great Straining and an hour after take Syrup of Violets an Ounce in a quarter of a Pint of warm new Milk Vomiting is another defect but must not however be too suddainly stopt because if it be not violent it doth some good by avoiding the abundance of humour amassed together in the Stomach which is indeed the cause of it or else some sharp and biting humour that does stir and provoke it But it happeneth oftentimes that this Vomiting is so violent that even the Sustenance that should Nourish the Mother and Child cannot remain a convenient time for digestion but is cast up and therefore to Remedy this Let the Person so afflicted see that she use wholesome Diets eat Moderately and by degrees not much nor over-hastily Take a gentle Purge but in it neither Diagridium nor Colloquintida but rather Rhue or Rhuebarb infused in White-wine over a gentle fire The compound Syrup of Cichory with Syrup of Rhuebarb which not only Evacuates but Strengthens or the Syrup of Damask Roses with Manna dissolved in it These are so harmless that the Niceness of the Dose need not be disputed Pains in the Stomach Flank or Belly often happens to Childing Women and therefore let them know these are in this case much occasioned by Windiness the parts being Lax or sometimes the Wind is shut up in the Womb. To take away this cause therefore the party must shun all manner of Moist and Windy Meats Take a grentle purge if it be requisite and then apply this Fomentation viz. Flowers of Cammomile and Featherfew each two handfuls Red-Roses half a handful Anniseeds and Fennelseeds each two Drams Lawrel-bark and Bay-berrys each a dram Bruise these grosly and Boil them in three Pints of Clarret till a fourth part be Consumed dip into the Liquor a Linnen Cloth and Foment the parts grieved as hot as may be and lay on the sollid matter Poultis-wise and let the Party chew Fennel Anniseeds and eat first in a Morning a Toast soaked in Hypocras or Drink a little Dram of the distilled Water of Citron or Limmon-Peels infused in good Spirits Pains of the Back Hips and Groine and difficulty of making Urin are likewise incident to Childing Women and this happens many times according to the carrying the Child in the Belly viz. High or low more backward forward or sidelings and indeed the carrying very low is the occasion of most of these Pains especially in the Hips and Groine they proceeding more from the heavyness of the Children than from any humour for the Womb then being great and thick on which side soever it resteth it draws and strains the Ligatures on the other Parts To prevent which the Party must not be extraordinary stirring especially not Jolted nor attempting to Jump Eat but little at a time though the oftener and of such Meats as are light and easie of Digestion for the Stomach being overpressed by fulness presses the Matrix by stretching the Belly In this Case Swathes Anointed with Oyl of Marsh-mallows and Cammomile are proper to shrink and keep up the Belly Anointing her Back with Vnguentum Comitissae or take Mastick and Mirtle-Berrys half an ounce each Powder of Red Corral a dram sealed Earth two drams beat them unto fine Powder then add three ounces of melted Bees-Wax and Oyl of Roses with Deers-Suet as much as will make them up into a Plaister and lay it to the Reins of the Back so that it may a little encline upon the Flaâ—ks and Bathe the Thighs and lower part of the Belly with the Decoction of Marsh-Mallows Water-Cresses Pellitory of the Wall Pimpernel and bruised Linseed each a little handful boild in a gallon of Water to the Consumption of a third part Palpitations of the Heart and Swoonings are to be considered in the next Place The first of these being extraordinary many times proceeds from Vapours arising from the Womb and other parts nearer inclosed in the Arteries and through them conveyed to the Heart whose offensiveness disorders the pure Spirits and causes those Unnatural Palpitations the Heart Labouring by motion to expel those Vapours that make it Sicken and occasion many Evils if not timely prevented or removed And this is to be perceived by laying your hand on the Womans Breast for if it rise strongly and the Ribs as it were are lifted up with it keeping time to the Palpitation then it proceeds from Vapours To remove them take a gentle Purge and Bleed moderately take such Powders or Cordials as fortifie the Heart fasting in a Morning as Aqua Mirabilis Dr. Stephens's Water Powder of Bezars-stone and the Powder of the Bone of a Stags Heart mixed together half a dram at a time and these will not only dissipate the Vapours but prevent Swoonings Faintings cold Sweats The Heart must likewise be outwardly Fortified by laying a soft quilted Stomacher to the Stomach and Region of the Heart and lay a cooling Cataplasme as Mallows Grounsil Cammomile and Orpin beaten together with Oyl of Roses and the white of an Egg. Then for a Fomentation let her use the Water of Bugloss Burrage Baum Orange-flower Roses Cardus Benedictus and Scordium infusing in them Saunder Coriander or Angellica seeds or any Cordial Flowers The Cough is a very troublesome thing to Women with Child and very dangerous if it be violent causing Pains in the Head Flanks Sides and Belly Vomitings Unrest and many other Miseries with frequent Miscarriages and Abortions And to keep from this Grievance all Salt Meats Spiced Meats and all sharp and biting things especially if the Cough be caused by Vapours or distillation of a thinn or serous Humour To Remedy this boil a quart of Ale that has well worked and setled till a third part be consumed then fill it up again with White-wine and put into it four or five slices of Licorice as many Blew-Figgs a few Cammomile Flowers Anniseed and Coriander seeds each a quarter of an ounce let them seeth about a quarter of an hour strain and press out the Liquid part and Drink a quarter of a pint three times a day very hot And to make it more Pallatable it may be sweetned with white-Sugar Candy If the Throat be Sore or Swelled with it take Oyl of sweet Almonds an ounce White-Sugar in Powder half an ounce Rose Water half an ounce mingle these over a gentle Fire with a quarter of an ounce of Allum disolved in the rose-Rose-water Sleeping well without any Medicines to enforce it mainly contributes to the staying the Defluxion of Rheums that occasion the Cough And after you have taken the former going to Bed take of the Syrup of Jubebs and Violets each a quarter of an ounce mixed with two drams of Diascordium Costiveness is another accident afflicting Childing Women causing them to strain themselves and put themselves thereby in danger of Miscarriage To prevent or Remedy this a good Diet must be had eating Meats that moisten and keep the Bowels slippery and open But this must
the Nose and when it is taken out spurt up a little White-wine to make it sneze and keep it very warm If the Eares run or are stoped up drop in a drop or two of the Oyl of bitter Almonds once or twice a day cleansing them with Lint twisted at the end of a small Bod-kin or Wyer diped in Bettony-water If the Eares be Fretted behind or Galled take Nut Oyl half an ounce the like quantity of White Bees-wax and a little of the Juice of Housleek temper them over a gentle Fire till they may be spread like a Plaister and apply it to the Sore part If an Vlcer or Thrush happen in the Childs Mouth disolve a quarter of an ounce of Allom in an ounce of honey made thin with White-wine and Gargle the Mouth with it Then Cool the Mouth with Honey of Roses Syrup of Violets and Plantain Water well mixed together Inflamation or Sweling in the Gums to Remedy it Rub the Nape of the Neck the Jaws and Temples with Oyl of Roses as also the Gums with Honey of Roses and then the Juice of St. John's-wort well Incorporated over a gentle Fire laying a hot Figg flit in sunder to the Swelled place The string under the Tongue sometime comes from the bottom and reaches to the tip This requires only to be cut with a very small Instrument to a convenient proportion that the tongue may neither be straightned nor loll out to hinder the utterance of words and to cure the pain it may occasion rub it with honey The Cough is dangerous to little children by making them Strain cast too much To remedy it take a little Licorice Aniseeds Figs and a blade or two of Mace boil them well in Ale sweeten it with white Sugar-Candy and give the Child a spoonfull or two at a time pretty warm The Navel swelling is another Grief Incident to Children wherefore when it is any ways Inflamed anoint it with Vnguentum Rosatum and Populeon mixed together and give it cooling things so the swelling will abate by swathing gently with a Linnen Cloth and laying on a Poultis of Mallows Cammomile and Hoggs-Lard Griping and Fretting of the Bowels occasioned by too much Moistness or Saltness is not only Painful but Dangerous to Children For this a Clister of cooling Herbs boiled in Milk and seasoned with Sugar is a seasonable relief taking immediately after it a dram of Venice Treacle disolved in a spoonful of Treacle-water Worms are very frequent and troublesome in Children Taints their Breath and makes them Pine away whether in the Belly or Stomach Therefore to remove them with the slimy cold Humour they are bred of Boil some Tops of Rhue in White-Wine sweeten it and give the Child Morning and Night very warm Then Cummin-seed Navel-wort mix with them a little Ox-gall and grated Nutmeg lay them between two thin Cloaths and apply them warm to the Belly and Stomach Teeth in Breeding cause Pain and many times Feavours To make them breed easily beat Corral to Powder mix it in a little dissolved Allom and Honey rub the Gums hard with it and it will make way for the Teeth to come out the easier And if notwithstanding they come not forward kindly an incision may be made in the Gums And to asswage and ease the Pain in breeding Teeth string the small Roots of Smallage like a Neck-lace and tye it about the Childs Neck Convulsions or Fits of the Mother are very dangerous and troublesome For this anoint the Stomach and Temples with Oleum Ireum or with Oyl of Lillies give it agrain of Bezor in a spoonful of Plantain-water and Bathe the Forehead with the distilled Water of sweet Marjorum Ruptures or the falling down of the Tail-gut must be taken speedy care of This happens sometimes to come into the World with them To remedy this the parts swelling Out or falling Down may be bathed with the Decoction of Roses Melilot Flowers of Cammomile Knot-grass in fair-water Then apply this Plaister to the Part or as near as may be viz. Take Powder of Mastick Olibanum and Sarcocol each a dram Syprus-Nuts two drams bees-wax and Oyl of Mastick each half an ounce make them into a Plaister over a gentle fire by well mixing bind and keep up the parts and let the Feeding for sometime be sparing especially give nothing that causes Windyness or Cold afflicting Humours that Lax the Parts and mainly occasion these defects but rather take such things as are Drying and Restringent To retain Urin and not Piss a Bed Take the Powder of a dryed Acorn and that of the Inner Skin of the Gizard of a Capon give a dram at a time in a spoonful of White-wine CHAP. XIX Of the Small Pox in Children It 's Cause Symptoms and Cure THe Small Pox is a Disease very incident to Children and is so generally known that I need not use many words to describe it It proceeds from adust Blood mixt with Flegm and Choller and always beginneth with a Fever soon after which there ariseth small Pustula's upon the Skin throughout all the Body which do not suddenly come forth but by intermission in some more or less according to the quality of the Body infected therewith If these Pustula's appear red with general pain and great heat in the Body it is a sign it proceeds from Blood If they come from Choller they will appear of a Yellowish Red and Clear Colour with a Pricking Pain in all the Body But if they come of Flegm they will appear of a Whitish colour and scaly And if they come of Melancholy they will appear Blackish with a pricking Pain When they appear in a short time and look red in their coming out and white after they are come forth growing speedily to Maturation and that the Child draws its Breath easily and the Fever leaves it there is great hopes of its recovery But when the Pox lies hidden within and appears not outwardly or if after they are come out they strike in again and Vanish away or if they look of a Black Blewish and Green colour and are attended with difficulty of Breathing and a Flux or Lask also when the Pox run together in Blisters like scalding Bladders and then on the sudden do sink down and grow dry with a hard black Scar or Crust as if it had been burnt with a hot Iron all these are very ill signs and denotes Death In the Cure of this distemper the usual way is to let Blood in the Basilica Vein in the right Arm But in Children and those that are very weak I hold it better to let it alone and leave the work to Nature especially in Sucking Children For when we see Nature endeavouring to expel the Malignity we ought not to use any means at-all but leave the whole Operation to Nature which we must only help by keeping the Body in a reasonable heat But if the Pox is slow in coming forth you must help Nature with Cordials
herb Mercury shread into Veal Broth. Great Noises are very hurtful as sound of Trumpets Bells beating of Drums and shooting of Artillery Also Thunder or the violent roaring of Water for upon any Frights or suddain Starts a Woman may easily Loose her Burthen especially the first Month for then the Embrio is not firmly fastened and tyed to the Womb and though in the succeeding Month it grows faster and bigger yet the weight may so press it on the Neck of the Womb that it may come forth untimely CHAP. VIII Of Purges to be Taken And of the Passions of the Mind A Gentle Purge may be convenient given on any occasion that requires it from the Fourth to the Seventh Month but after that it is neither Practicable nor by many held safe All things that violently provoke Urin and consequently will have an Influence in provoking the Courses are forbidden As also Phlebotomy or Blood Letting unless some great Necessity require it as the Woman being so full of Blood that it is feared it may stifle the Child with the over great quantity or in dangerous Diseases as the Plurisie c. For otherways the Blood being taken away when the Child is grown it causes a Leanness and decay of it for want of a due Nourishment it requiring now much more than when it was very little The Passions of the Mind are in this Case to be considered as either Good or Hurtful therefore the Childing Woman must prevail with herself as much as possibly she can to be Pleasant and Merry avoidding Melancholly Musing Thought or Vexing Grieving Freting falling into a suddain Anger Scolding or Exclaming neither ought she to be too violently Transported with Laughing Coughing Sneezing with suddain Joy at any surprizing News or Accident Or on the contrary Fear she must therefore have a setled and quiet Mind not subject to any Passions or Surprize that may be Injurious to what she carries in her Womb. She must not give Ear to Lamentable Tales sad and frightful Stories c. Nor see Fighting Fencing Bear-Baitings Executions or any Cruel and Unnatural Sights Avoid the Company as much as may be of Deformed Persons Antick Pictures c. Least the Imagination prove Strong and make some Impression or Similitude on the Faetus or Embrio And lastly as to these particulars when a Woman perceives herself with Child she must let out her Lacing and lay aside her Busk not only for her own ease which is proper enough but least the Child being straightened in the Womb become Writhed Crooked or Mis-shapen CHAP. IX How to prevent Diseases and other Griefs in a Childing Woman by Oyles Oyntments Fomentations and Internal Medicaments with the several Receipts to make and apply them HAving layed down Rules how a Childing Woman in sundry respects ought to mannage herself I now come to other particulars of as near a concern requisite to be taken notice of and done in the Ninth Month viz. To preserve Health Beauty and give a safe and easie Delivery In the first place then that her Breasts after her Delivery may not be too much puffed up and hang down like Bags hang during her Childing a little piece of Steel between them by a String or Chain fastened about her Neck and wash them with this Decoction or Fomentation pretty warm and often Take Sage Perriwinkle the herb Ground Ivy of each a handful Hemlock as much as you can hold between your fore-finger and Thumb bruise them and boil them in two quarts of water and one of Whitewine till a fourth part be consumed then put thereto a little Rose Vinegar and wash your Breasts This prevents them from Soreness and breaking after Delivery and from many other ill conveniencies That the Belly when the Child Quickens may be kept in order from Swelling or growing too Unweildy a Swathe is requisit made fit for the purpose to support it and to keep the Skin from Furrowing growing Knottey or full of broken Veins wrinkled Anoint it with this Pomander Take the Suet of a Young Kid and Hog's-Lard each three Ounces Goose-Grease and the Grease of a Capon each an Ounce and a Half melt them in an Earthen Vessel strain them when very hot into fair Water and Temper them in it till they become very White then melt them again adding an Ounce of Stags Marrow or Suet wash them in rose-Rose-water and Anoint the Belly warm with it Or take Oyl of Roses an ounce and a half Oyle of St. John's Wort and sweet Almonds each two ounces May-butter and Oyl of Jessamin each half an ounce Sperma Ceti a quarter of an ounce melt these together and take a soft wash'd Leather Skin either Dog or Sheep made fit for the Belly Anoint it with these Oyntment This is usually required to be begun in the Fourth Month. In the Ninth Month The Woman being Healthy it is convenient that she walk gently before Meals for the first twelve or fifteen Days and after that undertake some moderate Business or convenient Exercise and if any Pains or Weakness happen make the following Bath viz. Take Marshmallows with their Roots and Motherwort each two handfuls white Lilly Roots three ounces Cammomile and Mellilot flowers each a handful Linseed Quince-seed and Fenigreek-seed each an Ounce Boil them in runing Water till a fifth part be consumed and let the Party Pattle in it and being well dryed put into a warm Bed her Belly about an hour after being supled with Oyl of Roses Cammomile and sweet Almonds CHAP. X. Of unreasonable Longings Hicup and Vomitings their Cause and Remedy Also Pains in the Stomach Belly Flanks c. Back Hips and Groin Difficulty of making Vrin Palpitation of the Heart and Swoonings Cough Sore Throat Costiveness and Laxativeness Swellings in the Legs and Thighs c. UNreasonable Longings are allayed frequently by eating Olives or Capers boiled Sallads Meats that are Fat and Sweet with Verjuce Orange Pomgranet Citron or any sharp Juice in their Sauces Some commend much Toasted Cheese and dryed Amillium and hot Spices in Meats or Drinks but no great quantity for then they are hurtful as also is much Drinking And for Drinks a Glass of Wormwood-Wine or Hidromel is very good And for this a gentle Purge may be given of Senna or Rhuebard boiled in White-wine about a quarter of a Pint being drunk warm Fasting The Hickup and distastefulness of Meats are very Incident to Women with Child and prove uneasie to the Child especially by weakening the Mother and thereby it being deprived of sufficient Nourishment causing her either to be Delivered Untimely or produce a Weakly Child Take to Prevent or Remedy these the Yolks of Eggs Veal Broth or Chicken Broth wherein Endive Succory and Lettuce have been shred with Beets and Winter-savory Anointing the Stomach and Belly with Oyl of Sweet Almonds and Oyl of Violets If the cause proceed from a sharp bitter Humour a gentle Purge is requisit to carry it downward that may occasion no
being rather to direct the order of a Woman in Child-bed for her own safety and that of her Child CHAP. XIII Of Natural and Difficult Births And how the Child ought to be Ordered when drawn forth With Receipts for many Cordials and Directions for other things useful on this Imergency IF there be a Natural Birth That is the Child coming with it's Head forward the Arms on the Side and the Throws encreasing there is little Difficulty or Danger Yet she must have great Courage herself and Encourage the Woman giving her Wine wherein Saffron has been infused or such things as Comfort the Heart as occasion requires yet in little Quantity Nothing must be done in Delivery hastily or rashly but Nature must have its course in a good measure it being the greatest helper in these Cases And because the Child doth come Naturally into the World with the Face downward when it is taken forth it must be turned on its Back to prevent Suffocation or drawing the Air too heavily And if the Navel-string as often happens be twisted about its Neck let her take it off gently If it be feeble or faint that it scarce can Breathe spurt a little Canary into the Mouth of it which by its striving will open the Pipes She may do the like into the Nose or Ears but very gently and but a very small quantity When it begins to Cry draw the Navel-string gently that the After-Birth may follow in its due time the Woman Coughing or Straining a little and holding Salt in her Hand fast grasped recollect her Breath and blowing hard the Midwife or her Assistant stroaking her Belly down gently And the Child being separated to prevent Fits give it a little Spoonful of Black-Cherry-Water with two or three drops of the Blood that proceeds from the Navel-string when cut which must be done about two handful from the Belly especially of a Boy making a Knot before the Incision Then dip Linnen cloaths in a warm Bath of Rose-Leaves Penny royal or any Comfortable Herbs or Flowers wrap it up warm and keep it near a Fire but not in a place where a free Air cannot come to it because the Lungs at first are weak and cannot draw strongly Cover the Head however with a thin Linnen Cloath and let it not come too near a great Light suddainly for fear of hurting and weakening the Sight Then Swathe it gently and give it some little Food or let it Suck some Woman whose Milk is of the same Sex but not the Mother because her's is not as yet proper for it for many Reasons which I willingly omit The Woman being thus safely Delivered her Legs must be layed gently straight and a fine Linnen Cloath or Rapper diped in warm Water and applyed all cold Airs excluded And after some Refreshment she may Slumber a little to recover Natures strength Then take Candle Panada Water-Gruel or what is most agreeable to stretch out the Bowells fill in some measure the Vacancy and prevent Windyness which is very offensive to Women new Delivered And if she find herself Faint and Uneasie let her take the following Cordial Drink Take the Syrup of Maid-hair one ounce Pellitory Water Cardus Water each half an ounce mingled in a quarter of a Pint of warm White-Wine And Anoint the parts with Oyl of Almonds drawn without Fire As for the Child when it has well Breathed and taken some refreshing Nourishment give it three scruples of Mithridate or Venice Treacle in a Spoonful of White-Wine or any proper Cordial Water If the Woman be weak in her Parts and Pains continue in her Back Flanks or Groin take a Sheepskin that is newly pulled off clap the Fleshy side about her and wrap her up warm in it and and it will wonderfully strengthen her if it be repeated every two days Or for want of this lay a Hares Skin or Rabits Skin taken off warm on her Belly But in my Opinion the former is a great deal better And to Lenify the distended parts Take Oyle of Hyperion and St. John's-wort each an ounce an ounce of the Oyl of Roses and two whites of Eggs finely beaten together and apply it as a Lineament and Pessary Then let her gently raise up her Thighs that her Knees may lie up to ease her Back When the Skin is taken off chafe her with Oyl of Roses Almonds and St. John's-wort Swathe her with soft Linnen three or four times doubled and beware she takes not Cold suppling het Breasts if given to Chaping Hardness or subject to Knots Tumours or the like with Oyl of Olives and Sweet Almonds And above all things keep the Chamber close and warm that she take not cold in any part for the parts distended by the force of Travel will easily contract Cold Airs And when she is desirous of Sleep before she goes to it let her take a refreshment of some strengthening Broths made of Veal Chickens or if she be more desirous of it a couple of Poached Eggs. Difficult Deliveries require something more than what I have mentioned and the Midwife must be yet more Careful herein because not only her Reputation but the Life of her Patient is mainly concerned in it There are many Births that require great Skill and Labour to bring them forth because they come Preposterously or contrary to the Natural one as lying side-ways in the Womb coming Stradling with the Feet forward or the Arms spread over the Head the Buttocks forward or the like and these must by the Midwifes Skill be reduced to their proper form if it may be and so drawn forth before the Woman be too far spent the Vital Spirits wasted or Nature enfeebled And if a Midwifes strength or Skill prevail not a Skillful Chirurgion must be sent for before it is too Late Some Midwives fancying in doing this their Reputations would suffer have kept their Patients in Pain and Hope till at last finding themselves Constrained to send when the Case was desperate they have been obliged to part with Woman or Child or both to the Grave CHAP. XIV What ought to be done if a Woman come before or after her Time and to bring away dead Children Also to stay the Flux and Remedy divers other Accidents happening to those newly Delivered TRavel may likewise prove Painful or Difficult when the Woman is Delivered Before or After her Time The First of these is when it comes in Six Seven or Eight Months which happens when the Womb is too Weak or Moist which softens the Neck of it and makes it dilate and Emit the Child before the due course of Natures Expired As also the Vessels to the Orifice whereof the After-Burthen is fastened begin to Relax by which means the Infant cannot be supported or remain in it's Natural Situation This Pain and Troublesome times happens when the Child grows so bigg that it stretches or Extends the Womb in every part by a great encrease or over-staying the time some times