cold moist Intemperies or a hot and dry Intemperies also organical Diseases of the Part as an Inflammation or Scirrhus or the like The Vessels of the Womb also often occasion Obstructions which is the most frequent cause of the Suppression of the Courses they being stopt by cold and thick Humours or compressed by Swellings of the neighbouring Parts The Blood is peccant when it is thick and Clammy or when it is evacuated by other ways as by the Nostrils Vomiting Spitting Hemorrhoides and many other Parts I saw sayes Riverius a Girl that had a Pustle in the Head which opened Monthly and evacuated a large quantity of Blood and I have seen many says he that by casting up Blood Periodically from the Lungs had the Courses that Way The external Causes occasioning this Suppression are cold and dry Air and a Northerly Season going into Cold Water especially when the Courses flow too little or too much Nourishment taken also gross and cold Meats or such as are astringent and such as are too hot or such as are salted and spiced too much violent exercise immoderate Watchings much sleep immoderate Ease Bleeding at the Nose or Piles a Loosness and other Evacuations by Vomit Urine and Sweat And lastly violent Passions as extream Anger a sudden Fright long Sorrow great Jealousie and the like The Diagnostick of the Suppression must be received from the Sick but because it proceeds both from natural and preternatural causes the Signs of both shall be distinctly proposed least Physicians should be deceived by Women being with Child by illegitimate Coition and so prescribe Medicines to provoke the Courses rashly to Women with Child First therefore Women with Child most commonly retain their natural Colour and others do not Secondly the Symptoms which use to happen to Women with Child at the beginning abate daily but on the contrary in a Suppression of the Courses the longer they are stopt so much the more the Symptoms are increased Thirdly In Women with Child after the third Month the Motion and Situation of the Child may be sensibly perceived by laying the hand on the Belly but in others the Swelling is Oedematous and not at all hard nor is it always contained within the Limits of the Womb. Fourthly If the inward Mouth of the Womb be touched by a Skilful Midwife she will find it not exactly closed as it is in Women with Child but rather hard contracted and somewhat painful Fifthly Women with Child are most commonly chearful but on the contrary in a Suppression they are most commonly sorrowful and sad The Faults of the Womb which occasion a Suppression may be seen by Inspection and be felt by touching the Parts The Obstruction and Narrowness of the Vessels of the Womb may be known by the Disorder that is felt in the Loyns and in the Parts near the Womb especially just before the Coming of the Courses and if any thing flows out it is mucous whitish or blackish The Diseases of the neighbouring Parts which stop the Mouth of the Womb or the Veins may be known by their proper Signs An abundance of Blood may be known by the Veins being much swelled in the Legs and Arms if the Woman be fleshy and of a ruddy Countenance and has indulged her self for a long while in high Eating But a Defect of Blood may be guessed at if the Woman be fat if she has had a long Feaver and has fasted a long while or has loathed heâ— Meat An â—ll quality of the Blood may be known by an ill Habit of Body the preposterous Motion of the Blood viz. When it flows by contrary Passages is manifest of it self As to the Prognostick a Suppression of the Courses is very dangerous and many desperate Diseases rise from it some in the Womb as Tumours Abscesses and Ulcers others in the whole Body and in various Parts as Feavers Obstructions Cachexies Loathing of Meat a Dropsie a Cardialgia a Cough Difficulty of Breathing Fainting Melancholly Madness Pains of the Head Gout and many others if the Suppression continue long the Belly grows hard great quantity of Urine is voided there is a Loathing of Meat and long Watching the Legs Feet and Belly swell and they die of a Dropsie The Cure of this Disease must be varied according to the Variety of the Causes And first If it proceed from too great a quantity of Blood Bleeding must be ordered in the Arm and a large quantity of Blood must be taken away afterwards it must be drawn downwards by opening the lower Veins about the time the Woman used to have her Courses before she was ill Frictions Ligatures Cupping-glasses with and without Scarification may be used If by reason of want of Blood the Courses stop as after long Feavers after great Evacuations and when the Body is much wasted you must not endeavour to provoke the Courses till the Body is replenished and till a sufficient quantity of Blood is bred which being done they generally follow of their own accord But if it happen that Nature forget her Office she must be roused up by opening the lower Veins and by Medicines proposed in the foregoing Chapter but the quantity of Blood taken away must be moderate least the Strength should be dejected and the Sick should fall into a Consumption But here it must be carefully noted That every Wasting of the Body does not indicate a Want of Blood but only that which succeeds great Evacuations and the like for sometimes it happens that the Courses being suppressed and retained in the Veins occasion an ill quality whereby the Blood is rendred unfit to nourish the Parts upon which account the Body wasts though the Veins are full of Blood in which Case large Bleeding is required As to the Suppression of the Courses which happens by a preposterous Motion of the Blood when it is evacuated by Bleeding at the Nose by Vomiting Spitting or the Hemorrhoides and other Parts The Cure of it is performed by repelling the Blood from the Parts through which it flows preternaturally and by drawing it back to the Passage of the Womb. The first is performed when the Blood rushes out of the upper Parts by washing the Arms Head and Face with cold water and by forbearing the Exercise of those Parts especially Singing and speaking aloud The second is performed by opening the inferior Veins three or four Days before the Blood breaks out and by Cupping-glasses applied to the Thighs and Legs sometimes with sometimes without Scarification by provoking the Hemorrhoids by Frictions Ligatures Walking Fomentations Baths made of opening Herbs Pessaries uterine Glisters and by other things to be described below But the Bath-water is especially commended and the Sick must bath in them often a good while after Meals but the Water must not rise above the Hypochondres and at the same time the upper Parts must be cooled by fanning them If the Blood flow by the Hemmorrhoides the Cure is very difficult for if you use
Apozems Juleps Broath Milk Whey cold mineral Waters and the like which are commonly prescribed for any Cancer But Purging most especially must be repeated that the antecedent Cause of the Cancer may be diverted Topicks must also be applied which moderately bind and cool without Sharpness they must especially be used in form of Liniments Take of Oyl of Myrtles and of Roses each two ounces of the Juice of Night-shade and of Housleek each one ounce stir them all about in a leaden Mortar with a leaden Pestle till they grow black then add of Litharge and Cerus washed in Scabious Water each three ounces of Tutty prepared two drachms of Camphor ten grains make a Liniment wherewith anoint the Part three or four times in a day Or Take of the Oils of the Yolks of Eggs and of Roses each one ounce and an half of Sacharum Saturni one drachm stir them about in a leaden Mortar till they change colour The following is better than the rest and with it Tumors of the Paps which are counted cancerous may be perfectly cured Take of the Oil of Yolks of Eggs two ounces of the Juice of Night-shade and Speedwel or of Housleek each half an ounce of crude Mercury two drachms stir them about in a leaden Mortar with a leaden Pestle till they acquire the consistence of a Liniment The foresaid Liniments are to be put into the Womb with a long Tent or with a Wax-Candle wrapt round with a Rag But Injections may be much easier used Take of Barly-Water half a pint of the Waters of Night-shade and Plantain each two ounces of the Water of Speedwel one ounce of the white Troches of Rhasis two drachms of Sacharum Saturni one drachm Make an injection If the Pain be very violent add to four ounces of the Injection one ounce of the Syrup of Popies Foment the part affected with the Waters of Plantain and Night-shade or with the decoction of them whereunto may be added the Leaves of Water-lillies white Poppies and red Roses and Camphor which Decoction may be also frequently injected into the Womb and it will be much more effectual if it be stirr'd about in a leaden Mortar or if Sacharum Saturni be mixed with it Among Specificks are commended Frogs wash'd and boil'd and apply'd instead of a Cataplasm or a decoction of them injected also the decoction or juice of River-crabs injected into the Womb or Herb-Robert taken inwardly or apply'd If the Cancer be ulcerated the Dose of the Minerals to be added to the foresaid Linimenss must be increas'd and the Ashes of River-Crabs may be conveniently added to them but with the Injections may be mixt the white Troches of Rhasis and Barly-water If the Pain be very violent Fomentations of Mallows Marsh-mallows Water-lillies Poppies Henbane green Coriander Dill of the seed of Psyllium Milk Saffron and the like may be used by Intervals or a Cataplasm made of them may be apply'd with which also Decoctions Injections and Baths may be also prepar'd But all these things are not sometimes sufficient to appease the violent Pain which sometimes will not suffer the sick to sleep or rest so that we are forced sometimes to use Narcoticks and indeed they are not injurious in this Disease I knew a Woman that was afflicted with a Cancer in her Breast who took every Night for four Months two or three Grains of Laudanum and was much reliev'd by it If much Blood flow from a Cancer ulcerated as it often happens inject into the Womb the juice of Plantain with a little Frankincense CHAP. CII Of a Gangrene and Mortification of the Womb. A Gangrene is an incipient Mortification this Disease is easily generated in a Womans Privities because those Parts are very moist and soft and easily receive the Excrements of the whole Body it often succeeds an Inflammation Absess or Ulcer ill cured when the vital heat of the part is suffocated and destroy'd it is suffocated in great Inflammations when more Blood flows in than the innate heat of the part can digest 't is destroy'd either by a cold Intemperies that extinguishes it or by an hot that dissipates and resolves it An incipient Gangrene is known by an unusual heat that is perceiv'd in the part a shaking and shivering also invades with a languid and frequent Pulse and with Fainting and because most commonly this Disease is chiefly seated on the Neck of the Womb and so the part affected may be seen that appears soft livid black and cadaverous and may be prick'd and cut without feeling and sends forth a fetid and cadaverous Stink As to the prognostick this Disease is very dangerous and most commonly deadly But it has been observed by many Authors that the Womb having been corrupted or gangren'd has fallen off of its own accord or has been cut off and the Woman has done well The Cure is to be perform'd by the same Remedies wherewith the Gangrenes of the other parts us'd to be cur'd if the Gangrene be in the neck of the Womb or tend towards the external parts Scarification must be us'd and a decoction of Wormwood Myrrh and the like also Unguentum Aegyptiacum and a Cataplasm made of the three Meals Take of the Meals of Barly Beans and Orobus each two ounces of Oxymell one pint boil them to the consistenee of a Cataplasm but it will be more effectual if you add the Meal of Lupines Myrrh Aloes and Wormwood But if it be wholly corrupted it must be cut off or in a falling of the Womb it must be bound by degrees harder and harder till at length it falls off of which Operations Schenkius has collected many Observations In the whole course of the Cure Corroboratives must be us'd and emollient cleansing and cooling Glisters must be frequently injected CHAP CIII Of a Dropsie and Inflation of the Womb. THE Inflation and Dropsie are confounded by almost all Authors but they are to be distinguish'd for there is a certain Inflation of the Womb which ought not to be call'd a Dropsie viz. when the Womb is inflated and stretch'd suddenly by Wind rushing in upon which account a violent pain is occasioned as it happens in the Cholick and therefore if this Inflation does not last long it does not deserve the name of a Dropsie such an one is often in hysterick Diseases Wherefore a Dropsie of the Womb is twofold one from Wind which is like a Timpany another from a watry Humour which is like the Dropsie of the Belly Some add a third from Phlegm And first of Wind contain'd in the cavity of the Womb. Sennertus mentions an observation in a Woman That when she thought she was with Child and about to be deliver'd evacuated a great quantity of Wind and her Belly presently asswag'd He also mentions Observations of great quantities of Water contain'd in the cavity of the Womb. But Authors testifie That Water is sometimes contain'd in Bladders and excluded in them and sometimes a Dropsie of
the Womb is complicated with being with Child as Fabricius Hildanus relates of his own Wife As to the Diagnostick of this Disease many things are to be inquir'd into first how this particular Dropsie of the Womb may be distinguish'd from an universal Dropsie secondly how the Species of it may be known viz. Whether it proceeds from Wind Water or Phlegm thirdly Whether it arise primarily from the Womb or be occasion'd by the fault of some other part fourthly Whether the peccant Matter be contain'd in the cavity of the VVomb or within the Membranes of it or in Bladders fifthly How it may be distinguish'd from other Tumours of the VVomb sixthly How it may be distinguish'd from being with Child seventhly How it may be distinguish'd from a Mola As to the first Question 't is distinguish'd from an universal Dropsie for that in a Dropsie of the VVomb the Tumour possesses more the bottom of the VVomb but an universal Dropsie extends equally the whole Belly besides in a Dropsie of the VVomb there is not so soon a paleness and wasting of the whole Body as in an universal Dropsie in which also most commonly there is considerable Drought and dryness of the Tongue but not in a Dropsie of the VVomb and also in this all the Symptoms are much milder and the hardness when 't is from VVind or the fluctuation when 't is occasion'd by VVater do not possess so great a space as in an universal Dropsie And lastly in a Dropsie of the VVomb wind breaks out by Intervals or a little water flows out which manifestly shew that wind or water is contain'd in it To the second Question we answer in the following manner The Species of a Dropsie in the VVomb are thus distinguish'd if it be occasion'd by wind the bottom of the Belly sounds being struck there are pricking pains in the belly which sometimes run through the Diaphragm Stomach Loins Navel and other parts and sometimes the wind does evidently break through the Neck of the VVomb and the VVomen perceive the VVomb to rise up often to the Stomach like a Ball breathing is sometimes difficult the Disease grows worse upon eating or drinking and they often belch and are better after it and they are often troubl'd with Mother-fits They sometimes perceive a pain in the region of the Hypogaster so that they can't bear an Hand laid upon it these Signs are also in an inflation of the Womb but there is this difference for as we said before an inflation is but for a small space but a Dropsie from wind continues much longer But if a Dropsie of the Womb is occasion'd by Water that Region appears soft and flaccid for Wind causes a Tension there is a greater weight in the part and a sound as it were of Water floating and Water sometimes drops from the part And lastly if it proceed from Phlegm there is a greater softness and flaccidity of the part which daily increases and afflicts the neighbouring Parts viz. the Hypogaster the Pubes Perineum and Loins with an Oedematous swelling As to the third Question if there be Signs of the whole Bodies being ill affected as by acute or long Fevers by immoderate Hemorrhagies by weakness of the Stomach swellings of the Liver or Spleen or by other obstinate Diseases of those parts with which the Dropsie of the Womb began and increased with them there is good reason to conjecture That the matter of the Dropsie is receiv'd in those parts but if when the whole Body is well such a Tumour happens and succeeds particular Diseases of the Womb as hard Labour suppression of the Courses or too large an evacuation of them or Ulcers and Tumors we may guess that the Dropsie of the Womb proceeds from them To the fourth Question we answer That the Matter which is contained in the cavity of the Womb causes a much greater Tumor than when 't is contain'd within the Membranes To the fifth Question we answer That a Dropsie of the Womb may be distinguish'd from Tumors that proceed from a Phlegmon or an Erysipelas because in these there is a Fever and Pain upon the least touching it may be distinguish'd from a Scirrhus or cancerous Tumour by the hardness that resists the Finger upon touching To the sixth Question we answer That when a Woman is with Child the Tumor is not equal and depress'd but thrusts it self out above the Navel Secondly when a Woman is with Child after some Months she is better most commonly but the longer a Dropsie lasts the worser it grows Thirdly in a Woman with Child the motion of the Fetus is manifestly felt after the third or forth Month which does not happen in a Dropsie yet sometimes when a Dropsie arises from Wind a Palpitation is perceiv'd in the Womb but it may be easily distinguished from the motion of a Child because 't is more equal and is wont to possess more parts of the Belly Fourthly when a Woman is with Child the Breasts swell but in a Dropsie they grow small To the seventh Question we answer That in a Mola there is a weight felt in the Belly which is not perceiv'd in a Dropsie of the Womb and when the sick lye on either side a weight is perceiv'd as if a Stone roll'd thither Moreover in a Mola there are violent Fluxes of the Courses by Intervals viz. every third of fourth Month which does not happen in a Dropsy of the Womb. And lastly in a Mola the Breasts swell and have Milk in them sometimes but there is no such thing in a Dropsie As to the Prognostick a simple Inflation of the Womb is not dangerous but if it continue long it may turn to a Dropsie If Wind or Water be contain'd in the cavity of the Womb 't is easier cur'd than when 't is included in the Membranes or in Bladders The Cure of this Disease is perform'd in a manner by the same Remedies which are propos'd for the Cure of a Dropsie or the Green-sickness but some things that are peculiar to this Disease must be added And first as to bleeding in a recent Disease occasion'd by an obstruction of the Courses and there being a fulness of Blood it may be proper otherwise 't is injurious But Purging is always necessary and it must be often repeated and after sufficient Purging Aperitives Diureticks and such things as move the Courses must be us'd to which may be added the following Take of the Roots of Smallage and Madder each half an ounce of the Leaves of Savine Feverfew and Penny-royal each one pugil of the Seeds of Daucus one drachm boil them in the Broath of young Pidgeons and let her take it strain'd in a Morning for many days but before she takes the Broath let her swallow one of the following Pills Take of the best Castor Myrrh and Madder each half a drachm of Saffron one scruple with the juice of Lemons make nine Pills After the use of which Medicines violent Exercise
and Ambergrise each six grains with a little white Wax make a Liniment wherewith anoint the said Parts and anoint within with Civet or with natural Indian Balsam Lastly let Plasters be applied to the Perineum and the Loins and let rhem be worn continually Take of the Plaster for the Matrix four ounces of the Plaster of Mastick two ounces of Gum Tachamacha and Caranna each one ounce of the Powder of the Roots of Tormentil and Bistort each three ounces of the Powder of Myrtles two drachms of Aromatic Rosat four scruples moisten them with Oil of Quinces and with a drachm of Oil of Nutmegs spread two Plasters upon Leather the one round for the Pubes and the other square for the Loins CHAP. CVI. Of Miscarriage MIscarriage is the Exclusion of an imperfect or unripe Child and consequently a Child dead in the Womb is not said abortive till it is excluded so that whether alive or dead Child be brought forth not being ripe nor having attained to the just growth in the Womb it is to be termed abortive The causes of Abortion are some Internal some External the Internal may be reduced to four Heads viz. to the Humors to the Child to the Womb and to the Disease of the Mother The Humors may occasion Abortion when they offend in quantity or quality They offend in quantity either by way of excess or defect The quantity is excessive in a Plethora for there being more Blood than is requisit to nourish the Fetus it flows into the Veins of the Womb and is excluded like the monthly Courses and so the Child comes away with it There is too small a quantity of the nutritious Humor when the Child's nourishment is by any means lessened as by Fasting whether volunary or forced and when Women with Child nauseat all sorts of Food or vomit it up again Likewise by reason of a thin Diet in acute Diseases or by an immoderate evacuation of Blood Likewise by reason of extream leanness of the whole Body In respect of the Child Abortion may happen if it be over great so that it cannot by reason of its bulk be contained in the Womb and for this reason little Women often miscarry especially if they are married to Men bigger than ordinary whose Children grow very great and find not in the Womb a space large enough to contain them till they come to their perfect growth also plurality of Children may occasion Abortion as when two or three or more are contained in the Womb at one time The Womb it self occasions Abortion if it be not large and capacious enough to widen it self sufficiently according as the Child grows or if there be any thing preternatural in the Womb as an Inflammation a Scirrhus or Imposthume or the like or if the Womb be over moist and slack so that it cannot contain the Child so well as it ought to do Abortion comes two ways from the Diseases of the Mother First when her Diseases are communicated to the Child whereby it is killed or so weakned that it cannot receive due nourishment nor growth such are continual Fevers and Agues the French Pox and many such like Secondly when the said Diseases of the Mother cause great Evacuations or great Commotions of the Body as large Bleeding from what part of the Body soever Fluxes of the Belly grievous Swooning Falling-sickness Vomiting and a Tenesmus which above all other Diseases is wont to cause Abortion External Causes which further Abortion do some of them kill the Child others draw away it 's nourishment and others dissolve those Bands wherewith the Child is fastned to the Womb. The Child is killed by great Commotions of the Mind as by Anger Sadness Frights and the like by Meats earnestly longed for and not obtained by strong purging Medicines by things that provoke the Courses and by those things that expel the Child and by such things as are reckoned by a Specifick Quality to destroy the Child in the Womb by abominable Smells especially the stink of a Candle ill put out Violent Exercise dissolves the Bands that fasten the Child to the Womb as Dancing Running Riding Jolting in a Coach or Cart carrying or lifting from the Ground a heavy Weight a violent Fall a Blow on the Belly vehement Motion of the Belly by Coughing Vomiting Looseness Sneezing Convulsions Crying-out immoderate or over-wanton Embraces and in a word vehement motion of the Arms the turning a Wheel or doing some such work may exceedingly promote Abortion The Signs of present Abortion are manifest of themselves but such as go before Abortion and prognosticate the same are these An unusual heaviness of the Loins and Hips an unwillingness to stir Appetite gone shivering and shaking coming by Fits pain of the Head especially about the Roots of the Eyes a straitening of the Sides and Belly above the Navel the flagging or falling and extenuation of the Dugs but if frequent pains and almost continual Torment the Reins and Loins reaching towards the Share as far as the Os sacrum with endeavours to evacuate the Womb certainly the Woman will shortly miscarry If from violent external Causes such as are a Blow a Fall and the like vehement Pain and Perturbation arise in a Woman with Child she ought to keep her Bed three days or longer As to the Prognosticks Women are more endangered by Abortion than by a true and timely Birth because it is more violent and unseasonable for as in ripe Fruit the Stalks are loosened from the Boughs and the Fruit falls off of it self so in a natural Birth the Vessels and Ligaments wherewith the Child is tyed to the Womb are loosened and untyed as it were of their own accord which in Abortion must needs be vioiently broken asunder Abortion is most dangerous in the sixth seventh and eighth Month. Our ordinary Women say A miscarrying Woman is half with Child again The Cure of Abortion consists in Preservation for that which is past cannot be helpt But all the Symtoms which follow Abortion are the same which accompany Women duly brought to bed The preservation from Abortion consists principally in these two things the one concerns the Woman before she is with Child and the other when she is with Child Before the Woman is with Child all Indispositions of the Body which are wont to cause Abortion must be removed as fulness of Blood ill Humours and peculiar Diseases of the Womb viz. Intemperies Swellings Ulcers and the like Fulness of Blood opens the Veins of the Womb or strangles the Infant while it is in the Womb this if it be a pure and simple Plenitude may be cured by Blood-letting such as shall answer the quantity of Blood superabounding A Cacochymy is either Cholerick and partaking of Acrimony so as to open the Orifices of the Veins or by provoking Nature it stirs up the expulsive Faculty whereby the Child comes to be expelled with those ill Humours or it suffocates the Child by reason of
Difficult Labour is known both by the Woman by the By-standers and especially by the Midwife And first if the Woman continue a long time in Labour viz. two three four or more days whereas a natural Birth is finished in 24 hours Another Sign of difficult Labour is languid pains returning at long Intervals also the pains tending backward rather than forward But the Causes of difficult Labour may be known by the Womans Relation and most commonly upon sight So the weakness of the Woman or leanness or over-fatness may be seen by the habit of Body The Diseases of the Womb may be known by their proper Signs the weakness of the Child by the weak and slow motion of it But the signs of a dead Child may be known by the following Chapter The bigness of the Child may be judged of by the stature of the Parents especially if a gigantick Man be married to a dwarfish Woman But when there are none of these Causes and the Womans and Childs endeavours are strong and yet the Labour is difficult it is a sign that the Secundine is so strong that it cannot be easily broken and this will be confirmed if no water or moisture flows out in Labour The preposterous figure of the Fetus may be perceived by the Midwife and other things as has been said by sight As to the Prognostick difficult Labour is of it self dangerous and sometimes the Woman and sometimes the Child and sometimes both are extinguished If a Woman continue in Labour four days she will hardly escape Sleepy Diseases and Convulsions coming upon hard Labour are most commonly deadly Sneesing coming upon hard Labour is good As to the Cure of hard Labour First all those things which retard it must as much as may be be removed afterwards Medicines that further Labour must be methodically administred And first it is common with Women to give a spoonful or two of Cinnamon-water or Cinnamon powdered with a little Saffron or half a drachm of Confection of Alkerms in broath or half a scruple of Saffron alone in some broath or every hour in a little VVine Or Take of Oil of sweet Almonds and of white Wine each two ounces of Saffron and Cinnamon each twelve grains of Confection of Alkermes half a drachm of syrup of Maiden-hair one ounce and an half mingle them make a Potion If these things are not sufficient the following may be used which I have frequently found very effectual Take of Dittany of Crete and both the Birthworts and of Troches of Myrrh each half a scruple of Saffron and Cinnamon each twelve grains of Confection of Alkermes half a drachm of Cinnamon-water half an ounce of Orange-flower-water and of Mugwort-water each one ounce make a Potion Oil of Ambar of Cinnamon and extract of Saffron are very effectual in a small quantity viz. five grains of extract of Saffron four or five drops of Oil of Cinnamon twelve or fifteen drops of Oil of Ambar in VVine Broath or some other Liquor Sneesing hastens Delivery it may be provoked by the following Powder Take of white Hellebore half a drachm of long Pepper one scruple of Castor five grains make a Powder let the quantity of a Pease be blown up into the Nostrils But difficult Labour must be helpt not only with inward Remedies proposed but also with external let the Midwife therefore frequently anoint the VVomb with the Oils of Lillies sweet Almonds Linseed and the like and let the Belly be fomented with an emollient decoction of the Roots of Marsh-mallows Lillies the leaves of Mallows Violets Mugwort of Linseeds Fenugreek-seeds of the flowers of Camomile and Melilot Sharp Glisters are to be injected by the irritation of which the expulsive faculty of the VVomb will be stimulated and the Guts being emptied thereby there will be more room for the VVomb Anoint the Navel with Oil of Ambar and such things as are thought to help Delivery by a specifick quality are to be used as the Eagle's-stone the Load-stone Storax Calamint and the like bound to the Hips and if the Woman has any Gems about her as in Rings or the like they must be pull'd off for many Women think that such things retain the Child by a specifick Quality If the Child seem to be weak it must be refreshed by giving strengthening things to the Mother as hot Wine Confection of Alkermes Cinnamon-water and the like If the Child begins to come forth preposterously as with one Arm or first with the foot or the like the Midwife must thrust them back and turn the Child right which may be done by placing the VVoman in a Bed upon her back with her Head low and her feet high and then force the Child gently into the VVomb and then the Midwife must endeavour to turn it right viz. to turn the Face towards the Mothers back and the Buttocks and Legs must be elevated towards the Mothers Navel and so she must hasten a legitimate Birth But all hopes of Delivery being past or the Mother being near Death some Authors propose the Cesarian Section whereof Franciscus Rossetus wrote an excellent Treatise wherein he endeavours to shew by many Arguments that it may sometimes succeed But because this operation is dangerous and very terrible it ought rarely or never to be attempted by a prudent Physician if he values his own Reputation CHAP. CVIII Of a Dead Child WHen the Child is dead the Motion of it ceases which either the Mother felt before in the Womb or the Midwife with her Hand a greater sense of weight with Pain afflicts the Belly when the Woman turns from side to side she perceives the Child fall like a Stone from one part to another the Belly feels cold the natural Heat being extinguish'd and the Spirits dissipated which were contained in the Child the Eyes are hollow the Face and Lips pale the extream parts cold and livid the Breasts flaccid and at length the Child putrifying a fetid Ichor and Sanies flows from the Womb an ill and strong smell exhales from the Woman's Body and her Breath stinks If the Secundine be excluded before the Fetus it is a certain Sign that the Child is dead The whole Cure consists in the exclusion or extraction of the Child Take of the Leaves of Savin dryed of the Roots of round Birthwort of the Troches of Myrrh and of Castor each one drachm of Cinnamon half a drachm of Saffron one scruple Mingle them make a Powder whereof let her take one drachm in Savin Water In the mean while apply to the Pubes Privities and Perineum an emolient Decoction After the Fomentation anoint the Parts with the Ointment de Arthanita and let a Pessary be put up the Privities Take of the Roots of round Birthwort Orris black Helebore of Coloquintida and Myrrh each one drachm of Galbanum and opopanax each half a drachm With Ox-Gall make a Pessary It is also proper if the Strength be sufficient to give a Purge Angelus
Troches of Alkakengi which are peculiarly proper in this case must be used inwardly Also Emulsions of the cold Seeds of the Seeds of white Poppies adding if there be occasion Syrup of Poppies And lastly The Conserve of the Flowers of Marsh-mallows must be frequently given And the following Fomentation may be used to the Region of the Reins Take of the Roots of Marsh-mallows of the Leaves of Mallows Pellitory and Violets each one handful of the seeds of Flax Fenugreek and Alkakengi each three drams of the Flowers of Camomil Melilot and Water-lillies each one Pugil make a Decoction wherewith foment the Part with Flannels After the Fomentation use the following Liniment Take of Oyl of Violets and of sweet Almonds each one ounce and an half of Oyl of Roses one ounce of the Mucilages of the Seeds of Marshmallows and Fenugreek each two ounces of Suffron one scruple make a Liniment But to ease the Pain new Milk from the Cow with Dr. Gordon's Troches dissolved in it injected is the best Anodyne for it eases the pain and cures the Ulcer CHAP. XCI Of a Diabetes THis Disease was so rare amongst the Ancients that many famous Physicians made no mention of it but in our Age wherein excessive Drinking has been especially of Wine so much used there are many Instances of it As to the Cure The chief intentions of Healing are to prevent fusion of the Blood and to take off that which is so First The Fusion of the Blood is hindred when its gross and watry Parts contain one another and are contained so that they do not too hastily separate which may be effected by thickning Remedies and for this Purpose Rice Starch and Mucilaginous Vegetables also Gums and some resinous things are of use Secondly That the Fusion of the Blood may be taken off such Remedies are indicated as dissolve the Concretions of the Salts I have prescribed in this Disease the Tincture of Antimony with good success and Lime-water with the Seeds of Annise Raisins and Liquorish is much commended by some A Noble-man fell into a desperate Diabetes for besides that he voided a Gallon and an half of clear Urine that was almost as sweet as Honey in the space of a Night and a Day he was also afflicted with great Thirst a Hectick Feaver great Weakness and with a wasting of the whole Body he was cured in a short time by the following Medicines Take of the Tops of Cypress eight handfuls of the Whites of Eggs a quart of Cinnamon half an ounce having cut them small pour upon them four Quarts of new Milk and distill them in a cold Still Have a care of an Empyrema He took six ounces of it thrice a day Take of Gum-Arabick and Tragacanth each six drams of Penediate Sugar one ounce make a Powder give one dram or one dram and an half twice a day with three or four ounces of the distilled Water Take of Rubarb powdered fifteen grains of Cinnamon six grains make a Powder let him take it in the Morning and repeat it six or seven days after Take of Cowslip-water three ounces of Cinnamon-water hordeated two drams with half an ounce of Diacodium make a draught to be taken at Bed-time every Night His Diet was altogether in a manner of Milk which he eat sometimes crude sometimes boiled with Bread or Barley sometimes it was diluted with a distilled water or with Barley-water When he had been well a long time he fell into the same Disease again and the same Method and Medicines were ordered again whereby he grew better in a few Days afterwards he took five or six ounces of Lime-water daily thrice in a Day and having used it four days he voided Urine in a moderate quantity well coloured and somewhat salt I cured another of a deplorable Diabetes by the same Method especially with Lime-water CHAP. XCII Of Incontinence of Vrine INcontinence of Urine proceeds from a fault of the retentive Faculty of the Bladder it befalls either People waking and then the cause is great or sleeping and then it is less for at that time the Animal Functions are not so freely exercised and this happens two Ways viz. Either by the Weakness or Laxity of the Sphincter Muscle of the Bladder which sucking Children are subject to old People and some in their middle Age and others by false Imagination for many there are who by reason of excessive Drinking or by reason of the exquisite sense of the Bladder or sharp Urine piss in Bed in some sort willingly for they imagine in their Sleep that they are making Water against the Wall or some other Place and they are so accustomed to this Vice that they do it where there is no Fault either in Bladder or Muscle of it and they are not cured by Medicines but by rectifying their Imagination as in Children by the Rod and in grown People by placing some precious things upon the Places where they think they make water in their Dreams and by shewing such things to them often But a preternatural Disorder occasioning an Incontinence of Urine is seated in the Sphincter Muscle which is either affected Sympathically or Idiopathically it is affected by Sympathy many Ways as when the whole Body is weak and the Natural Heat decayed as when Death approaches or when the whole Body or half of it is seised with the Palsie or those Branches of the Nerves only which arising from the Os sacrum are communicated to the Bladder This Resolution of the Muscles is occasioned sometimes by reason of the Nearness to other Parts affected as in Women with Child in swellings and Pains of the Womb and great Diseases of the right Gut But the Sphincter Muscle is also affected various ways Idiopathically as by Wounds upon it as it happens in cutting for the Stone or by reason of deep Wounds that hinder the Contraction and Shutting of it but the chief and most frequent cause is a cold and moist Intemperies whereby that part is weakned and relaxed This Intemperies is much furthered by a natural cold and moist Constitution by Childhood Age the Feminine Sex by Diseases of the whole Body or of some Parts arising from a cold and moist Intemperies to which may be added external causes proper to produce such an Intemperies The Diagnostick Signs of this Disease either shew a Sympathick Disease which are to be taken from the Effects proper to produce an Incontinence of Urine mentioned above and if they are present we must suppose the Disease proceeds thence but if they are absent we must count it Idiopathick and if it be occasioned by a Wound Ulcer or any other Disorder of the Sphincter it is easily known but if none of these appear we must consider whither there be a cold and moist Intemperies of the part which may be known by the Constitution of the Internal and external Causes and by the Effects of them as softness of the whole Body a pale Colour a Laxity of the
three Doses adding to each one ounce of Syrup of Violets and a dram of Sal-prunella if the Pain be very violent some Syrup of Poppies may be added to it and a dram of Gum Arabick powdered Broths may be also prepared in the following manner Take of the Roots of Marshmallows half an ounce of Mallows one handful of Liquorish half an ounce of the Seeds of Quinces one dram boil them with Chicken Broth and let it be taken for several Days together The Whey of Goats Milk is also very good a large draught of it being taken at a time and if there be no Feaver milk it self is more effectual especially Asses Milk If the Disease is inveterate Epsom and Tunbridge-waters are very proper Forestus cured himself of a violent Dysury by only using a Decoction of Mallows sweetned with Syrup of Violets a Conserve of Mallows has also done much good an ounce of it having been taken Morning and Evening and three ounces of Mallow-Water being drank presently after the Conserve of the Flowers of Marshmallows is as good or rather better some Practitioners commend the Troches of Alkakengi a dram of them being taken at a Time in some proper Liquor When the Pain is very violent the dipping the Yard in Milk whilst the Urine is rendring or in a Decoction of Mallows and the Seeds of white Poppies does much good in this case A small decoction of Mallows sweetned with Syrup of Violets or with Conserve of Roses is very proper for the ordinary Drink And to ease the Pain Injections may be made for the Passage of the Bladder of Milk an Emulsion of the cold Seeds of Plantane and Whey whereunto may be added the White of an Egg well beaten and a Scruple of the Troches of Alkakengi External Remedies do also much good to qualifie the Heat of Urine as Baths and Fomentations applied to the Pubis and Perinaeum made of a Decoction of cooling Herbs also Liniments made of Oyls of Roses of white-lillies and of Oyntment of Roses and of the white Oyntment with Camphor CHAP. XCV Of a Chlorosis or the Green-Sickness THe Green-Sickness is a vitious Habit of the Body proceeding from Obstructions it is accompanied most commonly with a Palpitation of the Heart Difficulty of Breathing and a longing for absurd things and with an Unfitness for Motion and other Symptoms The Diagnostick manifestly appears by the following Series of Symptoms First The Face and whole Body is pale and sometimes of a leaden livid and green Colour Secondly An Inflation and as it were a Swelling appears upon the Eye-lids the Legs also swell especially about the Ankles Thirdly There is a Dulness and Unwillingness for Motion Fourthly There is a Difficulty of Breathing especially when they move much or go up Stairs Fifthly There is a Palpitation of the Heart upon Motion Sixthly There is a heavy and often a lasting pain of the Head Seventhly The Pulse is quick Eighthly The Sick are drowsie and incline to Sleep Ninthly There is a great Aversion for wholesome Food Lastly The Disease increasing and the Obstructions being multiplied a Suppression of the Courses at length follows which shews the Disease is confirmed As to the Prognostick This Disease most commonly is noâ— dangerous but if it be neglected too much it occasions great Diseases as a Scirrhus Tumours a Dropsie and other grietvous Diseases which at length kill the Patient When the Disease is small and chiefly arises from Obstructions of the Veins of the Womb it is easily cured by Marriage in Young Virgins Women that have had this Disease a long while are either barren or bring forth Children that are Sickly and short liv'd There is great Hopes of Cure when the Courses keep their exact Periods and flow in a due Quantity and Quality The Cure of this Disease is performed by opening Obstructions by purging off the vitious Humours by Correcting the Intemperies of the Bowels and by Strengthning them First therefore A gentle Purging Medicine must be given that is agreeable to the Constitution that the first Region may be only emptied and if the Belly be bound a Glister must be given first of all Afterwards Bleeding must be ordered unless the Disease is very inveterate and the Maid be inclined to a Cachexy But a Vein in the Arm must be opened though the Courses are stopped for at that Time if you should bleed in the Foot the Obstructions of the Veins and of the Womb would be increased That quantity of Blood being taken away that is necessary proper Purges must be used viz. Take of the Pill Coch Major two Scruples of Castor powdered two grains of Peruvian Balsam four Drops make four Pills let her take them at five in the Morning and let her sleep after them Let these Pills be repeated twice or thrice every Morning or every other Morning according to the Strength of the Sick and their Operation After the purging Pills let her take the following Take of the Filings of Steel grains eight with a sufficient quantity of Extract of Wormwood make two Pills to be taken in the Morning and they must be repeated at five in the Afternoon She must continue this Course for thirty Days drinking presently after the Pills a Draught of Wormwood Wine If a Bolus be more pleasing Take of the Conserve of Roman-Wormwood and of the Conserve of the yellow Peel of Oranges each one ounce of candied Angelica and Nutmegs candied and of Venice Treacle each half an ounce of Ginger candied two drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges Make an Electuary Take of this Electuary one dram and an half of the Filings of Steel well powdered eight grains with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges make a Bolus to be taken in the Morning and at five in the afternoon drinking upon it a draught of Wormwood-wine Take of choice Mirrh and of Galbanum each one dram and an half of Castor sixteen grains with a sufficient quantity of Peruvian Balsam make twelve Pills of each dram Let her take three every Night at Bed time drinking upon them three or four Spoonfuls of compound Briony water through the whole Course But if these Pills should purge then the following must be used instead of them Take of Castor one dram of Volatile Salt of Ambar half a dram with a sufficient quantity of Extract of Rue make five and twenty small Pills Let her take three every Night at Bed-time CAHP. XCVI Of the Suppression of the Courses THere is said to be a Suppression of the Courses when in Women of a mature Age that neither give suck nor are with Child the Evacuation of Blood by the Womb which naturally is wont to be monthly seldom or sparingly proceeds or is wholly stopt The Cause of this Suppression is to be referred either to the Womb or to the Vessels of it or to the Blood which flows or ought to flow through them Various Diseases of the Womb may occasion this Suppression namely a
Sala says That he has used with very good success Mercurius Vitae in this Case four or five grains at a time and that it does powerfully exclude a dead Child and is better than other Remedies But it must be used with great Caution because it is a violent Medicine If after having tried Medicines a long while the Child cannot be ejected Chirurgical Operation must be used that is perform'd either by Instruments or by the Hand alone CHAP. CIX Of the Secundine retained IN a Natural Birth the Secundine is wont most commonly to be excluded presently after the Child yet sometimes it is retained whereby the Life is much endangered The internal causes of this Retention are too great a thickness of the Coats so that they stick firmly to the sides of the Womb the swelling of them by an afflux of Humors occasioned by hard Labour and the shutting of the Mouth of the Womb after the exclusion of the Fetus The external causes are coldness of the Air whereby the Secundine is expelled and the orifice of the Womb shut certain Perfumes whereby the Womb is allur'd upwards violent Passions of the Mind as fear and sudden Frights the perversness of the Woman who will not abide in such a position or use such Endeavours as are requisite the weight of the Child whereby the Navel is broken the Secundine remaining within the unskilfulness of the Midwife who cuts the Umbilical Vessels too soon or does not hold them in her left hand as she ought for if they are let go they are drawn back into the Womb and are hid there with the Secundine whereas it ought they serve for the extraction of the Secundine It is easie to be known when the Secundine is retained in the Womb but sometimes a piece of it is separated and remains in the Womb which is not so easily found yet it may be known for that the Womb after delivery endeavours to eject something But tho' its endeavours are but small a sense of Heat and Pain is perceived in the Womb and after a few Days a cadaverous Smell exhales from the Womb. The retention of the Secundine is very dangerous and if it continues some Days an acute Fever Nauseousness Fainting difficulty of Breathing Coldness of the extream Parts Epileptick and Hysterick Fits and at length Death follow The Secundine retained is expelled by the same Remedies which were proposed for a dead Child to which may be added some Specificks delivered by Authors Gesner and Augenius commend much the Testicles of a Horse cut in pieces and dried in an Oven as much of the Powder of them as may be contained with three Fingers being taken in Chicken-Broath and it may be repeated twice or thrice upon occasion Rulandus says He has given with success thirty Drops of the Oil of Juniper Some order the Woman to bite an Onyon three or four times and to swallow the Juice and presently after to drink a small draught of Wine by which she may be soon relieved Forestus mentions a Widwife who received the following Secret from a Jewish Physician He took the Leaves of Green Lovage and pressed out the Juice with good Rhenish-Wine and gave a Draught of it Angelus Sala commends Mercurius Vitae as before in a dead Child To these things may be added Sneezing-Powders Fomentations Liniments and other things both external and internal described above for difficult Labour The following Decoction has been very succesful Take of Vinegar of Roses four or five quarts of the Leaves and Berries of Bayes each three handfuls one Rose-Cake cut in pieces Boil them and with the Decoction hot wash the Hips and Legs from the Groin to the Feet for a long while To this Decoction may conveniently be added of Myrrh and both the Birth-Worts each one ounce But among other things the Hand of a skilful Surgeon may do much before the Inflammation and Inflation are increased for so the Secundine may be gently drawn out and the Woman freed from all the Symptoms and Fatigue of Medicines If the Secundine cannot be ejected by any means but sticks firmly to the Womb and putrifies there Suppuratives must be injected mixed with things that cleanse that that which is putrified may be drawn out by degrees to this purpose Rondoletius commends Basilicon especially being dissolv'd in the following Decoction Take of the Leaves of Mallows with the Roots three handfuls of the Roots of both the Birth-worts each six drachms of Flax-seeds and Fenugreek-seeds each half an ounce of Violets one handful of the Flowers of Camomel and the lesser Centaury each half an handful Make a Decoction in Water mingle Oil with it if you would have it suppurate much but if you more design to cleanse add a little Vnguentum Aegyptiacum CHAP. CX Of a Suppression of the Child-bed Purgations THere is so great a Flux of Humors from all parts of the Womb when a Woman is with Child and during the Commotion in her Labour that in case there be not afterwards sufficient Evacuation of them the Woman is in great danger of very ill Accidents and sometimes of Death it self because these Humors corrupting by their stay there will certainly cause a great Inflammation And this is the reason why the Suppression of the Lochia is one of the worst and most dangerous Symptoms which can befal a Woman after Delivery especially if they happen to be totally and suddenly stopt the first three or four days which is the time they should come down plentifully for then follow an acute Fever great Pains in the Head Pains in the Breast Reins and Loins Suffocation of the Mother and an Inflammation which is suddenly communicated to the Belly which becomes very much swell'd and blown up there happens also a great difficulty in Breathing Choakings Palpitation of the Heart Fainting Convulsions and often Death it self if the Suppression continues and if the Woman over-lives it she is in danger of an Abscess in the Womb and afterwards of a Cancer or there may happen great Imposthumes in the Belly also the Gout Sciatica and Lameness or an Inflammation and Abscess in the Breast The Causes of the Stoppage of the Lochia proceed either from a great Loosness because a great Evacuation that way turns the Lochia and makes them stop or any strong Passion of the Mind so do great Colds and cold Drink To bring the Lochia well down let the Woman avoid all Perturbations of Spirit which may stop them let her lie in Bed with her Head and Breast a little raised keeping her self very quiet that so the Humors may be carried downwards by their natural tendency Let her observe a good Diet somewhat hot and moist and apply an Hysterick Plaster to her Navel Take of the Conserves of Roman Wormwood and of Rue each one ounce of the Troches of Myrrh two drachms of Castor English Saffron Volatil Salt of Sal Armoniack and of Assa Fetida each half a drachm with a sufficient quantity of the
Syrup of the five opening Roots make an Electuary Let her take the quantity of a large Nutmeg every third Hour drinking upon it three or four spoonfuls of the following Mixture Take of the Water of Penny Royal and Balm each three ounces of compound Briony-Water two ounces of Syrup of Mugwort three ounces and an half of Saffron two drachms of Castor tied up in a Rag and hanged in the Glass one scruple mingle them If these things are used presently upon the Suppression they generally take it off But if they have been used so long that all the quantity is taken and the Lochia are still stopt in this case we may use Laudanum for once but it is best to mix it with hysterick things For instance Take of liquid Laudanum sixteen drops in a spoonful of compound Briony-water Or Take of solid Laudanum one grain and an half of Assa Fetida one scruple and an half Make two Pills But it must be carefully noted that if upon once taking the Business is not done Opium by no means must be repeated again But having waited a while to see what it will do we must return again to Emmenagoges mix'd with Hystericks and afterwards we must Inject a Glister But what was said before of Opium is also to be taken notice of in respect of Glisters for unless the first bring down the Lochia nothing is to be hoped for from more These things therefore being done it is safest and the duty of a prudent Physician to wait and see what Time will do for every Day the Danger will lessen and if the Sick live over the twentieth Day she will be in a manner out of Danger for then she will be able to bear that Method which is fittest to conquer the Diseases which were occasioned by the Suppression of the Lochia CHAP. CXI Of After-Pains PAins happen so frequently to Women in Childbed that few are free from them but they seldom require the Physicians help because they usually cease in two or three Days But if they are sharp and continue longer they are forced to send for Physicians who before they prescribe ought to enquire into the causes of the Pains The chief Causes therefore of Pains after Labour are a great quantity of Blood the Thickness and Acrimony of it and the Narrowness of the Vessels for when the Veins of the Womb have ceased to evacuate Blood for nine Months and when that is heaped up in a great quantity and also grows thick and acrimonious by it's long stay it occasions Pain while it passes through the narrow Passages which returns by Intervals as often as the Womb endeavours the Evacuation of the Blood And when that is over the Pain ceases till more Blood endeavours to come out These Pains are also sometimes occasioned by Wind or cold received into the Womb but the Pain seldom happens from these Causes This Pain is distinguished from other Pains that are wont to afflict the Belly by the continuance or Intervals which follow the Evacuation of Blood and Women can easily distinguish them themselves The thick Blood easily coagulates but the thin is known by its thinness and fresh colour If the Pain arises from Wind it is more wandring and possesses more parts of the Belly nor does it follow the Intervals of the Evacuation of Blood If cold Air be admitted into the Womb it may be known by those things which have been done about the Woman These Pains are not dangerous but are most commonly very troublesome and therefore are to be taken off or asswaged as soon as may be As to the Cure the Vessels of the Womb must be relaxed and the thickness of the Blood attenuated and its Acrimony qualified all which may be done by the following means And first the Woman's Belly must be gently swathed that it may subside and not move hither and thither as it often happens after Delivery upon so sudden an evacuation and then give of Oil of Almonds fresh drawn three ounces mixed with an ounce and an half of Syrup of Violets And Glisters may be injected made of Milk and Sugar and Yolks of Eggs or they may be prepared of a Decoction of Camomel-flowers and of Mugwort in Chicken-broath adding to them Oil of Lillies and Yolks of Eggs. And the Belly of the Woman must be anointed with Carminitive and Aperitive Oils as with Oil of Dill Rue Jasmin or with the following which is very effectual which may be prepared for this use in due season and kept in the Shops Take of the Roots of round Birth-wort of Orris and Peony each one ounce of Cyprus half an ounce of the dried Leaves of Mugwort Feverfew wild Marjoram Calaminth Pennyroyal Dittany of Creet of Wormwood Savin Rue Bettony and Sage each one handful of the Flowers of Rosemary Stechas Lavender Camomel Dill S. John's Wort Elder each half an handful of the Grains of Lawrel and Juniper each half an ounce of Cummin the Seeds of Rue Peony Daucas of the Chast Tree each three drachms of Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon and Ginger each two drachms of Storax and Myrrh each one ounce Bruise them and cut them and infuse them in three quarts of old Oil adding a litte White-Wine keep them in an earthen Vessel well stopt for the space of a Week then boil them upon hot Ashes four or five hours then press out the Oil and keep it for use If you have it not ready prepared you may boil the Simples upon occasion with equal parts of Oil and White-Wine to the consumption of the Wine afterwards press out the Oil. A Fomentation may be also made of a Decoction of Mugwort Feverfew Baulm of the Leaves of Bays and Calaminth of the Seeds of Daucas Cummin and Caraways of the Flowers of Wall-flower and Camomel made in Water and White-Wine or in Milk Or the following Cataplasm may be applied Take of Onions boil'd in Water number three or four bruise them in a Mortar and add to them of the Seeds of Cummin and Flax bruised each one handful With a sufficient quantity of the Flowers of Camomel and Barly-meal make a Cataplasm and if there be occasion add a little of the Water wherein the Onions were boil'd Spread it upon a cloath and apply it hot to the Navel It is also proper to cover the Belly with a Sheep's-skin fresh flea'd off and applied hot for the Heat of it is very agreeable it eases the Pain and keeps the Belly from wrinkling And the following things may be taken inwardly Take of the Seeds of Daucas powdered one drachm of White-Wine three ounces Mingle them and give it twice in a day Or Take of Nutmegs Aniseeds and Cinamon each one scruple Mingle them make a Powder give it with White-wine or one scruple of Oil of Nutmegs with Broath Forestus used the Flowers of Camomel in Beer or a Decoction of Camomel and Mugwort in Chicken-Broath with good Success It is good presently after Delivery to give the Broath of an
it is fit to add Chalk Coral Dragons-blood and other temperating astringent and emplastick Medicines which in some manner fix and mitigate the Ferment of the Blood For Instance Take of the Waters of Tormentil Oak-buds each three ounces Cinnamon-water hordiated four ounces of Aqua-mirahilis one ounce of Pearls and Coral prepared and of Chalk each two scruples of true Bole and Dragons-blood each half a dram of Japâ—n Earth a scruple of destilled Vinegar or Spirit of Vitriol as much as is sufficient to make it gratefully acid Syrup of Mirtles an ounce and an half Mingle them make a Julep let the Sick take two or three ounces of it every third or fourth hour shaking the Viol every time it is used The Cloaths on the Bed must be also lessened and the Sick must be removed into a thin warm and free Air let him always sleep in a large Room and as soon as his Strength begins to fail the Sweat must be rubbed off with dry Linnen Cloaths a little warmed and the Patient must be removed to the other Part of the Bed As to the violent Vomiting that seises Consumptive Persons at the latter end there is little Help to be afforded by Art only the Physician ought to assist by his prudent Counsels since he cannot by Medicines First therefore The Sick ought to be ordered to eat little though frequently at a time Secondly He must eat those things that afford good Nourishment and are of easie Digestion Thirdly After eating he must avoid as much as he can Coughing Sleeping and lying down Sometimes it happens after the Putrid Feaver begins especially if the Evacuation of the Colliquative Matter by Stool or by other ways is hindered by Art that Nature indeavours tho in vain the Protrusion of the Enemy by the Salivary Ducts or the glandulous Tunick of the Mouth and Oesophagus by which means a troublesome Spitting arises that continues for many Weeks Secondly by reason of the Acrimony of the Humour evacuated by these Parts an Inflammation not only of the Membrane of the Mouth but also of the Oesophagus and Stomach follows Thirdly By the Inflammation an Ulceration is occasioned and from thence little Ulcers called Aphthâ—â— accompanied with a very troublesom Pain of the Throat And Lastly An Hicop that is very troublesom arises from the Inflammation and Exulceration Which Symptoms as they are troublesome so are they sometimes long and always deadly for the Cause from whence they proceed is incurable yet cleansing softning astringent and Mucilaginous Gargarisms must be injected with a Syringe and to ease the Pain of the Throat a double Flannel worn about the Neck does much Good by defending it from the external Cold. CHAP. LX. Of Swooning or Fainting THe next and immediate Cause of this Disease is a Defect of the Vital Spirits and this Defect of the Spirits chiefly happens four ways Either because there is not a sufficient quantity of them generated or because they are dissipated and evacuated when they are generated or they are preternaturally altered and corrupted Or lastly They are suffocated and overwhelmed They are not generated either by reason of a Fault of the Faculty or of the Matter the Faculty of the generating the Spirits is hurt either by a Peculiar Disorder of the Heart or by Consent The peculiar Diseases of the Heart that are chiefly to to be taken Notice of are great Intemperies overturning the native Temper of it or destroying the Substance of the Parts and of the Native Heat as acute and malignant Feavers Colliquative Pestilential and Hectick Fevers also Organical Diseases as Constriction and too great Dilatation The Faculty of the Heart is hurt by Consent as from the Brain and Liver which have a great Sympathy with it and also often from the Mouth of the Stomach by reason of its nearness and Exquisite Sense upon which account Swooning is divided into Cardiack and Stomachick that is Cardiack which proceeds from the Heart being Primarily affected that is Stomachick which is produced by Consent of the Stomach It also often arises from the Womb by reason of ill Vapours transmitted thence to the Heart The Fault of the Matter is a Defect or Corruption of the Air and Blood from whence the Vital Spirits are generated A Defect of the Air happens from Respiration or Transpiration hurt A Defect of the Blood from a Fault in Nutrition The Corruption of both is occasioned by putting on another Quality so from the infected Air in a Pestilential Constitution Swooning and Fainting frequently happen and some ill Smells occasion the same and sweet Smells in some Women The Blood is also often corrupted by unwholesome Food Too large Evacuations dissipate the Spirits both sensible and insensible sensible Evacuatioins are first of Blood it self by the Mouth Nostrils Womb Belly Hemorrhoids Bleeding and great Wounds Secondly of other Humours which though they are Excrementitious yet being evacuated in a large quantity they dissipate the Spirits and occasion Fainting Such Humours are wâ—nt to be evacuated by Vomit Stool Urine Sweat by opening a large Abscess especially inwardly as of an Empyema and also outwardly as in a Dropsie the Navel being open Insensible Evacuations are made by too great a rarity of the Skin and by reason of Thinness or Acrimony of things contained by immoderate Heat Bathing and excessive Labour They are also dissipated by long Watching long Fastting immoderate Venery Anger or excessive Joy long and acute Sickness violent Pains of the Heart Stomach Bowels Veins Ears Teeth and of all the Nervous Parts The Spirits are altered and corrupted by an ill Disposition of the Bowels and by any thing that has a malignant and an inimical Quality to the Heart as a venomous and pestilential Air drawn in by the Breath or generated in the Body by Putrefaction of Humours Poison taken inwardly does the same and the Biting of Venomous Creatures Lastly A violent Reflux of the Spirits and Blood to the Heart and the like suffocates and overwhelms the Vital Spirits A noble Virgin which was very subject to fainting upon every small occasion died suddenly by reason of a sudden Reflux of the Blood and Spirits to the Heart as she was about to sign a Contract of Marriage with a very handsom and accomplished Gentleman Fainting also sometimes happens from cold and thick Blood heapt up in abundance in the greater Vessels As to the Cure it must be varied according to the Variety of the Causes but from whatever Cause it proceeds that which follows must be observed in the Fit You must lay them on their Back and sprinkle Water in their Faces and provoke Sneezing put some good Wine or Cinnamon-water into their Mouths apply Bread hot out of the Oven to their Nostrils call them aloud shake them pull them by the Nose double their Fingers pull their Hair use Frictions Ligatures and Cupping-glasses But the Cure must be varied according to the Variety of the Causes in the following manner If it takes its
is Lice nine being taken alive in a Morning five or six days following and I have known several that have been cured this way when other Medicines would not do the Business But if notwithstanding all above mentioned the Disease continues obstinate the Sick must use Iron-waters such as are Tunbridge which he must drink at the Fountain till he is well Moreover Those that are afflicted with this Disease are often subject to Pains that are very troublesome and they rage chiefly a Nights And moreover the Sick cannot rest well wherefore Anodynes are to be used Take of Aqua-mirabilis and of the Water of Worms each one ounce of Diacodium six drams of Tincture of Saffron half an ounce mingle them The Dose is one Spoonful or two late at Night when the Sick cannot rest CHAP. LXXXII Of a Dropsie EVery Age and Sex are sometimes troubled with a Dropsie yet Women are more inclined to it than Men it comes upon Men chiefly when they are old and upon Women when they have done breeding but it sometimes seises barren Women when they are young The pitting of the lower part of the Leg by impression of the Finger is not so certain Sign of a Dropsie in Women as in Men for Women that are with Child and such as have a stoppage of the Courses are often subject to the same nor does such a Swelling certainly indicate a Dropsie for when an old Man of a gross Habit of Body having been a long while afflicted with an Asthma is suddenly freed from it in the Winter presently a great Swelling seises the Legs yet notwithstanding generally speaking the Swelling of the Legs is to be accounted a Sign of an approaching Dropsie Three Symptoms accompany this Disease Difficulty of Breathing little Urine and great Thirst There are two sorts of Tumours of the Belly that resemble a Dropsie that are common to Women the first is a preternatural Excrescence of the Flesh in the parts within the Belly which makes the Belly as Bulky as when Water is included in it the other kind arises from Wind which does not only occasion a Tumour but also other Signs of Breeding Widdows are most inclined to this sort or such Women as were not married till they were in Years The true and genuine curative Indications are wholly to be directed either to the Evacuation of the Water contained in the Belly and other Parts or to strengthen the Blood That Purging may be instituted to the Advantage of the Patient we ought to know whether the Sick is easily purged or hardly which can be known no other Way than by Inquiry how purging Remedies used at other times worked A Dropsie above all other Diseases requires the strongest and quickest Purges and the Sick ought to be purged every day unless by reason of the Weakness of the Body or the too violent Operation of the preceding Purge he ought to rest a day or two for you must not leave off purging unless Necessity urge till all the Water is quite carried off For those that are easily purged Syrup of Buck-thorn may be sufficient to carry off the Water But when the Sick is of such a Constitution that gentle Catharticks will not work quickly nor easily stronger must be given for which I have frequently prescribed the following Potion with Success Take of Tamarinds half an ounce of the Leaves of Senna two drams of Rubarb one dram and an half boil them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain-water to three ounces in the strained Liquor dissolve of Manna and Syrup of Roses solutive each one ounce of Syrup of Buck-thorn half an ounce of the Electuary of the Juice of Roses two drams mingle them make a Potion But this Potion must be given only to strong People it purges when other things will not as I have found by frequent experience Or Take of White-wine four ounces of Jalap finely powdered one dram of Ginger powdered one Scruple of Syrup of Buck-thorn one ounce mingle them make a Potion to to be taken early in the Morning and to be repeated every Day or every other Day according to the Strength But two Medicines remain which in my Opinion are better than all the rest for those that are difficultly purged I mean Elaterium and the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum Elaterium or the Fecula of wild Cucumbers being given in a small quantity purge watery Humours powerfully for two grains of it are a sufficient Dose for most People I used to mix it with a scruple of the Pill ex duobus and to make three small Pills to be taken in the Morning As to the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum an ounce and an half of it or two ounces for those that are difficultly vomited given in a Morning and repeated daily according to the Strength of the Sick though it may seem at first only to evacuate the Water contained in the Stomach yet at length it will free the Belly from the Waters that are in it But if the foresaid Vomit does not sufficiently purge the Belly for it uses to purge at last after the third or fourth Dose of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum by it self I sometimes though rarely use the following Take of the Water of Carduus Benedictus three ounces of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce and an half of Syrup of Buck-thorn half an ounce of the Electuary of the Juice of Roses two drams mingle them make a Potion But here it is to be noted that if the Swelling of the Belly be but small the Water is not so easily evacuated by the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum as when the Dropsie is great and a great quantity of Water is heaped up wherefore unless the Belly be much swelled it is best to do all by things that purge downwards But you must take notice that it often happens that Water is cast not only upon the Thighs and Legs but also into the Cavity of the Belly and yet it is not to be evacuated by Purging Medicines For Instance When such a Tumour follows a long Consumption or when it is occasioned by the Putrefaction of some of the Bowels or from the Tone of the Blood spoiled and the Spirits exhausted or by long continuance of Fistula's in Carnous Parts or occasioned by great Weakness and Evacuations by Sweating Fluxing or by violent purging and by a thin Diet in the Cure of the French Pox in these Cases the Patient will be rendered worse by purging wherefore we must endeavour all we can to strengthen the Blood and Bowels And among Remedies to this purpose which are to be mentioned by and by I have found by Experience that the change of the Air and Exercise in a free Air such as the Sick can bear answers this Indication excellently well And when the Sick is of a weakly Constitution or a Woman subject to Vapours neither Purge nor Vomits must be used but you must endeavour to evacuate the Water by Diureticks I order one
sufficient quantity to make it pleasantly acid Take of the Leaves of Plantain and of Nettles each a sufficient quantity beat them together in a Marble-Mortar and press out the Juice clarifie it and give six spoonfuls of it cold three or four times in a day After the first Purge apply the following Plaster to the Region of the Loins Take of the Plasters of Diapalma and ad herniam each equal parts mix them and spread them upon Leather A cooling and thickning Diet must be ordered only it may be proper to allow once or twice a day a small Glass of Claret which tho' it be not so proper because it is apt to raise an ebullition yet it may be allowed to recover the Strength This Method may be also used to prevent Miscarriage but the Juices and the Purges must be omitted CHAP. XCVI Of the Whites THis obstinate and lasting Disease may be cured by Bleeding once and by purging with two Scruples of Pill Coch. major four times and by the following Corroboratives Take of Venice Treacle one ounce and an half of the Conserve of the yellow Peel of Oranges one ounce of Diascordium half an ounce of Ginger candied and Nutmegs candied each three drachms of compound Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm and an half of the outward Peel of Pomgranates of the Roots of Spanish Angelica and of the Troches of Lemnian Earth each one drachm of Bole-armenick two scruples of Gum Arabick half a drachm with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of dried Roses make an Electuary whereof let her take the quantity of a large Nutmeg in the morning and at five in the afternoon and at night drinking upon it six spoonfuls of the following Infusion Take of the Roots of Elecampane Masterwort Angelica and Gentian each half an ounce of the Leaves of roman Wormwood white Horehound the lesser Centaury and Calaminth each one handful of Juniper Berries one ounce Cut them small and infuse them in five pints of Canary-Wine let them stand in Infusion and strain them only as you use them Through the whole course of Corroboratives purging must not be used for every Evacuation spoils what the Corroborative has done CHAP. XCVII Of Hysterick and Hypochondriack Diseases THese Diseases if I calculate right are the most frequent of all chronical Diseases and as Fevers with those Diseases that appertain to them if they are compared with chronical taken altogether make two thirds so Hysterical Diseases at least those that go under that Name are half the remaining third that is chronical Diseases are half Hysterick for very few Women which Sex contains half of grown People are wholly free from all kinds of Hysterick Diseases if you except those who being accustomed to Labour live hardly yea many of those Men that live sedentary Lives and are wont to study hard are afflicted with the same Disease and though heretofore Hysterical Symptoms were always reckoned to proceed from a vicious Womb yet if we compare Hypochondriack Symptoms which were supposed to proceed from Obstructions of the Spleen or Bowels or from some other I know not what Obstructions with Women's Hysterick Symptoms an Egg is scarce more like an Egg than these Symptoms are like one another in all respects But it must be confessed that Women are much more subject to this kind of Disease than Men. This Disease is not only frequent but so wonderfully various that it resembles almost all the Diseases poor Mortals are subject to for whatever Part it seats it self in it presently produces such Symptoms as belong to it and unless the Physician be very sagacious and very skilful he will be mistaken and suppose that tâ—ese Symptoms proceed from an essential Disease of this or that part and not from an histerical Distemper Sometimes for instance it possesses the Head and occasions an Apoplexy which also ends in an Hemiplâ—gy and this seizes Women very often after Delivery or it is occasioned by hard Labour or some violent commotion of the Mind Sometimes it produces violent Convulsions very like an Epilepsy the Belly and Bowels swelling toward the Throat the Patient strugling so violently that though at other times her Strength is but ordinary she now can scarce be held by all the strength of the By-standers uttering some odd and inarticulat sounds and striking her Breast Women who are accustomed to this Disease commonly called Mother-fits are generally extraordinary Sanguine and have a habit of Body almost like that of a Virago Sometimes it possesses the outward part of the Head betwixt the Pericranium and Skull causing violent Pain continually fixed in one part which may be covered with the top of your Thumb and violent Vomiting accompanies this Pain I call this Species Clavus Hystericus chiefly afflicting those that have the Green-sickness Sometimes falling upon the vital Parts it occasions so great a palpitation of the Heart that the Women who are afflicted with it may verily believe that the By-standers may hear the sound of the Heart thumping upon the Ribs This kind chiefly afflicts those that are of a thin habit of Body and of a weak Constitution and who look almost tabid and also young Maids that have the Green-sickness Sometimes the Patient coughs almost without intermission but expectorates nothing This kind of Hysterick-cough is very rare and chiefly invades Women that abound in Flegm Sometimes rushing violently upon the Colon and the Region under the Scrobiculum Cordis it occasions violent Pain much like the Iliack Passion and the Woman vomits exceedingly ejecting a certain green Matter somewhat like that they call porraceous Bile and sometimes Matter of an unusual colour And often after the Sick have been almost destroyed by the said Pain which would tire a stoical Apathy and reachings to vomit for many days at length it is carried off by the Jaundice tincturing the superficies of the Body like Saffron Moreover the Sick is oppressed by an anguish of mind and wholly despairs of recovery with dejection of mind and as it were a certain desperation as certainly accompanies this kind of Hysterick Disease as the Pain and Vomiting above-mentioned This kind chiefly invades those that are of a lax and crude habit of Body and those that have suffered much in bringing forth great Children When this Disease falls upon one of the Kidnies it plainly represents by the Pain it causes there a Nephritick Fit and not only by that sort of Pain and by the place it rages in but also by the violent Vomitings that accompanies it and for that sometimes the Pain extends it self through the passage of the Ureter so that it is very difficult to know whether these Symptoms proceed from the Stone or from some Hysterick Disease unless perchance some unlucky Accident disturbing the Woman's mind a little before she was taken ill of the vomiting of green Matter shews that the Symptoms rather proceed from an Hysterick Disease than from the Stone Nor is the Bladder free from this false Symptom for it
quantity of them being increased or diminished as there seems occasion In the mean time if the Belly be hard it must be loosened by things that purge gently and cooling Glisters frequently injected do much good in qualifying the Inflammation the Womb lying upon the right Gut But the quantity of them must be very small that they may be the longer retained Take of the Roots of Marsh-mallows one ounce of the leaves of Mallows Violets and Lettice each one handful of Night-shade half an handful of the flowers of Violets and red Roses each one pugil of acid Prunes number ten boyl them in Barly-water to six ounces of the strained Liquor add three ounces of Oyl of Roses make a Glister If the pain be very violent to the foresaid Glister may be added yolks of Eggs Hens grease Woman's milk the mucilages of the Seeds of Fenugreek Flax oâ— Mallows and a little Opium and a little Saffron Injections may be also made for the Womb of Goats or Sheeps milk with Opium or Saffron each Grains three or four with a little Rose-water Or to the Pessaries may be added a moderate quantity of Opium with a little Saffron yolks of Eggs and Oyl of Roses or Pessaries may be made of Philonium Romanum with Cotton or an anodyne Fomentation may be prepared in the following manner Take of Marsh-mallows with the roots of Mallows and Violets each one handful of Camomile Melilot and Roses each one pugil boil them for a fomentation The Disease decreasing Purging must be repeated with gentle Catharticks but if it tend to resolution which may be known by a remission of the Symptoms and by a lesser weight in the part Discutients must be added in larger a quantity to the foresaid Remedies or make the following Cataplasm Take of the Powder of the roots of Marsh-mallows one ounce of the flowers of Melilot and Camomile each two drachms of the leaves of Mugwort powder'd of the Meal of Barly and Beans each half an ounce boil them a little in rough Wine add to them of fresh Lard of the Oils of Camomile and of white Lillies each one ounce make a Cataplasm A dissolving fomentation or bath is here also of use If the Tumor cannot be dissolved but tends to supparation it must be furthered by the following Cataplasm Take of the powder of the roots of Marsh-mallows of the flowers of Camomile and Melilot of the Meal of Linseeds Fenugreek-seeds each one ounce of fat Figs number eight boil them to the consistence of a Cataplasm then add of the yolks of Eggs number four of Saffron ten grains of Oil of Lillies and fresh Butter each one ounce make a Cataplasm The Pus being made which may be known by the remission of the heat and pain and by its â—loating when it is touched the breaking of the abscess must be endeavoured by the motion of the Body Sneazing Coughing by applying Cupping-glasses by cleansing and attenuating Injections or by Pessaries that have a faculty of breaking Tumors For instance Take of Goose-fat half an ounce of Turpentine two drachms of the powder of the seeds of Rue and of Orris-root each half a drachm mix them and make a Pessary The Abscess being broken we must endeavour to cleanse and heal the Ulcer as shall be shewed in the following Chapter CHAP XCIX Of an Vlcer in the Womb. AN Ulcer follows an Inflammation of the Womb suppurated it also proceeds from other causes viz. from whatever corrodes the Womb. Therefore the causes of it are an Abscess broken acrid Humours flowing to the Womb acrid and corrâ—ding Medicines injected or taken inwardly as Cantharides The antecedent causes are all those things that occasion an Inflammation as hard Labour violent and ungovernable Copulation acrid and long Whites Wounds Falls Contusions but especially a virulent Gonorrhaea and the French Pox the Contagion whereof is easily communicated to the Womb and the neck of it The differences are to be sought for from the Place Magnitude Figure and Complication with other Diseases The diagnostick Signs are a Pain and Gnawing and the evacuation of purulent Matter The cure of the Ulcer must be performed by stoping the defluxion of acrid Humours and by cleansing and conglutinating the Ulcer And first if the Body be Plethorick or if the Ulcer be accompanied with an Inflammation a Vein must be opened in the Arm and bleeding must be repeated as often as there is danger of a new fluxion especially at the time of the Courses to lessen them which are wont to increase the matter of the Ulcer and to promote the flux of other Humours to the Womb. Purging is also very necessary to cleanse the Body from ill Humours but it ought to consist of gentle Catharticks as of Sena Rhubarb Tamarinds Myrabolanes and the like which must be often repeated that the vitious Humours may be diverted and this is of so great moment that Forestus says That a noble Matron was cured of an Ulcer of the Womb by taking every fourth day five ounces of the decoction of Sena Dodder of Thym red Roses Indian Myrabolanes sweetned with Sugar and by injecting a cleansing decoction into the Womb. For common use a magisterial Syrup may be made in the following manner Take of the roots of Comfry and of fresh Polypody of the Oak each one ounce of the Bark of dried Citron six drachms of the leaves of Plantain Periwinkle Sanicle Sorrel and Maiden-hair each one handful of Liquorish rasped and of Raisins of the Sun stoned each one ounce of Sena cleansed six drachms of the seeds of Bastard-saffron bruised two ounces of Agarick fresh trochiscated and tyed up in a Rag ten drachms of the seeds of Anise and Melon each three drachms of the Cordial Flowers of Rosemary and of Dodder each one pugil make a decoction of all in a part of which infuse half an ounce of choice Rhubarb and one drachm of Cinnamon in a pint and an half of the strained Liquor dissolve three ounces of Syrup of Roses solutive and a sufficient quantity of Sugar boil them well and make a Syrup whereof let her take two or three ounces twice or thrice in a month with a decoction of Agrimony and Plantain or with an infusion of Rhubarb in Endive water If the sick vomits easily a Vomit is most useful for it makes a revulsion of the Humours from the Womb and the days the sick does not purge a vulnerary decoction must be used a long while made in the following manner Take of the leaves of Agrimony Knot-grass Burnet and Plantain each half a handful of the roots of China three drachms of Coriander-seed one drachm of Raisins half an ounce of red Sanders one scruple boil them in Chicken Broath strain it Let the sick take of it morning and evening Or Take of the leaves of Mugwort Plantain Yarrow each one handful Rhaponticum half an ounce of the seeds of Nettles one drachm boil them in a measure of white Wine and sweeten it with Sugar let
the sick take two or three ounces in a morning If the Fever be violent and if a great quantity of Sanies be evacuated Whey is very proper half a pint or more being taken in a morning with a little Hony of Roses If the Body begin to waste and there is a hectick Fever Asses Milk must be taken with Sugar of Roses for a whole Month. Sudorificks there being no Inflammation or a hot Intemperies may also do good to dry the Ulcer and to drive the serous Humours towards the habit of the Body Turpentine washed in some proper Water for the Womb as in Mugwort or Feferfew-water or in some Water proper for the Ulcer as Plantain or Rose-water taken with Sugar of Roses by Intervals cleanses and heals the Ulcer Pills of Bdellium taken daily or every other day are also very good Take of Bdellium three drachms of Myrrh and Frankincense each one drachm of Sarcocoll Amber Storax and of Myrabolanes called Chebule each one drachm of red Coral two scruples with syrup of Poppies make a mass for Pills to which when the Pain is violent may be added a little Opium Troches of Alkakengi with Opium may be also used when the pain is violent and to ease the pain the same Remedies may be prescribed which were proposed in an Inflammation of the Womb for the same Symptom The following Powder is also very effectual to dry the Ulcer Take of Acacia and Hypocistis each one drachm of Dragon's-blood white Starch the roots of Plantain and of round Birthwort each half a drachm of Bole armenick one drachm of Mastich and Sarcocol each half a drachm make a fine Powder the dose is one drachm in Plantain or Rose-water or in some Chalybeat-water To cleanse dry and heal the Ulcer various Injections are prepared but they must not be used till the Inflammation is taken off and till the Pain is eased and therefore upon account of the Inflammation and Acrimony Emulsions of the cold Seeds the Whey of Goat's-milk or the Milk it self or mixed with the juice of Plantain or Shepherd's purse may be injected first if necessity requires a decoction of Poppy-heads and tops of Mallows may be injected Some Practitioners say The Sick may be much relieved by injecting frequently warm Water The hot Intemperies and the Pain being quieted or at least diminished we must use such things as cleanse beginning with the gentle and proceeding by degrees to the stronger The gentle are Whey with Sugar a decoction of Barly with Sugar or Hony of Roses but simple Hydromel cleanses more A decoction will be a little stronger made with Barly Lentils Beans not excorticated of the Leaves of Smallage Plantain and Pellitory a little Hony of Roses being added When the Ulcer is very sordid the following decoction may be used Take of the roots of Gentian Rhaponticum Zedoary and round Birthwort each one ounce of white Wine three pints boil them to the consumption of a third part in the strained Liquor dissolve half a pound of Sugar and keep it for use If the Ulcer be very fetid a little Vnguentum Aegyptiacum may be added to the decoction When the Ulcer is well cleansed we must use such things as dry and consolidat Take of the roots of Comfry and Bistort each one ounce of the leaves of Plantain Horsetail Shepherd's-purse Sanicle Mouse-ear Milfoil each one handful of red Roses half an handful boil them in a measure of Water for an injection The following Sarcotick Powder may be added to it Take of the roots of Orris Birthwort and Comfry each half an ounce of Myrrh one ounce of Aloes three drachms make a Powder whereof let half an ounce be mingled with every injection Take of Turpentine washed in Plantain-water two drachms dissolve it with Hony and the yolk of an Egg and mingle it with the Injection This is very effectual but is more so if the sarcotick Powder be also added Oil of the yolks of Eggs stirred well about in a leaden Mortar is also very good Fumes must be used for deep Ulcers for they penetrate to the bottom of the Womb and dry the Ulcers Take of Frankincense Myrrh Mastick Gum-juniper Labdanum each one ounce with a sufficient quantity of Turpentine make Troches for a Fume When the Ulcer is very obstinat Cinnabar must be added which is of excellent use The Bath-waters have cured Women when all other Medicines have been ineffectual Plasters may be also conveniently applied to the Epigaster If the Ulcer be in the Neck of the Womb it must be anointed with Liniments that cleanse and dry Take of the juice of Smallage two ounces of hony of Roses one ounce and an half of Turpentine half an ounce of the meal of Barly or of Orobus a sufficient quantity make a Liniment Oyntment of Diapompholigos may be also applied adding to it Frankincense Mastich Myrrh Aloes according to the condition of the Ulcer These things cleanse After you have sufficiently cleansed the Ulcer you must apply a drying and cicatrizing Ointment Take of Tutty washed half an ounce of Lytharge Ceruss and Sarcocoll each two drachms of Oil and Wax a sufficient quantity make an Ointment Sometimes the Ulcer penetrates the right Gut and sometimes the Bladder which may be known by the Matter evacuated by those Parts If it flow by the right Gut lenitive cleansing and drying Glisters must be injected But if it flow from the Bladder gentle and cooling Diureticks must be used as an Emulsion of the greater cold Seeds Turpentine and other Remedies prescribed for an Ulcer of the Bladder If the Ulcer turn to a Fistula which chiefly happens when it is opened outwardly towards the Hip though it may happen in the Womb it self or in the Neck of it in this case we must consider whether it be best to leave the accustomed Passage untouched through which Nature endeavours to evacuate various Excrements or to undertake the Cure of it But if that be thought most proper for the Sick a Cure that is called palliative must be instituted by Purges frequently repeated and by sweating twice a year and by cleansing and strengthening Injections and by applying over a Plaster of Diapalma or the like But if there be any hopes of a Cure the same Remedies must be used which are proper for other Fistula's If the Ulcer be occasioned by the French Pox it cannot be cured without an universal Cure in performing which the Fumes of Cinnabar received through a Tunnel into the Womb are peculiarly proper also the anointing the inner Parts of the Womb with a mercurial Ointment In all Ulcers of the Womb if there be a troublesome itching about the Neck as it frequently happens by reason of a defluction of an acrid and salt Humour to the part a Pessary must be made to qualifie it dipt in the Ointment of Elecampane with Mercury or in Aegyptiacum dissolved in Sea or Alum-water or in fresh Butter wherein quick Silver has been extinguished to which must be
must be us'd that thereby the Excrements bred in the Bowels and in the habit of the Body may be dissipated and also all that which is contain'd in the Womb the Skins being broken by the violence of the exercise And if the Woman vomit easily 't will be proper to vomit her twice a Week whereby not only the Humors flowing to the Womb may be recall'd and evacuated but also the Skins sticking to the Womb and sometimes containing a watry Humour may perchance be broken and so the ill Humors may flow out The following Bolus is very effectual to discuss the Humour contain'd in the Womb. Take of Mineral Borox half a drachm of Saffron half a scruple with the juice of Savin make a Bolus to be taken twice a week Sudorificks are also very proper in this Disease for by them the watry Humours contained in the Womb or the whole Body may be discuss'd and evacuated In the mean while the heat of the Stomach must be strengthened by things taken inwardly and outwardly apply'd And outwardly must be apply'd proper topical Remedies to strengthen the Womb and to discuss the Humors contain'd in it And first may be prepar'd Fomentations and Baths made of a decoction of the Roots of Briony and wild Cucumber of the Leaves of Dwarf-elder Mercury-elder wild Marjoram Calaminth Wormwood Rue Sage Marjoram Thyme Bays Penny-royal Mugwort of the Seeds of Broom Daucus Cummin Annise Fennel Laurel-borries and Juniper-berries the Flowers of Camomile Melilote and Rosemary of which may be made Bags to be boil'd in Wine or the foresaid things may be boil'd in a Lee made of the ashes of the Twigs of a Vine But that the foremention'd Fomentations may operate the better they must be applied before and behind and the Sick ought to sweat if she can in the Bed or in a Bath In a windy Dropsie dry Fomentations are more beneficial with Bags made of Gromwel Salt Cummin and Bran torrefied in a Frying-Pan and sprinkled with Wine After the Fomentation anoint the Belly with the Oils of Nard Dill Rue Wormwood and Southernwood which if they are drawn chymically will be much more effectual After you have anointed the Belly apply the Plaster of Laurel-berries or a Cataplasm of Cow-Dung Sheeps-Dung of the Seeds of Smallage Parsly Cummin and boiled Hony For the same use is commended the Skin of a Sheep newly kill'd and sprinkled with hot Wine Glisters must be also frequently injected made of a Decoction of Wormwood wild Marjoram Pennyroyal Rue Centory and the like or with Oils of Rue Nuts Dill and White-wine or Mallago-Sack wherein must be dissolv'd Benedictum Laxativum Turpentine Rosemary Hony and the like Injections for the Womb may be prepar'd in the following manner to evacuate the Humours contain'd in it Take of the Roots of Asarabacca three drachms of the Leaves of Pennyroyal and Calaminth each one handful of the Seeds of Savine one pugil of Mechoacan one drachm of the seeds of Annise and Cummin each half a drachm boil them and in the strain'd Liquor dissolve of Oil of Orrice and of Elder each one ounce in six ounces of the Liquor and make an Injection For the same Use Pessaries may be made in the following manner Take of Coloquintida and Mechoacan each one dracm of Salt of Niter half a scruple with a sufficient quantity of boil'd Hony make a Pessary Or Take of Elaterium half a drachm of Figs bruis'd a sufficient quantity make a Pessary When the Inflation is occasion'd by Wine a Fume made of Nutmegs and conveyed through a Tunnel has done much good And in the same case a Cupping-Glass applied to the Navel with much Flame discusses Wind powerfully But when the Disease is humoral Issues in the Legs discharge the Filth of the Womb by degrees The Bath-waters used inwardly and outwardly are also very good if the Body be not very hot For the Pain of the Womb which often afflicts the Sick in this Disease Amatus Lucitanus commends the Water or Decoction of Camomel four or five Ounces of it being taken at a time And lastly if an Inflation happen after Delivery there is no need of any other Cleansing than that of the Womb but if it does not proceed well it must be helpt by drawing Pessaries and by Cupping-Glasses applied to the Thighs and by other Remedies prescrib'd for the Stoppage of the Courses and if Wind be the cause the Fume of Nutmegs above-proposed is very proper CHAP. CIV Of a Falling of the Womb. FOR the Cure of this Distemper regard must be had to two things the first is to reduce the Womb into its natural Place and the second is to strengthen it and keep it there For the Execution of the first which is to reduce it if the Womb be quite out or turned the Woman must first of all render her Urine and a Glister must be given if it be necessary to empty the gross Excrements that are in the right-Gut that so the Reduction may be the easier perform'd then place her on her Back with her Hips rais'd a little higher than her Head and then foment all that is fallen out with a little Wine and Water luke-warm and with a soft Rag put it up into its proper Place thrusting back not all at once but waging it by little and little from side to side in case this be too painful because 't is already too big and swell'd anoint it with Oil of Almonds for the more easie reduction of it being careful as soon as 't is reduc'd to wipe off the Oil as much as may be to avoid a Relapse But if notwithstanding all this the Womb cannot be put up because 't is very much inflamed and tumified which happens when it has been a long time so without the use of necessary means during which time it is continually moistned with Urine and other Excrements which contribute very much to its Corruption in this case there is great danger that 't will gangrene Also the second part of this Cure which consists in the retention of the Womb in its place and the strengthning of it It will be done by a convenient situation Let the Woman for this purpose keep her self in Bed on her Back having her Hips a little raised her Legs something crossed and her Thighs join'd together to prevent the falling of it out again but the best way is to put up a Pessary into the Neck of the Womb to keep it firm There are two or three sorts of them made for this purpose the Figures of them may be seen in Moriceau's Midwifery see Page 311. Take of Oak-Bark two ounces boil it in two quarts of Fountain-Water add at the latter end one ounce of Pomegranate-Peel bruis'd red Roses Pomegranate-Flowers each two handfuls and then add half a pint of red Wine strain it and bath the part affected with Flannels dipt in it in the Morning two hours before the Woman rises and at Night when she is in Bed continue
Carminative Medicines be applied below the Navel of the Patient such are Bags of Anniseeds Fennel-seeds Fenugreek-seeds Flowers of Camomile Elder Rosemary and Stechas mixed together or a Rose-cake fried in a Pan with rich Canary and sprinkled with Powder of Nutmegs and Coriander-seeds or the Gaul of a Wether newly kill'd or his Lungs laid on warm If by these means the pains cease not let a Glister be injected made of Wine and Oil wherein two drachms of Philonium Romanum may be dissolved or Narcoticks may be given inwardly in a small quantity to allay the violence of the Humors and Wind as we are wont to do in the pains of the Cholick But if by reason of contumacious pains that will not be asswaged or of the violence of some external cause Blood begins to come away Medicines that cause Revulsion are to be applied to turn the course of the Blood from the Womb such are Frictions of the upper parts and painful Ligatures also Cupping-glasses fastened to the Shoulder-blades under the Dugs and under the short Ribs on both sides and if the Woman be full of Blood it will not be amiss to take some blood from her when she begins to void blood and especially before it begins to come and the blood must be taken away at several times a little at once And if the flux of blood continues we must proceed to an astringent and thickening Diet and Medicines and so the Powders and Electuaries before described may be administred also juice of Plantain new drawn and syrup of Poppies to the quantity of an ounce with Powder of Bole-armenick or Dragons-blood Also binding and astringent Fomentations may be used outwardly made of Pomgranate-peels Cypress-nuts Acorn-cups Baclaustins Grape-stones and the like boiled in Smiths water and red Wine Or a little bag full of red Roses and Balaustins may be boiled and applied hot to the Patient's Belly The above-mentioned Plasters and Cere-cloaths may be used and to bind more make a Pultiss of astringent Powders with Turpentine and whites of Eggs spread it upon Tow or course Flax and apply it to the Navel and Reins warm The Tow that is to be applied to the Navel must be moistened with Wine that which is to be apply'd to the Kidnies with Vinegar The two following Medicines are accounted Secrets and it is believed they will certainly retain the Child in the Womb if they be used before it be torn from the Vessels of the Womb. Take of Leaves of Gold number twelve of Spodium one drachm the Cock's treading of three Eggs not addled mix all very well till the Gold be broken into small pieces afterwards dissolve them in a draught of white Wine and give it three Mornings following At the same time let the following Cataplasm be applied Take of Male-frankincense powdered two ounces the whites of five Eggs let them be stirr'd together over hot Coals add Turpentine to make them stick then spread them upon Tow and lay them upon her Navel as hot as she can possibly endure them twice a day Morning and Evening on the three days aforesaid CHAP. CVII Of hard Labour THAT is said to be hard Labour which does not observe the due and ordinary course of Nature and longer time is spent in it and the pains are more violent than usual and the Symptoms that accompany it are more grievous Many Causes may be assigned of it both external and internal The internal depend on the Mother the Womb or the Child As to the Mother the natural weakness of the whole Body may make the Labour difficult or her Age she being too young or too old or it may be occasioned by Diseases which she had with her Big-belly Leanness and too much dryness of the Body or Fat compressing the Passages of the Womb the ill conformation of the Bones encompassing the Womb as in those that are Lame may also occasion it Wind swelling the Bowels a Stone or a preternatural Tumour in the Bladder that presses the Womb may be the cause so may the ill constitution of the Lungs or of the parts serving Respiration For the holding of the Breath is very necessary to help the exclusion of the Child As to the Womb various Diseases of it may render the Delivery difficult as Tumors Ulcers Obstructions and the like As to the Child hard Labour is occasion'd when by reason it is dead or putrified or any way diseased it cannot confer any thing to its own exclusion Also when the Body or Head of it is large or when there are many So Twins most commonly cause hard Labour or when it is ill situated as when the Hands or the Feet offer first or when one Hand or one Foot comes out or when it is doubled or when the Membranes break too soon so that the Water flows out and leaves the Orifice of the Womb dry at the time of exclusion or when the Membranes are too thick so that they cannot be easily broken by the Child The external causes depend on things necessary and contingent things necessary are those which are commonly call'd Non-natural so cold and dry Air and a North-wind are very injurious to Women in Labour because they bind the Body and drive the Blood and Spirits to the inner Parts and they are very injurious to the Child coming from so warm a place also hot Weather dissipates the Spirits and weakens the Child and causes a Fever in an ill habit of Body Crude Aliments and such as are difficultly concocted and those that bind taken in great quantity before Labour do render it difficult the Stomach being weakened and the common Passages contracted which ought to be very open in this case Drowsiness hinders the action of the Mother and Child and shews that Nature is weak The unseasonable motion of the Woman much retards the delivery as when she refuses upon occasion to stand walk lie or sit or flings her self about unadvisedly so that the Child can not be born the right way being turned preposterously by the restlesness of the Mother The retention of such things as should be evacuated at the time of Labour as of Urine that swells the Bladder or Excrements in the right Gut the Hemorrhoids also much swelled narrow the neck of the Womb and so hinder Natures endeavours And lastly violent Passions of the Mind as Fear Sorrow and Anger make the Labour difficult To things contingent ought to be referred a Blow a Fall or a Wound which may much obstruct Labour also the By-standers which ought to assist the Woman viz. strong Women and Maids which may lift her up just at the time of Delivery especially a skilful Midwife which ought to advise in every matter for if she be unskilful she may make the Labour difficult For sometimes the Midwife orders the Woman to endeavour an Expulsion and to stop her Breath when the Ligaments of the Fetus stick firmly to the Womb so that the Woman is tired before the time of her Delivery