seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to a quart to the strained liquor add Syr. de 5 radicibus and Syr. lupulorum of each an ounce mingle them and make an Apozem Or Take the roots of Acorns and Elecampane of each two drams The leaves of Pennyroyall Motherwort Balme Betony of each a handfull Two ounces of white Agarick An ounce and a halfe of Anise seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Fumitary water to a pint to the liquor which you presse out add Syrupe of Motherwort Syrupe of Maydenhaire of each an ounce Mingle them and make an Apozem Note that Agarick hath respect unto the nervous parts and that the Syrup of the five roots with vinegar doth hurt the Nerves because all sharp things are hurtfull to the Matrix according to Hippocrates whose Judgement winneth reverence with the best Physitians Fomentations must be applyed to the small guts to the privie parts and you must make them of opening simples and such as will cut into and make thin the grosse and thick humours Baths and halfetubs prepared of the like simples will be very usefull and the best liniments you can choose are made of oyle of Lillies castor dill and capers and the most profitable oyntments are unguent Agrippe and de Althea with gums After you have gone thus far you must evacuate the bloud and provoke urine to which purposes prescribe this Decoction following Take the roots of Butchers broome Sparagus Smallage Fennill of each an ounce The roots of Aristolochy the round Birthwort of each two drams The leaves of Penniroyall Snakeweed Motherwort of each a handfull Foure drams of Sena Two ounces of white agarick Foure ounces of Hermodactyls An ounce and a halfe of Epithymum Anise and fennill seeds of each an ounce Boile them in a sufficient quantity of water to a pint and a halfe to the strained liquor being hard prest add two ounces of the best honey mingle them and make an Apozem Every other morning let her drink foure ounces of this fasting and in the meane time strengthen her belly and her Matrix with fomentations that are good to expell winde you may make them of the Simples aforesaid with the powders Dianis Diacumin Diagalang and the like You must provoke the Menstruum with Pessaries made of the juyce of Mercury Cucumbers Restharrow unsalted butter Hogs-grease the gall of an Oxe Sagapenum Ammoniacum Castor Assa-fetida and the like Perfumes made with spices bring down the Courses if the streame or vapour of them be conveighed into the Matrix or you may appoint little Trochishs to be made with rue aristolochy Castor assa fetida Sagapenum and turpentine which being cast upon hot burning coles they will smoke and that smoke will speedily bring down her Courses if it be received up thorow a tunnell You must make an issue in her leg that the Matrix may exhale and the thick humours may be purged out Such Compositions as have steele in them will be most effectuall for it is manifest by experience that steele is good to cut into and make thin the thick and slow humours to open obstructions to bring down the Courses to provoke urine and to free the vessels from all matter that stop them and all these things it performes by manfest qualities inherent in it and not by the ponderosity or heavinesse thereof as some have conjectured Severall Authors have devised severall preparations of it but we alwayes used to prepare it after this manner following Take a pound of Steele filed into a most fine dust wash it in Pennyroyall water distilled till the water look pure and cleare then put it into a glasse Viol pouring upon it a sufficient quantity of Vinegar made with Penniroyall set it in the Sun thirty dayes stirring it about every seventh day afterwards dry it weare it to a most subtle powder in a Marble morter sift it and keep it for your use the Dose or quantity hereof to be taken is a dram with wormewood wine or Rhenish wine or with Hydromel Note that we advisedly make use of the vinegar aforenamed because the use and vertue of Steele is to unlock obstructions and Vinegar hath a faculty to penetrate make thin and cut asunder the thickest humours and therefore by the help thereof the Steele is with the more expedition transmitted to the remotest parts of the body Yet if the patient be troubled with a hot distemper in her Liver stomack or spleen or if you discerne any weaknesse in her inward parts then prepare the steele with Rose-water or whey of Goats milke When she hath taken the steele let her walke an houre after it for exercise opens the pores and thereby the Medicine is the more easily distributed when she hath observed this injunction let her lie down till she begin to sweat or if she finde in her selfe a disposednesse let her sleep afterwards give her to eat but her meat should rather be rosted then boyl'd and for her drink allow her small wine or wine prepared with steele I doe not judge it meet to determine any time for the continuance of these Rules and precepts onely in generall I hold it convenient to use them till the Patient be more apt and disposed for exercise till she can walke without any lazy complaint of wearinesse till her lips begin to look of a more lively colour till no obstruction be perceiveable by the touch and in a word till the urine which was thin pale and discoloured appeare reddishlike unto the urine of a healthfull woman The Spring time is the most convenient to undertake this Cure for then the humours are most apt to flow which in the Winter are congealed and impacted in the severall parts and in the Summer time it will not be altogether so proper to begin the Cure for then thorough the immoderate heat of the season the humours doe daily threaten to precipitate the sick woman into a fever If the woman be weake in her body let her refraine from exercise and rest her selfe upon her bed and after the space of a full houre let her body be diligently rubbed till it looke red that the faculties of the steele may be actuated and assisted in their operation for Galen in his book de Puero Epileptico and the fourth Chapter saith that the rubbing of the body supplies the want of exercise because it attenuateth and cuteth the humours unlocks the obstructions quickens and kindles the naturall heat and dissolves the peccant matter Many mingle steele prepared with Conserves and Syrups Some make Lozenges thereof and so doe we also especially when the Patient refuseth Wine or Conserves and the like for in some cases we must allow pardon to the queazinesse of the sick and humour the Palate with a safe indulgence The powders Diarhod Abbat Dialacca and Diacucurma are very good to open the passages which are stop't and therefore you may prudently mingle them among the ingredients for the Lozenges aforesaid
seldome faileth in its operation Two scruples of boiled Rubarb A scruple of Citron myrobalans Halfe an ounce of syrup of Quinces Two ounces and a halfe of Plantane water Mingle them and let her drink it Divers Authors as Rondeletius Hollerius Amatus Lusitanus and others condemn the boiling of Rubarb and the reason is this as things say they become more milde and weake in their operations when they have past the fire so those things which are gentle become more vehement having acquired a new kinde of faculty by the force of the fire this I grant most willingly but in the meane time they purge lesse and binde more which we desire and as for any corrupt quality which the power of the fire may have contributed to it that is easily washt away by the help of Plantane water or the juice of Quinces if you demand whither this humour should be prepared I answer evacuate it without any delay for you must not expect or wait the concoction thereof Binding Glysters will be very usefull you may make them after this manner Take foure drams of the roots of Consolida major The leaves of plantane and horsetayle of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of red Roses Two drams of shaled Pease Boile them in a sufficient quantity of plantane water to nine ounces to the strained liquor add a dram of the Trochischs de Carabe two ounces of syrup of Roses made with dried Roses The whites of two Eggs. Mingle them and make a glyster Or Take foure drams of the greater Comphrey roots The leaves of knotgrasss and plantane of each a handfull As many red Roses as your thumb and two fingers can take up Sumach and Quince seeds of each two drams Three drams of barley parched and beaten to a grosse powder Boile them in a sufficient quantity of plantane water to nine ounces To the strained liquor add two ounces of syrup of Myrtles A dram of terra sigillata Mingle them and make a glyster After these glysters are injected anoint the Matrix with astringent oyntments Take as many plantane leaves as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice Red Roses Mulberry leaves Oake leaves of each halfe the quantity aforesaid A dram of Sumach seeds Boile them gently in foure pints of oyle of Quinces Straine and presse the liquor hard and then put in True Bolearmanick Trochischs de Carabe of each a dram With a sufficient quantity of white wax make a soft oyntment according to art or Take two ounces of unguentum Comitisse Oyle of myrtles and oyle of quinces of each two drams Mingle them and make a liniment You must likewise bath the Matrix with fomentations made after this manner Take the leaves of plantane Knotgrasse Oake leaves Red Roses of each a handfull The seeds of plantane Sumach Quinces of each three drams Boile them in a sufficient quantity of red wine or water wherein steele hath been quenched to three pints use the strained liquor as was said above That which remaines after the straining may be kept for a Poultis unto which you may add oyle of quinces and unguentum Comitisse of each two ounces and mingling them together you have an excellent Poultis But if the disease yield not to these Remedies you may exhibit half a dram of new Treacle or Philonium Persicum or a scruple of the masse of Pils de Cynoglossa if the Patient incline to a Consumption give her Cowes milk prepared rightly with steele to drink in a morning fasting if the evill still persevere and you suspect the heat of the Liver to be the Cause of the disease make an issue in her leg that the Liver may exhale at that vent and the other bowells may evaporate or else let her goe into a Bath the waters whereof run from an iron Mine for these naturally binde and thicken CHAP. IV. Of the coming away of the Courses by Drops of the vehement Symptomes thereof and of the Whites AS the urine irritates the expulsive faculty so many times doth the Menstruum for as that when it is too hot doth prick burn and is frequently pist out so the Menstruum being vehemently hot doth cause an itch and an irritation and produceth a Disease which the Doctours call Stillicidium Vterinum which we may english to be a coming away of the Courses by drops The Disease proceeds from the same Causes as doth the immoderate flowing of the Courses therefore the same Remedies will be also proper to overcome them yet in this present cure you need not prescribe so many Remedies nor so often When any notable Symptomes accompanie this Disease as a vehement burning torments in the Matrix a paine about the secret parts it is called the Stillicide or Dropping of the Matrix from a sharp humour arising through the hot distemper of the Liver and the Kidneys and whereas it takes beginning from a hot distemper from whence sharpe hot and fiery humours are generated your Method must be first to root out the Cause and then to cure the distemper wherefore her body must be cooled her bloud must be thickned and the Flux must be drawn back to the upper parts this is done by a coole Ayre by giving her whey to drinke wherein steele hath been often quenched and lastly you may prescribe for her the cold thickning Dyet which we have set down above You may let her bloud in both armes and appoint the opening of the veine called Salvatella Leeches must be applied to the Hemorrhoids that the adust and melancholly bloud may be drawn out Purge her often with Rubarb and Cassia Syrupe of Violets Citron Myrobalaus Manna Tamarinds Diaprun simpl and the like Simples which gently bring away choler Cooling and thickning Juleps will be very necessary which you may make after this manner Take twelve ounces of plantane water Foure ounces of Rose water Two ounces of Syrupe of the juice of Quinces Mingle them and make a Julep or Take the waters of Plantane Purselane of each eight ounces Syrup of Poppy Syrupe of râ—stharrow of each an ounce and a half Mingle them and make a Julep If the chiefest fault lie in the Kidneys Take ten ounces of Bean water distilled The waters of Plantane Mallowes of each two ounces Syrupe of Myrtles Syrupe of Poppy of each an ounce A scruple and a halfe of Lapis Prunelle Mingle them and make a Julep But note if the Patient have a hot Liver and a cold stomack it will be convenient to lessen the quantity of the distilled mallow water or to prescribe an equall part of Rose water the vertue whereof strengthens the inward parts Baths made with binding Simples are highly profitable in this Disease for they doe not onely attemper the sharpnesse of the humours but they drive the humours to the outward parts and so defend and fortifie the Matrix from that annoyance which they threatned unto it and in a while the Flux is stayed Whey although it be Diureticall and
â—rovoke urine yet when steele is quenched 〈◊〉 it it is wonderfull wholsome for her â—s Hippocrates affirmeth concerning the Son â—f Erotelaus lying sick of a bloudy Flux for â—hen he had drunk whey in which red hot â—nts were quenched his evacuations were â—ore moderate although they were bloudy â—nd in a short time they ended here is to â—e noted that whey although upon a slight â—onsideration it may seeme to be Diuretiâ—â—ll and so to provoke rather then to stay â—he flux yet if steele be frequently quenched 〈◊〉 it till the thin and fiery parts thereof â—e wasted away it stayeth the Flux If these Remedies prevaile not to perâ—â—ct the Cure I shall counsell you to make â—n Issue upon the knee for this being kept â—pen the corrupt humours are evacuated â—ithout any decay of the spirits which â—therwise doe many times produce grieâ—â—ous and vehement Symptomes we have â—poken of the coming away of the Menstruâ—m by Drops with the terrible Symptome which accompanies it namely a vehement â—nd insupportable paine but because this â—aine proceeds from divers causes the Cure â—ust be also diversified Women therefore which are of a cold Constitution especially if they be young prone to Venery Black and Hairy must be purged that the Cause may be taken away and therefore their bodies must be first prepared before you can hope to appease the paine You may evacuate the humour with Diaphenicon Benedicta laxativa or with Pills of Hiera and you may prepare the humour with smallage and fennill roots with agrimony and Motherwort leaves boiled in water wherein steele hath been quenched with Rhodomel The paine must be appeased with unguent Populeum unto which you may add a few graines of opium or else you may apply fomentations to the head A vein also must be opened as we have shewed you above If a woman or Virgin have the whites which come away of a thick and fattish substance you must proceede as in the former Cure but you must be exceeding cautious how you let bloud for such bodies are full of raw humours by reason whereof the spirits are much exhausted and her body is weake and infirme according to the Judgement of Galen in his book de Sanguin missione chap. 11. wherefore in such cases I counsell the Patient to goe to the Spaw waters or some other of the like Nature for they purge away the thick humour both by siege and by urine but especially the melancholy juice which is the cause of this disease A Decoction of China and Salzapavilla cannot be improper nor Leeches applied to the Hemorrhoids Note that the Caul of a Ram or Weather newly killed must be laid to the affected part being first anointed with oyle of Castor for as the skull of a man is good against the Falling Sicknesse and the Lungs of a Fox against the stoppage of the pipes by a specificall vertue or hidden similitude so is this good for the stomack and the Loynes The Whites are defined to be a lasting distillation from the Matrix however it be affected for Nature indevoureth to expell that superfluous moist and excrementitious bloud thorough the Matrix and even at the same time disburtheneth the body from this unprofitable and offensive humour This evill is reckoned among the Symptomes of those things which are immoderately expelled out of the body the Causes whereof are divers for sometimes a predominancy of choler sometimes a phlegmatick juice many times melancholy and very often bloud is evacuated this is easily known because a snottie kinde of humour drops and distills continually from the Matrix which if it be red it proceeds from bloud if white from phlegme if yellow it takes beginning from choler The sick woman complaines of a general weaknesse over all the parts of the body her legs and eyelids are swelled she cannot digest her meat her stomack failes her she is lazie and loves no exercise and cares not to stir up and down so that at length her strength decayeth and her spirits faile through the abundance of bloud which hath come from her wherefore this disease calls for early help least it degenerate as not seldome it doth into a Dropsey or a Consumption or the like terrible Diseases If the body therefore abound with much bloud let a veine be opened in the arme to draw back the course of the humour which is hastening from all parts of the body to the Matrix Thus we read that Galen cured the wife of Boetius unto whom other Physitians had preposterously prescribed Medicines without opening a veine Afterwards you must prepare the phlegmatick humour with a decoction of wormewood unto which add Syr. of Roses or Syr. â—de artemisia the cholerick humour must be prepared with a decoction of endive sorrell unto which may be added Oxysaccarum or Syrup de succo Cichorii if it be a Melancholy humour prepare it with a decoction of Fumitary Buglos unto which add Syr. of Fumitary and Syr. Lupuli Then expell the humour with some gentle purge if it be phlegmatick Take three scruples of white agarick Troâ—chischt Two scruples of the root of Mechoacha A dram of Annise seeds Macerate them the space of a night in a sufficient quantitie of fennill water in the morning to two ounces and a halfe of the liquor which you presse out add Three drams of Diacarthamum Halfe an ounce of Diacnicum Mingle them together for a Potion If Cholerick humours abound in the body Take two drams and a halfe of the best Rubarb Citron myrobalans Cinamon of each a scruple Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of endive water presse them with all your might and add An ounce and a halfe of Syrupe of roses laxative Mingle them and give it her to drinke in the morning If Melancholy humours be predominant Take two drams and a halfe of Sena A dram of Annise seeds Macerate them over night in a sufficient quantity of fumitary water in the morning presse out the liquor and add To two ounces and a halfe of the liquor strained and prest Two drams of Confectio Hamech Halfe an ounce of Syrup of fumitary Mingle them for a Potion If the Disease yield not to these Medicines expell the humour by an Epicrasis that is by some Decoction that by degrees will digest open and evacuate the humour and also mightily provoke urine this Apozem following hath all these vertues Take the roots of Parsly Fennell Buglos Polypody of the Oake of each halfe an ounce The leaves of Maidenhaire Agrimony Motherwort of each a handfull Six drams of Sena Two drams of rubarb One dram of agarick As much Epithymum as you can graspe between your thumb and two fingers Two drams of Annise seed Macerate them together a whole night in two pints of barley water upon hot embers in the morning allow them one or two gentle bublings and when you have strained them add Syrupe of fumitary Syrupe of roses laxative of each an ounce Mingle them for an
Apozem Every other morning let her have foure ounces of it fasting If all these things prove ineffectuall infuse a whole night six graines of Antimony in wine and let her drinke it if her body be strong enough to abide the conflict of the medicine for besides that it draws back the humours from the Matrix by provoking to Vomit it likewise purgeth away by stool that tenacious phlegmatick and thick humour which is the cause of the Disease Wormewood beere is not unwholsome for her or instead thereof prescribe to her beer wherein China roots have been infused for this disperseth the humour to the skin and dries up the superfluous moisture for the same purpose we advise with Galen that a Bath of hot sand be prepared that after the use thereof the body be well rubbed and anointed with honey heated by the fire then as we prescribed above make an Issue in her knee CHAP. V. Of the Complication of the Menstruum with other Diseases THe Complication of the Menstruum with other Diseases is hard to be known and not easie to be cured for if any woman be sick of any Disease and if her Courses be supprest or appeare not the Physitians are at a stand what is most fit during this Judication to be done for it we follow the motions of Nature who worketh rightly and open a vein in the ankle this will not cure the Disease which is rooted in the upper parts And if you draw bloud from the arme you pervert the course and order of Nature to the great disadvantage of the sick woman But you will say in such a case as this what is to be done I shall tell you in few words The Disease is either vehement or moderate and of long continuance if the Courses appeare or come down in a disease of long continuance you may defer the opening of a vein till a more convenient season be it either a vein in the arme or in the ankle which you intended to cut for you can doe no hurt by omitting or at least suspending this remedy But if the Disease be acute and require a speedy evacuation you must observe whither the Menstruum be answerable to the plentie of bloud which abounds in the body if her Courses come down according to the prescription of Hippocrates you must not be busie but leave the whole matter to Nature of the same opinion is Galen also for saith he if at that time when you are letting bloud it should so fall out that her Courses come down or that she should on a suddeu have the Piles you must desist from phlebotomy and commit the whole businesse to Nature if you are satisfied that the Menstruum commeth away in a sufficient quantity but otherwise take from her so much bloud as may make good the deficiency of her Courses But if a burning Fever be upon her if she have not her Courses according to custome and to the satisfaction of her own desires then this defect must be supplied with medicines by opening a veine in her ankle applying Cuppinglasses with scarification to the calfes of her legs or Leeches to the Hemorrhoids to take away the superfluity of the bloud One thing must be considered namely if a woman after her delivery have a burning Fever upon her her Courses actually flowing whither it be lawfull in regard of the vehemence of the Fever to open the upper veines Fernelius Valeriola Amatus Lusitanus and divers others of good account assent the lawfulnesse and expediency thereof for although some have imagined that if the upper veines be opened the bloud will ascend to the upper parts yet if it be true which they imagine more profit and advantage will accrew thereby to the sick woman then hurt or danger for when a veine in the ankle is cut although it bring down the Courses and supply the defective motion of Nature in respect of the part particularly affected yet is it not equally prevalent against a most vehement inflammation nor altogether so profitable in a most acute disease because the bloud must be drawn out from some vessell that is nearer to the part affected that the conjunctive cause may be taken away and although by cutting a vein in the ankle we can draw the whole masse of bloud out of the body yet the bloud is not so fitly taken from one part as from another for in a Quinsey or a Pleurisey 't is more commodious to open the Basilick veine to temper the heat then any other veine in the whole body CHAP. VI. Of hard swellings in the Breasts THe Breasts are naturally thin spongy or fungous and loose for this reason they are apt to entertaine any crude and melancholy humours flowing to them either from the Matrix or from any other parts these if they are not rightly and duly expelled they breed painefull yea malignant and cankerd Vlcers wherefore you must addresse your selfe to the Cure without any truce or delay and this consists in three things in prescribing a Diet in the manuall operations of Surgery and in outward and inward Medicines Let her therefore make choise of a puâ—e ayre let her drink be small beer boiled with annise and snakeweed let her meat be of good concoction and easie distribution as Mutton broth Cock broth and rosted Chickens let her avoid meats that thicken the bloud as milke cheese bacon fish and the like open a veine if she have not her Courses in her ankle or cut the Basilick veine twice or thrice to ease the Liver the Spleen and the Kidneys as the multitude of bloud shall require it Note that the humour must be prepared and attempted with this Apozem Take the roots of Succhory Polipody of each an ounce The barke of the root of the Caper and Tamarisk tree of each halfe an ounce The leaves of Buglos Fumitary Balme of each a handfull Two drams of Fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of barley water to two pints and to the strained liquor add Syrupe of Borage Syrupe of fumitary of each an ounce and a halfe Ten graines of Spirit of Vitriol Mingle them and make an Apozem Because the humour is thick and dreggish you must purge her body severall times till it be perfectly cleansed this may be done with this decoction following Take an ounce of Polypody of the oake The leaves Fumitary Hops Borage Endive of each a handfull Epithymum Century the less of each halfe a handfull Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to two pints and in the strained liquor infuse a whole night An ounce of Sena Foure drams of Rubarb Agarick Troch Creame of Tartar of each two drams Epithymum and The flowers of borage buglos and rosemary of each as many as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice Two drams of annise seeds In the morning give it one or two bublings straine and presse it and to the liquor add Syrupe of violets Syrupe of fumitary of each
an ounce Make an Apozem or Take the leaves of buglos Fumitary of each a handfull Balme Germander of each halfe a handfull As much Epithymum as you can containe between your thumb and two fingers Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of whey to a pint and a halfe infuse for a night in the strained liquor Six drams of Sena Two drams of white Agarick A dram and a half of annise seeds In the morning presse out the liquor hard and add Syrupe of Violets Syrupe of fumitary of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them for an Apozem Confectio Hamech and Diacricu will be highly profitable so also are Pils de Lapid Lazuli Sometimes you may prescribe glysters to temper the melancholy humour as for example Take the leaves of Mallowes Marishmallowes Violets of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of bran Two drams of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of barley water to nine ounces in the strained liquor put in Confectio Hamech Diacatholicon of each an ounce An ounce and a halfe of oyle of violets Mingle them and make a glyster or Take half an ounce of Polypody roots The leaves of buglos Fumitary Violets of each a handfull Foure ounces of sena As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers Two drams of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of Cock broth to nine ounces to the strained liquor add Diaprun Laxativum Confectio Hamech of each an ounce Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets A dram of Sal gemme Mingle them and make a glyster Leeches applied to the Fundament may much promote the Cure The event may likewise gratifie your triall if you prescribe Cordials Treacle Mithridate Lozenges of Pearle Alkermes and the like which with their coldnesse drynesse and cordiall vertue retaine the spirits correct the bloud even when it is putrifying and preserve the bowells in their due Symmetry and naturall constitution Note that you may not forget to wash her legs with a decoction of Hops Violets Fumitary Roses Mallowes and Vine leaves If by the advantage of time it prove a cankerd and a creeping Vlcer you must not vex and discompose the Patient with many or strong Medicines but you must institute a palliative Cure for Galen boasteth that he thus cured a woman who had a Cancer in her breast for when the thinner part was brought away it became thicker more full of putrefaction and subject to exulcerate for it is undenyable as the same Author affirmeth that the vehemence of the remedies inflame the humor and set it on fire by that acrimonius quality which is naturally in them Almost all Authors agree that Issues are convenient for they supply the stead of Purges and Phlebotomy as Guido a good writer witnesseth in his book de Cauteriis The end of the first Book of Womens Diseases THE SECOND BOOK Written by NICHOLAS FONTANUS OF Womens Diseases The first Chapter OF the Mother THat Disease which we commonly call the Mother the Physitians terme the Strangulation or Suffocation of the Matrix and sometimes the Ascent of the Matrix Gaâ—â—n took it to be a drawing back of the Maâ—â—ix to the upper parts Hereupon some of the Ancients conceived the Matrix to be some stragling Creature wandring too and fro thorough severall parts to which phantasticall conceit Fernelius Eugenius and Laurentius contributed a credulous Assent for though a woman be dead yet can you not with an ordinary strength remove the Matrix from the naturall place neither is that reason which Fernelius alledgeth of any moment who saith that in these diseases he hath toucht it upwards seeing that this is not the true Matrix but a grosse windie swelling of a roundish figure and somewhat resembling the Matrix you will say the Matrix doth remove and slip from its proper place I grant it for by reason of the moisture wherewith those parts abound the Matrix is loosened and exceedingly stretched and this is the truth of the whole matter The Cause of this Disease is twofold the Retention of the Seed and the Menstruum which are the materiall cause and a cold and moist distemper of the Matrix breeding phlegmatick and thick juices which is the efficient cause for when the Seed is retained and the Menstruum hath not the customary and usuall vent they burthen the Matrix and choak and extinguish the heat thereof then upon the diminishing of the naturall heat windy humours are bred especially in the Matrix which by nature is a cold nervous and bloudlesse part after the same manner if the seed be kept too long it disturbeth the Function of the spiritous parts and the Midriffe it oppresseth the heart causeth fainting and sounding fits bindeth as it were and girteth about the parts and seemes in such a manner to stop the breath that the sick woman is in danger to be strangled her puls is sometimes weake various and obscure she hath inward discontents and anxieties and is most commonly invaded by at least very subject unto Convulsion fits she lies as if she were astonished and void of sense and from her belly you may heare rumbling and murmuring noises she breatheth so weakly that it is scarce discernable and indeed she is so sad an object that the by-standers may easily mistake her to be dead The drowsie and sleepy disease called Carus differs from this because they who are affected with it have the use of their breath free without any molestation and it differs from a Catalepsy another drowsie disease casting the sick into a profound and dead sleep because they who are taken with that lie without any motion but they who have the mother are tormented with Convulsion fits their legs and their hands are stretched and wrythed into unusuall figures and strange postures and by this it is distinguished from an Apoplexy unto which it is exceeding like Galen wondreth how these women can live who are troubled with these cruell fits of the Mother without any puls or breathing in as much as it is impossible for one that liveth not to breath or for one that breatheth not to live for so long as we live so long we breath To this I answer that although these women live without respiration yet doe they not live without transpiration for this being performed thorough the pores of the skin by the motion of the arteries conserves the symmetry of the vitall heat for then that small heat retiring to the heart as to a Castle may bepreserved by this benefit of transpiration alone Now to procure an assurance whither the woman be living or dead hold a feather or a looking-glasseâ—to her mouth if the former stir or the latter be spotted it is an undoubted signe that she liveth This is a most acute Disease and soone dispatcheth the sick woman especially if it took beginning from some very contagious and poisonous vapours lecherous women and lusty widowes that are prone and apt to Venery are most subject
dissolve for seeing that the greatnesse of the fever doth accompany the greatnesse of the inflammation if the fever remit which depends upon the inflammation 't is a certaine signe that the inflammation shortly will be dissolved but if after the universall administrations the fever still continue vehement it is a true signe of suppuration and the rather if the paine be increased according to that Oracle of Hippocrates whilest Matter or Corruption is ripening the paines and the Fevers are more importunate then when it is full ripe The proper signe of suppuration is a most vehement paine upon the privie parts and therefore to humour the evill and to hasten the suppuration prescribe this Poultis following Take the heads of white Lillies The roots of marish mallowes of each two ounces The leaves of mallowes Marish mallowes of each a handfull Bran Camomile flowers of each half a handfull Twelve fat figs. Boâ—le them all to softnesse pulp them thorough a haire sieve and add to the pulp Two ounces of the meale of line seed Unsalted butter The oyle of sweet almonds of each halfe an ounce Hogsgrease The fat of a hen of each half an ounce A dram of Saffron Mingle them and make a Cataplasme A Fomentation made of these things and with sponges applied to the secret parts are of knowne vertue but then note that when you use it it must be hot or luke-warme for the Matrix being a part full of Nerves is easily offended with cold things When there is an itching in the Matrix by reason of an influx of some cholerick and biting humour usually there follow chinks chaps and clefts all which require one and the same manner of cure with an inflammation If the Itching continue long give her whey or an infusion of Ruharb to drink lay cooling Epithems upon her Liver and then wash her Matrix with this Injection Take a dram of Trochisch All. Rhasis Mallow water Breast milk of each three ounces Mingle them together for an injection From hence if there be occasion proceed to issues CHAP. IX Of a Cancer and an Vlcer in the Matrix A Cancer is an uneven blewish swelling with paine and filthy to behold this is twofold either with or without an Vlcer the one hath sordid lips from whence issueth a black corruption unsavory and stinking but the other namely that without an Vlcer is called almost by all Antiquity a hidden Vlcer The cause of this is the menstruous bloud detained in great abundance and afterwards dried and burnt up to adustion sometimes it is produced by a dry humour falling down from the upper parts upon the Matrix from whence that accumulation ofâ—ordid and blackish bloud floweth away You may discerne the signes by a paine about the groine the abdomen the bottome of the belly and in the loines of her back it is a stubborne disease both in respect of the incommodiousnesse of the place which is the sinke of all the humours and also in regard of her frequent desire and indeavour to make water which render the medicines so moist that they cannot stick to the part moreover light remedies it contemnes and vehement medicines make it worse wherefore Hippocrates in one of his Aphorismes most wisely adviseth us not to cure a hidden Cancer because they who are cured quickly perish they who are not cured live so much the longer and we say the same of a Cancer which is exulcerated the paines whereof are greater and doe more torment the woman when the Cure of the Vlcer is attempted We must therefore content our selves with a palliative Cure that the Patient may live the longer for in the midst of misery life is sweet this may be done by appointing a good Diet and forbidding the use of Melancholy meats Upon the approach of the Spring and about the end of Autumne let her bleed from the basilick veine but if she have not her Courses open a veine in the ankle Prescribe such simples as are good to purge Melancholy as Sena Hellebore myrobalans epithymum and annise seeds Some of these must be infused a whole night in whey and so strained and dranke but exhibit not stronger Physick because the humour is so apt to be outragious Locall remedies which are moderately cold and binding may be applyed to the privie parts as roses myrrhe the juice of unripe grapes mingled with rosewater breast-milke and the white of an egg or Take Cerus wash't Tutia of each an ounce and a halfe Burnt Lead Frankincense of each two drams With foure ounces of oleum Omphacinum stirred much and long in a marble morter and Three drams of white wax make an oyntment or Take foure ounces of Litarge of silver wash't in the juice of Pomegranets and for two whole dayes worne to dust in a marble morter Frankincense Burnt Lead Auripigment of each two drams Hogsgrease The grease that is gathered from sheeps wool New butter of each halfe an ounce Foure ounces of oyle of roses Foure drams of wax According to the rules of Art make an oyntment If any filthy matter or bloudy corruption run from the Vlcer beat the shells of Crab fishes to ashes having first dried them in an oven and strow the ashes upon the Vlcer aud anoynt it twice a day with oyle If the paine increase and grow insufferable inject this decoction into her Matrix with a Syringe Take an ounce of the sperme of Frogs The leaves of mallowes Marish mallowes Violets Mercury of each a handfull Coriander seeds Poppy seeds of each two drams Boile them in a sufficient quantity of whole barley water to eighteen ounces to â—â—ree ounces of the strained liquor add Syrup of the juice of Pomegranets Hony of roses strained of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them together and make an injection for six times to be injected twice every day Purge her body once a moneth with this Medicine following Take three drams of Sena A dram of Agarick Trochischated Halfe a dram of black hellebore A dram of annise seeds Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of fumitary water to three ounces in the morning set them upon the fire and after one or two bublings add to the liquor which your presse out halfe an ounce of Syrup of the juice of fumitary Two drams of Confectio Hamech Mingle them for a draught If her body be sufficiently strong open a veine yet be sparing of her bloud the Surgeons worke which may be profitable when the breasts or the other parts are infested with a Cancer must in this case be omitted first because he cannot have a full view of it and secondly being irritated by his administrations it would cast the Patient into Convulsion Fits in regard of the consent which it hath with the braine which by this meanes would presently perish Vlcers happen in the Matrix severall wayes either upon the coming down of the whites proceeding from an acrimonious and sharp humour or else from clefts and chaps which are
not easily curable because of the humour which insinuating it selfe corrodes and exulcerates the part The signes of an Vlcer in the Matrix are a pricking paine about the privie parts fluxes of a virulent and corrupt humour a gentle Fever idle talking and sometimes sounding Fits These Vlcers are very hard to cure partly because of the distance of the place the virulency and malignity of them and partly also because it is so full of Nerves that they hinder the coalescence and healing of it The most proper and convenient diet which in this case you can prescribe is that which is moderate and temperate let her surrender her whole desires to sleepe not fearing any excesse hot meats must be avoided and exercise must be forborne but above all things let her refuse her husband in his loving offers of Benevolence for by heat and motion the humours melt and falling down upon the Matrix they exasperate the Vlcers When you let bloud open the black vein a Vomit may be given with security and safety but the event of a Purge is doubtfull yet if you prescribe one let it be very gentle for the reasons aforesaid Locall remedies are very proper and profitable so are Baths and the Injections which we have already commended to you provided that you add a dram and a half of the Trochisch alb Rhasis with two ounces of Hydromel and the whey of Goats milke If you can gather from the confession of the sick woman that these Vlcers owe their beginning to the French Pox having first made triall of all these remedies aforesaid as well universall as particular prescribe compositions which receive Mercury the severall formes whereof if God permit when we describe the Cure of the French Pox we shall set down at large CHAP. X. Of Wormes the Stone in the Matrix and the Hemorrhoids THat wormes breed in all the parts of our bodies is a truth not to be denyed The Cause of these wormes is a viscous phlegmatick raw and cold humour sticking by its clamminesse to the very Matrix or to the neck thereof and by degrees putrifying The signes of them are a dew or moisture upon the lips of the Matrix slendernesse troublesome sleeps an itching in the belly and a slow Fever This is a disease full of molestation iâ— regard of the Fever and the want of sleep which waste and consume the sick Creature To facilitate the Cure a dry regiment is necessary meaâ—â— that yield a thick cold â—nd moist juice must be avoided her been â—hould be boiled with râ—barbe pur selane or sorrell and you may purge her body with â—ills of mastick or de Hiera cum 〈◊〉 or Take an ounce of grasse roots The leaves of plantane Tansie of each a handfull Two drams of citron seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of balme water to a pint in the strained liquor infuse for the space of a night Three drams of the choisest Rubarb A dram and a halfe of agarick Troch Coralline Hartshorne prepared of each a dram In the moring set them upon a gentle fire allow them one or two bublings straine them and presse out the liquor and then add Foure ounces of Diâ—â—niâ—u Mingle them for an Apozem Every other day let her drinke three ounces of it You may make your injections after this manner Take halfe an ounce of Diâ—tany roots The leaves of Tansie Calamint of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of Century the lesse Two drams of citron seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of honied water to nine ounces add An ounce and a halfe of Syrup of Wormewood Two drams of aloes in powder Meale of Lupines Rubarb in powder of each a dram Mingle them and make an Injection to serve three times or Take the roots of Costmary Aristolochy the long of each two drams Coloquintida Aloes The gall of an Ox of each three drams Two drams of hartshorne prepared Boil them in a sufficient quantity of wormwood water to nine ounces every morning inject three ounces of the strained liquor Or make a plaister of the things aforesaid according to art and lay it to the privie parts The same administrations will serve against the stone in the Matrix provided that you are sure that that is the Materiall and efficient Cause that is a thick slow and viscous humour the other namely the efficient is an immoderate heat Stones many times also are generated of a corruption or matter congealed in the Matrix and grown dry the Cause is twofold one inward the other outward the inward hath already been declared the outward is a thick cold and waterish meat suppeditating matter to the Concretion of the stone as milke fish pulse and other grosse aliments as cheese and muddy ale The Stone in the Matrix is known by the paine in the part and if you presse down the Matrix the paine is exasperated The woman conceives not her Courses come down immoderately and if she put her finger up her fundament she may feele the Stone Use your utmost speed and diligence to cure it for whereas the Matrix is as the sinke or common shore into which Nature empties out all the grosse and superfluous bloud it may be feared that that corrupt matter will turne to a Stone which in continuance of time growes sometimes to such a bignesse as we of our own knowledge can testifie that it fills the whole capacity of the Matrix and totally suppresseth the Courses breeding Vlcers full of corruption and purulency The Cure consists in a good regiment in the preparation of the humours and in the evacuation and expurgation of them to prepare the humours give her this Apozem following Take the roots of parsly Eryngos Fennill Alexander of each halfe an ounce The leaves of Germander Violets of each a handfull White Maidenhaire Century the lesse of each halfe a handfull The seeds of grummell Nettles of each two drams Six drams of raisins pickt and stoned Foure drams of licoras Boile them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to two pints to the strained liquor add Syrupe of the five roots Syrup of Lemons of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them and make an Apozem When she hath drunk the Apozem make ready this Potion Take the roots of Polypody Marish mallowes The leaves of Violets Mallowes of each a handfull The leaves of Sena Bastard saffron seeds of each halfe an ounce Agarick Trochischated Mechoacha of each two drams Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of Rhenish wine to eight ounces and boyle them gently in the morning straine and presse out the liquor with a strong hand and add to it Halfe an ounce of Electuary Diacarâ—hamum Mingle them together and make a Potion for two doses to be taken every other day We have already furnisht you with Fomentations Poultisses Oyntments Plaisters and halfe tubs to bath in which are very serviceable in this cure but above all things inject these glysters following very often
and free from the humour you may prescribe a gentle Purge of Rubarb which hath both a purging and a strengthning faculty for if we may adventure our beliefe to the assertions of the best Physitians Rubarb may be safely given to old men infants and women with childe and Fallopius in his booke of purging Simples and in the chapter where he speaketh of Rubarb saith it dries up all superfluous moisture contained in the vessells of the Matrix it is a gentle cleanser it strengthneth the Heart and the stomack by its astringent faculty neither need you to entertaine the vaine feares of some who suspect that the bitternesse thereof may destroy the childe for the taste of it is not horrible to nature and besides the bitternesse quickly vanisheth There remaines another doubt to be answered namely whether it be more proper and advantagious to prescribe an infusion of Rubarb or to give it in the substance I answer that it purgeth most in the substance or body of it expelling the humours by siege which it doth not in an infusion at least not so powerfully because then it evacuates onely by the purgative vertue which is in it and of the same opinion is the Author before named CHAP. IV. Of a bad stomach proceeding from Vomiting IT is a known truth that most dangerous direfull and pernicious Symptomes invade women with childe from which also forsaking of meat and Vomiting doe afterwards follow all which things proceed from those noysome and foggy exhalations which are distributed into the severall parts from the corruption of the bloud for whereas there is a sympathy and consent between the stomack and the Matrix when any poysonous or malignant vapour ascendeth from the latter it immediately invades and overcomes the stomack which being weakned in the conflict or indeavour to resist and keep out those vapours the functions of it are depraved it refuseth all comfort or nourishment or if at any time it admit any 't is no sooner swallowed but vomited up againe these are the signes of this disease and to cure it proceed according to the Method following In the first place prescribe a cleansing potion Take three drams of Elecampane roots The leaves of wormewood and Century the lesse of each halfe a handfull Boile them in a sufficient quantity of whole barley water to a pint and a halfe to the strained liquor add three ounces of honey of roses strained mingle them for a Potion against the next morning prepare this purge following Take three drams of rubarb Two scruples of agarick Trochischt A dram of annise seeds Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of mint water to two ounces and a halfe in the morning presse them hard with all your strength and add three drams of the Electuary Diaphenicon if she cannot take down a Puâ—ge let her swallow these Pills following Take a dram of the mass of Pills de Hiera cum agarico Make nine pills and guild them The next day following give her this strengthning mixture which doth not purge at all and eveâ—y morning let her eat the quantity of a Nutmeg Take Elecampane roots candied Marmalade of Quinces of each an ounce Halfe an ounce of Conserve of red Roses Foure scruples of aromat rosat in powder Two scruples of mastick in powder With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of mint make a Confection After the use of these things make this plaister following and lay it to her stomack Take lignum aloes Yellow Sanders And the round Cyperus of each two drams Galangale mace cloves And calam aromat of each a dram Common wormewood roman wormewood Spikenard dried mint Of each as much as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers Mastick Storax calamitu Red Corall of each two scruples Amber Musk of each a scruple Pure ladanum Turpentine of each an ounce Foure ounces of white wax Make a Masse whereof let him take a sufficient quantity and spread it upon leather and lay it to her stomack Bisket steeped in muskadine is excellent good for her because it refresheth the spirits and mightily strengthneth the stomack CHAP. V. Of a Pain in the Belly the Passion of the Heart and of sounding Fits VVOmen with Childe doe often feele a pain in their bellies and this also proceeds from winde and the malignant vapours aforesaid neither are the swounding Fits or the Passion of the heart produced by any other causes because the heart when it is shaken with this fuliginous and grosse spirit doth frequently stretch and contract it selfe and endeavouring to expell the evill which annoyes it it falls into an inordinate and strange motion like unto trembling Under these diseases the woman languisheth is full of feares and frights prone to despaire subject to faint can obtaine no sleep but wasteth away daily and waxeth leane and meager To take away her paine you may administer such remedies as will expell the winde and strengthen the bowell of which sort you may furnish your selfe with plenty above in the chapter of a cold distemper and windy humours in the Matrixâ— You may likewise anoynt the stomack with this oyntment following Take an ounce of unguent Altheae Oyle of wormewood Oyle of Camomile And oyle of rue of each three drams The powder of lignum aloes Mastick Wormewood And both sorts of Corall of each a dram Halfe a dram of aromat rosat in powder Six drops of oyle of annise seeds With a sufficient quantity of yellow wax according to art make an oyntment This or the like fomentation may likewise be very usefull Take halfe a dram of elecampane roots Two drams of lignum aloes The leaves of Rue Motherwort Sage Wormewood Mint of each a handfull Mastick Cloves of each two drams Boile these Simples in a sufficient quantity of water to three pints and prescribe the strained liquor for a fomentation After the use of the fomentation clap to the stomack the caul of a sheep newly killed In Spaine the greatest persons and those the wisest also take hot bread from the oven afterwards they soake it in Muskadine and having sprinkled upon it the powders of red and white corall and aromat rosatum they lay it to the heart others instead thereof use Treacle Alkermes and Confect Hiachytorum to all which may be added if the evill yield not to the remedies aforesaid a little bag to be worne upon the left pap and made after this manner following Take two drams of lignum aloes Bezoar stone Muske Red corall of each a dram Red and yellow Sanders of each two scuples The Specie Diamosch And Diambr of each a scruple and a half With a piece of red taffata and cotton make a quilted bombast for the use aforesaid Mingle cordialls with her drinke and cordiall conserves as for example Take two ounces of conserve of red roses Two drams of alkermes Macerate them a night in two pints of plantane water and red wine in the morning straine it thorough Hippocrates his sleeve
that is a woollen bag and give her now and then the quantity of a small wine glasse If these remedies overcome not the disease apply an exceeding great Cuppinglasse to the heart by the force whereof the windy vapour will evaporate for although Glysters doe draw back the humour from the affected part yet in reference to great bellied women you ought to suspect the event of them because they raise too great a disturbance by provoking nature downwards and many times cause abortivenesse yet if the paine be insupportable then inject carminative glysters and omit all bitter ingredients as Hiera benedicta Laxativa or Scammoniata but to prevent all errour prescribe this following Take a handfull of mallow leaves The flowers of melilot The tops of Dill of each halfe a handfull Two drams of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to nine pints to the strained liquor add two ounces of Syrup of roses Laxative An ounce of red Sugar Mingle them and make a glyster Or Take the flowers of melilot And mallowes of each a handfull Annise and Fennill seeds Of each two drams Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of broth made with an old Cock to nine ounces to the inward liquor add Calabrian Manna And red Roses of each an ounce and a halfe An ounce of oyle of rue Mingle them and make a glyster It might doe much good if you gave her a draught of balme water in the morning in which water you may steep lignum aloes the space of a night and afterwards put to the strained liquor a sufficient quantity of Syrup of mint for this expells the winde cleanseth away the phlegme and powerfully strenghthens the stomack You must frequently and laboriously rub her lower parts tye ligatures about them and apply Cuppinglasses to them if there be no imaginable cause to feare abortivenesse but if there be the least suspicion of that omit all such applications as may procure a revulsion of the bloud nay let me give you this caution absolutely to foâ—beare them unlesse she be taken with desperate trembling and fainting fits or swounding in the spring time too when her spirits require them You must cause her Basilick veine to be opened if she be young fleshy and strong for this Remedy besides that it letteth out the thick dreggish and black blood it refresheth the childe also and the heart is sweetly easily and safely delivered from that burthensome humour which did oppresse and almost overwhelme it CHAP. VI. Of a Cough in Women with Childe MOst certaine it is that great-bellied Women by reason of their being with childe have not sometimes a free vent for their crude and indigested aliments either by Stoole or by Urine or by any other Emunctories of the body these being unduly kept in the body putrifie wax hot and communicate noysome fumes and vapours to the spiritous parts which by their clamminesse thicknesse and sharpnesse together with the bad quality that is in them gripe and twitch the Woman and force her to cough Some perhaps may demand why doth this Coughing happen in the last months the answer is obvious namely because in those moneths a greater plenty of excrements are lodged in the body then were accumulated at the first The cause of the Cough according to Hippocrates is a viscous thick and tough humour impacted in the Pipes of the Lungs which humour sometimes also thorough that consent which is between the Matrix and the Chest invadeth that part and raiseth a Coughing and these are set down as the true signes of this evill As for the Prognosticks you must know that a Cough befalling a woman with childe is a bad Symptome seeing that by the least stretching and shrinking the Cotyledons or vessells of the wombe are many times loosned yea sometimes burst asunder and from thence comes abortivenesse The Cure is perfected with sweet wine mild beere and the frequent use of a Ptisan sharp sowre and cold things must be avoided meats also must be forborne which breed a thick nourishment and are hard to digest vehement evacuations likewise are not good wherefore having given order for the observation of a good Diet prescribe some gentle lenifying mediciâ—es to provoke her to spit as manna Syrup of roses laxative Diacnicu and the like These things being administred proceed to Electuaries and expectorating medicines and especially to this Apozem following Take an ounce of cleansed Barley The roots of Aristolochy Licoras scraped of each two drams The leaves of Asarabacca Nettles White Maidenhaire of each a handfull Two drams of raisins pickt The flesh of Dates Fat Figs of each three drams Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water to two pints and to the strained liquor add Two ounces of Diacodium Mingle them and make an Apozem or You may prescribe Lozenges after this manner Take a dram of the species Diatragacanth frigid Diaireos Poppy seeds of each a scruple Two ounces and a halfe of Sugar dissolved in rose water according to art make them into Lozenges Then prescribe this Conserve Take Conserve of red Roses Elecampane candied of each an ounce Conserve of Violet flowers Rosemary flowers of each halfe an ounce Two drams of meale of beanes A dram of Diaireos Ten graines of Sulphur With Syrup of Coltsfoot make a Conserve Meale of beanes according to Galen doth cleanse and mundifie the Chest digests and crude spittle contained in the pipes and makes it easie to be excerned bean-flower water is exceeding good for the Lungs especially if she drinke it with Syrupe of Maydenhaire or Oxymel Scilliticum the same faculties hath the distilled waters of red Poppies The yolke of an egg taken in the morning with Sugar and the oyle of sweet Almonds is a most incomparable remedy and hath done good to thousands Anoynt her Breast with this Oyntment which is good to prepare the crude and thick matter which stops her pipes Take an ounce of the oyntment of marish mallowes The axungia of a hen Of a Duck of each halfe an ounce Oyle of sweet Almonds Oyle of Violets of each two drams Ten graines of Saffron Mingle them and according to art make an oyntment heat it when you use it and anoynt the whole region of her Chest therewith CHAP. VII Of the swelling of the Legs in Women with Childe FRom the same cause namely from abundance of phlegme and câ—ude humours especially in the last moneths proceed the swelling of the legs face and eye-browes and when I have told you that the flesh of the whole body groweth soft and that she looketh white and wan in the face I have discovered unto your consideration the signes of this disease Women in this condition cannot be restored to perfect health till she be delivered yet may we not delay our helps least a worse evill happen unto her for whereas the legs and feet are outward parts and at a great distance from the fountaine of heat they are quickly affected with cold and
drams of fennill seeds Boile them to nine ounces in a sufficient quantity of a decoction of an old hen and to the strained liquor add Two ounces of honey of roses strained An ounce of new butter Make a Glyster This being given you must strengthen the stomack with the stomachicall Plaister already prescribed and with these Lozenges Take a dram of aromaticum rosatum in the species Red corall and pearl prepared of each half a dram With two ounces and a halfe of white Sugar dissolved in a sufficient quantity of â—ose water make little Lozenges according â—o Art or Take old Conserve of red roses Roman wormewood The Conserve of Quinces of each an ounce Halfe an ounce of the Conserve of Acacia A dram and a halfe of aromaticum rosaâ—um in the species A dram of the Trochichs de carabe Two scruples of red corall prepared With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Pomegranets make a mixture Sometimes the Vomiting is accompanied with yexing and they both proceed from the same causes and therefore may both be cured with the same remedies but if it be of long continuance the most rationall and best grounded proceeding is to apply a Cuppinglasse to the mouth of the stomack with a mighty flame After all these follow two more namely spitting of Bloud and a Cough the former whereof is cured by cutting a veine in the Ankle which kinde of remedy is approved by Hippocrates in the thirty two Aphorisme of his fifth book saying a woman is freed from spitting or vomiting bloud if the menstruum breake forth and frequent experience justifies this truth for divers women by the omission hereof as Galen hath observed in his booke of Letting Bloud fell into the Tissick and other most lamentable diseases But the Cough is twofold either dry or moist the cause of the former is a certaine contagious vapour communicated to the spiritous parts provoking the Midriffe the Lungs and the other instruments of breathing to expell whatsoever is faultie and offensive the cause of the latter is a crude and raw humour ascending up from the Matrix to the Chest and sticking fast unto it This is cured by rubbing the parts and tying straight Ligatures about them by Pessaries Glysters Cuppinglasses opening a veine in her ankle by Electuaries Ptisans expectorating Potions to cleanse away the bad humour by laying on Emplastrum Resumptivum Pectorale or Vnguentum de Althaea among which you must mingle Cummin seeds and Saffron After the same manner Women in Child-bed are troubled to fetch their breath because by a mutuall and frequent stretching and compression of the Chest the vapours are transmitted to the Lungs and they who feele themselves molested with such vapours do seldome escape that Cough we last mentioned Moreover to this Catalogue belongeth the Pleurisie which is a most acute and therefore a most dangerous disease this you may discerne by these signes following an acute and burning Fever a Cough difficultie to fetch breath a pricking paine and a hard pulse Open a veine and you overcome this disease without any further remedy but the question will be in what part of the body I answer if it be a most violent Pleurisie that torments the sick if her Courses come down after a right manner and yet the evill abates not then cut a veine in her ankle but if this availe not so as the Patients life is now in danger then open a veine in her arme especially if she be full of bloud that the vitious humour may be drawn away from the inflamed place and seasonably evacuated this advice of mine is justified by the approbation of Mercurialis Mercatus Alphonsus a Castro Meschius Valeriola and the learned Zacutus Lusitanus neither will it be incovenient if you interchange this administration of phlebotomy namely first to draw bloud from the ankle then from the arme then from the ankle againe and so keeping turnes as need shall require for thus you will give ease both to the part inflamed and likewise to the Matrix which is the part mandant or that from whence the evill is communicated and distributed to the other regions This being carefully performed your next designe must be to mitigate and take away the paine with fomentations liniments Electuaries and Ptisans Take an ounce of the roots of marish mallowes The leaves of mallowes marish mallows and white Maidenhaire of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of the flowers of dwarf-elder Annise and Line seeds of each halfe an ounce Boyle them in water to a quart and give her the strained liquor to drinke at severall times then Take a dram of unguentum de Althaea The Axungia of a hen and new butter of each halfe an ounce Two ounces of oyle of sweet Almonds Mingle them and make an oyntment then Take Syrup of Violets compound and Syrup of Maidenhaire of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them and make a mixture to be licked from the point of a knife Afterwards Take two ounces of cleansed barley An ounce of raisins pickt stoned and washt Two drams of the best Licoras Boile them in raine water to a quart and give her the strained liquor to drinke Note that in all diseases of the Membranes the upper part of the throate and the Jawes yea and in the Falling-Sicknesse the Apoplexy the Palsie and the Convulsions you must begin the Cure by letting bloud if plentie of bloud give occasion to the Disease The swelling of the feet is the last of all those Symptomes which invade a woman after her Delivery and this proceeds from a disorderly and negligent Diet during the time of her being with Childe for by that meanes raw humours are bread in her body which after her Delivery settle in her legs as being cold parts full of nerves and far distant from the Liver which is the fountaine of bloud in which places you shall perceive soft kinde of swellings which being crusht down retaine the print of your fingers This must be cured with strengthning administrations and such medicines as are good to expell the raw humours and likewise with such as will moderately binde for should you give her strong binders you would thereby allure the humours towards the upper parts therefore to avoide that errour prepare this Bath following Take two ounces of marish mallow roots The leaves of mallowes Mint Wormewood Sage Rosemary of each two handfulls The leaves of red roses and camomile Of each a handfull An ounce of Laurell Berries Saltpeter Sulphur of each half an ounce Boile them to eight pints in a sufficient quantity of water wherein steele hath been often quenched and let her put her feet into the strained liquor Then take the dreggish substance which remaines after the straining of the said liquor and add to it The meale of Orobus And Lupines of each three ounces Foure ounces of Oxymel With a sufficient quantity of brine made with the juice of Lemmons reduce them into the forme of a Poultis and lay it
for the sick and of no lesse efficacie is this Julep following Take Endive and Borage water of each fix ounces Syrup of Betony and Pomegranets of each an ounce Mingle them together for a Julep or Take twenty graines of Mithridate Ten graines of Alkermes without Musk or Amber Three ounces of Buglos water Mingle them and let her drinke it at one draught If the Disease yield not to these remedies wee judge it expedient to let her bloud againe but in the Ankle if you suspect that Obstructions occasion the disease as commonly indeed they are to be suspected you may observe the same way of Cure as is approved in a Fever arising from Obstructions and Take halfe an ounce of parsley roots The leaves of betony and carduus Benedictus of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of white Maidenhaire The flowers of Borage Buglos Violets or Roses of each as many as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers at twice Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to a pint and a halfe in the strained liquor infuse foure drams of the choicest Rubarb the space of a night setting the vessell upon hot ashes with foure scruples of agarick Trochiscated and a scruple of cinamon all put in together In the morning boile them a little and when you have strongly prest out the liquor add three ounces of Syrup of roses laxative and make an Apozem or a Decoction Let her drinke three ounces of this Decoction every other morning Hereupon ensueth a Lask or Loosenesse in the belly but without any paine acrimony or griping and so long as it continueth free from any of those had qualities you may by no meanes stay it but if it last longer with the Fever the most prudent course will be to open a veine in her Ankle having alwayes a diligent regard to the strength of her body for this evacuation is Symptomaticall as Physitians speake and according to the Prognostications of Galen it is either mortall or very difficult to be judged his words are these when any disease beginneth if any thing be evacuated it is not evacuated by any help or curtesie of Nature but all such things happen by chance in regard of those dispositions which are in the body besides nature for it is impossible that any thing should be well purged out when Nature is oppressed as then she is with the crudenesse of the humours with those causes which did produce the disease for that the Crisis and Judgement upon this disease may be sound and good it is requisite that those crudities must first be concocted and afterwards duly purged out wherefore if the Loosenesse happen at the beginning you must neglect that and be intentive to cure the Fever yet with an eye to the loosenesse by letting her bloud but very sparingly least the spirits should be wasted if the loosenesse continue so long as to weaken the body and bring the sick creature very low then stay it but with caution and tender warinesse but above all things avoid the use of such things as will thicken the humours for thus indeed you might stop the Loosenesse but then withall you should stay the menstruum which inconvenience you ought chiefly to feare Your safest way therefore will be to apply strengthning Fomentations and Plaisters that will moderately binde and with such you may furnish your selves above It would not be unprofitable to purge away the cause of the Loosenesse that so one Flux might be cured by another therefore Take halfe a dram of tosted Rubarb Ten graines of that sort of Myrobalans called Chebule Halfe an ounce of Syrupe of dried roses Three ounces of plantane water Mingle them and make a Potion Many times this Loosenesse turnes to the Bloudy-Flux with cruell paines want of sleep a continuall Fever and frequent going to stoole This must be helped with Glysters of a binding qualifying and cleansing faculty as for example Take the roots of Comphrey and marsh-mallowes of each three drams A handfull of plantane leaves Halfe a handfull of red roses Boile them in a sufficient quantity oâ— barley water to nine ounces and to the strained liquor put in Two ounces of honey of roses strained An ounce of red Sugar The yolke of an egg Mingle them and make a Glyster Or Take violet leaves plantane and pellitory of the wall of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of red roses Halfe an ounce of whole barley Boile them in a sufficient quantity of broth made with sheeps feet to nine ounces to the strained liquor add Two ounces of honey of roses strained The yolke of an egg Mingle them and make a Glyster You must not neglect to open the Basilick veine and the Salvatella a veine which brancheth out of the Cephalick veine on the outside of the elbow for these administrations will be wonderfully helpfull to cure a flux of bloud arising from a distemper in the Liver those astringent fomentations also with the oyntments and Epithems whereof we have spoken at large in the precedent chapters will be of singular use The next Disease unto which women are subject after their delivery is a Lientery so called because the meat passeth thorough the body as it was ohewed in the mouth without any change or alteration this is a most dangerous disease and therefore all diligence imaginable must conspire to stop it no lesse terrible and perillous is that other named by the Doctors Iliaca Passio when the guts are so bound up or inflamed or enwrapped one about another that whatsoever is swallowed down is presently cast up againe by vomit this also requires a seasonable and prudent use of remedies least the Patient should pine away and perish for want of sustenance besides it is so much the more dangerous because by those frequent Vomitings Nature is interrupted and distracted and that menstruous matter is driven upwards which should have been purged out from beneath But note that these Vomitings proceed from severall causes First from a certaine contagious vapour ascending from the Matrix and with the noysome odour thereof irritating and pricking the stomack so that it suddenly parts with all the aliment that was contained in it You must be exceeding industrious with all convenient speed to free the woman from this infirmity the vapours must be opposed and forced downwards that so by the discreet helps of art Nature may be assisted to expell those faulty and offensive humours by the Mâ—trix This may be accomplish't by tying Ligatures about the lower parts and by rubbing of them till she complaines you hurt her by putting Pessaries up into the Matrix and applying Cuppinglasses to her thighes also by holding things of a strong and unpleasâ—nt odour to her nose and by opening a vein in her Ankle When her body is duely nourished and well refresh't give her this Glyster Take the leaves of violets pellitory of the wall and beares-breech of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of red rose leaves Two