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
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
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
muche langor and paynefulnes then syrst shall ye note where vpon it coÌ„meth for the cause knowen the dysease maye the more readelye be recured and causes of it be dyuers but moste espetiall those that folowe / that is to saye Of muche aboundant superfluous bloude contayned in the hole body or of muche commistion of the melancholy humor the bloude to gether / by the which the bloude is eâ—fyred and chawfed and so distendeth openeth and setteth abroade the vaynes whiche descende to the matrice Also the bloude beynge very thynne and wateryshe for so it penetrateth / thrylleth / and yssueth forthe the soner Also yf the vaynes be very large / receaue much bloude for in that case they sende forthe the more agayn Also yf the matrice be vnmyghty weakened / the vaynes lykewyse weake and large so that they can not retayne nor witholde the bloude Also yf the body of the womaÌ„ or the outward partes be very dense / cloose / and compacte to gether so that the outwarde powres be contracte and shut in such wyse that no vapours or swette can yssue out at them then this shall cause the yll humoures whiche otherwyse wolde passe thorough the powres in swette to remayne within the body / and there to engender and encreace greater fluxe and abouÌ„daÌ„ce of matter / which procedeth with the flowres augmenteth the quantite of them Also yf the vaynes / whiche be named hemorroides / in the matrice be open and flowe forth Also yf the matrice be peryshed or otherwyse viciat Also yf it chanse that the woman haue had a fall / or hath ben thrust or beaten / by all and any of this meanes maye come this inordinat fluxe of flowres ¶ Nowe stynge then that it ensueth by so manyfolde occasions causes it shal be mete that womeÌ„ in this case be nothing ashamed ne abashed to disclose theyr mynde vnto expert phisitians / showyng them euery thyng in it / as they knowe where vppon it sholde come so that the phisition vnderstandynge the womans mynde / maye the soner by his learnynge and experience consyder the true cause of it / and the very remedy to amend it And many thinges there be which sease and restrayne this ouer much flowynge of flowres bothe electuaries / confections / trochiskes pouders / clisteres / odoures / suffumigations bathes / plasters and oyntementes / of whiche for the loue of women I wyll here set forthe the moste principall and best ¶ Fyrste then to stynte and restrayne the owtragius fluxe of flowres it shal be verye good to bynde the armes very strayght and strongely not the fete or handes as some vnwyse men do teache / and then to set a ventose or boxe or cup of glasse with fyre which is called boxynge vnder the brestes / but cuttynge no part of the skynne / layeng also lynnen clothes dypped in vynâ—gâ—e on the bellye betwene the nauell and the secreates conueyenge also into the places suche thynges / whiche haue vertue to restrayne bloude / as balaustium / the ryne of pome granate / carabe / terra sigillata / bole armenyacke / sanguis draconis / hematites / the red rose / whyte frankencense / and galles all those thynges or as manye of them as ye can conuenientlye get / beate them to powder in lyke portion / and temper them with thycke and grosse wyne / making of it a plaster / the whiche so teÌ„pered put it in to a lyttell rounde bagge the quantite of a mannes thombe the which she shall put in to the preuye places ¶ Item an other plaster to be ministred lykewyse Take of the bloudestone / called Emathites / bole armenyacke of eche halfe an ounce sanguis draconis / licium / of ech .ij. dramÌ„s Karabe the cuppes of Acornes / Cipresse nuttes / Balaustium or psidiuÌ„ / of eche one dramÌ„ of the scales of yron one dramÌ„ and an halfe Turbyntyne and pyche lyke quantite / or so muche as shal be sufficient to make a plaster beate and braye all these to gether / temperinge it to a plaster and then do with it as ye dyd with the other before ¶ An oyntemente for the same purpose Take oyle Myrtine / oyle of rooses / of eche halfe a pounde Carabe / the scraping of yuerye / the scrapynge of a gootes horne / redde corall terra sigillata / whyte frankencense / of eche one ounce / of white waxe .iij. ounces / all those tempered to gether / make them in an oyntment / therewith annoynt the wombe and the secreates ¶ A batthe concernynge the same Take wurmewud / plantayne the more the lesse the toppes of vynes / fresshe braÌ„ches of wyld mulberyes / vnrype damsenes slowes / or boloes / wylde peres / medlers or myspylles / of eche .iij. handefulles / of red roose leues thre handefulles / of oke barke .iiij. handfulles / of dayses / of all sortes of thystles / of eche .ij. handfulles of cinkefoyle / the leues rotes / tormentyll the rootes / colubrine / of eche an handefull also of acorne cuppes a saw ser full / of gawlles / of acorns pylled / of bursa pastoris / of eche .ij. handefulles beate all these to powder / cuttynge and brosynge that / that wyll not be beaten to powder / sethe them to gether in rayne water / or els in water / in the which .x. or .xij. burnte sâ—ones haue bene quenchyd this done / let the woman bathe herselfe in this water vp to the nauell / and wheÌ„ she cometh forth of the bathe / geue her to drynke .ij. dramÌ„s of electuarium athanasie / or miclete / wich plantayne water / or yf she be sore thurstye with red wyne ¶ And lykewyse ye maye geue vnto her of these electuaries that folow take good olde roose sugre .ij. ounces / of red corall / burnte yuery / bole armenyacke / of eche two dramÌ„s / of hematites thre dramÌ„s / beate all these thinges to gether / temperynge it with the roose sugre / let her receaue of it in the mornynge and euenynge with two dramÌ„s of plantane water / or els the water of bursa pastoris ¶ Item take the stone Emathites / rubbe it on a whetstone / tyll the whetstone seme redde / then washe it of agayne froÌ„ the whetstone with plantaynewater / and so do oftentymes / vntyll suche tyme that thou haue a good quantite of it / and euery mornyng and euenynge let the woman drynke two or thre sponefulles of the same ¶ Farthermore there be at the apothecaries trochiskes which helpe greately in this case / as the trochiskes of karabe / and the trochiskes of bole armoniacke whiche muste be ministred a dramÌ„ or more of ether of them / with .iiij. or .v. sponeful of plantayne water Who that requyreth farther in this matter let them aske counseill of the phisytions / for we haue set here but suche thynges whiche may seme most necessarye ¶ Nowe yf it so be that there
be engendred any apostume or other dysease in the preuye places after her labor / then moste the apostumes and deseases be clensed / purged / healed / the payne and ache of it mitigated and swaged with the iuyce of the beryes of solatrum and the iuyce of plantane / also the oyle of rooses / so that all these thynges be tempered to gether / and the places annoynted therewith ¶ Itē otherwyse take the wyte of an egge / womās mylke / the iuyce of purselayne / and temper all these to gether / and conueye it to the dyseased place / also let a bathe be made of water / in the whiche be soden psida / redde rose leues / the cuppes of acornes / oke barke / tormentyll / colubryne / and cinkefoyle / the leues and the rotes / lette all these thynges be soden to gether / and in the water the womā to bathe her selfe vp to the nauell and after that the greued partes be healed and clensed let the place be annoynted with vnguentum album / or vnguentum rubeum / whiche is to be had at the apothecaries / and with suche other thynges whose propertie be to refrige rate and coole And loke what cure and remedies be mynystred to this places beynge apostumate / or otherwyse deseased / the same also seruethe / yf the matrice or anye other parte of the secreates be rupte or broken ¶ Manye tymes also it chanseth that the foundament gut commeth forth both in mā and woman / and spetially in women in this busynesse / by reason of theyr great labor and stryuynge with themselfe wherfore in this case it is the mydwifes parte with her hand warmed wet in whyt wyne / to reduce it backe into his place agayn / the which yf she can not by this meanes / for because that per aduenture it be swollen / then let her dissolue butter in whyt wyne warmed / and there in dyp wooll with the which wrappe the same gutte a while / so doynge often tymes / tyll it be swaged / that it may be retorned in agayn and ye maye vse in the stede of wyne luke warme mylke And when it is thus retourned and reduced into his place take waxe / and melt it to gether with masticke / or whyt frankencense / then sprede it vpon lynnē plasterwyse / and laye it ouer the place where it came forthe byndynge it to it with a lynnen clothe or roller for partynge of / let this be done thus so oftē as she goythe to stole after that she hath done / vntyll suche tyme that it be so setteled within / that it come no more oute / and yf ye wyll not occupye waxe / then dyp wooll in the oyle of masticke or of speke nardy / and lay it vnto the place ouer the fundament / byndynge it faste vpon the place / as before ¶ Item another way wasshe soke the gut with the water in which is decoct soden such thynges whiche exiccat drye and constrayne or combyne / as gaules / cypresse nuttes / spida / karabe / mastick / frankencense / sanguis draconis / and when it is well wasshed and soked with this water / then take the powder of an hartes horne burnte / and strue it rounde aboute the gutte / and so restore it agayne in to his place ¶ Agayne yf it chanse / that after the womans labor the matryce be remoued oute of his place / and appeare forthe / then lette it be wasshed and soked with the water in whiche be soden these thynges folowynge take of cupresse nuttes / spicanarde / psida / balaustium / acorne cuppes / of eche an ounce of mespylles and vntype wylde peres / vnrype aples / plummes / and damsens or bolous of eche a handefull and such / of those as be to be powdered beate them to powder and the reste diuide / and cutte them small then seathe them all to gether in rayn water / or els in water in the whiche stele beynge red hote hathe ben often tymes quenched and in the same water lette the partie bathe her vp to the nauell / or els dyp a spōge or a locke of wooll in it / therewith wasshe and soke the same matrice oftentymes then / euer with a fayre cleane lynnen clothe wype it cleane agayne strewe vpon it the powder folowynge / beaten verye small and searched thorough sylke ¶ Take of frankencense / karabe / galles / pside / balaustie / cypresse nuttes / alome / antymonye / bole armoniacke / masticke / of eche lyke much beate these to very fyne powder / and strewe the matrice with it / then tenderlye reduce it in to his place agayne with warme lynnen clothes byndynge it vp ¶ But yf so be that the matrice be swollē / so that by this meanes it wyll not be restored to his naturall place agayne / then dissolue butter in whyte wyne / as ye dyd before / and with the same soke it vnto suche tyme as it be asswaged / and then reduce it ¶ Agayne sometyme it chanseth that the womans nauell thoroughe labor is dyssolued / so that it openeth it selfe then make a small tente of fyne lynnen / and anoynte it with this oyntement that foloweth / and the same put it in to the nauell take whyte frankensence / and beate it to powder / and then tēper it with the whyte of an egge / so that it be after the manner of lyquyd honye with this annoynte the nauell within and withoute / annoyntynge also the tente / the which beynge putte in the hole of the nauell bynde some clothe ouer it to kepe it in his place ¶ Item many tymes it chanseth that thorowe the greate difficultie and thronges of labor the preuye parte and the foundament be come one / by reason of rupture and breakynge of the same parte in the delyueraunce of the chylde / and that by that meanes the matrice descendeth and yssueth downe / the whiche thynge chanseth sometymes by reason that the same place is very narowe and also tender / and the byrthe bygge / and of greate growethe / soo that it procedeth with suche violence / that it breakethe the waye before it ¶ When thys myshappe fallethe / then fyrste wasshe and soke the matrice / and alsoo reduce it to his place agayne / after the manner as I tolde you here immediatly before / then heale these bracke wounde sowynge of bothe sydes of it to gyther agayne with a sylken threde / as surgeons do other woundes and yf that lyke ye not then / may ye cure it otherwyse without sowyng thus ¶ Take two lyttell peces of lynnen cloth / eche of the length of the wounde / in bredth two fyngers brode spred the lyttell clothes with some faste cleauynge plaster the which wyll cause the clouthes to stycke fast where they shal be set / then fasten them the one on the one syde of the ryfte / the other on the other
be cured of the same as shortelye as can be with such thynges the whiche appertayne to the curynge of suche desease / or yf she haue sustayned any longe famyne or hunger then lette her be fedde with good meates and drynkes moderatlye taken / and yf she haue surfeted by ouer muche eatynge and drynkynge as nowe a dayes moste commenlye people do then let her absteyne for a tyme / yf it maye be conuenientlye done / let her receaue some casy gentyll medicine / which may alleuiat and lyghten her of her surfetynge burthen ¶ Now yf it so be / that the womaÌ„ abounde in bloude / then shall it be very good a lyttell to let her bloude / bothe for her selfe and also for the byrthe / whiche throughe ouer muche adoundance of it myght happen to be suffocated and strangeled / of the which thynge also I haue spoken largely before ¶ Farthermore yf the woman feare aborcement / by reason of contynuad coughe / or ouer muche vomyte and perbrakynge / or the fluxe / or of the desease called tenasmus / or of ouer muche yssuynge of bloude / whether it be by the nose / or other partes of the bodye axe thaduyse of a physitiaÌ„ for remedy / yf for the fragilite / tendernes / and bracke / of the secondyne she feare this aborcemente / for because that in this case the secondyne shall not be able to holde and contayne the byrth / as for this / there is no other medicine to defende it / but onelye that the partie take hede that she hurte not her selfe by ouer much mouynge or stearynge / as by laborynge / daunsynge / runnynge / standynge / faste goynge / or caryenge of ponderous and weyghtye thynges / or leftynge of the same And to be short / let her with all warynesse take hede and be diligent that she exchue and abstayne frome all such thynges the which might cause and induce aborcement ¶ Of deade byrthes and by what sygnes or tokens it maye be knowen and by what meanes it maye also be expelled ¶ Cap .ix. IT shal be nowe conuenient for vs to speake of deade byrthes / howe it shall be knowen that they be deade / and howe they maye be expelled from the mother Sygnes then that the byrth is dead in the mothers wombe be these j. Fyrste yf the mothers brestes do sodenlye slake / as I touched before in the .viij. chapter .ij. Yf it moue it selfe no more beynge wont before to steare it selfe in Yf when the mother torneth her from the one syde on the other / she feale it fallynge froÌ„ the one syde to the other lyke a stone or aded wayght .iiij. Yf her bellye and nauell begyn to were colde / whiche before was wont to be temperatly hote v. Yf anye stynkynge fylthye humours flowe from the matrice / chieflye after some fell desease .vi. Yf the womans eyes wexe holowe / that her color change from whyte to swarte and dunne coloure / and that her eyes and nose wexe astoned / and haue not theyr ryght vse / and her lyppes wexe wan vij Yf benethe the nauell and aboute the secreate partes she feale greate thronge and payne / the colour of her face changynge into worsse and worsse / otherwyse then it was wonte to do .viij. Yf she haue appetyte to eate suche thynges / the whiche be agaynste nature / and not wonte to be eaten or dronken .ix. Yf she be in her slepe vexed with bayne dreames .x. Yf she be payned contynuallye with the strangurye / or that she enforce her selfe muche to the stole / and with all her power / and yet can not do any thing xi Yf her brethe begynne to stynke / the whyche thynge lyghtlye happeneth two or thre dayes after the byrthe be deade xij Yf her handes put in to verye warme water / and then layde on the womans bellye / and the chylde steare not / is a sygne that it is deade ¶ Of all these sygnes nowe the more that come to gether of theÌ„ at one tyme in one ê‘son / the surer may ye be that the byrth is ded the which being ones ded / all diligence must be had that it may be expelled out of the womans body but here must ye se agayne whether it maye be expelled / the mothers lyfe saued or no / for some tyme it chaunseth that the mother dyeth with all / and sometymes the mother dothe well and prospereth ¶ Whether the mother shall be in parell withall or no / by these thinges shal ye know yf the woman beynge in the labor sowne or fare as thoughe she ware in a transe / yf her remembraunce fayle her / and she waxe feable and scant able to mouÌ„e or steare herselfe / yf she called with a lowde voyce canne answere nothynge at all / or els very lyttell and that verye softelye / as thoughe her voyce began to fayle her yf she be inuaded or taken among in the laborynge with conuulsion or shrynkeling to gether if she refuse or can not broke meate / yf her pulces beate verye faste / the which sygnes when ye se in the woman laborynge it is an ruident tokeÌ„ that she shal not liue long after her byrth / wherfore coÌ„mit the cure of her to the handes of almyghtye god / but yf none of these sygnes do appeare / then haue good hope / for the woman shall do well / the byrthe beynge once departed wherfore geue all diligence to the expultion of it / that the woman maye be delyuered of this dead burthen the whiche thinge maye be done by two wayes / other by medicines expulsyue / or elles by certayne instrumentes made for the nonce ¶ Fyrste without instrumentes with this fumigation take other the houe or dunge of an asse / and put it on coles / and lette the woman receaue the fume vndernethe Another take the skynne of an adder / myrrhe / castoreum / brymstone / galbanum / oppoponacum / madder that the dyerres occupye / pygeons dunge / or hawkes dunge beate all these to powder / and temper them with oxe gall / and make pylles of it eche of the quantite of a fylbert nutte / and then put one after another in the coles / and receaue the fume thorowe a pype or conduyte made for that purpose in to the priuities ¶ Another take encense / oppoponacum / galbanum / brymstone / of eche lyke muche / beate them to gether and temper them with oxe galle / and make pylles of them / and then of the same make fumigations / as before ¶ A potion for the same purpose take asafetida halfe a dramÌ„ / of rue iij. dramÌ„s / of myrrhe .ij. dramÌ„s beate them to powder / and geue to the woman at eche tyme a dramÌ„ of this powder with whyte wyne / or with water in the which sauyne is soden ¶ Another take fygges / fenegreke / organnye / and sethe them in water the which gene vnto the woman