Selected quad for the lemma: woman_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
woman_n	blood_n	child_n	womb_n	2,043	5	9.7787	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91017	Popular errours. Or the errours of the people in physick, first written in Latine by the learned physitian James Primrose Doctor in Physick. Divided into foure bookes. viz. 1. The first treating concerning physicians. 2. The second of the errours about some diseases, and the knowledge of them. 3. The third of the errours about the diet; as well of the sound as of the sick. 4. The fourth of the errours of the people about the use of remedies. Profitable and necessary to be read of all. To which is added by the same authour his verdict concerning the antimoniall cuppe. Translated into English by Robert Wittie Doctor in Physick.; De vulgi in medicinâ erroribus. English.	Primerose, James, ca. 1598-1659.; Primerose, James, ca. 1598-1659.; Wittie, Robert, 1613?-1684.; Cross, Thomas, fl. 1632-1682, engraver.	1651 (1651)	Wing P3476; Thomason E1227_1; ESTC R203210	204,315	501

the fifth houre of the night not being silent as before but of purpose with a loud voice to awake him from his sleep But perhaps some will say Galen did not command sleep till two hours after bloud-letting I answer it had been well if the sick could have slept immediately after he had been let bloud and in no place doth Galen disallow that for we know we cannot alwayes sleep when we desire it But seeing the aforesaid sick man could not sleep comming againe two houres after he bade him lye still that he might sleep which Galen had not done if he had judged sleep to be hurtfull after blooding If any man object that sleep is prohibited lest the ligature should be loosed and the patient bleed againe that is nothing for that may be prevented by the diligent care of the by-standers and the sure binding of it As touching drink Good to drink after bleeding Amatus the Portugall proves that it is not hurtfull immediately after blood-letting but very wholsome commanding that the patient doe presently drinke a little cold water for in regard that the veines are emptied it is instantly distributed into the whole body and doth both easier sooner and safelier coole the body CHAP. XXVII That blooding and purging is not hurtfull for women with child ANd this Errour is none of the least that if a woman with childe be sick they will not suffer her to take Physick nor to be let bloud for fear of an aborsement which is contrary to reason the authority of the Ancients and daily experience To reason because a woman that labours with an acute disease as a Fever or a Pleurisie is in very great danger as saith Hippocrates Aph. 30. ib. 5. * it is mortall for a woman with childe to be taken with an acute disease Fevers in women with child are most dangerous Therefore no delay is to be made in applying remedies Again in respect that the child is nourished with the mothers blood if she be sick there is danger lest through that sicknesse and the corruption of the blood the childe perish which if it happen as sometimes it doth then is the mother in danger both by reason of the disease and of the dead childe namely lest she being weakened by the disease the childe dye through putrefaction of the blood and she bee not able to bear the childe at least never doth an aborsement happen without danger Now it is evident enough that these evills cannot be prevented without taking away the cause for indeed no disease can be cured otherwise and the cause cannot be taken away without blood-letting The disease is not cured till the causes be taken away or purging They that think it such a dangerous thing for women to use these remedies and thereupon do not admit of them let them seriously consider this Note If a Physician can cure a woman with childe sick of a putrid Fever without blood-letting or purging much more easily may he cure her of the same disease without these remedies when she is not with childe and so the use of them might be quite abandoned But if he cannot cure her not being with childe without those remedies he cannot then cure her being with childe and sick of the same disease For the same disease indicates the same remedie and the being with child doth not take away the indication of the disease but onely after a sort alters the quantity of remedies and the manner of using them Yea much rather are these remedies to be used in women with childe inasmuch as they stand in greater need of help than others But they think that all the nourishment is drawn from the childe by blood-letting and that there is danger of abortion by purging and other remedies The danger to the childe is from the disease not the remedy All this while not knowing that great danger hangs over the childe by reason of the blood being corrupted to wit lest it die and kill the mother who is already weakened with the disease so that there is more danger of abortion from the disease than from the remedy And first we must never take away such a great quantitie of blood as that thereby nourishment should be withdrawn from the infant but rather we observe that the infant becomes more lively after the corrupt blood is taken away The child becomes more lively after bleeding for there is blood enough left behinde to suffice both the child and its mother Again a purgation especially a gentle one although reiterated if need stand can do no hurt A woman with child may take a purge being given by a discreet Physician but rather good for the strength of the Physick doth scarce reach unto the childe or at least in such a long circuit the noxious part of its strength is lost But what if it should attaine to the childe yet it cannot kill it if it be exhibited in a moderate quantity Onely the blood comes unto the the childe which by vertue of the Physick is purged from noxious humours Also in women with childe the wombe resists it much for the safeguard of the infant for in them the retentive faculty is more busie then the expulsive This Errour Secondly oppugnes Authoritie for Hippocrates commends purging for women with childe from the fourth Moneth till the seventh Women with childe may take Physick if there be an ebullition of humours in them Sect 4. aph 1. from the fourth moneth till the seventh onely they must bee more gently dealtly withall than others but when the infant is younger than this or elder it is best wholly to abstaine Which if it were Hippocrates his opinion notwithstanding the vehemency of his remedies Our purges more safe then the Ancients were much more is it true of ours which are farre more gentle for the purgations of the Ancients were more dangerous than ours Againe Experience testifies that the childe cannot bee so easily expelled by the use of physick 7. Epid. as the history of Harpalaus his sister manifests who being foure moneths gone with childe and sick of a Dropsie and Asthma the infant being so weak that it had not stirred of a long time tooke Aethiopian Cumin with honey and wine which though it was exceeding bitter diuretick and therefore of great force to provoke the flowers yet being discreetly used did her good and neither hurt the child nor provoked her flowers intimating thus much that the child is not alwaies killed by taking Physick unlesse the Physick be very strong and constantly used There is a notable story out of Avenzoar whereof we have made mention in another place who not knowing that his wife was with childe did administer unto her exceeding strong physick and yet the childe was not hurt thereby I will saith he relate what befell me while I was in the prison of Haly my wife was with childe and I knew it not and she was troubled with

his Chapter of palpitation Therefore Mercatus counsels that with exceeding great caution wee use the helps which further concoction or discusse winde For we are often deceived saith hee by windinesse and we are enforced to discusse it not without the great hurt of the sick These things are especially to be observed of them that abound with hypochondriack windiness whose bowels doe boyle with heat but stomacks seeme to bee somewhat cold Some perhaps will object that Physicians doe prescribe pepper grossely beaten and Aetius commends the use of wormewood for this hypochondriack windinesse Gross pepper commended But as Amatus the Portugall a most skilfull Physician observes pepper grossely beaten is good because it goes not to the bowels but only strengthens the stomack and so it heats not the liver Againe the heat thereof is extinguished in the first passages and is soon dispersed Lastly it detergeth casteth out sharp humours Wormwood commended Also wormewood is good because as Galen teaches it binds the stomack it helpeth by its detersion not against flegmatick but adust cholerick humours which foment this disease and purgeth them out by siege and urine CHAP. XIV That Midwives doe ill who give to women in Childbed nothing but hot drinks I Have often heard women in Child-bed complaine of a grievous thirst and heat because it is a maxime received by evill observation that they may take no cooling thing but only drinks actually and potentially hot as burnt wine which drink is too common in England brewed with hot spices cinnamon water and the like to wit to strengthen and comfort them for ever the by-standers are solicitous of those strengthning meats and drinks as also that the cold may not hurt them for by reason of cold gripings in their belly doe often happen especially af-the birth But this is a very great errour and often pernicious to women in Child-bed but alwayes very tedious Now there are divers conditions of women in Child-bed for some of in them a morbous preparative and the sickly humours being moved with the travaile of the birth do bring forth in them divers diseases but others enjoying a more perfect health doe quickly returne to themselves and by little and little grow well againe without any dangerous symptome To the former those strong and hot drinkes are very hurtfull for they inflame the inward parts and amend not the morbous humours at all but increase and corrupt them And to the latter sort which otherwise would recover their health they may cause feavers and such like diseases Now although I doe not approve of very cold drinks but rather would have them to bee somewhat warme yet I cannot allow of hot drinks for the forenamed reasons If there be a feaver Physicians doe prescribe altering and cooling syrupes why not also cooling drinke Therefore I have oftentimes permitted drink not so strong and somewhat cool to women in Child-bed burning and thirsting after small beere by which they have felt themselves much refreshed much more will such drinkes bee convenient for them if they bee in a feaver So likewise they doe ill who feed them with much meat and very nourishing for in the beginning their diet should bee slender and sparing as in them that have been wounded because nature is weak and not able to digest a great quantity of meat 2 acut Thus Hippocrates teacheth that after a large evacuation we must not presently hasten to a full diet for hereby there is feare lest the excrementitious humours bee multiplyed a feaver ensue and other symptomes happen But let them be fed sparingly as with broths till all feare of a feaver and other symptomes be quasht and she be well purged from her flowers and then by degrees they must passe to a fuller dyet and thus without any danger their strength is renewed in them This errour doe almost all observe that have written of womens diseases Rodericus a Castro saith Cap. 1. lib. 4. It hath been alwayes a vexation to tolerate women that have the charge of keeping a woman in child-bed for unlesse they cheere her up with delicate meat and wine they thinke that they doe no good at all for they have I know not what lawes and rules exceeding hurtfull to the poore women but sacred to themselves which being neglected a prudent Physician may give order to provide those things which he shall judge to be needfull So Petrus Salius doth very much reprove the same errour among the Italians As concerning their dyet saith he know that it is a common errour almost of all women to think that women in childafter the birth must presently bee refreshed and nourished with the best meats and therefore presently proceed to capons broth and their flesh to spices and strong wines except a disereet woman be by or a skilfull Physician bee sent for who may correct such errours Hee bids therefore that they abstaine from flesh wine spices and other things which are apt to breed or augment a feaver CHAP. XV. Two Errours about the choyse of Nurses THose Gentlewomen that will not undergoe the trouble of nursing their children themselves doe sometimes even by the advice of Physicians unlesse necessity enforce them otherwise reject those Nurses whose milk is old that is to say which have given suck a long time to wit a yeare or two for they thinke that milke is not so wholsome for a new born child And therefore they sometimes preferre a Nurse although elder which hath but lately given suck before one that is young if she hath given suck longer But I thinke they are in a great errour The breast doth every day afford fresh and new milk who suppose any milk to be old seeing that every day the breasts of Nurses doe afford new and fresh milke If therefore you suppose a Nurse to be young well behaved of a good constitution using a good and wholsome dyet and abstaining from venery it matters not how long she hath given suck For seeing that the milke doth participate of the nature of its materiall and efficient causes and is generated out of these causes only if the Nurse be healthfull and free from care anger and sorrow of minde and feed on good and wholsome meats there is no doubt but she gives alwaies good and wholsome milk For the milk doth partake of the nature of bloud of which it is made Milk is made of bloud I which if it be good the milk cannot be bad but in a healthfull body nourished with wholsome meats good bloud is alwaies made And of good bloud is not wont to be made bad and unwholsome milk if the body be in health Nor can giving suck it self alter or vitiate the milk forasmuch as nature ordaines nothing that is evill and it would be ill for the child if every day the Nurses milk were made worse by giving of suck It is not worse for giving suck Experience shewes in women of the meaner

ill permitted to children c. 16. That solid meate ought not to be given to children before the comming forth of their teeth c. 17. That a man may drinke liberally for healths sake c. 18. That red cloths are not to be preferred before others for the voiding of the Measills c. 19. That many doe ill who endeavour to drive away a disease beginning by labour c. 20. The Fourth Booke Of the Errours of the People about the use of remedies OF them that despise those remedies that are chymically prepared chap. 1. That the use of Mineralls is not to be rejected c. 2. Of them that attribute to much to Chymicall remedies c. 3. That the remedies are not to be changed although the cures doe not presently follow c. 4. Of them that reject all remedies if they be not presently cured c. 5. That remedies are not to be rejected for their unpleasantnesse c. 6. Whether homegrowing remedies bee sufficient for any Country c. 7. Of those that feare to be let blood and purge least they accustome themselves to it c. 8. That no regard is to had of the Starres for letting of bloud and purging c. 9. Of the ridiculous Physicall observations of Almanacke-makers c. 10. That it not hurtfull to purge in the dogge-dayes c. 11. That purgations are often to be reiterated c. 12. That purging pills should not be taken after supper c. 13. That Physicall potions may not onely be taken hott but cold also c. 14. That it is not hurtfull to take cold drinkes on the day of purgation c. 15. Of them that will never bee purged but in the beginning of the spring c. 16. That purging ought not to be rejected although the sicke doe not eate no meat c. 17. That a purge is not much to bee disliked because some times it is cast backe by vomit c. 18. That purging ought not to be feared although there be a flux of the belly c. 19. That the use of Clysters is voyd of danger c. 20 That Clysters are not well injected by bladders 21. Of vomits that possets ought not to be drunke immediately after one hath taken a vomit c. 22. That old men may be blouded without danger c. 23. That it is but a vaine thing to be so curious in the choyce of the veines in the arme c. 24. That it were better to observe the quantity of blood by measure then by ounces pounds and weights c. 25. That sleepe and drinke ought not to be wholly forbidden after bloodding c. 26. That bloodding and purging is not hurtfull for women with child c. 27. That Physick is good for women in childbed c. 28. That it not hurtfull to take quickesilver by the mouth c. 29. That quickesilver even without any proparation is unhurtfull c. 30. Of Tobacco c. 31. Of the right use of Tobacco c. 32. That the fume of Tobacco doth not goe up into the braine c. 33. Whether Tobacco bee a preservative against the plague or no c. 34. Of the unseasonable use of Cordialls c. 35. Of the Errours about the Bezaar stone c. 36. Of the the temperature and dose of the Bezaars stones c. 37. Of the Vnicornes horne c. 38. Of certaine distilled waters ordained amisse for to drive away fevers c. 39. That julips and other cooling potions ought to bee administred in a large dose c. 40. That the stone of the bladder cannot bee dissolved taken by the mouth c. 41. That the wormes of the belly are not presently to be killed in fevers c. 42. That Cinomon is not well prescribed to stay womens fluxes c. 43. That Opium rightly prepared ought not to be feared c. 44. Of remedies that are applyed to the head to provoke sleepe c. 45. That fomentations made with bladders are but of small efficacie c. 46. Of the applying of young whelps and pigeons to the soles of the feet c. 47. Of the Weapon oyntment c. 48. Of the curing of the Kings evill by the touch of the seventh Sonne c. 49. Of the Antimoniall Cuppe c. 50. The End of the Table These Bookes following are printed for Nicholas Bourne and are to bee sold at the South-Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1. BIshop Downame of Justification in fol. 2. Survey of London in fol. containing the Originall Increase Moderne Estate and Government of the Citie Methodically set down 3. Clavis Mystica a Key opening divers difficult and mysterious places of the Holy Scripture in 70. Sermons by Dr. Daniell Featly 4. An Explanation of the generall Epistle of Iude in 41. Sermons by Samuel Oates 5. The Surgeons Mate or Military Domestique Surgery by John VVoodall 6. The Merchants Mirrour or Directions for the perfect ordering and keeping his Accompts framed by way of Debitor and Creditor as likewise a compleat Journall and Leger appertaining thereunto as likewise two other waste bookes by Richard Dasforne 7. Perkins on the Revelations on the three first Chapters in fol. 8. Monroses Expedition for War in fol. 9. Apprentices Time Entertainer or the Art of Accomptantship by Richard Dafforne 10. Beames of Divine Light by Dr. Sibbs in 21. Sermons 11. Light from Heaven discovering The Fountaine opened Angels Acclamations Churches Riches Rich Poverty by Dr. Sibs Dr. in Divinity 12. Evangelicall Sacrifice in 19. Sermons by Dr. Sibs 13. The Dippers dipt or the Anabaptists ducked or plunged over head and eares at a disputation in Southwarke The sixth Edition by Daniell Featly D. in Divinity 14. Vertumnus Romanus or a discourse penned by a Popish Priest wherein he endeavours to prove that it is lawfull for a Papist in England to goe to the Protestant Church to receive the Communion to take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Answered by Daniell Featly Dr. in Divinity 15. The Saints Qualification or a Treatise of Humiliation in 10. Sermons Of Sanctification in 9. Sermons Whereunto is added a Treatise of Communion in the Sacrament in three Sermons by Dr. Preston 16. Golden Scepter the Churches Marriage and the Churches Calling in three Sermons by Doctour Preston 17. A godly and learned Treatise of Prayer which both containeth in it the doctrin of Prayer and sheweth the practise of it in the exposition of the Lords Praier by George Downame Dr. in Divinity 18. A Treatise against Lying by John Downame 19. A Commentary upon the first and second Chapters of St. Paul to the Collossians by Paul Bayne Batch in Divinitie 20. The Treasure of Traffique by Lewis Roberts Merchant 21. The Faith of the Church of England by Francis Taylor 22. The Ecclesiasticall discipline of the reformed Churches in France 23. The Circle of Commerce or the Ballance of Trade by Edward Miselden Merchant 24. A relation of the Christians in the world by Ephraim Pagget 25. Englands Safety in Trades increase by Henry Robbinson 26. Englands Royall Fishing revived a computation as well of the charge of a bushell of Herring Fishing as the profit thereby by Edward Sheep 27. A true Narration of the Royall Fishing by Simon Smith 28. The Abridgement of D. Prestons Workes contracted for the comfort and benefit of weaker Christians by VVilliam Jennet 29. The cure of the Plague by an Antidote called Aurum vitae 30. Circles of Proportion by William Butread 31. Websters Tables for Interest direct and to rebate at 8 7 6. per centum with the valuations of Annuities and Leases 32. Handmayd to Devotion by Dr. Featly 33. Dr. Featleys Catechisme 34. Dr. Preston of Gods All-sufficiency 35. Dr. Preston of Faith and Love 36. Dr. Preston of Prayer 37. Dr. Prestons Golden Scepter 38. Dr. Preston of the Attributes of God 39. Spencers Logick in English 40. The Phrygian Fabulist or Esops Fables in English 41. Concordance to binde with the Bible in all volumes fol. 4o. 8o. and 12. for the small Bible 42. Anatomy of Play or the hatefulness of it manifested 43. A volume of Funerall Sermons set forth by Dr. Featley Dr. Day Dr. Sibs Dr. Taylor 44. Threefold resolution Earths vanity Hells horror and Heavens felicity by Dr. Denison 45. Oates on the whole Epistle of St. Jude in fol. 46. Annotations upon all the Bible now almost finished by divers Reverend Divines with large Additions 47. Sutton on the Romanes 4o. 48. Sutton on the Sacrament 49. Suttons Learn to live and dye in two volumes 50. Mr. Yates Saints sufferings 51. Youth Guide 52. Donne against Atheisme 53. Covenant of Grace 54. Wishart on the Lords Prayer 55. Dr. Primrese on the Sacrament 12o. 56. Hudsdon on the Creed 12o. 57. Bills of Lading for Merchants English French Dutch 58. Bills of debt FINIS

vessels A pitcher that is half full of iron or heavy stones is not so full as if it were filled to the top with the most light spirit of wine although the former weigh heavier So likewise in emptying a vessell he takes more away that out of one vessell drawes a pottle of the spirit of wine than he that out of another takes half a pottle of stones although perhaps this weighs heavier Seeing then there is the same reason in bloud because one is more ponderous than another if in letting bloud we only consider its weight we shall never define well the quantity thereof for it is contained in the veins not as heavy but as filling unlesse one imagine the same ponderosity and weight of bloud in all men which I think no man will dare to affirm The quantity of bloud saith Galen is indicated by the more or lesse faultinesse of it and by the strength of the party and according to these two is more or lesse bloud to be drawne So that in a great distemper of the bloud the strength being vigorous we must use a larger evacuation but in a light distemper the strength being feeble we must let bloud more sparingly But if you judge of the quantity by the weight it may so fall out that when the sick is feeble in strength you may draw more bloud than when he is most lively vigorous which is a grosse trespasse against the rules of Physick For if in debility of strength the bloud be lighter and in validity of strength it be heavier if in this latter case you take halfe a pound of bloud and in the former but foure ounces the vessels into which these foure ounces are taken will be as full by reason of the levity of the bloud as those vessels which receive the half pound of the other ponderous bloud and so the same quantity of bloud is taken from them both which should not have been done Nor do I see any reason why the drawing of bloud should bee defined by weight more than the dejections of the belly in a purgation seeing that out of the veines the humours also are purged for under the manition of the vessels is purging contained as faith Hippocrates 2 aph lib. 1. Seeing therefore the vessels are not replete with any thing as heavy for the capacity of the vessels is not varied although the weight of the contents be different and it is apparent that a greater quantity of oyle than of honey goes to an ounce it will be better for the future if the quantity of bloud be accounted by measures and not by ounces and pounds seeing the judgment thereof may be so deceitfull I know there were among the Ancients as well pounds in measure as in weight for their vessels were drawn about with lines whereby the pounds and ounces were marked out and whatsoever they measured after this manner they called Mensurall As for example a mensurall pound of oyle or wine which perhaps Galen meant when he drew bloud according to ounces and pounds But because the things that were measured were of divers weight the pound in weight did seldome countervaile the pound in measure for though there may be the same measure of oyl wine and hony yet there is not the same weight and therefore that manner of measuring was very uncertaine and we now adayes have no such vessels as doe marke out ounces and pounds nor if wee had plenty of them could wee use them without a manifest errour in respect of the different weight of the bloud Therefore though I doe not disallow the received custome yet I thinke it safer to judge of the quantity of bloud by measure than by weight CHAP. XXVI That Sleep and Drink ought not to be wholly forbidden after bloud-letting AMong many observations of the people this is not the least that they are very wary lest the sick sleep or eat and drink presently after he hath been let bloud which was also the opinion of some Physicians because they think the bloud returnes to the heart which neverthelesse is not alwayes true except there bee an immoderate evacuation of bloud or timorousness which may cause swouning However no reason enforces that that return of the bloud should be so pernicious And first concerning sleep the bloud is wont in sleep to recoile into the inward parts to the exceeding great refreshment of nature The benefit of sleep to the sick Now in them that be sick who have not slept for many nights all men know what great benefit a little sleep affords for it repaires the strength concocts the morbous humours and corrects them wherefore we are oftentimes forced to apply remedies to provoke sleep Therefore if immediately or a little after bloud-letting sleep doe ensue it may be good both as a signe and a cause As a signe because it shewes that nature which was oppressed with the morbous humours is now refreshed and so doth performe its naturall functions As a cause it may be good because when once sleep ensues nature doth concoct the remainder of the morbous humour In what cases sleep is forbidden I know in some diseases sleep is not good as in the inflammations of the internall parts in the beginnings of fits and in pestilentiall diseases Therefore in those diseases it is not good to sleep immediately after bloud-letting but in other diseases I see no reason why the Patient may not sleep Galen saith that if the sick after long and tedious watching do fall to sleep it indicates a perfect crisis for sometimes it falls out Ex 2 Prorhetic * that the sick after the crisis sleeps a whole day especially when he hath not slept of a long time before and that to the great solace and refreshment of nature Yea sometimes it happens that the sick sleeps in the very crisis If therefore sleep be good after other evacuations why not also after bleeding Moreover sometimes it falls out that in some feavers such a preternaturall sleep possesses the sick that he can scarce be awakened and yet many times in such feavers it is very good to let bloud as of late I did to a woman that lay in an acute feaver possessed with an heavy sleep who otherwise had scarce recovered being adjudged of all as a dying woman If therefore with good success bloud may be drawne from one that is actually asleep why shall sleep be hurtfull immediatly after blouding Galen seemes to account it a good thing 9 method cap. 4. that the sick after blouding falls into a sound sleep Two houres saith he after hee was let bloud having given him a little meat and commended him to rest I departed And returning at the fifth houre I found him lying in a sound sleep insomuch as he did not feele me when I touched him Then comming againe at the tenth houre I found him still fast asleep Afterward having beene abroad to visit some other Patients I came againe in

rank who are not so curious in their choyce of Nurses that their children are as well fed and as healthfull as others When therefore occasion is offered of chusing a Nurse let only her constitution healthfulnesse and age be considered for if these be right there is no doubt but using a commendable diet she shall alwayes give good and fresh milk because every day new milk is made and hath the same causes of generation after five yeares which it had the first moneth There is another Errour of some no lesse superstitious than the former and that not only of the people but some Physicians also namely that they are very cautelous even more than needs in observing whether the Nurse hath brought forth a male or a female and they will have the Milke of her that hath borne a Male to bee better for nourishing a Female and contrarywise the milk of her that hath brought forth a female to be more proper for the nursing of a male because the milk of her which hath born a boy is thought to bee hotter and therefore more fit for a girle which is thought to be of a colder temperament because it doth moderate her coldnesse and contrarywise because a male is hotter the milke of her which hath borne a female doth temper his heat Some women are hotter then some men But these are all false For First they suppose amisse that a female is alwayes colder than a male when as indeed experience testifies that some women are hotter than some men Nor can a cholerick woman without errour bee thought to be colder than a flegmatick man which I shall prove by divers reasons in another place Neverthelesse although wee should grant this yet our opinion will stand stable and unshaken Secondly they erre in supposing that the childs sucking can change the temper of the milke A childs sucking cannot change the temper of the milk For seeing as wee have said the nature of the milk doth follow the nature of the efficient cause and of the meats of which it is made what can the child do against these For while it sucks it cannot by contact alone change the constitution of the mother nor the temper of the meats which she eats Perhaps some will think that the child so long as it is in the wombe doth communicate its temperature to the mother by heating her if it bee a male or cooling her if a female But that is very doubtfull for a female should also heat the mother because infants are alwaies hotter than those that are of riper age But besides we know how hard a thing it is to change the naturall constitution so as it can scarce by any long use of meats or medicines be so weakned but it doth easily return to its pristine condition And we see the mother when shee hath brought forth her child doth retain her old temper of body and we can discern no footsteps of any new temperament which she hath taken from the child And if there were any it might neverthelesse be easily lost in processe of time and by change of diet It is therefore the surer way to consider the nature not of the childe which the nurse hath born but onely the constitution of the nurse her selfe and the diet which she uses CHAP. XVI That strong drinkes are ill permitted to children THat the people doe erre much about the education of children it is certaine whereby they come to bee troubled with many grievous evils and so many die whereof an ill diet is not the least cause For I have seen some frequently to give their children Wine Ale or strong Beere which is indeed very hurtfull for them 1. 5. de fanit tuenda and is repugnant to the counsell of the ancient Physicians Galen doth not permit wine to children before the fourteenth year The evill effects of strong drink in children because it heats too much and moistens and fils the head with vapours from whence ensues harme not onely to the body but the minde also Paulus likewise denies it to them before the 21. year of their age because it heats dries quickly stirres up to anger and lust fils the head with vapours debilitates the nervous parts so that afterwards they are subject to be troubled with convulsions the gout and other the like affects of the sinnewes it weakens the inward parts especially the Liver overthrowes a good constitution of the Braine causes a weaknesse of the sinnewes calls in cold diseases and all these sooner in children whose nerves are somewhat weak by nature Moreover in the opinion of Plato 2 De legibus Wine is not good for them because it makes them fiery spirited and dulls and troubles the minde For seeing that children are of a temperament somewhat hot a moist diet and somewhat temperate is convenient for them lest by such drying drink untimely old age bee procured and by the many sharp vapours carried up to the braine convulsions and the diseases of a distempered brain and sinnewes doe ensue But if there be some urgent necessity to administer strong drink let but a little and that allayed with water be administred according to the counsell of Hippocrates Lib. de victu idiotar tex 23. The like may be said of strong Beere or Ale for the same yea and greater evils doe proceed from the use thereof then of wine in respect of the thicknesse of the liquor and the impurer spirits But thin and small beere well boyled and fined is most fit for them CHAP. XVII That solid meat ought not to be given to children before the comming forth of their teeth I Have also observed flesh and other such solid meats to be given to children before they breed their teeth which is likewise a thing very hurtfull to them for verily Galen saies well Cap. 7. lib. 15. de usa part that nature doth then give unto children their foreteeth when they have need of solid meat which also he doth elegantly explicate in his first book De sanitate tuendâ cap. 10. That children are to be fed with nothing but milk Milk best for young child n. before that they put forth their foreteeth and in very deed solid meats are but badly concocted in their ventricles they oppresse the stomach corrupt with their mixture the Nurses milke hurt their tender gummes and makes them cry out and become unquiet And it stands with reason for Nature is never deficient in necessaries wherefore if such meats were good for them it had never denyed them teeth to chew them But because for some moneths space it hath denyed them teeth it is a signe that nothing but supping meates is fit for them and especially milk which nature hath afforded to all young creatures as the most familiar food Therefore during the first moneths Good counsell let the infant eat onely milk a little after being growne somewhat greater pulse also which neverthelesse is not in