Sope Stavisacre each a dram quick Brimstone half an ounce Quick-silver 2 drams with Rose-vinegar and Hens-grease make an Oyntment Let the meat be of good juyce cooling and moistning Take heed of Spices sharp and salt meats Chap. 3. Of pain in the Womb. THere is pain in the body of the womb with other diseases sometimes as the Colick-pains woven in the bottom of the Belly and in the Loins and Hips and is called the pain of the Womb. It is often in women with child as the inflammation of the womb It is burning and beating it binds the Belly and stops the Urin. The Causes Solution of unity is the cause of all pains and this is from the stretching of the Womb and its Vessels or corrosion Stretching is from wind or clotted blood in the cavity of it and when Nature cannot expel it by reason of the straitness of the part there is pain Also pain is from stretching of the vessels before the terms flow when they are close and the blood thick and this pain is increased by external cold especially after heat Sometimes there is a gathering of humors about the womb when the terms flow and are foul and they get into the membranes and stretch them The same may be from corrupt Seed that stretcheth the vessels Or from sharpness and corrosion in the neck of the womb The Signs when sharp humors flow through it and twitch it The pain is manifest but let us look at the signs of the causes If it be from clotted blood there was a flux of the same and the pain is fixed about the orifice of the womb If there were external causes the patient will relate If it be from Seed there is suffocation of the Womb. The greater the cause is The Prognostick The Cure and the more vehement it works the more is the danger If there be pain and fear of fainting look to that before the cause with Anodynes and Narcoticks if need be If it be from wind see inflation of the Womb. If it be from clotted blood dissolve and evacuate it with hot and attenuating Medicines made into Fomentations Baths and Oyntments It is good to apply Treacle to the region of the Womb or put it in with Rue and Honey Or give a Clyster to the Womb of Rue Foenugreek-seed and Oyl of Rue and Orris Or give Treacle and Cinnamon-water If the vessels of the womb are not open enough for the terms See in the stoppage of the terms If there be wind make a Clyster thus Take Mercury Mugwort Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Chamomil and Melilot-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce boyl them in a pint strained dissolve Hiera Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce make a Clyster Give Mugwort zedoary-Zedoary-water Essence of Castor Treacle or Womans Aqua vitae of which before Make a Clyster for the Womb thus Take Mugwort Calamints Bettony each half a handful Gith Cummin Carrot Aniseeds each a dram Spike Schoenanth Nutmeg Cinnamon each a dram boyl them in Wine Then fill an Ox bladder half full with Oyl of Lillies and Dill and apply it to the belly Or Take Oyl of Lillies Orris each an ounce distilled Oyl of Angelica a dram Goose and Hens grease each half an ounce Mucilage of Line and Faenugreek-seed made with mugwort-Mugwort-water each three drams seeds of Cummin Carrots Caraway each a dram with Wax make a soft Oyntment Or Take Pellitory two handfuls Mercury a handful beat them add Chamomil-flowers Cummin Anise Carrots-seeds each a dram two yelks of Eggs and Oyl of Lillies make a Cataplasm for the Belly Apply Plaisters to the Navel and Cupping-glasses with great flame to the Region of the womb or dry Fomentations of Oats Milium Anise Cummin Carrot-seed in a Bag. And use Pessaries as Take Harts Marrow Turpentine Wax Goose-grease each three drams Saffron a dram yelks of Eggs seven with Oyl of Lillies make Pessaries If the humors and wind is malignant mix Scorronera Bezear seeds and roots of Angelica water of Zedoary Treacle Mithridate and the like in Suffocation of the womb Chap. 4. Of the Diseases of the Womb that come from sweet scents and stinks THere is a particular Symptom in the womb which breeds great admiration that it delights in sweet scents and is offended with stinks And it is certain for if Musk Civit or the like be but put to the Nose of the woman that is subject to fits of the Mother they grow sick and if the same be put to their privities and stinks to the Nose the fit of the Mother ceaseth It is hard to give the reason of this many wise Men have given their opinion but they disagree among themselves and satisfie me not neither do I promise to satisfie others But it is probable to me that the womb is not delighted with scents as scents for the privities have no smelling and the sense of smelling doth not reach so far but the quality by which it is well or ill is occult and not to be explained and to be separated from the odours If any ask what the quality is I answer There are many qualities in Nature that are hid from our senses and yet we cannot deny them because we see their effects as the quality in a Dogs Nose we cannot apprehend but the Dog perceives it But how these qualities come to the womb Quomodo uterus bene olentia recipiat is by no other way but by the open way by the privities by which Spirits get into the womb and in the suffocation of the womb sweet things profit because they strengthen it by a peculiar quality to disperse the venemous air and draw down the spirits and humors But if they be put to the Nose Quomodo bene olentia hystericis noceant the womb consents by the Sympathy of the organ of smelling and the brain with it This is by the Nerves and Arteries for the heart is presently refreshed with a sweet scent because it presently pierceth into it being spiritual and there is a great consent of the womb with the brain and the smelling as is seen by the tryal of Barrenness by a Fume from Hippocrates 5. Aphor. But we must observe that sweet scents are acceptable to all Wombs and stinks are not but the same Symptomes are not in all Women from them for they who have a Womb of a good constitution with no evil humors in it endure sweet things well and delight in them but they who are unclean hate sweet things and osten fall into fits by them because while the womb is delighted with that sweet and hidden quality with which it hath a peculiar Sympathy the evil humors that lie in the Womb especially if there be any corruption from Seed and the Seed also are stirred and when the Spirits flie up they take the bad humors with them and send bad vapors to the heart which cause suffocation and others Symptoms But when the
we spake at large If blood be superfluous loose it not nor open the Ankle-vein lest you draw it more to the Womb but take away the Cacochymy If it be from weakness of the retentive Faculty strengthen the womb with Dryers and Astringents Chap. 6. Of the overflowing of the Terms IT is when it is too much or too long and hurts any Woman and brings diseases but a certain proportion of bleeding is not to be defined but too much is lost when the actions are hurt The Causes Gal. 3. de symp Causis c. 2. 5. aph com 57. The immediate Cause is the opening of the Vessels and the immediate Cause is the blood in quantity or quality offending or by its force or disorderly motion Vessels are opened by Anastomisis Diapedesis Diaeresis or ruption or by Diaurosis or corrosion Anastomosis is from a moist distemper of the Vessels which loosneth the Orifices or from external causes as Baths hot and moist or use of Aloes The flux is seldom too great from a Diapedesis for it is but a sweating through Ruption is from Plethory when the terms have long been stopped and then break out and when the blood is hot by Air Baths c. The outward causes are falls strokes hard travel great burthens lifted Erosion is from sharp blood or humor or from Medicines that corode as Pessaries long kept For this great Flux is chiefly from the Veins in the bottom of the Womb. The Signs The Flux of Blood is too great when the strength abateth and Cachexy follows with paleness swollen feet and the blood that comes from the bottome of the Womb is blacker and clotted That from the neck redder and thinner The signs of the causes If it be from much blood there are signs of plethory and it easily clotted together If the blood be sharp and cholerick it is putrified in the womb you shall know waterish blood by its colour and the signs of that humour abounding and if you dip a clout in it and dry it in the shade you may see it If the womb be too moist such causes went before If it be from breaking of Veins they will tell you of violence If it be from corrosion it is little and slow sometimes pure sometimes serous It weakneth the whole Body The Prognostick the Liver and Bowels there is Swounding the Whites and paleness and Dropsie sometimes That which hath been long is hard to be cured and causeth death and in an old woman it is deadly If there be fulness abate the blood Indications and keep it from flowing to the womb revel it repel cool and astringe it that it may not flow so fast and then amend the blood If it is from plenty of blood The Cure open the Liver-veins in the right Arm bleed little and often because it makes better revulsion and weakens not open the Salvetella if there be weakness Gal. 5. aph com 50. and cup the Back and Breast against the Liver beneath the Paps where are Veins from the womb cup not beneath but in the Shoulders or Back and Arm with Scarification but scarifie not under the Breasts Bind and rub the arms and shoulders and temper and thicken the sharp thin humors with Decoctions and water of Plantane Purslane Sorrel Knot-grass Shepheards-purse Pomegranate-Syrup and of dried Roses Sorrel Purslane Coral Conserve of Roses Bole sealed Earth If it be urgent use Narcoticks Syrup of Poppies Treacle Philonium Laudanum If it still continue it is fed with Choler therefore purge it with Syrup of Roses Manna Rhubarb Senna If it be fed with serous blood help the Reins that do not their duty and the Liver and sweat with China You must not provoke urin but use astringents As Take the juyce of Ass-dung Syrup of Mirtles each half an ounce Plantane-water an ounce Give it her and let her not know what it is Decoctions Take Comfrey-roots Tormentil each two drams Purslane Plantane each a handful boil them add to six ounces Syrup of Currans Quinces Mirtles each six drams give it at twice Or Take Syrup of Purslane juyce of Nettles each two ounces purslane-Purslane-water four ounces Troches of Amber of sealed Earth each a dram Blood-stone half a dram give two spoonfuls every day A Water Take eight pints of water with Starch Barley-meal and Rice dried Roses a handful juyce of Yarrow Plantane each half a pint Comfrey-roots and all three ounces Horstail Blood-wort each half a handful Pears and Quinces Pomegranate-flowers all Sanders each half an ounce Mastich an ounce Distil them and give two ounces with half an ounce of Syrup of Roses or Purslane Electuaries Conserve of Roses two ounces Quinces an ounce and half Troches of burnt Ivory and sealed Earth each a dram Crocus Martis Bole red coral prepared Mastich each half a dram with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Powders Take Mastich red Coral prepared each a dram Pearl Smaragds prepared each a scruple Blood-stone half a scruple Bole half a dram make a powder Michael Paschal cured many with this Powder Lib. de curat morb cap. 55. Take two Egg-shells burnt Frankincense Mastich each half an ounce Pearl red Coral and Amber each two drams Blood-stone Smaragds prepared each half a scruple Barley-flour two pugils whites of four Eggs with steeled water make Cakes Give from half a dram to a dram in powder with Trotter-broath in the morning Or give every day a dram of the powder of Mulberry-tree roots Or Ex petrafores to Take plump Turtle drawn and pluckt wash it in Rose-water and red Wine put an ounce of Mastich in the belly of it stick it on and roast it and bast it with Vinegar of Roses Then put it into a glass close luted to be dried in an Oven then beat all of it to powder Give a spoonful with Plantane-water or an astringent Decoction Anoint the bottome of the Belly Reins and Groyns with the dropping of it Or make Rouls thus Take Bole half a dram Magistery of Coral a dram Pearl prepared a scruple Sorrel and Plantane-seed each half a dram Aromatiacum rosatum Traganth each half a dram with Sugar dissolved in plantane-Plantane-water make Rouls In the use of cold Astringents take heed you stop not the Veins and the heat be cooled If these help not use Narcoticks as Troches of sealed Earths and Amber with Opium these astringe also Use no Pessaries except the Veins in the neck of the Womb be open As Take Snakeweed Tormentil each half an ounce Pomegranate-flowers Plantane-seed each two drams Comfry-roots half an ounce Frankincense Mastich each a dram Acacia Sanguis Draconis each two scruples Blood-stone Starch each a dram and half with the white of an Egg and Gum traganth dissolved in rose-Rose-water make Pessaries with red Silk Womb-Clysters Take juyce of Yarrow Solomons-seal each two ounces Mucilage of Gum Arabick made in Plantane-water two ounces make a Clyster A Fume Take Frankincense Mastich each two drams Mirtles Labdanum each a
day in it and not sweat To take away the sharpness of the Seed use Lettice Violets Water-lillies and things that quench seed by a secret quality as Agnus castus Seed Leaves and Flowers of Camphire hereafter As Take leaves of Water-lillies Agnus Castus Willow each three handfuls Ltetice Purslane Venus-navel each a handful Lettice Poppy-seed the four great cold seeds each half an ounce Dill-seed two drams Water-lillies a hundful Violets half a handful beat them with juyce of Lemons distil them after twenty four hours add to every pint a dram of Camphire give an ounce Or Take Agnus castus leaves Rue Willow each two handfuls Mints tops of Dill each a handful and half Water-lillies half a handful Agnus castus seeds Hemp Coriander Lettice-seed each half an ounce beat them and distil them with water add a pint of juyce of Lemons rectifie it to half An Emulsion Take Lettice and white Poppy-seed and the four great cold Seeds each half an ounce water of Lettice Water-lillies Willow each four ounces Syrup of Violets two ounces Magistery of Coral a dram An Electuary Take Conserve of Water-lillies Violets of Agnus castus tops each an ounce of Roses half an ounce red Coral Smaragds each a dram Coleworts and Lettice candied each an ounce with syrup of Violets and Water-lillies make an Electuary Or make Baths of the same As Take tops of Agnus castus Lettice Rue Water-lillies Dill-tops boil them anoint with Oyl of Lillies Unguent of Roses with Camphire after that Or lay a Plaister of Mercury and Marsh-lentils to the Breast and Loins Lay a Plate of Lead to the Back and give a Pessary of Juyce of Plantane Purslane Gourds These that work by an occult quality are fittest for Nuns that must not marry but they that will marry must forbear them because they cause Barrenness Let diet be thin and of little nourishment no Eggs Beef is good and fresh Fish Also Lettice Purslane Succory Sleep little think not of Venery labour and avoid idleness Question Whether is Camphire cold or hot or doth it quench Venery It is hot because it burns flames is thin pierceth is sharp and bitter But it hath cold effects as curing of Burns and Inflammations and hot Head-aches but this is from the likeness of the substance because it draws hot vapors to it and discusseth as Linseed-Oyl that cures burns Nor hath it a double substance cold and hot that may be separated Exercit. 104. sect 8. Scaliger denies it by Experience to quench Venery but if it be taken often it doth He tried it but once Chap. 6. Of the Melancholy of Virgins and Widows IT is a Delirium with sadness trouble and weeping sometimes laughing without a Feaver It differs from others by the efficacy only of the efficient cause for it hath divers pains besides sadness especially on the left side near the Heart in the Pap this is by occasion at a distance The Cause is a melancholick Vapor from a melancholick blood in the vessels near the Heart The Causes that infects the animal Spirits hurts the Fancy and so the reason For melancholick blood abounding in the vessels of the womb comes back to the great Arteries about the Heart by the Arteries of the womb and infects both vital and animal Spirits and causeth trouble of Heart and Delirium while this blood is quiet in the Arteries there is no vapor that riseth but when it is heated or stirred up by any cause the Arteries about the Back and Spleen beat more then ordinary and the vapors arise and trouble the Heart They are sad and full of thoughts The Signs and trouble at the Heart and cannot express their grief all things are tedious to them they weep and laugh without a cause they sleep little and with trouble and fear they have a pain on the left side and sometimes the left Breast their Jaws are dry All which are the effects of a melancholick vapor and when that is discussed all cease If it be old it turns to Madness and then they are first silent then pratlers and think they see Ghosts At first it is easier cured but if it last long The Prognostick and she resist not imagination and will not rejoyce with her Gossips it is dangerous They often despair and desire death or hang themselves or drown themselves If the manners are changed it turns to madness Observe what progress the disease hath made The Cure At first if blood be hot open a Vein often in the Arm if the terms be not stopt If they be bleed in the Ankles some daies before they use to flow Let her be merry and prepare and purge Melancholy thus Take Borage and Balm-water each three ounces Syrup of the Juyce of Borage and Bugloss each an ounce an half Mix them for two Doses repeat them sometimes Then purge Melancholy As Take Senna six drams Agarick a dram and half Borage-flowers and Violets each a pugil Citron-peels two drams infuse them in Rhenish wine for six hours strain them add Syrup of Violets an ounce Or Take Scorzonera-roots two ounces Borage an ounce Balm a handful Senna four ounces Agarick half an ounce Citron-peels 6 drams Zedoary two drams Cordial-flowers a handful add half a pint of the juyce of sweet-scented Apples and of Borage and Bugloss steep them two daies then strain them add Sugar and half an ounce of Cinnamon make a Syrup give two or three ounces Also give Cordials Confection of Hyacinths Species Exhilerants and Confection Alkermes to such as can bear it Cure it as Melancholy only the matter comes from the womb therefore still regard that it dry not the body too much The Prognostick but use a moistning Diet. Chap. 7. Of an Epilepsie from the Womb. THis Falling-sickness is worse then from other causes because there are greater Symptoms for that malignant vapor doth not only fall into the Nerves but the Veins and Arteries The same malignant vapor that causeth suffocation causeth this for when it ascends by the Veins and Arteries it begets other diseases but when it gets to the Nerves or to the fountain of them it causeth the Epilepsie In some the whole body hath a Convulsion in others some part only as the Eyes Head Tongue Hand or Leg and the outward Senses are diversly taken Some see not some hear not some see and cannot speak some dote and think they see strange things some cry out and know not why All lose the sense of Feeling If the vapor be not very malignant they return to their work after the fit as if they had not been ill It is known by what hath been said for here is not only a Convulsion as in other Epilepsies but divers Symptoms as in Suffocation of the Womb. They seldom foam at the mouth because the Brain is not so shaken as to cause foaming nor is the vapor so fixed in the roots of the nerves but they often do hear It is grievous and hath grievous
a Feaver that will come long after Travel If the Lochia flow not in due time or be stopt then the blood and foul humors go back to the great Veins and Liver Hippocr 1. epid tex 21. The Signs and make a putrid Feaver or inflame those parts A Feaver from milk comes the fourth day and there is heaviness of back and shoulders and the Lochia flow well it not there is the sign of a Feaver If the humors putrifie in the womb there is foul stinking matter voided the belly is swollen and is pained when toucht If the Feaver be not from milk and the Lochia flow it comes from bad humors especially if when she was big with child she kept not a good diet A Feaver from milk is without danger The Prognostick and ceaseth the eighth or tenth day that which comes from suppression of the Lochia or After-flux is dangerous and often deadly except there follow a flux of the belly If black stinking matter flow from the womb they escape If the Feaver come from a Cacochymy before Delivery it is worse because it argues much humors which Nature cannot discharge by the after-flux and the strength is dejected by hard travel A Feaver from milk requires only good diet The Cure and sweating must not be hindred for it cures That which is from stoppage or diminishing of the Lochia must be cured by provoking the after-flux or by another evacuation instead of it as purging bleeding in the foot to provoke the flux or by scarifying the thighs and legs after cupping while the time is that the after-flux should be not afterwards For if that time be past if strength permit open a vein in the arm and bleed plentifully For purging some purge them in a Pleurisie after the seventh day Valer. lib. 5. obs 10. merc 4. de morb mul. c. 11. but beware by reason of the weakness after travel and because Purges may hinder the after-flux which is dangerous it is good to evacuate only by the womb but if the flux of blood cease and Nature would purge something from the womb you may give a gentle Purge of Rhubarb Cassia Manna Syrup of Roses Senna Alterers are thus to be ordered Avoid too cold and sharp things lest the evacuation by the womb should be disturbed by cold things The Diet. Let it be thin the first daies of lying in then thicker and so increasing take heed of too much drink especially of cold drink Question What Veins are to be opened in Women that lie in and have a Pleurisie They have Symptomatical Feavers also from inflammation of the Pleura Jaws or Liver because some of the foul humors are sent to some private part and make an inflammation to which the Feaver is joyned and the causes are as before mentioned If there be a Pleurisie she is in great danger The Question is Whether she must bleed above or below I say thus First This Feaver is not properly Symptomatical but primary and hath the inflammation its associate while nature sends part of the matter to the Pleura or other part Secondly Note That Nature is in an error while she sends the vitious humors which she should expel by the womb to the Pleura Thirdly Note That the vitious motion of Nature is not to be helped therefore which should be done if you should presently open a vein in the arm but the blood is to be voided by the womb which is Natures way Fourthly If the Pleurisie be not abated by opening a vein in the ankle for revulsion but the Symptoms continue or increase you must not continue to open the veins beneath because they evacuate not from the part affected which is necessary in such a dangerous disease It is a sign that the matter is fastned to the part that it cannot again be brought to the womb by revulsion Therefore then you may open a vein in the arm on the same side to evacuate and drive the blood from the part or there about or she will be in danger of death And fear not that Nature will be taken from her ordinary motion towards the womb thereby for the vein that was opened in the foot prevented that and if you fear any danger you may prevent it by Frictions and cupping of the leggs while you let blood in the arm And you may give Clysters that may cause the humors moving upwards to come down and loosen the passages of the womb that blood may flow out the better As Take Pellitory of the Wall Mallows Althaea red Coleworts each a handful Chammomil-flowers half a handful Foenugreek and Linseed each half an ounce boyl them in Water to a pint strained add lenitive Electuary an ounce Diacatholicon or Cassia half an ounce Oyl of Violets two ounces make a Clyster If the Feaver abate and the time of the flux of the Lochia be past give a gentle Purge Cure the rest as an ordinary Pleurisie onely take heed that while the After flux lasts you give no binding Medicine Also she may have a Quinzy while she lies in while the vicious matter flows to the jaws The Cure of which bleeding is to be done as in the Pleurisie but the rest is to be done as in the Quinzy And if the Liver be inflamed by the motion of the humors to it you must bleed as in the Pleurisie and Quinzy Yet it is not so needful in the Arm as in the Pleurisie by reason of the greater distance of the Liver from the Arm for the Pleura and the Breast are nearer and consent more with the Arms but the Vein in the Legg is near to the hollow Vein as the distribution of the upper Veins to the Arms. The rest of the Cure of the Inflammation of the Liver is in Lib. 3. onely observe that you must not use too great Coolers or Binders in women in Child-bed but things that are of thin parts lest the flux called Lochia or After-blood should be stopped THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART Of the Diseases of Womens Breasts THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of the increased number of Breasts and greatness extraordinary THough Nature hath ordained two in all Women Card. l. 8. c. 43. de rerum varice Cabrol obs 7. yet some have Breasts like Men others have had two on each side that had Milk The figure of the Breasts is round pointed at the nipple a little it ought not to be soft nor hard and of an indifferent bigness and it is better they be indifferent though they hold not so much milk lest they be subject to Cancers and Inflammations and when they are too big they have not a temperate heat The Causes of over-great Breasts is much blood and the strength of heat attracting and concocting it these are remote causes but the immediate cause is the largeness of the passages and loosness which is in the first conformation and furthered by idleness much sleep and few terms and
rot or provoke the part but things that by experience take away pain as Nightshade-water Snails boyled and Frogs in Oyl and with ashes of Frogs made into an Oyntment or Medicines of Lead As Take Oyl of Roses two ounces juyce of Nightshade-berries an ounce and half Ceruss washed Sugar of Lead each a dram Pompholygos half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar till they are thick Or use Cray-fish-ashes and the ashes of the inward rind of an Ash-tree or Herb Robert Lib. 2. De cur vulner C. 3. Cent. 3. Obs 87. Arcaeus teacheth how to cut them out and then burn the part if they be deep and ulcerated But Fabricius shews that you must burn after to consume the reliques and stop the blood after it is cleansed Take Herb Robert Verbascum or Moulin Scabious Caprifolium or Honey-suckles Dill Mans-grease each equal parts burn them take three ounces and with six ounces of Nightshade-water in a Leaden-Mortar mix them After cutting out the root purge melancholy often and provoke Terms or Haemorrhoids lest it return Give Treacle Mithridate with juyce of Borage Sorrel Cray-fish-broath and Asses-milk Ant. Chalmiteus This Water is good against all Cancers Take Moulin-roots Clowns all-heal each two ounces Dropwort Ceterach Herb Robert Agrimony Tormentil Scabious Avens Flaxweed each a handful Nettle-seed three drams Elder and Rosemary-flowers each a pugil boil and sweeten it with Sugar Foment and wash the Cancer with one part of it and let the dreggs be applied as a Pultis Fuchsius his blessed Powder Take white Arsenick that shineth not like glass an ounce powder it pour Aqua vitae upon it and pour it off add fresh Aqua vitae every third day for fifteen dayes Then Take roots of great Dragons gathered in July or August sliced and dried in the wind two ounces Thirdly Take bright clear Soote of the Chimney three drams make a powder Keep it close stopt in a glass the older the better use it not till after a year For a pallative Cure keep it from increasing and take away pain with this Water Take Scrophularia-roots and Herb Roberts each a handful Lambs-tongue Night-shade Bugloss Borage Purslane Eye-bright Bettony each half a handful a Frog and two whites of Eggs with Quince-seeds and Foenugreek each an ounce Rose and eye-bright-Eye-bright-water each a pint distil them in a Leaden Still Use not Cancers as other Ulcers for Emollients Lib. 6. c. 30. Healers and Drawers exasperate and kill with great pain Chap. 8. Of Ulcers and Fistulaes of the Breasts AFter Universals dry up the Milk and if the Breasts hang down bind them up that the humors flow not down and move not the Arm on that side Then cleanse it with the Decoction of Rhapontick Zedoary and Agrimony Heal thus Take strong Wine five quarts Rhois Obsoniorum Cypress-nuts each four ounces green Galls two ounces boyl them to the Consistence of Honey If you fear a Fistula enlarge the Orifice and take away the Callus and heal it as an ordinary Ulcer Chap. 9. Of straitness of the Passages of the Breasts WHen the Veins and Arteries are not wide enough to contain Blood to be turned there is no Milk They are stopt by thick humors The Causes as the vessels of the womb are the cause is the stoppage of the terms or hard tumors in the Breasts that stop or press When the nipple hath no hole for the Child to suck it is from the birth or a wound or scar after an Ulcer The Signs There is little milk and the Breasts pine If the Breasts swell and milk cannot be suckt out the fault is in the paps or the veins of milk The Prognostick An obstruction from gross humors may be cured If it be from a Scirrhus or Scar after an Ulcer it is incurable and so the Nipple born without a hole The Cure If it be from thick humors or blood attenuate it with proper things as Fennel Dill Parsley Anniseeds Pease Rocket-seed or Earth-worms made into Caraplasms or Fomentations Often rubbing of the Breasts opens the Milk-veins Chap. 10. Of strange things bred in the Breasts HAirs Stones and Worms have been found in the Breasts A Worm breeds from putrid blood Bald. Ronsaeus miscel epist 10. Lib. de occult na mira c. 12. and is like a hair the same may be in the back and navel as I shewed And a good Author writes That a woman pained in her breasts could not be eased till Imposthumes broke and worms came forth Levinus Lemnius saw Stones that grew in the Breast Chap. 11. Of the Diseases of Nipples THey are either wanting or lie hid one or both which hinders giving suck If it be from the birth it is scarce cured as also when the Nipple is eaten off by an Ulcer When they come forth first Amatus Lusit cur med cent 5. cur 31. use a sucking Instrument and then apply Puppy-dogs to suck If there be no hole from birth or ulcer healed it is incurable if it be a little often sucking will enlarge it The clefts in the Nipples is an usual evil and causeth great pain in Nurses and if it continue long it turns to foul ulcers that they cannot give suck To prevent this evil in the two last months of being with child wear two cups of Wax over the Nipples with a little Rosin They are cured thus with Oyl of Wax Mirtles Oyntment of Lead Tutty Or Take Tutty prepared a scruple Allum half a dram Camphire six grains with Capons-grease and Oyntment of Roses make an Oyntment Or. Take Pomatum an ounce and half Mastich a scruple Powder of Gum Traganth and red Roses each half a scruple Or Take Oyntment of Lead Pomatum each half an ounce Frankincense Bole each half a scruple mix them When the Infant is to suck wash the Breasts first with white Wine and rose-Rose-water That the Child may suck without pain to the woman let her have a Tin or Silver Nipple and cover it with the Pap of a new killed Cow and let the child suck that THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptomes of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of want of Milk and not giving Suck THere are many Causes of want of Milk either there is little Blood to breed it or the milk-making Faculty in the Breast that makes Milk is not right or the Instruments for blood-making are distempered Sometimes the matter is consumed by a Feaver or fasting when they loath meat or from care or labour evacuations sweats or loose belly Or from weakness of the Infant that cannot draw hard Also sadness fear and the like may hinder blood from flowing to the Breasts Milk is wanting when the Breasts are flaggy The Signs and swell not and little milk is sucked out The signs of the Causes thus If it be from the Liver there will be signs of its distemper if from great evacuation that is known the fault is known to be in the breasts
are better then many and small then great white are better then those of other colours The other Prognosticks are mentioned in other places Preservation It is better to prevent the breeding of worms then to expel them by eating of meats of good juyce with Oranges and Pomegranates and avoiding sweet fat and slimy meats fish milk and Summer-fruits and figs. Drink thin Wine and Grass and Sorrel-water with it and with powder of Harts-horn Let the belly be kept loose with Clysters for children or give the Decoction of Sebestens before meat or of Wormwood and Scordium but children will not take bitter things therefore give Grass-water and juyce of Lemmons or Citrons or a drop or two of Spirit of Vitriol When you know by the signs The Cure that there are worms kill and repel them with Powder of Coralline Wormseed Harts-horn or eight grains of Mercurius dulcis Infuse them a night in Grass-water and cast away the substance of the Mercury and give the Water Or Take Wormseed two drams Coralline Harts-horn prepared each a dram roots of Piony Dittany Magistery of Coral each a scruple make a Powder or give the Essence of Peach-flowers or the Decoction of Fern-water half an ounce or an ounce If there be a Feaver use colder as juyce of Lemmons Pomegranates Oranges Vinegar Harts-horn Bezoar Confection of Hyacinth or this Portion Take Grass-water four ounces Syrup of Juyce of Citrons an ounce of Violets half an ounce Spirit of Vitriol two drops give two spoonfuls Give bitter things at the mouth and sweet at the fundament as a Clyster of Milk Or Take Raisons ten Figs seven boyl them in water take of it four ounces add Sugar an ounce and half make a Clyster Use varieties that the worms may not be too familiar with one Apply Peach-leaves to the Navel bruised or a Cataplasm of Ox-gall Wormwood and St. Johns-wort Or Take Powder of Wormwood Gith Centaury Wormseed Lupines each half an ounce with Oyl of Wormwood and Wax half an ounce make an Oyntment Or Take Treacle half an ounce with juyce of Wormwood apply it to the Navel or make a Bath of Peach-leaves and Wormwood put the child into it up to the Navel If there be a Feaver use colder things mentioned Chap. 24. Of the Rupture IT is from the Peritonaeum loose or broken when the small guts fall into the cods from crying cough straining at stool and from vehement motion or a fall Sometimes the Peritonaeum is well and a water falls from the belly into the cods The tumor is visible if it be from a gut The Signs it is in one part only as the right or left and it may be felt and the hole also through which it fell If from water it is even all over and there was no cause of other Rupture It is easier cured in Infants then in elder persons for it is safer The Prognostick but worse then that of water which goes away of it self when the water is consumed Let the belly be kept open The Cure let not the child cry Avoid vehement motion lay him upon his back and thrust it up gently and apply this Plaister Take Lambs-tongue Sanicle each half an ounce Lentills and Lupines and red Roses in Powder each two drams Frankincense a dram Allum half a dram with the white of an Egg. Or Take Frankincense Cypress-nuts Aloes Acacia each two drams Mirrh a dram with Izing-glass make a Plaister Or apply Gum Elemni steept in Vinegar till there be a Cream at the top and with Oyl of Eggs make a Cerot Inwardly Take Sanicle Lambs-tongue each half a handful Agrimony a handful Comphry the greater half an ounce boyl them to a pint strained add Sugar give it often Or give Powder of Mouse-ear or Moonwort with Wine If it be from water anoint with Oyl of Elder Bayes Rue or apply a Cataplasm of Powder of Beans Foenugreek Linseed Chamomil-flowers Cummin-seeds with these Oyls Chap. 25. Of sticking out of the Navel IT is without Inflammation 1. When is was not well tyed and too much left that sticks out 2. When the Peritonaeum is loose and hath water or wind in it from crying or coughing 3. When the Navel is ulcerated and the guts fall into it this is called properly Exomphalon The Navel yields to the touch but in an inflamation it is hard there is neither heat nor redness and it lasts longer than an Inflammation The Signs If the Navel was not well cut there will be too great a quantity if the Peritonaeum be not broken but loose the Navel starts not much out and is not greater by crying if it be broken the tumor scarce appears when he lyes upon his Back but it increaseth by crying or walking The Prognostick If the Midwife did not cut the Navel well it is more troublesome then dangerous If it be too large or ulcerated at first it is easily cured but afterwards it may cause a deadly Iliack passion when the guts that fall in are inflamed The Cure When the Peritonaeum is loose wind stretcheth the Navel then use a Cataplasm of Cummin Bayberries and Lupines powdered in red Wine or a Bag of Cummin and Spike boyled in red Wine Then lay on an Astringent and roul it If the Peritonaeum be broken first put in the gut then bind it close after you have laid on astringent Powders Or Take powder of Cypress-nuts Frankincense Mirrh Mastich Sarcocol Allum Izing-glass each a dram with the whites of Eggs make a Pultis and give Medicines against Ruptures Chap. 4. Of Inflammation of the Navel IT is from pain when it is not well tied that draws blood to it There is redness hardness heat and beating If it turns to an Imposthume and breaks The Prognostick The Cure the guts come forth and the child usually dies First abate pain Take Mallows boyled and stampt two ounces Barley-meal half an ounce Lupines Foenugreek each two drams with Oyl of Roses make a Cataplasm To repel Blood Take Frankincense a dram Acacia Fleabane-seed each half a dram with the white of an Egg make a Cataplasm Hinder Suppuration as much as may be but if it doth suppurate Take Turpentine half an ounce the yolk of an Egg and Oyl of Roses two ounces Chap. 27. Of Falling out of the Fundament WHen the muscle that shuts the Arse-hole is loose the Fundament comes forth the cause is moisture of the muscles after a flux or straining at stool in Tenesmus or Needing or when the belly is bound The people will tell you the causes The Signs and you may see it The Prognostick It is easily cured when it is from straining at stool if it have not been long out If it be from great store of moisture it is hard to be cured especially if there be a loosness of the belly for then Medicines cannot lie on The Cure First put it up if it be swollen foment it with the decoction of Mallows
general Page 170 Chap. 2. Of Abortion Page 172 Chap. 3. Of the signs of Natural Birth and the manner and government of such as bring forth Page 175 Chap. 5. Of Natural hard Travel Page 177 Chap. 6. Of a vitious disorderly Birth or difficulty preternatural Page 179 Chap. 7. Of a slow Birth Page 180 Chap. 8. Of a Child dead in the Womb. Page 181 Chap. 9. Of the Caesarean Birth Page 183 The CONTENTS of the Seventh SECTION Of the Government of Women in Child-bed and of the Diseases that come after Travel Chap. 1. Of the Government of Women in Child-bed Page 186 Chap. 2. Of the Secundine or After-birth or a Mole that is left after Child-bearing Page 187 Chap. 3. Of the Purgation after Child-bearing diminished or detained Page 189 Chap. 4. Of too great a flux of blood after Child-bearing Page 191 Chap. 5. Of the Pains after Travel and Torments in the Belly Page 192 Chap. 6. Of the Tearing of the Vulva to the Arse and coming forth of the Womb Inflamation Ulcer Suffocation and falling out of the Fundament Page 193 Chap. 7. Of Watching Doting and Epilepsie of Women in Child-bed Page 194 Chap. 8. Of the swelling of the Womb Belly and Feet after Child-bearing Page 195 Chap. 9. Of Vomiting Loosness Belly-bound and not holding of Urine in Women in Child-bed ibid. Chap. 10. Of the Wrinkles of the Belly after Child-bearing and mending of the largeness of the Privities Page 197 Chap. 11. Of Feavers and acute Diseases in Women in Child-Bed Page 198 The CONTENTS of the First SECTION Of the Diseases of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of the increased number of Breasts and greatness extraordinary Page 203 Chap. 2. Of swelling of the Breasts with Milk Page 205 Chap. 3. Of Inflammation and Erisipela's of the Breasts Page 206 Chap. 4. Of the Oedoma of the Breasts Page 209 Chap. 5. Of the Scirrhus of the Breasts Page 210 Chap. 6. Of the Glandles or Kernels in the Breasts being swollen or of the Scrofula and Struma in the Breast Page 211 Chap. 7. Of the Cancer of the Breasts Page 212 Chap. 8. Of Ulcers and Fistulaes of the Breasts Page 215 Chap. 9. Of straitness of the passages of the Breasts ibid. Chap. 10. Of strange things bred in the Breasts Page 216 Chap. 11. Of the Diseases of the Nipples ibid. The CONTENTS of the Second SECTION Of the Symptoms of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of want of Milk and not giving of suck Page 218 Chap. 2. Of too much Milk Page 220 Chap. 3. Of Curding and other faults in the Milk Page 221 Chap. 4. Of Milk coming forth at wrong places Page 222 Chap. 5. Of strange things coming forth of the Breasts Page 223 Chap. 6. Of the change of colour in the Nipples and pain of the Breasts Page 224 A TRACTATE Of the CURE OF INFANTS The CONTENTS of the First PART Of the Dyet and Government of Infants Chap. 1. Of the Choise of the Nurse 225 Chap. 2. Of the Conditions of good Milk 227 Chap. 3. Of Curing the Faults in Milk ibid. Chap. 4. Of the Dyet and Government of new born Children 229 Chap. 5. Of the Dyet of an Infant from breeding of Teeth till it be Weaned 230 Chap. 6. Of Weaning of Children ib. Chap. 7. Of Childrens Dyet after Weaning 231 The CONTENTS of the Second PART Of Diseases and Symptoms of Children Chap. 1. Of Infants Diseases in general 232 Chap. 2. Of Feavers in Children Meazles and Small Pox. 233 Chap. 3. Of the Milkey Scab Achores and Favi 235 Chap. 4. Of a Scald Head 236 Chap. 5. Of Ptiriasis or breeding of Lice 239 Chap. 6. Of Hydrocephalus or swelling of the Head 240 Chap. 7. Of Siriasis 141 Chap. 8. Of Frights in the sleep 242 Chap. 9. Of great Watching 243 Chap. 10. Of Epilepsie and Convulsion 244 Chap. 11. Of Strabismus or Squint-eyes 246 Chap. 12. Of pain in the Ears Inflammation Moisture Ulcers and Worms ibid. Chap. 13. Of the Thrush Bladders in the Gums and Inflammation of the Tonsils 247 Chap. 14. Of Breeding of Teeth 248 Chap. 15. Of Loosing of the Tongue and of the Frog 249 Chap. 16. Of Catarrh Cough and difficult Breathing 250 Chap. 17. Of the Hicket 251 Chap. 18. Of Vomiting 252 Chap. 19. Of the Torments or Pains of the Belly 253 Chap. 20. Of puffing up of the Belly and Hypochondria 255 Chap. 21. Of the Flux of the Belly ibid. Chap. 22. Of Binding of the Belly 257 Chap. 23. Of the Worms 258 Chap. 24. Of the Rupture 261 Chap. 25. Of sticking out of the Navel 262 Chap. 26. Of Inflammation of the Navel 263 Chap. 27. Of falling out of the Fundament ibid. Chap. 28. Of the Stone in the Bladder 264 Chap. 29. Of difficulty and stoppage of Urine 265 Chap. 30. Of not holding the Urine 266 Chap. 31. Of chafing in the Hips called Intertrigo 267 Chap. 32. Of Leanness and Fascination ibid. THE FOURTH BOOK OF PRACTICAL PHYSICK Of Womens Diseases THE FIRST PART Of Diseases in the Privities of Women THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Privy Part and the Neck of the Womb. Chap. 1. Of the straitness and largeness of the Orifice THere are three Diseases in this Part. The straitness and the largeness and Yard of a Woman The straightness is when the Cleft is narrow that it will not admit a Mans Yard or with much difficulty it hinders Child-bearing and if it be from the first confirmation it is hard to be cured by Physick but it is enlarged either by copulation or by bringing forth of children Sometimes it is from an Ulcer or from astringent Medicines given unadvisedly that they may appear to be Virgins when they are not Sometimes the cleft is shut up outwardly and there is only passage for the Urin and the Terms these Women are called Atretae that is shut up and bored of which Chap. 3. Sometimes it is so close that neither Terms nor Urin can come forth The contrary to this is largeness of the Cleft or when there are more holes then Nature hath usually by often Copulation or Child-bearing This laxity or largeness causeth Barrenness and falling out of the Womb as Hippocrates shews in the Nature of Women And this makes women unpleasant to men This is cured by purging after Child-bearing by Fomentations Baths Liniments of Allum water and the Decoction of astringent Plants Take Comfry roots Bole Sanguis Draconis Pomgranate flowers Allum Mastich Galls each half a dram make a Powder and with steeled Water make a Mixture dip a Pessary therein Or Take Oaken leaves Plantane each half a handful Comfry roots an ounce Pomegranate peels and flowers Sumach each half an ounce Allum an ounce boyl them in Water and foment the Privites Sometimes in hard travel the space between the Fundament and the privy Cleft is broken into one hole Eros shews the Cure of it Some put a long piece of Allum into the Cleft When there are divers passages in a Womans Privities it is
Agarick a dram Coloquintida half a dram Guidium ten grains with Honey and Wool make a Pessary Make Fomentations and Baths of Danewort Mercury Elder Penny-royal Organ Chamomil-flowers Bayberries wild Cowcumbers Broom Carrot Rue-seeds And anoint after with Oyl of Elder Danewort Orris with drops of Oyl of Angelica Anise Caraway Sulphur Baths are good and those of Niter or the Plaister of Bayberries or Snails to the bottom of the Belly Vomiting and Neesing break the bladders Give Clysters at the Fundament as in Dropsies Take Mercury leaves Danewort Soldanella Mugwort Motherwort each a handful Chamomil Elder Broom-flowers each a dram boil and to ten ounces strained and juyce of Beets Mercury Danewort each six drams Boys urin an ounce and half Hiera six drams Hony half an ounce make a Clyster Let the Dyet be drying as in Chap. 5. Chap. 12. Of a Tumor in the Womb from Blood in the Veins THis Disease makes women think they are with chiid also For blood long detained in the Veins about the womb stretcheth them outwardly and twisteth them and the Veins in the substance of the womb are full and stretched and make it larger But when the terms flow it falleth again except there be a Cachexy or Dropsie This is only from stoppage of Terms and is cured by provoking them Chap. 13. Of Inflammation of the Womb. IF the blood that comes to the womb get out of the Vessels into its substance and grow hot and putrifie it causeth Inflammation either all over or in part before or behind above or below on the right or left side The Causes Blood is the immediate Cause which is pure or mixed therefore the Inflammation is either an Erysipelas Oedema or Scirrhus as Flegm Melancholy or Blood abound Blood is either sent to or drawn by the womb By heat or pain it is sent to it when it aboundeth or it is hot or thin and when the blood is moved by hot Air Exercise Passions anger or hot diet The Signs There is a tumor with heat and pain in the region of the womb with stretching and heaviness in the Privities and if you put in your finger you 'l feel the heat and she more pain there is a Feaver sometimes called Lipyra when there is cold without and heat within The tongue is dry and black with watching doting tossing to and fro the brests are pufft up and pained There is head-ach to the roots of the eyes and a pain in the groyns hips midrif pleura and shoulders short wind and like a Pleurisie with loathing vomiting hickets The belly is bound the pulse is small and often and weak but at first darting and quick And Hippocrates saith If the Womb be inflamed the terms are stopt 2. De morb mulier and the neck of it is like a Spiders web with many small veins c. If it be inflamed before the pain is about the pubes and the urin is stopt If behind it is in the loyns and the belly is bound If it be inflamed in the bottom the pain is towards the navel If it be from pure blood the Symptoms are less if from choler stronger the thirst is more the watching greater if from melancholy all are worse If it be all over the womb it is dangerous The Prognostick and few escape it An Erysipelas in a woman with child is deadly because there is an abortion and the Mother dies the worse the Symptoms the greater is the danger And it is safer to discuss an inflamation then to ripen it if it turn to a Schirrus it is lasting and makes a Dropsie If it be not after abortion or a flux of blood The Cure open a vein in the Arm or cup and sacrifice the shoulders Bleed not in the foot least you draw blood more to the womb but afterwards to derive if it be from terms stopt you may Gal. 2. ad glau c. 2. Galen saith You may divert the blood by bleeding in the arm or cupping the breasts and you may derive it by opening the ankle-vein and cupping upon the hips If there be choler purge it with Syrup of Roses Manna Rhubarb Diacatholicon and use not strong movers of the Terms Use Alterers and Coolers as Juleps and Emulsions and provoke sleep and if there be dotage give Narcoticks After the Universals use Repellers and Anodines As Take Housleek Purslane Lettice Venus-navel Vine leaves each half a handful boyl them in wine add Barly meal two ounces Pomegranate-flowers two drams boyl a dram with Oyl of Roses make a Pultis Or Take Diachylon simple two ounces juyce of Venus-navel and Plantane each half an ounce Oyl of Roses an ounce Sugar of Lead a dram make an Oyntment in a leaden Mortar Make Injections of the same Herbs or of Milk and rose-Rose-water Or Take Plantane Venus-navel Lettice each a handful red Roses two pugils boyl and add Oyl of Mirtles an ounce Rose-vinegar half an ounce make an Injection Make Clysters of the same Plants in a small quantity least they oppress the Womb. Take Althaea roots and ounce Mallows Violets Lettice each a handful Nightshade half a handful Violets Roses each a pugil sweet Prunes ten Linseed half a dram boil them in Barly water to six ounces add Oyl of Roses three ounces make a Clyster An anodine Fomentation Take roots of Althaea Mallows and Violets each a handful red Roses Melilot Chamomil-flowers each a pugil boil them for a Fomentation Or use a Cataplasm of white Bread and Milk In the progress dicuss As Take powder of Althaea roots an ounce Chamomil and Melilot flowers each two drams Mugwort half an ounce Barly and Bean flour each an ounce boyl them in sharp wine add Hogs-grease Oyl of Chamomil and Lillies each an ounce make a Cataplasm If the inflammation turn to matter ripen it As Take powder of Althaea roots Chamomil-flowers Melilot Linseed Foenugreek each an ounce Figgs eight boyl them add yelks of four Eggs and half a scruple of Saffron make a Pultis After it is ripe break it by motion of the body coughing neesing cupping or by Pessaries As Take Figgs an ounce Rue half a handful boyl them soft add Honey and Leaven each half an ounce Pidgeons dung Orris roots each half a dram with wool make a Pessary After it is broken the pain abates then clense and heal the ulcer as in Sect. 1. c. 8. of an ulcer of the womb If it break about the bladder give an Emulsion of cold Seeds Whey and Syrup of Violets Let the diet be cool with Barley-water warm Abstain from Wine to the declination of the disease let the belly still be kept loose Chap. 14. Of a Scirrhus and Cancer in the Womb. AN earthy matter left after an inflammation makes a hard tumor called a Scirrhus and sometimes it is without an inflammation It is a proper Scirrhus when there is neither sense nor pain it is improper when there is a little sense It is sometimes as big as
cutting out of the Child of which Hollerius inter rara no. 8. He speaks of a woman with child in Paris that her childs hand put forth at the Navel and was so in travel 15 dayes and both child and mother were safe The Prognostick It is evident if it be made by the Chirurgion in cutting out of a Child and you may know it by the place if it come otherwise There is blood and matter that flow out at the neck of the womb There is more pain when it is in the neck of the womb then when it is in the bottom These wounds are cured as appears by the Caesarean Birth or cutting but they are dangerous by reason of the strange Symptoms and the consent of the parts The Cure Use Consolidates or Healers and if there be pain Anodines or Pessaries made of Wax-candles dipt in Wound-Oyntments Or Take Wax Turpentine Goose-grease Butter each a Dram Honey Deers-marrow Oyl of Roses Bulls-grease each two drams Or Take Frankincense Mastich Ceruss Galbanum each half an ounce mix them all with white Wine then add Pompholix an ounce and with Wax and Oyl of Roses make an Oyntment Make Injections or Clysters for the Womb of the Decoction of round Birthwort Cypress boiled in steeled Water and sharp Wine with a little Hydromel Agrimony Mugwort Plantane Roses Schaenanth Horehound Chap. 19. Of Ulcers and Rottenness of the Womb. THough the neck of the womb be only subject to Ulcers as we shewed yet the substance of the womb hath been ulcerated and it hath been observed to rot when it hath fallen out and to fall away As we said of a Woman at Avinion that after lived some time And the Examples of Rousset shew that it may be safely cut off Also a child dead in the womb Lib. de part Caesar chir c. 76. may cause an Ulcer and divers Histories witness in Abucasis and Alexander Benedictus Mauritius Cordaeus and many others How these ulcers and rottenness of the womb are cured is said in sect 1. cap. 8. where we spake of Ulcers of the neck of the Womb and cap. 10. of Fistulaes of the Womb. Chap. 20. Of the Diseases of the Stones and Vessels of Procreation in VVomen IT is apparent by Histories written by grave and learned Men that the Stones of Women and their Seed-vessels are many times grievously distempered when the womb joyned to them is not Sometimes water is gathered about the stones In apprend ad Roussetum 2. de partu Caesar as Gasper Bauhinus John Schenkins write and he hath another History Lib. Obser 3. from John Heintz of a Maid that desired a little before she died that her body might be opened to testifie her innocency In which besides other things remarkable the stones were found swollen as big as a head of a young child blewish and spungy much water came out of them and that made her Belly swell and she taken to be with child but the truth appeared and her Chastity testified THE FOURTH BOOK THE SECOND PART Of the Symptoms in the Womb and from the Womb. Chap. 1. Of Weakness in the Womb. THere are many Symptoms from the Womb. Of those in the Womb the first is weakness so that it cannot perform its actions The action of the womb is twofold private and publick By its private action it makes its nourishment of blood that comes to it By its publick action it serves for generation If the private faculty be hurt and the nourishment not well made there is a superfluous moisture and then weakness without other faults of the Organ or unity divided The Causes The first Cause is distemper when the manifest qualities are changed or when the natural heat is suffocated or dispersed or when the occult qualities are changed Heat in the womb makes a distemper if it be too much by which the womb sucks more then it can concoct this is not properly weakness but that distemper is weakness when the action is either not done or weakly done But cold rather makes weakness in the womb by which it cannot make the sufficient quantity of nourishment hence excrements are heaped up and it cannot perform its actions Also a moist distemper makes weakness by which it can neither keep seed nor child It is also weak from loosness The Signs Little desire of Venery and no pleasure therein argue weakness of the womb flux of Seed often abortion Part 1. sect cap. 2. 3. pain in the Loins and Pubes when the Terms are coming farts from the Womb Head-ach and the like The signs of a cold and moist distemper with or without matter are already declared The Prognostick It is a great disease by reason of the divers Symptoms in women that have conception hurt It is worst when it comes from dispersing and extinguishing of the natural heat The Cure We have shewed how distempers of the womb are cured but the dispersing of the Spirits and natural heat is cured by things that hinder the loss of Spirits and strengthen the womb as Spices Cinnamon Cloves Nutmeg Mace Diacalaminth Aromaticum rosatum Diaxilaloes rosata Novella Treacle Mithridate Outwardly by Oyl of Lillies Nard Lavender and Astringents when the womb is loose Things that help the womb in the whole substance are in the Chapter of the cold and moist Distemper as Aqua vitae for Women Or thus Take Castor three ounces Saffron two ounces extract them singular add to both Extract of Mugwort two ounces of Angelica a dram Magistery of the mother of Pearl a dram Oyl of Cloves a scruple of Angelica and of Amber and of Nutmegs each half a scruple Let her eat meat of much nourishment and drink good Wine Chap. 2. Of the Itch of the Womb. THis is more in old then young women and must be distinguished from the Frenzy of the womb for here is only a desire to scratch the Privities so that they cannot sleep Nor is it with desire of Copulation as in the Fury of the Womb. It is a salt humor that is serous and adust that causeth it that is sent to the neck of the womb The Causes and the privities How it comes there I shewed in Ulcers of the Privities It is known by her Relation and often putting her hand to the Privities The Prognostick The Cure It is more troublesome then dangerous because it hinders sleep First purge the whole Body and if there are signs of Plethory and strength permits bleed in the Arm. Then qualifie the sharp salt humors with cold and moist means and remove them from the Privities Foment with a Decoction of Lettice Plantane Willow Dock-roots and then anoint with Galen's Cooler Or dip a Pessary in this Oyntment and put it in Or Take Allum Niter Sulphur each six drams Staphisacre an ounce with Rose-vinegar and fresh Butter make a Liniment If these will not Cure use stronger as the Oyntment of Elicampane with Quick-silver Or Take black
the Spleen be stopt Take Steel prepared a pound wash it with Vinegar then strain it and lay it on a Clout and add powder of Cloves half an ounce Let them stand so a day and a night then put them in a glassed Vessel and ten ounces of white Wine Diarrhodon Harts-tongue Senna and Caper-bark then stir them then set them in the Sun for a day or in an Oven Do this ten daies till the Steel be melted in the Wine and little or nothing at the bottom Give two ounces of this in the morning after purging and exercise Or Take Steel prepared an ounce Cinnamon Aniseeds each two drams Diamoschu without Musk a dram Sugar an ounce make a powder give a dram drink white Wine and mugwort-Mugwort-water after it Steeled Wine Take Steel in powder three ounces Cinnamon half an ounce white Wine three pints Set them in a close glass eight daies in the Sun stir them every day Give six or eight ounces four hours afore dinner for fifteen or twenty daies and walk after it At first give a Steel-medicine to prepare As Take Steel-filings four ounces put it in an Iron Crucible or Ladle then cast it into two pints of water of Hops Grass Madder Borage or Spring-water strain it and do so seven times Then Take so many ounces of new Steel and cast it into water as before strain and add Syrup of Violets Borage or Honey of Roses four ounces give three ounces in the morning after exercise Prepare thus three or four times and then use stronger After Steel use Scorzonera steept all night in Wine give it in the morning This hath cured Obstructions in many Mercatus Bezoar-stone saith Mercatus opens Obstructions in my Experience and resists Venom give six or seven grains Steel is best Spring and Fall purge and exercise before and after it that it may be better dispersed Use Preparatives Purges and strengthners often and for a long time and change the forms lost the Patient loath them If water spread about the body cool the body and make it heavy Use sweats as Baths natural or artificial of Mugwort Calamints Nep Danewort Sage Bayes Rosemary Mercury Ivy Briony-roots Orris Elicampane After purging and opening Obstructions all the Symptoms will vanish if not see for the Symptoms of the Womb. The Diet. Let the Air be temperately hot The Meat of good juyce and easie digestion Pot-herbs and green Fruits must be avoided Fish Milk Lettice Make Sauce with Sage and Cinnamon Drink Wine Let Bread be well leavened with Fennel-seed Drink no Water nor Broaths at first and in the declination of the disease use Exercise and Venery Let sleep be moderate Question 1. Whether may the Woman in this Disease be allowed the absurd things they long for They are Virgins or Women with child that long for such things Virgins must not be allowed them as Chalk c. For they will increase the disease Women with child must be pleased with fair words to abstain from them but if the appetite will not be allayed rather grant them then suffer an abortion or mark upon the Child Question 2. Is Motion and Exercise good in the Green-sickness They are better then idleness which heaps up crudities they raise the languishing heat in the Bowels and help the nourishment to be destributed therefore they are to be used before the disease be great and in the declination they discuss the humors But use moderation lest you weaken the body or choak them First therefore use Frictions then watching then more exercise after convenient purging Question 3. Whether is Venery good for Maids in the Green-sickness It is probable and agreeable to Reason and Experience that Venery is good Hippocrates bids them presently marry for if they conceive Hippocr lib. de morb virgin Lib. 1. ep 2. they are cured John Langius saith This disease comes in the ripeness of age or presently after Venery heats the womb and the parts adjacent opens and loosens the passages so that the terms may better flow to the womb But if there be a great Cacochymy take that away before she be married and then Venery may do more in Physick But use it not in the vigor of the Disease nor in weakness Question 4. Whether is Blood-letting good in this Disease A Cachexy beginning with coldness of the whole Body seem to deny bleeding and because the crude humors are in fault rather then blood Lib. de morb virg But Hippocrates adviseth bleeding at the first If it be a new disease and comes from stopt terms and blood abound that is stopt and not turned into another humour you may boldly bleed provided the strength permit and the passages be open But in an old disease when crude Flegm abounds bleed not for it will increase the Disease Chap. 3. Of Symptomes from the Womb and Mother-fits in general IT is not to be expressed what miserable diseases Women are subject to both Virgins and others from the womb and its consent with other parts For when terms or blood are stopt there are great Symptoms and while they putrifie or get evil qualities the Symptoms are grievous and almost unexpressible One woman may have divers Symptoms from the womb at the same time when the seed and terms are mixed with other humors after they are corrupted and there is more sometimes and such noble substance as seed and terms being corrupted are like poyson Gal. 6. de loc aff c. 5. The consent with other parts is from likeness of parts nearness or connexion of Vessels And because the womb is membranous it hath a great consent with the Membranes and Nerves Also the parts adjacent are easily infected And thirdly it hath consent with all the Body by Veins Arteries and Nerves It consents with the Brain by the Nerves and Membranes of the Back-marrow It consents with the Heart by the Arteries with the Liver by the Veins which are great in the Womb and therefore the blood and bad humors go back to the Liver It consents with the stomach by Anastomosis in the Veins of the Mesentery and by the Arteries through foul humors and vapors go from the womb to the Mesentery and Stomach It consents with the Spleen by the Arteries therefore many Women that had not their terms enough in their youth and have hot blood are after Hypochondriack and a Physitian can scarce distinguish these diseases of the Womb and Spleen nor cure them severally It consents with the Paps by Veins and Nerves and the Heart Diaphragma Head Brain and all the Organs of sense and motion with the Liver Spleen Stomach Belly Mesentery Bladder strait Gut Back Hips Arms and Legs and causeth Symptoms As Galen saith the Mother and Histerical passions in one name Gal. de loc aff c. 5. but hath under it innumerable Symptoms Chap. 4. Of Suffocation of the Womb. IN this they seem to be strangled And there are so many Symptoms at once that it is impossible to define
it by one Sometimes there is only short breath sometimes the animal actions are hurt the whole Body is cold from a malignant vapor sent up from the Womb. The Causes The immediate Cause is a vapour malignant and venomous sent up by the Arteries Veins and Nerves that hurt the actions of the parts it goes to This vapor is like air or wind thin and little but very strong to get presently through the whole Body It chiefly ascends to the Gullet and causeth choaking as eating of Mushrooms Hellebore and other poysons There is often short difficult breathing with Heart-ach Vomiting and Loathing If the vapor go first to the heart the motion of it ceaseth and there is swounding and she falls down If it go to the Brain the animal actions are hurt When seed and terms corrupt in the Womb with other bad humors they breed this evil vapor because they are the best substance and the beginning of generation they are worst when corrupted especially seed to hurt the whole Body Gal. cit 1. Sometimes it is in Women with child when they have not their after-purging but evil humors are left and corrupt in the Womb. The chief cause of this humor is in the trumpet of the womb and stones the body of which is hollow and loose the stones being in Bladders and have hollowness full of water which in hysterical women is yellow and thicker then ordinary Vesal de corp human Fabr. lib. 5. c. 15. This trumpet and the stones are often taken from the womb it self when they are swollen with corrupt seed and humors and wind and reach to the Navel of which in the Chapter of Ascent of the Womb. This disease is breeding sooner or longer as the matter is more or less sometimes corrupt humors lie still and if they be stirred they send a venom or vapor to the whole body Now in women subject to this disease sweet scents to the Nose or taken in or anger will move these humors and vapors They are according to the variety of the Symptoms and efficient cause or venomous humors The Differences for corrupt blood especially seed puts on another Nature That Suffocation is at hand The Signs it appears by laziness weakness of the Legs paleness sad countenance and the motion of something like a Ball in the Belly with noise like Frogs Snakes or Crows so that some think it is devillish There is also Belching Yawning Yexing short Wind Heart-beating Loathing Dulness Laughter at the coming of the fit from the vapor getting into the Membrane of the Breast that tickle them some cry some both laugh and cry These Symptoms increase when the fit comes and the Jaws are closed that she seems to be choaked and sense and motion is gone or depraved Some have Convulsions some hear what is done about them but cannot speak the pulse is less the whole body is cold and the Eyes shut as if they were dead When the fit declines humors flow from the Privities the Guts rumble the Eyes open the Cheeks grow red and the body warm the animal actions return and the Patient sighs and comes to her self It is known to be from corrupt seed if the terms are in order and short breath and low voice Suffocation and Convulsions and all Symptoms are then more vehement and at the end of the fit there flows a humour like seed out of the privities It is from the terms if they be stopt or flow not orderly and if there be a disease in the womb it is neither from the seed nor the terms The Prognostick 1. If there come Swounding or a great Convulsion or quenching of natural heat it is deadly 2. Suffocation from corrupt seed is more dangerous then that which is from the terms mixt with melancholick humors 3. The longer it lasts and the worse the Symptoms the more is the danger It ceaseth in young Women when they begin to bear children 4. The oftner the fit comes the more you may fear the quenching of the natural heat by weakning of the Heart often and if she foam at the mouth she dies The Cure of the Fit In the fit you must discuss the malignant vapors that rise from the womb and turn it from the principal parts and you must evacuate the matter that breeds it and prevent its return Call upon her loud pluck the hairs of her privities and Ears make strong Ligatures and Frictions cup the Legs and Thighs and Groyns hold stinks to the Nose as Partridge-feathers burnt hairs Leather Horn Castor Assa-foetida Galbanum Oyl of Amber Rue the warts on Horses legs dried and the powder upon coals burnt makes a Fume which if taken in the nose suddenly raised them Apply sweet Scents to the Privities as Civet Musk Gallia and Alipta moschata or powder of Cloves Or Take Storax calamita Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple make Troches with Gum traganth and let the Fume be taken into the VVomb by a Fennel A Liniment Take Storax Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple Civet four grains liquid Storax half a scruple with Cotton put it into the Womb. Clysters to discuss wind draw down the matter Take the Carminative Decoction a pint Electuary of Hiera six drams Benedicta laxativa an ounce Oyl of Rue and Bayberries each a dram Use VVomb-clysters and Pessaries to women that have known man Take Electuary of Hiera and Diaphaenicon each two drams Turpentine half an ounce Honey of Mercury an ounce Castor half a dram with Wooll make a Pessary Oyl of Tin applied to the Navel doth remove the fit Or Rue Castor and sneesing Powders As Take white Hellebore half a scruple long Pepper and Ginger each half a dram or put Oyl of Amber into the Nose and Ears Apply to the VVomb this Take Oyl of Rue Bayes each two ounces Cummin-seed Castor dissolved in Vinegar each two drams with Wax make a Liniment Or use a Plaister of Galbanum Castor and Assa-foetida A Compound distilled VVater Take Zedoary Parsnep-seeds Lovage-roots each two ounces Mirrh Castor each half an ounce Piony-roots four ounces Misleto of the Oak gathered in the wain of the Moon three ounces and water of Motherwort four ounces and half Spirit of Wine a pint and half steep them eight daies distil and give a spoonful with Tile-flower or Mugwort-water or Oyl of Amber some drops Or Take Castor Assa-foetida each a scruple Pepper half a scruple with syrup of Mugwort make Pills give three The Cure out of the Fit First prevent the seed from corrupting in the womb and if it be corrupt evacuate it presently with Womb-Clysters and Pessaries then disperse the reliques and strengthen the womb But first give a general Purge that is gentle often and use things that prevent the breeding of Seed Strengthen with Plaisters and Oyntments to the Region of the Womb. As Take liquid Storax two drams Avens Agnus castus seeds Angelica each half a dram
Chap. 5. Of the Symptoms in Women with Child in the middle Months THey are cough heart-beating fainting watching pains in the loyns and hips and bleeding 1. The cough is from a sharp vapor that comes to the jaws and rough artery from the terms or from a thin part of that blood gotten into the veins of the breast or falling from the head to the breast This endangers abortion and strength fails from watching therefore purge the humors that fall from the head to the breast with Rhubarb Agarick and strengthen the head as in a Catarrh and give sweet Lenitives as in a Cough 2. Palpitation of heart and fainting is from vapors that go to it by the arteries or from blood that aboundeth and cannot get out at the womb but ascends and oppresseth the heart Use Cordials as in Syncope inwardly and outwardly If it be from too much blood as in Plethory open a vein 3. Watching is from dry sharp vapors that trouble the animal Spirits Then use Frictions and wash the feet at bed time and give Syrup of Poppies dryed Roses Emulsions of sweet Almonds and white Poppy-seeds 4. There is pain in the loyns and hips from the weight of the child or from the terms stopt or growth of the child that stretcheth the ligaments of the womb and parts adjacent if there be Plethory bleed If it be from weight of the child hold it up with swathing Bands about the neck 5. There is flux of bood at the womb nose or Hoemorrhoids from plenty or from the weakness of the child that takes it not in or from evil humors in the blood that stir up nature to send it forth Also the vessels of the Womb may be broken or torn by motion fall cough or trouble of mind This is dangerous 5. Aphor. 60. of which Hippocrates saith The child cannot be well if it be from blood only there is less danger so it flows by the veins of the neck of the womb for it takes away Plethory or take not nourishment from the child If it be from the weakness of the child that draws it not abortion often follows or hard travel or she goes beyond her time If it flow by the inward veins of the womb there is more danger by the openness of the womb If it come from evil blood the danger is alike from Cacochymy which is like to fall upon both If there be Plethory open a vein warily and use astringents As Take Pearls prepared a scruple red Coral two scruples Mace Nutmegs each a dram Cinnamon half a dram make a powder or with Sugar Rouls or give this powder in Broth. Take red Coral a dram Pearl half a dram pretious Stones each half a scruple red Sanders half a dram Bole a dram sealed Earth Tormentil-roots each two scruples with Sugar of Roses and Manus Christi with Pearl six drams make a powder You may strengthen the child at the navel If there be Cacochymy alter the humors and if you may evacuate You may use Amulets in the hands and about the neck In flux of Haemorrhoids beware of the pain Let her drink hot Wine with a roasted Nutmeg Chap. 6. Of the Symptomes that are in the last Months 1. THe Urin is stopt from suppression of the neck of the bladder Let her then lye down and let the bladder be fomented with a Bag of Pellitory Parsly-roots Mallows Linseed and the like or use the Catheter 2. The belly is bound from a hot and dry Liver when the child draws all the moisture to it or presseth the guts Let her then use Moistners as Butter Mallows Borage in Broaths or that Clysters in a small quantity 3. The veins appear in the hips and legs as varicous only then keep them from walking and let their feet be laid upon a stool 4. The legs swell from serous blood but this goes away with the After-birth and is the signs of a female child but if she cannot walk foment with Lye made of Vine branches and Wine or with a Decoction or Organ Penny-royal Chamomile Calamints Or Take Bean and Lupine-flour each two ounces Tartar an ounce Pidgeons-dung half an ounce with steeled-water and juyce of Coleworts make a Pultis Rub and wash the feet with salt water in which Chamomil Organ and Dill were boyled 5. The skin of the belly is cleft with stretching after the fourth month therefore use loosning Liniments to keep off deformity as marrow of Veal and Sheeps-legs Oyl of sweet Almonds Hens-grease 6. The water gathered in time of being with Child between the membranes that hold the Child comes forth too soon because the membranes are broken by leaping or a contusion This makes difficult birth for that water was to moisten the parts Therefore let her keep a good diet and strengthen the child inwardly and outwardly Chap. 7. Of Weakness of the Child THis is either from weak seed or little nourishment or bad and causeth many diseases in the child To hinder abortion and death of the child know rightly the weakness as Hippocrates saith 5. Aph. 53. They that will abort have first breasts that fall away which is from want of nourishment in the common veins of the womb and breasts 5. Aph. 52. Hippocrates hath a second sign which is this If a Woman with child hath much milk flowing from her breast her child is weak 3. Hippocr 5. aph 56. If the terms flow often the nourishment is taken from the child 4. A mother often and long being sick shews that her child is weak because her blood is not good and the bad humors with the blood go to nourish the child which makes him sick 5. When the mother hath a flux of the belly the child is weak 6. When it begins to move and is scarce felt it is weak If it be from these causes take them away and strengthen the child first seed the mother high with meats of good juyce and sweet Almonds steept in Honey Raisins Quinces outwardly thus Take Malmsey three pints dissolve it in Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half an ounce add powder of Cloves Rue each half an ounce Rose Sage Marjoram penny-royal-Penny-royal-water each a pint Aqua-vitae three ounces Dip Spunges in it and apply them under the left breast to the arm-pits hams pulses soles of the feet and when they dry wet them again Chap. 8. Of Crying in the Womb. CHildren have sometimes cryed in the womb as Fabricius saith in his Epistle to his Brother James Fincel and Weinridick of Monsters writes thus In this City of Bressa a Child was heard to cry in the Womb three daies before the Travel when he was a man he was miserable with poverty and diseases till he died Andreas Libavius writes the same and others Some say It portends evil to the Mother or Child or Countrey It is a voice by the expulsion of the air through the rough artery The Causes and some air may in the cavities from vapors or spirits as in
make a Pessary The stronger are of the Decoction of wild Cowcumber Coloquintida Staphisacre Hellebore Honey and gall of an Ox. Fumes are made of Cassia lignea Nard Mugwort Savin Penny-royal Dittany Or Take Myrrh Castor Galbanum each half a dram Opopanax Cinnamon each a dram with Honey make Troches for to be burnt Then foment the Belly with the Decoction of those Plants Or Take Lupine-meal an ounce powder of Wormwood half an ounce Mirrh Rue each three drams with Ox-gall and Honey make a Cataplasm If it come not forth give a Womb-clyster of the Decoction of Sage Mugwort Mercury Calamints Penny-royal If all fail inject things to suppurate into the womb and let it be turned to matter and come out by degrees and inject strengtheners into the womb Of the Mole left after Child-bearing You may know it by the signs of a Mole mentioned she hath no ease after travel there is pain in the navel back and groyns and much clotted blood comes away and yet she hath no ease the Cure is mentioned before in the Mole Chap. 3. Of the Purgation after Child-bearing diminished or detained THis is not alike in all women for in some women the blood is fresh in others it is waterish cholerick or melancholick And some bleed more then others according to the constitution and Countrey It is either not at all or too much or too little The Causes When they are stopt or lessened the vessels are too strait or the blood flows another way or it is too thick or the vessels of the womb are pressed from its position the blood is drawn away by passions fears or goes hastily to the breasts The Signs The just quantity is not to be defined when it is stopt the belly swells the pain is in the bottom of the belly and groyns there is chilness and a Feaver after it fainting weak swift unequal pulse there is soot in the urin Sometimes the belly inflamed or she voids blew or black clodds or blood The Prognostick Gal. 1. epid com 3. t. 21. The Cure It is bad of it self to have any thing left after Child-bearing and worse if it staies long and grows melancholick therefore it is a cause of many diseases First endeavor to evacuate the blood from the womb by Frictions Ligatures and Cupping if they will not do open a vein in the foot Then open the passages with external and internal meats anoint the Belly with loosning Oyls or foment thus Take Lilly-roots Birthwort Briony Angelica each half an ounce Mercury Mugwort Penny-royal Savin Calamints each a handful Tansey Chamomil and Elder-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each two drams bruise them grosly and put them in a bag and boyl them in Water and Wine lay it to the Privities and bottom of the Belly Give emollient Clysters and if some dayes are past purge with Agarick Rhubarb Senna Or Take Lilly-roots Althaea each half an ounce Birthworts two drams Pellitory Mercury Althaea each a handful Calamints Chamomil Elder-flowers each two pugils Foenugreek and Linseed each two drams boyl them to ten ounces strained add Oyl of Dill Lillies each an ounce Hiera simple half an ounce Oyntment of Sowbread three drams make a Clyster Or give Pessaries that provoke the Terms Give things to melt and attenuate the blood As Take opening Roots three drams Bettony Maiden-hair Endive Schoenanth each two pugils Anise Fennel-seed each a scruple red Pease a spoonful boyl them to a pint and half add Cinnamon-water two drams syrup of the five Roots three ounces give four ounces Chap. 4. Of too great a flux of blood after Child-bearing THat is too much which makes weak It is blood abounding which hath been gathered nine months in the womb The Causes It is thick or spends the Spirits and weakens The Signs There is loathing of meat pain the Hypochondria belly-ach weak and often pulse dark sight noise in the ears fainting and Convulsion It is dangerous when long The Prognostick Hippoc. 9. aphor 55. The Cure and with fainting and Convulsion Therefore observe the Pulse lest she dye suddenly See what strength she hath and stop it not suddenly If it be not very great order a dyet of roasted Hens basted with red Wine or Pomegranate of Starch Almonds Rice Quinces Conserve of Roses steeled Water and make Revulsions use gentle things and strengthen the loose passages Anoint the belly with Oyl of Roses Mirtles cup under the breasts and sides without scarrification Apply a Cataplasm of red Roses Bole and Rose-water to the Liver Then use stronger and give a higher diet often in small quantity and give Syrups to stop blood As Take old Conserve of Roses two ounces of Tormentil an ounce of Quinces without species half an ounce Bole red Coral each half a dram with syrup of Currans and Coral make an Electuary Anoint the belly with the Oyntment of the Countess and other Astringents or use Astringent Fomentations or let her take into the womb a Fume of Mastich Frankincense red Roses c. Then open a vein in the arm and let blood by degrees See Sect. 2. Chap. 6. Of Overflowing of the Terms Chap. 5. Of the pains after Travel and torments in the Belly THese are not in the body and bottom of the womb but in the vessels and membranes by which the womb hangs and that goes to the sides and belly The Causes They are from a constant labour in travel when the bottom of the womb is pricked to send forth from cold air let into it or clotted blood detained or sharp blood sticking to the womb and pricking it The Signs They are in the womb it self you may know if they came from cold by what hath been done and clotted blood will manifest it self The Prognostick The Cure They weaken much and are very troublesome therefore they must be abated First take away the cause or abate the pain and make that which hurts the womb fit to be evacuated by these Pills Take Cinnamon a dram Saffron a scruple Diacymini Diagalangal Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder give a dram in Penny-royal or cinnamon-Cinnamon-water Or Take of Cummin-seed steept in Spirit of Wine and dried again a dram Ameos-seed and Ginger each half a dram Cinnamon a scruple Castor half a scruple make a Powder If she faint add Cordial Waters As Take Diacyminum a dram Diamargariton frigid Citron-peels Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder If she be cholerick or the humor thin and sharp cure it as a Cholick from Choler As Take Syrup of Violets Borage each an ounce Mucilage of Quince-seeds made with violet-Violet-water half an ounce water of Borage Scorzonera each two ounces give it at twice Extenuate the humors and loosen the passages outwardly Take Bean-flour Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce Chamomil-flowers and Cummin-seeds each half an ounce boyl them in Oyl of Lillies for a Cataplasm You may fume the womb with Decoctions of Herbs Chap.
if as oft as they lie in they have no milk and the breasts are small and wrinkled or if Medicines to keep down the breasts have been applied she will tell you or if it be from weakness of the child or passions of mind The inconvenience is little to the Nurse The Prognostick but great to the Child therefore get another Nurse or cure her To breed milk The Cure give things that breed much and good blood of easie concoction Medicines to breed milk are Fennel-roots and all green things that heat and are not very dry which are few but infinite are they that hinder milk as things hot and dry and cold things These increase Milk Roots of Smallage Seeds of Parsley Dill Basil Anise Rocket Earth-worms washt in juyce of Fennel and dried or burnt in a pot a dram or two fasting for some mornings or Crystal or Milk-stone a dram Compounds are Take green Fennel Parsley each a handful Barley two pugils red Pease half an ounce boyl them and with Sugar sweeten them or in Chicken-broath Or Take green Fennel six drams Barley two pugils boyl them in Broath and strain them Or Take Fennel-seed six drams Anise a dram and half Rocket-seed half a dram give a dram or two in Broath Or Take Cows Udder sliced dry it in an Oven and powder it Take half a pound of it Anise Fennel-seed each an ounce Cummin-seed two ounces Sugar four ounces make a Powder Hot Fomentations open the Breast and attract Blood as the Decoction of Fennel Smallage or stampt Mints applied Or Take Fennel and Parsley green each a handful boyl and stamp them add Barley-meal half an ounce Gith-seeed a dram Storax calamite two drams Oyl of Lillies two ounces make a Pultis A Dropax and Synapisme or Plaister of Mustard are good if often changed Chap. 2. Of too much Milk THis is when much blood flows to the Breasts and the Mother will not give suck or weans the Child for the Infant cannot suck it as fast as it breeds when there is much blood and good breasts that cannot make Milk The Prognostick Arist. 7. De hist ani c. 12. The Cure If Milk be kept and cannot be sucked out by the Child these are swellings inflammations pains curdlings and corruption Children that suck much if they be full bodied have a Convulsion The first coming of Milk is not to be stopt but when there is more then the Child can suck it is abated with a slender diet of little nourishment as Barley Pot-herbs-water By letting blood or cupping or by Repellers to the veins under the arms above the breasts Mints Calamints Smallage Agnus-castus Coriander Hemlock to abate Milk Mints and Smallage are doubted Compounds Take Smallage Mints Mallows Mercur. Plat. Dioscor dissentiunt each a handful Foenugreek Cummin-seed each half an ounce Chamomil Melilot-flowers each a pugil boyl them and foment add a little Wine or make a Pultis of them with Bean-flour and Oxymel Or Take Cummin-seed boyl it in Vinegar and with a Spunge foment They which will not give suck let them foment with this Decoction Take Mallows Bays Fennel Smallage Parsley Mints each half a handful anoint after with Oyl Omphacine Then take Turpentine washed with Wine and rose-Rose-water three ounces Eggs two or three Saffron a scruple with Wax make a Plaister with a hole in the middle repeat it alwayes before Supper If you fear inflammation by too great a flux of Milk repel with a Cataplasm of Lettice Water-Lillies Poppies Housleek Or Take Turpentine washt with Mint-water three ounces Cummin-seed Orris Mints each half an ounce Saffron a scruple with Wax make a Cerot Chap. 3. Of Curdling and other faults in the Milk IF it stay long in the breasts the thin evaporates and the thick remains and hardens the kernels hence are hard tumors because the cheesie part of the Milk is apt to harden Sometimes Milk is too thick or too thin sharp salt or the like The Signs The tumor from Milk curdled is known by the plenty of Milk retained that make clefts and pain and little tumors The Prognostick The Cure If curdled Milk be strong in the Breasts it easily turns to an Imposthume and Inflammation To hinder curdling Take Powder of Mints Coriander-seed each two ounces Oyl of Dill an ounce with Wax make a Liniment Or Take Oyl of Mints Chamomil Dill Rue each an ounce To dissolve curdled Milk Take Fennel-roots Eryngus each an ounce Mints a handful green Fennel half a handful Aniseed a dram boyl them to a pint add Syrup of the two Roots and Oxymel each two ounces Foment with the Decoction of Fennel Dill Southernwood Chamomil Melilot-flowers Fenugreek Linseed Parsley-seed Smallage or stamp them or Mints with Butter and apply it If it be hard Take Mints Colewort Bran each a handful boyl them in Vinegar and apply them Or Take juyce of Smallage Dill Coleworts each a handful boyl them soft and bruise them add powder of Mirrh Orris each two drams Saffron a dram Oyl of Rue an ounce Vinegar an ounce and half make a Pultis Chap. 4. Of Milk coming forth at wrong places MIlk hath been known to come forth with the Urin or by the Womb by which passage is the doubt the short way is from the Breasts-veins to the Epigastrick-veins from the Epigastrick to the Hypogastrick and so to the Womb rather then from the Pap-veins to the breast-veins and so the Hypogastrick and so to the womb Chap. 5. Of strange things coming forth of the Breasts SOmetimes matter comes forth of the Nipples when they have long ulcers Schenkius lib. 2. ex observat Bauhini Amat Lusit cent 2. cur 21. and after the ulcer is healed it ceaseth Sometimes the Terms have come forth of the Breasts at set Periods of which Hippocrates When Blood comes forth at the Nipples there is Madness Amatus Lusitanus knew two Noble Women that were so and not Mad. And Hippocrates doth not speak of the Terms but of other blood that is hot and flies to the Head and causeth Madness and part of it goes to the Breast and causeth pain and inflammation which shews madness at hand It is cured by opening the Saphena in the Foot to revel the blood The Cure Chap. 6. Of the change of colour in the Nipples and pain of the Breasts THe change of colour in the Nipples is not a sign of the loss of Virginity for they are blew in them that give suck black in old women and in them that have known Venery it is natural and red as a Strawberry Now because there is a great consent between the Womb and Breasts if the Womb be distempered the Nipples are discoloured The pain in the breasts is from stretching by much milk and inflammation or from corrosion and twitching from sharp matter as in the Cancer and other Ulcers The cause of the pain is known from the distemper If it be from much milk it is a gentle
add Camphire a scruple Saffron half a dram with Oyl of Chamomil make a Pultis Snuff this Water often Take Nutmegs Cloves Cubebs each a scruple Calamus Frankincense-bark each half a dram marjoram-Marjoram-water three ounces drop hot Oyls into the Ears If in twenty dayes the water be not gone open the skull and let out the water by degrees and take heed of cold The tumor of wind in the skin of the head or membranes of the brain is seldom without water which breeds wind Use Discussers that make thin as Chamomil Rue Organ c. Chap. 7. Of Syriasis IT is from Aetius a disease with a Feaver Tetra 1. serm 4. c. 13. or an inflammation of the membranes and the brain so that there is a hollowness of the eyes and forehead It is from flegmatick blood that grows hot by putrefaction and so becomes like choler The Causes The remote causes are hot weather and milk full of wind from the evil dyet of the Nurse Such milk will make the child drunk and cause the inflammation Heat of the fore-head and hollowness there The Signs redness of face a Feaver driness no appetite watching The hollowness in the fore-part of the head is where the Sagital and Coronal sutures meet for there the bones are membranous and grow at last hard It is dangerous The Prognostick and counted deadly among women and as often as this bone or membrane falls there is a pit and the brain falls down they commonly dye in three days The Cure First give a Clyster of Syrup of Roses or Violets then Coolers of the juyce and water of Lettice Guords Melons or apply a Pumpion split in two But cool not the brain too much anoint with Oyl of Roses Or Take Oyl of Roses half an ounce Populeon an ounce the white of an Egg and of the Emulsion of cold Seeds drawn with Rose-water two drams After the flux is stopt and the Inflammation abated use Discussers As Take Oyl of Chamomil an ounce and half of Dill half an ounce with the yolk of an Egg. Let the Nurses dyet be cooling or the milk be changed let it not be vexed Chap. 8. Of Frights in the Sleep 3. Aphor. 24. HIppocrates saith this is often the cause is unclean vapors mixed with the animal spirits that disturb them and present horrible objects to the fancy They arise from the depraved concoction of the stomach in full feeding children that eat more then they can digest These vapors ascend not only by the weasand but by the veins to the head It comes often from worms also or corrupt humors that gnaw the mouth of the stomach The Signs They grown in their sleep and twitch and being frighted out of sleep they cry their breath is hot and often stinking The Prognostick Cure it presently for it is the fore-runner of an Epilepsie Give good Milk and less The Cure that the stomach be not over-charged Let it not sleep presently after food but carry it about till it is in the bottom of the stomach Use Oyl of sweet Almonds or Honey of Roses two spoonfuls to cleanse the stomach Then strengthen it with Magistery of Coral or Confection of Hyacinths with Milk Or Take Magistery of Coral a dram Diaplerers a scruple with Sugar dissolved in Rose-water an ounce make Rouls Anoint the stomach with Oyl of Nard Wormwood Mints Mastich Nutmegs If it be from a Feaver look to that If from Worms I shall after speak of it Some hang Coral and Wolves-teeth about the childs neck Chap. 9. Of great Watching A Child new born sleeps more then he wakes because his brain is very moist and he used to sleep in the womb If you cannot make him sleep by singing or rocking nor the like it is a Disease Are divers in men and children The Causes in these it is from milk corrupt in the stomach from which sharp humors arise and disturb the animal Spirits and infect them and if there be sad fancies frights follow of which before If it cries alwayes The Signs and cannot by any art be made to sleep it is a sign of a disease of watching which is dangerous because children use to sleep much And hence come Catarrhs Convulsions Driness and Feavers The bad milk must be amended The Cure and the corrupt meat prevented If it be from a Feaver or Pain remove them 1. De tuen c. 8. Galen adviseth you often to change the bed and place Sleeping Medicines are not safe but hurt but are rather to be given the Nurse moderately as sweet Almonds Lettice Poppy-seeds Wash the Feet with Decoction of Dill-tops Chamomil-flowers Sage Osiers Vine-leaves Poppy heads Cool not the head too much nor use Narcoticks These are safe Oyl of Dill to the Temples Oyl of Roses with Oyl of Nutmegs with Poppy-seed Breast-milk Rose or Nightshade-water with Saffron In great driness of the Brain let the covering of the Cradles head be wet Chap. 10. Of Epilepsie and Convulsion IT is either by consent from parts below when the milk corrupts in the stomach or from an ill quality in it from the Nurses bad diet or from worms in the guts or from vapors from bad humors that twitch the membranes of the brain as in the Meazles and small Pox. It is sometimes from the brain first as when the humors are bred in the brain that cause it either from the parents or from distemper or bad dyet It may come from Tooth-ach also when the brain consents and from a sudden fright The Signs It is manifest You shall know by the signs of the diseases whether it comes from bad milk worms or teeth If from a fright the people will tell you If these all are absent it is certain that the brain is first affected The Prognostick It is a great disease and kills for the most part young children But when in older Hippo. 58. Aph. 7. and it comes at a distance it vanisheth by age If it come with Pox or Meazles it ceaseth when they come forth if Nature be strong enough Give this Powder to prevent it The Cure to a child as soon as it is born Take male Piony-roots gathered in the decrease of the Moon a scruple Magistery of Coal half a scruple with Leaf-gold make a Powder Or Take Piony-roots a dram Piony-seeds Misleto of the Oak Elkes-hoof Mans-skull Amber each a scruple Musk two grains make a Powder The Florentines burn behind in the head to dry the brain and Celsas saith It is the last Remedy Lib. 3. c. 25. Lib. 3. c. 13. Aeginta saith That children cannot endure such cruelty for the pain and watching would kill them See Sylvaticus The best part of the cure in the Nurses diet Sylvatic contro 87. which must not be disordered If it be from corrupt milk provoke vomit thus hold down the tongue and put a quill dipt in sweet Almonds down the throat If it
Conserve of red Roses two drams red Coral and Mastich each a scruple give it presently Use the Countesses Oyntment outwardly to the Loyns Reins Pecten and Perinaeum Or Take Oyl of Roses Mirtles Mastich Quinces each two ounces Oyl of Mints an ounce Bdellium dissolved in Vinegar liquid Storax each two ounces Oyl of Nutmegs by expression a dram with Wax make an Oyntment Of the same with Pitch Rosin Colophony you may make Plaisters Let her hold a Load-stone in her hand or tie it to her navel or wear an Eagle-stone under her Arm-pits or Coral Jaspar Smaragds Diamonds If these will not keep the Child up you must give over Astringents and use Lenitives Question Whether the straitness of the Womb is the cause of Abortion Hippocrates 1. de morb saith Lib. de super lib. de steril That the Womb may cause Abortion if they be windy thick great or little And he shews in another place That Abortion may be from the straitness of the womb And in another place he saith 3. De nat fac c. 12. If a woman in the third fourth or fifth month miscarry often and at the same time it is because the womb will not stretch And Galen confirms the same and it stands to reason for natural birth is when the womb cannot contain the child for its growth Therefore if it be preternaturally too little it is the cause of Abortion And though Nature hath made the womb to hold the child yet if it be not made large enough it cannot contain it so the stomach is sometimes so strait that it cannot hold an indifferent quantity of meat as others can Chap. 3. Of the Signs of Natural Birth and the manner and government of such as bring forth AT her time of her being to be delivered let her take heed of astringents and thickners but let her eat meat of easie concoction and of good juyce and sit every fourth day in a hot Bath Of Mallows Foenugreek Linseed Mugwort and Chamomil-flowers and after let her back loyns belly and privities be anointed with the Mucilage of Althaea-seed and Oyl of Lillies and let the child be strengthned But when she hath pains from the navel to the groyns and in the back then the ligaments and vessels are broken by which the child grows to the womb And because the Womb violently strains to discharge it the membranous fibres are extended and commonly there are very great pains and throws or the child will not be born and it is an evil sign when throws cease because the expulsive faculty is weakned And let not the Midwife provoke throws till the time When the Membranes are broken the water flows out that comes from the urin and sweat of the child first little then more then waterish blood and the orifice of the womb begins to open to let out the child And before this time you must not provoke throws Then let the Midwife put her finger into the orifice of the womb and she shall perceive something round and hard as an Egg. Let her not lie on her back flat but with her back up that she may breathe more freely After the child is born you must press the blood in the Navel-vessels towards the navel of the Infant and take heed that you lose not much blood in cutting of the Navel-string for it hath destroyed weak children and you must labour to fetch out the Secundine with the child and if it be in the womb anoint your hands with warm Oyl and put them into the womb and fetch it out Chap. 5. Of Natural hard Travel THough Child-bearing since Eves sin is ordained to be painful as a punishment thereof yet sometimes it is more painful then ordinary The first is from the mother The Causes and the expulsive faculty 2. From the Child 3. From the passage From the mother as when the womb is weak and the mother is not active to expel from weakness or diseases or want of spirits of which Hippocrates It is from the Birth when they are Twins or more and both strive to go forth at a time 5. Aphor. 55. or if the child stick to a Mole or be so weak that it cannot break the membrane or if it be too big all over or in the head only or if the Navel-vessels are twisted about his neck It is from the passages when the membranes are thick the orifice too strait Fabric cent 3. obs 57. and the neck of the womb is not open sufficiently as in such as labour of the first child or are very fat The passages are pressed and straitned by tumors in the adjacent parts or when the bones are too firm and will not open then the mother and child are both in danger or when the passages are not slippery or when they are broken too soon by reason of the thin membranes or the water flows forth sooner then it ought You may know hard travel by faint throws The Signs that come at a great distance And you must consider all things concerning the Mother Womb and child The Prognostick In hard Travel the mother and child are in danger and the Perinaeum sometimes breaks with the skin from the Privities to the Arse-hole If a woman be four dayes in Travel the child scarce escapes The Cure All things that move the Terms are good to make easie delivery As Myrrh white Amber in white Wine or Lilly-water two scruples or a dram some give a drop of Oyl of Amber in Vervain-water or a scruple of mineral Borax or half a dram but begin with gentle things as a spoonful of Cinnamon-water Or Take Cassia Lignea Dittany each a dram Cinnamon half a dram Saffron a scruple make a Powder give a dram Or Take Borax mineral a dram Cassia Lignea a scruple Saffron six grains give it in Sack Or Take Cassia Lignea a dram Dittany Amber each half a dram Cinnamon Borax each a dram and half Saffron a scruple give half a dram Or give some drops of Oyl of Hazel in convenient Liquor or two or three drops of Oyl of Cinnamon in vervain-Vervain-water some prepare the secundine thus Take the Navel-string and dry it in an Oven Take two drams of the Powder Cinnamon a dram Saffron half a scruple with juyce of Savin make Troches give two drams or wash the Secundine in Wine and bake it in a pot then wash it in Endive-water and wine Take half a dram of it long Pepper Galangal each half a dram Plantane and Endive-feed each a dram and half Lavender-seed four scruples make a Powder Or Take Labdanum two drams Storax calamite Benzoin each half a dram Musk and Amber-grease each six grains make a Powder or Troches for a fume Or use Pessaries to provoke the Birth Take Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar an ounce Myrrh two drams Saffron a dram with Oyl of Orris make a Pessary An Oyntment for the Pecten and Navel Take Oyl of Keir two ounces juyce of
prevent Symptomes To take away pain and strengthen the parts foment with the Decoction of Mugwort Mallows Rosemary Wormwood Mirtles St. Johns-wort each half an ounce Sperma Ceti two drams Deers-suet an ounce with Wax make an Oyntment Or Take Wax four ounces Sperma Ceti an ounce melt them dip Flax therein and lay it all over the belly In some Countries women will not permit these but leave all to God Chap. 9. Of the Caesarean-Birth THe belly and womb are cut sometimes to take out the child and this is called the Caesarean-Birth and they that live are called Caesar It is done in three cases 1. When the child is dead and the woman alive 2. When the woman is dead and the child alive 3. When both mother and child are alive This is seldom because either Medicines do it or it is taken out by other Chyrurgery or the work is left to Nature Enchirid. consul medic p. 188. Mathias Cornax hath a History of one that carried a dead child in her belly four years it was taken out by cutting the womb and belly and the mother lived and conceived with child after she fainted not at the time and the wound grew together without stitching and her terms after came in good order and she had a lusty Boy till the second of June The Surgeons that had cut her afore were sent for and the old orifice was open and the mother and the women present would not yield to the second cutting Therefore her strength failed and the Chyrurgion took out a compleat child but it was dead There are more Histories of live children cut out of their mothers bellies being dead And Roderick à Castro saith Pin. lib. 7. hist. nat c. 90. Rod. à Castry lib. 4. de morbis mul. c. 1. Augen lib. 5. epit 2. 11. That an Infant cannot live in the Mothers womb being dead except it be taken out at the very time of her departure or while there are vital Spirits because when the motion and life of the mother ceases the life of the child also ceaseth yet is his Argument of no force because the child hath its proper Soul and if it be well it may live a while in the womb without benefit from the mother as it doth when it is delivered But take heed it be not suffocated in the womb and keep the mothers mouth open and let the Midwife never move her hand from the Privities Lib. 3. de disect part cor hum c. 1. till the Chyrurgion have taken it out and you may know that the child is alive when the mother is dead by its leaping Charles Stephens shews the way of taking out a dead child When a live child is cut out of the belly of a live mother it is done only lest the mother or child or both should die And this may be done and both preserved alive which is plainly demonstrated by Francis Rousset in his Book of this subject so that there is no doubt of it For first he shews the necessity of the Operation and next the possibility of it shewing that the muscles of the belly the Peritonaeum and Womb may be cut without hazard of life Thirdly He confirms by History what he proved by reason and shews that many wounds of the muscles in the lower belly Peritonaeum and Womb have been cured Fourthly He propounds many more dangerous cases then the Caesarean Section which were not deadly in themselves And then he shews the manner of the operation and how it is to be done Therefore have recourse to his works if thou wilt learn it THE FOURTH BOOK THE SEVENTH SECTION Of the Government of Women in Child-bed of the Diseases that come after Travel Chap. 1. Of the Government of Women in Child-bed PResently after she is delivered labour to make the After-birth follow of which in the Chapter following then compose her in Bed and give her good Food Let the Air be temperate rather hot then cold Let her beware of Cold that it get not into the Womb it will cause torment and inflammations If Travel be hard anoint the belly and sides with Oyl of sweet Almonds Lillies and warm Wine Let her meat be of a good juyce and easie concoction Hen-broath and Chickens and Capons Kid Mutton Veal let her drink thin Wine if there be no Feaver or Cinnamon boyled in water the first daies drunk warm Let there be no noise about her and let her not rise too soon avoid passions lest the humors be stirred and fall into some part If she cannot or will not suckle her child turn the milk from the breast by repellers under the Arm-pits as Unguent of Roses Cerot of Sanders dissolved in Vinegar and to the breasts apply a Cataplasm of Bean and Orobus-flour with Oxymel or foment the breasts with the decoction of Mints Dill Smallage or lay the leaves bruised upon them Before she goes forth let her bathe with a Decoction of Lilly-roots Elicampane Mugwort Agrimony Borage Rosemary Chamomil-flowers Stoechas Faenugreek Linseed Citron-peels Chap. 2. Of the Secundine or After-birth or a Mole that is left after Child-bearing THese stick in the bottom of the womb or like a ball to another part the mouth of the womb being open or closed It is not safe to cut the After-birth from the The Causes Navel till both be come forth therefore draw it out with breaking of the Navel-string this is retained because it grows to the sides of the womb or is swollen by hard travel or because the Navel-string is broken by the Infants straining or from cold air got in or from a fright or from her not having throws fit to exclude it or because she is impatient and will not continue in a due posture The Signs The Midwife will declare it and the purgation is not the belly swells there is a Feaver and heaviness and pain in the belly there is a stink and loathing from stinking vapors difficult breathing Suffocation and Convulsion The Prognostick Many die from the retaining of it if it cannot come forth when matter flows from the womb there is hope that they will rot and come away in sixty daies The Cure First let the Midwife draw it gently with her hand and use sneesing then burn Partridge-feathers to the nose and Goats-hoofs as in the suffocation of the Womb. Then use things that expel a dead child Dittany Oyl of wood Heracleon after Preparatives Or Take Marjoram Chervil Penny-royal each a handful Savin half a handful Anise and Fennel-seed each half a dram Lovage and Parsley-roots each three drams boyl them in water for three draughts Or Take Dittany Troches of Myrrh Borax each half a dram Saffron Castor each a scruple make a Powder Or Take round Birthwort two scruples Myrrh a scruple make a Powder give it in Wine Make Pessaries of Mugwort Mercury Sage Orris in Powder with Oyl of Keir Or Take round Birthwort Savin Briony Ox-gall and Honey and
and Althaea or anoint with Oyl of Lillies then keep it in with astringents As Take red Roses Pomegranate-peels and flowers Cypress-nuts each half an ounce Sumach Frankincense Mastich each two drams boyl them in red Wine foment with a Spunge then sprinkle on this Powder Take red Roses and Pomegranate-flowers each half a dram Frankincense Mastich each a dram allay it upon a clout and lay it to the Fundament See Lib. 3. Part 2. Sect. 1. Cap. 6. Chap. 28. Of the Stone in the Bladder Lib. 3. par 3. sec 1. c. 6. par 8. sec 1. c. 1. THe stone in the bladder is usual in Infants as that of the kidnies is in elder people How it is cured we shewed before In Infants it is from gross unclean milk made of tough meats this too much taken in causeth crudities fit to breed the stone or pap of Barley-meal and milk may cause it There is also a weakness in the Liver and Stomach when they do not separate unprofitable food but much earthy juyce remains in the chyle that breeds stones Also a hot distemper in the reins by which the chyle is drawn to the bladder and if there be a native hereditary disposition to breed the stone an earthy part is in the humor which makes the urine thick this is in bigger Boyes more then in Infants They piss by drops with itching and pain the urine is stopt often and that which is pissed is like clear water white or like milk or whey sometimes blood is pissed and the yard often stands It increaseth daily if it be not opposed The Prognostick and cannot be cured without cutting which is dangerous for young or old Prevent the breeding of it when you see the least disposition to it The Cure Let the belly be alwaies kept loose and the Nurse eat no gross slimy food make a bath of the decoction of Althaea Mallows Pellitory Parsley Dill Foenugreek Lineseed then anoint the bladder with Althaea Oyl of Lillies and Scorpions and apply a Cataplasm of Pellitory boyled with Oyl of Lillies A Powder Take Magistery of Crabs-eyes Lib. 3. pra decal ves white Amber Goats-blood prepared each a scruple with Parsley-water give it often Or give two drops of spirit of Vitriol with half a dram of Cypress Turpentine Chap. 29. Of Difficulty and Stoppage of Urine THere are many causes in ripe age that are mentioned but in Infants they are chiefly two causes the thick humor that breeds the Stone that makes a Strangury and Dysury and the Stone that stops the bladder It is voided by drops and the child cries The Signs and the Urine is thick you may try with the Catheter if there be a Stone If it be not presently cured The Prognostick it turns to the Stone and all natural evacuation in Children being stopt is dangerous The Cure It is as in the Stone you must evacuate humors from the first passages with Honey of Roses Cassia Turpentine foment and anoint as before with Grass-water Rest-harrow Dropwort-water and decoction of red Pease Or Take the blood of an Hare an ounce Saxifrage-roots six drams calcine them give from a scruple to half a dram with white Wine or Saxifrage-water Chap. 30. Of not holding the Urine SOme piss not only in their sleep but alwayes because the muscle that should close the orifice of the bladder is weak and when much water pricks it it suffers it to come forth sometimes a stone in the Bladder hurts the Sphincter so that it cannot do its duty The cause of weakness is a cold humor and moist from gross tough meats from gluttony and the like The Signs It cannot be known in Infants but it may in elder children that know they ought not piss a bed The Prognostick If it come by custome it turns to an habit or a disease and is hard to be cured in ripe years if it be from distemper is easie to be cured The Cure Alter the cold and moist distemper dry and consume the flegm let the Nurse have a hot drying diet with Sage Hysop Marjoram let not the child drink much keep the Belly Outwardly anoint the Region of the Bladder with Oyl of Castus Orris and other driers make a Bath of Sulphur Allum and Oak-leaves or use Sulphur or Allum-baths give this Powder Take Hogs-bladders burnt roasted stones of a Hare Cocks throats roasted each half a dram Acrons two scruples Nip Mace each a scruple give half a dram with oak-leaves-Oak-leaves-water See Lib. 3. Part 8. Sect. 2. Cap. 6. Chap. 31. Of chafing in the Hips called Intertrigo IT is the separation of the Scarf-skin from the true in the Hips that causeth pain and unquietness It is from sharp Piss The Causes when the clouts are not changed often in such as are fat to whom filth sticks easily The skin is off and it looks red The Signs The Prognostick It is troublesome by reason of the pain and causeth want of sleep and ulcerateth if it be not cured Change the clouts often The Cure wash and cleanse the child often sprinkle on this fine Powder Of Litharge of Silver seeds and leaves of Roses burnt Allum and Frankincense or anoint with white Oyntment and Diapompholigos Chap. 32. Of Leanness and Fascination SOmetimes children and men grow lean the elder from Feavers Consumptions and other diseases but children pine away and the cause is not known and though they eat and perform other actions they are not nourished nor grow The Causes The causes of Consumption in Infants are little or bad milk by which no blood is bred fit to nourish the body so that they thrive not till they change the Nurse The second is worms that sucks away the nourishment The third is worms about the body without as in the Back Arms or Legs and all parts these are very small and breed in musculous parts and stick in the skin and never come wholly out but after rubbing in baths they put forth their heads like black hairs and run in when they feel the cold air they breed of slimy matter shut up in the capillar veins which turns to worms from transpiration hindred The fourth cause in the opinion of people is fascination or witchcraft either from the eyes of Witches or by vapors or by touch or by words from a Witch these are alledged by many Authors I neither allow nor plainly deny all these waies of fascination though it is not credible that a child should suffer by words or looks only I deny not but diseases may be sent from sick bodies to others as the Leprosie the French Pox Consumption and the like and many infect Infants And I believe that they may be hurt by Witches and malitious persons by the help of the Devil and Gods permission Bas in hode invidia as Basil the Great writeth for wicked people make a league with the Devil that they may hurt such as they look enviously