to the force of the Seed for as Plants receive more from fruitful Ground than from the industry of the Husband-man 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 they will have it that Children for the most part effect their Mothers best for it proceeds from the nearness of Nature by a natural instinct because the Mothers forces were most employed about ' em For 9 Months and sometimes 10 she nourisheth the Child with her purest Blood then her love towards it newly born and the likeliness do clearly demonstrate that the Woman affordeth Seed and that Women do contribute more towards making the Child than Men. But in all this the Ancients were very much in an Error for the Testicles so called in Women do not afford any Seed but are true Eggs anulogous to those of Fowls and other Creatures neither have they any such Office as those of Men but are indeed Ovarium wherein these Eggs are nourished by the Sanguinary Vessels dispersed through them and from whence one or more as they are secundated by the Man's Seed separated and are convey'd into the Womb by the Ovi duces The truth of this is plain for if you boil them their Liquor will have the same colour Taste and Consistency with the white of Birds Eggs to say that they want shells is nothing at all for the Eggs of Fowls while â—hey are in the Ovary nay after they have fallen down into the Uterus have no shell And though when they are laid they have one yet that is more than a Fence which Nature has provided them against outward Injuries while they are hatched without the Body whereas those of Women being hatched within the body need no other fence than the womb by which they are sufficiently guarded 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 Infant The primal cause is 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 in-bred motion according to their usual and natural Course without variation tho' indeed by favour from on high Sarah conceived Isaac Hannah Samuel and Elizabeth Iohn the Baptist but these were to fulfil the Almighty's 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 The Antient Physicians and Philosophers say that since there are two Principles out of which the Body of Man is made and which render the Child like the Progenitors and to be of one of the other Sex viz. Seed common to both Sex and menstrual Blood proper to the Woman only The Similitude say they must needs consist in the force of the Male or Female Seedâ— so that it pgoves like to the one or the other as more or less plenty is afforded by either but that the difference of Sex is not refered to the Seed but to the menstrual Blood which is proper to the Woman for were that force say they altogether retained in the Seed the Mans Seed being of a hotter quality than the Womans Male Children would be superabundant and 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 say they affords both force to procreate and form the Child and matter for its Generation and that in the menstrual Blood there is both matter and force for as the Seed most helps the material Principles so likewise the menstrual Blood the potential Seed is saith 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 hath both principles as matter and faculty of offering The Ancients say further that the Seed is the strongest efficient the matter of it being very little in quantity but that the potential or efficient faculty of it is very feeble wherefore if the material part or principle of Generation according to which the Sex is made were only say they 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 that since both have operation in menstrual Blood Matter predominates in quantity and in the Seed Force and Vertue Deservedly saith Galâ—n the Child receives its Sex rather from the Mother than from the Father although his Seed do contribute something to the material Principles though more weakly But as for similitude although Imagination say the Ancients be of extraordinary force it is referred 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 that the Woman's Seed receiving faculty from the menstrual Blood for the space of Nine Months over-powers the Man's 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 Man's by reason of the moisture and thinness of it being more fit to frame and make up Conception thereby for as soft Wax and moist Clay the Work-man can frame what he intends so say they the Man's Seed mixing with the Woman's as also with the menstrual Blood helps effectually to make the form and perfect part of Man but with all the respect deferance imaginable to the Wisdom of the Ancients we must needs say that their Ignorance in Anatomy has led them into many and great mistakes and their Hypothesis of the formation of the Embryo from a Commixture of Seeds and the Nutrition of it from the menstruous Blood being altogether false their Opinion in this case must needs be false also Therefore to conclude this Chapter we say that although a strong Imagination of the Mother may sometimes determine the Sex that is make it Male or Female according as her imagination is yet the main Agent in this case is the Plastick or formative Principle which is the Efficient in forming the Child that gives it this or that Sex according to those
deceived by Moles which are two-fold 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 deficient of Membranes but incompassed with divers yet without growth motion Bones Bowels or any Internals receiving its nourishment thro' certain Vessels notwithstanding it lives as we may say the life of a Plant without any figure or order ingendered in the Concavity of the Matrix It has no Burthen or Navel-string fastened to it as a Child always has for as much as the Mole it self adheres to the Womb by which means it receives Nourishment from its Vessels 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 VVater Thirdly the Humourous Molâ— or conflux of divers humour and â—ourthly the membranous Mole being many Membranes in the form of a Bag filled with Blood and of these in their order Galen holdeth that the Mole is bred when the Man's Seed is weak barren imperfect or in too little quantity and for the most part choaked through the abundance of the menstrous Blood which is gross and thick unfit for the framing of a Child so that instead thereof is bred a lump of Flesh that by little and little increaseth being wrapped in his own Membrane which Nature effecteth as desirous to bring forth any thing rather than be Idle 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 thro' the Vessels evacutes into the Womb having its Original from the Spleen Liver or parts adjoyning or rather it proceeds from the weakness of the Matrix which cannot assimilate the Blood that is brought to nonrish it part whereof is turned into Water and not being avoided stayeth in the Womb. The Humorous Mole is ingendered by moist attracted Humours as the Whites or certaâ—n watery Purgation which distâ—â— from the Menstruous Veins and gathering into a gluttenous substance stay in the concavity of the Womb. The Membranous Mole is no other than a contraction of Blood within a Skin or Membrane to which is fâ—stned many white and transparent Vessels filled with Blood the which coming forth and being thrown into Water the Blood goeth out and the Membrane rumples together shrinking on a heap like coaguluted Seed Now most or all of these false Conceptions have many Signs or Symptoms coherent with the trâ—e as the depravity of Appetite puking swelling suppression of the Menses swelling of the Breast 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 Groin and the Thighs grow meagre and lanker the Belly waxes hard as iâ— 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 fleshly 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 Woman ought to consider whether she has any Milk in her Breasts if she have it is a sign of a true Conceptioâ— but the contrary of a salse 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 stroaked down the burden will descend and not have for want of imbred force power to recover its Station But what confirms it more is that nine 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 â—oft and spongy especially near the Groins and smell thereof when if it be struck it sounds like a Drum and that the swelling is sometimes more and sometimes lessâ— so that according to its increase or decrease the VVoman 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 the 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 watery Mole comes through Natures conduit is clear when in case of a humourous Mole the water is red are of a bloody colour Further observe in case of a false Coâ—ception the Courâ—es dome 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 Kernelâ— 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 Pendant Mole being a piece of fleshly 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 bâ—gger towards the bottom like a small Bell possessing the whole Orifice nay sometimes appearing outward to a great bigness CHAP. XVIII Instructions for Womâ—n how to govern themselves during their being with Child THese Instructions being exceeding necessary I thought
ARISTOTLE'S 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 Virginity 11. How a Midwife ought to be qualified 12 Directions and Cautions to Midwives 13. Of the Organs of Generation in Women 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 Conception 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 Monstrous Births Very necessary for all Midwives Nurses and Young-Married Women LONDON Printed for W. B. And are to be sold by most Booksellers in London and Westminster 1694. The Effigies of a Maid all Hairy and a Infant that was black by the Imaginatioâ— of their Parents The Introduction IT plainly appears in Holy Writ that this glorious Universe be spangled with gaudy Fires and every where adorned with wonderful Objects proclaiming 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 Hâ—ap of Iarring Elements toss'd and jumbled together under the Dismal Shades of Dying Night Eldest of Things no Fruits nor Pleasures no Creature that hath 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 Abyfs and made it Pregnant Then Light put Darkness soon to flight and all the glorious Lamps of Heaven appear all Creatures soon had being and every Plant Tree Herb or Flower of fragrant smell sprung from the Verdant Earth raised by Command above the VVater every thing of use having Seed in it self that no second Creation needed But still that Lordly Creature whâ— 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 Lifeâ— beyond what any other Creature durst to boast The contemplating of which long since made the Royal Psalmist break out into this Rapture What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels and hast Crowned him with Glory and Honour Thou makest him to have Dominion over the Works of thy Hands and thou hast put all things under his Feet Psal. 8. 4 5 6. Thus I say when God hath created the World and furnished it with whatsoever seemed good in his sightâ— 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 and Companiâ—n infusing into them a source of Love and Desire towards each other and of procreating their Likeness having prepared for that purpose a swelling Humour or Spirit and Organical Parts and that the one through fear of 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 delighted 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 continuance But that this Passionate Desire might strongly operate as well in Sensual Felicity as on the Imagination GOD has firmly imprâ—ssed 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 and confine him to the Use of the Matrimonial Bed that so they might not defile themselves with wandring 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 furnishing the Embryo with convenient Nutriment 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 Mystery of Generation Holy Job in the Tenth Chapter of his Book thus expresses himself Hast thou not poured me out as Milk and curdled me like Cheese Thou hast cloathed me with Skin and Flesh and hast fenced me with Bones and Sinews Thou hast granted me Life and Favour and thy Visitation hath preserved my Spirit But not to be too tedious upon this Subject I shall proceed to unravel the Mystery of Generation and divers other Mysteries which I hope will be to the Satisfaction of the Learned and Ingenious of the Age whose Discretion I need not doubt will keep them from wresting it to any other end than what it was designed for viz. The Benefit and Advantage of the Modest of either Sex not dâ—siring that this Book should fall into the Hands of any Obscene or Wanton Person whole Folly or Malice may turn that iâ—to Ridâ—cule that loudly proclaims the Infinite Wisdâ—m of an Omnipotent Creator who by his mighty VVorking is able to sundue all things to Hâ—msâ—lf Gloria DEO in Excelsis Aristotle's Master-Piece OR The Secrets of Generation DISPLAY'D CHAP. I. Of Maeriage and at what Age Virgins and Youths are capable of the Marriage-Bed and the Reasons that prompts them to desire it with the Signs of Barrenness and how long a Man or Woman are Capable of having Children THAT Marriage is an Honourable State ordained by God in Paradice 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 will take care of their Daughters Chastity and when they find them inclinable and when they find them inclinable to Marriage not violently to restrain their Affections 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
oâ— Embryo that is a Concretion that springs forth 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 and dilating it and then by its force Contracting Framing and Fashioning it so Heat and Vigour 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 Nails come forth and the Child begins to stir kick and tumble in the VVomb 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 the Nutriment as Coals Rubbish Chalk Lime Starch Oat-meal raw Flesh and Fish or the like which desire proceeds from a former contraction of evil Humours occasioning impure 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 extravagant in their longings that they have coveted Hob-Nails Leather Man's-flesh Horse-flesh and the flesh of divers Ravenous Beasts for want of which they have cast their Birth untimely or the Child has continued dead in the Womb for many days to the eminent hazard of the Woman's 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 disputes among both Phylosophers and Physicians with what and by what way the Faetus is nourished have been very great some affirming by Blood only from the Umbilical Vein others only by Chyle received in by the Mouth but the Truth is it is nourished diversly according to the different degrees of Perfection than an Ovum or Egg passes from a Conception to a Faetus ready for the Birth But before we proceed it will not be amiss to explain what we mean by this Ovam or Egg. You must know then that there are in the Generation of the Faetus two Principles Active and Passive The Active is the Man's Seed which is elaborated in the Testicles out of the Arterial Blood and Animal Spirits The Passive Principle is an Ovum or Egg impregnated by the Man's Seed For to say that Woman has true Seed is false and erroneous But the manner of Conception is thus The most Spirituous part of Man's Seed in the Act of Generation reaching up to the Ovarium or Testicles of the Woman which contain divers Eggs sometimes more sometimes fewer secundates one of them which being conveyed by the Ovi-ducts to the bottom of the Womb presently begins to swell and grow bigger and imbibes the moisture that is sent plentifully thither after the same manner that Seeds in the Ground suck the fertile moisture thereof to make them sprout Then the parts of the Embryo begin to be a little more perfect and the Chorion becomes so thick that the Liquor cannot soak through it that Umbilical Vessels begin to be formed and to extend to the side of the Annios which they pass through and also thro' the Allanteides and Chorion and are implanted in the Placenta which gathering upon the Chorion joyns it to the Uterus And now the Arteries that before sent out the nutritious Juice into the cavity of the Womb open by their Orifices into the Placenta where they deposite the said Juice which is drunk up by the Umbilical Vein and conveyed by it first by the Liver of the Faetus and then to the Heart where it s more thin and spiritous part is turned into Blood whilst the grosser part of it descending by the Aorta enters the Umbilical Arteries and is discharged into its Cavity by those Branches of them that run thro' the Amnios Assoon as the Mouth Stomach and Gullet c. are formed so perfectly that the Faetus can swallow it sucks in some of the grosser Nutritious Iuice that is deposited in the Amnios by the Umbilical Arteries which descending into the Stomach and Intestine is received by the Lacteal Veins as in Adust Persons The Faetus being perfected at the times before specified in all its parts it lies equally ballanced in the midst of the Womb as in the Center 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 its Buttocks its Hands on its Cheeks and its Tumbs to its Eyes but its Legs and Thighs are carried upwards 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 Forehead 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 â—ith Os Pubis in the time of the Birth parts and is loosned 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 upwards tho' someâ—imes it happens that Births follow not according to Natures Order but Children comes forth with their Feet stradling their Necks bowed and their Heads lying Oblique with their Hands stretched out which greatly endangers themselves and the Mother giving the Midwife great trouble to introduce them into the World but when all â—hings proceed orderly and naturally the Child when Natures sets bounds are accomplished is desirous to break its bounds and come forth of the Womb and by inclining himself he roles downward for he cannot longer be obscured in those hiding places and the heat of the Heart can subsist without external respitation 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 Membranes and Coverings whereby he was restrained and fenced against attrition and for the most part with bitter pangs of the Mother issueth forth to view the Days commonly in the ninth Month for then the Matrix divided and the Os 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 the more dangerous is the Delivery tho' Nature as a kind Commisserator often helpeth the Women's Weakness herein But the Child that is quick and lively labours no less than the Woman Now these are Births at Seven or Eight Months and some Women go to the Tenth Month. But of these and the reason of them I shall speak more largely in another
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 Humour and sometimes Blood of the Ulcer be great and the Menses flow the Water hot pains ariâ—ing in the fore part of the Head and oftentimes they occasion gentle Fevers And these obstructions of Generation happen divers ways sometimes from external Causes viz. Rash Physick hard Labours or excessive Copulation and sometimes from internal as the Corruption of the Secun-line 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 settling there all which must be duly considered Now some are in the outward part and may be the easier come at at and external Applications 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 unequal quanty 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 Cloth 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 puâ—rified Matter Others there are that are not so violent and therefore admit of any easie Cure not 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 eating away the Skin from off the Neck of the Womb and are discerned by the Blood and pain they occasion immediately upon the Concression appearing in the Neck of the Womb much like Chilblains occasioned by ill lying extraordinary Venery by violent inflammations or flux of sharp Humours The best cure after a gentle Purge is an Astringent Clyster and after that to anoint them with the Grease that fries out of a Ladle often used in a Kiâ—chen when it is held to the Fire mixed with Unguentum album or Pomatum If the defect be in the Seed through tenderness of age in the Woman than the best Remedy is convenient Diet moderate Exercise and temperate Air together with patience in the Man till Nature in process of time operates so effectually that all things appear and conspire to mutual satisfaction If the Woman be stricken in years and the time of breeding Children be past which in some happens sooner and others later according to their several Constitutions but generally between 44 aud 45 unless strong Preparatives viz. an Extraordinary Diet easie Lodging and moderate Exercise restore them those Women must despair of furâ—her Generation For as the Learned in this Art frequently observe where is neither Buds nor Blossoms there can be no Fruit. If Sterility be occasioned by Obstructions in the Vessels which it often does 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 satisfaction received thereby a settling in the Courses and a slimy Flegmatick Matter mixed therewith as also by their inordinate flowing occasioned by the plenty of Humours collected in the Womb which by reason of the abundance of windy Vapours contracted therein causes Obstructions To which may be added a cold Flegmatick Constitution 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 Penniroyal 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 taking the Male Herb Mercury Dittany Centaury Marygolds Cubebs Saffron Mugwort and Clove-Gilliflowers 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 Cinnamon next with the Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace and the third with the 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 the Obstructions Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by Inchantation but those Opinions are altogether frivolous and vain If the Womb be defective in its Retentive Faculty 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 Lettice Edive Spinage Beets Nuts Cherries Purslain Onions 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 an Herb so called Cummin Fennel and Anniseed and strengthned with the Syrup of Wormwood and for a gentle operative Purge in this case take half an Ounce of Laudanum 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 three 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 Cinnamon Galinga Longâ—Pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam-wood Rosemary Flowers Blatiae Bezaria Gentle Marjorum and Penny-royal of each 4 Scruples Balm Bogloss Cittern Reils of each 2 Scruples Pearl dissolved or beaten to Powder one Scruple Musk two Grains White-Sugar one Pound and an half briuse them and seeth them over a gentle Fire 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 accasion weakness in the Womb. Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows fat as we have said before so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its bounds with its fatness obstructs the Passage into
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 Veneral Pleasure being like a Yard in Scituation Substance Composition and Erection growing sometimes out of the Body two Inches but that rarely happens unless thro' extream lusâ— of 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 Penis or Yard of a Man tho' not quite through in which and the bigness it only differs from it The next thing in course are the fleshy Knobs and the great Neck of the VVomb And these Knobs are behind the Wings being four in number much resembling Mirâ—le Berries being placed in quadrangle one against the other and in this place is incerted to the Orifice of the Bladder which opens it self in the Fissure to evacuate the Urine 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 VVomb 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 Virganale of which I have before discoursed But the Neck of the Womb is to be understood the Channel that is between the aâ—oresaid Knobs and the inner Bone of the Womb which receives the Penis like a Sheath and that it may the better be dilated for the pleasure of Procreation the Substance of it is Sinewy and a little Spongy and in this Concavity are divers Folds or Oâ—bicular 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 grisly And now note that although this channel be sometimes writhed and crooked sinking down yet in the time of Copulation Labour or the Monthly Purgations it is erected and extended which over Extention occasioneth the great pain in Child-Birth The Hymen or Claustrum Virginale is that which closes the Neck of the Womb being as I have â—efore 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 final quantity of Blood flows with some small pain passing Hence it is observed that between the duplicity 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 Spirits thereby to be extended and dilated for its better taking hold of the Penis great heat being required in some notions which becoming more intense by the act of frication does consume 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 of the Menses have their way through them which often occasion Women with Child to continue their Purgations for altho' 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 Pudendum there appears two litâ—le Piâ—s or Holes wherein is contained an Humour which by being expunged in time of Copulation greatly delights the Woman CHAP. XIV A Description of the Womans Fabrick the preparing Vessels and Testicles in Women as also of the Deferent or Ejaculatory Vessels IN the lower part of the Hypogastrion where the Hips are widest and broadest they being greater and broader thereabouts â—han those of Men which is the reason they have likewise broader Buttocks then Menâ— is the Womb joyned to its Neck and is placed between the Bladder anâ— strait Gut which keeps it from swaying or rowling yet give it liberty to stretch and dilate 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 being knit together by its proper Ligaments its Neck likewise is joyned by its own substanceâ— and certain Membranes that fallen it to Os Sacrum and â—he 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 it is so far from decreasing that it augments to a greater propotion and the more to strengthen and conâ—irm it it is interwoven with Fibres overthwart strait and winding and its proper Vessels are Veins Aâ—teries and Nerves and amongst these are two little Veins which pass from the Spermatick Vessels to the bottom of the Womb and two larger from the Hypogastricks which visits both the bottom and the Neck the Mouth of these Veins piercing as ' far as the inward concavity The Womb hath also two Arteries on both 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 Pudenda themselves being chiefly placed for sense and pleasure moving in Sympathy between the Head and Womb. Now it is to be farther 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 falling low or rising high as for the Neck of the Womb it is of an exquisite feeling so that if it be at any time ouâ— of order by being troubled with a schirous brawn over-fatness moisture or relaxation the Womb is subjected thereby to Barrennessâ— In those that are with Child there frequently stays a most glutinous matter in the entrance to facilitate the Birth for at the time of Delivery the Mouth of the Womb is opened in a strange manner to such a widenes as is conformable to the bigness of the Child suffering an equal dilation from the bottom to the top As for the Preparatory or Spermatick Vessels in Women they consist of 2 Veins and 2 Arteries not differing from those in a Man but only in their largeness a manner of insertion for as to â—heir number there are so many Veins and the like proportion of Arteries as
Intricates or Windings to which those Vessels are subject for in the middle way they drive themselves into two branches though different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones The Stones in Women are very useful for they are very defective Generation is at an end for although those little Bladders which are on their outward Superficies contain nothing of Seed as the followers of Galen and Hipocrates did erroneously imagine yet they contain several Eggs commonly to the number of twenty in each Testicle one of which being impregnated by the most spiritous part of the Man's Seed in the Act of Coition descends through the Ovi-ducts into the Womb and from thence in process of time becomes a living Child Their Figure is not exactly round but flat and depressed on the sides in their lower part Oval but in their upper where the Blood-Vessels enter them more plain and have but one Membrane to encompass them probably that the heat may have the easier Access CHAP. XVI Of Conception and the infallible Signs thereof as also whether it be a Male or Female that is conceived or both at once commonly called Twins THE next thing convenient to be observed in this Treatise and as it falls in course is Conception and its Symptoms very material and worthy of note not only of Midwives but all young Women Now the signs of Conception three or four days after convenient and satisfactory are Pains in the Head Virtigo and Dimness of the Eyes the Apples of the Eyes decrease the Eyes themselves swell and become of a dull or dark colour their Veins waxing red and shut with Blood again if the Eyes sink the Eye-brows grow loose various colours appear in the Eyes and little red Pimples suddenly arise in the Face and almost as suddenly disappear Thirdly if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are extended with Blood the Veins 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 Breast appear blackish and afterwards turn yellow the Teats look fiery and upon drinking cold Drink the Woman feels it as it were in her Breasts Fifthly If she on a sudden fall to loathing her Meat and Drink coveting things unreasonable and not fit for Sustenance be troubled with Pâ—kings 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 Loins with inward Gripings and retention of the Courses 7 days after Copulation After which act there is a cold and trembling seizes on the Members External Seventhly it is a certain sign of Conception if the Mid wife putting 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 Eightly if Urine be put 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 proved assertions of the Learned in Physick and skilful in Midwifry who have made it their study to search into the depths of Natures Secrets And next comes a nicer point to be treated of not without the Patâ—onage of suchâ— whose Wisdom and infatigable Labourâ— have rendered them famous to Posterity The which take as followeth After Conception and the Child becomâ— to some perfection so that the Sex may bâ— distinguished if it happen to be a Malâ— Child then the right Eye of the Womaâ— will to appearance move swifter anâ— sparkle more than the left The right Paâ—â— will rise swell and be more hard than thâ— left and the Teaâ—s colour will changâ— more suddenly and the increâ—se of thâ— Milk will be speedy and if it be milkeâ— out and set in the Sun it will look like Pearl contracting it self in a more solid matter than ordinary or if upon Milking it out you cast it upon the Woman's Urine it will sink to the bottom Her right Cheek will often glow and be more ruddy than the leâ—t and indeed the whole colour of the 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 60th day if her Courses flow the 40th day after Conception if her Belly be more acute 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 of the left Now in case a Female be conceived thâ— tokens are averse to those for the most part the first motioâ— 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 impregnating of two Eggs at the same time 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 Groin making a kind of a Channel or if a 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 Conception 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 Natural Purgations 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 leâ—ser according to the time of its continuance there which is frequently four Months and is called a Moon Calf At other times they are
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 Homoursâ— 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 blew 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 Rheums 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 caâ—â— of Diet she ought to be very cautious in chusing such Meats as create wholsom 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 gluttinous for that again stuffs it and causes â—t 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 their Meats which makes the Children come forth oftentimes without Nails which is a sign of short Life The most wholsom Meats in this case are Pidgeons Turtles Larks Partridges Pheasants Veal Mutton or any such Meat 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 thing that is filthy or contrary to Nourishment nor let her sleep immediately aâ—ter Meâ—l 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 nine hours Her Exercise ought to be moderate for violent motion either in walking or otherwise molests and disturbs the Womb Riding in a Coach especially upon the Stones or in un-even way the last three Months are 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 lie 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 fomenting her Breasts a quarter of an hour every Morning with Water distilled from Sage Perewinkle Ground-Ivy being Blood-warm In her fourth Month when the motion is great and her Belly swells 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 Tripe after Delivery Receipt Take 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-Cloth into fair Water casting it to and fro therein till it be white at what time add to it the Marrow of a Red Deer 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 Lineaments is effectual though the former is better viz. Make of Mutton-Suet adjoyning to the Kidneys and of Dogs-Grease each two ounces Whale-Oyl an ounce and of sweet Almond-Oyl the like quantity wash them well after they are melted together in the Water of Germander or new White-wine and anoint the Belly therewith or the Swath-band ordained to suppoâ—t it But for such as are not desirous to anoint their Bellies they may use the following Bathe or Concoction Take of all the sorts of Mallows and of Motherwort each two Handfuls Lilly-roots the White ones to the weight of Three Ounces Melilot and Camomile of both Two Handfuls Lime-seeds Quince-seed and Fenn-greek seed Three Ounces proportionable of each boyl them in Spring-Water and bathe therewith If the VVoman during her pregnancy feels but little motion in her VVomb 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 Three Ounces Mastick a Dram and of Angelica-sâ—eds two Drams Two Grains of Amber-greese 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 be observed upon a VVoman lying down and her Delivery c. HAving thus far proceeded 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 the 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 skilful 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 scituate that it be far from the Door near the Fire and convenient for the Midwife and her Assistants to pass round and be aiding on eveâ—y 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 Womau feels her pains come if â—he weather be 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 â—â—â—â—te it self when lying long in Bed will prove troublesome yet if she be much spent and weakned she may take some gentle Cordial to refresh her self if her pains will permit If her Travel be tedious to revive her Spirits she may take any Broth of Chickens or Mutton and after it a Poach'd Egg but must not take any thing to excess As for the Posture Women are Delivered in they are divers some lying in their Beds others sitting 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 lie high for if she lie 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 caâ—e 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 two 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 Child's Head or other Members Burst the Membrane for through Ignorance or haste to be gon to other Women as some has done the Midwife tear the Membranes with her Nails she indangers both the Woman and the Child for it lying dry and wanting that slipperiness that should facilitate it its Egress 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 Arm-pits not using a rough hand in drawing it forth lest 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 sharp Instrument about three Inches from the Body tying that which adheres to the Bâ—lly 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 And this may be done by wagging and stirring them up and down and afterwards 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 be broken or not The like may be known by causing a Strain or Vomitting by putting one Finger down her Throat by straining or moving her Inferiour 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 Assa-Faedita especially if she be troubled with the Wind-Cholick 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 chafe the Womans Bâ—lly with a gentle Hand which breaks not only the Wind but obliges the Secundine 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 Efflux of Blood Convulâ—ion or Fits of the Wind. IN case of Extremity greater regard must be had than at other times and first of all the Situation of the Womb and her posture of lying must be cross the Bed being held â—y such as have strength to prevent her slipping down or moving her self in the operation of the Man-Midwife or Chyrurgeon her Thighs must be sundered as wide aâ— may beâ— and so held whilst her Legs invert and bend backward towards her Hips her Head leaning upon a Bolster and the Reins of her Back supported with the like her Rump and Buttocks likewise Elevated observing to cover her Stomach Belly and Thighs with warm Linnen to keep them from cold winds The Woman being in the posture aforâ—said 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 it to a Ribbon then put it up again and by degrees find the other when bringing them as close and even as may be and between whiles giving the Woman leave to breathe 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 surer he must fasten or wrap a Linnen Cloth about the Child's 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 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 dilated and by their being so deceived theâ— 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 Chyrurgeon 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 lesness 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 Secundine 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 entail that is fastned 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 Chirurgeon 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 imbred force can be no ways affisted to its Delivery wherefore the most certain and safe way isâ— for the Chyrurgeon 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 slip 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 thâ— 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 all 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 finâ— Wheat Bread in a quarter of a Pint oâ— Ipocrass Wine Now the former Application and Eâ—deavour failing and the following Medicines will not enable the Woman to cast forth the Birth you may proceed to Instrumentâ— after another manner First when the Woman is in her Bed let her receive the insuing portion hot abstaining fâ—om alâ— manner of Meats and rest till she feel the Operation which is this Take blue Figs to the number of Seven câ—â—â—â—em in pieces adding to them Fenegreek Mother wort and Seeds of Rue of each Five Drams Water of Peneroyal and Motherwort Six Ounces of each boil them till one half he consumed and having constrained them again add Trochischs of Myrrh a Dram and of Saffron Three Grains sweetning the Liquor with Loaf Sugar and spicing it with Cinnamon Having rested upon thisâ— let her labour again as much as may be and if she be not yet successful make a Suffumation of Castor Oppoponax Sulpuhur and Assa Foedita of each half a Dram beating them into Powder and wetting them with the Iuice of Rue till they become stiff then burthem 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 an Ounce and a half Colocynthis without Grains Two Drams the Iuice of Motherwort and Rue of each half an Ounce and Two Ounces of Virgins Beez-wax bâ—uise and melt them together spreading them as a Cere-Cloth to râ—ach from the Navel to Os Pubis spreading likewise to the Flanks at the same time making a convenient Pâ—ssary of Wool closing it in a Bag of Silk and dipping it in a Câ—ncoction of round Birth-worth Savin Colocynthis with Grains Staves-Acur Black Elebore of each a Dram and of Rue a little sprig or two These things failing and the Woman in danger let the Chyrurgeon use his Instruments to dilate and widen the Womb to which purpose the Woman must be set in a Chair so that she may tâ—rn her Crupper as much from its Back as is conveniâ—nt 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 heread downwards her Buttocks raised and her Legs drawn up as much as can be at what time the Chyrurgeon with his Speculum Matricis or his Apertory may dilate or widen the Womb and draw out the Child and 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 Spice pleasant Meats and Cordials This course must be takon 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 sufficiently 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 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 Launch 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 happen to be swelled in any part or have contracted a watery Tumour yet if it remain alive such means â—ught 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 faciliate the Birth It often happens that Children come with their Feet foremost and the Hands dilating themselves from the Hips in such a case the Midwife must be well provided of necessary Ointmens to stroke and 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 comiâ—g with its Feet foremost has its Arms extended 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 Is a Child happen to come forth with one Foot the Arm being extended along â—he 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 away 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 her 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 it so 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 must 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 sucâ—cessful herein let her again try by rocking her self to 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 it 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 closâ— 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 formost the Hand 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 â—ide 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 wiâ—h one Arm extended upon the Thighs and the other elevated over his Head the Feet likewise stretched out at length in the Womb the Midwise 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 on its own accord it retire not then must the Midwife thruâ—t it back by the Shoulders and bring the Arm that was stretched above the Head to its right place for certain it is the most dangerous in these Extremities 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 Pomatum â— 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 recal 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 must draw the Arms close to the Hips and so receive it If an Infant come with its Buttocks foremost being in a 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 forward 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
CHAP. XXVIII The approved Receipts for hindering 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 Oyntments 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 Efflux dangerous to Women far gone with Child Take the Oyl of Roses Virgins-wax Iuice of Male Knot grass of each 3 Ounces Bole-Armonick Crocus Martis of each six Drams melt them and bruise them till they become pliant and capable of being spread Plaister wise and when the Flux descends lay it to her Loyns whilst she lies in Bed Or to the same effect you may make Crocus Martis a Dram Knot-grass Iuice 4 Ounces Rose water and Vinegar of each an Ounce adding to them the White of an Egg and apply them cold upon a Linnen Cloth to her Loyns If the VVoman be fearful of containing the Birth and be subject to Abortion Take the Roots of Tormentile and Snamwood of each an Ounce and an half Iobertus's Astringent Powder Mirtle berries Pomegranate Flower of each six drams Dragons Blood and Spong Bedeguar of each half an Ounce Frankincense and Mastick of each 3 Dram Nutmeg and Cloves of each half a Dram â—ommon Pitch six Ouncesâ— Cinnamon a Dram Venice Turpentine washed in the Iuice of Shepherds purse 2 Ounces of Ship-Pitch 3 Ounces Virgins-wax 2 Ounces melt and well imbody them till they become plyable to be spread Plaister-wise and apply the Plaister upon the Leather to the Reins To make an Oyntment exceeding useful before Delivery Take the Oyls of white Lilly Roots and Camomile each 4 Ounces new Hogs-Seam strained and fresh Butter of each an Ounce and a half Muoilage of the Seed of Fenâ—reek extracted in Mugwort water 2 Ounces the Powder of round Birthwâ—rt-Roots and Saffron of each two Drams Wax an Ouâ—ce and a half melt them over a gentle Fire and having strained it forth anoint and supple the Woman's Thighs Hips and Marix therewith In case of Vomiting or Nauseating which too frequently befalls young Childing VVomen Take a Sear Cloth sprinkle it with Galbanum Powder of Cloves and Mastick then covering it with Linntn or Silk in the form of A Stomacher applying it to the Sâ—omack yeâ—â—wâ—ing it as the Scent decays CHAP. XXIX A Pematum for Midwifes to anoinâ— the Hands with when theâ— are abouâ— their Ofâ—â—â—â—â— as also the Womb of thâ— Woman â—o â—e delâ—ver'dâ— Excellent Aâ—plications to sâ—raighâ—en and strengthâ—n â—he Womb aftâ—r Dâ—livery AMong the many excellent Pomâ—tâ—mâ— or Oyntment for Midwive◠〈◊〉 and anointing the Womb or Châ—â—d to â—ender the Birth easie I recommend this as chief viz Take of Hemp-seed Oyl an Ounce and a half half an Ounce of Caster Oylâ— Galmoschate half a Scruple of Laudâ—num a Scruâ—ple with a genâ—le fire make â—hâ—m into an Oyntment to be used as bâ—fore mâ—ntioned To contract the Womb after Delivery Take the Leaves of Sâ—rawâ—rt and Mirtle of each 3 Ounces Grâ—â—n-Medlaâ—s Pâ—â—â—ns and wild Pears of each 8 or 9 Ounces the Sâ—â—machs of 3 Câ—cks frâ—sh killed and newly taken out all which distil and dipping Corâ—â—n into the Water issuing from them make it into the form of a Pessary and put it into the Womb where let it câ—ntinue a considerable space To strengthen the Womb Take of Borage and Violet Flowers each a handful Ditany of Creet an Ounce Wood Sorrel a handful Honey of Roses half an ounce Maiden-hair an ounce boil them in White-wine and inject the liquid part into the Womb the Woman taking soon after it this Potion viz. of Fennel Succory and Bugloss Roots take two ounces of each boyl them in 24 ounces of Whâ—te-wine to the Consumption of two parts adding afterward Fennel-water and Succory-water of each three ounces boiling them again till the fifth 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 ten days CHAP. XXX To keep the Milk from Curdling in the Breast or to dry it up a most approved Receipt as also to increase Milk IF the Milk be subject to Curd in the Breast past doubt it will contract pains or disorder there as well as in the Child that draws it forth wherefore to prevent it so doing Take the Root of Althaea 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 2 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 Iuice of Spere mint and Shephards Purse of each half an ounce mix them and sweeten thâ—m with a little of the aforesaid Honâ—y and drink them in the Morning with the Broth of a Hen or Chicken Or she may take the Oyl of Violets 2 ounces the Iuice of Mint and Parsly a like quantity an ounce of White-wine Vinegar Rose-water two Ounces boyl them over a gentle Fire to the Consumption of the Iuice adding a little VVax 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 boyl them in Spring-water soft and lay to her Breast If the Woman be scarce of Milk and for the benefit of the Child would increase it Let her take the Decoction of Fennel and baâ—he her Breast therewith mixing the Iuice of Oak Apple and 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 2 drams of Coral a dram of Chrystal and Cinnamou each a dram the Seed of Daucus a dram Silâ—r Montanus one ounce and a halfâ— Cardamoms and long Pepper of each a dram and a half of Seseleus half an ounce the Seeds of Sasanum an ounce of white Poppy one Ounce mingle and dry them till they are all capable of being beaten into Powder one Dram of which the Woman must take at a time Morning and Evening in Broth made of Red Coleworts anointing her Breast the mean time with an Oyntment made of Venice Turpentine Vinegar of Roses and Beâ—s-wax of each an equal proportion â— CHAP. XXXI For a Pain in the Breâ—st immediately upon Delivery or Fissure TAke the new Bâ—â—s wax 2 Ouncâ—s Nut-Oyl hâ—lf an Ounce Rape-seed Oâ—l the like quantity as the latter when melting the Wax add the Oyl and 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 iâ— the Breast Take of the Pâ—wder of Gum Aâ—abick an Ounce Râ—se-water and Aquâ—vitae
called Erectores and two largeâ— proceeding from the Spincter of the Anus and serve to deliaâ—e the Vrethra from Miction and Ejaculation of the Seed and are therefore called Dilatantes or Wideness At the end of the Penis is the Glans covered wiâ—h a very thin Membrane by means of which and its Nervous substance it becomes most exquisitely insensible and is the principal Seat oâ— Pleasure in Copulation The outmost covering of thâ— Glans is called Pâ—aeputium à Praeputando from being cut off it bâ—ing that which the Iews cut oâ—f in Circumcision And it is tied in the lower part of it to the Glans by the Froenum or Bridle The Penis is also stoâ—ked with Veins Arteriâ—s and Nâ—rves That part that is â—ext above it towards the Belly is called the Pubeâ— and its Lateral parts are callâ—d Iâ—nuina â—he Groins The Tesâ—es or Stoâ—â—s so called bâ—cause they tesâ—ifie oâ—â— to be a Mâ—â— â—laborate the Blood brought to them by the Spermatick Arâ—eries into Seed They have Coats of two sorts Proper and Common The Common are two and invest both the Testes The outermost of the Common Coats consists of the Guticula and true Skin and is called the Scrotum hanging out of the Abdomen like a Purse The inner Common Coat is the Membraua Carnosa The proper Coats are also two the outer called Elitroides or Viginales the inner A'buginea into the outer are inserted the Cremaster Muscles to the upper part of the Testes are fixed the Epididymedes or Pastata from whence arise the Vasa Differentia or Ejaculatoria which when they come near the Neck of the Bladder deposite the Seed into the Vesiculae Seminales These Vesiculae Seminales are two each like a Bunch of Grapes and emit the Seed into the Vrethra in the Act of Copulation Near to them are the Prostatae about the bigness of a Wallnut and joyned to the Neck of the Bladder Authors cannot agree about the use of them but most are of Opinion thaâ— they afford any Oyly Slippery and Fat humour to besmear the Vrethra whereby to defend it from â—he Acrimony of the Seed and Urine But the Vessels which convey the Blood to the Testes out of which the Seed is made are the Arteriae Spermaticae and are also two The Veins which carry back the remaining Blood are two and have the name of Venae Spermaticae CHAP. XXXVI What Women ought to marry with what Men that they might have Children IN respect of Married Women that prove Childless Hypocrates adviseth this Experiment to be tried to know whether the defect be on the Woman's part or on her Husbands which is to make her Suffumigations with Incense or Storax which a Garment loose wrapped about her which may hang down on the Ground in such sortâ— that no vapour nor 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 Husband 's for as much as the Fumes found the passage open whereby it pierced up to the Nostril But although this proof perform that effect which Hypocrates 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 that could not have Children by one Wife hath had them by another the like also hath befallen Women Hypocrates gives us his Opinion concerning the Correspondency that ought in that respect to be betwixt Man and Wife in these words If the hot answer not the cold the moist in 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 Fornication of man says he could not be performed without a proportionable commixture of Seed To exemplifie this assertion of his the antient Physicians go on and say that a Woman who is wily ill-conditioned 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-natur'd sweet voic'd corpulent having liâ—tle Hair â— 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 fruitâ—ul because she comes nearest in proportion to Men of each several temperature But from â—he first of thee Unions or conjoyning of Man and Woman are most likely to issue the wisest Children say they because the dryness of the Mother correcteth and amendeth the defect of the Father But this being chiefly grounded upon that old opinion of the Commixture of the Seed of the Man and Woman together and of the Child's being formed from thence we think fiâ— to reject it and to afirm that Youth Strength and Vigour a sound Body and a mind free from Cares with a mutual Love and Amity betwixt the Man and VVoman seldom fail of their desired Effects CHAP. XXXVII A word of Advice to both Sexes in the Act of Copulation THE Act of Copulation being ordain'd by Nature as the Grond of all Generation and without which no Birth can be produced somewhat must be said of it but we shall cloath it in that modest Dress that the chasest Ears may hear without being put to the trouble of a blush It is convenient on this occasion to cherish â—he Body with generous Restorative to charm the Imagination with Musick to drown all Câ—res in good VViâ—e that so the Mind being elevated to a pith of Joy and Rapture the sensual Appetiâ—e may be more â—reely encouraged to gratifie it self in the Delights of Nature For Melancholly and Grief and whatsoever is troublesome to the Senses and the Fancy are Enemies to the Pastimes of the Nuptial Bed Yetâ— it is necessary to avoid Excessâ—s in Eating and Drinking for if the Body be overcharged with Wine or Meat the Spirits will become dull and unactive and unable to perform their Office This you may take â—or a good Rule That a little of what is good and well digested breeds good Blood good Blood creates good Spirits and when a Man is invigorated with a plentiful Stock of such he is able to do Miracles Also when both the Husband and Wife meet with an equal Ardour in their Conjugal Embraces it is very rare if it be not attended with Conception But when that Act is over all is not done for that it may have the better Success the Husband must not presently separate himself from his Wife's Embraces lest the Air should suddenly strike in and so prevent the happy issue of their Labours And when the Man departs the Woman ought to compose her self to all the rest and quietness imaginable and to avoid heavy thoughts of what may cause any disturbance and especially she ought to avoid both Coughing and Sneezing both which are two great hindrances to Conception after the Act of Copulation Thus Reader have I finished the difficult work of Generation and I hope to the satisfaction of all Modest and Ingenious Persons Pary saith that in 1573. he saw in Paris a Boy Nine years old born near Guise he had but two Fingers on his right Hand his Arm was well proportioned from the top of his Shoulders almost to his Wrist but from thence to the fingers ends it was very deformed he wanted his Legs and Thighs c. The Effigies of a monstroâ—s Child by reason of the defect of the Matter of Seed 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 Forehead 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 Anno Dom. 1393. There was Generated of a Woman and a Dog an issue which from the Navel upward perfectly resembled the shape of the Mother but there hence downwards the Sire that is the Dogâ— This Monster was sent to the Pope that then Reigned as Voluterane wriâ—eth also Cardaâ—e mentions it wherefore I have here given you the Figure thereof The Effigies of a Monster half Man and half Dog In the Year of our Lord 1512â— in which Year upon Easter day near Rovenna was fought that mortal Battle in which the Pope's 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 Iovianus Pontanus tells in the year 1529. the Ninth day of Ianuary there was a Man Child born in Germany having Arms and as many Legs FINIS The Effigies of a Maid all Hairy and an Infant that was black by the Imagination of their Parents
Honour-dishonourable ways The propension and inclination of Maids to marriage is to be discovered by many Symtoms For when they arrive to Pubertyâ— which is usually about the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age according to their respective Habits or Constitutions then their Menses or Natural Purgations begin to flow And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery External Causes also may promote and incite them to it for the Spirits being brisk and in a manner inflam'd when they arrive at this Age if they eat salt sharp things Spices c. whereby the Body becomes still more and more heated than the irration and proneness to Veneral Embroces is very great nay sometimes almost insuparable And a due use of these Enjoyments being deny'd to Virgins very often produces very dismal Effects as Green and Weasel-Colour short Breathings Tremblings of the Heaâ—t c. But if they happen to be married to their own Content those Afflictions vanish and their native Beauty returns more gay than before Nor is their eager gazing and desiring to associate themselves with Men a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordained their due of which being sometimes by obdurate Parents debarr'd in a lawful way they break the bounds of Modesty rather than endure such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves and so satiate their desires 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 Menses in Virgins begin to flow and then they are capable of conceiving and so continue generally to Forty-four at what time for the most part 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 deliver'd of Children till Fifty five years but such Prodigies rarely happen altho' the Menses continue longer 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 doth oft 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 Sixteen years or between that and Seventeen having much vital strength may be capable of getting Children and that force and heat of procreating matter continually increases till 45,50 and 55. And at the end of the latter begins to â—lag 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 an Hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children by her but looked so freshâ— 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 8â— 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 shrivelled up If any ask why a Woman 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 Monthly Purgations 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 into good and proper Aliment which 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 proposed be added That the Woman generally 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 hindred 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 Femalâ— Child and of the Embryo and perfect Birth and the fittest Season for Copulation WHen a young likely Couple have enter'd the holy state of Wedlock and are desirous of mutual Enjoyment for Generation sake which is the chief end for which Wedlock was ordained and rather covet to be bless'd by 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 active instrumental therein and those are especially two First the Genital Humour which is brought by the Arteriae Preparantes to the Testes in the form of Blood and there Elaborated into Seed by the Seminifical Faculty resident in them To which may be added the Appetite and Desire to Copulation which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies or by the sight of a brisk charming Beauty whose wit and liveliness may much incite and more inflame the Courage But if Nature be enfeebled 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 Decays of Nature that the Faculties may freely operate For as dung and good manuring restores ground that is worn out and heartless even so seasonable and proper Diet operates to the restoâ—ing the faint heart weak Spirit coldness and driness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since Diet may and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better it iâ— necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such Meats 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 make the Body lively and full of Sap of which faculty are all hot moist Meats for according to Galen 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 poweâ— to accumulate or heap up Seed as also to aâ—gment it and other things of force to
cause Erection as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Gnatsappers Thrushes Blacâ—-Birds young Pigeons Sparrows Partridge Capons Almonds Pine-Nuts Raysons Currants all strong Wines moderately taken especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but Erection is chiefly caused and provoked by Satyriumâ— Eringoes Cresses Erysimum Parsnips Artichoaks Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candid Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to Powder and drank in Muscadel Scallions Sea Shell-Fish c. All these though excellent Restoratives will not have present Operation but you must use your self to them for a considerable time or else you will reap little or no benefit by them The Act of Coition being over wherein the force of Imagination is certainly very prevalent in the causing of the Child to be of this or that Sex the Woman say tbe Antients 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 Place of Conception in which is the greatest force of Generative heat which it the greatest Inducement to Procreation of Male Children and rarely fails to answer the expectation of those that 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 Iuice of Hysop in a Glass of Mallaga oâ— Aligant when they lie down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time say they for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and Moon 's Signs is Virtigo Scorpia or Sagitarius This Order will they also have observed for a Female Child by lying as aforesaid on the left side and strongly fancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if the Woman drink the decoction of Female Mercury four days from the first day of Purgationâ— the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the Juice or Decoction of these Simples are of forceâ— the one to purge the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby open the Recepticles making a way for the Seminary of Generation And the best time to Copulate for this Sex is when the Moon is in the wane and the Sign in Libra or Aquarius for when 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 Menses are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at mâ—st if a Man lie with his Wife from the first day she is purged to the fifth she will concoive 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 Hermaphrodite In a word They that would be commended to 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 not Manly enough And thus much for the first general particular from whence I shall proceed to the second which is to give the Reader to understand how the Child is formed in the VVomb and what accidents it is incident to how nourished and when brought forth Certain it is there are various Opinions concerning this mâ—tter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the Curious lay down the Opinions of the â—â—aâ—nedâ— as thus Man consists of an Ovum or Egg impregnated in the Ovaria or Testicles of the Womanâ— by the more substile part of Man's Seed but there is a forming Faculty Vertue in the Seed from a Divine and Heavenly Gift it being abundantly endued with Vital and Etherial Spirit which gives shape and form to the Embryo 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 comely Figure of a Man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby On which holy David contemplating fell into his Divine Rapture and Admiration expressed in Psal. 138. I will praise thee O Lordâ— because I am wonderfully mad Thy Works are wonderful My Soul searcheth and knoweth it right well Thou knowest all my Bones whâ—n I was fashioned in the secret place and when I was wonderfully formed in my Mothers Womb. Tâ—y 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 meâ— whereby I was made I cannot understand it c. And Physicians that have narâ—owly contemplated Man's Nature constitute four different times wherein this Microâ—m or little World is framed and perâ—ected in the Womb. The first is immediately after Coition and is said to be perfected in the first Week if no Eflux happen which sometimes fall out through the slipperiness of the Matrix or Head thereof that shifts 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 Virtue makes a manifest mutation in the Conception so that all the substance seems Congealed Flesh and Blood which happens about the 12 and 14 day after Copulation and though this Concreation or Fleshy Mass abound with hot fiery Blood yet it remains undistinguishable without form of figure and may be called the rough draught or Embryo 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 principal Parts shew themselves evidently and perspicuously as the Heart from whence proceeds the Arteries the Brain from which the Nerves proceed like many small Thâ—eads running through the whole Body and the Liver whose Office it is to separate the Bile from the Blood brought to it by the Vana Portae The two first 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 th day the outword parts are seen exquisitely elaborated 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 perfectâ—â—t is no longer held an imperfect Child
place and at present proceed to unravel other Mysteries of Nature CHAP. III. The reason why Children are often like their Parents and what the Mothers Imagination contributes thereto whence grows the Kind viz. Whether the Man or Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Childâ— c. 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 Lanctantius is of Opinion That when a Man's 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 Chin long lank Hair on the Head 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 thro' 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 their Husband when married for the Superiority c. 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 outward Parts frequently has some representation thereof so whilst a Man and Woman are in the Act of Copulation if the Woman earnestly he hold 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 Mold spots Stains Dashes and the Figures of strange things tho' 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 blubber Lips and ill shaâ—ed Bodies and most ascribe â—he reason to the strange conceit of the Mother who has bâ—sied her Eyes and Mind upon some ill-shaped or distorted Creatures therefore it greatly behoves all Women â—ith Child to avoid any monstruous 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 famous Sir Thomas Moore likewise conâ—irms 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 fixed on him that as she conceived the similitude could proceed from no other cause wherefore it is apparent that likeness can confirm no Child to be a lawful Fatheâ—'s own Yet in manners wit and prophension of the Mind daily Examples teach us that Children 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 inclined to it and not so hot and consequensly not so desirous of Copulation but rather decline it unless Civility to their Wives cause them to compliance therein and then they procâ—â—d fainting 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 not in venerious Actions and do liberally abundantly employ themselves therein it oftentimes happens that the Children are of the same desires manners and actions of the Mind with thâ—ir Parents And thus much for the first point now I shall proceed to the second which is to shew what share each of the Parents have in begetting the Child c. And first we will give the Opinion of the Ancients about it Though it is apparent say they 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 interverted 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 Testicles 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 say they than that if a Woman do not use Copulation to eject her Seed she oftentimes falls into strange Diseases as appears by young Widows and Virgins A second reason they urge 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 wonâ— and appear more blithe and jocund than when they are often satisfied this way which is an inducement to believe that they have greater Pleasure and receive more Contenâ— than a Man For since by Nature much Delight accompanies the Ejectionâ— by breaking forth of the swelling Spirit and the â—â—iffness of the Nerves in which case the operaâ—ion of the Womans part is double she suffering both ways even by ejection and reception whereby she is more recreated and delighted in the Veneral Act. Hence it is say they that the Child more frequently resembles the Mother than the Father because the Mother confers the most towards its Generation And they think it may be further instanced from the great love they bear them for that 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
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 anâ— evil Mixture the contagion by degrees will seize upon the whole 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 grâ—â—â—â—st pest and grievance of the Nation These things rightly considered no Man need wonder at so many mis-shapen Births and monstrous People with Scald-Heads bowed and distorted Legs Arms and Backs wry-Necks crumpled Feet incident to Swellings and indifferent Diseases especially Swellings in the Groin Buboes and Emerods as also that their Minds are dull stupid forgeâ—ful foolish mad and unâ—easonable which are indeed the effects of unseasonable and unreasonable Venery which every Creature but Man observes in the Season Nature has alloted and when their Female have conceived they desire no lnnger 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 Affection consider how cruel he is to his Posterity that brings such mischief upon them and chiefly they are here to be understood that are conceived in the fourth Moon when the Woman 's Natural Flux is upon her therefore all Men ought to restrain neither should the Woman dare to copulate with Men as better knowing when that is upon her than some rash inconsiderate and un-experienced 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 Undertakingâ— 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 to them or else given them sparingly and with some ill qualities that others obtain bountifully and then suffer no less loss in their Mind for they want almost their common Senses and are extream dull without the sharpness of Wit quickness of Invention Counâ—il and Prudence that others have Lavinus Leminus a famous Physician tells of a monsterous Birth from his own knowledge the Relation of which I take in his words as I find them in his Bâ—ok of Generation In former years says he there was a Woman an Islander who had married a Mariner that took Physick of me and after Câ—pulation having Câ—nceived by him hâ—r Bâ—lly began to swell to such a vast magnitude that one would have thought it câ—uld not have held to support the burâ—hâ—n When 9 Months were expired the Mâ—dwife was called and first with great troubâ—e she was delivered of a rude lump which I conceive was a superfatatiâ—n after a lawful Conâ—epâ—ion there were fastned unto it on both â—ides two Handles like two Aâ—ms for the length and the fashion of them it panâ—ed and seemed to be alive as Sea Fishes called Vâ—tica and by the Dutch Elsâ—howe which float in the Sea in Summer in infinâ—tâ— numbers and being taken out they run abroâ—d and when you handle them melâ—â— wiâ—h a burning and prickling left behind them whence they had their Name after this a Monster came forth of her Womb with a crooked Back long round Neck and fiery Eyes and a pointed Tail being very nimble footed for as soon as it came forth it gave the affrighted Midwife the slip and run up and down the Room to seek a hiding place till at last one Woman more couragious than the rest fell upon it with a Cusheon and smothered it This Monster had sucked the Blood from the Child which came forth after it being a Male and so eaten the Flesh that it scarcely lived to be Christened nor could the Woman be in a long time restored to her strength And farther adds that upon his inquiry she told him that it had proceeded as she thought from unseasonable and extraordinary and insatiable Venery Hereupon says he I proscribed her a wholsom course of Life and Medicines to restore her Forces for she was become wonderful Lean. These and many such like things should teach all Men aud Women to use decency and orderly proceedings in their mutuaul Embracings lest Nature wronged thereby monstrous Births ensue in which respect some Lascivious People are much to be condemned who suppose they may do what they list and will by no means have their Pleasure bounded and above all Pocky and Gouty People are most Lascivious the one thro` the Heat contracted in the Blood and the other through the polite windiness passes through the Veins and afflicts the Nerves others again observe not whether their Stomach be full or empty or the Meat be raw or digested whether it be by Day or Night nay never râ—gard the season nor opportunity of time but as their Lusts and Desires prompts them but such insatiable Lechers seem to be or at least are wilfully ignorant to what end they were Created Male and Female which was to beget Children and propagate their kind not for obscene purposes and beastly pleasure but at last they pay for their unruly Lust when the Disorders of Body as Aches Gout and many Diseases contracted thereby Rack and Torment them The last thing in this Chapter to be considered is whether monstrous Births have reasonable Souls and whether such shall appear at the day of Resurrection in discussing of which I shall cite the opinions of such Learned Divines and Physicians as have made curious search and diligently weighed these great Mysteries And first it is their opinion not joyntly but severally that all those that are like Men according to the order of Generation deduced from our primitive Parents proceeded by natural means from either Sex though they are â—eformed and of monstruous shape having notwithstanding a reasonable Soul shall when they have run the date of Mortality be capable of Resurrection to Immortality but those that proceed not from Man but by the Womans unnaturally mixing with other Creatures shall not participate of Immortality but perish as brute Beasts because such a monstruous Birth is not capacitated to receive a divine part or Soul which should entail him to the Resurrection There are indeed amongst the number of Men and Women that read the Terrestrial Globe divers that are monstruously Deformed and of horrid Aspect with distorted Jaws and Gogle Eyes and many other marks of Deformity but these tho' by their pâ—rents rashness in incedent or unseasonable Copulation or the defect of
be dubbed â— Knight of the Forked Order and havâ— their Names inrolled in the Colony oâ— Cuckoldom especially if their Wives havâ— not been trained up in the Paths of Virtue and lie too much open to importunity anâ— temptation of lewd and debauched Menâ— And thus much for Errors or Oversightsâ— in rash unseasonable or preposterouâ— Marriages CHAP. VIII â—he Opinions of tâ—e Learned concerning Children conceived and born within the space of seven Months with lively Arguments upon the Subject to prevent suspitions 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 Man's Body by the Genetal parts CErtain it is that many bitter Quarrels have arisen through mis-understandâ—ng when solid reason would have rectiâ—ied the Judgment and have prevented the Conception of such an Evil and from whence does this arise but through Suâ—picion and Jealousie when indeed it is many times founded upon a slender Foundation as the new married Woman's beâ—ng 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 Seven 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 seventh Month by the Authority of the Learned Hypocrates And therefore we must believe that a Child born at the end of the seventh Month in lawful Matrimony may be lawfully begotten Gallen in Chap. 6 of his third Book handleth this Argument but rather according to Men's Opinionsâ— 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 Leminus 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 of no moment who assert That seven 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 knowledge as follows Of late saith he there hapned a great disturbance amongst us which ended not without Bloodshed 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 denied the Fact saying that he was ready to swear it upon the Holy Evangelist that he never had Carnal Copulation with her and that he would by no means therefore be taken for the Faâ—â—er of the Child that was not his and furâ—her alledged that he verily believed that it was a Child born in seven Months and himself was many miles distance from the Mothor 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 carried in the Mother 's Womâ— but 27 Weeks and some odd days but iâ— she could have carried it to full 9 Months the Child's Part and Limbs would have been more firm and strong and the Structure of the Body more compact and fastâ— for the Skin was exceeding loose and the Breast-bone that defends the Heart and the Sword-like Gristle that lies over the Stomack were higher than naturally they should be not plain but crooked 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 Nails upon her Fingers and the outmost Joynts of her Fingers upon which from the Musculous or Cartilaginous Matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin oâ—â—â—m as for her Toes there was not the least appearance of Nails about them by reason that 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 affirmeth that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of â—hem had been born and lived at 7 Months â—hey without favour to any Party made their report that the Infant was a Child of 7 Months and so must be accounted tho' it was born within the seventh Month or that in such cases the revolution or circuit of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare Weeks or somewhat less than 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 lie with his Wife the Copulation is most natural and the Conception best and a Child then gotten may be borâ— in the 7th Month and prove very healthful so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent upon proof that he was 100 Miles distance all that Month in which the Child was begot And as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being foâ—ced in the dark and that thro' fear and surprize was left in ignorance As for Coition it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in Health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Children so begotten creating in them through the abundant ill Humoâ—rs divers lingâ—ing 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 dayâ— were wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture or guess at their temperate and state of Body and young Men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of Life and Death for if the Cases of Testicles be loose and feeble and and the Cods fall down it denotes the natural Faculties and vital Spirits which are the props of Life are fallen But if the secret part be
wrinkled and raised up 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 tâ— be the upper part that is afflicted as the Hend 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 Spiâ—it that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwifeâ— to feel the Genitals of Chilâ—â—en 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 former of these ill conveniences 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 doth 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 beatings and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the humour be very vitious also loathing of Meat and the distension of the Hypocondriack part by reason of the inordinate Efflux of Menstrual Blood to the greater Vessels and by reason of the abundance of humour the whole Body is often trouble with Swelling or if not at least the Thighs Legs and Ankles all above the Heels And also there is a weariness of the whole Body without any reason at all for it The Galenists say that this Distemper proceeds chiefly from the obstruction of those Vessels that are about the Womb occasioned by the abundance of gross viscid and crude Humours arising from the several inward causes but there are also outward causes which have a share in the production of it as taking cold on the Feet drinking of Water Intemperance in Diet and also the eating of things which are wholly contrary to Nature viz. raw or burnt Flesh Ashes Coals old Shoes Chalk Wax Nut-shells Mortar Lime Oat meal Tobacco-Pipes which occasion not only a Suppression of the Menses but likewise obstructions thro' the whole Body Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is Matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation that may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the Menses will begin to flow according to their natural and due course and the Humourt being diffused and dispersed will soon waste 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 Ankle and if she be about 16 you may do it likewise in the Arm though suffer her not to bleed overmuch especially if the Blood be good If the Diseases be of any continuance then it is to 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 Senna Rhubard And then for strengthning the Bowels and open obstructions Chalybeet Medicines are chiefly to be used The Diet must be moderate and sharp things as Vinegar c. be by all means avoided Aâ—d for the unobstructing of the Humour take prepaâ—ed Steel Bezoar-stoâ—e the Root of Scorzonera and Oyl of Chrystal 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 oâ—serving 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 casts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper I shall somewhat largely treat thereof Sterility proceeds from divers Causes but most commonly from some defect in the Organs of Generation Upon the Womans part it most commonly happens from the strict closure of the Mouth of the Womb which will not admit the Seed and sometimes from the straitness of the Share-Bone which denies entrance to the Penis Sometimes also from Ulcers or Excrescencies in the Neck of the Womb. To these may be added too much Fatness which sâ—raitens the passage of the Matrix Most of the Antients are of opinion that â—â—nception is hindred commonly by the Humidity and moisture of the Womb when by reason thereof it cannot retain the Seed or by bad Humours heaped up there and â—urrupting it or strange defect of the Menstrâ—oâ—s Blood But certain it is that it preceeds either from some Tumour Ulcer Excâ—escence or by some fault or other of the Womb Ovaria or Ovi-Ducts For if the Eggs are not impregnated with the Aura Virilis or Seminal Spirit there can be no Conception the Testicles of Women having no such Office as those of Men but containing Eggs analogous to those of Fowls and other Creatures Now if the Orâ—fice of the Womb be closed that the Seed cannot enter or rather the two Wings or Nymphae so â—ar that â—he Penis cannot pass the Neck of the Womb it must be opened by an Instrument and subject to this defect in Natâ—re are many Women especially in hot Countrys but most of all in Egypt where the Chirurgeons are forced with Silver Instruments to make way for the Instrument of Generation a thiug 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 Schirrus either within or without and if such things appears it is for the most part incurable but if it be a natural straitness then sâ—pple it with a Tent dipped in Oyl of Roses and the white of Eggs and drink Camomile Posset sweetned with Sugar-Candy Morning and Evening and by the proportion thereof the Womb will in all parts distend 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 to force the Passage lest he break the Vessels nay endanger the Bladder it self which has been broke with such violent Intrusion and so coft the Woman her Life If the
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 Heâ—bs and Druggs that are hot and dry which will in a short time remove such Ostructions But a more dangerous cause of Barrenness than yet I have named are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of the Excrementious Homourâ— collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood incident to Young and Old at such times as they are capable of Generationâ— and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art and renders Women inevitably barren occasioning Leanness Consumption Melancholy Dropsie falling of the Womb swooning Convulsions which renders it difficult and dangerous in long continuance tho' in the beginning it may be eaâ—ily removedâ— 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 Lentilckwood boil them in Water and Honey drinking a pint fresh made each Morning Then to dry up to Contraction of the Vessels or Humour that lodged there take the Root of Filipendula 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 Bâ—ck 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 Womb and then appears signs of afflictions of the Womb the Flux not being so great to cure which Suffumations 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 Lusts contracts a heat that either destroys the Eggs or hinders them from being impregnated In this case 't is requisite to avoid hot Air soft lying hot Meats and Spice and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein purge moderately with Decoctum Epitaymi and Juice of Roses each two Drams and a half Whey half a pint mix them together and drinking them fasting in the Morning and so continue 4 hours after or for want of the former you may take Triphera Serasenica and Rhuburb 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 Diet-drink made as followeth viz. Take Pistachia-Nuts and Eringo-Roots of each half an Ounce of Saffron a dram Lignum Alloes Gallinga Caryophillata Mace red and white Behen and Baulm Flowers of each 4 Scruples Shavings of Ivory Rind of Cassia each 2 Scruples Syrup of confected Ginger 12 Ounces white Sugar 6 Ounces add to these 12 Ounces of Baulm Water and set them over a gentle Fire permitting them to seeth then take it off suffer it to cool and put more Water to it stirring the Ingredient lastly increasing them with a Scruple and a half of Musk and Amber then strain out the Luquid part and boyl it up again into a Conserve of which let the Woman eat three times a day but not exceeding the bigness ef a Walnut at a time The times most convenient are Mornings Noons and Night and this let her continue till she finds her Body in temper Another occasion of Barrenness proceeds from the obstruction of those Vessels through which the Monthly Purgations flow in which case open the Basilick Vein and take from hence a moderate quantity of Blood after which take Hiera composita and Oppopanax of each half a Dram and a Dram of Syrup of Giliflowers make them into 7 Pills take them in the Morning and sleep upon them a considerable time then drink off half a pint of Sugared water and 3 hours after a portion of Syrup of Vinegar compounded For want of this take Syrup of Eupatory 3 quarters of an ounce Female Mugwort and Elecampane Root of each an ounce with Syrup of Vinegar a proportionable quantity mix them together and take them when made into an Electuary Morning and Evening to the quaatity of an Hazel-Nut at a time and if the Courses flow not within a short time after let a Pessary of Musk Amber Wood of Alloes and Ash-Keys of each â— Grains Saffron half a Scruple Hares Renet an ounce be put into the Womb Tent-wise and continue there for the â—pace of a day and it will remove the obstruction cause the Cources to flow and in short time render the Woman capable of Generation And thus Reader have I with much caution performed my promise in these particulars and the next thing I shall proceed to amongst other matters relating to the Mystery of Generation are the signs of Virginity c. CHAP. X. Virginity what it is in what it consists and how violated together with the Opinions of the Learned in the point of mutation of Sexes in the Womb during the Operation of Nature in framing the Body SEeing many ignorant People have boasted their Knowledge as to the first particular und some Virgins have undergone hard Censures through the ignorant Determinations of such as have taken upon them to discuss the matter I thought it altogether necessary to clear the Point that so for the future the Conceited might not be indulged in their vain Opinion nor by traducing others prejudice the Female Sex whose Vertues are frequently such as do not require our admiration but imitation Then since the mysterious Word Virginity has puzzled many to define it I mean the cause from whence it arises for the word barely in it self signifies the prime chief or best of any thing But as to the point in hand the main matter bears the following Construction It is observed by the curious searchers into Natures Secrets that in young Maids or Females in the Sinus Pudoris or in that place that is by some called the Neck of the Womb is that pendulous production vulgarly called the Hymen but more rightly the Claustrum Virginale and in French it is termed the Button de Rose or Roses-Bud for that it much resembles the Bud of a Rose expended or a Clove-Gilliflower from when it derived the Word Defloro to Deflower the Deflowering of Virgins because most are of opinion that the Virginity is altogether annihilated when this Duplication is fractured and dissipated by violence and that when it is found perfect and
intire no penetration has been made Also some Learned Physicians are of opinion that there is not neither Hymen or Skin expanded containing Blood in it which divers imagine in the first Copulation flows from the fractured expanse Now this Claustrum Virginale or Flower is as it were composed or consisting of four Caruncles or little Buds like Myrtle-berries which in Virgins are full and plump but in Women flag and hang loose and these are placed in the four Angles of the Sinus Pudorus joyned or held together by little Membrains and Ligatures like Fibres each of them situate in the Intresticles or Spaces between each Caruncle with which in a manner they are proportionably distended which Membranes being once delacerated denote Devirgination and many curious Coxcombs prying into this Secret the first Night of their Marriage and finding their Wives defective in this point have ever after held them in evil esteem concluding it happened thro' the effect of Copulation with some other who had been entertained in the Chambers of Venus Nay one I knew that upon this vain fancy took such conceit that he would never go to Bed with his Wife when to undeceive such Idots it is affirmed by the Learned thaâ— such fracture may happen divers ways by accidents as well as Copulation with Man viz. By extrordinary straining violent coughing immoderate sneezing stopping of Urine and violent motion of the Vessels inforcibly sending down the humours which pressing for passage break the Ligatures or Membrane so that the intireness or fracture of this thing commonly taken for the Virginity or Maiden-head is no absolute sign of dishonesty though certain it is that in Copulation 't is more frequently broken than otherwise Once at an Assize held for the County of Rutland a young Man was put upon Trial of Life and Death which Trial was founded upon an Indictment for forcing a Virgin when after divers questions asked and the Maid swearing positively to the matter naming the time place and manner oâ— the Action it was upon mature deliberaâ—tion resolving that she should be searcheâ— by a skilful Chyrurgeon and two Midâ—wives who were to make their Report up on their oaths which after due Examinatioâ— they accordingly did affirm that the Memâ—branes were intire and not disacerated anâ— that it was their Opinion for that Reason that her Body had not been penetrated which so far wrought upon the Jury thaâ— the Prisoner was acquitted and the Maiâ— afterward confessed she swore against hiâ— out of revenge because he had promiseâ— to marry her and then declined it Anâ— thus much concerning Virginity And noâ— I shall proceed to the second particularâ— which is Reader to shew you the Opinion of divers learned Men in relation to Nature operation in changing Sexes in the Womb This point is of much necessity by reason of the different Opinions of Men relating to it Therefore before any thing positive can be asserted it will be altogetheâ— convenient to recite what has been delivered as well in the negative as the affirmative And fiâ—st of the first Severus Plineus â— who â—rgues for the negatives writes thusâ— The Genital parts saith he of both Sexes â—re so unlike other in Subâ—tance Compoâ—â—tion Situation Figure Action and Uâ—â— â—hat nothing is more unequal and by how â—uch more all other parts of the Body â—he Breasts excepted which in Women well more because of the secundary use â—ave an exact resemblance so much the â—ore in resemblance are the Genital parts â—f one Sex compared with the other unaâ—ke and if their Figure be thus different â—uch more is their use The Veneral â—ppetite also proceeds from different cauâ—es for in Men it proceeds from a desire â—f Emission and in Women from a desire â—f Completion in Women also the chiefâ—st of those parts are concave and apt to â—eceive but in Men they are only porous â—nd in a Woman Solid These things considered I cannot but â—onder added he how any one can imaâ—ine that the Genital Member of Female â—irâ—hs should be changed into those that beâ—ong to Males since by those parts only â—he difference and distinction of Sexes is â—ade nor can I well impute the reason of his vulgar Error to any thing but the miâ—take of unexpert Midwiâ—es who have â—een deceived by the evil confirmation of â—he parts which in some Male Births may â—ave happened to have had some small pâ—otrusion not to have been diâ—cerned â—â—â—peared by the Example of a Child chrâ—â—stened at Paris by the Name of Ioan â— if it had been a Girl when as afterwarâ— it proved a Boy and on the contrary thâ— over-far extension of the Clytoris in Femalâ— Bâ—â—ths may have occasioned the like miâ—stakes Thus far Pliny proceeds in the nâ—â—gative yet notwithstanding his negatioâ— there are not wanting divers learned Phyâ—sicians that have asserted the affirmative oâ— which number Galen is one A Man saitâ— he is different from a Woman in nothing elsâ— but having his Genital Members without hâ—â— Body And this certain that if Natuâ—â— having formed a Man would converâ—â— him into a Woman she hath no otheâ— Task to perform but to turn his Genitâ—â— Member inward and a Woman into a Maâ— by doing the contrary But â—his is to bâ— understood of the Child when it is in thâ— Womb and not perfectly formed for diâ—vers times Nature hath made a Femalâ— Chiâ—d and it has so remained in the Bellâ— of the Mother for a Month or two and afâ—terward plenty of heat increasing in thâ— Genital Members upon some occasioâ— they have issued forth and the Child haâ— become a Male yet retaining some cerâ—tain Gestures unbeâ—iting the Masculinâ— â—ex as Female Actions a shrill Voice and â—ore feeble than ordinary Contrariwise Nature often having made a Male and â—old Humours flowing to it the Genitals â—ave been inverted yet still retaining a Man-like fashion both in Voice and Gesture Now these Opinions considered I am raâ—her inclinable to believe the latter as a â—hing altogether probable for there is not â—hat vast difference between the Members of the two Sexes as Pliny would have us believe there is for the Woman has in a manner the same Members with the Man â—ho ' they appear not outwardly but are inverted with 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 suddenly or slowly contracted which operates according to its greater or lesser force And thus much for these two Pâ—rticulars leaving which I shall proceed to lay down seasonable and necessaâ—y instructions or directions for Midwâ—fes c. opening in that Discourse a Cabinet of many rare Secrets not vulgarly known and indeed only fitting to be known to such as may obseâ—ve and put them in practice for the publick good and in no wise convert them to obscenity CHAP. IX 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 weighing and preâ—considering that she is accountable for all the mischief that befals through 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 〈◊〉 her Person these things ought to be obsâ—rved viz. She must not be too old nor too young neither extraordinary fat nor weakned by leanness but in a good habit or 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 pared shoâ—t 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 and a convenient Strength with much caution and diligence nor subject â—o Drowsiness nor Impatience As for her Manners she ought to be courteous affable sober chaste and not subject to passion bountiful and compassionate to the Poor and not coveâ—â—us 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 haste tho' her business be urgent in another place left by indangering the Mother or 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 advantageous to her Practice never imagining her self so perfectly 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 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 aâ— will cause Abortion to pleasure those that have unlawfully conceived which to do is a high degree of wickedness and may be ranked with Murdeâ— but if any come to her with specious pretences let her send them to able Physiciansâ— 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 and be careful therein leâ—t 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 Strumpetâ— that had an inveterate Pox which occasioning a Bubo upon her right Hand and she not leaving off her Calling spoiled divers Women not 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 debarred 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 Bâ—d and Board in her House leâ—t 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 Dâ—rections for which shall hereafter be inserted nor shall 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 readiness and above all let her use her diligenceâ— either by perswasion or otherwise to keep the Woman from being unruly in her Pangs lest thereby she destroy both her self and her Child and not in any wisâ— to proceed too hasty in her business but wâ—â—t God's leisure in all things and by no meaâ—â— let her suffer her wits to scatteâ— but 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 giving 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 exâ—ernal parts I shall not think it amiss briefly with modesty to proceed in describing the generative part of the 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 Genital of Women External and Internal to the Vessels of the Womb. WAS it not sor the benefit of Practitioners and Proâ—essors 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 â—â—wd Persons into ridicule but they being absolutely necessary to be known I will hope the best and proceed in order The parts that offer themselves in view without any deduction at the bottom of the Belly are the Fissura Magna or the Great Chink with its Labia or Lips the Mons Venâ—ris â— and the Hair These parts are called by the general Name of â—udâ—nda because when they are bared they bring Pudor or Shame upon a Woman The Fissura magna reaches from the lower part of Os Pubis too within an Inch of the Anus It is less and closer in Maids than in those that have born Children and has two Lips which towards the Pubes grow thicker and more full or peturberant and meeting upon the middle of the Os Pâ—bis make that rising that is called Mâ—ns Venerâ—s or the Hill of Venus The next thing that offers are the Nymphae and Clytoris the former of which is of a Membrany and Filmy 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 fleshy Substance which cloaths the Clytoris and many times they spread so far that incision is required to make way for the Mnn's
in Men the right Vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow Vein descending and the lift from the Emulgent Vein and on the side of them two Arteries which grows from the Aâ—rta 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 looseness be the better stretched out when occasion requires it And these Vitals 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 windy 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 and that part of the Courses may purge through these Vessels and seeing the Testicles in Women are seated near the Womb for that cause the 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 perform not the same Actions as Men's they are also different in their scituation magnitude temperament substance form and covering As â—or the seat it is in the hollowness of the Abdâ—men neither are they external pendulous but rest upon the Muscles of the Loyns that so they may be contracting the greater heat by more fruitful their Office being to contain the Ova or Eggs which being impregnated by the Man's Seed ingender Man yet they differ from those of Men in figure by reason of their lesness and flatness at either end not being so round or 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 as for their covering or inclosure it likewise differs extreamly for as Men's are wrapped or covered in divers Tunicles by reason they are externally Pendulous and subject to divers injuries unless so senced by Nature â—o Womens Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane the which though it closely adhere to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The Deferent or Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure Passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick Veins in sustance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhering to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about the Testicles are every way remote to them yet tho' they touch them not they are tied to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-Mouse through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the end of the Testicles in these beginning or may be termed here to have their passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Testicles and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Testicles and Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in Women are the Cremesters in Men of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the use and Action of the several Parts in Women appropriated to Generation c. THE Externals commonly called the Pudenda are designed to cover to great Orifice and that to receive the Penis or Yard in act of Coition and give passage to the Birth and Urine The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the Internal parts â—hutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their swelling up cause Titulation in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris in Women is like that of the Penis in Men viz. Erection And its outer end is like the Glans of Penis and has the same Nature and as the Glans in Man is the Seat of the greatest pleasure in Copulation so is this in Women whence 't is called Amoris dulcedoâ— and AEstreum Veneris The action and use of the Neck of the Womb is also equal with that of the Penis viz. Erection occasioned divers ways First in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Penis to the Womb Secondly whilst the passage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Penis as for the convenience of Erection it is twofold First for as much as if the Neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient passage to the Womb. Secondly it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the Neck of the Womb there Office is to repleat it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted there in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed But their principal business is to convey Nutriment to the Womb. The Womb it self has many Properties attributed to it as first Retention of the secundated Egg which is properly called Conception Secondly To cherish and nourish it till by the help of Nature it has framed the Child and brought it to perfection And then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful manner And indeed is the Field of Man's Generation being designed for no other purpose and so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident or the like it be rendered deficient When to strengthen and enable it besides the helps of Nature sundry Remedies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction For which shall be hereafter mentioned The use of the preparation Vessel is this The Arteries convey the Blood to the Testicles where part of it is spent in the nourishment of them and the Production of those little Bladders which do in all things resemble Eggs through which the Vasa Preparentia run and are obliterated in them And as for the Veins their Office is only to bring back what Blood remains from the uses afoâ—esaid The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men by reason of their nearness to the Stone which defect is yet lengthned and made good by the many
the Shoulders that she may direct the Head to the passage and the better to perfect itâ— 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 Childrenâ— wherefore the Midwife must observe if Twins be in the Womb and pâ—ess forwaâ—d 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 â—he 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 dangerousâ— In the Birth of Twins let the Midwife be exceeding careful that the Secundines be naturally brought forth lest in such a case the Womb being delivered of its burden fall and by its so doing the Secundine continues there longer than is requisite to the indangering of the Woman If it so happen that the Woman is pregnant with Twins and one come naturally and the other naturally as the one with the Head the other with the Feet foremost then must the Midwife consider to deliver the natural Birth first and then iâ— she cannot tuâ—n the other draw it out in the posture it presses forward but if that with the Feet downward be much before the other that she may deliver that first turning the Head of the other aside In this case the Midwife must be diligent to search that instead of Twins it be not a monstrous Birth as a Body with two Heads or two Bodies joyned together which she may observe if both the Hands come foremost by puttiâ—g up her Head 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 at 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 long and large Fillet that part of the Navel that is fastned to the Secundines the more readily to find them The second Infant born let her diligently inquire whether there be noâ— two Secundines for by the shortness of the Ligament it often happens that it retires back to the damage of the Woman wherefore leâ—t 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 monstrouâ—ly falls out then although the Heads comes foremost yet it is 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 Birthsâ— 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 for this the Skin of a Hare or Coney being â—layed off as soon as killed may be applied to her Belly and in so doing the dilation made in the Birth will be closed up and the ill melancholly Blood expelled from those parts And these may be continued in Summer the space of an hour and in Winter two after which let the Woman be swathed with a fine linnen Cloth about a quarter of a Yard in breadth chafing her Belly before with Oyl of St. Iohnswâ—rt after that raise up the Matrix with a linnen Cloth many times folded 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 beat where such remedies to 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 Receptacles A while after Delivery you may make a restrictive of the Yolks of two Eggs a quarter of a pint of White Wine an Ounce of Oyl of Saint Johns-wort as much of the Oyl of Roses Plaintain and Rose water of each One Ounce bray them together fold a Linnen-Cloth and dip it therein warm it before a gentle Fire and apply it to the Breast and ohe pains of those parts will be greatly eased Present sleep is not convenient but above four hours after Deliveâ—y she may take Broath â—audle or what other liquid matter is nourishing and afterwards if she be disposed to sleep it may be safely permittedâ— And this is as much in case of a Natural Birth as ought immediately to be done In case of â—xtremity 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 such an excessive 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 then kept unless there happens an extraordinary Flux of Blood for if her nourishmenâ— be over great it will endanger her falling into a Fever nay more it will Increase the Milk to superfluity which Curdling often times turns to Aposthumes 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 draw off either by the Child or otherwise In this case likewise let her have Coriander or Fennel-seed boiled in her Barley-Broath but by any means for the time specified let her abstain from Meat If no Fever 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 taking it in a little water well boiled And after the Suspicion of a Fever or fear of Contraction of Humours in the Breast she may be nourished more plentifully with the Broath of Pullets Capons Pidgeons Mutton 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 it self it will then likewise be expedient to give her cold Meats sparingly that so she may be enabled 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 the Excrement a Glyster may be administred to help the defect made after the manner following Receipt Take of both the Mallows and Pelletory of the Wall a handful of each Cammomile and Mellylot Flowers of each a handful Anniseeds and Fennel-seeds of each two Ounces boil them in the decoction of a Sheeps-head and take of this three quarters dissolving in them of common Honey and course Sugar two Ounces of each and of new fresh Butter two Ounces strained well and administer it Glisterwise but if it operate not to your mind then may you take 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 Midwife must cleanse the Infant not only in the Face but likewise the whole Body anointing the Groin 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 decocted in White-wine and bathe the Child therewith the decoction being blood-warm The Infant being thus well anointed or suppled and well dâ—ied wrap it up warm and give it a spoonful of Sugar and Mallago or a scruple of Mithridate or Venice-Treacle dissolved in half a spoonful of Canary and after it a little Cardus water observing to bathe or anoint it each Morning as aforesaid If the Child have extream throws immediately after it comes into the World it must be rubbed with Juice of Pellitory or the Decoction into which fresh Butter is melted or for wanting of that Spinage-Juice with Hogs Grease applied to the Navel with new-layed Eggs mixedâ— or cemented with Nut Oyl laying them likewise to the Navel or you may administer a Glister 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 may lay the Child on one side and then turn him to the other for laid 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 aviod 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 heat be defective add to the Syrup half the quantity of Oyl of sweet Almonds bathing the Belly and Stomach of it as often as it is undressed If it happens that the Child's Cods be of Wind the Child must be gently moved to and fro and the Cods anointed with Oyl of Mirrh giving it the liquid of Anniseeds boiled 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 chusing 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 sqnint-eyed or have down-casts 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 affected with Bloaches Boils Blains or that she or her Husband were never afflicted with the French Disease that she be not given to excessive Drinking or Gluttony nor in the least subject to Epilepsie 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 conditioned moderate in Meat and Drink wakeful and vigilant not fretful nor subject to passion that her Milk be clean and sweet flowing sufficiently her Breasts well fixed and large nor 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 unwholesome Having thus far proceeded in these affairs I shall through God's blessing lay down divers necessary matters for the preservation of Childing Women and Infants thereby to prevent the hazard and loss which too often happens in such cases CHAP. XXIV To know the exact time of Delivery by signs that precedes it and how to cause the Woman to retain the Birth IN the buâ—iness 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 time of her Delivery every natural Delivery being at the end of 9 Months especially if at the time or near it the Woman is wont to have her natural Purgations or at that time fall out with the full or new Moon Nay tho' a day or two before or aâ—ter for these things so falling out not only hasten but faciliate 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 necessary 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 Efflux or is puzzled therein by reason of some unnatural retention or extraordinaâ—y evacuation she may rectifie her Judgment by these directions viz. From the Age of 14 to 21 Women have their Coursesâ— according to the most natural Courses in the New Moon from 21 to 30 in the first Quarter from 30 to 37 or 38 in the full 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 time by pain in her Groin Thighs the small of her Belly the lower part of her Navel together with swelling and hardness in the said places shivering and quaking through out the body as if possess'd with an Ague and suddenly after with flushing heat feebleness and lassitude small Sweats on the Face and flushings of the blood there and her body will be in a manner restless she shall perceive the Child move downward with more force than ordinary and a bloody Water will distil from the inferior parts in case of these Fore-runners she may be assured her time is at hand when as she must 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 Marjorumâ— of each a small handful Saâ—fron â—nd Musk of each three Grains bruise thâ—m togethâ—r put them in a Bag flat and hang it about the Woman`s Neck so that it mâ—y reach the pit of her Stomach and iâ— 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 unâ—imely passage CHAP. XXV Of the Washing of Women after Delivery with Dirâ—ctions how to make them FOR the first Wash take a good handful oâ— young â—hâ—rvil boil it in two pints of Water whiâ—h 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 Puâ—gations heal and cleanse the affâ—icted part There are some that use Milk instead of Water affiâ—ming that it greatly mitigates the painâ— bâ—t by those whom Experience has taughâ— better it is rejected this having beâ—n 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 Linnâ—n Bag and boil them sufficiently in half a pint of Water and half a pint of white Wine and use it as the former fâ—r the other eight Days viz. The liquid part being well strained The third and last Wash must be made of the decoction of Province Roses in a pint of white Wine and a quarter of a pint of Mirrh Water and used only four days CHAP. XXVI An Astringent for Women when occasion requires as also Directions for a Cere-Cloth and how to cleanse her before she rose TO make an Astringent Take Pomegranates Roach-Allum and Galls of each Two Ounces Knot-Grass a handful of Province Roses four Ounces the Rinds of Cassia and Pomegranates each threâ— Ounces of Scarlet berries and Spermaceti of each one ounce The waters of Roses Myrrh and Burnet of each one ounce and a half White-wine and Water of the Smiths Forg of each a quarter of a Pint then take two little Bags about a quarter of a yard long and half a quarter broad boyl them in the Waters with the drugs of Simples in them and in a new glaz'd Pipkin and use them successively as occasion requires To make an exceeding convenient Sear-cloth to ease the pain and reduce the Body into a good temperament Take Virgins Wax 8 ounces Spermaceti and Venice Turpentine well washed in Rose and Plantine 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 Plaister-wise 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 the Oyl of Acorns or Spermaceti and it will allay the Inflammation and much strengthen them To cleanse a Woman before she rises Take a considerable quantity of bitter Almonds pell them bruise them well and make them into a Paste with the Yolk of an Egg and Powder of Grise put the Past â—nto a bag of Shamy and dip it in black VVine tempering it well and use it upon â—he place where the Sear-cloths have been â—aid one after that wash the said places with black VVine wherein Orange flowers have been steeped and it will cleanse these parts to admiration CHAP. XXVII How to expel the Cholick from Women in Child-Birth and the violent Gripings that attend the first Delivery THese pains frequently afflict the VVoman 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 Maâ—ter in the Stomach contracted â—hrough indigestion and while such a pain â—asts the VVoman advanceth nothing towards her Travel to expel the Fits of the Cholick therefore Take two Ounces of sweet-Almond Oyl and an Ounce of Cinnamon Water with three or four drops of Spirit of Ginger and let the Woman drink it off and if this work not your Desire make a Glyster of Camomile Baum Leaves Olive Oyl and new Milk boiling the former â—n the latter and having strained it very well administer it as 't is usual in such cases nor are Fomentations proper for dispelâ—ing mind 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 smalness of the Veins which convey the Blood into the Matrix which often befalls Women lying in of the 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 Receipt Take the Root of great Camfry a Dram Nutmegs and Peach Kernels of each two Scruplâ—s yellow Amber and Amber-Grease of the former a Dram and the latter a Scruple bruise them togethe and give them the Woman as soon as she is lay'd down in two or three Spoonfuls of White-wine but if it so happen that she be Fevâ—rish then let it be in as much warm Broth.
of each an Ounce prâ—pare them by beating them together till they are of an apt thickness thâ—n seeth them over the Fire and whâ—n cool apply â—hem Plaister wise to the Fissure or for want of these take Unguentum Rosarum and anoint the place grieved applying upon it a Pultis of Ground-Ivy CHAP. XXXII The cause of the Bellies swelling after Delivery and how to prevent it and cure it if it happens CEâ—tain it is and experience teacheth often that many Women have their Beâ—lies swelled after Delivery as much almost as before and this happens through too much neglect and carelesness in not having regard to foment them as also to apply things convenient for the Privities by which means windiness and vapourâ— enâ—er and contract in the hollow coâ—câ—vities Veins and Aâ—â—eries the latter of which they enter by insensible ways Now to prevent it take Origanum Nightâ—shade and Mastick of each a Scruple Sagavâ—nâ—m a dram mix thâ—m together and make them into 7 Pillâ— take them all at once and after them drink the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the water of wâ—â—â—â— Lillâ—â—s viz. of the Flowers In case it be come alâ—eâ—dy let hâ—r take â—alf a pound of Spanish Figs thâ— Meâ—l oâ— Barâ—â—y and Beans finely sâ—sâ—â—â— 4 â—unces of â—ach 2 〈◊〉 â—f wâ—ll burnt brick pulverizâ—d Sâ—râ—ps of Nâ—â—s an â—unce boyl thâ—m in as much wâ—â—er of the Smiths Forge as will suffice to bring them to a thickness then spread them upon a Linnen cloth and apply them to the Belly twice â—r thrice aâ—d it will retire to its wonted smallnâ—ss CHAP. XXXIII Of the Inflamations in the Breast and its Cure THE Inflamation in the Breast is no other than the hard Swelling accompanied with a shooting pain as also a beating and redness and is mostly caused by the abundance of Blook drawn or flowing to the Breast and sometimes but rarely it is occasioned by the suppression of the Menses the Hemorrhoids or some bruise received by a 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 Diet be comforting moistening and of good nourishment as the Broth of Pullets Capons Cocks Chickens Veal c. wherein Indive Borage Purslain or Lettice has been boyled and if she can get it let the VVoman drink Iuice of Pomegranets but for want of that Barley-water wherein Annisâ—eds have been boyled but let her refrain drinking of VVine 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 she can Another way to remedy it is by diverting the Humours which may be done by rubbing the Body in all adjacent places letting Blood in the Foot Scarification in the Legs or Vesicatiories applied in those places especially if the Menses are stupped 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 Night-shade each half a handful and when boiled in Spring-water add to them Bean-meal two Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds and Oatmeal of each an Ounce and apply them to the Breast observing so to do before thâ— Breast be exâ—raordinarily inflamed CHAP. XXXIV A Tumour in the Breast its Cause and Cure OF Tumours there are several sorts but first of the Flagitous Tumour the cause of which proceeds from a thick and unnatural Vapour arising from the Menstrual Blood which is retâ—ined or corrupted in the Matrix and that again occasioned by the suppressions of â—he Courses or when Naâ—ure is defective in discharging them into their proper place and due time as also from corruption of humoâ—rs whereby are ingendered â—vil Vapours and their passing by insensible ways causes the Breast to swell or distend as if it were a true swelling and is known by a shooting pain and disorder of â—he Heart by reason of the Wind that oppresseth it the lest Breâ—st being for the most part more swelled than the right communicating pains to the Arms and Shoulders aâ— likewise the Ribs on the same side â—he Breast being white and shining sounding like a Drum if touched gently and swelled in all parts alike To cure â—his as also the windy Tumourâ— you must order the Woman to observe a modâ—ration in Diet that thereby Câ—udities may be avoided and all such things as contract windy Humours in the Veiâ—s suffering â—er to drink water wherein Cinnamon and Anniseeds have been boiled as also the Rind of Cittron and then let hâ—r observe to take such things as are proper â—o provoke the Courses in doing which she will find the Humours abate then let her take Celandine Camomile Ground-â—ill and Ground-Juice stamp them and boil them in White-wine and in so doing you will ease the pain and restore the Breast As for Disease and Accidents incident to young Children there are but few Women of any experience but are skilful in cutting and ordering them wherâ—fore for breviâ—â—es sâ—ke I shall pass them over and prâ—ceed to Anatomize the Genitâ—l parts in a Man that one thing remâ—ining necessary in this Treatise as also to instance what Men and Women ought to marry â—hat their Islue may be Fair Healthful and Prosperous CHAP. XXXV The Anatomy oâ— the Organs of Generatiâ—n in Man THE Yard which is called in Latin Penis à Pedendo because it hangeth without the Belly â—s an Organical part made of Skin Tendons Veins Arteries Sinews and great Ligâ—menâ—s and iâ— long round and on the upper siâ—e flartish seated uâ—der â—he Ossâ— Pubis and destin'd by Nâ—ture partly for making of Water and pâ—rtly for coâ—veying the Seed into the Matâ—ix To which end there open â—nâ—o it small Pores through which the Seed passes into it â—rom â—he Vesiculae Seminales and alâ—o the â—eck of the Vesiâ—a Vrinaria which pours out the Urine in making of Wâ—ter Besides the common pâ—rts as the Cutâ—cle the Skin and the Membrana Carnosa it hath in these proper or internal parts as â—he two Nervous Bodies the Septum the Uâ—ethra the Glans four Muscles and the Vessels The Nervous Bodies so called are surrounded with a thick white Nervous Membrane but their inner substance is spongy consisting chiâ—fly of Veins Arteries and Nervous Fibres interwoven together like a Net And when the Nerves are repleat with Animal Spirits and the Arâ—eries with hot and spirituous Blood then the Penis is distended and becomes â—rect but when the Influx of the Spirits ceases then the Blood and remaining Spirits are absorded by the Veins and so the Penis becoâ—es limber and flaggy Below these Nervous Bodies like the Vrethra and whenever the Nervous Bodies swell it swells also The Muscles of the Penis are â—our two shorter arising from the Cexendix and sâ—rving its Erection and are therefore