsie of the womb be known and distinguished from that Dropsie of the whole body Answ It is distinguished from an universal dropsie of the belly in that the womb-dropsie swells chiefly the lower part of the belly whereas the universal dropsie distends equally the whole belly in all the parts thereof Again in the womb-dropsie paleness and falling away of the flesh of the whole body are not so soon discerned as in the universal dropsie in which also for the most part there is evident thirst and driness of the tongue which are not found in the womb-dropsie Again in the womb-dropsie some wind breaks out of the womb by fits through the privities or else a little water comes away sometimes which evidently declares that wind or water are contained in the womb Quest How may this particular womb-dropsie be known and distinguished from a woman great with Child Many good women were deceived in this case these last two years and I am afraid more will be this year I speak to my own knowledge and have to several told them what after some time they would and not before imbrace for truth who at their reckonings expiring came furtherto enquire which trouble of enquiry if you mark I save you by what follows in answer to this question Ans When a woman is big with Child the swelling is not so even and depressed but it is sharp buncheth out and seems greater about the Navel than elsewhere Secondly In greatness with Child after some months women are for the most part somewhat better than they were but the dropsie of the womb the further it proceeds the worse it grows Thirdly In greatness with Child the child is manifestly perceived to stir after the third or fourth month which is not in the womb-dropsie Yet observe and this is that which deceived so many It falls out sometimes a certain palpitation or motion is perceived in the womb in this disease but it is distinguished from the moving of a Child thus The moving of a child is more even and equal the moving of a child is perceived in divers parts of the belly that motion felt chiefly in one part thereof the motion of the infant in greatness of child inlargeth it self weekly more and more and is to be caused by a warm hand or cloth more than ordinary Fourthly In women with child womens dugs swell but in the dropsie of the womb they sometimes are extenuated and become smaller if not they continue at one stay By these signs well heeded any understanding woman may give a near guess whether she be a true Mother and would have it saved or of no concernment and so would have it destroyed for as the Mother by her affection signified to Solomon whose child it was so this by its motion and other signs signifies of what linage or generation it is and so accordingly may be delt withall 3. Quest Is How the womb-dropsie may be known from a Mole or false-conception Answ That in a Mole women find a kind of heaviness in their wombs which is not so felt in womb-dropsie and when they lie on one of their sides they perceive the weight of the Mole to roul like a stone to that side Again in a Mole violent flux of Courses come sometimes by fits namely every third or fourth month which happens not in the womb-dropsie Again in a Mole the dugs swell and sometimes have milk which is not thus in a womb-dropsie I have been the larger in these things because I judge them worth your knowledge and are of a great concernment to you Now then if you by these signs and tokens find your selves to have the womb-dropsie at any time and are sure you are not with child for blood cries high then for the removal of it use these things following with prayer and supplication First then give this Vomit Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce syrup of Squils half an ounce mix them and give it in a morning warm drinking Posset sometimes after it c. A few days after give Pil. Arabicae half a dram oil of Juniper berries three drops mixed Let her swallow in them days between the Vomit and the Pills six Pepper corns every morning fasting After one days rest after the Pills take this following Take roots of Smallage and Madder of each two ounces Savin Feverfew Peniroyal Germander and Mother-time of each one handful Carraway and Carrots-seed of each half an ounce Saffron and Cinnamon of each one dram boil all together being sliced bruised and stirred as they require in mugwort-Mugwort-water three quarts to two quarts strain it add to the remaining part honey or Sugar sufficient to make it pretty toothsome the Dose is a quarter of a pint every morning fasting using exercise after it Drink every night going to bed a small glass of Doctor Stevens his water outwardly the belly must often be anointed with oil of Dill Rue Wormwood and Southernwood Glisters also are to be administred made of the decoction of Wormwood Peniroyal Rue Centaury in which Glisters dissolv two drams of Elect. Theriaca Diatessaron These things being duly used and the disease not overcome and expelled other things there are which you cannot be directed to the use of them being out of your Element yea and other medicines there are also some
principal of the Galenical Art so far as Authors make manifest and I have proved Thirdly Neither may you expect these Arcanums specifical medicines spake of to be at this time made manifest or publick having reasons sufficient to the contrary besides that many of them are Chymical preparations and none of them made without fire and the help of Chymical utensils or vessels but shall reserve them as yet to my self only alwayes ready either to give or sell such quantities and at such prizes as the persons may be capable to give and the medicines deserve And indeed they are very cheap considering their efficacy which things I was more than ordinary concerned to study being my medicines hitherto though acknowledged to be very excellent choice yet complained of by some for their dearness which although I have now endeavoured to remedy yet not so far as to detract from the worth of the things These persons complaining not considering the great charge trouble excellency and worth of Chymical preparations above others but thinking hard of giving four six or ten shillings for a small bottle of some Spirit Tinct Elixar or other medicine not examining who is the greatest gainer whether they that furnish them possibly with three four five perhaps six quarts for the same money or we they only making it by decoction c. we by calcination sublimation liquation salification precipitation purification so separating the pure from the impure administring only the most pure part of any Mineral Animal or Vegetable they both together yea not only so but the best many times lost by their way of compounding or if not so yet the body of the thing being not opened according to Chymical Art doth not operate effectually But of this no more here Having thus premised I come now to the business it self and I begin with these distempers of the vessels of the womb and the first is Chlorosis or Green-sickness and according to promise I shall observe this method viz. 1. To give you the definition of the discase or tell you briefly what it is 2. To give you the most principal common signes of such and such diseases thereby helping your judgments that you may look for Cure 3. To give you some choice and notable Receipts in order to Cure that disease you find your self to lie under or are creeping into In all of which God direct my Pen in writing and cause you to be humble and sober in reading 1. Then the Chlorosis or Green-sickness it is also called the White feaver the Virgins disease the white Jaundies c. and may be defined thus An evil habit of body from the obstructions of the Veins of the Liver Spleen Mesentery and especially the womb whereby the whole passage of blood is hindred which abounding in Virgins when they begin to have their Courses and being hindred by its natural course by those obstructions turns to the upper parts and oppresseth the Heart Liver Spleen Midriff and other parts destroying natural heat and bringing evil concoction in the bowels and is known by these signs following 1. The face and all the body is pale and white and sometimes of a lead colour blew and green 2. Swelling face and Eye-lids especially after sleep the legs also soft and loose especially about the Ancles 3. Heaviness and idleness in the whole body 4. Difficult breathing especially when they move themselves or go up a hill or stairs 5. Palpitation of the heart and beating of the Arteries of the Temples 6. Often great Head ach sometimes before and sometimes behind according as from whence vapors ascend 7. For the most part a swift Pulse 8. Sleep very sound sometimes till noon 9. Loathing wholsome Meat covering that which is not convenient to be eaten 10. Stoppage of the monthly Courses which shews the disease to be at the height Now to help you in the Cure of this discase consider it lieth in three things chiefly viz. In opening obstructions in correcting the distemper of the bowels and in strengthning the same which to do I advise you to use these ensuing medicines 1. Give this Purge in a morning with those common observations which are used in taking Physick Take Rosin of Jalap ten grains Diacatholicon and Conserve of red Roses of each half an ounce Crem Tartar twenty grains Salt of Mugwort four grains mix them altogether and give this Bolus upon the point of a knife c. The next thing is Bleeding and concerning the place observe this That if the body abound with gross and evil humors you then take the arm first if not the foot only remember that when the lower veins are opened it be done toward the full of the Moon when the Courses use to come down or if they have not yet appeared when the party is most afflicted Soon after her bleeding make this medicine and administer it every morning the first thing causing her to exercise after it for several mornings together the quantity of three ounces forbearing meat or drink for two or three hours the medicine is this Take of the filings of Steel four ounces Eryngo roots and Elicampane of each one ounce and half flowers of Broom Rosemary Betony and Epithimum of each half a handful red Coral and shavings of Ivory of each six drams Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamons Saffron of each two drams White wine six pints Steep these things being bruised or beaten in the wine for eight days keeping it close stopt and in a gentle heat in hot water or embers then strain it and use it as aforesaid And in the mean time supply her with Conserve of Mugwort the quantity of one ounce once a day before Supper with six grains of Crem Tartar and by Gods blessing the Cure will be performed but if not then we must come higher to Diuretical and Diaphoretical medicines which never fail Such of which I am alwayes provided with for the good and benefit of all which Arcanums and Specifical medicines are not at this time to be made publick no not to the Sons of Art And so I conclude my discourse concerning the Green sickness only my advice further is that the Parents of such persons as have this disease or others who are concerned would prudently and timely provide marriage for them much of the Cure of this disease lying in Carnal Copulation as experience hath and doth teach every day more or less the vessels of the womb becoming thereby much enlarged c. 2. Stoppage of the Terms or Courses The terms are said to be stopped when in a woman ripe of Age which gives not Suck and is not with Child there is seldom small or no evacuation of blood by the womb which useth to be every moneth Signs are manifest but because it comes either from natural or preternatural causes I shall lay down some distinguishing signs whereby you may discern whether they stay from being with Child yea or no or from some other preternatural cause and
of which I have in my custody which will assuredly by Gods blessing extinguish this disease totally and I have sufficiently proved the same in these last years which as I am willing to mention so also I am as willing to part withall for the good and benefit of poor creatures Look to this disease as timely as you may and many of those inconveniences that do attend it may be prevented But Seventhly Of the falling down of the womb When the womb loseth its natural situation and falls downward to the water gate the disease is termed the falling down or slipping forward of the womb except sometimes by its coming forth too far and by the distemper of the air this disease is more unhandsome and troublesome than mortal and besides hath only this ill conveniency that doth attend it it hinders conception Signs Signs whereby this disease is known are evident to the sense For 1. The womb is found sticking in the water-gate like a Hen or Gooses Egg. 2. It is attended with a perceivance with a weight pressing upon the water-gate especially when the Patient stands upright 3. When they sit or go to stool a vehement pain is felt about the privy parts and the hanch-bone 4. Urine comes away by little and little and makes the womb smart as it comes Cure A Glister being given to discharge from excrements and water being made to discharge the bladder the womb is to be restored to its proper place after this manner let the woman lie along upon her back with her things wide asunder and her knees drawn upwards then let her or another with her or their hands thrust her womb inwards and force it gently still upwards into the neck so as to turn it inwards as it goes till all is returned within the cavity of the belly which should contain the same But observe that if the womb-fallen be swelled so that it cannot enter the cavity of the belly the swelling must be in the first place removed which may be done with a decoction of Beets sprinkling it a little after with Vinegar and Salt the swelling being abated and the womb reduceable let it be anointed with Mucilage of Comfrey roots or with an infusion of Gum Tragaganth being anointed strew it with powder of Bistort root and Mastick beaten very fine and so put it up After it is replaced the woman lying in her bed a little bending with her thighs gently stretched out resting or being cross one another let her abide in this posture sometime and put in at the water gate a little Wool Cotton or spunge wet in red wine and use sweet scents to her nose and stinking to her privities And then every day let her take of this powder following one dram at a time in red wine forbearing for a time carnal imbracement and hard exercise Take Bislort roots in powder one ounce Mirtle leaves and Garden Parship-seed of each two drams shavings of harts-horn half an ounce red Coral two ounces mingle them being well powdered and take as aforesaid Observe of this disease you must not expect help suddenly and the more patience is required if it be caused as sometimes it is by the unskilfulness of Midwives and hardness of labour Notwithstanding I know the disease is curable and some have been holpen by a secret I have not long since attained unto together with some other things done and given as directions tending thereupon though in a bad case the womb coming out of the body as big as my fist and they no longer at ease than they went continually with a truss Therefore if those instructions shall fail that I have given you you may remember there is notwithstanding provision made for you through Gods goodness for your well-being Eightly Of the womb shut up or imperforated Virgins that have their wombs closed up are said to be imperforated like a Cask of liquor having no hole to put in a spicket Now the closure of the womb is wont to be in three places viz. In the inner mouth of the womb In the neck of the womb And In the outward mouth of the womb next the water-gate Signs This disease according as the place that is afflicted is more hard or more easie to be discovered If the closure or stoppage be in the outward orifice of the privity it is discerned by seeing and feeling If the closure or stoppage be in the mouth of the womb it is not discerned till the courses begin to break out for when the time of their monthly purgation is come pains and gripings are felt in the region of the womb at certain periods of time with a sense of weight yet no flux of courses follows Here note the conjecture will be more probable if the Virgin be of a good habit of body not troubled with obstructions The disease persevering their wombs swell so that maidens seem to be with child and sometimes their whole body swells and seems sometimes to be black and blew colour through the abundance of blood and untill I made a narrow inspection in these things I my self as well as several others have sometimes mistrusted some maidens honesty when there hath been no real occasion But if the closure or stoppage do possesse the neck of the womb it is perceived in the first carnal conjunction because it doth not admit the mansyard Note for a right and true understanding of this disease a skilful Midwife man or woman is required who by their hand can give a near guess thereof And some supposition there is of this disease when the mans seed doth plentifully slip away as soon as it is cast in though sometimes that is occasioned also through some preternatural humor abounding and having recourse to those parts causing the womb to be more moist than it ought to be thereby hindring it from retaining what it ought in order to conception to imbrace The closure or stoppage of the inner orifice of the womb is accounted uncurable by reason no instrument can reach the same howbeit it hath been attempted sometimes with good success But the other closures or stoppages are accounted curable and many have been holpen and afterwards been well imbraced by their husbands as other women conceived and brought forth Children But directions in this case you may not expect the chief cure lying in handy operation neither need you dread or fear the work it being of no great difficulty or danger being managed by a skilful Artist and the blessing of God concurring And so I have ended the diseases of the cavity of the womb And so I come now in the third place to say something of those diseases which are in respect of Conception breeding and bringing forth The first is Of Barrenness This word barrenness in this place is to be understood in a large and ample signification so as to comprehend all kind of impotency and every impediment of conception namely when a woman at such an age in which she
womb Cure These things in wisdom may be given and administred that are propounded to help a hard labour and expel a dead child to which I shall adde this which hath proved very successeful Take of the tops of green Lovage stamp them and strain out the juice with a little Rhenish wine add thereto ten drops of oil of Juniper berries and so give it sweetned with syrup of Bawm But sometimes so it is that without the hand of a skilful operator this disease cannot be moved therefore I advise not long delay before such an one in such a case be made use of the consequences that attend this distemper being dangerous which will be the ready way of cure they doubtless being provided with some specifical remedy to help also in the case 6. Of immoderate flux of child-bed purgations The immoderate flux of child-bed purgations is not to be estimated from the quantity or the time of continuance because that in divers natures ages and courses of life it is very different But from the ill-bearing of the woman and her weakness there-from arising c. Signs Signs immoderate flux of child-bed purgations is known as hath been said from the strength of that woman that is dejected through the exhaustion of her spirits that issue with the blood as also from 1. The blood being much clotted 2. The Patients loathing of Meat 3. Being pained under her short-ribs and feeling a distention of her belly 4. Her pulse is weak and frequent 5. Her sight is dimed and she hath a noise in her ears 6. She is subject to swooning and Convulsions These symptoms concurring and agreeing look out for help speedily for delays in this case are very dangerous Cure Observe let her eat a thickning diet as Panadies Gellies Rice Calves-foot broth Pears and Quinces boiled roasted flesh and not boiled Let her have plenty of meat but a little at a time let heâ— drink be water wherein steel or gold is quenched or in which a little Mastick is boiled Let her superior parts be rub'd and bound Let her bathe her hands in hot wine in which a little Alkermes is mixed and let her belly be moderately well swadled These things being observed but expectations not answered besides what is said before in the immoderate flowing of the courses which is good here you may give this Take blood-stone four scruples powder of Bole-armoniack red Coral prepared Pearls of each one dram seed of Plantain Coriander prepared and grains of Sumach of each two scruples mix all being reduced into fine powder of which let her take one dram with a decoction made with Knot-grass and Sheepherds purse sweetned with syrup of Quinces Let her have a Plaister laid all over her belly made with Vng Comitissa These things being administred and the flux not abated you ought with all imaginable care diligence and speed seek out for further advice and supply from them who are masters of higher and powerfuller medicines in this case And because I writ for the good and benefit of all my good Country-women as also because I have found these things worthy of my observation you may take notice touching the sleep of a woman in this case that while the blood flows plentifully the woman must not be suffered to sleep for many by that means are taken away because the natural heat retiring inwards increaseth the flux But if sleep in such a case cannot be avoided then take this counsel that some body be there by her all the while frequently feeling her pulse and marking and observing her breath 7. Of suppression of child bed purgations The good and happy success of child-bearing doth especially depend upon the convenient and orderly flux of the courses or child-bed purgations seeing the impurities which have been collected in the veins of the womb during the nine months time of the womans belly-bearing are wont to be avoided by these evacuations but if they be suppressed wholly or diminished infinite dangers and calamities arise thereby As Acute Feavers and Quinsies Phrenzies and Pluresies Madness and Melancholy Inflamation of the Lungs c. Signs This suppression is manifest of it self but as I told you concerning their immoderateness is not to be estimated from the quantity or time of continuance because c. as there is shewed so here I would have you to note that the diminution thereof is not to be judged by the quantity that comes away because some women have more superfluous blood and some less But the perfect knowledge as in the other contrary case so in this is gathered from the supervenient symptoms such as these 1. A smelling of the belly 2. A pain possessing the nethermost part of the belly the loins and groins 3. Redness of the face and difficult breath 4. Perturbation of the eyes and shivering fits 5. Feavers and fainting fits 6. Stomach sickness sometimes and loss of appetite Cure It consisteth in provoking the menstruals from which purpose though those things are special good before-mentioned in he stoppage thereof yet it s to be observed they are not here to be given in respect of the different state of the Patient In this case therefore Glisters appropriated to the disease are convenient and are in the first place to be made use of make one thus Take Marsh-mallow roots and Water-lilly roots if you can get them otherwise the other of each one ounce long and round Birthwort of each three drams leaves of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pelitory Mercury of each one handful Linseed and Fenugreek seed of each half an ounce flower of Camomil and Elder of each half a handful boil all in Posset drink to a pint then strain it and in the liquor dissolve oil of Dill and Lilly of each one ounce hiera simplex half an ounce and so give it And let her thighs be rubbed downwards and the toes of her feet be tied fast till they ake again and if need be let Cupping-glasses be fastned to her groins and hips and scarrification if need require If these things fail she must have a vein opered about the knees thighs or foot or leeches applyed to the Hemorrhoids If the feaver forbid not there may be given Troches of Myrrh one dram powdered with a little whiâ—e-wine If there be a feaver this decoction hath been used successefully viz. Take French Barley one handful Liquorish half an ounce Schenanth one dram and a half boil all in Posset-drink to a pint which makes three doses one in the morning another about ten a clock and the other about 4. in the afternoon taking a little burnt-wine cold with burnt Cinnamon wherein is dropped three or four drops of spirit of Sulphur Purgation also sometimes in this case as it is necessary so may be used but with great caution but certainly a medicine may be had in this case that answers all intentions c. 8. Of after-pains or gripings after child-bearing Gripings do so frequently betide women in child-bed that very few women
sweat and filth do obstruct the body and so consequently double the heat Which three things do much hurt and dammage to the sick especially in continual feavers in which for the most part the feaver coming as often as it doth by the obstructions of the pores of the skin and therefore must be remedied only let it as I said before be done with great care as to time place season for yet I would promote truth above error I would not give any encouragement to wicked persons in this nature to do injury to any they are obliged to either by conscience or reward to attend and therefore I conclude this point with this Memorandum that sins of omission are accounted less than sins of commission 4. Some are of the opinion that nought but hot drinks are to be given to women in child-bed This is an error and occasions those complaints that are frequently made by women in such cases viz. that they are grievously thirsty and hot this being a maxime received by evil observation that they may take no cooling thing but only drinks actually and potentially hot as burnt-wine with hot spices cinnamon-Cinnamon-water and such like and these things as usually given are often pernicious and always tedious yet both wine and cinnamon are good and allowable in such cases But observe There are divers conditions of women in child-bed for some have in them a morbus preparative and the sickly humors being moved with the travel of the birth do bring forth in them divers diseases but others injoying a more perfect health do quickly return to themselves and by little and little grow well again without any dangerous symptoms To the former strong and hot drink are very hurtful for they inflame the inward parts and amend not the morbus humors at all but increase and corrupt them And to the latter sort which otherwise would recover their health they may cause feavers and such like diseases so that although I do not approve of very hot drink for the reasons aforenamed and others not here mentioned yet I understand also very cold are not to be administred but those that are warm and temperate in quality and such too as may be peculiarly proper in such cases Also in food there is a great error women most commonly being fed high with much meat and very good nursing from the consideration of losing much and it must be fetched up again not considering what they daily lose is for their benefit and advantage and not hurtful And in this case I shall relate the observation and saying of that great Physician Hipp. 2. Acul Where he teacheth that after a large evacuation we must not presently hasten to a full diet fearing the multiplying of the excrementitious humors and so a feaver ensue and other symptoms happen but let them be fed sparingly till all fear of a feaver and other symptoms be quasht and she be well purged from her flowers and then by degrees pass to a fuller diet and so strength and health will come without danger by Gods blessing Now possibly it may here be expected since I am in this field a plucking up I should also plant since I am condemning some things I should place and set forth others Which thing I should heartily and willingly do only these things stand in the way 1. Fearing few will resent it well and fewer practice it discreetly diligently and singly being linked to old customs 2. For want of which coming under my notion and directions if any accident happen upon what account soever Ignorance of some and ill-will in others will bring under condemnation And 3. For want of room my sheets having gone to the outmost of my intention and the business of such concernment that to lay down any thing of such a nature it must not be done without qualifications and cautions However if there be any gentlewoman or others that out of an ingenious and right spirit would be satisfied and informed either her self or others according to the rules of Art what diet meaning both drink and food a woman at such a time ought in order to her good recovery to take and make use of together with what else may seem necessary I am willing and upon request shall answer their desires according to the extent of my power and observations heartily cordially faithfully and exactly by writing or otherwise 5. Some are of the opinion that medicines Chymically prepared are dangerous and very desperate medicines and so consequently take no place women being with child or in child-bed A great mistake and a false report raised by the enemies of that noble Art in vindication of which as I am bound so I could say much but here I must comprize all in few words Understand then that Chymical preparations are not dangerous at all but safe and the most suitable Physick that persons in any case can make use of and this I prove because the office of a Chymist is to separate the pure from the impure and so the pure part of either Vegitable Animal or Mineral given and administred whereby diseases are cured more quickly safely and pleasantly which is demonstrated both by the efficacy and Dose of such medicines But because I would be rightly understood what I mean by pure and impure and to stop the mouth of cavellers I call that pure which is useful and profitable to mans nature and I call that impure which is hurtful and dammageable and because in some sense nothing can be called pure or impure absolutely speaking I mean comparatively and in respect of one thing to another and so whatsoever pure can be found in any mixt or compound that is the Chymical Physick which is made use of by Chymical Doctors to serve their and their Patients ends and purposes and that impure rejected as not fitting to be used So that if I should say no more any unprejudicated person may safely and certainly conclude that the purer part of any thing is most fit for our bodies yea and the more safer medicine Being freed from those gross and heterogenious substances which are more ready to breed than cure diseases But here possible may arise these three questions which I shall briefly answer 1. Whether Chymistry doth not deal with the most desperate and poisonous things that are as Quick-silver or Mercury Antimony and Copper c. Answ Yes and Gold and Silver too which are desperate poisonous also as they may be taken but what of that shall a man be afraid of an Oyster because the shell is able to choak him the Oyster is good meat though the shell be nought the Oyster is pure though the shell be impure so likewise there is that in Mercury Antimony and Copper c. that is pure and not desperate nor poisonous but serviceable and of great use for all or most diseases either of men women or children and are safe administrations in general being internal cleansers of the whole mass of blood