strange Diseases as appears by young Widows and Virgins A second reason may be urged that although the society of a lawful Bed consist not altogether in these things yet it is apparent that the Female Sex is not better won and appear more blith and jocund than when they are often satisfied this way which is an inducement to believe that they have greater pleasure and reccive more content than a man for since by Nature much delight accompanies the ejection of the Seed by breaking forth of the swelling Spirit and the stiffness of the Nerves in which case the operation of the Womans part is double she suffering both ways even by ejection and reception whereby she is more recreated and delighted in the Venereal Act. Hence it is that the Child more frequently resembles the Mother than the Father because the Mother confers the most towards its Generation and further it may be instanced from the great love they bear them for besides their contributing Seminal matter they during the time they are in the Womb feed and nourish the Child with the purest Fountain of Blood which Opinion Galen confirms by allowing the Child to participate more of the Mother than the Father and refers the difference of the Sex to the influence of menstrual Blood but the reason of the likeness he attributes to the force of the Seed for as Plants receive more from fruitful ground than from the industry of the Husbandman so the Infant in more abundance receives from the Mother than the Father for first the Seed of both is heaped and fostered in the Womb and there grows to perfection being nourished with blood And hence it is that Children for the most part affect their Mothers best for it proceeds from the nearness of nature by a natural instinct because the Mothers forces were most imployed about ' em for nine months and sometimes ten she nourisheth the Child with her purest Blood then her love towards it newly born and the likelyness do clearly demonstrate that the Woman affordeth Seed and that Women do contribute more towards making the Child than Men. And thus much for the clearing of this point also and now to the third thing proposed viz. Whence grows the kind and whether the Man or the Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Insant The primal cause as is justly due in this and all other causes we must ascribe to God the Ruler and Disposer of all things yet many things by his high sufferance proceed in regular order by the Rules of Nature and are carried by their inbred motion according to their usual and natural Course without variation tho' indeed by favour from on high Sarah conceived Isaac Hanna Samuel and Elizabeth John the Baptist but these were to fulfil the Almighties Decree nor since those times have the Prayers of the righteous been unsuccessful in obtaining Children but passing over such Supernatural and Extraordinary causes that have their peculiar effects I shall proceed to speak of things natural and common and how Nature worketh by her inbred Forces for she prepares a Body fit for the reception of the Soul of whose Nature I shall hereaster discourse and gives every thing its temper but siuce there are two Principals out of which the Body of Man is made and which render the Child like the Progenitors and to be of one or the other Sex viz. Seed common to both Sex as I have before demonstrated and menstrual Blood proper to the Woman only The Similitude consists in the force of the Male or Female Seed so that it proves like to the one or the other as more or less plenty is afforded by either but the difference of Sex is not referred to the Seed but to the menstrual Blood which is proper to the Woman for were that force altogether retained in the Seed the mans Seed being of a hotter quality than the Womans Male Children would be superabundant none of the other Sex or very rarely would be propagated whereof the kind of the Creature is attributed to the temperament of the active qualities which consist in heat and cold and to the substance or nature of the matter under them that is to the flowing of the menstrual Blood now the Seed affords both force to procreate and form the Child and matter for its Generation also in the menstrual Blood there is both matter and force for as the Seed must helps the material Principles so likewise the menstrual Blood the potential Seed is saith famous Galen Blood well concocted by the Vessels that contain it so that Blood is not only the matter of generating the Child but also Seed in possibility that menstrual Blood has both principles as matter and faculty of effecting Many do allow that the Seed is the strongest efficient the matter of it being very little in quantity but the potential of efficient faculty of it is very feeble wherefore if the material part and principal of Generation according to which the Sex is made were only in the menstrual Blood then would the Children be all or mostly Females as if the efficient force was in the Seed they would be all Males but since both have operation in menstrual Blood Matter predominates in quantity and in the Seed force and verue Deservedly saith samous Galen the Child receives its Sex rather from the Mother than from the Father although his Seed doth contribute something to the material Principles though more weakly But as for similitude although Imagination be of extraordinary force it is referr'd rather to the Father than the Mother as to the quality of the Seed at or for a short time after Copulation but continues not long so to do for the Womans Seed receiving faculty from the menstrual Blood for the space of nine months overpowers the Mans as to that particular because the menstrual Blood flowing into the Vessels rather cherishes and augments the one than the other from which it may be more easily conjectured that the Woman not only affords matter to make the Child but force and vertue to perfect the Conception though the Womans Seed be fit Nutriment for the Mans by reason of the moisture and thinness of it being more fit to frame and make up Conception thereby for as of soft Wax and moist clay the Workman can frame what he intends so the Mans Seed mixing with the Womans as also with the menstrual Blood helps effectually to make the form and perfect part of Man or to give you a better comparison viz. as the Earth is to Plants so is the Womb for Conception for as the seed of every Plant requires the Earth to nourish and increase them so the Seed of Man requires the Womb which is affected with a desire of off-spring for by its moisture and the help of the effluent Blood it doth grow and incorease Hence you may plainly conjecture what curious Art Nature useth in conceiving and framing a Child which by an innate
under the Tongue look greenish the Neck flusheth with heat the Back bone cold the Veins and Arteries swell and the Pulses are observed more easily Fourthly If the Veins in the Breasts appear blackish and afterwards turn yellow the Teats look firey and upon drinking cold drink the Woman feels it as it were in her Breasts Fifthly if she on a suddain fall to loathing her Meat and Drink coveting things unreasonable and not fit for Sustenance be troubled with Pukeins weakness of Stomach sore declining and there be little Worms found about her Navel Sixthly If the lower part of the Belly swell and weakness be contracted in her Loyns with inward Gripings and retention of the course 7 days after copulation After which act there is a Cold and Trembling seizes on the Members External by reason the force of the Womb violently attracts the heat dries up the moisture Seventhly It is a certain sign of Conception if the Midwife puting up her finger find the interior neck of the Womb exactly closed If the Womb wax round and swell the Courses stay the Thighs swell with some pain the whole Body grows weak the Face at times becomes Pale the Urine white with a little cloud after some standing at the top of it if many Attoms appear in it Eighthly if Urine be put up in a Glass three days and the Woman have conceived certain live things will appear to stir in it if a bright Needle be put in a whole night and she have conceived divers little red Specks will be thereon but if not it will be blackish or rusty nor are these Imaginations but the approved Assertions of the Learned in Physick and Skilful in Midwifry who have made it their study to search into the depth of Natures Secrets And next comes a nicer Point to be treated of not without the Patronage of such whose Wisdom and indefatigable Labours have rendered them famous to Posterity The which take as followeth After Conception and the Child be come to some perfection so that the Sex may be distinguished if it happen to be a Male Child then the right Eye of the Woman will to appearance move swifter and sparkle more than the left the right Pap will rise swell and be more hard than the left and the Teats colour will change more suddenly and the increase of the Milk will be speedy and if it be milked out and set in the Sun it will look like Pearl contracting it self into a more solid matter than ordinary or if upon the milking it out you cast it upon the Womans Urin it will sink to the bottom Her right Cheek will often glow and be more ruddy than the left and indeed the whole colour of her Face more lively than at other times she feels less Sadness than if she conceived a Female And when first the Child stirs it is more brisk and strong in its motion than the other having commonly its first motion on the right side on the sixtieth day if her Courses flow the fortieth day after Conception if her Belly be more accute towards the Navel and as she goes she puts her right Leg foremost and rising observe to ease her self on the right side more than on the left Now in case a Female be conceived the tokens are averse to these for the most part the first motion rarely happening before the 19th day after Conception and then it is made on the left side Females are carried with more pains than Males thro' defect of heat in the Womb to attract the substance also the Thighs and Genital Members of the Woman swell more than ordinary her Colour departs and her Longings are Extream and her Courses flow the Thirtieth day after Conception If Twins are conceived which many times happens through the strange disposition of the Womb and exceeding quantity of Seed the sign thereof will not appear till the third or fourth month after conception and then the first appearance will be by the motion of the Infants both ways that is on either side of the Womb at once for they receive their Souls at one and the same time also if her two Flanks swell higher than the middle of the Belly if there does appear a line or as it were a division from the Navel to the Groyn making a kind of a Channel or if the Woman with more than ordinary pain support her burthen And thus much may suffice for these from whence I shall proceed to give the Reader an insight into false Conceptions that frequently deceive Women especially such as are over desirous of Children CHAP. XVII Of false Conceptions and how to know them HAving already treated of true Conceptions the next thing note worthy is what relates to false Conceptions and in this case Women are sometimes deluded thinking themselves with Child when their Belly only swell with the retention of their usual Courses that fall not according to their usual times or else by a lump of indigested Flesh for the most part like the Gizard of a Fowl greater or lesser according to the time of its continuance there which is frequently four months and is called a Moon Calf At other times they are deceived by Moles which are twofold viz. The true and a false the former of which is a fleshly body filled with many Vessels streaked with white green or black Lines not deficent of Membranes but incompassed with divers yet without growth motion Bones Bowels or any Internals receiving its nourishment through certain veins notwithstanding it lives as we may say the life of a Plant without any figure or order ingendered Original in the concavity of the Matrix adhearing to its side but not participating of its substance The latter of these viz. the false Mole may be divided into four distinctions as following First the windy Mole being a contraction or conflux of wind Secondly the watery Mole being a gathering of Water Thirdly the Humourous Mole or conflux of divers humours and Fourthly the Membranous Mole being many Membranes in the form of a Bag filled with Blood and of these in their order The Mole is contracted in the Womb when a Woman has copulation during her monthly Purgations or otherways unseasonably or else when she lies with great desire and lust with her Husband when she has already conceived or by retaining her Courses beyond the time Nature allows for their expurgation The windy Mole is occasioned through defect of heat in the Womb and parts adjacent as the Liver and Spleen which ingender a polite or windy vapour which fills the membranous parts and puffs up the concavity of the Matrix The watry Mole is ingendred of divers apt confluences of thin matter or watry Efluxes which passing through the Vessels evacuates into the Womb having its Original from the Spleen Liver or parts adjoyning and above all from the Liver when 't is cold weak and not able to concoct all the Nutriment into Blood so that the remainder turning
into watey humour falls into the Womb and cannot be easily voided thence The Humorous Mole is ingendered by moist attracted humours as the Whites or certain watery Purgations which distill from the Menstruous Veins and gathering into a glutenous substance stay in the concavity of the womb The Membranous Mole is no other then a contraction of Blood within a Skin or Membrane to which is fastned many white and transparent Vessels filled with Blood the which coming forth and being thrown into Water the Blood goes out and the Membrane rumbles together shrinking on a heap like coagulated Seed Now most or all of these false conceptions have many signs or symptoms coherent with the true as the depravity of Appetite puking swelling suppression of the Courses swelling of the Breasts and Belly so that many are at a plunge to distinguish them for indeed it is most easily to be done though in these following matters there is distinction viz. In case of a false Conception the Breast swell and fall again not containing any Milk the Face is frequently puffed up the Arms the Groyn and the Thighs grow megat and lanker the Belly waxes hard as if Dropsical being almost of an equal roundness with many prickings at the bottom scarcely admitting of Intermission which breaks the rest of the Women so afflicted divers other signs are there to know it by especially the true or fleshy Mole as thus A Male Infant begins to move at the beginning of the third month for the most part and the Female at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth now when any motion happens the Women ought to consider whether she have any Milk in her breasts if she have it is a sign of a true Coneption but the contrary of a false one it is also the sign of a true Conception if the Child move freely and lively in all parts of the Womb for although there is a motion in a false Conception yet it is dull and not quick nor active in motion the motion not being in it self but in the expulsive Faculty of the Mother and further if the Woman observe she may perceive it fall always to the side she lies on and she lying on her back if her belly be stroked down the burden will descend and not have for want of inbred force a power to recover its Station But what confirms it more is that 9 Months expired no Travel ensues but her Belly still increases whilst all the rest of the body grows lean and out of order The Signs of the windy Mole are divers as the sudden stretching of the Belly like a bladder yet soft and spungy especially near the Groins and small thereof when if it be struck it sounds like a drum and that the Swelling is sometimes more and sometimes less so that according to its increase or decrease the Woman feels more heavy or more light The watery Mole is known by its distention of the Belly and especially when she lies upon her back the sides thereof are more swelled than the middle or the bottom which grows flatter by reason the watery Humour falls to the sides moving up and down as if it were a fluctuation of Water and much to the same purpose as the Symptoms of the humorous Mole only with this distinction that the Flanks and Thighs are more stretched by the Watery Mole than by the other because the Water being thinner than the Humour or not confined in Cells flows thither and that which in case of a watry Mole comes through Natures conduite is clear when in case of a humourous Mole the water is red or of a bloody colour Further observe in case of a false conception the Courses come not down and the Navel of the Mother advanceth it self little or nothing which in true Conception is otherwise Other false Conceptions there are occasioned by divers Tumours which the Ignorant take for Moles when they are only Rotundies and swelling the Belly which are not discovered till the Womb be opened and then though the Womb be not all out of order there does appear at one or both corners thereof little bags full of water in others there are to be seen a heap of Kernels or superfluous flesh like a cluster of Grapes in the Womb causing it to swell Yet in such cases the Courses are observed to proceed in due order which denotes the Womb to be in good order Another Excrescency of Flesh there is which some call a Pendent Mole being a piece of fleshy substance hanging within the Interior Neck of the Womb being in breadth about a finger at the place where it is fastned increasing bigger and bigger towards the bottom like a small Bell possessing the whole Orifice of the privy Member sometimes appearing outward to a great bigness CHAP. XVIII Instructions for Women how to govern themselves during their being with Child THese Instructions being exceeding necessary I thought fit to lay them down for a Rule to such as are desirous of self-preservation And indeed for want of due observance divers Diseases afflict Child-bearing Women nay the Child is frequently lost or if it come to a perfect Birth proves sickly and disordered through the evil Humours that are derived to it through the Mothers misobservance In the first place then the Woman with Child ought to choose a Temperate Air not infected with Fogs arising from Marshes Ditches Ponds Lakes or Rivers and not to go abroad in too hot nor too cold weather nor when the South wind blows strong for that wind above all others disturbs and disorders Women with Child oftentimes causing Abortion And next to it the North-wind is hurtful causing Catarrhs Coughs and Rhumes which opening the body causes the Woman to bring forth before her time In short if any evil Vapour be drawn in during pregnancy causes divers Diseases In case of Diet she ought to be very cautious in chusing such Meats as create wholsome Nourishment all Meats that are moderately dry being taken so to do and let her observe not to fast immoderately for that renders the Child sickly and weak and often for want of Nourishment constrains it to be born before its time nor on the other hand must she be too gluttonous for that again stuffs it and causes it to swell beyond its natural bounds All Meats either too hot or too cold and moist are to be avoided as Salads Spices Meats and the extraordinary use of her Meats which makes the Children come forth oftentimes without Nails which is a sign of short life The most wholsome Meats in this case are Pidgeons Turtles Larks Partridges Pheasants Veal Mutton or any such Meats that is of good Juice and contributing to kindly Nourishment as also such Fruits as are sweet and often digestion as Cherries Pears Damsons c. but let her avoid such things as subject her Body to windiness Her Longings if Extravagant she must restrain at least as much as in her lies not eating any
The Effigies of a Maid all Hairy and an Infant that was black by the Imagination of their Parents Joviâ—â— ARISTOTELES MASTER-PIECE Or The Secrets of Generation displayed in all the parts thereof Containing 1. The Signs of Barrenness 2. The way of getting a Boy or Girl 3. Of the likeness of Children to Parents 4. Of the Infusion of the Soul into the Infant 5. Of Monstrous Births and the reasons thereof 6. Of the benefit of Marriage to both Sexes 7. The prejudice of unequal Matches 8. The discovery of Insufficiency 9. The cause and cure of the Green-sickness 10. A Discourse of Maiden-heads 11. How a Midwife ought to be qualified 12. Directions and Cautions to Midwifes 13. Of the Privities 14. The Fabrick of the Womb. 15. The Use and Action of the Genitals 16. Signs of Conception and whether of a Male or Female 17. To discover false Conceptions 18. Instructions for Women with Child 19. For preventing Miscarriage 20. For Women in Child-bed 21. Of ordering new-born Infants and many other very useful Particulars To which is added a word of Advice to both Sexes in the Act of Copulation And the Pictures of several Monsterous Births drawn to the Life Entered According to Order London Printed for J. How and are to be sold next door to the Anchor Tavern in Swee-things-Rents in Cornhil 1684. The Introduction IT plainly appears in Holy Writ that this glorious Universe bespangled with gaudy Fires and every where adorned with wonderful Objects proclaming the Wisdom and Omnipotence of the great Work-Master who in six days erected all things for his pleasure was at first drawn out of nothing or at most a formless Chaos of Confusion a disordered and confounded heap of jarring Elements toss'd and jumbl'd together under the dismal shades of during Night eldest of things no Fruitfulness nor Pleasure no Creature that had breath had being in the place this lower World possesses till God out of the abundance of his Goodness sent forth his Holy Spirit who dove-like with mighty out-spread Wings sat brooding on the vast Abyss and made it pregnant then Light put Darkness soon to flight and all the glorious Lamps of Heaven appeared all Creatures soon had being and every Plant Tree Herb or Flower of fragrant smell sprung from the Vernant Earth raised by command above the Waters every thing of use having Seed in it self that no second Creation needed not but still the Lordly Creature who should rule the Creatures being wanting he was framed more Glorious than all Creatures as not made without mature Counsel and Deliberation and stamped in the divine Similitude inspired with the infused breath of Life beyond what any other Creature durst to boast The contemplating of which long since made the Royal Psalmist break out into this Rapture viz. What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Thou madest him lower than the Angels To Crown him with Glory and Worship Thou makest him to have dominion of the Works of thy Hands and thou hast put all things in subjection under hhis Feet Psal 8. ver 4 5 6. Thus I say when God had created the World and furnished it with whatsoever seemed good in his sight and that there was nothing wanting for necessary use commodity and pleasure it seemed good to him then to make one that might use them to his Glory and take delight in rejoycing in them wherefore when Natures Ornaments were all compleat he brought Man into the World as into his own Possession and that he might not be disconsolate nor solitary gave him a Woman for a Helper Companion infusing into them a force of love and desire towards each other And of procreating their likeness having prepared for that purpose a swelling Humor or Spirit and Organical parts and that the one thro' fear or neglect should not be induced to decline the Society of the other he added Allurements and desire of mutual embracing that so they might in procreation be sweetly affected and pacified by wonderous ways for unless this was natural to all kind of Creatures they would be regardless of Posterity and procreation would cease whereby mankind would quickly be lost and the Affairs of mortals of no durance But that this passiouate desire might strongly opporate as well in sensual felicity as on the imagination God has firmly impressed it in all Creatures subject thereto both Male and Female but more especially on man and least it should prove unruly in him and not easily subdued he has thought it convenient to prescribe him bounds in granting him the use of the Matrimonial Bed that so they might not defile themselves with wandridg lust who want the Gift of Continency wherefore so soon as Copulation is finished and the Woman happens to prove with Child great is Natures cunning in fostering coagulating and framing the Seed of both Sex that at the set time when nine months are run over Man that ruler and ornament of the sublunary World may come forth In Relation to which my stry of Generation Holy Job in the tenth Chapter of his Book thus expresses himself viz. Hast thou not powred me out as Milk and curdled me like Cheese Thou hast cloathed me with Skin and Flesh and hast fenced me with Bones and Sinewes Thou hast granted me life and favour and thy visitation hath preserved my Spirit But not to be tedious in prolonging on this Subject I shall proceed to unravel the mystrey of Generation and divers other Mysteries as I well hope to the fatisfaction of the learned and ingenious of the Age whose discretion past doubt will wrest it to no other end than to what it was designed viz. for the benefit and advantage of the modesty of either Sex I not desiring this Book should fall into the hands of any obseene Person whose Folly or Malice may turn that into Ridicule that loudly proclaims the infinite Wisdom of an omnipotent Creator who by his mighty working is able to subdue all things to himself Gloria Deo in Excelsâ—s CHAPTER I. Of Marriage and at what Age Virgins and Youths are capable of Generation and the reason that prompts them to desire Copulation with the signs of Barrenness and how long a Man or Woman are capable of getting Children THat Marriage is an Honourable State ordained by God in Paradise and since confirmed by our blessed Saviour who wrought his first Miracle at a Wedding I hope none will deny therefore it is convenient that Parents well take care of their Daughters Chastity and when they find them inclinable to Marriage not rigorously to restrain their Affections for Nature will have its course but rather to provide for them if possible such Husbands as may be for their advantage and with whom they may live comfortably in that blessed State lest being crossed in their purposes and delayed they part with their Honour dishonourable ways The propension and inclination of Maids to Marriage is to be
fell into his divine Rapture and Admiration expressed in Psal 138. I will praise thee O Lord because I am wonderfully made thy Works are wonderful Mr Soul searcheth and knoweth it right Well thou knowest all my Bones when I was fashinned in the secret place and when I was wonderfully formed in my Mothers Womb. Thy Eyes beheld me yet unmade and in thy Book were all my Members written which day by day were fashioned Thy Knowledge is wonderful unto me whereby I was made I cannot understand it c. And Physicians that have narrowly contemplated Mans Nature constitute four different times wherein this Microcosm or little World is framed and perfected in the Womb. First When after Copulation and mutual embracing it hath the nature of Seed at which time it is called Conception or Geniture because the Seeds of the Man and Woman mixing and fermenting become like Cream and are perfect in the first week if no Eflux happen which sometimes falls out through the slipperiness of the Matrix or the head thereof that shuts over like a Rose bud opening on a sudden by reason of some cold distemper or over-weariness in Travel The second time of forming is constituted when Nature and the force of the Womb by the use of her own inbred forces and vertue makes a manifest mutation in the Seed so that all the substance seems congealed Flesh and Blood rather than Seed which happens about the 12 or 14 day after Copulation and though this Concretion or fleshy Mass abound with hot fiery blood yet it remains undistinguishable without form of figure and may be called the rough draught or Embrio and well likened to Seed which is sown in the ground which through kindly heat and moisture grows up by degrees into a perfect form either in Plant or Grain or as when a Potter fashions a Vessel out of a rude Lump of Clay The third time to make up this Fabrick is set when the three principal Parts shew themselves evidently and perspicuously viz. The Heat from whence proceeds the Arteries the Brain from which the Nerves proceed like many small threads running through the whole Body and the Liver from whence the Veins derive their Original These are the Seeds and Fountains of Life that nourish and support each part of the Body in framing which the Faculty of the Womb is busied from the time of Conception to the eighteenth day of the first Month. But lastly which time reacheth to the 28 or 30 day the outward Parts are seen exquisitely claborated and distinguished by Joynts and then the Child begins to grow and pant from which Progress of days by reason the Limbs are divided and the whole frame is perfect it is no longer held an imperfect Child or Embrio that is a Concretion that springs sorth but is held to be a perfect and absolute Child Males for the most part are perfect by the 30 day but Females seldom till the 42 or 45 day and the reason why the one is sooner perfected than the other is that the heat of the Womb is greater in producing the Male than the Female for heat extends the humour like soft wax diffusing delating it and hen by its force contracting framing and fashioning it so heat and vigout of the Body and Alacrity of nature in the Man makes the Male to move in 3 months but the Female rarely under 4 at which time also his Hair and Nailes come forth and the Child begins to stir kick and tumble in the Womb so that the motion is plainly perceived and the Women are troubled with nauseating and loathing of their meat and oftentimes covet and greedily long for things contrary to Nutriment as Coals Rublish Chalk Lime Starch Oat-meal â—aw Flesh and Fish or the like which desire proceeds from a former contraction of evil humours occasioning im pure Blood in their containing Vessel within and often occasions abortion and miscarriage some Women as it has been noted by divers Authors of Credit have been so extravegant in their longings that they have coveted Hob-Nails Leather Herse Flesh Mans Flesh and the Flesh of divers ravenous Be asts for want of which they have cast their Birth untimely or the Child has contiued dead in the Womb for many days to the eminent hazard of the Womans life But to proceed in this great mystery I shall unfold by what means the Infant is sustained in the Womb and the posture it there remains in The Infant being arrived to some perfection is fastened by a long string to the Navel as the Apple by the stalk is fastened to the Tree by which through the help of the Umbelical Vein it is nourished by a Fountain of pure Blood not taking it in at the mouth as some ignorant People have imagined that being of no use during the aboad in the Womb neither do any Excrements fall from the Vessels of Evacuation but the Umbelical Vein springing from the Matrix enters the Liver in two parts terminates in Vena Porta from which the most pure Blood from the Seminary Vessels are derived to the Matrix And hende it is that the Blood and Spirits like Auxiliaries are always convey'd downwards that so none of them be wanting whereof are those Channels and Rivers of Veins and Arteries that proceed from the Mothers Body are carried to the Womb and then fastened into the Navel feed the Child by insensible ways and by the faculty of the Seed that is fostered by the heat of the Womb and moistened with Blood being perfected at the times specified in all its parts equal ballanced it is in the midst of the Womb as in the Center lying all on a heap and being something long is turned round so that the Head a little inclines and it lays its Chin on its Breast his Heels and Ancles upon his Buttocks its Hands on its Cheeks and its Thumbs to its Eyes but its Legs and Thighs are carried upward with its Hams bending so that they touch the bottom of its belly the former and that part of the body which is over against us as the Fore-head Nose Face are turned towards the Mothers Back and the Head inclining downwards towards the Cocyx or Rump-bone that joyns to the Os Sacrum which Bone together with Os Pubis in the time of the Birth parts and is loosened whence it is that Male Children commonly come with their Faces downwards or with their Heads turned somewhat Oblique that their Faces may be seen but the Female children with their Faces upward tho' sometimes it happens that Births follow not according to Natures order but Children come forth with their feet stradling their Necks bowed and their Heads lying Oblique with their Hands stretch'd out which greatly endangers themselves and the Mother giving the Midwife great trouble to introduce them nto the World but when all things proceed orderly and naturally the Child when Natures set bounds are accomplished is desirous to break its bounds and come forth
is almost next to a miracle to be perfect it is by the Latins called a Birth of the fourth Moon because the product is commonly unhappy in all the Series of its lise having had its enterance by Generation contrary to Natures order which Moses considering or being so commanded by God strictly commanded the Hebrew men not to touch a Woman that was unclean of her Blood and these that have been so rashly profligate of either Sex have many times by sad experience found their wilful folly too late but especially the Female Sex for by the violent concussion and motion used in copulation and evil mixture the contagion by degrees will seise upon the whole habit of the Body causing the Pox and Leprosie the like Effects it has upon Men if the Woman be infected especially if he deal with Whores at such times who commonly are infected and may be accounted so many walking Contagions or Emissaries of the Prince of Darkness for the destruction of Mankind and at this day the greatest pest and grievance of the Nation These things rightly considered no man need wonder at so many mis-shapen Births and monsterous People with scald Heads bowed and distorted Legs Arms and Backs wry Necks crumpled Feet incident to swellings and inherent Diseases especially swellings in the Groin Buboes and Emerods as also that their minds are dull stupid forgetful foolish mad and unreasonable which are indeed the effects of unseasonable and unreasonable Venery which every Creature but Man observes in the Season Nature has allotted and when their Females have conceived they desire no longer but rest satisfied Therefore let Man who is indued with a rational Soul and ought above all other Creatures to have dominion over his appetite and affections codsider how eruel he is to his posterity that brings such mischiefs upon them and chiefly they are here to be understood that are conceived in the fourth Moon when the Womans Courses are upon her therefore all men ought to refrain neither should the Woman dare to copulate with Men as better knowing the Season of their Courses than some rash inconsiderate and unexperienced Novices of the Masculine Gender do for the Children then conceived want all or most of those gifts and properties that Children begotten at seasonable times are endowed withal being capable of nothing that is good nor great and if it so happen they do any thing well they have ill Success in their Undertakings by reason their natural Faculties are short not by their own but their Parents fault who undecently in Procreation violate Natures Law whence it is that many things are wanting in them or else given them sparingly and with some ill qualities that CHAP. VIII The Opinions of the Learned concerning Children conceived and born within the space of seven Months with lively Arguments upon the Subject to prevent suspicions of incontinency and the bitter Contests that thereon too often arise between Man and Wife To which is added Rules for knowing the disposition of Mans Body by the Genital parts CErtain it is that many bitter Quarrels have arisen thro' misunderstanding when solid reason would have rectified the Judgment and have prevented the conception of such an evil and from whence does this arise but through Suspicion and Jealousie when indeed it is many times founded upon a slender Foundation as the new married Womans being brought to Bed before the expiration of nine months which is vulgarly taken from the time of Conception to the Birth to remove which groundless Suspicion I shall endeavour not that 't is common dare I avouch but that 't is possible and has been frequently known that Children have been born at 7 months but the matter being wholly left by the Lawyers who decide Controversies to the Physicians to judge of it is in their power to determine by inspecting the Child whether it is a Child of 7 8 9 or 10 months Paul the Counsellor has this Passage in his nineteenth Book of Pleadings viz. It is now a received truth that a perfect Child may be born in the 7 month by the Authority of the learned Hypocrates And therefore we must believe that a Child born at the end of the 7th month in lawful Matrimony may be lawfully begotten Gallen in the 6th Chapter of his third Book handleth this Argument but rather according to Mens Opinions than according to the truth of the business or from natural Reasons who supposeth there is no certain time set for bearing Children And from the Authority of Pliny who makes mention of a Woman that went 13 months with Child but as to what concerns the 7th month saith Lemnius I know many married People in Holland that had Twins who lived to extream Old Age their Bodies lusty and their Minds apt and lively wherefore their Opinion is foolish and or no moment who assert that at 7 months a Child cannot be perfect and long lived and that he cannot in all parts be perfect till the 9th Month and thereupon this Learned Author proceeds to tell a passage from his own knowlege as follows Of late saith he there happened a great disturbance amongst us which ended not without Blood shed and was occasioned by a Virgin whose Chastity had been violated descending of a noble Family and ever before that time held to be of unspotted fame Now several there were who charged the Fact upon a Person of Note viz. a Judge President of a City in Flanders who strongly denyed the Fact saying that he was ready to swear it upon the holy Evangelist that he never so much as penetrated her Body or broke the Membrane of her Virginity and that he would by no means therefore be taken for the Father of the Child that was not his and further alledged that he verily believed that it was a Child born in seven Months and that himself was many miles distance from the Mother of it when it was conceived whereupon the Judges before whom the hearing was decreed That the Child should be viewed by Able Physicians as also Experienced Women and that they should make their report who having made diligent inquiry all of them with one accord concluded the Child without respecting who was the Father was a Child Born within the space of Seven Months that it was carryed in the Mothers Womb but 27 Weeks and some odd Days but if she could have carried it to full 9 Months the Childs Parts and Limbs would have been more firm and strong and the Sructure of the Body more compact and fast for the Skin was exceeding loose and the Brest-bone that defends the Heart and the Sword-like Gristie that lies over the Stomach were higher than naturally then should be not plain but crocked and sharp Ridged or pointed like those of young Chickens that are hatched at the beginning of the Spring And being a Female Infant it wanted its Nailes upon her Fingers and the outmost Joynts of her Fingers upon which from the Musculous or Cartilaginous
in small Wine and let the Diet be moderate but in no wise let Vinegar be used therewith nor upon any other occasion And in so observing the Humours will be dilated dissipated and transfused by which means the Complexion will return and the Body be lively and full of vigour And now since Barrenness daily occasions discontent and that discontent creates difference between Man and Wife or by immoderate grief frequently easts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper I shall somewhat largely treat thereof This defect comes divers ways but most commonly through the defect of the Genitals Vessels Blood or Menstrum and of these I shall discourse in their order and then proceed to mention other matters Relating to the same subject The defect then in the Genitals frequently happens in Women through the strict closure of the mouth of the Womb which by that means denies the Seed entrance or through the narrowness of the parts or share-bone that will not admit the Yard entrance or many times by reason of some Ulcers of excrecencies in the neck of the Womb to which may be added the defect of the Seed by reason of some Distemper in the Generative Vessels which the Woman may perceive by the little or no satisfaction she receives in the act of copulation sometimes again Children are wanting when the Woman being too young her Courses are not come down or that she is so old they cease to flow For t is the opinion of the Learned that when the Courses are wanting the Man labours in vain and further it may be attributed to the want of Seed when there is not a due proportion of either Party or when by reason of some cold moist Humours flowing into the Womb it loseth it's attractive force and cannot draw the Seed to its proper place or station Now if the Orifice of the Womb be closed that the Seed cannot enter it must be opened by incision or rather the two wings or Nymphae which many times extend themselves over the Clytoris so far that the Yard cannot pass the neck of the Womb and subject to this defect in Nature are many Women especially in hot Countries but most of all in Egypt where the Chyrurgeons are forced with Silver Instruments to make way for the Instrument of Generation a thing not altogether unpracticable in England In case the neck of the Womb be so strait that the Yard cannot enter then is the case to be inquired into whether it be naturally so or proceed from some swelling or Schirrhus either within or without and if any such thing appears it is for the most part incureable but if it be a natural straitness then supple it with a Tent dipped in Oyl of Roses and the white of Eggs and drink Chamomile Posser sweetned with Sugar-Candia morning and evening and by the operation thereof the Womb which is of a reaching quality will in all parts distend and give way to the Instrument of Generation or if it so happen in a young Woman Nature will increase the passage and time produce things fitting to their mutual Satisfaction but let no man by violence endeavour in attempting Copulation to force the Passage lest he break the Vessels nay indanger the Bladder it self which has been broke with such violent Intrusion and so cost the Woman her life If the neck of the Womb be ulcerated or any Excresenses happen there which equally hinder Copulation then may they be known by the pain and shooting upon the least compressure and the issuing forth of putrid Humours and sometimes Blood if the Ulcers be great and the Terms flow the Water hot pains arising in the fore part of the Head and oftentimes they occasion gentle Fevers And these Obstructions of Generation happen divers ways as from external causes viz. Rash Physick hard Labour or excessive Copulation from internal causes as the Corruption of the Secundine the Courses too long retained or obstructed heat and overflowing of the Urinal Vessels Virulent Gonorrhaeas Pox Inflammation turned into Apostume Humours flowing from divers parts of the Body and setling there all which must be duely considered Now some are in the outward part and may be the easier come at and external plications as are most convenient applied thereto but those that cannot be come at must be cured if possible by injection the best injection in this case is as follows viz. Break four Eggs and take the Whites only the which beat with an equal quantity of Rose-water mingled with Plantain-water Litherage of Gold Camphire Bole-Armonick Ceruse of each a dram half a dram of Green Copperas all which well beaten dissolved and mixed together strained through a fine Cloath and with a Syrringe inject it Morning and Evening till the grief cease and if it smart that it cannot be well endured you may sometimes inject warm Milk to cleanse the puttified matter Others there are that are not so violent and therefore admit of any easie Cure nâ—t being so deep known by a putrid Greenish matter that flows from them To cure this take Water wherein Barley has been boiled Honey of Roses new Milk and Sugar with the decoction of Lentils and after them gentle Astringents must be applied Some again are sordid having much contagious Humour flowing from them to cure which stronger Medicaments must be applied others there are that eat into the Flesh having a green Contagion flowing from them to cleanse which Aloes and Wormwood concocted in white Wine are most requisite Another sort of Ulcers there are which appear long cating away the skin from off the Neck of the Wood and are discerned by the Blood and pain the occasion immediatly upon the concression appearing in the Neck of the Womb much like Chilblains occasioned by ill lying extraordinary Venery by violent inflammation or flux of sharp humours The best cureafter a gentle purge is an astringent Glyster and after that to anoint them with the Grease that fryes out of a Ladle often used in a Kitchen when it is held to the fire mixed with an oyntment called Pomarum if the defect be in the Seed through tenderness of age in the Woman so that her menstrual Blood not coming down flow not to it then the best remedy is convenient diet moderate exercise and temperate Air together with patience in the main till nature in process of time operates so effectually that all things appear and conspire to mutual satisfaction If the Woman be stricten in years and it cease to be with her after the Custom of Women that is her Courses are stayed which in some happens sooner and in some later and between 44 and 55 with all them unless strong preparatives viz. an Extraordinary diet easie longing and moderate exercise restore them those Woman must despair of further Generation for as the learned in this Art frequently observe where there is neither Buds nor Blossoms there can to no Fruit. If any obstruction happen in the Vessels of Generation
and be careful therein lest by laying any one that has an infectious Disease as the Pox c. she get it and so spoil other Women as a Midwife once did who laying a Strumpet that had an inveterate Pox which occasioning a Bubo upon her right hand and she not leaving off her Calling spoiled divers Women nor the Women only but the Men also to whom it was communicated by their Wives which made them think hard of each other and for a long time could not imagine how it happened but at last it was discovered by an able Physician and the Midwife for ever after barr'd her Practice and not so only but followed with Curses even to her Grave She must likewise observe that she entertains no great belly'd Women at Bed and Board in her House lest thereby she bring a Scandal upon her Self and so lose her Practice If the Birth at any time be hard and difficult she must not be dismayed but chear up the Woman and try her utmost Skill to make the Labour easie Directions for which shall hereafter be incerted nor must she ever think of any thing but doing well and using her utmost skill causing all necessary things that are proper for the work consolation of the Woman and reception of the Child to be in a readyness and above all let her use her diligence either by perswasion or otherwise to keep the Woman from being unruly in her pangs least thereby she destroy both her self and her Child and not in any wise to proceed too hasty in her business but wait Gods leasure in all things and by no means let her suffer her wits to scatter by dismay or doubt if things go not well for fear it disorders the senses and a Person that keeps her wits together is capable of giveing assistance in weighty affairs for when we are most at a plunge then there is most need of prudence to set things right And seeing she can never be an expert Midwife that has no further knowledge than of the external parts I shall not think it amiss briefly with modesty to proceed in describing the generative part of Woman as they have been Anatomized by the learned of the present and past ages and shew the use of such Vessels c. as are contributing to Generation CHAP. XIII Of the Genitals of Women External and Internal to the Vessels of the Womb. WAs it not for the benefit of Practitioners and Professors of the Art of Midwifry I should above all things spare to Treat of these particulars because they may be turned by some Lascivious and lude Person into ridicule but they being absolutely necessary to be known I will hope the best and proceed in order At the Bellies Inferior parts is the Pubis where when Virgins come to maturitie Nature has ordained a covering of Hair to hide as it were the Secret parts and shroud 'em from any ill conveniency when descending downward there appears two closures of Flesh as it were Lips which are the Portals of the Pallace of Generation giving enterance into the more Secret and Abstruse parts and between these being the Exterior Orifice it is properly called the privy Member composed of protuberances and are accounted two soft oblong bodies composed of Skin and a spongy kind of Flesh The next things that offer are the Nimphae and Clytoris the former of which are of a Membrany and flimy Substance spongy soft and partly Fleshy being of a bloody colour in the shape of Wings two in number though from their rise they are joyned in an acute Angle producing there a fleshly Substance which cloaths the Clytoris and many times they spread so far that incision is required to make way for the Mans Instrument of Generation The Clytoris is a substance in the upper part of the Division where the two Wings concur and is the Seat of venerial Pleasure being like a Yard in Situation Substance Composition and Erection growing sometimes out of the Body two Inches but that rarely happens unless thro' extream lust or extraordinary accident But to proceed this Clytoris consists of two spongy and skinny Bodies containing a distinct Original from the Pubis Bone the Head of it being covered with a tender skin having a hole or passage like the Yard of a Man tho' not quite through in which and the bigness it only differs from it The next things in course are the Fleshy Knobs and the great Neck of the Womb. And these Knobs are behind the Wings being four in number much resembling Mirtle berries being placed in quadrangle one against the other and in this place is incerted the Orifice of the Bladder which opens it self into the Sissure to evacuate the Urin for securing of which from Cold or the like inconveniency one of these Knobs are placed before it and shuts up the Passage The Lips of the Womb that next appear being separated disclose the Neck thereof in which two things are to be observed viz. The Neck it self and the Hymen but more properly the Claustrum Virginule of which I have before discoursed By the Neck of the Womb is to be understood the Channel that is between the aforesaid Knobs and the inner Bone of the Womb which receives the Yard like a Sheath and that it may the better be delated for the pleasure of Procreation the Substance of it is smewy and a little spongy and in this Concavity are divers folds or Orbicular Plights made by Tunicles wrinkled like an expanded Rose in Virgins they plainly appear but Women that have been used often in Copulation they are extinguished so that the inner side of the Wombs Neck appears smooth and in old Women it becomes more hard and grifley And now note that although this channel be sometimes writhed and crooked sinking down yet in the time of copulation labour or the monthly Courses it is erected and extended which over Extension occasioned the great pain in Child-Birth The Hymen or Claustrum Virginale is that which closes the Neck of the Womb being as I have before cited in the Chapter relating to Virginity broken in the first copulation its use being rather to stay the untimely Courses in Virgins than to any other end and commonly when it is broke in copulation or by any other accident a small quantity of Blood flows with some small pain passing Hence it is observed that between the duplicitiy of the two Tunicles which constitute the Neck of the Womb there are many veins and arteries running along and arising from the Vessels descending on both sides the Thighs and passing into the Neck of the Womb being extreamly large and the reason of their largements is for that the Neck of the Bladder requires to be filled with abundance of Spirit thereby to be extended and dilated for its better taking hold of the Yard great heat being requied in such motions which becoming more intense by the act of frication does comsume a considerable quantity of
moisture in supplying which large Vessels are altogether necessary Another cause of the longness of these Vessels there is viz. By reason the monthly Courses have their way through them which often occasions Women with Child to continue their purgations for although the Womb is shut up yet the passage in the Neck of the womb through which these Vessels pass are open In this cause there is further to be observed that as soon as you penetrate the Female Siffure or pudendum there appear two little pits or holes wherein is contained a contract humour which by being expugned in time of Copulation greatly delights the Woman CHAP. XIV A description of the Wombs Fabrick the preparing Vessels and Tisticles in Women as also of the different or Ejaculatory Vessels IN the lower part of the Hypogastrion where the Lips are widest and broadest they being greater and broader thereabouts then those of Men which is the reason they have likewise broader Buttocks then men is the womb joyned to its Neck and is placed between the Bladder and the streight Gut which keep it from swaying or rowling yet give it liberty to stretch and delate it self and again to contract as nature in that cause disposes it Its figure is in a manner round and not unlike a Gourd lessening a little and growing more acute toward one end the bottom being knit together by its proper Ligaments its Neck likewise is joyn'd by its own substance certain membranes that fasten it to Os Sacrum and the Share-bone As to its largeness that much differs in women especially the difference is great between such as have born Children and those that have born none In substance it is so thick that it exceeds a Thumbs breadth which after Conception is so far from decreasing that it augments to a greater proportion and the more to strengthen and confirm it it is interwoven with Fibres overthwart strait and winding and its proper Vessels are Veins Arteries and Nerves and amongst these are two little Veins which pass from the Spermatick Vessels to the bettom of the Womb and two larger from the Hypogastricks which visit both the bottom and the Neck the mouth of these veins piercing as far as the inward concavity in which place the extremities of them are called Acetabula which when the Courses flow open themselves and evacuate the eflux of Blood and therefore they are the more conspicuous in Women with Child that part called the Liver of the Womb being joyned to them the better to extract Blood for the Childs nourishment at which time their veins do so swell especially near their time of delivery that they equal in bigness the Emulgent veins or appear half as thick as the hollow Veins The Womb hath also two Arteries on â—oth sides the spermatick Vessels and the Hypogasticks which still attend or accompany the Veins and besides these there are divers little Nerves knit and intwined in the form of a Net which extend throughout even from the bottom to the Privities themselves being chiefly placed for sense and pleasure moving in Sympathy between the Head and the Womb. Now it is to be further noted that by reason of two Ligaments that hang on either side the Womb from the share-bone and piercing through the Peritonaeum and are joyned to the bone it self that the Womb is movable upon sundry occasions often salling low or rising high as for the Neck of the Womb it is of an exquisit feeling so that if it be any time out of order by being troubled with a schirous brawn over-fatness moisture or relaxation the Womb is subjected thereby to Barrenness In those that are with Child there frequently stayes a most glutenous matter in the enterance to facilitate the Birth for at the time of delivery the mouth of the Womb is opened in a strange manner to such a wideness as is conformable to the bigness of the Child suffering an equal dilatation from the bottom to the top As for the preparatory of Spermatick Vessels in VVomen they consist of 2 veins and 2 arteries not differing from those in a Man but only in their largeness manner of insertion for as for their number there are so many Veins and the like proportion of Arteries as in men the right vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow vein descending the left from the Emulgent vein and on the side of them are two Arteries which grows from the Aorta and bring vital Blood for the accomplishment of the work of Generation As to the Longitude and Latitude of these Vessels they are narrow and shorter in women than in men only observe where they are wrinkled or crumpled they are more wreathed and contorted than in men as shrinking together by reason of their shortness they may by their loosness be the better stretched out when occasion requires it and that by their drawing up as it were the Blood might stay there in greater quantity for the preparation of the Seed And these Vessels in Women are carried with an oblique Course through the lesser Guts to the Testicles or Stones but are in the mid-way divided into two Branches the greater going to the Stones constituting the various or winding Body and wonderful Inoculation the lesser Branch ending in the Womb in the side of which it disperseth it self and chiefly at the higher part of the bottom of the Womb for the nourishment thereof as also of the Child and that part of the Courses may purge through these Vessels and feeing the Stones in Women are seated near the Womb for that cause these Vessels fall not from the Peritonaeum neither make they such Passages as in Men nor extend themselves to the Share-bone The Stones in Women commonly called the Testicles altho' they perform the same Action as mens if rightly considered yet are they different in their situation magnitude temperament substance form and covering As for their seat it is in the hollowness of the Abdomen neither are they Externally pendulous but rest upon the Muscles of the Loyns that so they may by contracting the greater heat be more Fruitful their Office being to contract and elaborate that matter which in conjunction with Mans Seed ingenders Man yet they differ from those of Men in figure by reason of their lessness and flatness at either end not being so round nor Oval The external Superficies being likewise more unequal appearing like the composition of a great many knots and kernels mixed together there is also another difference in their substance they being much more soft and plyable loose and not so well compacted Their magnitude and temperament being also different for they are much colder and lesser than those in Men by reason of which a thinner and feebler Seed is contracted by one Sex then by the other as for their covering or inclosure it likewise differs extreamly for as Mens are wraped or covered in divers Tunicles by reason they are externally Pendulous and subject to divers
thing that is filthy or contrary to nourishment nor let her sleep immediately after Meals and not at all in the day-time if she can avoid it the Night being preferable in such cases when she may sleep her fill so it exceed not 9 hours Her Exercise ought to be moderate for violent motion either in walking or otherwise loosens the Cylendons through which the Child receives its Nourishment riding in a Coach especially upon the Stones or in uneven way the last three Months is dangerous as also extraordinary Sounds Noises and above all the Ringing of the Bells and discharging the Guns Laughing Crying or immoderate Anger or any other Passion is extreamly hurtful nor in the first four Months after Conception ought she to lye with her Husband for as much as the Act of Copulation moves and shakes the Womb and consequently the Fruit therein causes the courses to descend She must likewise in the 6th and 8th Month abstain but in the 7th and 9th it is not forbidden but rather to be encouraged by reason as Physicians affirm it opens the passage and thereby facilitates the Birth and the better to help it the Woman ought to take such things as may keep her Body soluble as Syrups and other loosening matters as may help Nature in its operation especially let her observe when she grows any thing big to lay aside her busk and go loose that the Child may have free Scope for two Reasons First that it may not be hurt and secondly that being unrestrained it may come to its full growth CHAP. XIX Further Considerations how Women ought to govern themselves during Pregnancy T IS further to be observed that after delivery the Breasts frequently grow extream large and swell over much to prevent which and to avoid the danger of too much Blood which cause curdled or curdy Milk so that from the effects thereof divers Diseases arise in the Breast so soon as the Woman perceives her self with Child let her wear about the Neck a small Necklace of Gold or Steel or a small ingot of the latter to hang between her two Breasts somenting her Breasts a quarter of an hour every morning with Water distilled from Sage Perewinkle art ground-Ivy being blood-warm In her fourth month when the motion is great and her belly seells big she may swath it with a Swath-band anointed with Pomatum or the like to make which I shall give direction and in so doing she will keep it smooth and free from wrinkles as also from hanging down like a Trip after delivery Receipt Of the Gall of Kid and of a Sow of each 3 ounces of Capons grease and Goose grease of each one ounce and a half and having melted them put thereto a quarter of a pint of water after which strain them through a Linnen Cloath into fair water casting it to and fro therein till it be white at what time add to it the marrow of a red Deet one ounce and lay it in red Rose-water 12 hours after the expiration of which you may use it in anointing the Swath as aforesaid as also the Belly If the Ingredients aforesaid cannot be gotten then the following Linnament is effectual though the former is better viz. Make of Mutton Suet adjoying to the Kidneys and of Dogs Grease each two ouces Whale Oyl an ounce and of sweet Almon Oyl the like quantity wash them well after they are melted together in the water of Germander or new White-wine and anoit the Belly therewith or the Swath band ordained to support it But for such as are not desirous to anoint their Bellies they may use the following Bath or Concoction Take of all the sorts of Mallows and of Motherwort each two handfuls Lilly-roots the white ones to the weight of 3 ounces Melilot and Chammomile of both two handfuls Lime-seed Quince-seed and Feen-greek seed 3 ounces proportionable of each concoct them in Spring-water and bath therewith If the Woman during her pregnancy feels but little motion in her Womb let her make a quilt as followeth and bind it upon her Navel and it will greatly strengthen the Infant viz. Take the powder of Roses red Corral and Gillyflowers of each 3 ounces Mastick a dram and of Augelica seeds two drams two grains of Ambergrease and one of Musk all which being well beaten put them into a Linnen bag expanded and quilted that they may be in every part of it placing it upon the Navel CHAP. XX. Rules to he observed upon a Woman lying down and her delivery c. HAving thus far proceed in what as I highly conceived is necessary to be known by the Professors of this Art I shall Gradually proceed to what remains And first to inform the Reader what is necessary to be observed upon a Womans lying in order to her delivery The hour according to computation of time and the disposition of the Body approaching let the Woman send for a skillful Midwife not delaying so to do but rather too soon than too late at what time let her prepare a little Bed or Couch of a moderate height and so situate that it be far from the Door near the Fire and convenieut for the Midwife and her assistants to pass round and be aiding on every side as occasion requires having change of Linnen and a small Cricket or little Log of Timber to rest her feet against she having more force when they are bowed than otherwise Having thus provided when the Woman find her Pains come on if the weather he not extream cold let her walk leisurely about the Room resting her self by turns upon the Bed expecting so the coming down of her Water which is a Humour that is contracted in one of the outward Membranes and flows thence when it is broke by the strugling of the Child or some other accident there being no direct time affixed for its Efflux though for the most part it flows not above two hours before the Birth Motion likewise will cause the Womb to open and dilate it self when lying long in Bed will prove troublesome yet if she be much spent and weakened she may take some gentle Cordial to refresh her self if her pains will permit it If her Travel be tedious to revive her Spirits she may take any broath of Chikens or Mutton and after it a poached Egg but must not take any thing to excess As for the Postures Women are delivered in they are divers some laying in their beds others siting in a Chair supported and held by others or resting upon the side of the Bed or Chair some again upon the Knees being supported under their Arms but the safest and most commodious way is in the Bed when as the Midwife ought to observe these following Rules Let her see that the Woman be layed upon her Back her head a little elevated by the help of a Pillow having the like help to support her Reins and Buttocks and that her Rump lye high for if she lye low she
cannot be well delivered then let her keep her Knees and Thighs as far asunder as she can her Legs bowed together her Buttocks the Soles of her Feet and Heels being fixed upon a Little Log of Timber placed for that purpose that she may have the greater force to strain now in case her Back be exceeding weak a Swath-band may be cast under it the band being four double and about 12 inches broad and this must be held by two persons who with steady hands and equal motion must raise her up at the time the Pains happen but if they be not exact in their motion 't is better evaded and at the same time let 2 Women hold her Shoulders that she may the better strain out the Birth with more advantage and the better to facilitate it let a Woman stroak or press the upper part of her Belly gently and by degrees nor must the Woman her self be faint hearted but Couragious and of a good Heart forcing her self by straining and stopping her Breath In case of Delivery the Midwife must wait with patience till the Childs Head or othre Members burst the Membrane for if through Ignorance or hast to be gone to other Woman a ssome have done the Midwife tear the Membranes with her Nails she indangers both the woman and the Child for it lying dry and wanting that slipperyness that should facilitate it its ligress comes forth with greater Pain When the Head appears the Midwife must gently hold it between her two hands and draw the Child at such times as the Womans pangs are upon her and at no other slipping by degrees her four fingers under its Armpits not using a rough hand in drawing it forth least by such means the Child through its tenderness receive any deformity of Body As soon as the Child is taken forth which is commonly with its Face downwards let it be laid upon its Back that it may more freely receive external Respiration then cut the Navel-string with a a sharp Instrument about three inches from the Body tying that which adheres to the Belly with a Silken string as near as you can then cover the Head and Stomach of the Child well suffering nothing to come upon the Face The Child being thus drawn forth and in Health lay it aside and let the Midwife regard the Patient in drawing or causing to come forth the Secundine which are the contracted Membranes And this may be done by wagging and stirring them up and down and afterward with a gentle hand drawing them forth or if the work be difficult let the Woman hold Salt in her hands shut them close and breath hard into them whereby she shall know whether the said Membranes are broken or not The like may be known by causing a strain or Vomiting by putting one Finger down her Throat by straining or moving her Inferior parts being all observed to be done out of hand If this fail she may take a draught of raw Elder water or the Yolk of a raw Egg or smell to a piece of Fssa-Faetida especially if she be troubled with the Wind chollick a Remedy for which I shall hereafter prescribe If she have taken Cold it is a great obstruction to the coming down of the Secundines and in such cases the MIdwife ought to chase the Womans Belly with a gentle hand which breaks not only the wind but obliges the Secondine to come down And these proving Ineffectual the Midwife must dilate with her hand the exterior Orifice of the Womb and gently draw it forth Having discoursed of common Births or such as for the most part are easie I shall proceed to give directions in case of Extremity CHAP. XXI In case of Extremity what ought to be Observed especially to Women who in their Travel are accompanied with an Eflux of Blood Convulsions or Fits of the Wind. IN case of Extremity greater regard must be had then at other times and first of al the situation of the Womb and her posture of lying must be cross the Bed being held by such as have strength to prevent her sliping down or moving her self in the operation of the Man Midwife or Chirurgeon her Thighs must be sundered as wide as may be and so held whilst her Legs invert or bend backward towards her Hips her Head leaning upon a Bolster and the Reins of her Back supported with the like nor Rump and Buttocks likewise Elevated observing to cover her Stomack Belly and Thighs with warm Linnen to keep them from cold winds The woman being in the posture aforesaid let the Operator put up his hand if he finds the neck of the Womb dilated and remove the contracted Blood that obstructs the passage of the Birth and having by degrees with much gentleness made way let him tenderly move the Infant his hand being first anointed with sweet Butter or a harmless Pomatum and if the waters are not come down then without any difficulty may they be let forth when if the Infant attempts to break forth with the Head foremost or cross he may gently turn it to find the Feet which having done let him draw forth one and fasten to it a Ribbon then put it up again and by degree find the other when bringing them as close and even as may be and between whiles giving the Woman leave to breath urging her to strain in helping Nature to perfect the Birth he may draw it forth and the better to do it that his hold may be the surer he must fasten or wrap a Linen Cloath about the Childs Thighs observing to bring it into the World with its Face downward In case of a flux of Blood if the Neck of the Womb be open it must then be maturely considered whether the Infant or the Secundines come first which often the latter happening to do stop the mouth of the Womb and hinder the Birth to the endangering both the Woman and the Child in such a case I say the Secundine must be removed by a swift turn and indeed they have by their so coming down deceived many who feeling their softness supposed the Womb was not delated and by their being so decived the Woman and Child or at least the latter has been lost the Secundines removed the Child must be sought for and drawed forth as has been directed and if in such a case the Woman or Child dye the Midwife or Chirurgeon is blameless because they did their true endeavour If it appear upon enquiry that the Secundine comes first let the Woman be delivered with all convenient expedition because great flux of Blood will follow for then the Veins are opened and upon this account two things are to be considered First the great or lessness of the Secundines advancing if the former and the head of the Child appear first it must be guided and directed towards the Neck of the Womb as in case of natural Births but if there thro' the weakness of the Child or Mother appear any
difficulty in the delivery the best way is to search for the feet and thereby draw it forth but if the latter the Secundines may be put back with a gentle hand and the Child first taken forth Another matter is note worthy viz. If the Secundines be far advanced so that it cannot be put back and the Child follow it close then are the Secundines to be taken forth with much care as swift as may be and laid aside without cutting the entrail that is fastened to them for by that you may be guided to the Infant the which whether alive or dead must be drawn forth by the Feet with all expedition tho' it is not to be acted unless in case of great necessity for in other cases the Secundine ought to come last As for a dead Child in drawing it forth let these Directions be carefully observed by the Chirurgion viz. If the Child be found dead with its head foremost the danger is the greater and more difficult will be the Delivery for it is an apparent sign the Womans strength begins to fail her and that the Child being dead and wanting its inbred forced can be no ways assisted to its delivery wherefore the most certain and safe way is for the Chirurgeon to put up his left hand sliding it as hollow in the Palm as he can into the neck of the Womb into the lower part thereof towards the Feet and that between the Head of the Infant and the Neck of the Matrix when having a Hook in the right-hand couch it close and slit it up above the left-hand between the Head of the Child and the flat of his hand fixing in it the bone of the Temple towards the Ear or else in the hollow of the Eye or for want of conveniently coming at these in the occipital Bone observing still to keep the left hand in its place with it gently moving and stirring the Head and so with the right-hand and Hook draw the Child forward admonishing the Woman to put forth her utmost strength still drawing when the Womans pangs are upon her The Head being drawn forth he must with al speed slip his hand under the Arm-holes of the Child and take it quite forth giving these things to the Woman viz. A toste of fine Wheat bread in a quarter of a pint of Ipocrass Wine Now the former Application and Endeavour failing and the following Medicines will not inable the Woman to cast forth the Birth you may proceed to Instruments after another manner First when the Woman is in her bed let her receive the insuing potion hot abstaining from all manner of Meats and rest till she feel the Operation which is this Take blue Figs to the number of 7 cut them in pieces adding to them Fenegreek Mother-wort and Seeds of Rue of each 2 Drams water of Peneroyal and Motherwort 6 ounces of each boyl them till one half be consumed and having strained them again and Trochischs of Mirrh a dra and of Saffron 3 Grains sweetning the Liquor with Loaf-sugar and spicing it with Cinnamon Having rested upon this let her labour again as much as may be and if she be not yet successful make a Suffumation of Castor Oppoponax Sulpher and Assa Faetida of each half a Dram beating them into Powder and wetting them with the juice of Rue till they become stiff then burn them upon Coals so that the Smoak or Fume may only come to the Matrix and no further If these effect not your desire then this Emplaister is very fitly to be applied viz. Take of Galbanum one ounce and a half Colocynthis without Grains 2 drams the juice of Motherwort and Rue of each half an ounce and 2 ounces of Virgin Bees-wax bruise and melt them together spreading them as a Scere cloath to reach from the Navel to Os Pubis spreading likewise to the flanks at the same time making a convenient pessary of Wooll closing it in a bag of Silk and dipping it in the concoction round Birthworth Savin Colocynthis with Graines Staves Acar black Elebore of each a dram and of Rue a little sprig or two These things failing and the Womans life in danger let the Chirurgeon use his Instruments to dilate and widen the Womb to which purpose the Woman must be set in a Chair so that she may turn her Crupper as much from its back as is convenient drawing up her Legs as close as she can but spreading her Thighs as wide as may be or if through her weakness it appear more convenient that she be laid upon the Bed with her Head downwards her Buttocks raised and her Legs drawn up as much as can be a what time the Chirurgeon with his Speculum Matricis or his Apertory may dilate or widen the Womb and draw out the Child and the Secundines together if it be possible after which the Womb must be well washed and anointed and the Woman laid in her Bed comforted there with Spices pleasant Meats and Cordials This course must be taken in the delivery of all dead Children likewise with Moles Secundines or otherwise false Births that will not of themselves come forth in due season or if the Instruments aforesaid will not sufficient widen the Womb then other Instruments as the Drakes Bill and long Pincers ought to be used If it so happen that any Inflamation Swelling or concreet Blood be contracted in the perputium of the Matrix under the Film of those Tumours either before or after the Birth where the matter appears thinner the Midwife with a Pen-knife or incision Instrument may Lance it and press out the corruption healing it with a Pessary dipped in Oyl of Red Roses If at any time through cold or some violence the Child happens to be swelled in any part or have contracted a watry Tumour yet if it remain alive such means ought to be used as are least injurious to the Child or Mother but if it be dead that Tumour must be let out by incision to facilitate the Birth It often happens that Children come with their Feet foremost and the Hands dilating themselves forth the Hips in such a case the Midwife must be well provided of necessary Oyntments to stroke anoint the Infant with thereby to help its coming forth lest it return again into the Womb before it can be drawn forth holding at the same time both the Arms of the Infant close to the Hips that so the Child may issue forth after its own manner but if then it prove too big then the Womb must be well anointed The Woman may likewise take sneezing powder to cause her the more to strain and at the same time those that attend may gently stroke down her Belly to make the Birth descend and keep the Child when advanced from retiring back Sometimes it falls out that the Child coming with its Feet foremost has its ARms exended above its Head the which so happening the Midwife must not receive it in
that posture but put it back into the Womb unless the passage be Extraordinary wide and then she must anoint both the Child and the womb nor is it safe to draw it forth before it is put into due form which must be done after this manner The Woman lying upon her Back with her Head depressed and her Buttocks elevated the Midwife with a gentle hand must compress the Belly of the Woman towards the Midrif by that means to put back the Infant observing to turn the Face of the Child towards the back of the Mother raising up its Thighs and Buttocks towards her Navel thereby to bring it to a more regular and natural production If a Child happen to come forth with one Foot the Arm beign extended along the side and the other Foot turned backward then must the Woman be instantly brought to her bed and laid in the posture aforesaid at what time the Midwife must carefully put back the Foot so appearing and the Woman rock her self from one side to the other till she find the Child is turned but she must not alter her posture nor turn upon her Face after which she may expect lier pains and must have great assistance Cordials especially not being wanting to revive and support her Spirits At other times it so comes to pass that the Child lies cross in the Womb and falls upon its side if so it happen the Woman must not be urged in her Labour neither can any expect the Birth in that manner Therefore the Midwife when she so perceives it m ust use great diligence to reduce it to its right form or such a form in the Womb as t is possible to deliver it especially by moving the Buttocks and guiding the Head to the passage but if she be successful herein let her again try by rocking her self too and fro and wait with patience till it changes its manner of lying Sometimes it falls out that the Child hastens to the Birth with the Legs and Arms distorted or expanded in which as in the former the Woman must rock her self but not with any violence till she find the Legs and Arms fall to their proper stations or it may be done by a gentle compression of the Womb but if neither of them prevail the Midwife with her hand must close the Legs of the Infant and if possible she can reach them do the like to the Arms and so draw it forth though if it could be reduced of it self to the composure or posture of a natural Birth it is better If the Infant come forward with both Knees foremost the Hands hanging down upon the Thighs then must the Midwife put both Knees upward till the Feet appear taking hold of which with her left hand let her keep her right hand on the side of the Child and in that posture endeavour to bring it forth but if she cannot then must the Woman rock her self till the Child is in a more convenient posture for Delivery When it happens that the Child presses forward with one Arm extended upon the Thighs and the other elevated over his Head the Feet likewise stretched out at length in the Womb the Midwife in such a posture must not attempt to receive the Child but must lay the Woman upon the bed in the manner often before recited making a soft and gentle compression upon her Belly to oblige the Infant to retire and if of its own accord it retire not then must the Midwife thrust it back by the Shoulders and bring the Arm that was stretched above the Head to its right place 〈◊〉 certain it is the most dangerous in these Lxtremities in this therefore the Midwife ought to take more care herein than ordinary and first she must observe well to anoint her Hands then the Womb of the Woman either with some sweet Butter or some convenient Pomotum thrusting up her hand as near as she can to the Arm of the Infant and reduce it to the side but if she cannot recall it then must the Woman be laid on her bed there to repose for a while and then again conducted to a Seat prepared for the most conveniency in that affair by which time perhaps the Child may be reduced to a better posture the which when the Midwife finds she m ust draw the Arms close to the Hips and so receive it If an Infant came with its Buttocks foremost being in manner double then the Midwife anointing her Hand must thrust it up and by degrees by heaving the Buttocks and after them the Back strive to turn the Head to the passage but be not over-hasty in so doing lest the Infant retiring should shape it self worse therefore if it cannot be turned with the hand the Woman must to Bed and rock her self taking such comfortable things as may support her Spirits till she perceive the Child turn If a Child come foreward with its Shoulders the Neck being bowed as it often happens as also the Hands and Feet stretched upwards In such a case the Midwife must with much diligence move the Shoulders that she may direct the Head to the passage and the better to perfect it the Woman must rock her self c. These and such like methods are to be observed in all single Births And the same may be observed in case of Twins or Trebble Births for as the single Birth has but one Natural way and many unnatural forms even so it happens with the Birth of many Children wherefore the Midwife must observe if Twins be in the Womb and press forward according to the Natural form that she receive that first which is nearest the passage not letting the other go lest by retiring it should change the form nor must she when one is born delay to bring forth the other and this Birth in the natural form is more easie because the Children are most commonly less than the single births and consequently require a lesser passage but if this Birth happen in an unnatural form it is more difficult and dangerous In the birth of Twins let the Midwise be exceeding careful that the Secundine be naturally brought forth lest in such a case the Womb being delivered of its burthen fall and by its so doing the Secundine continues there longer than is requisite to the indangering of the Woman If so it happen that the Womb is pregnant with Twins and one come naturally and the other unnaturally as the one with the Head the other with the Feet foremost then must the Midwise consider to deliver the natural birth first and then if she cannot turn the other draw it out in the posture it presses forward but if that with the Feet downward be much before the other then may she deliver that first turning the Head of the other aside In this case the Midwise must be diligent to search that instead of Twins it be not a monsterous Birth as a Body with two Heads or two bodies joyned together which she may
flat and hang it about the Womans Neck so that it may reach the pit of her Stomach and it will draw the Womb upward or keep it in its place that it shall not fall down or give the Child occasion to seek for untimely passage CHAP. XXV Of the Washing of Woman after Delivery with Directions how to make them FOR the first Wash take a good handful of young Charvil boil it in 2 pints of water which having done add to it a spoonful of Honey of Roses and let the Midwife use it at her discretion and it will draw down the Purgations heal and cleanse the afflicted part There are some that use Milk instead of Water affirming that it greatly mittigates the pain but by those whom Experience has taught better it is rejected this having been used eight days the second wash may be made Take Province Roses moist if you can but if not the dry Cakes put them in a little linnen Bag and boyl them sufficiently in half a pint of Water and half a pint of White Wine and use it as the former for other eight days viz. The liquid part being well straine The third and last wash must be made of the decoction of Province Roses decocted in a pint of VVhite VVine and a quarter of a Pint of Mirth-water and used only four days CHAP. XXVI An Astringent for Women when occasion requires as also Directions for a Cere-Chath and how to cleanse her before she rise TO make an Astringent take Pomgranets Roach Allum and Galls of each 2 ounces Knot Grass a handful of Province Roses four ounces the Rinds of Cassa and Pomgranets each 3 ounces of Scarlet-berries of Spermaceti one ounce The waters of Roses Mâ—â—â—n and Burnet of each one ounceand a half white VVine and water of the Smiths Forge of each a quarter of a Pint then take two little baggs about a quarter of a yard long and half a quarter broad boyl them in the Waters with the Drugs or Simples in them and in a new glazed Pipkin and use them successively as occasion requires To make an exceeding convenient Searcloath to ease the pain and reduce the Body into good temperament Take Virgins wax 8 ounces Spermaceti and Venice Turpentine well washed in Rose and Plantane water of each an ounce and a half adding to them whilst they are melting an ounce of white Lead of Venice pulverized and having by the operation of the Fire well mixed them together spread them Plaisterwise upon a Cloath fit to cover the Belly as far as it is convenient some of this you may lay upon the Nipples having first anointed them with Oyl of Acrons of Spermaceti and it will allay the inflammation and much strengthen them To cleanse a VVoman before she rises Take a considerable quantity of bitter Almonds peel them bruise them well and make them into a Past with the Yolk of an Egg and Powder of Grise put the Past into a bag of Shamy and dip it in black Wine tempering it well and use it upon the place where the Sear-cloaths have been laid and after that wash the said places with black Wine wherein Orange flowers have been steeped and it will cleanse these parts to admiration CHAP. XXVII How to expell the Chollick from Women in Child-Birth and the violent Griping that attend the first Delivery THese Pains frequently afflict the Woman no less than the pangs of her Labour and are by the ignorant taken many times the one for the other sometimes again they joyn Forces and happen at the same instant which is occasioned by the crudy matter in the Stomach contracted through indigestion and whilst such a Pain lasts the Woman advanceth nothing towards her Travel to expel the fits of the Chollick therefore Take two ounces of sweet Almond Oyl and an ounce of Cinnamon-water with 3 or 4 drops of Spirit of Ginger and let the Woman drink it off and if this work not your desire make a Glyster of Cammomile Baum leaves Olive-Oyl and new Milk concocting the former in the latter and having strained it very well administer it as 't is usual in such cases nor are Fomentations proper for dispelling wind amiss If the pain prove the griping or fretting of the Guts continuing long after Delivery or if it happen upon the Courses descending by reason of the smallness of the Veins which convey the Blood into the Matrix which often befalls Women lying in of their first Child wherefore it is altogether convenient to use such a Remedy at such a time as may eradicate the cause for the future and above all I recommend this most approved one used with success by many Noble Women Recepe Of the Root of great Camfory a dram Nutmegs and Peach-Kernels of each two scruples yellow Amber and Amber grease of the former a dram and the latter a scruple bruise them together and give them the Woman as soon as she is layed down in two or three Spoonfuls of White-wine but if it so happen that she be feverish then let it be in as much warm Broth. CHAP. XXVIII The approved Receipts for hindring the Monthly Flux in Women with Child also to cause Women that are fearful and subject to Abortion to contain the Birth Together with preparatory Ointments to be used before the time of Delivery and Directions for staying or preventing Vomiting much incident to Women with Child TO hinder the Superfluity or Eflux dangerous to VVomen far gone with Child Take the Oyl of Roses Virgins-wax juice of Male Knot-grass of each 3 ounces Bolearmonick Crocus Martis of each six drams melt them and bruise them till they become plyant and capable of being spread Plaster wise and when the Flux descends lay it to her Loyns whilst she lies in the bed Or to the same effect you may take Crocus Martis a dram Knot-grass juice 4 ounces Rose-water and Vinegar of each one ounce adding to them the white of an Egg and apply them cold upon a Linnen Cloath to her Loins IOf the VVoman be fearful of containing the Birth and reject to Abortion Take the Roots of Tormentile and Snake-weed of each an ounce and a half Joubertus Astringent Powder Mirtle-berries Psida Pomgraner Flowers of each six drams Dragons-blood and Spong-Bedeguar of each half an ounce Frankincense and Mastick of each 3 drams Nutmeg and Cloves of each half a dram common Pich six ounces Cinnamon a dram Venice Turpentine washed in the juice of Shepheards purse 2 ounces of Ship Pitch 3 ounces Virgin-wax two ounces melt and well imbody them till they become pliable to be spread Plaister-wise and apply the Plaister upon Leather to the Reins To make an Oyntment exceeding useful before Delivery Take the Oyls of white Lilly Roots and Cammomile each 4 ounces new Hogs-Seam strained and fresh Butter of each an ounce and a half Muscilage of the Seed of Fenegreck extracted in Mugwort-water 2 ounces the Powder of round Billwort Roots and Saffron of each two drams Wax an
perform that effect which Hippocrates speaketh of namely the piercing up to the inner part of the Mouth yet this is no infallible Argument of the Husbands Barrenness nor of the Fruitfulness of the Wife since want of Children may arise through an unapt disposition in them both in respect of the Correspondency of Qualities for it hath oftentimes happened that a Man who could not have Children by one Wife hath had them by another the like also hath befallen Woman What the Correspondency should be which the Man and Wife ought to bear each to other is expressed by Hipprcrates in these Words If the hot answer not the cold and the dry the moist with measure and quantity that is if there meet not in the Womb two Seeds the one hot the other cold the one dry the other moist extended in equal degree there can be no Generation for so marvellous a work as the Formation of Man could not be peform'd without a proportionable commixture of Seed and the Womans were both of the same temperature To exemplifie what I have said it is to be concluded that a Woman who is wily ill condition'd shrill-voiced lean swarthy coloured and deformed which are the signs of cold and moist in the first degree may conceive by a Man who is ignorant good natured sweet voyc'd corpulent having little Hair a well coloured Face and a handsome Body which are the signs of hot and dry in the first degree in regard she retaineth a mean in all those signs above-mentioned is most like to be Fruitful because she comes nearest in proportion to Men of each several temperature But from the first of these Unions or conjoyning of Man and Woman are most likely to issue the wisest Childen because the dryness of the Mother correcteth and amendeth the defect of the Father Moreover it is requisite that Woman be dried by a mature Age and not marry over young for from thence it comes to pass most commonly that Children prove shallow and indued with little wit CHAP. XXXVII A Word of Advice to both Sexes in the time of Copulation WHen the Husband cometh into hi Wives Chamber he must entertain her with all kind of dalliance wanton behaviour and allurements to Venery but if he perceive her to be slow and more cold he must cherish embrace and tickle her and shall not abruptly the Nerves being suddenly distended break into the Field of Nature but rather shall creep in by little and little intermixing more wanton Kisses with wanton Words and Speeches handling her Secret Parts and Dugs that she may take fire and be inflamed to Venery for so at length the Womb will strive and wax fervent with a desire of casting forth its own Seed and receiving the Mans Seed to be mixed together therewith But if all these things will not suffice to inflame the Woman for Women for the most part are more slow and slack unto the expulsion or yielding forth of their Seed it shall be necessary first to foment her Secret Parts with the Decoction of hot Herbs made with Muscadine or boyled in any other good Wine and to put a little Musk or Civet into the Neck or Mouth of the Womb and when she shall perceive the Flu of her Seed to approach by reason of the tickling pleasure she must advertise her Husband thereof that at the very instant time or moment he may also yield forth his Seed that by the concourse or meeting of the Seeds Conception may be made and so at length a Child formed and born And that it may have better Success the Husband must not presently separate himself from his Wifes Embraces lest the Air strike into the open Womb and so corrupt the Seeds before they are perfectly mixed together when the Man departs let the Woman lye still in quiet laying her Legs or her Thighs a-cross one upon another and raising them up a little lest that by motion or downward situation the Seed should be shed or spilt which is the cause why she ought at that time not to talk especially chiding nor to Cough or Sneese but to give her self to rest and quietness if it be possible Thus Reader have I finished the difficult Mystery of Generation as I hope to the Satisfaction of all Modest and Ingenious Persons FINIS In Stecquer a Village of Saxony they say a Monster was born with four Feet Eyes Mouth and Nose like a Calf with a round and red Excrescence of Flesh on the Forchead and also a piece of Flesh like a Hood hung from his Neck upon his back and it was deform'd with its Thighs torn and cut Parrey saith that Anno Dom. 1573. he saw at St. Andrews Church in Paris a Boy Nine Years old born in the Village Parpavilla six miles from Guise his Fathers Name was Peter Renard and his Mother Marquete He ahd but two Fingers on his right Hand his Arm was well proportioned from the top of his Shoulder almost to his Wrest but from thence to his two Fingers ends it was very deformed he wanted his Legs and Thighs although from the right Buttock a certain unperfect Figure having only four Toes seemed to put it self forth from the midst of the left buttock two Toes sprung out the one of which was not much unlike a Mans Yard as you may see by the Figure The Effigies of a monstrous Child by reason of the defect of the matter of Seed Anno Dom. 1493. there was generated of a Woman and a Dogg an issue which from the Navel upwards perfectly resembled the shape of the Mother but therehence downwards the Sire that is the Dogg This Monster was sent to the Pope that then Reigned as Volaterane writeth Also Cardane mentions it wherefore I have here given you the Figure thereof The Effigies of a Monster half Man and half Dogg About the time that Pope Julius the Second raised up all Italy and the greatest part of Christendome against Lewis the Twelfth the King of France in the Year of our Lord 1512. in which Year upon Easter-day near Ravenna was Fought that Mortal Battle in which the Popes Forces were overthrown a Monster was Born in Ravenna having a Horn upon the Crown of his Head and besides two Wings and one Foot alone most like to Feet of Birds of Prey and in the Knee thereof an Eye the Privities of Male and Female the rest of the body like a Man as you may see by this Figure The Figure of a Winged Monster We have read in Heliodorus that Persna Queen of Aethiopia by her Husband Hidustes being also an Aethiope had a Daughter of a white Complexion because in the Embraces of her Husband by which she proved with Child she earnestly fixed her eye and mind upon the Picture of the fair Andromeda standing opposite to her Damascene reports that he saw a Maid hairy like a Bear which had that Deformity by no other cause or occasion than that her Mother earnestly beheld in the very instant of receiving and conceiving the Seed the Image of St. John covered with a Camels skin hanging upon the post of the bed They say Hippocrates by this Explication of the Causes freed a certain Noble Woman from suspicion of Adultery who being white her self and her Husband also white brought forth a Child as black as an Aethiopian because in Copulation she strongly and continually had in her mind he Picture of the Aethiope The Effigies of a Maid all Hairy and an Infant that was black by the Imagination of their Parents Jovianus Pontanus tells in the Year 1529. the ninth day of January there was a Man-Child born in Germany having four Arms and as many Legs FINIS
discovered by many Symptoms as when Nature fringes the obscure parts and their Terms flow at the time appointed which is usually in the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age when as the Seed increaseth in some sooner and in others later according to their Habits or Constitutions And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery And by the Retention of the Seed many times it falls out that they are cruelly afflicted with fainting Fits and strangling of the Mother for all learned Physicians are of Opinion that more harm comes by the Seed corrupting than by their Courses being unseasonably obstructed for the Seed derogates to a venomous quality and from the effects thereof arise the Swarth and weasel Colour in Maids when they begin to be in Love and desirous of Copulation as also their short Breathings Tremblings and Pantings of the Heart The Expulsive Faculties being moved to cast out the superfluous Humour But if they happen to be Married to their own Content these afflictions vanish and their native Beauty returns more gay than before nor is their eager gazing desiring to associate themselves with Men a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordain'd Their due of which sometimes being by obdurate Parents debarred in a lawful way breaking the bounds of modesty rather than enduring such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves they satiate their desire in unlawful Love The same may in all Particulars be observed in young brisk Widows whom Death that Enemy of sweet Conjugal Love has separated from the Bosom of their Husbands At fourteen Years of Age commonly the Terms in Virgins begins to flow and then they are capable of Conceiving and so continue generally till forty four at what time for the most part the Eflux being stayed they are no longer capable of Generation unless such as are exceeding healthful strong of body and have used themselves to Temperance who have appear'd to be delivered of Children till fifty five Years but such Prodigies rarely happen although the Terms extend sarther in some Women than in others but many times such Eflux proceeds not from any natural cause but by reason of some violent straining or other violence and does often endanger the life of the Party And therefore young Men that marry Women surmounting the Age aforesaid if they expect Children unless by Miracle must labour against the Wind though if an old Man that is not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency marry a brisk lively Lass there is hopes even to threescore and ten and some that are extraordinary lusty till fourscore Hypocrates that Famous and Learned Physician is of Opinion that a Youth at 16 years or between that and 17 having much vital strength may be capable of getting Children and that force and heat of Procreating matter continually increases till 45 50 65. and at the end of the latter begins to flagg the Seed by little and little becoming unfruitful the natural Spirits being extinguished and the humours dried up and in general most Physicians at this day do observe it but as to particulars as I have before mentioned it often happeneth otherwise nay 't is reported by a credible Author that in the Reign of Erecus King of Sweedland a Man was married at a Hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children by her but looked so fresh that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age. In Campania where the Air is temperate serene and calm men of 80 years usually marry young Virgins and have Children by them which argues that Age in men hinders not Procreation unless they be exhausted in their Youth and their Members shriveled up If any ask why a Women is sooner barren than a Man I answer the Cause is the natural Heat which is more predominant in the latter than in the former for since a Woman is more moist than a Man as her Courses do most evidently demonstrate as also the softness of her Body 't is also apparent that he doth exceed her in Native heat and as for that heat it is the chief thing that concocts the Humours and changes them into the substance of the Seed which Aliment the Woman wanting grows fat when a Man by reason of that heat melts his fat by degrees and his Humours are dissolved but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed and this may for the better Confirmation of what I propose be added That the Woman is not so strong as a Man nor so wise and prudent nor hath so much reason nor is so ingenious in contriving her Affairs whereby the Faculties are hindered in their operation And so I conclude my Assertion CHAP. II. General and particular Rules laid down by Learned Physicians how to proceed in getting a Male or Female Child and of the Embrio and perfect Birth and the Season sittest for Copulation WHen a young likely Couple have entred the holy State of Wedlock are desirous of mutual enjoyment for Generation sake which is the chief end for which Wedlock was ordain'd and rather covet to be blessed with one Sex than another let them know first for certain that the Success of such things depends upon Divine Providence tho' secondary causes must be actual and instrumental therein and those are especially two First the Genital Humour which proceeds partly from the Brain and partly from the Liver the Fountain of Blood then the spirit that is conveyed by Arteries from the Heart by force whereof the Yard is erected and made capable to eject the Seed and partly it flows from the whole Body without exception To which may be added the Appetite and desire to Copulation which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies or by the sight and feeling a brisk charming Beauty whose wit and liveliness may much incite and more inflame the Courage but if Nature be infeebled then are there fit artificial Remedies to restore it viz. such meats as most conduce to the affording such aliment as proves to make Seed abound and restore the decaies of Nature that the Faculties may freely opporate for as Dung and well manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so seasonable and proper Diet opporates to the restoring the faint heart weak spirit coldness and dryness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since the Diet may and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such meat only as tend to render them fruitful and among such things as are inducing and stirring up thereto are all meats of good juice that nourish well and makes the body lively and full of sap of which Faculty are all hot moist meats for according to Gallen the substance of Seed is
made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of Blood from whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate or heap up Seed as also to augment it and other things of force to cause Erection and Ejection of Humour as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Guatsappers Thrushes Black birds young Pidgeons Sparrows Partridge Capons Almones Pine-nuts Rasons Currants all strong Wines moderately taken especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but the Genitals are chiefly erected and provoked by Satyrium Eringoes Cresses Eressimum Parsnips Artichokes Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candid Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to powder and drunk in Muscadel Scallions Sea-shell Fish c. And these though excellent Restoratives will not have present Operation but you must use your self to them sometime before you handle your Arms or your Wife will grudg the charge for when Husbands will win their Wives favour then they shall account nothing too good nor too dear for them then must they be well prepared to enter this Conflict and when they find themselves so to be they must take the opportunity of doing their business well and that is when the monthly Terms are over lest the Seed be hindred from coagulating and fermenting and the Womb be rendred unfit for Conception When therefore the Terms are finished and the Womb well cleansed they must proceed decently and not over rashly tho' courage and activity must not be wanting nor the force of Imagination and having performed what is necessary the Woman must gently repose on her right side with her head lying low and her body sinking down that by sleeping in that Posture the cells on the right side of the Matrix may prove the receptacles of the Seed in which are the greatest force of Generative heat which is the chief inducement to the procreation of Male Children and rarely misses to answer the expectation of such as experience it especially if they keep themselves warm and without much motion leaning for the most part to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juyce of Hysop in a Glass of Malligo or Aligant when they lie down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and the Moons Sign is Virgo Scorpio or Sagitarius This Order may be observed for a Female Child by lying as aforesaid on the left-side and strongly sancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if the Woman drink the decoction of Female Mercury four days from the first day of Purgation the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the juyce or concoction of these Simples are of force the one to purge the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby open the Receptacles making a way for the Semenary of Generation and the best time to copulate for this Sex is when the Moon is in the Wain and the Sign in Libra or Aquarius for then they will be of a most gentle affable temper very fair and perfect in all their Members Avicenna an Author of good repute describes the time of Procreation thus When saith he the Terms are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at most if a Man lye with his Wife from the first day she is purged to the fifth she will conceive a Male but from the fifth to the eighth day a Female and from the eighth to the twelfth a Male again but after that number of days peradventure neither distinctly but both in an Hermophrodite And thus this Opinion of his by the Learned is explained viz. for as much as the first day the Womâ—â—eing cleansed and the sordid humour perfectly purged forth the Matrix has more heat whereby the Seed of either Sex are better contracted and take surer place on the right-side of the Womb by the attracting force of the Liver and right Kidney from which also in those days het Blood is derived for the Nutriment of the Child that shall be for the left part as being cold numb'd and void of Blood cannot contribute any thing so soon as the Terms are purged but Blood is drawn later and more sparingly from the Veins on the left side which are called emulgent Veins that creep about the Milt and left Kidney so that at length after the first day until the eighth day some Blood comes forth of them whereby the Child is to be nourish'd so that when these Parts perform their Office and the right-side ceases by reason of the Situation and cold Nutriment a Female is generated after the eighth day the parts on the right side opporate again Blood comes from them to nourish the Male after these circuit of days because the menstrual Blood flows without distinction from all parts and the Matrix is made too moist with cold Humors flowing into it and the Seed adheres to neither side but floats in the middle of the Womb the Seed of either Sex confounded or confused and out of due Place and Order fixed at last in the Cell at the bottom of the Womb generates an Hermophrodite tho' sometimes such unusual and unuatural Conceptions are occasioned by the indecency of Copulation when preposterously the Woman in the Act lies uppermost and the Man under her or by the force of strange Imaginations but many are of Opinion such Births happen through the powerful influence of Mercury and Venus in conjunction In a word they that would be commended for their Wedlock Actions and be happy in the fruit of their labour must observe to copulate at distance of time not too often nor yet too seldom for both these hurt Fruitfulness alike for to eject immoderately weakens a Man and wasts his Spirits and too often causes the Seed by long continuance to be ineffectual and not manly enough And thus much for the first general and particular from whence I shall proceed to the second which is to give the Reader to understand how the Child is formed in the Womb and what Accidents it is incident to how nourished and when brought forth Certain it is there are various Opinions concerning this matter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the curious lay down the Opinions of the learned as thus Man consists of the Seed of both united in the Matrix by Copulation and for the first seven days the Mothers Blood running to it it grows in shape like an Egg but there is a forming faculty and virtue in the Seed from a divine and heavenly gift it being abundantly indued with Vital and Etherial Spirit which gives shape and form to the Child so that all the parts and bulk of the Body which is made up in the space of many months and is by degrees framed and formed into a decent and comely Figure of a Man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby on which Holy David contemplating
of the Womb and by inclining himself he rowls downward for he cannot longer be obscured in those hiding places than he can find Nutriment from the Navel and the heat of the Heart can subsist without external respiration wherefore being grown great he is more and more desirous of Nutriment and Light when coveting the Etherial Air he by strugling to obtain it breaks the membrains and Coverings whereby he was restrained and fenced against Attrition and for the most part with bitter Pangs of the Mother issucth forth to view the Day commonly in the ninth Month for then the Matrix divided and Oss Pubis being loosened the Woman strives what she can to cast forth her burthen and the Child doing the like to get forth by the help of its inbred strength the Birth comes to be perfect but if the Child be dead then more dangerous is the Delivery tho' Nature as a kind Commiserator often helpeth the Womans weakness herein but the Child that is quick and lively labours no less than the Woman Now there are Bitths at 7 or 8 months and some Women go to the 10th month but of these and the Reasons for them I shall speak more largely in another place and at present proceed to unrayel other mysteries of Nature CHAP. III. The Reason why Children are often like their Parents and what the Mathers Imagination contributes thereto How the Mother contributes Seed and is a Companion in the whole Generation and whence grows the Kind viz. Whether the Man or the Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Child c. IT is the opinion of learned Physicians grounded upon reason That if a Woman in the Act of Copulation afford most Seed her likeness will have the greater impression upon the Child but if on the contrary then will follow the contrary effects or if a proportionable quantity proceed from either then will the Similitude depend upon either Lactantius is of opinion That when a Mans seed falls on the left side of the womb a Male Child may be gotten but by reason it is the proper place for a Female there will be something in it greatly resembling a Woman viz. It will be fairer whiter and smoother not very subject to have hair on the Body or Clain long lank hair on the Head the Voice small and sharp and the Courage feeble and arguing yet further he says that a Female may perchance be procreated if the Seed fall on the right side but then through extraordinary heat she will be very large boned full of Courage indued with a big Voice and have her Chin and bosom hairy not being so clear as others of the Sex subject to quarrel with her Husband when married for the superiority c. yet in case of the similitude nothing is more powerful than the imagination of the Mother for if she conceive in her mind or do by chance fasten her eyes upon any Object and imprint it in her Memory the Child in its out ward parts frequently has some representation thereof so whilst a Man and Woman are in the Act of Copulation if the Woman earnestly behold his Countenance and fix her mind thereon without all peradventure the Child will resemble the Father nay so powerful is its Operation that though a Woman be in unlawful Copulation yet if fear or any thing else causes her to fix her mind upon her Husband the Child will resemble him tho' he never got it The same effect according to the opinion of the Learned proceeds from Imagination in cause of Warts Moldspots Stains Dashes and the figures of strange things though indeed they sometimes happen thro' frights or extravagant longings Many Women there are that seeing a Hare cross them when great with Child will through the strength of imagination bring forth a Child with a hairy-lip Some Children again are born with flat Noses wry Mouths great bluber Lips and ill shaped Bodies and most ascribe the reason to the strange conceit of the Mother who has busied her Eyes and Mind upon some ill shaped or distorted Creature therefore it greatly behoves all Women with Child to avoid any monstrous sight or at least to have a stedfast mind not easily fixed upon any one thing more than another And this opinion Pliny confirms in his 7th Book of natural things and the 12th Chapter The Famour Sir Thomas More likewise confirms it and discants merrily on a Passage of his times wherein a Person having divers Children would own none but one that was like him when in the end it proved by the asseveration of the Mother that all except that were of his own begetting but whilst another man was mounted in his Saddle she fearing that he would come and detect her in the Act had her imagination so fix'd on him that as she conceived the similitude could proceed from no other cause wherefore it is apparent that likeness can confiirm no Child to be a lawful Fathers own yet in manners wit and the propension of the mind daily examples reach us that Children which have all force and Spirits from the faculty of the Seed are commonly of the same condition with their progenitors and of the same nature but there is much in this whether venery be used with great or weak desire for many are less venerous and not so hot and consequeutly not so desirous of copulation but rather decline it unless the obstreporusness of their Wives cause them to complyance therein and then they proceed faintly and drowsily whence it happens that the Children fall short of the Parents nature wit and manners and hence it is that wise men frequently beget stupid sloathful Children of feeble minds because they are not much given to these delights but as I said on the contrary when the Progenitors are hot in venerious Actions and do liberally and abundantly employ themselves therein it oftentimes happens that the Children are of the same desires manners and actions of the mind with their Parents And thus much for the first point now I shall proceed to the Second which is to prove that the mother 's equally contributing to the making the Child c. Though it is apparent that the Seed of man is the chief efficient and beginning of action motion and Generation yet that the Woman does afford seed and effectually contributes in that particular to the procreation of the Child is evinced by strong reasons in the first place Seminary Vessels had been given them in vain and genital Testicles inverted if the Woman wanted Seminal excessence for being Nature doth nothing in vain therefore it must be granted that they were made for the use of seed and procreation and fixed in their proper places both the Testacles and Receptacles of Seed whose nature and force is to operate and afford fruitful vertue to the Seed and to prove this there needs no stronger Argument than that if a Woman do not use Copulation to eject her Seed she oftentimes falls into
matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin or Film as for her Toes there was not the least appearance of Nailes about them by reason they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart These and the like weighty matters being considered and above all one Gentlewoman of quality that assisted affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of them had been born and lived a 7 Months they without favour to any party made their report that the infant was a Child of 7 Months and so must be accounted though it was born within the seventh Month for that in such cases the revolution or circute of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less then 28 days in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the Moons force the Courses of the Woman flow from them which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood which happens on the 5th day then if on the 7th day a Man lye with his Wife the copulation is most natural and the conception best and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month and prove very healthful so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent upon proof that he was a hundred miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot own as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being forced in the dark and that through fear and surprize was left in ignorance though Physitians are of opinion that if a Woman prove with Child it cannot be accounted a Rape for unless she cast forth her Seed to commix with the Man which imploys a willingness in her to be a Copartner in the Act the Child cannot be formed but my opinion is that poor silly Girls strugling to defend themselves in case of such violence and not in such fear and perplexity regarding the nicety of containing their Humour the Seminary Vessels by an natural proneness will open and the Seed in such cases whether they desire it or not will flow to commix with the Man 's in the Matrix and by coagulating with the Blood that descends to nourish it will form the Child and thus much for these particulars For for Copulation it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Childen so begotten creating in them through the abundant ill humour divers lingering and languishing Diseases wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man wherefore Midwives and other skilful Women in former days were wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture or guess at their temper and state of Body and young men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of life and death for if the cases of the Testicles be loose and feeble and the Cods fall down it denotes the natural faculties and vital Spirits whichare the props of Life are fallen but if the Secret parts be wrinkled and raised up the Yard at any occasion so requiring standing stif it is a Sign all will be well but that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction it is necessary to consider what part of the Body the disease possesseth for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted as he Head or Stomach then will it not so well appear by the Members which frequently are unconcerned with such grievances but the lower part of the body exactly sympathizing with them their liveliness on the contrary makes it apparent for Natures force and the Spirits that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwives often to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident and whether life or death be portended thereby the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Vessels that have their intercourse with the principal Seats of Life CHAP. IX The cause of the Green sickness in Virgins with its Symptoms and Directions for its cure Together with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women and by what means to remove the Cause and render them fruitful THE sormer of these ill conveniencies is too apparent in Virgins especially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion evidently shewing it self by discolouring the Face in making it look green pale or of a dusky yellow which proceeds from raw undigested humours nor only does it appear to the Eye but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses with difficulty of breathing pains in the Head Palpitation of the Heart unusual beating and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the humour be very vicious also loathing of meat and distension of the Hypocondrick part by reason of the inordinate reflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels and by reason of the abundance of humour the whole body is often troubled with swelling or if not at least the Thighs Legs and Ankles all above the Heels Now this affliction proceeds from crude raw and undigested Humours arising from the suppression of the monthly Courses by reason of the natural narrowness of the Vessels or their accidental Contraction by violent motion but oftner through eating Chalk Oat-meal Tobacco-pipes Loame Starch Nutmegs and drinking of Vinegar for thereby an ill Concoction in the Bowels is occasioned and the Humours moreover contracted into the habit of the body become habitual and concordant with it many of these Afflictions happen through the long Retention of the Seed when Virgins are ripe for the Act of Generation which vitiating the Vessels spread it into evil Humours Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation as may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the Humours being diffused and dispressed they will soon wast themselves and then no more matter being administred to increase them they will vanish and a good temperament of Body will return but in case such a Conjunction cannot be had so soon as necessity requires then let the Damsel blood in the Heel and if she be about 16 you may do it likewise in the Arm though sufer her not to bleed overmuch especially if any pure blood come forth for then the vitiated Humour clinging to the Veins will stay behind and that bloods loss render her less capable to oppose them If the diseases be of any continuance then is itto be eradicated by purgation preparation of the Humour being first considered which may be done by the Virgins drinking decoction of Guaicum with Dittany of Creet but the best Purge in this case ought to be made of Aloes Agrick Juice of Lavin Succorrina and for the unobstructing of the Humour take prepared Steel Bazoar-stone the Root of Scorzonera and Oyl of Christal
that the Seed has no free passage then the cause must be enquired into and this often happens the which is known by the small desire to Venery and the little or no pleasure or satisfaction received thereby a settling in the Courses and a slimy Fâ—â—gmatick matter mixed therewith as also by their inordinate flowing occasioned by the plenty of humours collected in the Womb which by reason of the abundant of windy Vapours contracted therein causes obstruction to which may be added the cruditie and wateryness of the Seed which debars the pleasure in ejection and from hence it is that sudden paleness arises in the face c. To remedy this the party must alter her Diet not eating any cold raw Flegmatick substance but rather such things as are apt to stir up Cholerick hot humours in the Body as Anniseeds or Carraway-seeds in her Bread Store of Peniroyal in her Broth let her likewise each morning for a week together make a Posset in which she must boil the Roots of Birthwort Angelico Sage Rosemary Cinamon and Burrage The takeing the Male Herb Mercury Dittany Centaury Marygolds Cubeds Safron Mugwort and Clovegilly-flowers of each a handful boil them in white Wine and eject the Concoction by little and little at sundry times as the cold or obstruction can be perceived Anointing the Belly and Reins of the back one day with Oyl of Cinamon the next with Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace and the 3d. with Oyl of Myrrh and so continuing to do for a month together When the Woman lies down Nature will be wonderfully restored and recover such force as to remove to Obstructions Barrenness is likewise caused through want of due proportion of Seed in either party to remedy which let their Diet be such as I have prescribed in the former part of this Book Chap. II. Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by inchantation but those opinion s are altogether frivolous and vain If the Womb be defective in attracting the Seed ejected Men frequently labour in vain in such a case the Woman must avoid Sorrow Anger or much Sleep Eating new Cheese Milk and raw food especially Lettis Endive Spinage Beets Nuts Cherries Purstain Oynions Garlick and the like They all being hurtful to Generation nor must she drink nor use Vinegar nor eat the Fat of Meat too frequently but the Womb must be cleansed from the over abundant moisture with the decoction of Hearts Tongue a Herb so called Cummin Fenel and Anniseed and strengthned with the Sirup of Wormwood and for a gentle opperative Purge in this case take half an ounce of Laudanun Bees-wax Sheeps Suet and Agarick of each a like quantity melt and bruise them after which make them up into little Pills and take 3 in a morning and next to them take of this conception to the bigness of an Nutmeg viz. The shavings of Ivory Ash Keys Yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler Montanus with red and white Behen of each one Dram Cinaman Galinga Long-pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam-wood Rosemary Flowers Blatiae Bezaria Gentle Marjorum and Pennyroyal of each 4 Scruples Balm Bogluss Cittern Reils of each two Scruples Pearl disolved or beaten to power one Scruple Musk two Grains White-Sugar one pound and a half bruise them and seeth them over a gentle fise in as much Malmsey as will make them into a Confection This Confection is indeed a most singular and approved one in all cases of Barrenness where cold or obstructions of the Vessels do occasion weakness in the Womb. Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows far so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its Bounds with its fatness obstructs the Passage into the Womb to prevent which the Woman must not sleep over much especially in the day time nor feed riotously but exercise her self in walking or moderate Exercises and often use Purgation and strong Glysters made of such Herbs and Drugs that are hot and dry which will in a short time remove such Obstructions But a more dangerous cause of Barrenness than yet I have named are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of an excrementitious Humour collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood incident to Yonng and Old at such times as they are capable of Generation and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art and renders Women inevitably barren occasioning Leanness Consumption Melancholly Dropsie falling of the Womb swooning Convulsions which renders it difficult and dangerous in long continuance though in the beginning it may be easily removed In the Cure of this let Phlebotomy or Blood letting be avoided for as much as the bad Humour must be by no means recalled to defile the Blood the Disease it self being a sufficient weakning of the Body and vital Spirits First then to discuss the Humour in order to its Expurgation take two ounces of Guaicum the like quantity of China and Lentick-wood decoct them in Water and Honey drinking a pint fresh made each morning then to dry â—p the Contraction of the Vessels or Humour that lodged there take the Root of â—ilipendula beat it to powder and drink it in White-wine Morning and Evening as also for Astringents use Bones burnt and beat to powder likewise the ashes of Capons Dung ejected after a long time steeping in fair water the Patient must likewise avoid sleeping upon her Back lest the Humour descend and contract in the Vessels of the Womb but let her be rubbed often to disperse them that they settle not in any one place Sometimes this occasion of Barrenness happens through the violent attraction of the VVomb and then appears signs of afflictions of the Womb the Fiux not being so great to cure which Suffumarions are the most proper and those may be made of Frankinsence Laudanum Santalum or Mastick the Woman upon such occasion having great regard to her self that she take not cold or proceed to intemperate Diet. Many women there are whose violent lust contracts a heat that destroys the Seed and renders it incapable of coagulating and mixing with the Blood which very sparingly on such occasions flow from the several parts to the womb In this case 't is requisite to avoid hot Air soft lying hot Meats and Spices and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein and Purge moderately with Electuary hâ—m de Epithijmo and juice of Roses each two drams and a half Whey half a pint mix them together and drink them fasting in the morning and so continue 4 hours after or for want of the former you may take Triphera Sarasenicia and Rhuberb of each half a dram pulverized and mixed with 2 ounces of Syrup of Roses Violets or Endive but the most excellent restorative to cool and moderate the Temper in this case is a Diet drink made as followeth viz. Take Pistacho Pingles and Eringoes of each half an ounce of Saffron a Dram Lignum Alloes Gallinga Caryophillata Mace red
Sex are so unlike each other in Substance Composition Scituation Figure Action and Use that nothing is more unequal and by how much more all other parts of the body the Brests excepted which in Women swell more because of their secondary use have an exact resemblance so much the more in resemblance are the Genital parts of one Sex compared with the other unalike and if their Figure he thus different much more is their use for Women contribute the matter but Men the form in case of Generation The Venerial Appetite also proceeds from different causes for in Men it proceeds from a desire of Emission and in Women from a desire of Completion in Women also the chiefest of those parts are concave and apt to receive but in Men they are only porous and in a Woman Solid These things considered I cannot but wonder added he how any one can imagine that the Genital Member of Female Births should be changed into those that belong to Males since by those parts only the difference and distinction of Sexes is made nor can I well impute the reason of this vulgar Error to any thing but the mistake of unexpert Midwives who have been deceived by the evil conformation of the parts which in some Male Births may have happened to have had some small protrusion not to have been discerned as appeared by the example of a Child Christned at Paris by the Name of Joan as if it had been a Girl when as afterwards it proved a Boy and on the contrary the over-far extension of the Clytoris in Female Births may have occasioned the like mistakes Thus far Plinaeus proceeds in the negative yet notwithstanding his negation there are not wanting divers learned Physicians that have asserted the affirmative of which number Galen is one a Man saith he is different from a Woman in nothing else but having his Genital members without his body and this is certain that if Nature having formed a Man would convert him into a Woman she hath no other task to perform but to turn his Genital member inward a Woman into a Man by doing the contrary But this is to be understood of the Child when it is in the Womb and not perfectly formed for divers times Nature hath made a Female Child and it has so remained in the Belly of the Mother for a month or two and afterward plenty of heat increasing in the Genital Members upon some occasion they have issued forth and the Child has become a Male yet retaining some certain Gestures unbefitting the Masculine Sex as Female Actions a shrill Voice and more feeble than ordinary contrariwise Nature often having made a Male and cold Humours flowing to it the Genitals have been inverted yet still retaining a Man like fashion both in Voice and Gesture Now these opinions considered I am rather inclinable to believe the latter as a thing altogether probable for there is not that vast difference between the Members of the two Sexes as Plinaeus would have us believe there is for the Woman has in a manner the same Members with the Man though they appear not outwardly but are inverted for the conveniency of Generation the main difference being that one is more solid than the other and that the chief reason of changing Sexes is and must be attributed to heat or cold suddainly or stowly contracted which operates according to its greater or lesser force And thus much for these two particulars leaving which I shall proceed to lay down seasonable and necessary instructions or directions for Midwives c. opening in that discourse a Cabinet of many rare Secrets not vulgarly known and indeed only fiting to be known to such as may observe and put them in practice for the publick good and in no wise convert them to obscenity CHAP. XI A Midwife how she ought to be qualified THose that undertake this great task ought by no means to enter upon it rashly or unadvisedly but with all imaginable caution well eighing and preconsidering that she is accountable for all the mischief that befalls thro' her wilful ignorance or neglect therefore let not unskilful Women take upon them this Office barely upon pretence of their Maturity of Years and Child-bearing for in such for the most part there are divers things wanting that ought to be observed which is the occasion so many Women and Children are lost now as for a Midwife in relation to her Person these things ought to be observed viz. She must not be too old nor too young neither extraordinary fat nor weakned by leanness but in a good habit of Body not subject to Diseases Fear nor sudden Frights her Body well shaped and neat in her attire her Hand smooth and small her Nails ever paired short not suffering any Rings to be upon her Fingers during the time she is doing her Office nor any thing upon her Wrists that may obstruct and to these ought to be added Activity a convenient Strength with much cution and diligence not subject to Drowziness nor Impatience As for her Manners she ought to be courteous affable sober chast and not subject to Passion bountiful and compassionate to the Poor and not covetous when she attends upon the Rich. Her Temper chearful and pleasant that she may the better comfort her Patients in their Afflictions nor must she at any time make over-much hast tho' her business be urgeht in another place lest by indangering the Mother or the Child she disgrace her Self and forfeit Heavens Blessing upon her Endeavours for the future Of Spirit she ought to be prudent wary and cunning but above all to have the fear of God before her Eyes and to imploy the Talent he has lent her to his Glory CHAP. XII Things worthy to be observed by Midwives tending to their Advancement and what they ought to avoid c. LET her that undertakes this Office attended with many circumstances of danger and disgrace take good heed to what I shall relate In the first place let her be diligent to leave nothing unsearched which may be advantagious to her practice never imagining her self so perfect but she may add to her Knowledge by study and experience yet never let her apply any remedies in that case unless she has tryed them or known them tryed with Success or at least is conscious of their force that they will do no harm doing nothing in that nature to practice upon poor or rich but speaking freely of what she knows and giving reason for the farther Confirmation thereof by no means daring to give directions for such Medicines as will cause Abortion to pleasure those that have unlawfully conceived which to do is a high degree of Wickedness and may be ranked with Murther but if any come to her with specious pretences let her send them to able Physicians and neither for fair words nor lucre be won to hearken to them If she be sent for let her know to whom she goes
observe if both the heads come foremost by putting up her hands between them as high as she can and if she find they are Twins she must gently put one of them aside to make way for the other taking that first that is most advanced having regard to the other that she change not its situation Now to prevent the first Child 's being in danger of its Life the Midwife assoon as 't is come forth must tye the Navel-string as has been before directed and also bind it again with a large and long Fillet that part of the Navel that is fastened to the Secundines the more readily to find them The Second Infant born let her diligently it quire whether there be not two Secundines for by the shortness of the Ligament it often happens that it retires back to the damage of the Woman wherefore lest in such a case the Womb should close it is most expedient to hasten them forth with all convenient speed If two Infants are joyned together by the body as sometimes monstrously falls out then although the Heads comes foremost yet is it convenient if possible to turn them and draw them forth by the feet observing when they come to the Hips to draw them forth as swift as may be and in this case great care ought to be observed in anointing and widening the passage And thus much for Extremity or Unnatural-births and the next thing I shall proceed to is how to order the Woman after Natural or Unnatural Births or Delivery CHAP. XXII What ought to be observed after Delivery c. PResently after Delivery in case of a Natural Birth especially if the Woman has had hard labour it is convenient to wrap her in the Skin of a Sheep taken off before it is cold putting the fleshy side to her Reins and Belly or for want of this the Skin of a Hare or Coney being flayed off as soon as killed may be applied to her Belly and in so doing the dilatation made in the Birth will be closed up and the ill melancholy Blood expelled from those parts And these may be continued in Summer the space of an hour and in VVinter two after which let the Woman be swathed with a fine linnen Cloth about a quarter of a Yard in length chafing her Belly before with Oyl of St. Jahuswort after that raise up the Matrix with a linnen Cloath many times solded then with a little Pillow or Quilt cover her Flanks then use the Swath somewhat above the Hanches winding it pretty stiff applying at the same time a warm cloth to her Nipples not presently applying remedies to drive back the Milk by reason the body at such a time is disordered and as it were out of frame for there is neither Vein nor Artery which does not strongly impulse where such remedies as drive back the Milk being all of a dissolving Nature it is improper to apply them to the Breast during such confusion and disorder lest by so doing evil Humours be stayed or contracted into the Breast wherefore 12 hours ought to be the least space allowed for the Circulation and Settlement of the Blood and what was cast upon the Lungs by the vehement Agitation during the Labour to retire to its proper Recepticles A while after Delivery you make a restrictive of the Yolk of two Eggs a quarter of a pint of White-wine an ounce of Oyl of St. Johns-wort as much of the Oyl of Roses Plantain and Rose-water of each one ounce bray them together fold a linnen cloath and dip it therein warm it before a gentle Fire and apply it to the Breast and the pains of those parts will be greatly eased Present sleep is not convenient but above four hours after Delivery she may take Broth Caudle or what other liquid matter is nourishing and afterward if she be disposed to sleep it may be safely permitted And this is as much in case of a Natural Birth as ought immediately to be done In case of Extremity or an unnatural Birth these Rules ought to be observed In the first place let the Woman keep a temperate Diet by no means overcharging her self after so demonstrate an Evacuation and to say true her Diet must be equal to that of wounded persons not being ruled or giving Credit to unskilful Nurses who admonish them to feed lusty the better to repair the loss of Blood for that Blood is not for the most part pure but such as has been detained in the Vessels or Membranes better avoided for the health of the Woman than kept unless there happen an extraordinary Flux of Blood for if her nourishment be over great it will indanger her falling into a Feaver nay more it will increase the Milk to superfluity which Curdling often times turns to Apostumes wherefore it is requisite for the first five days especially that she take moderately Ponado broath Poach'd Eggs Gelly of Chickens or Calves feet French Barley-broath each day somewhat increasing her allowance If she intend to be Nurse to her Child she may take a little more than ordinary to increase the Milk by degrees which must be of no continuance but drawn off either by the Child or other wise In this case likewise let her have Coriander or Fennel-Seed boyled in her Barley-broth but by any means for the time specified let her abstain from Meat If no Feaver trouble her she may drink now and then a small quantity of White-wine or Claret as also Syrup of Maiden-Hair or other Syrup that is astringent takeing it in a little Water well boyled And after the suspition of a Feaver or fear of contraction of Humours in the breast she may be nourished more plentifully with the broath of Pullets Capons Pidgeons Muton Veal c. Which must not be till after eight days from the day of delivery is over at what time the Womb unless some accident hinder has purged if self it will then likewise be expedient to give her cold Meats sparingly that so she may be inabled to gather strength she during the time resting quiet and free from disturbance not sleeping in the day time if she can avoid it If there happen any obstruction in the evacuation of Excrement a Glyster may be administred to help the defect made after the manner following Receipt Of both the Mallows and Pelletory of the Wall a handful of each Cammomile and Mellilot Flowers of each a handful Anni-seeds and Fennel-seeds of each two ounces boyd them in the decoction of a Sheeps head and take of this 3 quarters dissolving in them of common Honey and course Suger two ounces of each and of new fresh Butter 3 ounces strained well and administer it Glysterwise but if it operate not to your mind then may you an ounce of Catholicon CHAP. XXIII What ought to be done to the Child when newly born with divers other matters relating thereto THE Navel of the Child having been before recited the Midwise must cleanse the Infant not
only in the Face but likewise the whole Body anointing the Groyn Hips Buttocks with Oyl of sweet Almonds or Oyl of Roses to make the Skin supple and close the Pores thereby to exclude the penetration of the Air and strengthen the Members nor would it be amiss if she should take the decoction of Roses or Rose-Cakes and red Sage decected in White Wine and bath the Child therewith the decoction being blood-warm The Infant being thus well anointed or suppled and well dried wrap it up warm and give it a spoonful of Sugar and Mallago or a Sctuple of Mithridate or Venice Treacle dissolved in half a spoonful of Canary and after it a little Cardus-water observing to bath or anoint it each morning as aforesaid If the Child have extream throws immediately afcer it comes into the World it must be rubed with the juice of Peletory or the Deeoction into which fresh Butter is melted or for wanting of that Spiriage Juice with Hogs Grease applied to the Navel with new layed Eggs mixed or cemented with Nut-Oyl laying them likewise to the Navel or you may administer a Clyster made of Milk the Yolk of an Egg and a small quantity of Sugar which will undoubtedly ease the pain Now some Children are born of evil constituted Parents or are defective thro' the evil nourishment the Woman has unadvisedly taken during her pregnancy which occasions the Child to be much afflicted with flegmatick Humours to expel which you must lay the Child on one side and then turn him to the other for layed upon the back it is subject to Suffocation or Strangling by the ascent of the humour the belly must above all things be kept soluble causing thereby the Infant to void the blood kept in the intrails from the time of its being in the Womb by giving it a small quantity of Suppository of black Soap mixed with fresh Butter to take away the Acrimony of it after which immediately let the Infant take a spoonful of Syrup of Violets which will oblige the Flegm to pass down but if hear be defective add to the Syrup half the quantity of Oyl of sweet Almonds bathng the Belly and Stomack of it as often as it is undressed If it happen that the Childs Cods be full of wind the Child must be gently moved to and fro and the Cods anointed with Oyl of Mirth giving it the liquid of Anniseeds decocted in small drink if they be swelled or extended with water rub and chafe the Skin with fresh Butter and the water will sweat out But what is more to be regarded than any other thing is the choosing of a good Nurse for upon that choice depends the thriving or not thriving of the Child and in such cases these things ought to be regarded viz. Observe that she be not dull sighted squint-Eyed or have down cast looks that she be not consumptive or subject to Fits that her breath is pure that so no noisome vapour be conveyed to the Lungs of the Child that she be not infected with bloaches boils blaines or that she or her Husband never were afflicted with the French disease that she be not given to excessive drinking or Gluttony nor in the least subject to Epilesie or falling Evil. For the Nurse being in a manner the second Mother to the Child it drawing from her good or evil humours especially care must therefore be taken that the Nurse be good conditiored moderate in meat and drink wakeful and vipilant not fretful nor subject to Passion that her Milk be clean and sweet flowing sufficiently her Breasts well fixed and large not over fleshy nor she over fat and above all that she be not too desirous of carnal copulation by which means the Milk will be rendred unwholsome Having thus far proceeded in these offairs I shall through God's blesing lay down divers necessary matters for the preservation of Childing Women and Infants thereby to prevent the hazard and loss which two often happens in such cases CHAP. XXIV To know the exact time of Delivery by signs that precedes it and how to cause a Woman to retain the Birth IN the business of Generation nothing is more to be regarded by the Woman than the time of her Conception and quickning that thereby she may be enabled to be exact in the day of her delivery every natural delivery beâ—â—g at the end of 9 months especially if at the tune or near it the Woman is wont to have her natural Purgations or that the time fall out with the full or new Moon Nay though a day or two before or after for these things to falling out not only hasten but facilitate delivery and the knowledge of this must extend to the Woman for many reasons First that she may prepare and dispose her self for so great a task Secondly For that at such a time divers Maladies are incident to her nor can their cause be penetrated into unless those things be well known c. Now one thing neceessary the better to inable the Woman to understand it is the time of her natural Courses for in case she have forgot or by not rightly understanding their natural â—fflux or is puzled therein by reason of some unnatural retention or extraordinary evacution she may rectify her judgment by these directions viz. From the age of 14 to 21 Women have their Courses according to the most natural courses in the nâ—w Moon from 21 to 30 in the first Quarter from 30 to 37 or 38 in the fud Moon and from that time to the time they cease in the last Quarter Beside what is before mentioned she will be made sensible of the approaching timeby pain in her Groyn Thighs the small of her Belly the lower part of her Navel together with swelling and hardness in the said places shivering quaking throughout the Body as if possessed with an Ague and suddainly after with flushing heat Feeble ness and Lassitude small Sweats on the Face and flushings of the blood there as her body will be in a manner restless she shall perceive the Child more down ward with more force than ordinary and a bloody water will distil from the inferior parts in case of these Prodromos as many term them she may be assured her time is at hand whenas shemust not delay sending for her Midwife whose office 't is to order her to the best advantage directions for which I have already given for wonderful it is that Nature has so well ordered her works that the Matrix opens not unless upon some Extraordinary Casualty before the time prefixed and not till then do these signs appear But appearing they ought to be much regarded if the Woman desire her own safety and the preservation of the Child In case the Woman be subject to miscarriage or to come before her time let her take Mint Roses Marjorum of each a small handful Saffron and Musk of each 3 grains bruise them to gether put them in a bag
ounce and a half melt them over a gentle Fire and having strained forth the suplist part anoint and supple the Womans Thighs Hips and Matrix therewith In case of Vomiting or Nauseating which too frequently befalls young Childing Women Take a Cere-cloath sprinkle it with Galbanum Powder of Cloves and Maâ—â—ick them covering it with linnen or silk in the form of a Stomacher apply it to the Stomach renewing it as the scent decays CHAP. XXIX A Pomatum for Midwives to anoint their hands with when they are about their Office as also the Womb of the Woman to be Delivered Excellent Applications to straighten and strengthen the Womb after Delivery AMongst the many Excellent Pomatums or Oyntments for Midwives Hands and anointing the Womb or Child to render the Birth easie I recommend this as chief viz. Take of Hemp seed Oyl an ounce and a half half an ounce of Castor Oyl Galmoschate half a scruple of Laudanum a scruple with a gentle fire make them into an Oyntment and attribute it to the use beforementioned To contract the Womb after Delivery Take the Leaves of Startwort and Mirtle of each 3 ounces Green Medlars Pruans and wild Pears of each 8 or 9 ounces the Stomachs of 3 Cocks fresh killed and newly taken out all which distill and dipping Cotten into the water issuing from them make it into the form of a Pessary and put it into the Womb where let it continue a considerable space To strengthen the Womb take of Borrage and Violet flowers each a handful Dittany of Creet an ounce Wood Sorrel a handful Honey of Roses half an ounce Maiden-Hair an ounce boyl them in White-wine and Inject the Liquid part into the Womb the woman taking soon after it this potion viz. Of Fennel and Bugloss Roots with Cicora ana take two ounces boy them in 24 ounces of White-wine to the consumption of two parts adding afterward Fennel water and Cicory water of each 3 ounces boyling them again till a 5th part of what remains be consumed and of this let her drink an ounce at a time continuing so to do Morning and Evening for 10 days CHAP. XXX To keep the Milk from Curdling in the Breast or to dry it up most approved Receipt as also to increase Milk IF the Milk be subject to Curd in the Breast past doubt in will contract pains or disorder there as well as in the Child that draws it forth wherefore to prevent it so doing Take the Roots of Althea half a pound boyl them in White-wine Vinegar strain them through a fine Seive adding to the liquid part Bean flower one ounce powder of Rue and dried Mint of each a dram Oyl of Mastick two ounces boyl them again till they come to the thickness or plyableness of an Oyntment To dry up the Milk take Honey newly taken from the Bees dissolve it in water and often wash the Breasts therewith or take the Juice of Speremint and Shepherds Purse of each half an ounce mix them and sweeten them with a little of the aforesaid Honey and drink them in the morning with the Broth of a Hen or Chicken Or she may take of the Oyl of Violets 3 ounces the juice of Mint and Paisley a like quantity an ounce of white-wine Vinegar Rose water two ounces boyl them over a gentle fire to the consumption of the juice adding a little wax to make them into an Oyntment and anoint the Breast therewith or for want of these take Elder tops Sage and Mint of all of them a handful boil them in Spring water loft and lay them to the Breast If the Woman be scarce of Milk and for the benefit of the Child she would increase it Let her take the Decoction of Fennel and bath her Breast therewith mixing the juice of Oak-Apples and at the same time take inwardly this following powder viz. Of Anniseeds Fennel seeds and Cummin seeds of each 2 drams beaten Ginger half an ounce of both sorts of Pepper two drams of Coral a dram of Christal and Cinnamon each a dram the Seed of Daucia a dram Silver Moâ—tanus one ounce and a half Cardamons and long Pepper of each a dram and a half of Seselcos half an ounce the Seeds of Sesamum one ounce of White-poppy one ounce mingle and dry them till they are all capable of being beaten into a powder one dram of which the Woman must take at a time Morning and Evening in a broth made of Red Colwarâ—s anointing her Breast the mean time with an Oyntment made of Venice Turpentine Vinegar of Roses and Bees wax of each an equal proportion CHAP. XXXI For a Pain in the Breast immediately upon Delivery or the Fissure TAke new Bees-wax two ounces Nut Oyl half an ounce Rape seed Oyl the like quantity as the latter when melting the Wax add the Oyls temper them well together to the thickness of a stiff Oyntment or Salve and spread them upon a cloth fit to cover the Breast and apply it with extraordinary success In case a Fissure happen in the Breast take of the Powder of Gun-Arabick one ounce Rose-water and Aqua vitae of each an ounce prepare them by beating them together till they are of an apt thickness then seeth them over the Fire and when cool apply them Plaister-wise to the Fissure or for want of these take Unguentum Rosarum and anoint the place grieved applying upon it a Poltiss of Ground Juice CHAP. XXXII The Cause of the Bellies swelling after Delivery and how to prevent it or Cure it if it happens Certain it is and Experience teachetâ— often that many Women have their bellies swelled after Delivery as much almoâ—â— as before and this happens through too much neglected carelesness in not having regard to foment them as also to apply things convenient to the privities by which means polite windiness and Vapours enter and contract in the hollow Concavities Veins and Arteries the latter of which they enter by insensible ways Now to prevent it take Origanum Night shade and Mastick of each a scruple Sagapenum a dram mix them together and make them into 7 Pills take them all at once and after them drink to the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the water of white Lillies viz. of the Flowers In câ—se it be already come let her take half a pound of Spanish Figgs the Meal of Barley and Beans fine sifted four ounces of each two ounces of well burnt Brick pulverized Cyprus Nuts one ounce boyl them in as much water of the Smiths Forge as will suffice to bring them to a thickness then spread them upon a Linnen Cloath and apply them to the Belly twice or thrice and it will retire to its wonted smallness CHAP. XXXIII Of Inflammations in the Breast and its Cures THE Inflammation of the Breast is no other than the hard swelling acâ—â—ompaâ—â—ed with a shooting pain as also a bâ—ating and redness and is mostly caused by the abundance of Blood drawn or sâ—â—wing
to the Breast and sometimes but â—aâ—ely it is occasioned by the suppression of the courses the Hemorrhoids or some bruise received by blow or the like and is known by a certain redness and burning heat causing the whole body to be feaverish and out of order To cure it then first let the Dyet be comforting moistening and of good nourishment as the broth of Pullets Capons Cocks Chickens Veal c. Wherein Indive Borrage Puâ—slain or Lettice has been boyled and if she can get it let the Woman drink the juice of Pomgranets but for want of that Barley-water wherein Anniseeds have been boyled but let her refrain drinking of Wine and strong Liquors as likewise hot Spices and if she find any obstruction in her excremental Evacuation let her take a softning or mollifying Glyster and sleep at seasonable times as much as shecan Another way to remedy it is by diverting the Humours which may be done by rubbing the body in all the adjacent places letting Blood in the Foot Scarification in the Legs or Visicatores applyed in those places especially if the Courses are stopped or ready to come down if not it is requisite to bleed in the Arm. But if what has been mentioned prevail'd not to remove the Humours make a Cataplasm of the Leaves of Mellilot and Nightshade each half a handful and when boyled in Spring-water add to them Bean Meal 2 ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds and Oatmeal of each an ounce and apply them to the Breast observing so to do before the Breast be extraordinarily inflamed CHAP. XXXIV A Tumour in the Breast its Cause and Cure OF Tumours there are several sorts but first of the Flagitious Tumour the cause of which proceeds from a thick and unnatural Vapour arising from the Menstrual blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix and that again is occasioned by the suppressions of the Courses or when Nature is defective in discharging them into their proper place and due time as also from corruption of humours whereby are ingendered evil Vapours and there passing by insensible ways causes the Breast to swel or distend as if it were a true swelling and is known by a shooting pain and disorder of the Heart by reason of the wind that oppresses it the left Breast being for the most part more swelled than the right Communicating pains to the Arms and Shoulders as likewise the Ribs on the same side the Breast being white and shining sounding like a Drum if touched gently and swelled in all parts alike To cure this as also the Valery Tumour you must order the Woman to observe a moderation in diet that thereby Crudities may be avoided and all such things as contract windy or valery humours in the Veins suffering her to drink water wherein Cinnamon and Anniseeds have been boyled as also the Rind of Cittron and then let her observe to take such things as are proper to provoke the courses in doing which she will find the humours abate then let her take Celondine Cammomile Groundsil Ground-juice stamp them and boyl them in White-wine and in so doing you will ease the pain and restore the Breast As for Diseases and Accidents incident to young Children there are but fe VVomen of any experience but are skilful in curing and ordering them wherefore for brevities sake I shall pass them over and proceed to Anatomise the Instrument of Mans Generation that one thing remaining necessary in this Treatise as also to instance what Men nad Women ought to marry that their Issue may be Fair Healthful and Prosperous CHAP. XXXV The Anatomy of the Instrument of Man's Generation THE Yard of Man is an official Member and the Tiller of Mans Generation compound and made of Skin Brawns Tendones Veins Artâ—ries Sinews and great Lygaments And it hath in it two passages or principal issues one for the Sperm and another for the Urine And as the Philosophers say the quantity of a common Yard is Eight or Nine Inches with measurable bigness proportioned to the quantity of the Matrix This Member hath as Avicen saith three holes through one passeth insensible politions and wind that causeth the Yard to rise the other two holes is declared before Also the Yard hath a Skin and about the head thereof it is double and that Men call Praeputium and this Skin is moveable for through his consecration the Spermatick matter is the better and sooner gathered together and sooner cast forth from the Testicles For by him is had the most delectation in the doing And the foremost part of the head of the Yard before is made of a brawny flesh the which if it be once lost it can never be restored again but it may be well skinned c. The Cods is a compounded Member and an official and though it be counted amongst the Generative Members yet it is called a principal Member because of Generation This Purse was ordained for the custody and comfort of the Testicles and other Spermatick Vessels And it is also made of two parts of the inner and of the outer The outer is compound and made of Skin and Lazartus Longitudinal and Transversal in like manner as the Myrac The inner part of the Cods is of the substance of the Syfac and are in similitude as two Pockets drawn together by themselves and they differ not from the Syfac And there be two because if there fall any hurt to the one the other should serve The Testicles or Stones be two made of Glandulous flesh or Curnelly flesh And furthermore throug the Didimus cometh the Testicles from the Brain Sinews and from the Heart Arteries and from the Liver Veins bringing unto them both feeling and stirring Life and Spirit and Nutrimental Blood and the most purest blood of all other Members of the Body whereof is made the Sperme by the labour of the Testicles the which is put forth in due time The Groyns be known They be the empty Junctures or purging place unto the Liver and they have Curnelly flesh in the plying or bowing of the Thighs The Hips have great brawny flesh on them and from thence descend downwards Brawns Cords and Ligaments moving and binding together the Thighs with the Haunches themselves CHAP. XXXVI What Women ought to Marry with what Men that they may have Children IN respect of Married Women that prove Childless Hyppocrates adviseth this Experiment to be tried to know whether the defect be on the Womans part or on her Husbands which is to make her suffumigations with Incense or Storax with a Garment close wrapped about her which may hang down on the ground in such sort that no Vapor or Fume may issue out and if within a while after she feel the Savour of the Incense in her Mouth she may conclude that the Barrenness comes not through her own defect but through her Husbands forasmuch as the Fumes found the Passages open whereby it pierced up to the Nostrils But although this proof