she must rest very quiet and be free from all manner of disturbance she must sleep as little in the day time as may be If she goe not well to the stoole she may have some such kind of Glyster as this â„ž of mallows Marshmallows and Pelitory of the wall an one handfull Flowers of Camomile and Melilot of each a small handfull Aniseeds and Fenell seeds of each two ounces boile these in the decoction of a wethers head take of this three quartaries and dissolve in them of course suger and common hony of each two ounces new fresh butter three ounces of this make a Glister and if occasion serve add to this an ounce of Catholicon What is to be done to the Breast Belly and lower parts of the Woman in child-bed IN the first place you may lay the skin of a hare or sheep for the space of four or five howers which being taken away you may then anoynt it with this following oyntment and then lay a linnen towell all over her belly and hipps which must be continued on for the first seven days looking after and turning every morning The Oyntment may be this â„ž the oyl of sweet Almonds Camomil and Hipericon an one ounce and a half Spermaceti two ounces Goats fat one ounce oyle of Myrtles halfe an ounce melt all these and make an oyntment to anoynt the belly Now before the cere cloath be put on you must apply a little plaister of Galbanum about the bigness of two or three fingers to the navel in the middle of which may be put two or three graines of civet yet so as that the woman may not perceive the sent of it The cere cloth may be this â„ž White wax four ounces Pomatum without musk Calfes greass of each an ounce Spermaceti an ounce and a half oyle of Hipericon and sweet Almonds of each one ounce Venice Turpentine washed in Pellitory water halfe an ounce melt these in Balneo Mariae and spread them upon a cloath about the bigness of the belly and when it is coole apply it The next care is to be had of the brests upon these some put round cere cloths made thus take six ounces of new wax oyle of Myrtle roses and hony of Narbon of each two ounces melt these all togetheâ— and make a cere cloth Let them have holes in the middle for the nipples to goe through This oyntment is also very good to keep the milke from clotting â„ž Oyntment of Populion one ounce Galens refrigerating oyntment half an ounce oyle of roses six dramms vinegar a small quantitie melt them together and make an oyntment This fomentation is also much commended â„ž Fennel Parssely Petroselinum Mallows Althea of each a small handfull Laurel and Camomile flowers of each half a handfull boyle these according to art and make a fomentation for the nipples After this fomentation anoynt them with oleum rosatum omphacium and then apply this following plaister â„ž Venice Turpentine foure ounces well washed in strong wine and rose water adding to it two whole eggs and a scruple of saffron with as much wax as is sufficient spread this upon a linnen cloth and apply it as for the lower parts for the three first dayes they are to be fomented with a certaine fomentation of milke where in hath bin boyled a few roses some chervil and a little plantaine From the next day to the eight day you may use this bath wine and water of each half a pint red roses and flowers of Hipericon of each two handfulls Agrimony one handfull make of this a decoction after bathing once or twice lay this following oyntment along the lipps of the privities upon a linnen cloth â„ž Oyle of Hipericon two ounces Spermaceti an ounce and a halfe a little white wax mix all these together melt them and make an oyntment After the eight dayes are past you may lay upon her belly this following plaister â„ž Oyle of Hipericon Camomile and aniseeds of each one ounce oyle of Mastick an ounce and a half oyle of myrtles six dramms Spermaceti two ounces the fat of the reines of a goat an ounce and a half Dears suet one ounce of this make an oyntment to anoynt the belly of the woman in childbed and then apply this following plaister â„ž Oyle of myrtles and Hypericon of each an ounce and a halfe oyle of Nippo one ounce Venice Turpentine washed in water of Motherwort four ounces melt all these together and put them upon a hempen cloath that may cover all the belly and lett her weare it the space of eight dayes These fifteen days being past for the space of eight days more you may lay upon her belly and her hipps this following plaisters â„ž Oyle of Mastick myrtles Iasmine and Quinces of each an ounce and a halfe oyle of Acornes two ounces spermaceti one ounce Venice Turpentine washed in Plantaine water half an ounce wax six ounces melt all these together adding powder of Mastick and Terra sigillata an halfe an ounce florentine Orrice one ounce spread all these upon a hempen cloath and lay it on her belly to be kept there for the space of eight or ten dayes for the lower parts this fomentation may be needfull â„ž Leaves of Plantaine Mulleine Centinody and Horstaile an one handful Cypress leaves a handfull and a halfe of the rind of Pomgranates cypress nuts and Pomgranate flowers of each halfe an ounce red roses Camomil and Melilot of each a handfull roch Alum two ounces calamus aromaticus and florentine Orrice of each three drams Gilliflowers one dram make of these two sacks and boyle them in like quantities of sower wine and smiths water for the exteriour mouth of the neck of the womb Of the choice of a good Nurse THe choice of a good Nurse is very important and therefore you must first look upon her aspect and see whether her sight be no way imperfect as whether she be squint-eyed or have a down-cast look you must have a special care that she be not red hair'd for their milk is extreamly hot see moreover whether her teeth be sound and white and well set know whether she come of parents that have been troubled with the consumption and if she have not nor be exsumptive herself you may judg of her stomach and whether she be subject to catarrhs you must also take heed that she send no stinking breath either from her mouth or nostrils for that corrupts the Lungs of the Infant Enquire whether neither she nor any of her kindred have been troubled with leprosie by reason that it is very contagious or with the Epilepsie or Falling-sickness And therefore those women that either cannot or will not nurse their own children must make use of such women as are most fit to the humour they would have the child to be of for the nurse is now to be the second mother of the child from whom the Infants draws all her conditions be they good be they bad and
root of Tamarinds Cypress Bugloss of each an ounce and a halfe flowers of Borage Epithymi Sen. of each halfe a handfull flowers of Balme one handful Raisins one ounce Prunes in number twelve boyle them in a sufficient quantity of vvater and then in a pint of the vvater dissolve foure ounces of the syrup of Violets make of this an Apozem clarified according to Art and sweeten it vvith a sufficient quantity of sugar giving four or five ounces at a time In the next place you may use Topicks to attenuate and resolve to vvhich purpose you may bathe or soment the breast vvith a sponge dipt in Lye and then lay upon it a linen cloth dipt and moistned in Aqua-vitae and dried in the shade or else dipt in fresh butter that hath boyled a good while or in oyle of Lillies or in oyle both of the root seed of Angelica or you may foment the breast vvith this Decoction Take Wheat-bran two handfuls leaves of Dill and Melilot of each halfe a handfull Anis-seed Fenell and Cumin-seed of each two drams Camomill flowers one halfe handfull boyl all these in a sufficient quantity of water and white wine and let them boyle to the consumption of the third part In this decoction you may wet a sponge and wash or foment the breast therewith After you have fomented the part you may put this ointment upon the part affected Take oyle of Lilies Elder of each an ounce and a halfe of the best Balsam halfe an ounce powder of burnt lead unwasht Anis-seed one dram and as much Wax as is sufficient Of the watry tumour of the Breast THe watry tumour is ingendred by a thick and watry flegme gathered together in great abundance in the breast and parts adjoyning and it happens many times that this watry and flegmy substance is not alwayes gathered to one particular place but also diffused through all the parts of the breast which causes a generall swelling in that part This swelling that we may define it is a loose and soft tumour without much pain yeelding to the touch and pressing of the fingers so that the hole which is made by the pressing of the fingers remains a pretty while after yet it soon becomes painful if there be any acrimony joyned with it or if there be any distention by reason of the press of vapours to that part This oftentimes happens by reason of the suppression of the courses sometimes it is occasioned by reason of a clear and watry flegme which discharges it selfe upon these parts This swelling is easily distinguished from other swellings by reason of the loosnesse and softnesse thereof and by the pain which is alwayes lesse then in other swellings and in this kinde of tumour the pain ascends up to the arms and shoulders and the whole breast is altogether swoln and raised and this pain comes at certain times chiefly when the flowers ought to come down which being once come down the pain diminishes by reason that the woman is then throughly purged Yet notwithstanding there doth remain some certain kind of swelling which happens not in the windy tumours by reason that the purgations of the flowers do totally dissipate the matter of those swellings These flegmy tumours do easily turn into Cankers and are therefore to be diligently looked after As to the cure of these tumours there is required first an orderly diet which must be drying her bread must bee well baked and leavened dried Raisins parched Almonds Asparagus rosted flesh and small birds Before meat she may take a little hony of Roses upon a wafer cake For her drink let it be the decoction of Anis-seeds China root Sassafras and Sarsaparil If the retention of the flowers be the cause of this evill let her then use rather boyled then rosted meats and then let her boyle them with Sage Betony and Hysop All meats made of milk are dangerous as also sleep after dinner and unleavened bread You may in the next place use things to divert the humor as frictions and baths if her flowers are suppressed let a vein be opened in the feet Next after you have prepared the humor by the use of syrups as those of Mint Worm-wood Hysop Licorass Maidenhaire hony of Roses with fenel water water of Hysop Marjoram Rosemary Betony Mint then may you use some purges with those pils called Sine quibus Agarick pils and Cochie-pils If the patient be strong and not to be worked upon by weak Physick you may then add two or three grains of Diagridion or Alandaal Trochisques these pils are to be used for eight days half a dram at a time Another way may be by topicks to attenuate and resolve for which purpose the fomentations specified in the foregoing chapters may be very fitly used being prepared with Vine ashes or figg-tree ashes whereto a little Vinegar may be put though the use of things that drive back the humour are not here to be used you may also rub and chafe the brest with this Ointment take of Oyl of sweet Almonds Oyl of Line seed of each one ounce ganders grease of each half an ounce with a little Diachylon instead of Wax a plaister of great Diachylon would not be amiss in this Disease if the Woman feel any paine or heat in her breasts let her anoint them with Oyl of Roses a little burnt lead and a little white wax or with a little Oleum Omphacinum and oyl of sweet Almonds tempered together in a mortar In the dispersing and resolving of the humor you may use baths of alum and sulphur prepared with the decoction of Hysop Mint and Sage and after that such ointments as are most approved for the same purpose alwaies taking heed of too boisterous Remedies if you would suppurate or mature the swelling you must use such Remedies as we have described in the following and fore-going Chapters the strongest of which you may here apply because the matter is more obstinate and tenacious mingling with them for that purpose other more effective Remedies as are the Roots of Mallows marsh mallows lillies figgs goose grease and the like when the sore is opened you must tend it after the same manner as is before rehearsed There are other Remedies either to be taken inwardly or to be outwardly applied which serve to fortifie and comfort the stomack as to take every morning a spoonful of conserve of Rosemary preserved Orange or trochisques of Aromaticum Rosatum Diagalanga or diacuminum Of the kernels in the Breast THe kernels of the breast are little round bodies soft and thin like a sponge which sometimes grow hard by reason of the phlegmie humor which is sometimes purely so and sometimes is mingled with other sharp acrimonious humors But sometimes it comes to passe that not only the kernels of the breast are swollen but also that there do grow others which ought not to be there which may not unfitly be termed a kind of the Kings-evil being a swelling
form of a plaister You may also use for this purpose plaisters of Melilot or Oxycroceum At length if all remedies faile the operation of the hand must be the last succour which we leave to the Chirurgion Of the Canker in the Breasts THe Canker is a venemous tumour hard and very much sweld hot and durable more exasperated oftentimes by remedies then asswaged The Canker proceeds from a feculent and grosse humour vvhich being gathered together in the spleen is chased away from thence after it growes too hot vvhich vvhen Nature cannot void it most commonly in Women empties it self upon the breast by reason of this cavernous and spongy nature the matter of it is a hot melancholy blood and it is known by the crooked vvinding and retorted veins that are about it stretching out long roots a good vvay from it being sometimes blackish and sometimes inclined to black and blew It is soft to see to but it is very hard to the touch extending the pain as far as the shoulders It wil sometimes remain for two years together no bigger then a bean afterwards it grows to be as big as a nut then to the bigness of an Egg and after that increasing daily to a larger size When the skin breaks there issues out a great deal of pestilent mattier thin and blackish and having a very bad smel The ulcer it self is very unequal the lips orifice thereof being sweld with hardness and inverted a light fever possesseth the body and often swoonings And many times the pestilencie of the humor having corroded a vein there issues out a great deal of blood If the canker be ulcerated or in any inward part of the body no medicine can prevail for remedies do more exasperate then help it To burn it with iron is pestilent and if it be cut with a penknife it returns again as soon as it is but skind over But if it be an exulcerated canker which is easily known arises from a more sharp matter for then the flesh is corrupted sending forth a very noysom mattier being very irksom to the sight and accompanied with a gentle Fever and swooning and issuing out of blood The cure of this is to be done by drying refrigerating medicines or by incision to the quick expression of the corrupted blood afterwards after which the wound must be wel cleansed for which purpose the powder which is called Hartmans blessed powder is very prevalent The diet must be of meats that moisten refrigerate blood-letting also is profitable as also preparatiō of the humor w th the juice of sweet smelling Apples and extract of Ellebore and often purgation with Lapis Lazuli pills and particularly if the Canker be not ulcerated you may apply this ointment Take Litharge one ounce beat it in a marble mortar with a leaden pestle incorporating into it two ounces of Rose water and oyle of Roses In case the pain be great use this remedy Take white poppy-seed one ounce oyle of Roses four ounces Henbane-seed and Opium of each a dram and a halfe gum Arabick halfe an ounce a little wax of which you may make an ointment If the Canker be already ulcerated take this water Take of the juices of Nightshade Housleek Sorrell Scabious Honysuckles Mullein Figwort dropwort Plantain Linarum Agrimony of each halfe a pound juyce of green Olives one pint the flesh of Frogs and river Crabs of each a pound and a half the whites of six Eggs Alum three ounces Camphire one dram let all these be distilled in a leaden Limbeck with the distilled water foment the part affected Take also Alum as much as a Nut Hony two peny worth red wine a pint seeth them together till the fifth part be spent strein it through a cloth and wash the Canker therewith Of the greatness of the Breasts THe greatness of the breasts is very unsightly the cause of their greatness is often handling of them store of windy vapours and retention of the monthly courses the cure of them is not to be neglected because the lesser the breasts be the less subject they are to be cankered they are cured by diet first wherein the use of astringent meats is to be recommended so that they be not windy by repercussion of the humors and bloud which flow to that part such are the juice of hemlock and the anointing of the place with partridge eggs or you may use this following cataplasm Take of the juice of hemlock three ounces of white lead Acacia and Frankincense of each three drams of Vinegar one ounce mingle all these together to which you may add powder of spunge burnt alum burnt lead Bole Armoniack and of these with a sufficient quantity of wax and myrtle make a very profitable ointment Thirdly by the discussion of that which is gathered together in that part for which purpose you may make an ointment in this manner Take of the mood or lome found in molis Tonsorum two ounces oyl of myrtle one ounce Vinegar half an ounce or thus take of the same lome and Bole Armoniack of each an ounce white lead two drams oyl of mastick two ounces and a halfe of the emulsion of henbane-seed one dram and a halfe anoint the breast with this and then upon that put a linen cloth dipt in the decoction of Oke Apples 4ly By compression of the part which is done by using a kind of plate of lead upon the breast anointed within side with oyle of Henbane-seed Of the defect abundance and coagulation of the Milk THe defect of milk arises from a double cause for either it is a defect in the blood which is dried up by reason of some hot maladies of the body either through intemperancie of the Liver through fasting or too much evacuation If the deficiency of milk come from these causes it may be increased again either by prepared chrystal the leaves also root and seed of Fenel do avail much in this particular and the powder of Earth-worms prepared and drunk in Wine as also the Electuary called Electuarium Zacuthi There is another cause which proceeds from the Lactifying quality which is many times so weak that it can neither attract nor concoct the blood by reason of some outward refrigerating and astringent qualities or by reason of some other diseases The cure of which being looked after in their respective places much conduceth to the restoring of that defect The redundance of blood proceeds from too great a plenty of blood and a strong lactifying quality In the cure of which the increase of blood is to be impeded which is done by drying up that humor and diversion to which blood-letting conduceth much Medicines also that drive it back are to be put upon the breasts toward the arms to which purpose Hemlock boyld in Chervile water and vinegar avails Curdling of the milk is when the thinner part of the milk exhales and the more grosse and heavy part stayes behinde which many
navel Of Looseness in Children LOoseness of the belly happens either in the time of Teeth breeding or out of the time in the time of breeding teeth either by reason of the corruption of the nutriment or by reason of over-much watching through the pain of the teeth or by reason of a Fever and some unnatural heat it must not be suddenly stopt if it be not overcopious and that the infant can indure it the belly must be afterwards cleansed with Roses solutive and afterwards stopped great observation being had whether the cause come from a hot or cold distemper Of Burstness in Children BUrstness happens to children either by reason that the peritonaeum is burst through crying or falling or splaying with the thighs For the cure whereof the child must be kept quiet and stil from crying upon which after the part affected is wel bound up you may give the child inwardly of the essence of the greater Consound one spoonful with two drops of Balsam of sal Gemma You may also foment the place with a Fomentation made of the roots of the greater Consound and Osmundi regulis the bark of Elme and Fraxi of each half an ounce the leaves of Plantain Mullein Centinode Herniar Horsetail flowers of Camomil red Roses and Meliot of each a handful and a half Balust Cypress nuts and acrons of each two drams put these into two sacks and boyl them in equal parts of sour wine and Smiths water for a Fomentation to be used for a quarter of an hour then you may lay on a Plaister of the red drying Ointment eleven ounces powder of Mastick Olibanum and Sarcocol Cypress-nuts of each one dram with a little wax and oyl of Mastick to make a plaister which must be put upon the place affected and bound down with a little pillow Sometimes this burstness proceeds from a watry humor abounding in the Abdomen which descending into the Codds causeth them to swel for which you may use with good success this Ointment Take of Vnguent Comitiss and the red drying Ointment of each two ounces Pigeons dung half an ounce live Sulphure three drams powder of Lawrel berries and mustard-seed of each a dram oyle of Dill and Venice Turpentine of each 3 drams wax as much as sufficeth this is also an extraordinary Remedy for the Burstness proceeding from wind Of the Inflammation of the Navell THe inflammation of the Navel ariseth when the blood gathers thither by reason of some external hurt the danger is very great if it should apostemate and so the guts fall down and therefore suppuration must be hindred as much as may be Of the jutting forth of the Navel THis differs from the inflammation because here the Navel doth not give way to the touch neither is the colour of the skin changed neither is there any very great paine or pulse unless the intestines are very much fallen it proceeds from the ill binding thereof at first which is incurable or when a greater portion then necds of the Navel string is left Secondly from a laxation of the Peritonaeum and then the tumor is equal nor doth the Navel jut forth very far in the cure hereof you must let the child abstain from all windy meats and from much crying Sometimes it is occasioned by the rupture of the Peritonaeum and then the swelling is hardly perceived when the child lies upon his back but increaseth and swels forward when he walks sits cries and bawls in the cure of this the mosse that grows upon the wild Prune-tree is very much commended or you make little Swathbands of Leather and anoint them with Oxycroceum Of the Stone in the Bladder THis is known by the coming forth of the Urine by drops and with paine which is sometimes unmixed sometimes containing a kinde of serous humor sometimes dyed with a little blood it is produced either by the milk which is ingendered of meats that do increase the Stone or through a hot distemper of the Liver which attracts the Chylus and sends it unaltered to the bladder for the Cure you must use Baths among which this is commended to anoint the bladder withall take Oyl of Scorpions oyl of bitter Almonds Conies-grease and Hens grease of each an ounce and a half and of the juice of Parietarie Or take sal Tartar one ounce parsley-parsley-water a pint mix them through a fine paper rubd over with the rindes of Oranges and give a smal quantity thereof Of the not holding of the Vrine THis ariseth either from the muscle which shuts the orifice of the Bladder which is so disposed that it is loosed upon the least exciting of the Urine and grows so into a habit that it many times accompanies them to their graves or from the stone in the bladder or from the weakness of the sphincter proceeding from a cold moist distemper which is cured partly by the good dyet of the Nurse and partly by convenient Medecines among which a bath made of Sulphure Nitre and the leaves of Oak is exceeding good Of the Intertrigo WHen the little skin in the hips is separated from the true skin it arises first from the sharpness of the Urine especially in children that are more corpulent by reason of the dirt which frets the skin being gathered together in the wrinkles Bathe the place and then sprinkle upon it either white Nihili or anoint it with oyl of Litharge Of Leanness THis arises either from a subtle kinde of Worms which are generated in the most musclely parts of the back and arms and consume the body They break forth sometimes like to black haires if you wash those parts with a Bath mixed with bread and hony they are taken away either with a Razor or with a crust of bread Secondly it arises from the smal quantity of milk which is often-times remedied by changing the Nurse Of the difficulty which Children have to make water IF the Disease proceed from sharpness of the Urine the Nurse must use such a way of dyet as is proper for the tempering and cooling of the blood she must be purged let blood using afterwards cooling refrigerating broths If it proceed from any gross humor ingendered in the bladder the Nurse must abstain from all meats that do breed gross humors as milky meats Pease and Beans and such like If the child be troubled with gravel which may be perceived by the whiteness and rawness of the Urine with a gravelly setling at the bottom and the continual pain in making water if the Child be any thing bigg let a potion be given him of an ounce and half of sweet Almonds an ounce of Pellitory water and two drams of the juice of Limons use as much of this at a time as is convenient Or take of this powder of the blood of a Hare six ounces of the root of Saxifrage one ounce burn them in an earthen â—ot if the Infant suck give him a scruple of this powder in a little milk
Of the Inflammation of the Almonds of the Ears IF the child be very smal you must wash the throat as neer the root of the tongue as may be with a linen cloth tied to a stick dipped in this gargarisme take of new extracted Cassia one dram syrup of dry Roses one dram and a half with six ounces of the decoction of Coriander Or you may anoint the neck with oyl of Violets and Camomil binding the neck with a little roller well anointed with the same when the child goes to bed you may give him in a spoon a little syrup of dry'd Roses of Pavot and Nenuphar mingled together Oxycroceum alone doth also make an excellent Gargarism If they come to a suppuration you must use this gargarisme Take of the decoction of Barley Plantain Agrimony Veronicae Honysuckle and herb Rob six ounces in which dissolve mel Rosatum and Sugar-candie of each half an ounce to make a gargarism Of Vomiting IF it proceed from abundance of milk which the child sucks you must take care that the child suck less and often If it come from any ill humor contained in the stomack besides that the Nurse must keep a very good dyet the Infant must be purged with a smal expression of Rheubarb giving it afterwards a little Codignac to comfort the stomack mingling with it a little tablet of Diarrhodium putting afterwards upon his stomack this plaister Take of the pulp of condited Quinces two ounces red Roses Wormwood and red Sanders of each two drams Oyl of Quinces as much as sufficeth make a plaister of this and lay it upon the stomack of the child Of the Hicquet IF it come from an over-much repletion it wil not be amiss to make him vomit of whatsoever age he be or if it be necessary that a greater force should be used you must try to make him vomit by putting down the throat a Fether dipt in oyl if from the badness of the Nurses milk she must be changed for a better if from the coldness of the stomack you must use remedies to comfort it as little tablets of Diarrhodium of which you must dissolve a scruple in the milk of the Nurse you must also chafe the stomack of the child with oyl of Wormwood Mastick and Quinces Of the pain of the Belly in Children IF the Disease come from indigestion and moistness the little Infant wil vomit and be troubled with a flux of the belly and the belly wil be hard In which cases you may give the infant an ounce of sweet Almonds drawn with out fire and mingled with a quantity of Sugar-candy or anoint the belly with this Ointment Take oyl of Camomil and oyl of sweet Almonds of each an ounce and a half mingle them and therewith anoint the belly if wind be the cause you may mingle a little oyl of rue in the foresaid Ointment Of the Smal-Pox in Children THe signes of this Disease are paine in the head accompanied with a Fever redness about the eyes a dry Cough and you shal mark in the skin up and down the body certain little spots upon the face back brest and thighs the Smal-pox is dangerous if they come forth with much pain if they be greenish blewish or blackish For the cure of this if the Infant suck the Nurse must keep a good order of dyet she may eat broth of Hens with Endive Cichorie Bugloss and Borage boyled therein Now to make the Smal-Pox come forth the more quickly if the Child be little the Nurse must drink this following Potion Take of Caricarum Pinguium one ounce peeled Lentils half an ounce Gum Lacca two drams Gum Tragacant and Fenel-seed of each two drams and a half make of this a decoction in fountain-Fountain-water and strein it to the quantity of two pints sweeten this either with sugar or syrup of Maidenhair let her drink of this in the morning a good glassful Or you may give the child if it be able to take it this Julep to be used very often take of Cordial waters two ounces and a half syrup of Limons one ounce mingle it and use it often 4. or five hours after give him of powder of Unicorns-horn and Bezoar Now to keep this venemous humor from attaching the eyes temper a little Saffron in a smal quantity of Plantain and Rose-water and rub the eyelids or you may anoint them with Tutie For keeping them from the nose take Rose-water and Betonie-water of each an ounce Vinegar half an ounce juice of Pomgranates six ounces in which steep two drams of Santalum and two drams of the powder of Citron peel adde to this six grains of Saffron and make a medecine for the child to smel often to the same Medecine wil serve for the ears by stopping them with a little cotton To preserve the mouth and throat and tongue take this gargarism take whole Barley one handful Plantain leaves leaves of Oxalis Arnogloss Agrimonie and Verbena of each one handful boyl this to the quantity of six ounces dissolving in it syrup of dry Roses and Pomgranates of each half an ounce Saffron half a scruple To preserve the Lungs use syrup of Jujubes Violets and Nenuphar when they are fully come out to make them dye the more quickly rub the face with oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire Or use this Ointment take old Lard cut it in smal pieces and melt it in a pot then strein then beat it and mingle it with water for your use When the Pox is totally dead take this Remedy to take away the marks Take Halke the weight of two Crowns clear cream 2. ounces mix them together and with a Fether dipt therein anoint the face of the child two or three daies this causeth the skin to grow smooth leaving not a pit in the face Certain other Instructions grounded upon practical Observations fit to be known by all Midwives and Child-bearing Women c. IN the yeare One Thousand six hundred and Ten a young Lady whom I was wont to bring to bed passing by my house came in to me and told me that she was four moneths gone and that she perceived the Infant to stir about a moneth after she came to see me and told me that she was in much pain for that she had not perceived the Infant to stir in two dayes and that therefore she believed that it was dead by reason of a certain very great fright which she had had for at the time that she was frighted she perceived the childe to move but after that never and her belly began by little and little to wax less and about three weeks after she had that reflux of milk that Women use to have that lye in when this was gone she had no grievance yet seeing her often and knowing her to be bigg with child she asked me my advice to know what she should do Whereupon I asked her if any ill vapours rose up into her mouth she told me no. If she had
in their travail nor afterwards to which if remedies be not applied the women do run great hazards and dangers in their lying in great suffocations of the matrix and continual feavers this may be remedied being first enformed of their natural disposition afore they were with child knowing that when they had their purgations they had them in great quantity and for a good while together as also when they came being a gross and thick bloud and therefore seeing that now they do not purge in great quantity and that they have divers unquietnesses weaknesses of the stomach and pains of the head wherefore you may give her in the morning a little syrrup of Maiden-hair and Hysop water mingled together and syrrup of Wormwood with White-wine in their broths you may boyl Jacines and opening herbs keeping the belly soluble with Glysters they must eat no solid meat she must be well chafed from the groines down to the very ankle-bone alwayes stroaking and carrying the hand downward bloud letting also in the foot in the morning is not amiss as also some fumigation that Cleanses the matrix and draws downe the blood yet care must be had that these last remedies be not used before the Matrix be put into its place for feare that these remedies should draw it down too low but about eight or ten days after the Matrix was put into its place for cleansing the matrix you may use this receit Take Pellitory Sanicle Camomile Melilot greene Balm red Balme whit Mulleine Mallowes Marsh-mallowes Betony Margeram Nipp March Violets Mugwort take of each a like quantitie and cut them small and let them boyle in a new pot with three pints of good white wine let the woman take the fume of this receite three times in a day if she have any gross blood in the matrix it will undoubtedly bring it down You may also chafe the womans belly with oyle of violets this helpes the purgations being once dissolved The reason why this thick blood stayes in these partes is because the woman having it before she was with child the heate of the womb when she is with Child redoubling thickens it more so that when she comes to lye down it cannot flow so that it is to be taken away as much as may be with the aforesaid reasons Mollifying fomentations are also proper for this purpose while the woman sits over the fumigation CHAP. XIII For those who have but a little blood THose women that have but little bloud ought not to live in their beds as those who have a great deal They out to take good nourishment in a little quantity As eggs well boyled in the shell in a morning The juyce of Mutton and Veal squeezed out and Mutton broth and all these being mingled together nourish very much and make very good bloud as also Pigeons Partridg Mutton Quaile and such other meats good for the stomach CHAP. XIV What is to be done to the Infant THe Midwife having tied up the Navel string as is beforesaid she ought next to cleanse the Infant not only in the face but also over the whole body anointing the groins hips buttocks thighs and joynts with oyl of sweet Almonds or fresh Butter this makes the skin more firm shuts up the pores of the skin so that the exteriour air cannot come to hurt it and besides this it strengthens all the parts of the bodie It would not be amiss to make a bath or decoction of Roses and Sage in Wine and with that to wash the Infant every morning After the Infant is thus well anointed and after that well dried and wrapped up you may give to the Infant a little Sack and Suger in a spoon or else the quantity of a pease bigness of Mithridate or Treacle dissolved in wine with a little Carduus water CHAP. XV. How to govern women in Child-bed THere is great difference in the governing women in Childbed for she that thinks to order an ordinarie labouring or countrie woman like a person of qualitie kills her and she that thinks to govern a person of qualitie like an ordinarie Countrie-woman does the same to her for the stomack and Constitution of the one is tender and weake and the Constitution and stomack of the other strong and lustie which will not be satisfyed with ordinary viands for if you give to one of these strong stomachs presently after their delivery any strong broth or eggs or a draught of milke are like mills that allways grind and empty as fast as they pour in and that that gives one woman a feaver keeps another from it and therfore women in Childbed are to be governed by their several constitutions As for women that are delicate and have been accustomed to live delicately greater care must be taken of them giving them meats that breed good nourishment and do not clog the stomach forbearing also to give her those meats to which she has too great a dislike agreeing to her humour provided that the meats which she loves be not hurtful and giving her for the first eight days of her lying in boyled meats rather then rosted as gellies c. the juyce of Veal or Capon but not mutton it being too feverish giving her to drink barly water or else water boyled wherein is boyled a dram of Cinamon to every pint and two ounces of sugar dissolved or if she do not love sugar Coriander seed water if she drink wine let it be two thirds of water to one third of wine giving her in the morning White wine and in the afternoon Claret taking care of eating any thing that may breed any crudities she may also take at the discretion of those about her Almond milk now and then There are some women that cannot be kept from sleeping and others that cannot sleep at all It will not be amiss to give to those that cannot sleep French barly water the way to make it well is to let it boyl well and to take the broth without streining it neither ought it to be taken after the eight dayes are past by reason that it nourishes exceedingly and does not a little obstruct the Liver CHAP. XVI Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in TAke a good handful of old or new Chervil and boyl it in a sufficient quantity of water then taking it from the fire add to it a spoonful of Mel Rosatum or hony of Roses this draws down the purgations clenses and heals the parts The herb it self may serve for a fomentation to take away any inflamation There are some that use milk to the purpose aforesaid affirming that it is a great asswager of the pain but that having been proved by others hath been observed rather to engender filth then to be any way a clearer by reason that the sharp humour causes it to curdle CHAP. XVII How a woman ought to govern her self in case a woman be to be delivered
and when the wind is forth the pain ceaseth The cure hereof is procured by evacuation of the matter and dispelling of the wind as is before declared Of the discolouring of the Flowers THe discolouring of the Flowers is when their right colour which ought to be red declines either to palenesse whitenesse greennesse yellownesse or blewishnesse through some defect or vitiousnesse of the blood The signes are apparent by the sight of the blood besides that it is accompanied with an ill smell many times also it is the cause of Fevers trembling of the body loathing of the meat pain in the stomack c. The differences of this disease consist first in the vitiousnesse of the blood which is caused through some distemper either of the whole body or of some part thereof Sometimes the blood is affected by reason of some stoppage thereof and then the flowers are suppressed which causeth pains in the breast and strong beating of the breast and if the woman begin to amend the blood flowes out with a stinking putrefaction which continues till the eighth day or it may be because the blood is fould by the womb being full of excrements and then you may perceive the signes of a foul womb Sometimes the difference of this disease consists in the mixture of the blood with other vitious humours The cure consists in preparation and evacuation but care must be had that because the thick humours need attenuation and that over-attenuating things do melt the serous humour that you therefore do not use over-attenuating things as vinegar c. Another difference is when the flowers decline to a whitish colour which proceeds from abundance of flegme or from putrefaction and then ulcers follow in the womb barrenness follows unlesse the womans flowers do happen to flow for seven or eight dayes together by which the woman is freed from the disease or else they break out to the parts above the groyn without any tumour and burst forth a little above the Hypochondrion and then the woman seldom lives or else there wil appear after some few dayes a great swelling in the groyn without a head of a red colour because the flesh is there filled up with the blood When it inclines to yellownesse or greennesse the distemper comes of choler when to a blacknesse and blewnesse from melanlancholy Of the inordinate flux of the Flowers THe disorderly flux of the courses is either the coming of them down before their time or else the stoppage of them for some time after the usuall course of nature They come down sometimes before their time partly by reason of internall causes and partly by reason of external causes as falls blows and such like casualities that open the veins Or from the expulsive facultie of the womb too much provoked 1. by the plenty of blood which is known by this that the blood which is sent to the womb from all parts is fluid and of its natural constitution signes of a Plethora or fulnesse of blood are apparent in the woman It is cured by blood-letting if the blood abound by good diet and frequent though gentle exercise Secondly it proceeds from the acrimony and sharpnesse of the blood which is known by the hot temper of the body the blood it selfe is more thin and yellowish It must be cured by evacuating medecines as Rheubarb and such things as temper the blood whereof we have already spoken It comes also when the retentive faculty of the womb grows lank which may be known by the looseness of the vessels of the womb besides a moist faint habit of the Body in the cure beware of things which are too astringent baths where in the force and strength of iron may be effectual may with safety be used The subsistence and stay of the courses beyond the accustomed time proceeds from a frustration of the expulsive faculty as when there is smal store of blood which is known by this that the Woman is not troubled with the stay of the Courses and especially if she have over-exercised her self or used a spare dyet before Secondly the thickness of the blood which is known by the whitenes and clammines thereof In the performance of the cure you must purge before too much blood be gathered together next the Courses are to be attenuated for the performance of which Calamint and Mercurialis are to be most commended In this case scarification of the heels is not amiss There is another difference of this disease which arises from the weaknes of the expelling faculty caused either by the frigid distemper of the Womb of which we have spoken already or by a kind of numness thereof of which we shal speak anon Of the over-abundance of the Courses THe over-much flux of the Courses is either a more abundant or a more lasting purgation of the Courses through some defect either in the Blood or the Womb or the veins of the womb The signs are evident viz want of appetite crudities a bad colour in the face a swelling in the feet and rest of the body a waxing lean of the body and in brief a general ill habit of body The cure if it be of any continuance is difficult if it happen to an aged Woman there is none at all It requires a revulsion or drawing back of the blood interception and incrassation or thickning therof and a closing up of the vessels by astringent medecines Yet observe that they must be stopt by degrees To this effect you may take this powder R. Of the seed of Hyoscyam alb red Coral of each half a dram Caphura half a scruple and give the quantity of half a dram at a time powder of Amber Dragons blood Lap. Haematit Red Coral Lettice seed of each one dram Balaust two scruples Bole-armoniack two drams given in three ounces of Plantain water Asses milk heated with steel You may externally also apply a girdle made of the bruised leaves of Helleboraster Of this disease there are many differences sometimes it happens from the blood which is derived from the bottom of the Womb where for the most part lies the blackest and most clotted blood or from the neck of the womb which is more red and fluid Another difference ariseth from the plenty of blood which appears by this that the vessels are either broken or much opened especially in those Women who have had a stoppage of their Courses for a time which presently break out again The signes of this are evident that is to say a fulness of blood in the body besides that the blood which comes forth easily curdles In the cure you must have recourse to blood-letting which if you do for evacuation it must be done in the hepatick vein if the Woman be weak in Salvatella of both hands In the next place the use of Cupping glasses is to be commended being applyed with scarification to the back c. or without scarification to the Breast being taken away again
Sometimes there is joyned with it a kinde of uterine fury with talking and anger sometimes it causes other madnesses sometimes the Woman fals into a dead sleep which makes her seem as though she were dead It differs from the Epilepsie because in that the convulsive motions are more general nor is there any memory of those things which hapned about them after the Fit the pulse is great the mouth of the party affected fomes with a froth it differs from the Apoplexie because in that the fit comes suddenly without any notice the Patient is affected with a kinde of snorting and there is such a resolution of the parts that they feel not although they be pricked from a Syncope in that there are no signs when the fit wil be the pulse ceases to the apprehension the Patientis troubled with cold sweats They differ from dead people by sneezing which may be provoked by putting something for that purpose into the nose The cause of this is a venemous subtile and thin vapour piercing in one moment through the whole body and carried up from the matter in the womb corrupted after a peculiar manner either by it self or from external means such are perfumes anger fear c. and not only ascending through the veins but also through all the other breathing holes and secret passages of the body The cure is doubtful if it have possessed old Women for any time for it begets weakness consumes the strength and shews abundance of humors or if it possesseth Child-bearing Women either after a difficult travel or after an abortion or if it possesseth Women with child because it induees a fear of abortion there is more hope if the act of respiration be not too much impeded and if the Fits do not return too often The cure regards first the time of the fit being performed first by means of interception which may be done by binding the belly under the navel with a girdle made of the skin of a Hart kild in the very act of copulation Secondly by keeping the natural spirits awaked and rouzed up by painful frictions by pulling the hairs of the privities with violence and suffumigations made with Partridge feathers burnt as also Eel-skins and the application of Assa-faetida and oyle of Tartar to the mouth Thirdly by way of revulsion of the humour by Frictions and Clysters dispelling the windes and the application of Cupping-glasses with much flame first to the thighs and then to the hips putting sweet things into the privities such as are oyle of Sivet half a scruple oyle of Nutmegs one scruple Fourthly by discussion of the humour which is performed inwardly by the oyle of white Amber with the powder of Wall-nut flowers extract of Castor externally by an Emplaster of the fat of a black Heifer Sclarea boyld in butter adding to it a sufficient quantity of Tachamahacca and Caranna After the fit is past evacuation is to be regarded first with purgation for which purpose it will not be amisse to use these ensuing pills Take Siler mountain penyroyall madder the innermost part of Cassia pipe Pomegranat kernels Piony roots and Calamus of each three drams Muscus and Spike of India of each half a dram then make pils thereof with the juyce of Mugwort of which she may take every day or every other day before supper If the disease proceed from the termes let the woman affected take an ounce of Agarick powdered in wine or honied water or a dram of Agnus Castus powdered with an ounce of hony of Roses the womb is also to be strengthened by the internall and externall application of such things as resist the malignity of the disease among which are numbred Faecula Brioniae and Castor The difference of this disease consists in this that sometimes it happens that it is occasioned by the retention of the seed which is known by this that the symptoms of the disease are more violent and after the fit is past there flowes out of the womb a matter like to that of the seed It is cured by evacuation of the seed such as are Rue and Agnus Castus and anointing with odoriferous salves especially if the woman be to live without the use of man If it come from the suppression of the terms which is known by the courses being mingled with a melancholy blood take powdered Agarick a dram of Piony seeds or the weight of a dram and a half of Triphera magna But to conclude this Chapter take this for a secret that for a married Woman in case of the present suffocation there is nothing better then for the man to anoint the top of his Yard with a little oyl of Gilliflowers oyl of sweet Almonds together and so to lye with her for this assuredly brings down the Matrix again Of Barrennesse BArrennesse is an impotence to conceive coming from defect either of the Genitals or of the blood or of the menstruous blood First through the defect of the Genitals either by the closing up of the Orifice of the womb which may be cut and opened by Art or through the narrownesse of the parts for so they wil not admit the yard or by reason of some Ulcers or Excrescences in the neck of the womb Or by reason of some fault in the seed either the woman being too young or too old or through some distemper in the vessels dedicated to generation and then the woman perceives very little or no pleasure in the act of copulation The cure of this is referred to the chapter of the Distempers of the womb Or when there is not that due proportion of seed which ought to be in both parties which chiefly arises from the use of those things that extinguish barrennesse as Mint Rue Camphire Or from inchantments and then the man cannot lie with his wife or though he should yet cannot emit the seed against which it is affirmed that the drinking a draught of cold water that drops from the mouth of a young stone horse as he drinks and saved in a little vessel is very potent Or when the womb doth not draw the seed which is ejected and that by reason of some cold and moist distemper in which case all sorrow anger and much sleep are to be avoided as also the eating of milk fresh cheese and any thing that is made of dough Neither is she to eat Endive Spinage Beets Lettice Nuts Cherries Purslane Onions Garlick or such like as much hurtful to hee are much broath vinegar and fat flesh In the next place the womb must be cleansed from over abundance of moisture such are syrup of Wormwood with the decoction of Harts-tongue Fenel Cumin and Anis-seed After this take once every fourteen dayes a dram of blessed pils fasting five hours after them Take also of these following pils R. of Ladanum Agarick Wax and sheeps suet try'd of which you may make pils to take two or three of them every morning or use this confection
the place where the Child casts its eyes Moistness of the ears by reason of the moistness of the head which gather quantity of humors together the cure of this must not be over hasty yet the urine of children distilled and dropt into the ear is a very approved Remedy Bigness and swelling of the Head in little Children SOmetimes in children that are newly born the head grows to an extraordinary bigness which comes to pass either by reason of abundance of water contained in the same which water is contained either between the skin and the Pericranium or between the bone and the pericranium or between the bone and the membranes called the dura Mater and the Pia Mater Or by reason of abundance of vapours gathered together between the bones and the skin of the head which cause the head to grow to such an extraordinary bigness that it causes often times the death of the child If water be gathered together between the bone of the head and the membranes of the brain it causes a giddeness and Epilepsie to the Infant without being able to take any rest For the cure of the windy affection you may use fomentations in case the wind be contained only between the skin and the Pericranium for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sage Betonie Egrimony Calamus and Origan of each a handful Anis-seed and Fenel-seed of each two drams Camomil Flowers Melilot and Red Roses of each one handful boyl all these in common water adding to it a little wine and thereof make a Fomentation for the part affected which may be assisted with a plaister made of Oyl of Anis-seeds and bitter Almonds of each one ounce Oyl of Camomil an ounce and a half Laurel and Juniper-berries of each two drams Anis-seeds and Fennel-seeds of each one dram and a half of the best Wine a pint boyl them to the comsumption of the wine adding to the rest half an ounce of Venice Turpentine and as much wax as is sufficient As for the watry distemper though it be difficult to cure yet you must try this Fomentation to digest the humor Take Wormwood Betony creeping Time Penyroyal leaves of each a handful red Rose leaves and leaves of Stoechas a little handful Cypres Nut Orange flowers and Florentine orrice of each two drams boyl them all in a lye made of Vine twiggs and stalks after which you may use this plaister Take the powder of Betony Sage and Wormwood of each two drams Oyl of Camomil and Roses of each 2 ounces Vnguenti comitissae one ounce as much wax as is sufficient but if these Remedies profit nothing the only means left is to open the head Of the diseases of the Eyes Ears and Noses in Children MAny times children are troubled with a light inflammation in their eyes with a certain gum and thickness which hinders them from opening the eye-lid the most present remedies are either for the Nurse to wash the eyes with a little of her breast milke or else with a little Plantain and Rosewater mixt together Sometimes the nostrils are so stopt that they are not able to draw their breath but with much pain For the cure of which the Nurse must moisten a linen cloth in a little ointment of Roses or a little very good Pomatum till the hard matter within be dissolved Many times there flows a moist humor from their heads which happens to those who have moist brains In the cure of this it must be the care of the Nurse to cleanse the eares both within and without afterwards let her drop into them a little oyle of bi ter Almonds and hony of Roses mixt together Of certain Vlcers in childrens mouths THere do many times grow a certain kinde of ulcers in childrens mouths For the cure of which the Nurse in the first place must use a good and sound diet then must the ulcers themselves be rub'd with a little Mel Rosatum and syrup of violets with a drop or two of Plantain water or you may wash them with half an ounce of Rose-water or Plantain water in which put half a dram Dâ—aigret of vitriol if they be very red and inflamed take Brambles flowers of Pomegranates Roses Santall of each two drams Alum half a dram boyle them in water afterwards strain them to the quantity of three ounces in which dissolve halfe an ounce of syrup of Mulberries If they be white take Amber Frankincense wood Cypresse nuts Pomegranate flowers of each two drams flowers of Roses and Myrtles of each half a handful boyl them in water to the consumption of foure ounces wherein dissolve an ounce and a half of hony of Roses Of certain other Tumours called Paroulis and Espoulis PAroulis is a little swelling red and inflamed and is ingendred commonly of a hot cholerick blood or else from a salt flegme that fals down upon the gums causing not only the gums but the neck and chaps to be swelled For the cure hereof you may anoint the gums with this Ointment Take of Amili 11 drams powder of Tragacant one dram burnt Alum one scruple Rosewater one ounce if there be any inflammation rub the gums with a muscilage made of the seed of Quinces made with Rose-water and Plantain-water adding to it a little syrup of Jujubes If the swelling be obstinate bring it to a suppuration with figgs Raisins Jujubes Licorass and French barley wel boyled when it is opened and lanced cleanse and dry it with mel Rosatum syrup of Roses and Cherries The Espoulis is a little excrescence of flesh hapning in the lungs between the teeth but most commonly the great teeth R. The root of Bugloss an ounce and half Plantain Agrimony a handful whole Barley a smal handful red Roses half a handful Pomgranate flowers two drams four Dates a dram and a half of Liquoriss make a decoction and straine it and then add to it an ounce of syrup of Roses and Pomgranates to wash the place affected you also may wash it with this Remedy Take of the juice of Pomgranates and Quinces of each half an ounce juice of Berberies and Lettice of each two drams with a little of the decoction of Lentils and red Roses Of the two strings under the Tongue of a Child THere is one of these strings or ligaments which appears reaching from the bottom of the tongue and extending it self to the top of the tongue this must be cut off first with a pair of cizers and the place rubbed with a lit-little Mosche salt There is another Ligament which rises from the root and extendeth it self to the middle of the tongue which is more hard and large which hinders the tongue either from being stretched out or to be moved in the mouth The cure hereof belongs wholly to the Chirurgeon Of the Cough in Children THe Cough in Children comes either from the distillation of some cold and sharp humour distilling from the brain if the humor be cold the child is also troubled
with a viscous and slimy flegme which lies in the passages of espiration if the humor flowing down be hot the face of the Infant will be red if it come of a cold humor the child must be kept indifferently warme giving it a little oyl of sweet Almonds and sugar candy it wil not be amiss also to wash the feet of the child in ale wherein certain Cephalick herbs have been boyled and after that to anoint the plants or soles of his feet with Gooses fat The breast of the child may be also rubbed with oyl of sweet Almonds and fresh butter and upon this put little linnen clothes something warm If it be accompanied with any viscous matter or flegme you may give the Infant a little syrup of Maidenhaire or syrup of Liquoriss and Hysop mingled together or give the Infant this water to drink Take of Rain water and Fountain water of each a pint white sugar one ounce honey an ounce Vinegar two drams boyl them all together and clarifie them and let the Infant drink it Of breeding Teeth IN breeding Teeth the difficulty and paine that the child endures is easily perceived and whether that be the thing which the child is afflicted with may be easily guessed at by the time of breeding teeth which is about the seventh moneth beside the Infant is perceived to be often putting his fingers in his mouth and the Nurse perceives the infant to gripe her breasts hard c. the place where the teeth are about to break out looks white watchings and the sense of a very great paine The swelling gums are to be anointed with Hares brains boyled or the fat of it If they be inflamed wash them with oyl of Roses and white wax and the juice of Nightshade if they be exulcerated anoint them with butter that hath no salt in it with a little honey and powder of Frankincense Of the inflammation of the Navel-string in Infants SOmetimes after the binding of the Navel-string it happens to exulcerate For the cure use an Emplaster of Pompholyx or anoint iâ— with oyl of Roses and a little Populeon Of the Worms OFtentimes children are extreamly troubled they are generated of a viscous and flegmie humour they are sometimes round and then commonly the children are troubled with a Fever and grow lean their appetite fails them they start in their sleep they have a dry cough joyned with it with a stinking breath and an ill colour in their faces the eyes hollow and dark with a kind of irregular Fever which comes three or four times a night and they often rub their noses if they be little worms they have alwayes a desire to go to the stoole and their excrements are very purants If the Infant be young the Nurse must be sure to keep a good dyet abstaining from all raw fruits pease and Beans and all milkie things and any thing that shall be of a hard concoction next you may lay a plaister of the mass of Pils sine quibus half a dram powder of Wormwood one dram myrrh and Aloes of each two scruples meale of Lupines a dram and a half the gall of an Ox as much as sufficeth if the Infant be any thing grown you may give him in a little broth a smal quantity of Harts-horn You may also give the Child if he be able to take it a little of the decoction of Pourpied and the shavings of Harts-horn adding to it a little of the juice of Citron Of the Convulsion in Infants THe signes of Convulsion are the hanging backward of the head insomuch that the hinder part of the head seemeth to touch the shoulders sometimes the head and the neck hang so far forward that the chin touches the breast The cure of this if it come of too great abundance of humors let the aire wherein the child is nursed be hot and dry and exercise much let her not sleep long especially after dinner and let her dyet be rather drying then any way moist If the child do not suck he must avoid meats that do trouble the head and fil it with vapours or slimy meats that may stop the passages of the veins sweet things are very hurtful but honey and water wherein a little Sage and Betony have been boiled it wil not be amiss to give him if purgation be needful let the Nurse rather then the child purge which may be performed with Cassia or Manna If the Child be any thing bigg let his belly be kept loose by giving him a little water wherin Sena hath been steeped for four and twenty hours tempering therewith a very smal quantity of the juice of Citron or you may give him a little of the powder of Diacarthamum in the pap of an apple If the Convulsion come of driness or emptines or by reason of some great evacuation flux of the belly vomiting hunger or the like the child must be nursed in an aire more moist then dry his dyet must be the same The best and most approved Remedy is to apply a cautery in the hinder part of the head to the nook of the neck between the second and third Vertebrae which may be done to new-born Children Frictions also of the leggs backbone and thighs are very profitable as also Cupping-glasses applied to the thighs and leggs It the Convulsion come by reason of the Worms you may give him this Clyster Take of simple Hydromel 4. ounces new butter one ounce powdered Aloes half a dram and make a clyster Or you may give him two drams of Earth-worms killed dryed and powdered sugar powdered one ounce and let the child take two drams of it every day in a spoonful of Lettice water If any venemous vapour be the cause hereof let him take six grains of Treacle or Mithridate in Pourpied water Of the swelling of the Hypochondria in Infants WHich causeth children by reason of the narrowness of the mouth of the stomack to be troubled with a difficulty of breathing it ariseth from the greediness of the Infant which either sucks too great a quantity of milk or of other meats The inward cure of this is performed by administring the powder of the root of Orrice or Paeonie Of Costiveness in Children THis proceeds from the unskilfulness of the Nurse in the dyeting of the child or from a cold and dry distemper of the guts or from the hot and dry distemper of the bowels in this case the belly may be well loosened with Cassia or with a liniment composed of new oyl of sweet Almonds Goose fat May-butter Ointment of Dial thea of each two drams Colocynth gr 16 one scruple of salt Species Hierae one scruple Diagridion 4 grains make of this anointment and anoint the navel Or it proceeds from a viscous flegme which wraps about and holds the dreggs which may be remedied by a suppository of Mouse-dung and Goats suet or by the use of an Emplaster of Aloes Buls gall Myrrh and May-butter to be laid upon the
altogether impatient seeing her to doubt the report of the Midvvives therefore said he here is a Chirurgeon hard by vvho may be sent for to resolve the doubt of the Midvvives he sent for him just about the hour that the Woman vvas to be brought to bed The Chirurgeon vvhen he came savv that the child vvas ready to come forth The Midvvives vvho had given vvay to the Chirurgeon thinking to take their place again as soon as he had touched her to make his report were deceived for he seeing the business ready to be done told her Husband that it was necessary for him to operate but that he would proceed with so much industry that he would not only bring forth a sound a lusty child but moreover that he would render his Wife also in a safe condition The Midwives when they would have spoken were put to silence The Gentlewoman vvas presently delivered and he stayed but a litle while to receive thus the Midwives that had attended long and all the while of the Travail were despised and put off and the Chirurgeon extolled and praised and wel rewarded with several most obliging and curteous invitations About a year after he was entertained upon the former score like a Prince the hour of her Labour came again and the Gentleman was gone to visit some of his friends having such a confidence in the Chirurgeon that he set his minde at rest for any danger The labour of this child was not like the labour of the other child for it came with the feet foremost and when the whole body was come forth the head could not be got forth he had brought with him no instruments thinking that this Delivery would have been like the other but seeing himself at a stand he sent to a Chirurgeon not far off for an instrument in the mean time he sent into the kitchen for the ladle with the hook at the end thereof to draw forth the child he drew so wel that he drew away the life of the childe and without seeking any further for any body to saddle his horse or bidding any body farewel he fled his wayes This may be an instruction to those that are so ready to entertaine Mountebanks and Empericks then vvhom there are no men more prodigal of the life of another for money Of a Woman that because she would not be ruled in her Lying in dyed I Was one day called to the Labour of a Woman vvhich had good Deliveries of her Sons and Daughters at their due time although her deliveries of Boyes vvere alwaies more difficult then those of her Daughters being come to her I found her vvalking in the Chamber with her leggs bare in a season that was not over-hot I caused her to be put into her bed to vvarm her again but she vvould by no means indure it although I prayed her she vvas angry with me and told me this vvas not the rule to be constrained the Mistriss and the Nurse combined against me the night approached the waters being come dovvn I feared the ill success of this business that her disease vvould be irrecoverable by reason of her self-vvilness I desired her Husband to use his endeavour but he could do no more vvith her then I about midnight I prayed her to go to bed again and to vvarm her self and unless she could do so I could do nothing she told me I understood nothing in respect of a certain Surgeon who whē she had such a kinde of Labour before only toucht her with his finger and delivered her that she would have him I was content so she sent for him he came very confidently but his work vvas not at so easie a pass as formerly he put a good large Table Napkin before him trussing it up to his elbows saying he was as able to deliver her as before she would no more see me after his arrival the Chirurgeon to whom I represented after his arrival all that I had understood and seen and the fear which I had of her told me that all would be well At day break a neighbour of mine calling me away I desired her Husband to let me go but he vvas unvvilling unless I vvould promise to come again vvhich I did and as soon as the door vvas open one of the servants told me another Midvvife vvas sent for her Husband desired me again that since the Chirurgeon failed of his skil I would use my skil but it was too late for the Chirurgeon left them and the Woman dyed See here hovv ill a thing it is to be opinionated for I could easily have delivered her if she vvould have been ruled by me Of certain Women that bear Children and lye in before their time and others at their full time who grow bigg and ful of humors which causeth the death of the child presently after their Delivery their children being nourished in their Bellies like fish only with water I Knew a Gentlewoman who had lain in three times but yet none of her children lived I desired her to take a Physitian that might give advice both to her and me and to ordain her some remedies and a government of dyet to keep her from suffering the like accidents for time to come we chose a Physitian who prescribed certain Tablets or Trochisques to take from the time she began to grow bigg until the time of her Delivery twice a week as also to take the water of Indian Bul-rush and of Sarsaparilla to mix in her drink or broth as often as she would having a due regard to the heat of her blood she observed every tittle of his directions which made her to bear a Son alive sound and healthful she continued these Remedies four years together but the next time she grew big with childe she thought that Nature of it self would be sufficient I counseled her to the contrary but she he arkned not so that when her Time came she was brought to bed of a dead child I shal give you the Receit of the Tablets and of the Water for the benefit of Women that are subject to an ill Delivery by reason of the great quantity of waters which hindreth the child from turning in the womb the water is made in this manner R. Two pints or 2 pints and a half of water put therein half an ounce of the root of Indian Bulrush and an ounce of Sarsaparilla put this in the drink and let it infuse one night mix it with the drink or else drink it pure The Tablets are made of this fashion R. Mace Saunders Rhubarb Pearl and Coral Sene of each 25 grains with one ounce and half of sugar let every Tablet weigh 6 drams The observation of a VVoman who was thought unable to bear any more Children yet contrary to expectation was delivered of one and the reason thereof THere are certain Women who have the neck of the Womb long and hardned by a cold humor that fals down
Take shaven Ivory Ash keyes yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler mountain with red and white Behen of each one dram Cinamom Galangall long pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam wood Rosâ—mary flowers Blattae Byzantiae gentle Marjoram penyroyal of each four scruples Baulme Buglosse Citron pils of each two scruples Pearls one scruple Musk two grains white sugar four and twenty ounces seeth this with Malmesey and make thereof a confection Or because of some diseases in the parts where note that too much fatnesse of the Call doth close the mouth of the womb such women must not sleep much especially in the day time they must use strong Clysters that are warm and dry and purge often Or when the womb doth not attract the seed when it is cast in which proceeds from a moist intemperance which is by the loosness of the fibres of the womb so that the womb cannot contract it self which is cured as in the moist distemper Or by reason of the thickness of the womb for then the blood which increases the seed does not slide down to that place The cure hereof requires a thin diet purging and sweating or by reason of the slipperiness thereof which happens by reason of the running of the whites in women The cure whereof consists in the stopping of the whites which hath been already treated of or by reason of the gaping of the Orifice which hath been occasioned either by difficult birth or by some abortion The cure is performed by astringent medecines among which the chiefest are the fomentation of Lentisk and Myrtle or by reason of some sudden cough or sneezing immediatly after copulation by which the seed is shaken forth Or when the womb doth not alter the seed that is cast in through an immoderate cold distemper Sometimes through heat and then it would be requisite to avoid hot aire and keeping the parts about the womb compleat or the eating of hot meats and spices purge after blood-letting in the Basilick vein of the right hand with Electuary hom de Epithymo juice of roses of each two drams and a half whey four ounces mix them wel together and take them in the morning sleeping one and fasting four hours upon it Purge also with Triphera Saracenica and Rheubarb with potions prepared and mixed with syrup of Roses Violets and Endive Take Pistacia Pingles Eringus of each half an ounce of Saffron a dram Lignum Aloes Galangall Garyophyllata Mace red and white Behen Baulme-flowers of each four scruples shavings of Ivory and Cassia rindes of each two scruples syrup of Ginger confected twelve ounces white sugar six ounces seeth these together with the syrup in 12 ounces of Baulm-water untill it be all boyled away when it is cold put some more water to it and stir them together and last of all mix with it a scruple and a half of Musk and Amber of this conserve let the woman take thrice a day to wit in the Morning an houre before supper and an hour after dinner Or it proceeds from obstruction of the flowers in which case first let blood in the Basilic vein then purge with Opoponax and Hiera Composita of each half a dram to be made up in seven pils to be taken in the morning sleeping upon them an houâ— and a half with a draught of sugard water five hours after Or with a potion of syrup of Vinegar compounded syrup of Eupatorie of each thrâ—e quarters of an ounce Fever Mugwort and Elecampane roots of each an ounce and mix them together then she may put up into the womb a pessary of muâ—k Amber Aloes Wood and Ash keyes of each three grains Saffron half a scruple Hares-rennet as much as suffices which being made up like a good big Tent she must keep a whole day in her body Of the bringing up of Children and of their Diseases Of the Diseases of the Head THe Diseases common to Children are first certain little ulcerous risings chiefly in the Head sometimes in the whole body they arise from some vitious humor either collected in the womb or out of the womb by reason of the badness of the milk containing a serous salt and nitrous quality if there be no ill to be suspected the humor may be driven forth by giving the Child some syrup of Fumarie or Harts-horn burnt the Nurse is to be purged and the matter offending to be tempered with syrup of Borage or Fumarie if there be much corruption under the crust of the scab the head of the Child is to be bathed with some softning decoction then to be anointed with some drying Ointments Sometimes they are troubled with an inflammation of the head with which is joyned a hollowness in the fore-part of the head and in the eyes it may arise from the milk if the Nurse be subject to drink over-much strong drink in the Cure you must beware of applying things which are too refrigerating They are also many times affected with a kind of Epilepsie which proceeds sometimes from extraordinary frights from milk that lies corrupted in the stomack and sometimes from worms moving themselves in the guts and sometimes it is the consequent of other Diseases The cure is to be observed partly in the fit and partly after the fit the Smaragd-stone and the hoof of a wild Alx put into the lâ—fâ— ear are very profitable and take good effect Vomiting also and this Emplaster of white Amber Frankincense and Mastick of each a dram and a half Galbanum Opoponax of each a scruple Visci of an Oak two drams Ambergreize six grains Musk three grains seed of male Peonie half a dram Ladanum one dram and a half a little Oile of Nutmeg and sprinkled with the dust of Cubebs the fore-part of the head may be also anointed with Oyl of white Amber Fears and startings in the Childs sleep which being occasioned from the putrid vapours which are carried up with the animal spirits and arise from the stomack therefore they happen to Infants that suck greedily in the cure care must be taken that the Child do not fil it self too unreasonably and provide that good sound milk may be generated and that the Children be not put to sleep upon a ful stomack the stomack of the Child anointed neer the orifice with Oyl of Quinces and mastick and Oyl of Nutmeggs Before sleep dissolve a little roll of Diamoschus in milk and give the Child and unless the child be over much troubled with heat you may give it a little Treacle once in a week overmuch watching or wakefulness which is occasioned by sharp vapours which arise out of the stomack by reason of the badness of the milk sometimes it is occasioned by Fevers and pain of some peculiar parts there is nothing better then to anoint the soles of the Childs feet with marrow which hath no danger in it rather then to give the child stronger Opiates A looking a squint which in new-born children is cured by putting a candle opposite to
often changed Or else you may dip linnen cloaths also in a decoction of Camomil flowers and Violet flowers with a small quantity of oyl of Roses and a drop of vineger or two or you may use this fomentation Take of the juyce of Nightshade oyl of Roses of each an ounce and a half of the decoction of Fenugreek Camomil and Lineseed two ounces vineger one ounce This medicine you may use by dipping a spunge therein and so washing and fomenting the breast therewith Or you may apply this Cataplasme take of the leaves of Nightshade and Melilot half a handful of each let them be boyled extracted through a course cloth then add to them bean meal two ounces Oxymel and oyle of sweet Almonds of each one ounce of this make a Cataplasm and apply it If the disease be more prevalent you must use more forcible remedies and among the rest this fomentation Take of the leaves of Mallows Violets Dill of each one handful flowers of Camomil and Melilot of each a small handful and a halfe boyl these together adding to them a little wine and oyl of Dill or Mustard first let the breast be fomented with this and afterwards with an oyntment composed of equal parts of new butter oyl of violets and Hens fat But if these things avail not to dissipate the humour you must observe whether the inflamation tend either to a suppuration or induration If you find that it tends to a hardness you must try all means to hinder it by the way of mollifying plaisters among which this is not a little experimented Take the marrow of a Calves leg two ounces Sheeps grease one ounce Saffron four scruples Cumminseed bruised two scruples mingle all these and make a plaister If the inflamation doth not harden but doth altogether tend to a suppuration which may be known by these signs that is to say the increasing of the tumour the beating and excessive heat pain which rages about those parts so vehemently that do not admit them to be touch'd But now the suppuration is to be hastened with hot and moist medicines which have an Emplastick faculty for which purpose this is much commended Take the leaves of Mallows one handful roots of Althea one ounce boyl these together and when they are mashed draw them out and add to them bean meal and Fenugreek of each one ounce the whites of two eggs myrrh and Assa faetida of each one dram Saffron one scruple mingle all these together and make a Cataplasm for your use to this you may either add Capons grease Hogs grease or fresh butter If these remedies do not suddenly bring the inflammation to a suppuration you must then take of the shells of snails bruised and lay them upon the Cataplasm in such a manner that the snail shell may come to touch that part of the tumour which is most elevated and pointed whence it appears that the matter will first issue If these remedies avail not it will be necessary to open the said Apostem with a Lancet and this must be done when you are sure that the matter is ready to come forth which may be known by these signs when the beating ceases when the fever the pain and the heat of the part do begin to diminish when you perceive the place pointed and raised and enclining to a blackish colour When the wound is open you must first apply to it a digestive composed of an ounce of turpentine half an ounce of oyl of Roses and the yolk of an egge After this you must cleanse it with honey of roses Turpentine and barly meal or with the oyntment of the Apostles or the oyntment called Aegyptiacum then you may put on the top of the place the oyntment called Basilicon or Paracelsus plaister which doth digest cleanse carnifie cicatrize after a very extraordinary manner This is furthermore to be observed that an ulcer in the breast is not easily cured if the milk be not dried out of the other breast and therefore the milke is to be dried up by keeping the child from sucking and by putting upon the breasts of the woman cloaths dipped in cold water together with bean barly and vineger and such like remedies THE COMPLEAT MIDWIVES Practice Of windy Tumours in the Breasts THe flatuous tumor of the breasts is caused by a thick vapour which rises from the menstruall blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix The causes of which are first the suppression of the flowers or when the flowers are not discharged into their proper place and in their proper time as also from the corruption of the humours by which are ingendred divers bad fumes and vapours for this being received into the breasts cause a distention much like a true swelling The signes by which it is known is the pain which it brings along with it which is sharp and pricking causing a distention of the part The heart is not a little out of order by reason of the windinesses which lie so neer it and commonly the left breast is most swoln communicating its pain to the arm shoulder and ribs of the same side And these signes differ from those of a Canker for in this distemper the breast is white and shining by reason of the distention and if you touch it it sounds like a Drum And if you presse it with your hands you wil finde that it is sweld in all parts alike and not in one more then another This is cured first by a good order of diet taking little victuals whereby crudities may be avoided that do afford matter to the obstructions and increase windinesse for which cause she must also drink little that water boyld with Cinamom Anis-seed and rinde of Citrons The next remedy is by using things which are good to provoke the courses among which use this receit strein Selandine stampt into posset-ale and drink it four dayes before the new moon and four dayes after And it will not be amisse to let blood three or four times in the year about the time that the courses ought to begin For by this means you may provoke the flowers hinder the increase either of a Scirrhus or of a Canker to which purpose bathes frictions and infections are not a little to be used In the next place you must prepare the humours that foment this windinesse both in the Matrix and in the veins and that by syrups which do expell flegme and melancholy after which you must purge your patient for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sene three ounces Anis-seed one scruple let them boyle in foure ounces of Borage water vvhen it is streined infuse into it Confection Hamech vvithout Scammony Colloquint and Cathol Dupl Rheo of each an ounce and a halfe when it is streined dissolve in it one ounce of syrup of Roses solutive this potion must be given two hours before eating You may also use this gentle Apozem Take of the