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
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
shal be short wynded / faynt harted / often soundynge lyenge without any maner of mouynge or stearing in the pulces yee and many tymes is playnly suffocated / strangled / and dead of it wherfore that none of these thinges happen / with all diligens and payne it muste be prouyded that the secondyne be expelled ¶ Yf retention of it come by weakenesse of the laborer throughe long trauell / then must she be recomforted and strēgthed with good cōfortable meates drynkes which may enharte her / as brothe made of the yolke of egges / or with good olde wyne good fat and tydy flesshe / or byrdes / hennes flesshe / capon / partrige / pyginnes / and suche lyke ¶ And yf retentiō of this secondine come / because the place is cōtract to gether agayn / otherelles that the matrice is swollen for longe payne / then must be vsed such thinges to prouoke it oute / the whiche do make the way slypper / sople / and easy for it to procede / with the oyles or oyntementes spoken of before / as oyle of whyte lyllies / of maiorā / and of blewe lyllies Item the beryes of iumper or galbanum beaten to powder and dronke with luke warmed wyne / wyll cause the same to yssue out Itē sothernwood / or elles penyryall soden in wyne / and the decoction dronken / is of the same vertue ¶ Item to suffume the secreates with the perfumes wrytten of before / is good for this purpose / the fume of the water / in whiche mallous holyoke / and berefutte vt soden in / receaued beneth / is lyke good Also to washe that partes ī water in which is sodē branne / or to holde a lyttell bagfull of soden branne to the place / and therewythall to sooke the place / is very profytable ¶ But yf the retention of the secondyne come by reason that it is entanglyd or fastened in some place of the matrice / so that it wyl not resolue ne lose then make a fume vnderneth of brymstone / yuie leues / and cresses or elles of cresses and fygges ¶ Also of all odoriferous and swete smellynge thynges as ambre / muske / frankencense / gallia muscata and confection nere / the whiche sauoures and perfumes put on the emberres must be so closely receaued vndernethe / that no part of the smell do ascend to the nose of the woman For to the nose sholde the sauour of nothynge come / but onlye of suche thynges / the whyche stynke or haue abhominable smell as asa fetida / casto rium / mans here or womans here burnt / pecockes fethers burnt Item in this case it shal be very good to make a perfume vnderneth of the houe of an asse / which thinges althoughe they be of yll sauoure / yet they be of such nature efficacie / that they occasionat not onely the secōdine / but also dead byrthes to procede come forth out of the matrice ¶ And in this case also let the womā with holde her brethe in warde in so muche as she can / for that shall dryue downewarde suche thynges as be in the bodyr to be expelled Item let her be prouoked to sneese with the pouder of eleborus or pepper put in the nose holdynge her mouthe and nose soo cloose as maye be ¶ Also the oyntment / whiche is called vnguentum Basilicon / conueyed into the matrice / is very good / for it mollifyeth the place and draweth out the secondine parforce / the whiche so soone as it is expelled / infude the oyle of rooses in to the same matrice Item roosewater tempered with a quantite of the pouder of holyoke / and dronke / is good to expell the secondine ¶ And yf it be so that any parte of the secondine do appeare / let the mydwyfe receaue it tenderlye / loosynge it oute fayre and softely leste it breake / and yf ye doubte that it wyll breake / then let the mydwyfe tye that parte of the whiche she hathe handfast to the womans legge or fote / not very strayght / leste it breake / nether very lax / lest it slyp in agayne / and then cause her to snese Then yf the secondine tarye or stycke / so that it come not quyckly forewarde / then loose it a lyttell a lyttell very tenderlye wrething it frome one syde to another / tyll such tyme as it be gottē oute / but euer beware of violent and hastye mouyng of it / lest that with the second byrth ye remoue the matrice also ¶ And yf in this meane whyle the women faynt or sowne by reasone of great payne ensuynge of the takynge a waye of this secondine / then muste ye minister such thinges to her the which comfort the head and the hart as be electuaries whiche are conficte with muske / ambre / and the confectiō of precious stones / as Diamargariton / and suche other Also suche thynges the whiche comforte the stomacke / as Diagalanga / Dia cinamomū / and such other which are alwaye in a readinesse at the apothecaries / the which thinges she shall receaue with wyne ¶ Item to remoue the secondine and to expel it take rue / horehownd / Sothernewood / and motherwort / of ethe lyke quantite / and then take so muche of the oyle of lyshes / as maye be sufficient to stype / moysten and soke the foresayd herbes in / put all this to gether into a glased potte couered with suche a couer that it haue a lyttell hole or vent aboue in the toppe of it / then set this pot ouer the fyre of coles / so that it boyle a whyle / then take it frome the fyre / and sette it vnder the stole where the woman sytteth made for the nonce hauyng a pype made for that purpose of the whiche the one ende ye shall put into the vent or hole of the couer to the pot the other ende must the partie receaue in to her bodye And so to syt cloosed rounde aboute with clothes / that no vapoure or ayre go forth of the potte hauing a fewe coles vnder it / to kepe it hote / and thus sytte the space of an houre or two / tyll such tyme as the secondyne moue and begynne to procede of his owne kynde And yf it be so that ye profette not this wayes / yet then laye this plaster on the bellye betwene the nauell and the secreates / of the whiche we shall speake hereafter / the whiche is of suche operation and efficacite that it expelleth deade byrthes yf for all this the secondyne come not forewarde / then leaue it / and vse no more medicines ne remedies to that purpose but let it alone / for with in fewe dayes it wyll putrifye and corrupte / and dyssolue into a watery substance / thycke lyke bryne / or other fex myxed with water / so yssue forthe Howheit in the meane whyle it wyll put the woman to great payne in
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 ¶
the which is decoct and soden myntes / roses / violettes / and xiloaloes Also to eate of the brothe in the which is soden a henne / with cynamome / maces / and cardamomum / and also the yowlke of an egge Item it is good for her to eate fresshe chese and mylke / and to refrayne frome all maner of greate labor and harde workes Also potage made of beane meale / ryse / and breade made of fyne flowre / tempered with mylke and sugre / putting to it also a quantite of fenell sede or of the â—eues / is very good for her ¶ Item take of anys sede / of syler montanum / of eche .iii. dramÌ„s / of christall beten to powder u. dramÌ„s / as muche of sugre / geue her this to drynke aboute .x. dayes at morning / euening / myddaye IteÌ„ take of fenell sede or the leues / of horehownde of eche .ij. haÌ„ofulles / of ams sede iiij dramÌ„s / of safrane beaten one scruple also of fresshe butter .iij. ounces / sethe all these in sufficient water / makynge hereof a plaster / the same plaster whylst it is hote / laye it to the nourses brest ¶ Item take of comyn sede an ounce an halfe / of clarifyed hony .iij. ounces sethe it in .vi. li. wayght of water alto gether beynge put into a newe pot let it sethe to the thyrd parte / of this decoction geue the nourse theÌ„ ofteÌ„tymes to drynke IteÌ„ take of beetes well wasshed one ounce of coÌ„myn halfe an ounce of hony .vi. ounces of these myngled tempered to gether / make an electuarie / of the which let her take both in the morninge and eueninge at eche tyme a sponefull IteÌ„ take two dramÌ„s of crystal beateÌ„ into fyne pouder deuyde that in foure equall partes / one of these partes geue vnto the nourse the space of .iiij. dayes to drynke / with brothe made other of cicer / or els of peason also all those thinges folowing encrease augmeÌ„t mylke in the brestes annes annes sede / dyll the sede / horehownde / cardomome / fresshe chese / wortes made of olde ehece / cicer / crislal beateÌ„ to powder takeÌ„ with hony lettuse / fenell / wyne in which rosemary or serpilluÌ„ be sodeÌ„ IteÌ„ to abstayne froÌ„ venery or mans coÌ„pany / for yf she vse that / it shall spende consume the mylke make it vnsauery vnholsome nether can the chylde well broke it / but most coÌ„menly shall cast it vp again / because it can not digest it Also it shal be best that the child sucke not of the mothers breste by and by as sone as it is borne but rather of some other womans for a daye or two / for because that the creme as they cal it streit after the byrth the fyrst daye in all women doth thyckeÌ„ and congeyle ¶ Item yf it chaunse that the nourse be ouer sore laxed / or that she be ouer bounde / so that she take anye medycynes to remedye it / then let another geue the chylde sucke / whylst she be recouered agayne And when the chylde is layde in cradell to be rocked rocke not to fast / lest through ouer much rockyng and stearyng the chyldes stomacke torne and the mylke there corrupte for lacke of rest ¶ Auicen auyseth to geue the chyld sucke two yeres / howe be it amonge vs most commenlye they sucke but one yeare And when ye wyll wene them / then not to do it sodenly / but a lyttell and lyttell / and to make for it lyttell pylles of breade sugre to eate accustome it so / tyll it be able to eate all maner of meate this shall suffyce for the education and bryngynge vp of infantes at this tyme / notwithstandinge dyuers other thynges here are lefte vnspoken of / another tyme god willyng we shall declare them at large ¶ Thus endeth the fyrste boke THE SECONDE BOKE ¶ Of dyuers deceases and infirmities whiche chaunse to chyldren lately borne and the remedyes therefore AL thoughe there be in manner infinite deceases which happeÌ„ to infantes / as wryteth Hypocrates / Galenus / Rasis / AmceÌ„na / and diuers other yet for breuite and shortnesse we wyll reherse here only such of them / which moste commenly happen to the same / and that be those Exulceration of the gummes / flyx of the belly or ouer much loosenesse of the same / the belly hardbownd / the crampe / the cough / distillation of the heade / short wynded / bladders on the tounge / exulceration or chyppynge of the mouthe / apostume in the eares / apostume in the brayne / swellynge and bolnynge of the eyes / skum or creme of the eyes / the feuer / knawynge in the bellye / the body swellynge and puffed vp / often sneesynge / whelkes or bladders on the bodye / swellynge of the coddes / swelling of the nauell / vnslepynesse / yexynge / appetyte to perbrake / fearefulnes in the dreames / the mother / yssuyng out of the fondament gut / wormes in the belly / chawfynge / the fallynge syckenesse / the consumsyon / the palsye / trymblynge of the partes of the bodye / the stone / gogell eyes ¶ Howe to cure and to remedye all these / nowe wyll I shewe in order Fyrst in exulceration of the gummes are wonte certayne pusshes and as it were wheles grow on the gummes or in the corners of the iawes / the which put the place to muche greuance and to remedie this it shall be good that ye with your fynger rubbe the infaÌ„tes gummes and the pusshes or whelkes with all and then to annoynt the same gummes with oyntment made of hennes grese / hares brayne / oyle of camomell mixt with honye / other els turpen tyne tempered with hony / then take water / and in it sethe camomell and dyll / the which water beynge hote powre it on the chyldes heade / holdynge it a fote aboue the heade ¶ Of the flyx or ouer muche loosenesse of the bellye For this take the sede of roses / cuÌ„myn / anyse and the sede of smalege beate all those together and make them plaster wyse / and laye it to the chyldes bellye yf it stynte not by this remedye / then take of the coaguluÌ„ of a kyd a halfe peny wayght or a lyttell more / geue it to the chylde to drynke with colde water / and all the same daye let the chylde be kepte frome suckynge / leste the mylke shulde curde in the stomacke of it / but in the meane whyle let it eate of the yowlke of poched egges / or of whyte breade soden in water ¶ And farther yf that it whiche the infant voydeth be of / redde or yelowe colour / then lette drynke of the syrupe of roses / or of crabbes / other elles of pome granates / tempered with a lyttell mynte water ¶ Item another medycyne take leuen and in water breake it
/ let it stype a whyle / then strayne it throughe a lynnen cloth / then take of the syrupe of violettes the wayghte of an halfe peny / of spodium / called burnt yuerye / the wayght of a scruple / of gaules the wayghte a dram̄ and a half temper all these thinges to gether / and geue it to the infante to drynke ¶ Item take the sede of sorrell / and beate it / then temper it to gether with the yowlke of a rosted egge / and geue that to the chylde to eate ¶ Item take a gaulle / beate it to pouder / then sethe it in water with this water / temper barley meale / or the meale of millium / make a plaster of it / the which laye vnto the chyldes belly ¶ Yf this profet not take of acatia seruse of eche a dram̄ / of opium the wayght of an halfe peny / of sugre a dram̄ / of all these tempered to gether / make a suppositary of the length of a fynger an halfe the thyckenesse of two wheten strawys twyned to gether / the same cōueys into the infantes foundament / it shall sease the flyxe ¶ Itē yf that that cometh frō the chyld / be whytysshe / then take of nutte megges the wayght of the .viij. parte of a dram̄ / and of whyte frākencense a scruple / the which temper it with the iuyce of a quynse / and geue it to the chylde to drynke ¶ Item take an ounce of safrane / of myrrhe / a quartar of an ounce and temper them with redde wyne / makyng of it a plaster / the which laye vnto the chyldes bellye Item take the meale of barleye / temper it with the iuyce of plantan and a lyttell vinegre / and make it plasterwyse / and laye it to the chyldes belly ¶ Item take the iuyce of centinodium and the whyte of an egge and temper them together / to the whiche adde the pouder of dryed red roses / the pouder of hematites / mastycke frankencense / bole armenyacke / sanguis draconis and psida of all these myxed to gether make a plaster / and laye it to the infantes bellye ¶ Item to wasshe the chylde with the water in the which be soden leues of red rooses is very good Item take the iuyce of confery and the iuyce of plantayne the more and the lesse / and in this put claye of an olde furnyse or ouen / and make of it a plaster / and laye it to the chyldes bellye ¶ To vnloose the chylde beynge bounden Yf the chylde be so bounde / that it can not sege then make a suppositary of hony soden tyll it be harde and massye / and let the suppositary be of the length of your lyttell fynger / the byggenesse of two whetestrays boūde to gether / then dyppe it into oyle and conuey it into the chyldes foundament ¶ Item lykewyse ye maye make a suppositary of the stalke and rote of betes / or els of the rote called oresse or flowre de luce rote / made of the quantite before spoken of / conueyed into the syttynge place of the chylde ¶ Item to geue to the infant as much hony as a peaze to drynke to rubbe the bellye a lyttell / and to sople it with a pece of wooll dypped in oyle / or dypped in bulles galle / layde to the nauell Item ye maye geue vnto the nource a medycyne whiche hathe vertue to vnbynde and loose / and the next day after let the chylde sucke her / and it wyll loose also the chylde ¶ Item take of mouse dounge half a dram̄ and temper it with the fatte in the kydnees of a goote / make a suppositor of the same Item take of small mallowes / of greate mallowes of eche an handefull of fenegreke and lynsede of eche an handefull / of holycke two ounces / of fygges the nomber of .x. sethe all these to gether in water / then stampe them in a morter / and put vnto it of butter and of hennes grece .ij. ounces / and of safrane one scruple / and make a plaster of it vppon a lynnen clothe of the thyckenesse of a strawe / and laye it to the chyldes bellye a daye and a nyghte ¶ Yf this moue not the belly / then take of aloes one dram̄ / of eleborus bothe niger and albus of eche .xv. graynes / beate these to pouder / then temper them with thre sponefulles of the iuyce of walwort or of oxe gall in this licoure dyppe wooll / and laye it to the nauell the bredthe of a hande / and bynde it to the place ¶ Item take the iuyce of wallwurte and of myll meale and sethe those to gether / tyll they be thycke / then make a plaster thereof / and laye it to the bellye benethe the nauell Item take two handefulles of redde roses and putte them in to a bagge of foure fyngers bredthe / then sethe it in the water wherin smythes quenche theyr hote yron / putting to it a lyttell vynegre / thē take out the bagge agayne / and wrynge it a lyttell / then laye it to the chyldes stomacke Item to annoynte the chyldes bellye with butter / the whiche hath styped and stande longe in the rynde of walnuttes / is very good ¶ Remedye for the crampe or distention of the membres Yf it chaunse that the infant be taken with the desease / called the crampe / the which for the most parte cōmeth of indigestion and of the wekenesse of the powre attractyue specially in such chyldren the which be very fat and moyste / then shall ye annoynte the infant with the oyle of blewe flowre de lyce / or elles whyte lyllyes / other the oyle of rue Yf the crampe take the chylde whylste it stretcheth forth the armes / legges / and other mēbres as we be wont in gapyng or yanynge then let it be bathed and wasshed in water / in the whyche tapsus barbatus is foden in / or elles annoynted with the oyle of violettes / and the oyle of swete almons tempered to gether / and yf the chylde be in great heate annoynte hym with the oyle of violettes / or with oyle olyfe / tēpered with a lyttell whyte wexe / and also powre on the chyldes heade the oyle of violettes ¶ Remedy for the coughe and distillation of the heade Sometymes the chylde is sore encombred with the coughe and with distillatiō or runnynge of humours oute of the heade / to the nose / the mouthe and the brest the which he shall remedye thus Fyrst powre warme water on the chyldes heade holdynge it a fote a halfe from the chyldes heade / and so do cōtynuallye the space of halfe an houre / and in the meane whyle put a lyttell honye on the chyldes tonge to chawe vpon / then put your fynger in to the chyldes mouth / and depresse or holde downe the ynner moste parte or the
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
the heade / in the harte / the stomacke / as we touthed before ¶ Howe that many thynges chaunse to the women after theyr labor and howe to auoyde defende or to remedye the same ¶ Cap .vii. IT is also to be vnderstanded / that many tymes after the delyueraunce happeneth to women other the feuer or ague / or swellyng or inflation of the bodye / other tumblynge in the belly / or els commotion or settelynge out of order of the mother or matrice Cause of the which thynges is somtymes lacke of due and sufficient purgation and clensyng of the flowres after the byrthe / or elles contrarye wyse ouer muche flowinge of the same / whiche sore doth weaken the woman Also the greate labor and stearynge of the matrice in the byrth ¶ Then as ofte as it commeth for lacke of due purgation of the flowres / then muste be ministred such thinges / the which maye prouoke the same / whether it be by medicines taken at the mouth / or by lotyon washyng of the fete / or by fumes or odours or emplastration / or by decoction of herbes seruynge to that purpose / other els by oyntmentes / suche other thynges / accordynge as the persone or the parell doth requyre / of the which thynges fewe or no wemen be ignoraunt And ye muste take diligent hede that she be exactly and vtterly purged to this be agreable all suche thynges / the whyche prouoke vryne open the vaynes / making free waye for the bloude to passe / sende the humours and matter downewarde / as motherworte / azure / sauyne / penyryall / parcelye / cheruyll / anyse sede / fenel sede / iumper byries / rue / baybyries / germaunder / valeriane / tyme / cinomome / spykenarde / suche other All those thynges as they do prouoke and cause vrine so do they also prouoke and cause the flowres to depart Howbeit as nere as ye can vse none of these thynges without the counsell of an expert physisyon / leste whylest ye helpe one place ye hurt another / also to sneese helpeth muche in this matter / to holde in the brethe enclosynge the noose and the mouth Also fumigation made of the yes of salt fysshes / or of the houe of a horse vnderneth / prouoketh the flowres Yf ye profet not by this meanes then yf she be able to bare it / let her bloude in the vayne / called Saphena / vnder the ancles of the fete / for this ê“uoketh flowres chieflye of all other thynges ¶ Lykewyse doo / yf the woman haue the ague after her labor / for that coÌ„meth of lyke cause by retention of the flowres / and in the feuer let her vse to drynke water / in the whiche is decocte barlye beaten / or cicer and barlye to gether / or water in whiche be soden Tamaryndi / or waye of mylke / and lette her eate cullys made of a cocke / and swete pome Granates for these thynges do prouoke the flowres / mitigateth the immoderat heate / refresshynge greatelye the bodye / loosynge and openynge suche thinges / the whiche before ware constricte and cluddered to gether ¶ Yf the body after labor do swel inflate then let her drynke water in the which is soden cicer and cummyn beaten to gether Item good olde wyne with the electuarium called diamarte / or the whiche is called alcakengi of the whiche Auicenna speaketh in his .v. boke Item gumme serapine / organnie / and masticke Also in this case a glyster made of suche thynges / the which do vaynqueshe and expelle ventositees and wyndenesse / also a pessarie or suppositar made for that parte of Aristolochia rotunda / squinan tum / storax liquida / doronicum / zeduaria ¶ Agayne yf the woman after her labor haue frettynge and knawyng of the guttes / and payne of the matrice and other secreate partes there aboute / then let her vse the vapour and fume of suche thynges the whiche haue vertue to mitigate swage and alay the payn / as mallowes / holyoke / fenegreke / cummyn / camomell / sauyne / and hemlocke ¶ Also to annoynt the places with oleum sesaminum / or with oyle of swete almondes And yf no greate heate do abouÌ„de in the woman / she maye drynke tryacle or trifera magna with wyne in whiche is decoct motherwort or muggeworke ¶ Also agaynste paynes in the preuy partes / take penyriall / policaria / syx leues of bay tree sethe them to gether / and receaue the vapour vndernethe closely Item take rue / red motherworte / sothernwood / bete them to gether / and temper them with the oyle of peny ryall / and put all to gether into a pot / and set it ouer the fyre a whyle / tyll it be somewhat soden to gether / and then take it of agayne / put it all in to a lyttell rounde lynnen bagge made for the purpose / the whiche with this herbes in it ye shall coÌ„uaye into the secretes ¶ Item take camomell lyne of eche lyke much .iiij. handefulles braye them to gether sethe them with whyte wyne / then put it in a rounde bagge of lynnen / as before was done / conuey it into the womaÌ„s preuy partes IteÌ„ let her drynke for the same purpose ij graynes of muske with wyne ¶ IteÌ„ take white onyons couer theÌ„ vnder the hote asshes the which wheÌ„ they be wel rosted / beate theÌ„ to gether with freshe butter vnsalted / make it in maner of a plaster / then put it in a lynneÌ„ bag / coÌ„uey itin to the places / as before / in the meane whyle perfumyng the preuy partes with whyte fraÌ„kencense storax ¶ Yf it be so that the womaÌ„ be vexed about the backe and loynes after her labor / take camomell / and muggewoort / of eche .ij. handfulles of woorwode / sothernewood of eche one handefull / of motherwort .iij. handefulles / of cinamome and nutmegges beteÌ„ small halfe an ounce / decocte all these thynges together / and in the water of this decoction beynge warme / dyp a spunge or other lynnen clothes fomentynge / sokynge / and strekynge the backe with the same / and so do often tymes / or els put all these foresayde herbes to gether soden in a bagge / and laye it plasterwyse to the backe ¶ Yf this profette not take oyle nardine / oyle of whyte lyllies / of ech an ounce and an halfe / to the whiche put a dramÌ„ of nutmegges beaten to small powder / with this annoynte the backe Item take oyle of anys / oyle of camomell / of eche an ounce / oyle of whyte lyllies .ij. ounces / of waxe .ij. dramÌ„s dissolue all these to gether ouer the fyre / and there with annoynt the backe ¶ But yf after the labor the flowres yssue more vehementlye in greater aboundance then they sholde / to the great effeablysshyng of the woman and inducynge of
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
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 /
in maner colde as yise / or to fluye or thynne c. dyuers other other wayes also it maye be letted / whyche shall not nede here to be rehersed ¶ Nowe yf the woman can not conceaue / the cause commynge of ouer muche frigidite and coldenesse in the matrice / that shall she knowe by these tokens she shal feale greate cold about the sydes / the raynes of the backe and the matrice / her vryne shall appeare whyte and thynnysshe / and sometymes also somewhat spysse and thycke / and all maner of colde thynges shall noye her / hote thynges shall greately comfort her ¶ But yf it come by ouer muche humidite of the matrice / that shall she knowe by these sygnes Yf the bodye of her be of a fatte and grosse disposition / yf with her flowres yssue forth at the begynnynge and the latterende of them certayne vyscous and waterye substaunce / and that her vrine be whyte / thycke / and sometyme as it were mylke Alsoo that she feale greate colde and payne aboute the matrice pryuie partes / muche dolour in her sydes and in the raynes of her backe ¶ And when ouer much heate or dryeth in the matrice / is cause of the hynderaunce of conception / then is the vryne hye coldred / red or yelowe / beynge thynne with certayne motes appearyng in the water / the womā hath greate thyrste / and bytter rysynge or belking oute of the stomacke in to the mouthe And manye tymes they that are in this case / are verye spare and leane in all theyr bodye / hauyng also but small quantite of flowres / the whiche thynge maye happen other by ouer muche watche / or ouer much fastynge / labor / trauell / sorowe / syckenesse c. But suche women which naturally are thus spare lene / maye verye hardely be brought to a temperancye agayne be made apte to conceaue And this shal be sufficiente for this tyme to knowe whiche qualite by his excesse causeth sterilite / nowe wyll we shewe howe it shal be knowen whether lacke of conception be in the woman or elles in the man / and howe to knowe whether the woman be conceaued or no / accordynge to the mynde of ryght expert doctors of physycke ¶ Howe to knowe whether lacke of conception be of the woman or of the man and howe it maye be perceaued whether she be conceaued or no. ¶ Cap .iiii. IF ye be desyrous to know whether the man or the woman be hynderance in conception lette eche of them take of whete and barlye cornes / and of beenes of eche .vii. the which they shall suffer to be steped in theyr seueral vryne / the space of .xxiiij. houres / then take .ij. pottes / suche as they set gylyflowres in / fyll them with good earth / in the one let be set the whete / barlye / beanes / styped in the mans water / in the other the whete / barlye / and beanes / styped in the womans water / and euerye mornynge the space of eight or ten dayes / lette eche of them with theyr proper vryne / water the sayd seades sowen in the forenamed pottes / marke whose potte dothe proue / the seades therin contained dothe growe / in that partie is not the lacke of conception / but see that there come no other water or rayne on the pottes ¶ Itē accordynge to Hypocrates wrytyng yf ye wyl knowe whether the faute be in the woman or no / then lette the woman receaue in to her body vndernethe / beynge well and closely closed round about the fume of some odoriferous perfume / as laudanum / storax / calamyte / lignum aloes / muske / ambre / and suche other / and yf the odour and sauour of suche thynges assende thorowe her body vp vnto her nose / ye shall vnderstande / that sterilite commeth not of the womans parte / yf not then is the defecte in her ¶ Item yf she take garlycke beynge pylled out of the huskes / and conueye of it into the pryuie partes / and yf the sente of it assende vp through the bodye vnto the nose / the woman is fautelesse / yf not then is there lacke in her These are sygnes to knowe whether the lacke be in the man or the woman ¶ Whether she be conceaued alreadye or no / ye shall knowe by these sygnes Fyrste the flowres yssue not in so great quantite as they are wōt / but wexe lesse and lesse / and in maner nothinge at all commeth from them Also the brestes begyn to waxe rounder / harder / and styffar then they were wonte to be / the woman shall longe after certayne thynges otherwyse thē she was vsed to do before that tyme. Also her vryne waxeth spysse and thyckysshe / by retension of the superfluyties Also the woman fealeth her matrice verye fastelye enclosed and shytte / in so muche that as Hypocrates saythe / the poynte of a nedle maye scace enter ¶ Item to knowe whether she be conceaned or no / accordynge to Hypocrates mynde / in the .v. of his Ampho geue vnto the woman when she is goyng to bedde a quantite of mellicratum to drynke / and yf after that drynke she feale greate payne / gnawing / and tumblynge in her belly / then be ye sure / that she is conceaued yf not / she is not cōceaued / this mellicratum is a drynke made of one parte wyne / an other parte water soden together / with a quantite of hony ¶ But if ye be desyrous to knowe whether the conception be man or woman then lette a droppe of her mylke or twayne be mylked on a smothe glasse / or a bryght knyfe / other elles on the nayle of one of her fyngers / and yf the mylke flewe and spredde abrode vpon it / by and by then is it a woman chylde but yf the droppe of mylke contynue and stande styll vppon that / the whiche it is mylked on / then is it sygne of a man chylde Item yf it be a male / then shall the woman with childe be well coloured / and lyghte in goynge / her belly rounde / bygger towarde the right syde then the lefte / for alwayes the man chylde lyeth in the ryghte syde / the woman in the lefte syde ¶ Of certayne remedyes and medycynes which shall cause the woman to conceaue ¶ Cap .v. ALl sterilite then for the moste parte ensueth and commeth of the dystemperancye of one of these .iiij. forenamed qualities / wherfore the remedye and cure of the same when it chaunseth / must be done by such thynges / the whiche haue contracye power operation to the excessyue qualities for by that shall it be reduced to his temperancye agayne ¶ As yf that coldenesse and moystenesse exceadynge temperancye in the matrice be occasion of sterilite / then muste she applie such thynges to that place / the whiche be of nature hote drye / the whiche maye calify and