herein I shall be serviceable to all good women that shall well mind and seriously consider what I write 1. If the Courses stop by Conception or being with Child there is retained cominonly the natural complexion but others usually are pale and ill-coloured 2. The Symptoms which women with Child have at the first do daily decrease but in other stoppage of the terais by how much the longer the terms stop by so much the more the Symptoms increase mark it 3. In women with Child after the third or fourth moneth there may be perceived the situation and motion of the Infant by laying a warm hand upon the inferior belly in others there is a tumor to befelt but it is flegmatick not hard neither is it proportionable to the womb 4. If a wise and ingenious Midwife touch the inward mouth of the womb it will not be so close shut as it is in women with Child but rather hard contracted and full of pain 5. Women with Child are commonly merry and little disturbed but when terms are otherwise stopped they are sad and forrowful Cure Supposing the suppression of the the Courses by obstructions of the veins of the womb You may begin the Cure with Blood-letting if it do plainly offend either in quality or quantity only be advised where and when Then proceed to the use of these things one after another which are prescribed for the Cure of the Green-sickness but if their disease be so rebellious as not to give way to the former Remedies my advice then is that you Purge with this following Take Pil. Arabica which the Apothecary will help you to two scruples and of Oil of Amber four drops mixed with it be in your Chamber that day and drinking Posset as is ordinary in taking Physick Two or three days after make this medicine following of which give four ounces every morning the first thing and every night the last thing viz. Take Gromwell seed Aniseed Misselto of the Oak of each six drams Ditany of Creet and Cammomil flowers of each two drams Saffron and Cinnamon of each one dram beat what is to be beaten and steep all night in two quarts of good white wine in the morning boil it a little keeping it close cover'd then strain it and use it begging Gods blessing obtaining which undoubtedly it will answer expectations All these being principal receipts amongst the Galenical tribe But if these do not produce such effect as may be and is expected despair not for there is yet other things in our hands which is out of your reach being Chymical preparations that will undoubtedly reach and answer all intentions desires and purposes the blessing of God concurring And let not others through their Pride and Covetousness nor your self by your ignorance and wilfulness upon any account be kept from using those things that the God of all grace hath provided for you for a though slanderously by a vailed generation of men Chymical medicines are accounted and reported dangerous which is the great Bugbear with which they would fright people that so they might keep up their babble I do affirm I am willing at any time to justifie God bearing me witness that I never made or prepared a Chymical medicine in my life neither shall I but what hath been and may safely and without the least danger be given unto little Children And so I come 3. To the Immoderate flux of the Courses a disease which is not without detriment to many good women Womens monethly Courses being moderate in quantity and flowing in due season are natural but if they exceed in quantity or come too often or stay too long they are to be accounted immoderate and besides the intent of nature c. Signs are manifest by the definition however it s known by 1. Ill bearing of the Patient 2. Decay of strength 3. Want of appetite to meat 4. Indigestion of humors 5. Ill habit of body 6. Colour of the face like a dead Corps 7. Swelling of the legs and other most grievous maladies caused by decay of natural heat Cure It must begin by blood-letting in the arm not all at once but by degrees and so she must bleed plentifully as much as her strength can bear And if the Patient can bear the same a Vomit will be convenient especially if the party be prone or apt to vomit which may be done with warm water a pint and Syrup of Squiles two ounces tickling the throat immediately after with a feather After which let this following medicine be given every morning and every night the first and last thing Take the rind of four sower Oranges Bistort and Tormentil of each one ounce the outward rind of the Mulberry-tree two ounces Plantain and Sheepherds Purse of each a handful slice and bruise those things that require it and boil for a full hour in six pints of water then strain it and adde Syrup of Quinces four ounces the Dose is half a pint as aforesaid Outwardly apply a Plaister to the belly spread upon leather and bound on of the ointment called Vnguentum Comitisse it s to be had at the Apothecaries Let them drink Beer and Milk often wherein is quenched red hot Steel and before Diuner for sometime together let them take old Conserve of red Roses one ounce with one dram of the powder of Egg-shells which said things not often fail sometimes do and then we must come to our higher Arcanums and specifical medicines with which I am provided and have cured many not only old in years but old inveterate fluxes to the praise of God I speak it The next thing is the Whites A woman is said to have the whites the woman-flux the flux of the womb or the white menstruals when excrementitious humors do flow from her womb either continually or at least without any certain order or course of time observed in their flowing being sometimes white and flegmatick sometimes pale or yellow sometimes greenish and waterish by the admixture of serous humors Also this disease is wont for the most part to seize upon grown women and those of riper years yet are not Virgins all free from the same so that some have done ill in affirming that such Maids as are troubled with this disease have lost their Virginity my reason is this If Virgins have the veins of their wombs so large that their wonted courses can flow through them why may not the whites drop out of the same passages seeing they are many times more thin and fluxive than the blood it self which is an experienced truth and daily Practice teacheth as much viz. That the most chast and perfect Virgins in the world have had this infirmity c. Signs The disease is easily known by the relation of the party and is oftentimes attended with divers symptoms c. 1. Paleness of the face 2. Want of appetite sometimes with fickness of the stomach 3. Short breathing and weakness 4. Swelling of the Eyes 5.
so those places which then and by that were made moist and slippery will afterwards become dry and more straitned and so consequently longer time for the birth of the child and pain of the mother may be expected therefore observe it The next thing is the cure or help by medicines I shall lay down three with this observation that none of them be given till such time the Midwife assures the water is compleat or broken The first is Take oil of sweet Almonds and White-wine of each two ounces Saffron and Cinnamon of each twelve grains Conf. Alkermes half a dram syrup of Mugwort one ounce Chymical oil of Asasoedita two drops mixt and make a potion Another is Take Ditany of Creet Birthwort roots and cakes of Myrrh of each ten grains Saffron and Cinnamon of each twelve grains Conf. Alkermes half a dram Cinnamon water half an ounce Orange flower and Mugwort water of each one ounce Chymical oil of Juniper berries four drops make a potion Or Thirdly Take of Chymical oil of Amber twelve or fifteen drops in a glass of wine or Chymical oil of Cinnamon four or five drops in a glass of wine Or Chymical oil of Saffron seaven or eight drops or extract of Saffron five or six grains in a glass of wine Or Balsom Naturale six drops in one ounce of syrup of Savine c. And these or any of these are very good things and proper administrations being given as afore directed Indeed there is one thing more which I at present forbear to name for good reasons best known unto my self which indeed is an infallible remedy to give women speedy and easie labours being given as is and shall be directed Concerning which I am bold to say that many womens and childrens lives might be saved in a year by the taking of the same it being an experimental medicine fit and worthy to be had in every Ladyes and Gentle-womans and Midwises Closet to give and administer to them that are not able to give to themselves and for all big-belly'd women and especially those who use to have or fear hard labours I say it again that by Gods blessing nothing but great things in this case hath been done by and may be expected from it And although it be scarce to be had and the preparation sometimes difficult yet I am and have been this twelve month endeavouring to make my self master of a considerable quantity and my la 〈…〉 hath not altogether been in vain And â—o I come to the next thing only I must mind you of two things one of which should indeed have been done before accept it now i. e. Sneezing either naturally or artificially by medicines is sometimes very good and may not be forbidden to a woman labouring with a living or dead child To comfort the woman she may take now and then a little burnt wine with a blade or two of Cinnamon a little Alkermes and sweetned with syrup of Gilly-flowers what I have further in this case is to Midwives to whom I shall dedicate a Tract alone and be willing therein to learn them something that are willing to learn that so they may officiate themselves and do the work without the assistance of a man at such times as there is not absolute necessity But till then and there is information in the point Let me advise all Midwives not to juggle nor bogle in their work or stand upon terms of honour to the loss of mother or child or both as it hath been sometimes to my knowledge But things being out of their reach and capacity let them submit wisely and discreetly to them who are more able and let not thâ— presence of a man in such a business as this is scare or amaze a woman but let her submit her self in the fear of God in which fear leâ— the man work and operate and the blessing of God attend all such operations c. Fourthly The next thing in order is of a dead child In fore travel of child-birth by reason of great and long labour the child is oftentimes killed and sometimes before a womans pains come upon her through some preternatural accidents c. Signs 1. A dead child is known when the motion thereof ceaseth which either the mother did feel or the Midwife perceive by her hand laid on or either warm and strengthning things which were wont to awaken and rowse up the powers thereof when they were in a slumber or stupified 2. The mother finds a greater sense of weight with which and pain of the belly they are troubled 3. When the woman turns from 〈◊〉 side to another she perceives the child to roul or fall from one side to another like a stone 4. The lower part of her belly feels very cold their eyes hollow face pale dugs flaggy and at length a stinking moisture like water and blood flows from the womb their belly is blown up with vapours a filthy smell of the womans breath and the body all over smells unpleasingly And 5. Mark this if the after-birth be excluded before the child it is a certain token that the child is dead in the womb Cure For cure hereof it consists wholly in the exclusion or extraction of the dead child and because handy-work and operation is to co-operate with internal medicines I forbear to mention any supposing he whose imployment it is to do the business is of my mind to make use of his own remedies However all those things may be given as hopeful ones in the case of a dead as well as a living child I mean those things I spoke of in order to help a hard labour in the chapter fore-going Men fit for either of these two difficult works as to clear a dead child from a living woman or to take a live child from a dead woman as is sometimes done and is possible they had need be men fearing God and eschewing evil always minding and labouring in the discharge of their trust or work to keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man remembring that saying of the Holy Ghost That all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 5. Of the after-birth retained In a natural birth commonly the secundine or after-birth is excluded presently after the child yet sometimes it is retained in the womb or part thereof notwithstanding the Midwives care by which means the mother is in great danger of her life Signs Signs of the after-birth retained are needless it being apparent of it self yet sometimes a bit or piece thereof is severed from the whole retained which is not so easie to be known but may be known and apprehended 1. Because the womb after the birth doth yet labour to cast something forth although these endeavours are not so great as before 2. There is perceived in the womb a sense of pain and heat 3. After certain days a filthy and carrion-like smell exhales from the
the fit therefore let the lower parts be tyed hard and rubbed well and let her smell to sume made of burnt leather brimstone or feathers also oil of Amber may be put about her nostrils and three or four drops taken inwardly which is very excellent especially if you give it in Orange flower water Tobacco blown into the mouth or nose is very good or snuffe-Tobacco blown up into the nostrils And as these things must be applyed according as mentioned so you must use Musk or Civer and with a little Cotten put it into the Privities for as the Iron followeth the loadstone so doth the womb follow all sweet and delightful smells but shuns all odious scents You may also give her Aq. Hysterica Mother or womb-water two or three spoonfuls once in one hour it s to be had at every Athecaries and if with those things it abate not then give this Clister and apply Cupping-glasses upon her hips viz. Take of the herb Mercury Pelitory-wall Mugwort Peniroyal and Rue of each a small handful Caraway seeds Cummine seeds and Bayberries of each two drams boil all to a pint and an half and in the straining dissolve Hiera Picra and confect Hamech of each four drams they are both to be had at the Apothecaries and so administer remembring that it be retained some while but not too long Secondly when the fit is over care must be taken to prevent the return thereof which may be endeavoured by the ensuing things Let her take once in fourteen days season of the year and condition of body not forbidding half a dram Pil. Arabica with three or four drops of oil of Juniper-berries mixed therewith drinking Posset-drink and keeping warm that day And in the mean time keep a Plaister upon the Navel made with Gum Galbanum with two or three grains of Musk in a little wool or cotton in the middle And let this following powder be taken frequently one dram at a time made into a Bolus with syrup of Mugwort viz. Take Gentian roots white Ditany and Tormentil and round Birth-wort Chimelion Thistle Bayberries Juniperberries Coriander-seed prepared Aniseed mastick Bole-Armoniack Terra sigillata of each two drams bring them all to fine powder and mix them then powder also of the best Saffron two ounces and put to it and so take it as aforesaid Note That if the woman be with Child you must have a care of giving things too venturously inwardly but rather attempt the getting her out of the fit by your outward medicines for fear of miscarriage and use the midlest of those stinking things externally also One thing more which I would not omit that is a beneficial word to those who have husbands and can have the same that is that as soon as the party is out of her Fit to admit of carnal conjunction and that especially if the disease seem to come from retention of seed which may be known if the Patient be young of sanguine complexion merry chearful and spiritous when in the hearing of any discourse tending to lust diet high and live easie and having not had imbraces in that nature for some time c. I have been the larger upon this disease because I know it is common and very troublesome and obnoxious and hard to be totally cured And perhaps some who may be concerned therewith have taken many more medicines than these and that possible along time too and yet never the better to such and all others I would say that sometimes and in some cases multiplicity of medicines rat her hinder than further cure use these with prayer and thanksgiving according as you are directed they being principal and choice receipts and where you have so done if your desires are not satisfied in order to help you may know that God being rich in grace and of great compassion towards his poor creatures hath not left you destitute of further supply by helping some persons in such an Art as is capable to open the bodies of Minerals as well as Vegetals and Animals and I do affirm that this disease being of any standing is not totally to be cured by any other medicine but such as the Mineral Kingdom afford unto which most will subscribe and I have several times proved in which respect shineth the efficacy and worth of Chymical Preparations above and beyond Galenical medicines But that only by way of digression Secondly I come now to speak of the diseases in the Cavity of the Womb and in order I begin 1. Of the Inflamation of the Womb. Inflamation of the womb is a tumor or swelling in that part or some part thereof springing from blood that is shed into the substance thereof Signs 1. Swelling heat and pain in the region of the womb with a continual feavour 2. Suppression or diminution of the courses and their paleness or yellowish colour with pain in their coming forth 3. In the absence of them certain stinking and rotten stuff sweats through the vessels of the womb and bedews the water-gate wherein if search be made there will soon be a discovery of the disease For 4. The inward mouth of the womb will be found to swell to be drawn inward and subject to pain if touched and the veins of the womb will appear red and inflamed 5. Heat and pain sometimes in the Groin Privities Bladder strait gut and Loins according as sometimes one sometimes another part of the womb is afflicted Cure Cure consisteth in drawing back the course of the blood to the womb and diverting it another way that which is therein must be resolved and if the swelling tend to supperation it is to be furthered A Glister being given blood must be drawn from the arm and repeated twice thrice or four times according to the strength of the Patient and greatness of the inflamation you may also for revulsion sake rub and tie the upper-parts If the body seem to abound with evil humors Purge with Electuary Lenitive once taken every night Anoint outwardly with Galens cooling ointment and oil of Roses and use it as often as is necessary But because this disease comes not often and must be chiefly directed to as the eye seeth occasion I shall say no more it being a very dangerous disease and requires occular inspection and manual operation of the most ingenious Physician or Chirurgeon in which sad and dangerous disease as in others I offer the best of my knowledge and skill and sometimes means is successeful if the inflamation come to superation but then I have observed that usually Ulcers follow and then they commonly pine away with a lingring Feaver or fall into a Dropsie But Secondly Ulcer of the womb Although there may be an Ulcer of the womb without an inflamation following thereof as namely from any thing than may cause an erosion fretting or gnawing the substance thereof yet after a superared inflamation of the womb usually follows Ulcers and the signs thereof are these Signs 1. Pain or biting
of which I have in my custody which will assuredly by Gods blessing extinguish this disease totally and I have sufficiently proved the same in these last years which as I am willing to mention so also I am as willing to part withall for the good and benefit of poor creatures Look to this disease as timely as you may and many of those inconveniences that do attend it may be prevented But Seventhly Of the falling down of the womb When the womb loseth its natural situation and falls downward to the water gate the disease is termed the falling down or slipping forward of the womb except sometimes by its coming forth too far and by the distemper of the air this disease is more unhandsome and troublesome than mortal and besides hath only this ill conveniency that doth attend it it hinders conception Signs Signs whereby this disease is known are evident to the sense For 1. The womb is found sticking in the water-gate like a Hen or Gooses Egg. 2. It is attended with a perceivance with a weight pressing upon the water-gate especially when the Patient stands upright 3. When they sit or go to stool a vehement pain is felt about the privy parts and the hanch-bone 4. Urine comes away by little and little and makes the womb smart as it comes Cure A Glister being given to discharge from excrements and water being made to discharge the bladder the womb is to be restored to its proper place after this manner let the woman lie along upon her back with her things wide asunder and her knees drawn upwards then let her or another with her or their hands thrust her womb inwards and force it gently still upwards into the neck so as to turn it inwards as it goes till all is returned within the cavity of the belly which should contain the same But observe that if the womb-fallen be swelled so that it cannot enter the cavity of the belly the swelling must be in the first place removed which may be done with a decoction of Beets sprinkling it a little after with Vinegar and Salt the swelling being abated and the womb reduceable let it be anointed with Mucilage of Comfrey roots or with an infusion of Gum Tragaganth being anointed strew it with powder of Bistort root and Mastick beaten very fine and so put it up After it is replaced the woman lying in her bed a little bending with her thighs gently stretched out resting or being cross one another let her abide in this posture sometime and put in at the water gate a little Wool Cotton or spunge wet in red wine and use sweet scents to her nose and stinking to her privities And then every day let her take of this powder following one dram at a time in red wine forbearing for a time carnal imbracement and hard exercise Take Bislort roots in powder one ounce Mirtle leaves and Garden Parship-seed of each two drams shavings of harts-horn half an ounce red Coral two ounces mingle them being well powdered and take as aforesaid Observe of this disease you must not expect help suddenly and the more patience is required if it be caused as sometimes it is by the unskilfulness of Midwives and hardness of labour Notwithstanding I know the disease is curable and some have been holpen by a secret I have not long since attained unto together with some other things done and given as directions tending thereupon though in a bad case the womb coming out of the body as big as my fist and they no longer at ease than they went continually with a truss Therefore if those instructions shall fail that I have given you you may remember there is notwithstanding provision made for you through Gods goodness for your well-being Eightly Of the womb shut up or imperforated Virgins that have their wombs closed up are said to be imperforated like a Cask of liquor having no hole to put in a spicket Now the closure of the womb is wont to be in three places viz. In the inner mouth of the womb In the neck of the womb And In the outward mouth of the womb next the water-gate Signs This disease according as the place that is afflicted is more hard or more easie to be discovered If the closure or stoppage be in the outward orifice of the privity it is discerned by seeing and feeling If the closure or stoppage be in the mouth of the womb it is not discerned till the courses begin to break out for when the time of their monthly purgation is come pains and gripings are felt in the region of the womb at certain periods of time with a sense of weight yet no flux of courses follows Here note the conjecture will be more probable if the Virgin be of a good habit of body not troubled with obstructions The disease persevering their wombs swell so that maidens seem to be with child and sometimes their whole body swells and seems sometimes to be black and blew colour through the abundance of blood and untill I made a narrow inspection in these things I my self as well as several others have sometimes mistrusted some maidens honesty when there hath been no real occasion But if the closure or stoppage do possesse the neck of the womb it is perceived in the first carnal conjunction because it doth not admit the mansyard Note for a right and true understanding of this disease a skilful Midwife man or woman is required who by their hand can give a near guess thereof And some supposition there is of this disease when the mans seed doth plentifully slip away as soon as it is cast in though sometimes that is occasioned also through some preternatural humor abounding and having recourse to those parts causing the womb to be more moist than it ought to be thereby hindring it from retaining what it ought in order to conception to imbrace The closure or stoppage of the inner orifice of the womb is accounted uncurable by reason no instrument can reach the same howbeit it hath been attempted sometimes with good success But the other closures or stoppages are accounted curable and many have been holpen and afterwards been well imbraced by their husbands as other women conceived and brought forth Children But directions in this case you may not expect the chief cure lying in handy operation neither need you dread or fear the work it being of no great difficulty or danger being managed by a skilful Artist and the blessing of God concurring And so I have ended the diseases of the cavity of the womb And so I come now in the third place to say something of those diseases which are in respect of Conception breeding and bringing forth The first is Of Barrenness This word barrenness in this place is to be understood in a large and ample signification so as to comprehend all kind of impotency and every impediment of conception namely when a woman at such an age in which she
using remedies suitable and fitting which brings me to the cure c. Cure The cure consisteth in preservation for that which is past cannot be helped And The preservation from abortion or miscarriage hath two principal parts or heads The one concerning the woman before she is with child the other when she is with child Before the woman is with child all evil disposition of body which are wont to cause miscarriage must be removed as fulness of blood badness of humors and peculiar diseases of the womb c. Concerning all which advice must be taken of some able Doctor with suitable medicines for this would be too large a field for me at this time to walk or take a turn in But then When she is with child how to prevent her miscarriage I shall here insert that which may do good and be serviceable Besides then that medicine which I have already given for the stopping the overflowing of the courses which is excellent in this case being taken as is there directed I shall adâ—e Take Kermes berries and Tormentil and Bislort roots of each half an ounce Mastick two drams Date stones and shavings of Ivory of each one dram powder them and mix them into the form of an Electuary with syrup of Coral and then mix that with Conserve of red roses and Quinces of each two ounces take the quantity of a Chesnut three times a day morning at four a clock afternoon and at going to bed Hang an Aegle stone Jasper or Smaragds stone about the neck or a piece of Coral in Tiffany make a Plaister with those salves called viz. Emp. pro Matrice Contra Rupturum of each alike and apply it to the region of the share and loins and to the end that the woman may receive good and benefit she must rest her self and keep her self as quiet as possible she can both in her body and mind also she must abstain from genital imbracements c. Moreover this I have observed that by the best and highest graduated means that could be gotten sometimes miscarriage will not be prevented without blood-letting therefore sometimes to some persons to prevent from this evil blood-letting is absolutely necessary yet I dare not say but I have holpen many without bleeding by some secret Arcanums and specifical medicines safe to be taken that my industry in the Art of Chymistry hath made me master of God blessing my endeavours But thirdly of hard child-birth Hard travel in child bearing is such as keep not the due and ordinary laws of nature taking up longer time than ordinary and accompanied with more vehement pains than are usual and other more grievous symptoms Signs Hard travel is known both by the childing woman and by the assistants but especially by the Midwife 1. If the woman continue longer time than ordinary in labour as two three four or more days whereas a truly natural child-birth ought to be accomplished within the space of twelve or twenty four hours at farthest 2. It s a sign of a hard labour if the womans pains be weak and are long before they return and that more especially if her pains be more about her back than privities 3. If the woman be weak and the child weak moving slowly or be either too fat or too lean usually there are hard labours or be crooked also 4. Sometimes hard labour is occasioned by the diseases of the womb 5. Sometimes from the greatness and false situation of the child and 6. Sometimes also hard labour may be guessed at if the water flow from the woman or part of it before its true time which ought but immediately to proceede the birth for this signifies that the after-birth is stronger than ordinary which can hardly be broken c. Cure In pity to poor women in this case though occasioned by sin I shall lay down some choice and excellent observations and medicines in order for their good not at this time at all medling with any directions to or manual operation of the Midwife The observations are these 1. Let the woman lay off all her rings yea and those that are about her also 2. Let her forbear eating any thing that is astringent or binding especially at that time 3. Let her endeavour to be as chearful and lively as possible she may for sleepiness and sottishness do slacken the endeavours both of mother and child 4. Let her also keep her mind free from fear passion sadness anger wroth c. 5. Let her have a Midwife of whom she hath a good conceit and let no woman be about her that there is the least cause or suspicion of prejudice or non-affection 6. Let her not stir unseasonably nor agitate or move to and from unduly fearing it may prevent the child issuing in a fitting posture 7. Let her have her husband if she require or desire it to come into the room to her as often as the man may be rightly constituted and the nature of the work will permit I do not know whether a man kissing his wife at that time have any vertue in it or no but this I know for a certain truth that many good women some I could name have suffered abundantly in this case yea and some so much that their lives have been lost thereby for being denied this priviledge they dying if not undelivered yet not till all is gone and spent that should afterward revive and comfort her and she nearer to the grave than a bed I lay down this the rather because there hath been such evident good success upon the mans presence in several deliveries even immediately that it 's a pity it is not if serviceable to the woman wisely and discreetly put in practice no oftner And besides because I know no substantial reason or ground either from Scripture History nor nature why a man rightly and duly qualified should not have and injoy that priviledge at convenient seasons to visit his wife as in any other dangerous sickness or distemper Weigh what I say well before you judge 8. Let her keep her breath and retain her strength till the right and true time of travel comes This I intimate because there have been many I have known some that have suffered upon this account especially young women who think they are bound and that it is their wisdom to do as the good wives bid them and its common amongst them though but stragling degenerate and wild pains to bid them stop their mouths hold their breath and strain downwards whereas indeed such pains should be let pass without such observation and the woman not put to spend her spirits and strength till it may do her good viz. when the water is complete and judged ready to or hath broke then let her strive and strain what she is able and not before fearing if she do when that time comes her strength and spirits may be impaired and for want thereof the child may not immediately follow the water and
womb Cure These things in wisdom may be given and administred that are propounded to help a hard labour and expel a dead child to which I shall adde this which hath proved very successeful Take of the tops of green Lovage stamp them and strain out the juice with a little Rhenish wine add thereto ten drops of oil of Juniper berries and so give it sweetned with syrup of Bawm But sometimes so it is that without the hand of a skilful operator this disease cannot be moved therefore I advise not long delay before such an one in such a case be made use of the consequences that attend this distemper being dangerous which will be the ready way of cure they doubtless being provided with some specifical remedy to help also in the case 6. Of immoderate flux of child-bed purgations The immoderate flux of child-bed purgations is not to be estimated from the quantity or the time of continuance because that in divers natures ages and courses of life it is very different But from the ill-bearing of the woman and her weakness there-from arising c. Signs Signs immoderate flux of child-bed purgations is known as hath been said from the strength of that woman that is dejected through the exhaustion of her spirits that issue with the blood as also from 1. The blood being much clotted 2. The Patients loathing of Meat 3. Being pained under her short-ribs and feeling a distention of her belly 4. Her pulse is weak and frequent 5. Her sight is dimed and she hath a noise in her ears 6. She is subject to swooning and Convulsions These symptoms concurring and agreeing look out for help speedily for delays in this case are very dangerous Cure Observe let her eat a thickning diet as Panadies Gellies Rice Calves-foot broth Pears and Quinces boiled roasted flesh and not boiled Let her have plenty of meat but a little at a time let heâ— drink be water wherein steel or gold is quenched or in which a little Mastick is boiled Let her superior parts be rub'd and bound Let her bathe her hands in hot wine in which a little Alkermes is mixed and let her belly be moderately well swadled These things being observed but expectations not answered besides what is said before in the immoderate flowing of the courses which is good here you may give this Take blood-stone four scruples powder of Bole-armoniack red Coral prepared Pearls of each one dram seed of Plantain Coriander prepared and grains of Sumach of each two scruples mix all being reduced into fine powder of which let her take one dram with a decoction made with Knot-grass and Sheepherds purse sweetned with syrup of Quinces Let her have a Plaister laid all over her belly made with Vng Comitissa These things being administred and the flux not abated you ought with all imaginable care diligence and speed seek out for further advice and supply from them who are masters of higher and powerfuller medicines in this case And because I writ for the good and benefit of all my good Country-women as also because I have found these things worthy of my observation you may take notice touching the sleep of a woman in this case that while the blood flows plentifully the woman must not be suffered to sleep for many by that means are taken away because the natural heat retiring inwards increaseth the flux But if sleep in such a case cannot be avoided then take this counsel that some body be there by her all the while frequently feeling her pulse and marking and observing her breath 7. Of suppression of child bed purgations The good and happy success of child-bearing doth especially depend upon the convenient and orderly flux of the courses or child-bed purgations seeing the impurities which have been collected in the veins of the womb during the nine months time of the womans belly-bearing are wont to be avoided by these evacuations but if they be suppressed wholly or diminished infinite dangers and calamities arise thereby As Acute Feavers and Quinsies Phrenzies and Pluresies Madness and Melancholy Inflamation of the Lungs c. Signs This suppression is manifest of it self but as I told you concerning their immoderateness is not to be estimated from the quantity or time of continuance because c. as there is shewed so here I would have you to note that the diminution thereof is not to be judged by the quantity that comes away because some women have more superfluous blood and some less But the perfect knowledge as in the other contrary case so in this is gathered from the supervenient symptoms such as these 1. A smelling of the belly 2. A pain possessing the nethermost part of the belly the loins and groins 3. Redness of the face and difficult breath 4. Perturbation of the eyes and shivering fits 5. Feavers and fainting fits 6. Stomach sickness sometimes and loss of appetite Cure It consisteth in provoking the menstruals from which purpose though those things are special good before-mentioned in he stoppage thereof yet it s to be observed they are not here to be given in respect of the different state of the Patient In this case therefore Glisters appropriated to the disease are convenient and are in the first place to be made use of make one thus Take Marsh-mallow roots and Water-lilly roots if you can get them otherwise the other of each one ounce long and round Birthwort of each three drams leaves of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pelitory Mercury of each one handful Linseed and Fenugreek seed of each half an ounce flower of Camomil and Elder of each half a handful boil all in Posset drink to a pint then strain it and in the liquor dissolve oil of Dill and Lilly of each one ounce hiera simplex half an ounce and so give it And let her thighs be rubbed downwards and the toes of her feet be tied fast till they ake again and if need be let Cupping-glasses be fastned to her groins and hips and scarrification if need require If these things fail she must have a vein opered about the knees thighs or foot or leeches applyed to the Hemorrhoids If the feaver forbid not there may be given Troches of Myrrh one dram powdered with a little whiâ—e-wine If there be a feaver this decoction hath been used successefully viz. Take French Barley one handful Liquorish half an ounce Schenanth one dram and a half boil all in Posset-drink to a pint which makes three doses one in the morning another about ten a clock and the other about 4. in the afternoon taking a little burnt-wine cold with burnt Cinnamon wherein is dropped three or four drops of spirit of Sulphur Purgation also sometimes in this case as it is necessary so may be used but with great caution but certainly a medicine may be had in this case that answers all intentions c. 8. Of after-pains or gripings after child-bearing Gripings do so frequently betide women in child-bed that very few women