Take shaven Ivory Ash keyes yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler mountain with red and white Behen of each one dram Cinamom Galangall long pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam wood Rosâ—mary flowers Blattae Byzantiae gentle Marjoram penyroyal of each four scruples Baulme Buglosse Citron pils of each two scruples Pearls one scruple Musk two grains white sugar four and twenty ounces seeth this with Malmesey and make thereof a confection Or because of some diseases in the parts where note that too much fatnesse of the Call doth close the mouth of the womb such women must not sleep much especially in the day time they must use strong Clysters that are warm and dry and purge often Or when the womb doth not attract the seed when it is cast in which proceeds from a moist intemperance which is by the loosness of the fibres of the womb so that the womb cannot contract it self which is cured as in the moist distemper Or by reason of the thickness of the womb for then the blood which increases the seed does not slide down to that place The cure hereof requires a thin diet purging and sweating or by reason of the slipperiness thereof which happens by reason of the running of the whites in women The cure whereof consists in the stopping of the whites which hath been already treated of or by reason of the gaping of the Orifice which hath been occasioned either by difficult birth or by some abortion The cure is performed by astringent medecines among which the chiefest are the fomentation of Lentisk and Myrtle or by reason of some sudden cough or sneezing immediatly after copulation by which the seed is shaken forth Or when the womb doth not alter the seed that is cast in through an immoderate cold distemper Sometimes through heat and then it would be requisite to avoid hot aire and keeping the parts about the womb compleat or the eating of hot meats and spices purge after blood-letting in the Basilick vein of the right hand with Electuary hom de Epithymo juice of roses of each two drams and a half whey four ounces mix them wel together and take them in the morning sleeping one and fasting four hours upon it Purge also with Triphera Saracenica and Rheubarb with potions prepared and mixed with syrup of Roses Violets and Endive Take Pistacia Pingles Eringus of each half an ounce of Saffron a dram Lignum Aloes Galangall Garyophyllata Mace red and white Behen Baulme-flowers of each four scruples shavings of Ivory and Cassia rindes of each two scruples syrup of Ginger confected twelve ounces white sugar six ounces seeth these together with the syrup in 12 ounces of Baulm-water untill it be all boyled away when it is cold put some more water to it and stir them together and last of all mix with it a scruple and a half of Musk and Amber of this conserve let the woman take thrice a day to wit in the Morning an houre before supper and an hour after dinner Or it proceeds from obstruction of the flowers in which case first let blood in the Basilic vein then purge with Opoponax and Hiera Composita of each half a dram to be made up in seven pils to be taken in the morning sleeping upon them an houâ— and a half with a draught of sugard water five hours after Or with a potion of syrup of Vinegar compounded syrup of Eupatorie of each thrâ—e quarters of an ounce Fever Mugwort and Elecampane roots of each an ounce and mix them together then she may put up into the womb a pessary of muâ—k Amber Aloes Wood and Ash keyes of each three grains Saffron half a scruple Hares-rennet as much as suffices which being made up like a good big Tent she must keep a whole day in her body Of the bringing up of Children and of their Diseases Of the Diseases of the Head THe Diseases common to Children are first certain little ulcerous risings chiefly in the Head sometimes in the whole body they arise from some vitious humor either collected in the womb or out of the womb by reason of the badness of the milk containing a serous salt and nitrous quality if there be no ill to be suspected the humor may be driven forth by giving the Child some syrup of Fumarie or Harts-horn burnt the Nurse is to be purged and the matter offending to be tempered with syrup of Borage or Fumarie if there be much corruption under the crust of the scab the head of the Child is to be bathed with some softning decoction then to be anointed with some drying Ointments Sometimes they are troubled with an inflammation of the head with which is joyned a hollowness in the fore-part of the head and in the eyes it may arise from the milk if the Nurse be subject to drink over-much strong drink in the Cure you must beware of applying things which are too refrigerating They are also many times affected with a kind of Epilepsie which proceeds sometimes from extraordinary frights from milk that lies corrupted in the stomack and sometimes from worms moving themselves in the guts and sometimes it is the consequent of other Diseases The cure is to be observed partly in the fit and partly after the fit the Smaragd-stone and the hoof of a wild Alx put into the lâ—fâ— ear are very profitable and take good effect Vomiting also and this Emplaster of white Amber Frankincense and Mastick of each a dram and a half Galbanum Opoponax of each a scruple Visci of an Oak two drams Ambergreize six grains Musk three grains seed of male Peonie half a dram Ladanum one dram and a half a little Oile of Nutmeg and sprinkled with the dust of Cubebs the fore-part of the head may be also anointed with Oyl of white Amber Fears and startings in the Childs sleep which being occasioned from the putrid vapours which are carried up with the animal spirits and arise from the stomack therefore they happen to Infants that suck greedily in the cure care must be taken that the Child do not fil it self too unreasonably and provide that good sound milk may be generated and that the Children be not put to sleep upon a ful stomack the stomack of the Child anointed neer the orifice with Oyl of Quinces and mastick and Oyl of Nutmeggs Before sleep dissolve a little roll of Diamoschus in milk and give the Child and unless the child be over much troubled with heat you may give it a little Treacle once in a week overmuch watching or wakefulness which is occasioned by sharp vapours which arise out of the stomack by reason of the badness of the milk sometimes it is occasioned by Fevers and pain of some peculiar parts there is nothing better then to anoint the soles of the Childs feet with marrow which hath no danger in it rather then to give the child stronger Opiates A looking a squint which in new-born children is cured by putting a candle opposite to
Centinode a good big handfull the rind of Cassia the rind of Pomegranates Scarlet Graines of each three ounces the nature of a whale one ounce Myrrh water rose water and sloe water an ounce and a half thick wine and smiths water of each foure ounces and a half then make two little baggs of a quarter of a yard long causing them to boyle in the foresaid waters in a new pot using one after another as you have occasion leting it lye upon the bone of the Pubes passing in between the hipps chafing her often and holding her head and her reines low using in the morning somtimes a little mastick in an eg or somtimes plantaine seed if the disease be not too old it may be cured by this meanes but if it be of a long standing you must make a pessarie halfe round and half oval of great thick cork peirced through in the middle tye a little packthred to the end then cover it over with white wax that it may doe no hurt and to make it more thick this must be dipped in oyle of Olives to make it enter and it must be streit that it may not easily fall out and if it be too little to have an other bigger when the woman goes to do her necessary occasions she must hold it in least she should force it out the hole is made that the vapors of the womb may have a vent and to give way for her purgations to flow neither must it be taken away till after the purgations are passed the thicknes causes the matrix to mount up as long as it is very thick for the ligaments being close doe then retire If they be women that beare children the midwife ought not to suffer them to force themselves but as nature constraines her having her own hand ready after the throw to put back the Matrix with her finger and when she is brought to bed lay her low with her head and with her reines raising her up with pillows put under her hipps and for women that are troubled with this disease they ought not to lace themselves over hard for that thrusts down the matrix and makes the woman pouch bellyed and hinders the Infant form being well situated in her body causing her to carrie the child all upon her hipps and makes her belly as deformed as her wast is handsome Of a disease that happens by reason of the fall of the Matrix THere is somtimes a relaxation of the membrane that covers the rectum Intestinum when the head of the child at the beginning of the travaile falls downward and draws it low often-times it comes by reason of women with child lacing themselves which causes such a conflux of wind to these parts that it seemes to the woman to be the head of the child in so much that she is hardly able to stand upright neither can she goe For remedy hereof you must keep the woman soluble giving her Anise and Coriander seeds to dissipate the winds You must take Sage Agrimony Mother-wort balme White wormwood Margerome a little rue and a little Thyme and Camomile and having picked all the above written herbs you must cut them very small and having well mingled them put them into a maple platter and then put hot cinders upon them and upon those another handfull of herbes covering the platter with a close cloth that the woman may receive the smoake this is a remedie which hath been much approved and experimented To remedie the fall of the fundament in Infants TAke of the green shrub wherof they make broomes and cut it smal and lay it upon the coales and set the child over the smoake thereof and it will certainly cure it Of the diseases of women and first of the inflammation of the brest THe inflamation of the brests is a hard swelling together with a beating paine redness and shooting The cheif cause of this is the abundance of blood drawn up together in that place though there be somtimes other causes also as the suppression of the courses the Haemorrhoids or a blow received upon the breasts The signes of it are easie to be known that is to say a certain rednes and burning heat oftimes joyned with a fever For the cure of this there are four sorts of remedies first as the order of dyet which must be comforting and moistning as broth of pullets where endive borage lettice and purselaine may be boyled also she may drinke the juce of Pomegranates or barly water with aniseeds boyled in it the use of wine and all sorts of spices are very dangerous and if the woman goe not freely to the stoole there is nothing better then a lenitive glyster she may sleep much and must not disturb her selfe with any passion The next way of remedy is by diverting the humours which is done by frictions letting bloud in the foot scarification of the legs or vesicatories applied to those places especially if the flowers are stopped or ready to come down if not it will be expedient to open a veine in the arme You may also prepare the humour to void it out of the place affected by opening either the middle vein or the Basilic or the Vena Saphena which may be done two or three times if occasion serve after bloud-letting purge but let this be done with sweet medicines such are Cassia Manna Tamarind syrrup of Roses or Violets Solutive having a little before used certain syrrups which may asswage and temper the humours Take syrrup of Roses and Purslain of each one ounce Endive water and Plantain water of each an ounce give this to the patient Neither will it be amiss to give her syrrup of Succory or Endive or such like for these syrrups have a cooling and refreshing faculty especially being mingled with Plantain or Endive water or such like or the decoction of the said herbs now when the humour is thus prepared you may give her some gentle purges As for example take of the pulp of Cassia and Tamarinds of each six drams of this make a little bolus with some sugar and give to the patient or with this potion Take of the Leaves of Italian Orach three drams of Aniseed one scruple infuse these in four ounces of the foresaid waters Into this being strained infuse an ounce of Cassia and into the streining of this dissolve an ounce of solutive Roses of this make a potion and give it The fourth way of cure consists in Topicks such as may drive back and repress the humour though care must be had that they be not over strong lest you thereby do cool the heart too much and thereupon drive the humour upon the heart it self And therefore temperate medicines are chiefly to be chosen and such especially as are able to digest and dissolve the humour Wherefore it shall not be amiss to apply a linnen cloath dipt in white strong vineger and a little cold water which must be applied to the breasts and
often changed Or else you may dip linnen cloaths also in a decoction of Camomil flowers and Violet flowers with a small quantity of oyl of Roses and a drop of vineger or two or you may use this fomentation Take of the juyce of Nightshade oyl of Roses of each an ounce and a half of the decoction of Fenugreek Camomil and Lineseed two ounces vineger one ounce This medicine you may use by dipping a spunge therein and so washing and fomenting the breast therewith Or you may apply this Cataplasme take of the leaves of Nightshade and Melilot half a handful of each let them be boyled extracted through a course cloth then add to them bean meal two ounces Oxymel and oyle of sweet Almonds of each one ounce of this make a Cataplasm and apply it If the disease be more prevalent you must use more forcible remedies and among the rest this fomentation Take of the leaves of Mallows Violets Dill of each one handful flowers of Camomil and Melilot of each a small handful and a halfe boyl these together adding to them a little wine and oyl of Dill or Mustard first let the breast be fomented with this and afterwards with an oyntment composed of equal parts of new butter oyl of violets and Hens fat But if these things avail not to dissipate the humour you must observe whether the inflamation tend either to a suppuration or induration If you find that it tends to a hardness you must try all means to hinder it by the way of mollifying plaisters among which this is not a little experimented Take the marrow of a Calves leg two ounces Sheeps grease one ounce Saffron four scruples Cumminseed bruised two scruples mingle all these and make a plaister If the inflamation doth not harden but doth altogether tend to a suppuration which may be known by these signs that is to say the increasing of the tumour the beating and excessive heat pain which rages about those parts so vehemently that do not admit them to be touch'd But now the suppuration is to be hastened with hot and moist medicines which have an Emplastick faculty for which purpose this is much commended Take the leaves of Mallows one handful roots of Althea one ounce boyl these together and when they are mashed draw them out and add to them bean meal and Fenugreek of each one ounce the whites of two eggs myrrh and Assa faetida of each one dram Saffron one scruple mingle all these together and make a Cataplasm for your use to this you may either add Capons grease Hogs grease or fresh butter If these remedies do not suddenly bring the inflammation to a suppuration you must then take of the shells of snails bruised and lay them upon the Cataplasm in such a manner that the snail shell may come to touch that part of the tumour which is most elevated and pointed whence it appears that the matter will first issue If these remedies avail not it will be necessary to open the said Apostem with a Lancet and this must be done when you are sure that the matter is ready to come forth which may be known by these signs when the beating ceases when the fever the pain and the heat of the part do begin to diminish when you perceive the place pointed and raised and enclining to a blackish colour When the wound is open you must first apply to it a digestive composed of an ounce of turpentine half an ounce of oyl of Roses and the yolk of an egge After this you must cleanse it with honey of roses Turpentine and barly meal or with the oyntment of the Apostles or the oyntment called Aegyptiacum then you may put on the top of the place the oyntment called Basilicon or Paracelsus plaister which doth digest cleanse carnifie cicatrize after a very extraordinary manner This is furthermore to be observed that an ulcer in the breast is not easily cured if the milk be not dried out of the other breast and therefore the milke is to be dried up by keeping the child from sucking and by putting upon the breasts of the woman cloaths dipped in cold water together with bean barly and vineger and such like remedies THE COMPLEAT MIDWIVES Practice Of windy Tumours in the Breasts THe flatuous tumor of the breasts is caused by a thick vapour which rises from the menstruall blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix The causes of which are first the suppression of the flowers or when the flowers are not discharged into their proper place and in their proper time as also from the corruption of the humours by which are ingendred divers bad fumes and vapours for this being received into the breasts cause a distention much like a true swelling The signes by which it is known is the pain which it brings along with it which is sharp and pricking causing a distention of the part The heart is not a little out of order by reason of the windinesses which lie so neer it and commonly the left breast is most swoln communicating its pain to the arm shoulder and ribs of the same side And these signes differ from those of a Canker for in this distemper the breast is white and shining by reason of the distention and if you touch it it sounds like a Drum And if you presse it with your hands you wil finde that it is sweld in all parts alike and not in one more then another This is cured first by a good order of diet taking little victuals whereby crudities may be avoided that do afford matter to the obstructions and increase windinesse for which cause she must also drink little that water boyld with Cinamom Anis-seed and rinde of Citrons The next remedy is by using things which are good to provoke the courses among which use this receit strein Selandine stampt into posset-ale and drink it four dayes before the new moon and four dayes after And it will not be amisse to let blood three or four times in the year about the time that the courses ought to begin For by this means you may provoke the flowers hinder the increase either of a Scirrhus or of a Canker to which purpose bathes frictions and infections are not a little to be used In the next place you must prepare the humours that foment this windinesse both in the Matrix and in the veins and that by syrups which do expell flegme and melancholy after which you must purge your patient for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sene three ounces Anis-seed one scruple let them boyle in foure ounces of Borage water vvhen it is streined infuse into it Confection Hamech vvithout Scammony Colloquint and Cathol Dupl Rheo of each an ounce and a halfe when it is streined dissolve in it one ounce of syrup of Roses solutive this potion must be given two hours before eating You may also use this gentle Apozem Take of the
root of Tamarinds Cypress Bugloss of each an ounce and a halfe flowers of Borage Epithymi Sen. of each halfe a handfull flowers of Balme one handful Raisins one ounce Prunes in number twelve boyle them in a sufficient quantity of vvater and then in a pint of the vvater dissolve foure ounces of the syrup of Violets make of this an Apozem clarified according to Art and sweeten it vvith a sufficient quantity of sugar giving four or five ounces at a time In the next place you may use Topicks to attenuate and resolve to vvhich purpose you may bathe or soment the breast vvith a sponge dipt in Lye and then lay upon it a linen cloth dipt and moistned in Aqua-vitae and dried in the shade or else dipt in fresh butter that hath boyled a good while or in oyle of Lillies or in oyle both of the root seed of Angelica or you may foment the breast vvith this Decoction Take Wheat-bran two handfuls leaves of Dill and Melilot of each halfe a handfull Anis-seed Fenell and Cumin-seed of each two drams Camomill flowers one halfe handfull boyl all these in a sufficient quantity of water and white wine and let them boyle to the consumption of the third part In this decoction you may wet a sponge and wash or foment the breast therewith After you have fomented the part you may put this ointment upon the part affected Take oyle of Lilies Elder of each an ounce and a halfe of the best Balsam halfe an ounce powder of burnt lead unwasht Anis-seed one dram and as much Wax as is sufficient Of the watry tumour of the Breast THe watry tumour is ingendred by a thick and watry flegme gathered together in great abundance in the breast and parts adjoyning and it happens many times that this watry and flegmy substance is not alwayes gathered to one particular place but also diffused through all the parts of the breast which causes a generall swelling in that part This swelling that we may define it is a loose and soft tumour without much pain yeelding to the touch and pressing of the fingers so that the hole which is made by the pressing of the fingers remains a pretty while after yet it soon becomes painful if there be any acrimony joyned with it or if there be any distention by reason of the press of vapours to that part This oftentimes happens by reason of the suppression of the courses sometimes it is occasioned by reason of a clear and watry flegme which discharges it selfe upon these parts This swelling is easily distinguished from other swellings by reason of the loosnesse and softnesse thereof and by the pain which is alwayes lesse then in other swellings and in this kinde of tumour the pain ascends up to the arms and shoulders and the whole breast is altogether swoln and raised and this pain comes at certain times chiefly when the flowers ought to come down which being once come down the pain diminishes by reason that the woman is then throughly purged Yet notwithstanding there doth remain some certain kind of swelling which happens not in the windy tumours by reason that the purgations of the flowers do totally dissipate the matter of those swellings These flegmy tumours do easily turn into Cankers and are therefore to be diligently looked after As to the cure of these tumours there is required first an orderly diet which must be drying her bread must bee well baked and leavened dried Raisins parched Almonds Asparagus rosted flesh and small birds Before meat she may take a little hony of Roses upon a wafer cake For her drink let it be the decoction of Anis-seeds China root Sassafras and Sarsaparil If the retention of the flowers be the cause of this evill let her then use rather boyled then rosted meats and then let her boyle them with Sage Betony and Hysop All meats made of milk are dangerous as also sleep after dinner and unleavened bread You may in the next place use things to divert the humor as frictions and baths if her flowers are suppressed let a vein be opened in the feet Next after you have prepared the humor by the use of syrups as those of Mint Worm-wood Hysop Licorass Maidenhaire hony of Roses with fenel water water of Hysop Marjoram Rosemary Betony Mint then may you use some purges with those pils called Sine quibus Agarick pils and Cochie-pils If the patient be strong and not to be worked upon by weak Physick you may then add two or three grains of Diagridion or Alandaal Trochisques these pils are to be used for eight days half a dram at a time Another way may be by topicks to attenuate and resolve for which purpose the fomentations specified in the foregoing chapters may be very fitly used being prepared with Vine ashes or figg-tree ashes whereto a little Vinegar may be put though the use of things that drive back the humour are not here to be used you may also rub and chafe the brest with this Ointment take of Oyl of sweet Almonds Oyl of Line seed of each one ounce ganders grease of each half an ounce with a little Diachylon instead of Wax a plaister of great Diachylon would not be amiss in this Disease if the Woman feel any paine or heat in her breasts let her anoint them with Oyl of Roses a little burnt lead and a little white wax or with a little Oleum Omphacinum and oyl of sweet Almonds tempered together in a mortar In the dispersing and resolving of the humor you may use baths of alum and sulphur prepared with the decoction of Hysop Mint and Sage and after that such ointments as are most approved for the same purpose alwaies taking heed of too boisterous Remedies if you would suppurate or mature the swelling you must use such Remedies as we have described in the following and fore-going Chapters the strongest of which you may here apply because the matter is more obstinate and tenacious mingling with them for that purpose other more effective Remedies as are the Roots of Mallows marsh mallows lillies figgs goose grease and the like when the sore is opened you must tend it after the same manner as is before rehearsed There are other Remedies either to be taken inwardly or to be outwardly applied which serve to fortifie and comfort the stomack as to take every morning a spoonful of conserve of Rosemary preserved Orange or trochisques of Aromaticum Rosatum Diagalanga or diacuminum Of the kernels in the Breast THe kernels of the breast are little round bodies soft and thin like a sponge which sometimes grow hard by reason of the phlegmie humor which is sometimes purely so and sometimes is mingled with other sharp acrimonious humors But sometimes it comes to passe that not only the kernels of the breast are swollen but also that there do grow others which ought not to be there which may not unfitly be termed a kind of the Kings-evil being a swelling
the place where the Child casts its eyes Moistness of the ears by reason of the moistness of the head which gather quantity of humors together the cure of this must not be over hasty yet the urine of children distilled and dropt into the ear is a very approved Remedy Bigness and swelling of the Head in little Children SOmetimes in children that are newly born the head grows to an extraordinary bigness which comes to pass either by reason of abundance of water contained in the same which water is contained either between the skin and the Pericranium or between the bone and the pericranium or between the bone and the membranes called the dura Mater and the Pia Mater Or by reason of abundance of vapours gathered together between the bones and the skin of the head which cause the head to grow to such an extraordinary bigness that it causes often times the death of the child If water be gathered together between the bone of the head and the membranes of the brain it causes a giddeness and Epilepsie to the Infant without being able to take any rest For the cure of the windy affection you may use fomentations in case the wind be contained only between the skin and the Pericranium for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sage Betonie Egrimony Calamus and Origan of each a handful Anis-seed and Fenel-seed of each two drams Camomil Flowers Melilot and Red Roses of each one handful boyl all these in common water adding to it a little wine and thereof make a Fomentation for the part affected which may be assisted with a plaister made of Oyl of Anis-seeds and bitter Almonds of each one ounce Oyl of Camomil an ounce and a half Laurel and Juniper-berries of each two drams Anis-seeds and Fennel-seeds of each one dram and a half of the best Wine a pint boyl them to the comsumption of the wine adding to the rest half an ounce of Venice Turpentine and as much wax as is sufficient As for the watry distemper though it be difficult to cure yet you must try this Fomentation to digest the humor Take Wormwood Betony creeping Time Penyroyal leaves of each a handful red Rose leaves and leaves of Stoechas a little handful Cypres Nut Orange flowers and Florentine orrice of each two drams boyl them all in a lye made of Vine twiggs and stalks after which you may use this plaister Take the powder of Betony Sage and Wormwood of each two drams Oyl of Camomil and Roses of each 2 ounces Vnguenti comitissae one ounce as much wax as is sufficient but if these Remedies profit nothing the only means left is to open the head Of the diseases of the Eyes Ears and Noses in Children MAny times children are troubled with a light inflammation in their eyes with a certain gum and thickness which hinders them from opening the eye-lid the most present remedies are either for the Nurse to wash the eyes with a little of her breast milke or else with a little Plantain and Rosewater mixt together Sometimes the nostrils are so stopt that they are not able to draw their breath but with much pain For the cure of which the Nurse must moisten a linen cloth in a little ointment of Roses or a little very good Pomatum till the hard matter within be dissolved Many times there flows a moist humor from their heads which happens to those who have moist brains In the cure of this it must be the care of the Nurse to cleanse the eares both within and without afterwards let her drop into them a little oyle of bi ter Almonds and hony of Roses mixt together Of certain Vlcers in childrens mouths THere do many times grow a certain kinde of ulcers in childrens mouths For the cure of which the Nurse in the first place must use a good and sound diet then must the ulcers themselves be rub'd with a little Mel Rosatum and syrup of violets with a drop or two of Plantain water or you may wash them with half an ounce of Rose-water or Plantain water in which put half a dram Dâ—aigret of vitriol if they be very red and inflamed take Brambles flowers of Pomegranates Roses Santall of each two drams Alum half a dram boyle them in water afterwards strain them to the quantity of three ounces in which dissolve halfe an ounce of syrup of Mulberries If they be white take Amber Frankincense wood Cypresse nuts Pomegranate flowers of each two drams flowers of Roses and Myrtles of each half a handful boyl them in water to the consumption of foure ounces wherein dissolve an ounce and a half of hony of Roses Of certain other Tumours called Paroulis and Espoulis PAroulis is a little swelling red and inflamed and is ingendred commonly of a hot cholerick blood or else from a salt flegme that fals down upon the gums causing not only the gums but the neck and chaps to be swelled For the cure hereof you may anoint the gums with this Ointment Take of Amili 11 drams powder of Tragacant one dram burnt Alum one scruple Rosewater one ounce if there be any inflammation rub the gums with a muscilage made of the seed of Quinces made with rose-Rose-water and plantain-Plantain-water adding to it a little syrup of Jujubes If the swelling be obstinate bring it to a suppuration with figgs Raisins Jujubes Licorass and French barley wel boyled when it is opened and lanced cleanse and dry it with mel Rosatum syrup of Roses and Cherries The Espoulis is a little excrescence of flesh hapning in the lungs between the teeth but most commonly the great teeth R. The root of Bugloss an ounce and half Plantain Agrimony a handful whole Barley a smal handful red Roses half a handful Pomgranate flowers two drams four Dates a dram and a half of Liquoriss make a decoction and straine it and then add to it an ounce of syrup of Roses and Pomgranates to wash the place affected you also may wash it with this Remedy Take of the juice of Pomgranates and Quinces of each half an ounce juice of Berberies and Lettice of each two drams with a little of the decoction of Lentils and red Roses Of the two strings under the Tongue of a Child THere is one of these strings or ligaments which appears reaching from the bottom of the tongue and extending it self to the top of the tongue this must be cut off first with a pair of cizers and the place rubbed with a lit-little Mosche salt There is another Ligament which rises from the root and extendeth it self to the middle of the tongue which is more hard and large which hinders the tongue either from being stretched out or to be moved in the mouth The cure hereof belongs wholly to the Chirurgeon Of the Cough in Children THe Cough in Children comes either from the distillation of some cold and sharp humour distilling from the brain if the humor be cold the child is also troubled
Of the Inflammation of the Almonds of the Ears IF the child be very smal you must wash the throat as neer the root of the tongue as may be with a linen cloth tied to a stick dipped in this gargarisme take of new extracted Cassia one dram syrup of dry Roses one dram and a half with six ounces of the decoction of Coriander Or you may anoint the neck with oyl of Violets and Camomil binding the neck with a little roller well anointed with the same when the child goes to bed you may give him in a spoon a little syrup of dry'd Roses of Pavot and Nenuphar mingled together Oxycroceum alone doth also make an excellent Gargarism If they come to a suppuration you must use this gargarisme Take of the decoction of Barley Plantain Agrimony Veronicae Honysuckle and herb Rob six ounces in which dissolve mel Rosatum and Sugar-candie of each half an ounce to make a gargarism Of Vomiting IF it proceed from abundance of milk which the child sucks you must take care that the child suck less and often If it come from any ill humor contained in the stomack besides that the Nurse must keep a very good dyet the Infant must be purged with a smal expression of Rheubarb giving it afterwards a little Codignac to comfort the stomack mingling with it a little tablet of Diarrhodium putting afterwards upon his stomack this plaister Take of the pulp of condited Quinces two ounces red Roses Wormwood and red Sanders of each two drams Oyl of Quinces as much as sufficeth make a plaister of this and lay it upon the stomack of the child Of the Hicquet IF it come from an over-much repletion it wil not be amiss to make him vomit of whatsoever age he be or if it be necessary that a greater force should be used you must try to make him vomit by putting down the throat a Fether dipt in oyl if from the badness of the Nurses milk she must be changed for a better if from the coldness of the stomack you must use remedies to comfort it as little tablets of Diarrhodium of which you must dissolve a scruple in the milk of the Nurse you must also chafe the stomack of the child with oyl of Wormwood Mastick and Quinces Of the pain of the Belly in Children IF the Disease come from indigestion and moistness the little Infant wil vomit and be troubled with a flux of the belly and the belly wil be hard In which cases you may give the infant an ounce of sweet Almonds drawn with out fire and mingled with a quantity of Sugar-candy or anoint the belly with this Ointment Take oyl of Camomil and oyl of sweet Almonds of each an ounce and a half mingle them and therewith anoint the belly if wind be the cause you may mingle a little oyl of rue in the foresaid Ointment Of the Smal-Pox in Children THe signes of this Disease are paine in the head accompanied with a Fever redness about the eyes a dry Cough and you shal mark in the skin up and down the body certain little spots upon the face back brest and thighs the Smal-pox is dangerous if they come forth with much pain if they be greenish blewish or blackish For the cure of this if the Infant suck the Nurse must keep a good order of dyet she may eat broth of Hens with Endive Cichorie Bugloss and Borage boyled therein Now to make the Smal-Pox come forth the more quickly if the Child be little the Nurse must drink this following Potion Take of Caricarum Pinguium one ounce peeled Lentils half an ounce Gum Lacca two drams Gum Tragacant and Fenel-seed of each two drams and a half make of this a decoction in fountain-Fountain-water and strein it to the quantity of two pints sweeten this either with sugar or syrup of Maidenhair let her drink of this in the morning a good glassful Or you may give the child if it be able to take it this Julep to be used very often take of Cordial waters two ounces and a half syrup of Limons one ounce mingle it and use it often 4. or five hours after give him of powder of Unicorns-horn and Bezoar Now to keep this venemous humor from attaching the eyes temper a little Saffron in a smal quantity of Plantain and Rose-water and rub the eyelids or you may anoint them with Tutie For keeping them from the nose take Rose-water and Betonie-water of each an ounce Vinegar half an ounce juice of Pomgranates six ounces in which steep two drams of Santalum and two drams of the powder of Citron peel adde to this six grains of Saffron and make a medecine for the child to smel often to the same Medecine wil serve for the ears by stopping them with a little cotton To preserve the mouth and throat and tongue take this gargarism take whole Barley one handful Plantain leaves leaves of Oxalis Arnogloss Agrimonie and Verbena of each one handful boyl this to the quantity of six ounces dissolving in it syrup of dry Roses and Pomgranates of each half an ounce Saffron half a scruple To preserve the Lungs use syrup of Jujubes Violets and Nenuphar when they are fully come out to make them dye the more quickly rub the face with oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire Or use this Ointment take old Lard cut it in smal pieces and melt it in a pot then strein then beat it and mingle it with water for your use When the Pox is totally dead take this Remedy to take away the marks Take Halke the weight of two Crowns clear cream 2. ounces mix them together and with a Fether dipt therein anoint the face of the child two or three daies this causeth the skin to grow smooth leaving not a pit in the face Certain other Instructions grounded upon practical Observations fit to be known by all Midwives and Child-bearing Women c. IN the yeare One Thousand six hundred and Ten a young Lady whom I was wont to bring to bed passing by my house came in to me and told me that she was four moneths gone and that she perceived the Infant to stir about a moneth after she came to see me and told me that she was in much pain for that she had not perceived the Infant to stir in two dayes and that therefore she believed that it was dead by reason of a certain very great fright which she had had for at the time that she was frighted she perceived the childe to move but after that never and her belly began by little and little to wax less and about three weeks after she had that reflux of milk that Women use to have that lye in when this was gone she had no grievance yet seeing her often and knowing her to be bigg with child she asked me my advice to know what she should do Whereupon I asked her if any ill vapours rose up into her mouth she told me no. If she had
that meanes be delayed to the damage of the woman in childbed The fourteenth form If there be twins in the womb and one of them endeavour to come forth with the head formost and the other with the feet First of all the Midwife must consider which of the two the woman may be delivered of with most expedition if the head of the one be less forward then the feet of the second it will be most convenient to draw that forth by the feet turning the head of the other a little to the other side and that being delivered she must presently lay hold of the head of that which is within and direct it just to the passage of the womb which may be done with more ease by reason of the gap which the formost hath made If it happen that in drawing forth the first by the feet that the other chang its situation the midwife may then draw forth the other by the feet as she did the first and if the head of the first be more forward then must she put back the feet of the first and receive that which comes with the head formost If both of them press together to the passage of the womb the midwife must take great care and therfore she must put up her hand to see which of them is most forward as also to try whether it be not some monstrous conception as two heads upon one body or two bodies joyned in one either at the shoulders or at the sides which may be known if she put up her hand gently between the two heads as high as she can and if she find that they are twins she may gently put the one to one side to make way for the passage of the other which is most advanced which must be directed just to the orifice of the womb having a great care that she do not change the situation of the second and as she feeles the pains of the mother coming on her she must by all means bring forward the childe that she would receive still keeping the other back with two or three fingers of the left hand and thus having delivered the first if the second be not well situated she must bring the head to the neck of the womb where it will find the passage open to it by the delivery of the first Now lest the first childe should be in danger of its life you must take it from the mother and carefully tie up the navel string as is formerly mentioned also bind again with a large and long fillet that part of the navel which is fast to the secondines that they may be the more easily found Then the second child being born the Midwife must see if there be not two secondines for by reason of the shortness of the ligature it may have happened to retire back againe to the damage of the woman and therfore the secondines must be hastened forth as soon as may be least the womb should close If the two Infants have but one body the better way is to turn the head upwards and to draw it forth by the feet then by the head taking care when you come to the hipps to draw it forth as quick as may be The fifteenth form The second forme of the unnaturall birth is very dangerous and therfore requires the greater care of the midwife First therfore let her well anoynt the womb of the woman that the passage may be more slipperie which being done let her take hold of the hands of one of the Infants and keeping them close to the sides direct the head to the orifice of the womb that being born let her proceed in the same manner toward the other If she cannot come to take hold of either of the Infants armes she must bring the woman againe to her bed and trye if by the foresaid Agitation of her body the infants may be Brought to a more convenient forme of delivery CHAP. XXIX Of ordering the woman after she is delivered IN the first place she must keep a temperate dyet having a great care not to over fill her selfe after so great an evacuation and indeed her dyet must be like that of wounded persons neither are the tales of Nurses to be beleived who exhort them to fill after so great an emptines telling them that the loss of bloud must be restored for these are meer fooleries for as for that blood which she hath lost it is but unnecessary blood such as is usually kept for the space of nine months which to voyd is much conducing to her health besides their nourishment for the first days must be but slender for feare of falling into a fever besides the abundance of milke which it would bring into the brest where it might be in danger of curdling or apostematizing and therfore for the first five days let her use broths Panadas potched eggs Gellies abstaining from flesh or french Barly In the Morning broth will be expedient at dinner broth or eggs or Panada and at supper the same with some Gellies for her second courses If she intend to nourse her childe she may feed more plentifully and drinke some Barly-water where in some corianders or fennell seed may be put In Italie the persons of most account doe use this water Take two Capons the fethers being well pulled of and the bowels wholly taken out which you shall boyl in a glaz'd earthen pot in a sufficient quantitie of water till they be halfe boyled then must they be taken out of the pot together with the broth and being cutt to peices are to be put into a Lembick in manner following â„ž Bugloss Borache and Time two good handfulls and with that cover the bottome of the shell then lay upon that a row of flesh then upon that a ranck of leaf gold with a dram of powder of pearles and upon that pover the broth let all this be distilled in Balneo Mariae drawing forth a pint at a time which you shall reiterate as often as you have any thing left to give to the woman in child-bed for the space of ten or twelve dayes This water must be drawn six weeks or two months before it be used If the woman be not troubled with a fever let her drinke a little white wine or Claret with twice as much hot water If she haue a mind to drink between meales or at night it may be convenient to give her some syrrup of maidenhaire or any other syrrup that is not astringent with a little boyled water After the suspition of fever or heat of her brests is over she may be nourished more plentifully and you may give her together with her broth some other meat as Pullet Capon Pigeon Mutton or Veale boyled After the eight day is past at what time the Womb is well purged and discharged it will be expedient to give her cold meat in greater quantitie that she may be enabled to gaine strength during all this time
times is the cause of tumors kernels and Apostems In this case the infant is not to suck the part affected though that breast is also to be suckt for fear lest the milk which is newly generated should be curdled and knotted by that which is there already and so that part of the coagulated milk may be hindered from putrifying To the dissolving of the milk it much conduceth to wash the breast with water wine and vinegar mixt together as also a Fomentation made of the decoction of Marsh-mallows Fenugreek and melilote and then anointing them with a liniment of Oyl of Roses Oyl of sweet Almonds juice of Parsley and Vinegar wherein let the gall of a Hare be first dissolved Hemlock water in this case also is not a little commended Of the Diseases of the neck of the Womb and first of the Disease called Tentigo TEntigo is a Disease in Women when the Clitoris increases to an over-great measure the subject of this disease is the Clitoris or nervous peece of flesh which the lips or wings of the privities do imbrace and which suffers erection in the act of venery the signes of it are evident for it hangs below the orifice of the privity as bigg as the neck of a Goose the causes hereof are a great concourse of humours or nutriment by reason of the laxity of it which happens by often handling The cure is performed by the diminution of the bloud and drawing out of the other humors A slender and refrigerating dyet is also necessary and such things as have a discussive faculty as the leaves of Mastick tree and the leaves of Olive tree In the next place by taking away the excrescence to which purpose gentle causticks may be first applyed as Alum and the Aegyptiac oyntment and that lye whereof sope is made being boyled with Roman Vitriol to which at last you may add some opium and form the composition into Trochisques which being afterwards made into a powder is to be sprinkled upon the fleshieexcrescence at length the flesh is to be cut away either by binding hard or by section care being taken that you avoid an inflammation There is another disease which is called Cauda which is a carnous substance proceeding from the mouth of the womb which sometimes fils up the privy parts and sometimes thrusts it self outwards like a tayl The cure of this is the same with the former onely if it come to section it may be done either with a horse-hair or a silken thread wound about it being first dipt in sublimate water or else with a knife Of the narrowness of the neck of the Womb. THis narrowness is either of the Womb it self or of the orifice of the Womb the signes are the stoppage of the Courses followed with a depressing and weighty paine The cause is partly natural from the nativity and partly varies according to the differences of the disease the difference is in this it hapning sometimes that this streightness consists in the exterior orifice whereby neither the flowers have free passage neither can she enjoy coition or conceive with child because she cannot receive either the man or the seed Sometimes the narrowness is in the interior orifice of the Womb into which the flowing retires back again to the absolute hindrance of conception sometimes it is occasioned by way of compression when the Caul being fatter then ordinary lies upon the neck of the Womb. Sometimes the splaying of the thighs stone in the bladder or some tumor in the streight gut Sometimes it happens by the clinging of other parts together which happens either from the birth and then either the flesh which appears red and is soft to the touch intercepts the passage or else the membrane which seems white feels hard being touched In the cure of this the use of moist fomentations is very prevalent and an insection is to be made perpendicularly great care being taken for feare of hurting the neck of the bladder The humour is next to be provoked forth and a Tent dipt in some suppurating plaister is to be put up the next day it is to be washed with water and honey and cicatrizing plaisters to be applied if it come after the birth it is either occasioned by an ulcer and then either the sides of the neck cling together in which case either incision or cauterization is to be used or else there is a brawnie substance which is to be cut away with a penknife or else some spungie luxuriant flesh in which case drying and discussing Medecines are to be used as Birthwort Frankincense Myrrh and Mastick afterwards you may apply things to eat it away and last of all to cut it away by incision Of Wheals condylomas of the Womb and of the Hemorrhoids THe Wheals of the VVomb are certaine risings in the neck of the womb which by their acrimony excite both paine and itching The signes of them are an itching paine and fall of scurf from that part for the better searching of which the instrument called speculum Matricis is to be used The cause of this are certain cholerick sharp and adust humors and thick which falling upon these moist and loose places do there easily make their way The cure depends upon the consideration of the causes Among the preparing Medecines syrup of Fumitory is much commended and Cichorie with a decoction of Lupines Topicks also are useful that discuss and mitigate the humor as baths and insessions and the washing of the place with wine and Nitre which is often to be used These wheals are divided into gentle and venemous which are said to be contagious they are to be washed in a water thus made Take of Aloes the quantity of a pea of the flowr of brass the quantity of half a pea powder these and mingle them in an ounce of white wine Plantain-water and Rose-water of each an ounce which is to be kept in a glass vessel Condylomas are certaine swelling wrinkles in the neck of the Womb with pain and heat There is no need to tel the signes of these for they are apparent to the eye the wrinkles are like those which appear in the hand when you close the fist but are much bigger when the courses flow they are caused by adust and thick humors some of these are with an inflamation which have more paine and heat and the swelling is hard In the cure of which you must use insessions and fomentations that ease paine sometimes they come without any inflammatiō which if they be new come are to be dryed up if they be old they are first to be softned afterwards to be digested and dryed up for which purpose you may use powder of Egg-shels burnt or this Ointment Take of the Trochisques of steel one dram powderd mixt with a little Oyl of Roses and wax with half an ounce of the juice of Mullein if this profit not the warts are to be shaved away with a knife and an astringent
navel Of Looseness in Children LOoseness of the belly happens either in the time of Teeth breeding or out of the time in the time of breeding teeth either by reason of the corruption of the nutriment or by reason of over-much watching through the pain of the teeth or by reason of a Fever and some unnatural heat it must not be suddenly stopt if it be not overcopious and that the infant can indure it the belly must be afterwards cleansed with Roses solutive and afterwards stopped great observation being had whether the cause come from a hot or cold distemper Of Burstness in Children BUrstness happens to children either by reason that the peritonaeum is burst through crying or falling or splaying with the thighs For the cure whereof the child must be kept quiet and stil from crying upon which after the part affected is wel bound up you may give the child inwardly of the essence of the greater Consound one spoonful with two drops of Balsam of sal Gemma You may also foment the place with a Fomentation made of the roots of the greater Consound and Osmundi regulis the bark of Elme and Fraxi of each half an ounce the leaves of Plantain Mullein Centinode Herniar Horsetail flowers of Camomil red Roses and Meliot of each a handful and a half Balust Cypress nuts and acrons of each two drams put these into two sacks and boyl them in equal parts of sour wine and Smiths water for a Fomentation to be used for a quarter of an hour then you may lay on a Plaister of the red drying Ointment eleven ounces powder of Mastick Olibanum and Sarcocol Cypress-nuts of each one dram with a little wax and oyl of Mastick to make a plaister which must be put upon the place affected and bound down with a little pillow Sometimes this burstness proceeds from a watry humor abounding in the Abdomen which descending into the Codds causeth them to swel for which you may use with good success this Ointment Take of Vnguent Comitiss and the red drying Ointment of each two ounces Pigeons dung half an ounce live Sulphure three drams powder of Lawrel berries and mustard-seed of each a dram oyle of Dill and Venice Turpentine of each 3 drams wax as much as sufficeth this is also an extraordinary Remedy for the Burstness proceeding from wind Of the Inflammation of the Navell THe inflammation of the Navel ariseth when the blood gathers thither by reason of some external hurt the danger is very great if it should apostemate and so the guts fall down and therefore suppuration must be hindred as much as may be Of the jutting forth of the Navel THis differs from the inflammation because here the Navel doth not give way to the touch neither is the colour of the skin changed neither is there any very great paine or pulse unless the intestines are very much fallen it proceeds from the ill binding thereof at first which is incurable or when a greater portion then necds of the Navel string is left Secondly from a laxation of the Peritonaeum and then the tumor is equal nor doth the Navel jut forth very far in the cure hereof you must let the child abstain from all windy meats and from much crying Sometimes it is occasioned by the rupture of the Peritonaeum and then the swelling is hardly perceived when the child lies upon his back but increaseth and swels forward when he walks sits cries and bawls in the cure of this the mosse that grows upon the wild Prune-tree is very much commended or you make little Swathbands of Leather and anoint them with Oxycroceum Of the Stone in the Bladder THis is known by the coming forth of the Urine by drops and with paine which is sometimes unmixed sometimes containing a kinde of serous humor sometimes dyed with a little blood it is produced either by the milk which is ingendered of meats that do increase the Stone or through a hot distemper of the Liver which attracts the Chylus and sends it unaltered to the bladder for the Cure you must use Baths among which this is commended to anoint the bladder withall take Oyl of Scorpions oyl of bitter Almonds Conies-grease and Hens grease of each an ounce and a half and of the juice of Parietarie Or take sal Tartar one ounce parsley-water a pint mix them through a fine paper rubd over with the rindes of Oranges and give a smal quantity thereof Of the not holding of the Vrine THis ariseth either from the muscle which shuts the orifice of the Bladder which is so disposed that it is loosed upon the least exciting of the Urine and grows so into a habit that it many times accompanies them to their graves or from the stone in the bladder or from the weakness of the sphincter proceeding from a cold moist distemper which is cured partly by the good dyet of the Nurse and partly by convenient Medecines among which a bath made of Sulphure Nitre and the leaves of Oak is exceeding good Of the Intertrigo WHen the little skin in the hips is separated from the true skin it arises first from the sharpness of the Urine especially in children that are more corpulent by reason of the dirt which frets the skin being gathered together in the wrinkles Bathe the place and then sprinkle upon it either white Nihili or anoint it with oyl of Litharge Of Leanness THis arises either from a subtle kinde of Worms which are generated in the most musclely parts of the back and arms and consume the body They break forth sometimes like to black haires if you wash those parts with a Bath mixed with bread and hony they are taken away either with a Razor or with a crust of bread Secondly it arises from the smal quantity of milk which is often-times remedied by changing the Nurse Of the difficulty which Children have to make water IF the Disease proceed from sharpness of the Urine the Nurse must use such a way of dyet as is proper for the tempering and cooling of the blood she must be purged let blood using afterwards cooling refrigerating broths If it proceed from any gross humor ingendered in the bladder the Nurse must abstain from all meats that do breed gross humors as milky meats Pease and Beans and such like If the child be troubled with gravel which may be perceived by the whiteness and rawness of the Urine with a gravelly setling at the bottom and the continual pain in making water if the Child be any thing bigg let a potion be given him of an ounce and half of sweet Almonds an ounce of Pellitory water and two drams of the juice of Limons use as much of this at a time as is convenient Or take of this powder of the blood of a Hare six ounces of the root of Saxifrage one ounce burn them in an earthen â—ot if the Infant suck give him a scruple of this powder in a little milk