herein I shall be serviceable to all good women that shall well mind and seriously consider what I write 1. If the Courses stop by Conception or being with Child there is retained cominonly the natural complexion but others usually are pale and ill-coloured 2. The Symptoms which women with Child have at the first do daily decrease but in other stoppage of the terais by how much the longer the terms stop by so much the more the Symptoms increase mark it 3. In women with Child after the third or fourth moneth there may be perceived the situation and motion of the Infant by laying a warm hand upon the inferior belly in others there is a tumor to befelt but it is flegmatick not hard neither is it proportionable to the womb 4. If a wise and ingenious Midwife touch the inward mouth of the womb it will not be so close shut as it is in women with Child but rather hard contracted and full of pain 5. Women with Child are commonly merry and little disturbed but when terms are otherwise stopped they are sad and forrowful Cure Supposing the suppression of the the Courses by obstructions of the veins of the womb You may begin the Cure with Blood-letting if it do plainly offend either in quality or quantity only be advised where and when Then proceed to the use of these things one after another which are prescribed for the Cure of the Green-sickness but if their disease be so rebellious as not to give way to the former Remedies my advice then is that you Purge with this following Take Pil. Arabica which the Apothecary will help you to two scruples and of Oil of Amber four drops mixed with it be in your Chamber that day and drinking Posset as is ordinary in taking Physick Two or three days after make this medicine following of which give four ounces every morning the first thing and every night the last thing viz. Take Gromwell seed Aniseed Misselto of the Oak of each six drams Ditany of Creet and Cammomil flowers of each two drams Saffron and Cinnamon of each one dram beat what is to be beaten and steep all night in two quarts of good white wine in the morning boil it a little keeping it close cover'd then strain it and use it begging Gods blessing obtaining which undoubtedly it will answer expectations All these being principal receipts amongst the Galenical tribe But if these do not produce such effect as may be and is expected despair not for there is yet other things in our hands which is out of your reach being Chymical preparations that will undoubtedly reach and answer all intentions desires and purposes the blessing of God concurring And let not others through their Pride and Covetousness nor your self by your ignorance and wilfulness upon any account be kept from using those things that the God of all grace hath provided for you for a though slanderously by a vailed generation of men Chymical medicines are accounted and reported dangerous which is the great Bugbear with which they would fright people that so they might keep up their babble I do affirm I am willing at any time to justifie God bearing me witness that I never made or prepared a Chymical medicine in my life neither shall I but what hath been and may safely and without the least danger be given unto little Children And so I come 3. To the Immoderate flux of the Courses a disease which is not without detriment to many good women Womens monethly Courses being moderate in quantity and flowing in due season are natural but if they exceed in quantity or come too often or stay too long they are to be accounted immoderate and besides the intent of nature c. Signs are manifest by the definition however it s known by 1. Ill bearing of the Patient 2. Decay of strength 3. Want of appetite to meat 4. Indigestion of humors 5. Ill habit of body 6. Colour of the face like a dead Corps 7. Swelling of the legs and other most grievous maladies caused by decay of natural heat Cure It must begin by blood-letting in the arm not all at once but by degrees and so she must bleed plentifully as much as her strength can bear And if the Patient can bear the same a Vomit will be convenient especially if the party be prone or apt to vomit which may be done with warm water a pint and Syrup of Squiles two ounces tickling the throat immediately after with a feather After which let this following medicine be given every morning and every night the first and last thing Take the rind of four sower Oranges Bistort and Tormentil of each one ounce the outward rind of the Mulberry-tree two ounces Plantain and Sheepherds Purse of each a handful slice and bruise those things that require it and boil for a full hour in six pints of water then strain it and adde Syrup of Quinces four ounces the Dose is half a pint as aforesaid Outwardly apply a Plaister to the belly spread upon leather and bound on of the ointment called Vnguentum Comitisse it s to be had at the Apothecaries Let them drink Beer and Milk often wherein is quenched red hot Steel and before Diuner for sometime together let them take old Conserve of red Roses one ounce with one dram of the powder of Egg-shells which said things not often fail sometimes do and then we must come to our higher Arcanums and specifical medicines with which I am provided and have cured many not only old in years but old inveterate fluxes to the praise of God I speak it The next thing is the Whites A woman is said to have the whites the woman-flux the flux of the womb or the white menstruals when excrementitious humors do flow from her womb either continually or at least without any certain order or course of time observed in their flowing being sometimes white and flegmatick sometimes pale or yellow sometimes greenish and waterish by the admixture of serous humors Also this disease is wont for the most part to seize upon grown women and those of riper years yet are not Virgins all free from the same so that some have done ill in affirming that such Maids as are troubled with this disease have lost their Virginity my reason is this If Virgins have the veins of their wombs so large that their wonted courses can flow through them why may not the whites drop out of the same passages seeing they are many times more thin and fluxive than the blood it self which is an experienced truth and daily Practice teacheth as much viz. That the most chast and perfect Virgins in the world have had this infirmity c. Signs The disease is easily known by the relation of the party and is oftentimes attended with divers symptoms c. 1. Paleness of the face 2. Want of appetite sometimes with fickness of the stomach 3. Short breathing and weakness 4. Swelling of the Eyes 5.
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-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-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
ought naturally to be capable of conception and using the company of a man doth not conceive Here note four things 1. That a woman in her genital imbracements ought conveniently to receive the mans seed into her womb 2. That she ought to retain the same for a convenient season 3. That she ought to cherish and preserve the same in her womb And 4. That she afford fitting materials from the Embrio or first-conception and duly to augment the same as need shall require Now if the woman receive not the seed if she retain it not if she preserve and cherish it not if she nourish it not so as to increase and grow these are impediments to conception and therefore for your sakes for whom I write I will not spare to give you the signs of barrenness according to these four sorts of causes propounded because in what I do in this particular I aim at the good of others as well as my self 1. Therefore I have told you that a woman in her genital imbracements ought conveniently to receive the mans seed into her womb Signs Hindring of reception of the seed is not hard to be discovered for observe it is occasioned by 1. Tenderness of age as also over elderly state 2. Evil constitution of those parts which border upon the womb viz. 3. When women halt or have crooked leggs their Crupper-bone deprest or are over fat 4. Hatred between man and wife and so I may bring in crooked conditions as well as crooked leggs Look to it women 5. Particular diseases also may hinder the reception of seed as tumors ulcers obstructions closures or stoppage and these may be known by search of the genital parts by an ingenuous man or woman skilled to that purpose Secondly I have told you that she ought also to retain the seed for a convenient season Signs here are evident the woman being sensible thereof Having a very moist and slippery womb c. But the next head will explain this And because that requires more exquisite search and knowledge I pass this and come to 3. I have also told you that a woman ought to cherish and preserve the seed in her womb the causes therefore of corrupting the seed in the womb thereby hindring its nourishment and cherishment are four 1. A cold distemper of the womb 2. A moist distemper of the womb 3. A hot distemper of the womb 4. A dry distemper of the womb The true and general signs of each of which I shew you 1. A cold distemper of the womb is hereby known 1. The woman longs not after carnal imbracements and feels little pleasure therein 2. Her face is soft whitish and cloudy 3. Her feeling is dull about her share loins and thighs 4. She voids thin and crude seed and with little pleasure 5. Her courses are stopped or come very sparingly being pale and discoloured and keep no constant orderly time c. 2. A moist distemper of the womb is known 1. By the lax flagi and soft habit of the womans body 2. Her much spitting and waterish stomach 3. Frequent and almost continual flux of whites 4. Plenty of courses also but thin and watery 5. No appetite to fleshly conjunction 6. Heaviness of her loins apt to miscarry and plenty of urin c. Thirdly A hot distemper of the womb is known 1. By the manly and strong habit of the womans body 2. By a ruddy countenance and black hare both of head and eye-brows 3. She is frequent disposed to be angry and thirsty 4. Her urin little and courses few but sharp doing sometimes dammage to the secret passages 5. Their privities itch and they are prone to carnal imbracements and suddenly void their seed Fourthly A dry distemper of the womb is known 1. By the small quantity of the courses 2. Drying itching and chopping of the mouth of the womb 3. Little excretion of seed in genital imbracements 4. Trouble sometimes arising from overmuch carnal conjunction as also leanness If the seed be corrupted and barrenness caused by witchcraft all other signs will be absent which are wont to declare the natural and manifest causes of barrenness there will be likewise some alienation of minds between the married couple of which neither of them can give any handsome account neither can either of them but seldom shoot forth their seed and when they do it is not without labour and difficulty Diet or poison that extinguish seed if they have been taken may come to knowledge by diligent questioning of the woman and those that usually are about her Lastly Malignant diseases such as are of power to extinguish the seed as Leprous Manginess the Whores Pox and such like are known by their proper signs Note that those couples who are of one constitution and so consequently if not altered by means their seeds both thick or both thin both hot or both cold have seldom children Now to know whether a woman be naturally barren is a certain hidden disposition and very difficult to unfold Authors have left many ways to try yet finding no certainty in them I was resolved to have past them in silence but considering that some might wish otherwise upon the reading hereof I shall set down three ways that whoever is so disposed may try them and accordingly speak 1. Hypocrates saith if a woman conceive not and thou wouldst know whether she will conceive or not let her either receive some fume or put the body of Galbanum softned at the fire tied up in silk with the threed to make fast about the thigh or Garlick if she smell or her head or mouth smell of the same thing she is pronounced fruitfull Note It must be done at night and the tryal to be next morning Secondly Amatus Lusitanus commends this following as a most true sign he takes a drain of a hairs runnet which dissolved in warm water he gives the woman to drink being in a bath of hot water and fasting if the woman do then feel pains in her belly he saith she is fruitful if not that she is barren Thirdly others commend the urine of the woman to discover and manifest this doubt using it thus being put into a convenient vessel steep Barley therein which Barley if it grow within ten dayes they count it a sign of fruitfulness if not of barrenness and some do pour the water upon Bran or Fenugreek and take it for a note of barrenness if any worms breed there And these be all to this purpose Those that have an occasion and are disposed to try they may without dammage danger or any great charges But sometimes it so happens though the woman most usual that the man is the reason of non-conception or generation which we shall diligently consider and lay down some manifest tokens of discovery for it would be in vain in that case to prescribe medicines and directions to the woman she being not the proper subject Barrenness proceeding from the man for
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