half an ounce beat them in a stone Morter powring on by degrees the Decoction of Barley Liquoris Purslain and Mallow tops one pint and an half make an Emulsion for three Doses adding to each Dose one ounce of the Syrup of Violets and one dram of Lapis prunellae and if the pain be great add a little Syrup of Poppies and one dram of Gum Arabick in pouder or the Syrup of Marsh-mallows according to Fernelius or of Mucilages You may make Broths thus Take of Marsh-mallow Roots half an ounce Mallows one handful Liquoris half an ounce Quince seeds one dram boyl them with Chicken Broth make it often The Whey of Goats Milk is very good given in great draughts as we said in the hot distemper of the Liver And if there be no Feaver you may with more profit give Milk by it self because it doth not only clense but allay pain and temper the sharpness of the Humors In an old Disease it is good to give Mineral Waters that cool especially Allum Iron and Vitriol Waters for by Experience we find that they have cured this Disease when it hath been inveterate Instead of the aforesaid Juleps the simple Decoction of Mallows with Syrup of Violets may be used by which Forestus saith Obs 4. Lib. 25. he cured a grievous Dysury many times and that there is nothing like it Forestus also Obs 3. of the same Book that an Apothecary cured himself and others with the white of an Egg beaten with Rose Water He also reports that a woman cured an old man of Delf with Chamomel flowers boyled in Milk Amatus Lusitanus 58. Curat Cent. 6. saith that a Woman was cured when all means failed with Conserve of Mallow flowers she took one ounce morning and evening and drunk after it three ounces of Mallows Water And Curat 59. he saith that one who had a Dysury after he had voided a stone was cured by the same in three daies The Conserve of Marsh-mallow slowers is of the same or greater Vertue Some commend the Troches of Winter Cherries given with convenient Liquor the quantity of a dram because they are Diuretick abate sharpness and pain When the pain is very great it is good to put the Yard when you piss into warm Milk or a Decoction of Mallows and white Poppy seeds or warm Water only A smal Decoction of Mallows with Syrup of Violets and Conserve of Roses is good for ordinary Drink You may also make Injections into the passage of the Bladder of Milk or of an Emulsion of cold Seeds Plantane Water or Whey with the Water of a white of an Egg beaten or one scruple of the Troches of Winter Cherries External Medicines are also good as Baths half Baths Fomentations to the Privities made of cool Herbs Liniments of Oyl of Roses Water Lillies Unguent of Roses Galens cooling Oyntment Populeon with Camphire and the Mucilage of Fleabane made with Plantane Water Also you must apply Epithems that cool to the Reins and Liver and the aforesaid Liniments and the things mentioned formerly for the same When sharp and chollerick Humors flow from the Liver you may derive by an Issue in the right Leg or by opening the Hemorrhoids which is very good in al diseases of the Reins and Bladder according to that of Hippocrates Aph. 11. Sect. 6. because from the Spleen Vein called Ramus Splenicus there are branches go to the Reins Bladder and Hemorrhoids The End of the Fourteenth Book THE FIFTEENTH BOOK OF THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICK Of WOMENS Diseases The PREFACE THose are called Womens Diseases which are proper to them only and come from the defect of that part which is distinct in them from men viz. the Womb of which Democritus in his Letter to Hippocrates said that it was the cause of six hundred miseries and innumerable Calamities But we to lay down those Diseases of the Womb which are most usual will divide them thus Some come from the Vessels and some from the Body of the Womb or Cavity others are in respect of its chief and noblest act of Generation From the distemper of the Vessels of the Womb and the preternatural causes come Chlorosis or green Sickness stoppage of the Terms immoderate Flux the Whites Rage of the Womb and the Mother In the Cavity of the Womb are Inflamations Vlcers Scirrhus Cancer Gangrene Dropsie coming forth and shutting up thereof these may hinder Generation but by accident The Diseases which are in respect of Conception Breeding and Bringing forth are Barrenness acute and Chronical Diseases of Women with Child Abortion difficult bringing forth dead Child Secundine retained immoderate flux or suppression of blood and the acute Diseases of women in Child-bed All which Diseases we will speak of in as few words as the dignity of the Matter will permit Chap. 1. Of the Green-sickness called Chlorosis THis Disease by Hippocrates is called Chlorosis by the Modern Physitians the white Feaver the Virgins Disease the Pale color of Virgins the white Jaundice but vulgarly the Green-sickness It may be defined thus An evil habit of Body from the Obstruction of the Veins of the Liver Spleen and Mesentery and especially of those which are about the Womb which is accompanied with a heaviness or unwildiness of the whol Body beating of the heart difficulty of breathing a desire of evil Food and the like This Disease depends immediately upon the Obstruction of the parts in the lower Belly especially of those Veins which are about the Womb whereby the free passage of Blood to the Womb is hindered which abounding in Virgins when they begin to have their Terms and being hindered of its Natural course by those Obstructions runs to the upper parts and oppresseth the Heart Liver Spleen Diaphragma or Midriff and other parts destroyes their Natural heat stops the Vessels hence is there an evil Concoction in the Bowels and from thence their Body is ful of Crudities which being carried forth make an evil Habit. In other parts they produce divers Symptomes in the Hypochondria a swelling of the Bowels by which the Midriff is oppressed which causeth shortness of breath And because gross blood and wind are carried by the Branches of the hollow Vein and great Artery into the Heart which contend against them for fear of Suffocation by often moving of its Arteries there is a palpitation of the Heart and often a beating in the Temples Besides they have in this Disease a loathing of meat because the Stomach is filled with crude Excrements by reason of its evil Concoction and distribution which excrements having gotten an evil quality by a peculiar kind of corruption cause a desire of evil meats and things not ordained for nourishment as Salt Spices Chalk Coals Ashes and the like which Disease is called Pica Malacia or strange Longing which we have at large spoken of in its proper place among the Diseases of the Stomach The Causes of the Obstructions in the Veins of the Womb and the Hypochondria are
which are transcribed word for word by Schenkius and Sennertus in their proper Chapters where they are to be seen Chap. 14. Of the Womb shut up or Imperforated VIrgins that have their Wombs closed up are said to be imperforated or unboared like a Barrel of Beer that hath no hole to put in a Spigot Now this Closure of the Womb is wont to be in three places viz. In the inner Mouth of the Womb in its Neck and in the outward mouth of the Womb next the Water-Gate And it is caused either in the first formation of the Infant when some Membrane is drawn before the mouth of the Womb or its neck or by some precedent wound or ulcer which growing whol again the parts of the neck of the womb or its lips come to be closed together or by tumors shutting or stopping up the inner Orifice or by some compression streightness or distortion which hinders the mans Yard and Seed from going in and the Monthly Purgations from coming out This Disease is in part easie and in part hard to be known If the closure or stoppage be in the outward Orifice of the Privity it is discerned by seeing feeling But if it be in the Neck or Mouth of the Womb it is not discerned til the courses begin to break out or til the parties begin to addict themselves to generation For when the time of their monthly Purgations is come pains and gripings arâ— felt in the Region of the Womb at certain periods of times with a sence of weight yet no flux of Courses follows the Conjecture wil be more probable if the Virgin be of a good habit of Body not troubled with any Obstructions or Cachectick dispositions The Disease persevering their wombs swel so that Maidens seem to be with Child and somtime their whol Body swels which likewise seems as it were black and blew through the abundance of blood But if the closure do possess the neck of the womb it is perceived in the first Carnal Conjunctions because it doth not admit the Mans Yard Lastly Iâ— the Closure be in the Orifice or Mouth of the Womb it is hardly discerned yet may it be in some measure perceived by the hand of a skilful Midwife and it gives some suspition thereof when the mans seed doth presently slip away as soon as it is castin As for the Proguostick If the Closure be in the Orifice of the Privity it is easily cured being opened by a slight Section But if it be in the inner parts it is much harder to cure When the Passage is stopped with a Membrane it s more easily cured but when the closure is caused by a fleshy matter as it happens after Ulcers the Cure is more difficult The Closure of the inner Orifice of the Womb is incurable because the Instruments of Chyrurgiry cannot be applied to open the same The Cure of this Disease because it belongs chiefly to Chyrurgiry we shall dispatch in few words If the Closure of the Womb have been caused in the first formation it is to be opened by cutting only The manner of which cutting is largely described by Sennertus in its proper Chapter But if the Closure have been occasioned by reason of an Ulcer as it happens in the Whores Pox it is to be considered whether it be only an excrescence of flesh not wholly stopping the passage or a perfect and entire growing together of the sides of the neck or of the lips For if flesh only be grown up endeavor must be used convenient Evacuations being premised first to prohibit the encrease of that flesh by drying and discussing Medicaments then to diminish the said flesh by Medicines of Frankincense Birthwort Bark of Frankincense Roses Balaustines Mastich Mirrh Aloes and such like Which not doing the deed we must come unto such flesh-consumers as are least painful as burnt Allum Vnguentum Aegyptiacum and such like And at last if this wil not consume the flesh it must be cut off round about with the same Instrument where with the superfluous flesh breeding in the Nose called Polypus is wont to be cut off But if the neck of the womb be wholly grown together we must try to renew the Ulcer and with the foresaid Medicaments to remove the superfluous flesh And if that cannot be we must undertake to cut it in the very self same manner as we are wont to cure the natural coalition of the neck of the womb If the passage of the womb be shut up by some tumor proper Remedies are to be appointed thereunto such as have been propounded in the Inflamation Scirrhus and Cancer of the womb If it be caused by compression of the neck of the womb or of the inner mouth therof the compressing cause is to be taken away which may be divers viz. A Stone in the Bladder a Swelling in the streight Gut Fatness of the Caul the Legs or Thighs distorted and going asplay the Cure of which accâ—dents see in their proper place In streightness of the Paâ—â—age which is chiefly caused by hardness or dryness we must work with things moisteâ—ing emollient and laxâ—tive with Baths to sit in Fomentations Liniments and Pessaries and so when the part is relaxeâ— a little pipe of Lead may be put in or of white wax artificially contrived and meared with Butter or some emollient Oyl which let her alwaies carry or at leâ—â—t in the night when she goes to bed and in the day time let a Pessary conveniently made of Cotton be put in the place being smeared with Oyntment of Marsh-mallows or such like In Distortion the same Method of Cure very neer is to be observed and let the pipe be so framed that it may gently bow the contrary way to the distortion and so the neck of the womb may by little and little be reduced to its due place Chap. 15. Of Barrenness THis word Barrenness or Sterility is not in this place taken in so strict a sence as to signifie only a total defect and perfect abolition of Conception but in a large and ample signification so as to comprehend all kind of impotency and every impediment of Conception namely When a woman at such aâ— age in which she ought naturally to be capable of Conception and using the company of a man doth not conceive And this defect is termed Agonia or Atecnia that is Inability to conceive or bear children And this Barrenness or Impotency of Conception is caused divers waies all which for cleerness sake we may reduce to four Heads according to those four Natural Operations which are required to perfect Conception The First of which is That the Woman in her Genial Embracements do conveniently receive the Mans Sperm into her Womb. The Second That she retain the same a convenient season The Third That she cherish and preserve the same in her Womb The Fourth That she afford fitting Materials to form the Embryo or first Conception and duly to augment the same as need shall
require Hence Four Impediments of Conception do arise viz. If the woman receive not the Seed If she retain it not If she preserve and cherish it not If she nourish it not so as it encrease and grow Reception of the Seed is hindered by many Causes by things Natural things not Natural and by things Preternatural Among things Natural hindering the Reception of the Sperm in the first place is reckoâ—ed yongness of Age in which by reason of the smalness and straitness of the Genital Parts the woman cannot receive the mans yard or not without very great pain which makes her worse for Genial Embracements The same effect is caused by over great Age seeing that in elderly Virgins the Genital Parts through want of being exercised in actions tending to Generation do become withered flap and flaggy and so strait that they cannot afterwards easily â—dmit a mans Yard Likewise all such as are naturally lame with distorted Legs and their Crupper-bone depressed can hardly put themselves into such a convenient posture during the genial Embracement as a necessary that the Seed may be duly and rightly received Hereunto add over great fatness which straitens the Passages of the womb and by greatness of the Belly hinders the right and fit Conjunction of the man with the woman And lastly a cold distemper of the womb makes women dull and listless so that they enjoy no pleasure to speak of in the Genial Embracement or it is long before they are provoked with desire so that the inner Orifice of the Womb is not timely enough opened to receive the Mans Sperm Among things not Natural Passions of the Mind hold the first rank and especially hatred between Man and VVife by means whereof the VVoman being averse from this kind of pleasure gives not flown sufficient quantity of Spirits wherewith her Genitals ought to swel at the instant of Generation that her womb skipping as it were for joy may meet her Husbands Sperm graciously and freely receive the same and draw it into its innermost Cavity or Closet and withal bedew and sprinkle it with her own Sperm powred forth in that pang of Pleasure that so by the commixture of both Conception may arise The things Preternatural which can hinder the Reception of Seed are certain Diseases incident to the Genital Parts or to such as border neer upon them as Tumors Ulcers Obstructions Astrictions Shuttings up Distorsions Stone in the Bladder and other such like The Second fault in Women which hinders Conception viz. When the Seed is not retained depends either upon the over great moisture of the Womb namely when the womb is filled with many excrementitious Humors by which becoming looser and more flaggy than is fit it doth not rightly purse and contract it self together so as to retain the Sperm or the Orifice of the Womb is so slack that it cannot rightly contract it self to keep in the Seed which chiefly is caused by Abortion or hard Labor in Child-birth whereby the fibres of the Womb are broken in pieces one from another and they and the inner Orifice of the Womb over much slackened And that same immoderate moisture may arise both from the proper Constitution of the woman and from external causes of moisture such as Baths Idleness moist Diet and especially from the Whites which flux of Whites happens very frequently since the Womb is as it were the Common-shore whereinto all the parts of the Body do discharge their Superfluities so that this is wont to be the most frequent and ordinary Cause of Barrenness The Third Cause hindering Conception viz. When the Sperm is not sufficiently nourished in the Womb depends upon such things as are apt to corrupt the Seed as every distemper of the womb namely a cold distemper which extinguisheth the Seed an hot distemper which dissipates the Spirits a moist distemper which robs the Seed of its due thickness and a dry distemper consumes and drinks up the Seed and thus the Seed being by these distempers corrupted and degraded from its natural Constitution becomes unfit for Conception To these Causes Authors do add Witchcrafts and Charms by which all confess that Conception may be hindered Likewise external things as Meats and Poysons may do as much such as are reckoned up by Authors viz. Among Meats Vinegar Mint Water-Cresses Beans and such like and among Poysons or at least such things as have a certain venemous property causing Barrenness The Agate or Jet â—he Matrix of a Goat or Mule Glow-worms Sapphires Smaragds and the like And lastly Malignant and venemous Diseases may exceedingly corrupt the Seed and render it unfit for Generation as the Consumption Leprous Infections Whores-Pox stinking and cancerated Ulcers The Fourth and last Cause of Barrenness viz. When the woman doth not yield convenient matter to form the Conception and to augment the same depends upon a want of Seed and Menstrual blood so over yong women and over old do not conceive through want of both those Materials The Age of a woman fit for to conceive is commonly determined to be from the fourteenth to the fiftieth yeer of her Age. Yea and though those foresaid Materials are not wanting if yet they are ill disposed they are not fit for Generation And they may be ill disposed through divers distempers and other Diseases likewise by reason of bad Diet producing none of the best blood So women which gorge themselves with much raw fruit and cold smal drink breed wheyish blood unfit for Generation Yet we must needs confess that some women have conceived who never had their Courses as may be collected out of the Observations of divers Authors yet so much Menstrual blood was collected in those women as useth to remain over and above in such as have their Courses though they had not so much as to cause their monthly Courses To the Causes hitherto mustered up must be added a certain disproportion or unsutableness between the Mans Sperm and the Womans which makes they cannot be rightly mingled nor conspire to the Joynt-making up of an Embrion or Rudimental Infant though there be in the mean while no sensible defect either in the Man or Wife And it somtimes happens that the same man can have a child by another woman and the same woman by another man whereas they have lived together in the married estate barren It comes likewise to pass That a woman shall live with a man for ten or more yeers together and not conceive child and afterward shall begin to conceive and bring forth the Cause of which accident is The change of Temperature caused by yeers whereby the Seed comes to have another temper so that being before disproportioned to the mans Seed it comes by change of Age to be fitly proportioned thereunto Now this disproportion of Seeds consists chiefly herein When men much exceeding in some quality belonging to their temper are joyned with women which partake of the self same excess viz. When over hot men
over wanton venereal embraces And in a word vehement motions of the Armes by drawing somewhat violently to a Body by turning a wheel or doing some such work may exceedingly further Abortion or Miscarriage The Signs of present Abortion are manifest of themselves But such as go before Abortion and prognosticate the same are these An unusual heaviness of the Loyns and Hips a loathness to stir Appetite gone shivering and shaking coming by fits pain of the head especially about the Roots of the Eyes a straitening of the sides and of the Belly above the Navel the flagging or falling and extenuation of the Dugs which made Hippocrates to say in Aphor. 37. Sect. 5. If the Dugs of a woman with child do suddenly grow small that woman will miscarry For the extenuation of a womans Dugs in such a case doth signifie want of blood in those Veins which are common to the womb and to the Dugs by means of which defect the child is in danger to miscarry But if Abortion shall be caused by some external essicient causing violent agitation of the Child in the Womb and a bursting of the Vessels with a pain raised in those parts the Spirits and Blood run speedily to the genital parts of which the Dugs being destitute grow smaller than they were Furthermore Plenty of Milk dropping from the Dugs doth argue weak Child and consequently portends Abortion according to Hippocrates in Aphor. 52. Sect. 5. But if frequent pains aâ—d almost continual do torment the Reins and Loyns reaching towards the Share as far as Os sacrum with a certain endeavor of going out of the Womb it is a certain sign of a woman that will shortly mscarry For those parts do signifie that the Membranes and Lâ—gaments wherewith the child is fastened to the womb are stretched and torn in â—under And if so be that pure Blood or such as is wheyish or water flowing from the Womb do â—ollow the foresaid pains and endeavors of coming out it shews that Abortion is hard at hand and that the Vessels and Membranes of the Womb are broken and the mouth of the Womb open At the same time the cituation or posture of the Child is changed for whereas it lay high and possessed the middle of the Womans Belly like a Sugar-loof bearing out it is now gathered round like a Foot-ball and roiled down towards the Water gate Also oftentimes there follow grievous Symptomes as shiverings tremblings Palpitations of the Heart Swoonings and abundant Bleeding Hereunto may be added what Hipâ—ocâ—aâ—es teacheth us in the second Book of Popular Sicknesses Text 17. That if after violent external câ—uses such as are blow a fall and such like vehement pain and perturbation arise in a Woman with Child she suddenly or at most the same day miscarries but if the external cause were weak the Abortion may be differred till the third day which being once over there is no longer danger of Abortion because such wounds and hurts are wont to grow well again upon the third or at most the fourth day or very much to be mitigated and asswaged whereupon the Child is again confirmed in the Womb and retained Which Precept is of great moment in the Practice oâ— Phyâ—ick that women with child being hurt by some external accident should keep their bed for â—nree daies or longer and use such Remedies as prevent Abortion The Prognosticks oâ— Abortion may be divers after this manner Women are more endangered by Abortion than by due and timely Child-birth because it is more violent and unseasonable for as in ripe Fruit the Stalks are loosened from the Boughs and the Fruit falls of it self so in a Natural Birth the Vessels and Ligaments wherewith the Child is tied to the Womb are loosened and untied as it were of their own accord which in case of Abortion must needs be violently broken asunder Very many women become Barren by their Miscarriages by reason of those exceeding rendings tearing which do wholly overthrow the dispositions of the Womb. Much bleeding accompanied with fainting raving and convulsions is wont to cause death and Aresaeus testifies he never saw any escape who in the time of their Abortion or aiterwards had Convulsion fits Inâ—lamation of the Womb caused by Abortion is for the most part deadly for Blood flowing to the Womb in great quantity is not purged out but putrefies therein and regurgitatâ—s or slows back into the upper parts whence arise burning Feavers pantings of the Heart Heart-burning and other Symptomes enumerated before Abortion is more dangerous in a woman that never bore Child before because being unaccustomed to Pains and having those Passages more strait she is longer and more vehemently tormented Women very lean or very fat are more endangered by Miscarriage the former because of their weakness the latter because of the narrowness of those Passages by which the Child must come forth Abortion is more dangerous in the sixth seventh and eight months because the Child being the greater is excluded with the more pain and difficulty Women which have a more loose and moist womb than ordinary domiscarry commonly without danger especially in the first month because those parts in such women do easily give way whence their pain and trouble is the less Hippocrates in the second Book of Popular Sicknesses affirms That to miscarry of a male Conception of three-score daies old helps a Woman whose Courses are stopped By stopping of Courses he understands only their imminution when women are not sufficiently or conveniently purged at their monthly seasons for by such an Abortion or Miscarriage as aforesaid those stopped passages are opened and the Blood is drawn towards the womb which came thither but slowly in former times Our ordinary women seem to have taken notice of the truth of this saying of Hippocrates who touching an Abortion of a few months are wont to say by way of proverb Amiscarrying woman is half with child again The Cure of Abortion consists in Preservation for that which is past cannot be helped But all the Symptomes which follow Abortion are the same which accompany women duly brought to bed The Preservation from Abortion hath two principal Points or Heads The one concerns the woman before she is with child The other when she is with child Before the woman is with child all evil dispositions of body which are wont to cause Abortion must be removed as fulness of blood badness of Humors and peculiar Diseases of the womb viz. Distempers Swellings Ulcers and such like Fulness of Blood opens the Veins of the womb or strangles the Infant while it is in the womb This if it be a pure and simple Plenitude may be cured by Blood-letting such as shall answer the quantity of blood super-abounding But badness of Humors is either chollerick and sharp so as to open the Orisices of the Veins or by provoking Nature to stir up the expulsive faculty whereby the child comes to be expelled with those evil humors or by
unknown and not to be expressed Let us therefore search after it in the Macrocosm or grater World of which there is a great Analogy or resemblance in the little World And therefore the more witty Hermets say that there is a certain Spirit or acide Liquor sent from the Spleen into the Stomach which dissolveth the solid nourishment and shortly converteth it into Chylous Liquor and that is the principal Instrument of digestion And some conjecture that this may be made because Birds who digest the hardest nourishment have a Spleen round about their Maw for the flesh which is found about their Stomachs is like the substance of a Spleen from whence there is a more noble use of the Spleen than what is allowed by the Ancients who said that it was only for the purging of the grosser sort of Blood because according to this opinion it serveth for concoction of meat Therefore if the Spirit or sharp Liquor which comes from the Spleen when it is in its Natural condition makes a natural and moderate digestion the same spirit being altered from its natural condition and defiled or made sharper or more dissolving it will sooner dissolve solid nourishment and when they are so dissolved and thrown from the Stomach it will make a new immoderate Appetite We do not conclude that this new Doctrine is certain and undoubted but we only shew it that solid wits may examine it And we will talk of it again when we speak of the causes of the hinderance of Concoction The signs by which this disease is known are manifest for it will appear to them that eat and to the standers by that the Appetite is depraved which causeth such devouring of meat which afterwards is thrown up by vomit and then it is Fames Canina and if Vomits follow not then there is fainting with coldness of the extream parts and this is called Boulimia The signs of the Causes may be found by the Antecedents Concomitants and Consequents These are the signs of a cold distemper and of sharp humors in the Stomach belching and sharp vomiting crude dejections or stools want of thirst and external Causes of refrigeration afore going If it come from defect of Nourishment the Patient is lean and there are causes present or fore-going of the dissolving of the Humidity and lastly the signs of Worms shall be spoken of in their proper Chapter The Prognostick of this Disease is thus If it come only from External Causes it is not dangerous if they be presently taken away And if it come of Worms there is little danger for when they are taken away the Disease is cured But it is very dangerous if it follow great Evacuations and meltings of the body especially if after meat when the belly is yet ful there come a fainting for when that which should most help becomes unprofitable it signifies a great distemper of the Stomach So a Dog Appetite continuing with Vomiting and great Purging is dangerous for it useth to end in an evil habit dropsie lethargy consumption and the like As for the Cure because Fames Canina for the most part takes its Original from Melanchollick and Flegmatick Humors fastened in the Mouth of the Stomach therefore Medicines must principally be directed to them such as do empty and change the Humors and also strengthen the part affected You must Evacuate by Vomit or Stool with Medicines Prescribed in the Cure of Want of Appetite from a Cold Cause for although these Diseases are contrary yet come they from the same Humors different in the degrees of Coldness and second Qualities and such as diversly affect the Stomach Also the Remedies there Prescribed to heat the Stomach and strengthen it both internally and externally are excellent because they not only correct the Cold Distemper but dry and cause thirst and thirst coming hunger is diminished Moreover Wine plentifully taken asswageth hunger according to Hippocrates Aph. 21. Sect. 2 And especially the Spirit of Wine or Aqua Vitae They do properly stay Hunger which do much moisten the Stomach relax it and asswage the sharpness of humors As al Fat things and Oyls as Villanovanus reports That one thus diseased did eat a hot Loaf dipp'd in Oyl and a Woman drank the melted Sewet of an Ox with as much warm Oyl at Twice and both did so Disdain Meat That they eat nothing in Five Dayes and were Cured Narcotick Medicines by Dulling the too exquisite sense of the Stomach do lessen this Disease and new Treacle is most usual for it because besides its stupifying quality it doth correct the malignity of the Humors which is some cause thereof But because these are to be used but seldom and not without urgent necessity somtimes you may use old Treacle for the reason aforesaid as also to strengthen Five or Six Grains of Amber-greece taken in a rear Eg doth not only strengthen the Stomach but by a special quality cureth this Disease Chap. 3. Of Pica and Malacia PIca and Malacia are a depraved Appetite by which evil unprofitable and hurtful things are desired It is called Kitta or Pica from the bird called a Pye either in regard of the variety of colours or because it eateth lumps of Earth for Women in this Disease use to eat Earth and Chalk and the like It is called Malacia by Pliny for these Women through Weakness of mind and tenderness want that right and natural Appetite This Disease comes of evil corrupt Humors which are gathered into the Stomach by reason of its hurt Concoction or else sent from other parts Flegmatick and Melanchollick People are most disposed for the production of these Humors especially Women to whom this Disease seems proper and peculiar although somtimes Boyes and Men though seldom have the same Eating of evil Diet doth cause this want of any natural Evacuation especially of the Terms Sadness Distemper of the Liver and Spleen Obstructions and Weakness divers diseases of the Womb and the like These Vitious Humors according to the divers degrees of distempers and other dispositions have a diverse nature from whence come divers appetites of evil things For since som Humors are crude and inconcocted others burnt and adust some require sowr things sharp bitter and very cold so that they are delighted with the continual use of unripe Fruits Vinegar Juyce of Lemons Pomegranats and Orenges cold Water Snow Ice and the like Others desire Earthy Dry and Burnt things as Gloves Cinnamon Nutmegs and other Spices Salt-Ashes Chalk and the like This Disease is Common to Women in the Chlorosis or Green-sickness to Women great with Child and such as have their Terms stopped which staying in the Body corrupt and ascending do infect the Stomach from whence its Actions are depraved and chiefly the Appetite is taken from its natural Condition Boyes are somtimes troubled herewith and especially if they are born of a Woman that hath the Chlorosis Nor are men altogether free from it although it happen seldom
let the Patient take it twice or thrice in a month The ordinary Pils mentioned in the Cure of the stoppage of the Liver are most excellent to which you may add the Medicines there mentioned of Tartar Vitriol and Steel Zacutus Lusitanus Observ 99. Lib. 2. reports of a certain Woman which had the Green-sickness ten yeers with stoppage of her Terms and could not be cured with divers opening and purging Medicines and some made of Steel that he cured her with nothing but Conserve of Mugwort given thirty daies together drinking after it the distilled Water of Savin in which Rhubarb had been a whol night insused The same Zacutus Observ 117. Lib. 3. tels of a Virgin which eating much Salt every day felinto a Diarrhoea of Choller mixed with a Consumption which he cured after general Medicines with Goats Milk steeled and cold things applied to the Liver In the greatest Obstructions an Issue made in the right or left Legg as the Liver or Spleen is affected is very good After the Obstructions are opened you must diseuss the flegm like serous humors that remain in the Veins and in the habit of the Body by sweats for which you must use the Decoction of Guajacum in cold Constitutions or of China and Sarsa in those that are hot for fifteen or twenty daies with this Caution That every fourth or fifth day you give a Purge to clense the Bowels of Humors which cannot be sent forth by sweat and which if they continue wil grow hard and putrefie and be the occasion of Feavers and other Diseases For this Purpose you may use Brimstone Baths both for drink and bathing for by the drinking thereof when the passages are first open by the Medicines aforesaid the Humor that is contained in the first and second Region of the Body is clensed and sent forth by the belly and urine and the third Region is clensed by sweating in them And lastly Copulation if it may be legally done after the use of opening Medicines is very good for thereby the Natural heat is stirred up in parts Natural by which the Vessels of the Womb are much enlarged And Experience teacheth that somtimes these Women have their Terms the first night after Marriage and that others who in good health have them before their accustomed time Chap. 2. Of the stoppage of the Terms THe Terms are said to be stopped when in a Woman ripe of Age which gives not suck and is not with Child there is a seldom smal or no evacuation of blood by the Womb which used to be every month The cause of this stoppage is either in the Womb or in its Vessels or in the blood which comes or ought to come that way Divers Diseases of the Womb may cause this Disease namely a cold Distemper and dry which thickeneth and bindeth the Body of the Womb or a hot and dry distemper by drying the part or burning up the nourishment thereof from whence come evil humors which being fastened in the part hinder the Terms from flowing Also the Organical Diseases of those parts as inflamation or scirrhus the turning of the inward mouth thereof or compression from the Tumors of the parts adjacent or the Omentum or Caul growing too thick The thickness of the Womb it self Ulcer or Scars which they leave or from the tearing of the Cotyledones or Mouths of the Vessels in a great Abortion The Vessels of the Womb do often suffer Obstruction which is the chief cause of stopping of the Terms and they come from cold and thick Humors somtimes there is a suppression of those Veins by binding of them and that is from the parts adjacent being stretched and swoln as we said in the binding or closing of the Womb. The blood offending either in quantity quality or motion may be cause of the obstruction of the Courses It offends in quantity when it is too much or too little too much when it stretcheth out the Veins so that they cannot contract themselves to expel it as in the bladder when it is too full of Urine it cannot contract it self to send it forth too little when the Body hath not blood enough to nourish it The blood offends in quality when it is thicker and more slimy of its own Nature by reason of the cold distemper of the Liver and other parts or from the mixture of thick and flegmatick or melanchollick humors from whence commonly Obstructions come The blood offends in motion when it passeth other waies as by the Nose vomiting spittle urine hemorrhoids and many other parts I saw a Maid who had a Sore in her head which opened every month and bled plentifully and we have seen many that have sent forth blood at fixed times by their Lungs and this evacuation was instead of a Menstrual flux The external Causes are cold and dry Air Northern winds often going into cold water especially in the time of their flux too little or two much meat either too thick and cold or too astringent also hot things as too much Salt and Spice by drying of the substance of the Liver and other parts and by drying up the blood by which it groweth thick and fit to stop violent exercise and watchings which do consume the blood long sleep and idleness which do weaken the Natural heat and cause Crudities too long retaining of Excrements by usual bleeding at the Nose Hemorrhoids Diarrhoea and other evacuations by vomit urine or sweat and lastly great passions of the mind anger sudden fear sorrow jealousie and the like The Knowledge of this is to be taken from the Patients relation but because it comes either from Natural or Preternatural Causes we shal lay down some distinguishing signs left the Physitian be deceived by Women that would dissemble their being with Child and left he should rashly prescribe Medicines to provoke Terms to Women with Child First If they be with Child they have commonly their Natural Complexion but others are pale and ill colored Secondly The Symptomes which Women with Child have at the first do dayly decrease but in others stoppage of the Terms by how much the longer the Terms stop by so much the more the Symptomes encrease Thirdly In Women with Child after the third Month you may perceive the Scituation and Motion of the Infant by laying your hand upon the inferior Belly in others there is a Tumor to be felt but it is oedematous or flegmatick not hard neither is it proportionable to the Womb. Fourthly If a wise Midwife touch the inward Mouth of the Womb it will not be so close shut as in women with Child but rather hard and contracted and full of pain Fiftly Women with Child are commonly merry and little disturbed but when the Terms are otherwise stopped they are sad and sorrowful The Signs of the Causes are these The faults of the Womb which use to cause stoppage of the Terms shal be laid down in the following Chapters but the greatest
the womb Head-ach coming from the womb is known because the Patient hath not her Courses right the pain does chiefly trouble her or is most increased at or neer the time of her Courses flowing and her womb is out of order Also we may distinguish whether an Humor or a Vapor cause this pain for if the pain be not great heavy and pressing and come by fits it comes certainly from a Vapor but if the pain be continual joyned with heaviness it shews an Humor contained in the part which if it be Chollerick the pain is biting pricking and acute or sharp if it be Flegmatick it causes sleepiness if Melancholly Sadness Pantings of the Heart and beatings of the Arteries about the short Ribs and Back Diseases of the Stomach Liver and Spleen and divers pains may be conceived to arise from the womb if these other Signs and Symptoms of the womb affected before recited be likewise present As also if by putting sweet smelling things to the water-gate and stinking things to the Nose the Patient do find some kind of ease What concerns the Prognostick or Predictions of this Disease It it is a malady which seldom kiils the Patients but use to stick a long time by them But somtimes they are in danger of death by reason of swooning fits that happen or by some extraordinary Convulsion Likewise if the fits are frequent and hard to be removed it is to be feared lest Respiration being so often hurt the Native heat should be suffocated and the Patient come to die The Womb-paision is worst in which more parts are drawn into consent and that is bad which springs from corrupted Seed or from a long suppression of the monthly Courses In Elderly persons this Disease is hardly curable because of that plenty of Corruption wherewith they are wont to abound In yonger VVomen it commonly ceases when they begin to bring forth Children In VVomen with Child and that lie in Child-bed it is a dangerous Disease in the former for fear of Miscarriage in the latter because of their weakness after Child-bearing For a VVoman troubled with these VVomb-fits to sneeze is good for it signifies strength of Brain and by the motion of sneezing the Malignant Vapors which besiege the Brain are discussed and likewise the vitious Humors contained in the VVomb evacuated A twofold Cure belongs to this Infirmity one in the fit another out of the fit In the fit those vapors which cause it are to be discussed and drawn back from the part affected the Humors contained in the VVomb which send up those Vapors must be voided and the VVomb when it is removed out of its proper place which often happens according to Hippocrates must be restored to the same again First therefore The sick party must be laid upon a bed in such a posture that her Neck and Shoulders lie high and sloaping but her Thighs and Privy parts lie low and shooting downwards for so the VVomb is more easily reduced Then must her lower parts be tied very hard so as to cause pain likewise they must be well rubbed and chased also Cupping-glasses are to be set upon her Hips and a very large Cupping-glass set upon her Share is very profitable But take heed that you do not apply a Cupping-glass upon the Patients Navel which many ignorantly are wont to do for by that means the VVomb is drawn upwards again VVhen Convulsions happen or swooning fits hard rubbings with course cloaths are good upon the soals of the Feet also with Vinegar and Salt it is good likewise to pluck off some Hairs from the Head and Share to cramp the fingers or the Patient whoop aloud in her ears and such like It is also good to lay unto the soals of her Feet this Epispastick or drawing Cataplasm or Pultis Take Leaves of Artemisia Mugwort Feaverfew Rhue of each a handful Sage half a handful Pidgeons dung poudered three ounces Black Soap an ounce and an half Amber Frankinsence Masticb poudered of each a dram and an half Juyce of Rue and Vinegar allayed with Water as much as sufficeth to make all into a Cataplasm At the same time stinking and strong smelling things are to be put unto her Nose as Partridg feathers burnt old Leather burnt and Brimstone fired Jeat or Agate Oyl a Pomander of Assafoetida Castoreum Galbanum Rue moistened with Syrup of Artemisia or with Vinegar Garlands of Rue Tanzy Wormwood But if the VVoman be Epileptick or subject to the Falling-sickness we must abstain from the stronger things before mentioned because the Brain being therewith offended is put into a Commotion by which means the Humors are tumbled suddenly into the Ventricles thereof and the Syptomes are made more grievous The smoak of Tobacco blown into the Mouth and Nostrils of the Patient does quickly free her from the fit Contrarywise sweet smelling things must be put unto the VVomb as some grains of Musk or Civet wrapped in Cotton-wool The following Pouder may be blown up her Nostrils Take white Pepper Mustard seed Pellitory Castoreum of each one scruple make it into a very fine Pouder If the Patient be very much oppressed with her fit let her be provoked to sneeze according to that Aphorism of Hippocrates his 5. Section 35. To a Woman troubled with Womb-fits or hard Labor if she happen to neeze it is good Neezing is many times provoked by the foresaid Pouder and if that alone will not do it a little white Hellebore or Euphorbium may be added Also Oyl of Amber or Agates may be anointed upon her Nostrils But laxative and wind-expelling Clysters do exceed all other Medicaments in discussing such filthy Vapors as cause the fit which may be made after this manner Take Mercury Leaves Pellitory of the wall Mugwort Penyroyal Rue Calaminth of each one handful Caraway seeds Cummin seeds and Bayberries of each two drams Boyl all to a pint and an half In the straining dissolve Hiera Picra and Benedicta laxativa of each six drams Oyl of Rue three ounces Camphire half a scruple Mix all into a Clyster If the first Clyster be not sufficient another must be given of the same or such like Decoction dissolving therein Diaphoenicon ten drams Turpentine dissolved with the white of an Egg one ounce the aforesaid Oyl and half a scruple of Camphire dissolved in Oyl of Water lillies And in a word The Disease continuing a third Clyster must be given meerly Hysterical and discussing but not purging which will be very effectual compounded after this manner Take Oyl of Rue four ounces Aqua vitae one ounce Canary Sack three quarters of a pint Galbanum two drams Mix all and make a Clyster and administer the same after a Laxative Clyster A Clyster of Vinegar tempered with Water does presently asswage the Mother-sit by compressing and coagulating the vapors which cause the same The same does a draught of Vinegar allaied with water being taken in at the mouth Authors do likewise counsel that
Navel the Privy parts the space between the Privity Fundament with the Loynes will be seen to swell with a Phlematick kind of Swelling To the Third Question we answer thus If there be apparent tokens of the whol Bodies being misaffected as by acute or long feavers immoderate fluxes of blood grievous distillations from the Head Weaknesses of the stomach swellings of the Spleen or Liver and other stubborn Diseases of those parts with which the Wombes Dropsie began encreasing as they encreased it will be more than an even lay that the Womb receives the matter of it's Dropsie from those parts by way of a flux of Rhewm But if this Womb-swelling happen when the whol Body is in good health and do succeed particular diseases of the Womb such as are hard Travels in Child-birth Suppressions of the monthly courses or over great flux thereof Ulcers Chollerick or Melancholick or hard Tumors we may conjecture that the Wombes-Dropsie doth depend upon those particular dispositions and that the matter causing the said Tumor is gathered together in the Womb it self by means of its inability perfectly to digest and assimilate its nutriments To the fourth Question we may Answer by saying That the Matter which is contained in the cavity of the Womb doth make a much larger Swelling than when it is contained in bladders Again when it proceeds from a wheyish humor a greater fluctuation of the water is perceived than when it is contained in bladders And if so be little bladders full of water be voided out of the Womb it 's a most certaine sign that the Humour is contained in the little bladders To the first Question we must Answer that the Wombs-Dropsie is Differenced from Tumors of blood or Choller arising in the Womb because in such Tumors or Swellings there is a feaver and a pain which is encreased by the least touch also the Inflamation reaching even to the parts of Generation And it is distinguished from Scirrhous and Cancerous Swellings because in it there is no such great Hardness which can resist the impression of the Finger but it rather gives way and pitts To the Sixth Quaere wee say When a woman is big with Child the Swelling is not so even and depressed but it is sharp buncheth out and seems greater about the navel than elswhere Secondly In Greatness with Child after some months women are for the most part somwhat better than they were because the Child grown big consumes the greater part of those humors which in the first months were burdensome But the Dropsie the further it proceeds the worse it growes Thirdly In greatness with Child the child is manifestly perceived to stir after the third or fourth month which is not in the VVomb-Dropsie Yet it falls out somtimes that when the Dropsie is caused by wind a certain Palpitation is preceived in the VVomb but it is easily distinguished from the moving of a Child which is more even and is wont to be perceived in divers parts of the Belly Fourthly In Greatness of Child the womans Duggs swell but in the Dropsie they are extenuated and become smaller To the seventh Quaere we Answer that in a Mole women find a kind of Heaviness in their VVombs which they feel not in the VVomb-Dropsie and when they lie on the one of their sides they perceive the weight to roul like a stone to that side Again in the Mole violent flux of Courses comes by fits namely every third or fourth month which happens not in the VVomb-Dropsie Lastly in case of a Mole the Duggs swell and somtimes have milk in the VVomb-Dropsie quite Contrary As touching the Prognosticks of this Disease A simple Inflation or puffing up of the womb with wind because it lasts not is without danger Yet if not quickly cured it may grow to a true Dropsie A Womb-Dropsie caused by a good conditioned Humor void of putrefaction is wont to proue a long Disease yet may it in process of time be cured yea somtimes the water flows of its own accord out of the womb and the Patient recovers her health But if the Humor be malignant sharp or putrid which is known by the grievous Symptomes following the Disease is dangerous and for the most part deadly For if the Disease depend upon some private Disease of the Womb it betokens a perfect ruine of the natural Functions of that part whence follows at last an universal Dropsie of the whol Body But if the Womb suffer by consent of other parts viz. of the Liver Spleen or Stomach the Mischief wil be the greater and ruine is thereby threatned to the whol Body Hence it was well said of Aetius Such as is a womans womb such for the most part is the rest of her body If wind or water be contained in the Cavity of the womb it is more easily cured than if it be shut within little skins or bladders The Cure of this Disease is performed almost by the same Remedies which have been propounded to cure the Dropsie and Green-sickness Whereunto some things more properly belonging to this disease must be added And in the first place concerning Blood-letting In the Disease being new proceeding from a suppression of the Courses and from some Plenitude still appearing blood-letting may be convenient otherwise it wil hurt seeing natural heat is exceedingly weakened and diminished and stubborn Obstructions caused by a cold Humor do cause fear of an Universal Dropsie But Purging is altogether necessary and must be often reiterated as we ordered in the forenamed Diseases After sufficient Purgation Openers Diureticks and such things as move the Courses are to be given such as are described in the places aforesaid Unto which these following may be added Take Roots of Smallage and of Madder of each half an ounce the Leaves of Savin Feaverfew Penyroyal of each one pugil Carrots seeds one dram Boyl all in the Broth of a yong Pidgeon and let her drink the strained Liquor divers daies together Before she drink of the Broth let her swallow one of the following Pills Take of the best Castoreum Mirrh Madder of each half a dram Saffron twenty grains With Juyce of Lemmons make all into nine Pills After which Medicaments the Patient must exercise her self stoutly by which means not only the Excrements bred in the Bowels and the whol compass of the Body may by assistance of Heat be dissipated but all which is contained in the womb may be voided out the bladders being broken by violence of the Exercise If the woman do easily vomit somthing may be profitably given her twice in a week to that end by which means not only the Humors which were wont to flow unto the womb will be recalled and brought forth but the foresaid bladders sticking in the womb and somtime containing a watry Humor happily may be broken by the vehement motion and agitation whereupon the Humor offending wil be voided To discuss the said Humor contained in the womb the following
Plasters Confections At last having wrastled stoutly with the disease I could do no good I betook my self to this stratagem I put Mice tied by the tailes between the womans Leggs Which running up her Thighs the woman is mightly frighted and forthwith a strang thing to see her Womb is reduced into its proper place This done The Plaster against Ruptures being laid upon the Region of the Womb and to the Groynes she remained for the time to come free from that Disease Before the VVomb be reposed in its place it must be anointed with the Mucilage of comfrey Roots or with an infusion of Gum Tragacanth Then are pouders to be sprinkled thereupon which have no asperity or sharpness least they hurt the VVomb or its neck but of quality rather gluing than astringent or binding Such an one may be thus made Take Frankincense Mastick and Sarcocolla nourished that is well steeped so as to drink up as much of the Milk as it can hold with Brest-Milk of each one dram Mummy Gum-arabick Acacia Hypocistis of each half a dram Make all into a most fine Pouder to be sprinkled as aforesaid The same Pouder may be applied in form of an Oyntment if it be mixed with the aforesaid mucilages or Oyle of Saint Johns wort or some other consolidating thing After the VVomb is conveniently replaced all art must be used to retain the same in its place the woman lying in her bed a little bending with her thighes gently stretched out and the one resting upon the other And let her abide some daies in this posture and put in at the Water-gate a little wooll cotton or spunge wet in harsh red VVine or in Rosewater wherein Acacia or Hypocistis hath been dissolved To further this Retention of the VVomb in its place Cupping-Glasses with much flame are frequently to be fastened under her Duggs and upon her Navel Likewise sweet savors are be presented to her Nose and stinking things to be applied to her Genitalls unles she be subject to sits of the Mother Let the said Parts be somented with a Decoction of astringent things made in red VVine and the VVater of a Smyths Forge Also Practitioners use a Bath to sit in made of the Same Decoction In which there needs caution For it is to be feared least in that posture the VVomb should again fall from its place especially at the beginning while the Disease is yet fresh But when it hath held the Patient long and she is provided of a convenient kind of Truss such a bath will do much good After the said Bath a Fumigation will likewise be very good of Frankincense Mastich Sandarach red Roses Others indeed do commend a Fumigation on made of a salted Eel-skin Injections into the VVomb will work much more effectually than those remedies which are outwardly applied they may be compounded of the Decoction for the Fomentation or Sitting Bath aforesaid Oyntments and plasters will likewise be good in this case such as were described in the Immoderate flux of Courses and in the VVhites and as shall hereafter he propounded to prevent Abortion The Retention of the Womb in its place may likewise be holpen by astringent and strenghening Medicaments taken in at the Mouth And among the rest the following Pouder frequently taken is very proper for this Disease Take Mullein two drams Myrtle Leaves Garden Parsnep Seeds of each one dram Shavings of Harts-Horn half a dram Ashes of Cockle-shells one dram red Coral two drams Make all into a Pouder The Dose is one dram with harsh red Wine Touching these astringent Medicaments both internal and external it is to be observed that they must be warily used it the womans courses do still flow at their seasons least they being suppressed may cause more grievous Diseases to follow The best season for these Medicaments is when the Patients courses are past These Remedies are to be contained twelve or Fifteen daies together Also care is at the same time to be taken that the Patient be neither costive nor loose For if the Excrements be hard the Womb is easily thrust out by the Patients straining at stool and a loose Belly doth relax or slacken the bands or Ligaments of the Womb. While the foresaid Remedies are used we must resist the Antecedent Cause by such things as shall purge out and discuss those flegmatick humours which relax and slacken the Ligaments of the Womb. And first convenient Purgations must be ordered which must not be violent in their operation and disturbing least the Womb out of its place again bringing abundance of humors into those parts Some allow of vomiting because it draws the humors into the upper parts of the Body and in that respect it would be profitable if it were not to be feared in another regard Namely because it is performed with great straining and drives the Womb downward as much as neezing Yea and experience hath taught that nothing doth more effectually facilitate hard travel and bring the Child sooner into the light than a Vomit given to the Childing woman After sufficient Purgation a Decoction of Guajacum is to be given three weeks together that every day the Patient may sweat in the morning And in the Evening let her Belly beneath the Navel be fomented with a Decoction of Sage Origanum Marjaram Time Feaverfew Tansie Wormwood Rue red Roses Cyperus Roots Calamint Cypress Nutts and the like simples boyled in Smythes Forge-water and red Wine After the Fomentation the Fumigation and Liniment may be used which were before described Instead of a Sweat-driver or after the use thereof Bathes arising from Sulphurous Mines will be singularly profitable such as our Balerucan Baths and experience hath shewn that many have bin cured by such Bathes And that a woman may be secure that her Womb fall not down again which it is very apt to do or if there be no hope of a perfect cure let her wear such a kind of truss as is called Hyppocrates his Girdle Whereby women are so guarded and defended that without fear of the falling down of their Wombes they may go about and do their daily businesses also their Womb is thereby defended from the cold They are made almost after the same manner as trusses that are used against Ruptures or Burstennes Pessaries are likewise very profitable in desperate Fallings down of the Womb which some do make of a good long piece of cork covered over with Wax Others make of Wax alone some round others square triangular oval or any other fashion which are conveighed into the Cavity of the Womb and are never taken out but keep the Womb in its place so as the women notwithstanding do all their usuall enployments conveniently are enjoyed by Men in carnal conjunctions do conceive carry their big Bellies and bring forth VVhich is confirmed with many Examples by Franciscus Rossetus in his Book entituled De Partu Coesareo Sect. 6. Chap. 5. and by Bauhine in his Appendix to Rossetus All
to fruitfullness Extream Dryness hindring Conception must be cured by a restorative Diet and if the Consumption of the flesh be much we must have recourse to the Cure of an Hectick feaver viz. Use of Milk frequent Bathing and such like But the most frequent Cause of Barrenness is a cold and moist distemper of the whol Body and of the Womb which is often accompanied with the Whites whose particular Cure must be 〈◊〉 from its proper Chapter But the following Medicaments may be peculiarly applied to these distempers which by a discreet Physitian may be varied so as to make them more heating or drying according as Moisture shall the more offend And in the first place flegmatick humors abounding in the Body are to be evacuated by purging diuretick and sudorisick Medicaments And certain Revulsions are to be made by â—ssues in the Armes Neck or thighs Also the principal parts are to be strengthened with Treacle Mithridate Tablets or Lozenges of Aromaticum Rosatum Confection of Alkemies and such like Also Purgations must be repeated at certain distances of time if Evil humors do sâ—em to abound Afterward we must proceed to such things which do by a peculiar virtue or specâ—â—ck property strengthen the Womb help Conception and procure desire of fleshly Imbracements of which kind of Medicaments there are innumerable formes described by Authors We shall in this place chuse out the principal and set before you And in the first place An Electuary may thus be made Take Roots of Eryngus and Satyrion candied or preserved of each one ounce Green Ginger candied half an ounce â—iâ—bert Kernells Pine-Kernells and Pistachioâ— of each six drams one preserved Nutmeg Seeds of Rocket and Water-Cresses of each two drams ashes of a Bulls Pizzle the Reins of the Sea-Scinkos and shavings of Ivory of each one dram Confection of Alkermes three drams The Pouders Dâ—ambâ—a and Dâ—amoschum Dulce of each one ounce and a half Amber Greece half a dram With Syrup of Preserved Citrons make an Electuaâ—y of which let her take the quantity of a Chessnut aâ— her lying down to sleep twice or thrice in a week drinking a small draught of Canary Sack or Hyppocras after it In the form of a Pouder the following Medicaments may be administred Take Seeds of Rocket Siler Montanum of each half a dram shavings of Ivory Cinnamon Nutmeg of each a dram Musk in such as can away with it three grains White Sanders three drams Mix them and make of all a Pouder The Dose is one dram in Canary Or Take Seeds of Rocket wild Parsnep Cinnamon Pouder of the Nutmeg Electuary Diambrae and Diamoschus of each one dram the Matrix of an Hare a Bores-stones a staggs Pizzle Cloves of each half a dram Musk and Amber-greece of each six graines Sugar the weight of all the rest Mingle them make them into Pouder whose Dose is two drams with rich Canary The Afterbirth of a woman is believed to be of great efficacy being dried and Poudered and taken to the quantity of a dram Some Reckon as a secret the Pouder of the Liver and Stones of a Boare-Pig which the Sow his Mother farrowed alone without any Brothers or Sisters by him This Pouder they say cures Barrenness both in men and women Matthiolus in his Comments upon Dioscorides cries up the Seed of the Herb Amy in these words The Seed of the true Amy which is brought from Alexandria does exceedingly help the Barrenness of women For experience hath shewn that many have bin made fruitful only by the use of this Seed For if it be drunk a drams weight in a morning in strong Wine or in broath of flesh being finely Poudered every other day three hours before Meat it gives great hopes of Children But the Man must have to do with his Wife only on those daies in which she does not take the Seed In such women whose bowells are apt to be Inflamed the shavings of Ivory will be very good taken to the quantity of a dram in White Wine for four or five daies together after the monthly Purgation The Essence of Satyrion described by Crollius is most excellent in this case if it be given from a scruple and two scruples to a dram in a Cup of Muscadine Salt of the said Satyrion is also very effectual given to the quantity of ten grains in Muscadine after the Courses Divers Decoctions are wont to be made to the same intent The most effectual are these which follow Take Eryngo Roots one ounce Mugwort Nep of each a handful Boyl them in white Wine Give a Cuâ— of the Decoction morning and evening with a dram of Tryphera Magna made without Opium nine daies together Quercetanus highly commends this which followeth Take of the Stones of a Ram prepared with Wine and dried the Matrix of an Hare prepared after the same manner and dried Mace Cinnamon Cloves white Ginger Seeds of Ammeos of each two drams Saffron a dram and an half Hazel-nut Kernels and Pistachios of each three drams Beat such of these as require beating and boyl all in a quart of Muscadine till a third part be consumed Let her take three or four ounces of this Decoction in a morning three hours before meat and that three daies together and upon the fourth let her lie with her Husband The distilled Water following is likewise very effectual Take of Cinnamon Cloves Nutmeg Mace of each an ounce Cubebs long Pepper Galangal Zedoary Seeds of Ameos Seseleos of each half an ounce Juniper Berries one dram rich white Wine Rosemary Water Marjoram water Balm water of each as much as shall suffice Let them digest together six daies and then distil them and give of the stilled Water morning and evening two or three spoonfuls Pena and Lobellius propound as a Secret not to be communicated to any living Creature the distilled Oyl of the smaller and more delicate sort of sweet Marjoram mingled with the Runnet of an Hare and a little Musk to facilitate Conception If a woman upon the fourth day of her monthly Purgations shall drink about half a pint of the Juyce of Sage with a little Salt and a quarter of an hour after submit her self to the Genial Embracements of her Husband many grave men affirm she will undoubtedly conceive With which Medicine Aetius testifies that the Aegyptian Women after a great mortality by Pestilence had abundance of Children To the foresaid internal Medicaments external Medicaments must be joyned In the use whereof it is diligently to be observed that before we go about to dry bind and corroborate the womb that the filth contained in the Cavity thereof be first drawn away and purged lest it either flow back into the noble parts of the Body or be more affixed to the substance of the Womb. First therefore such things must be given as purge the womb after this manner compounded Take Diaphoenicon and Hiera Picra of each half an ounce Turpentine and Honey of Mercury of each one
nourish the Infant in the Womb. Or if it be an acute Disease without a Feaver as the Falling-sickness Apoplexy Universal Convulsion of the whol Body the Mother and Infant cannot withstand the violence of the Disease neither can they bear such strong Medicines as are requisite to the Cure of those Diseases Yet we must know that this Prognostick is not perpetually true For we know by the Testimonies and Examples in Authors and by dayly Experience that many women with Child having acute Diseases escape with their lives But Chronical or lingering Diseases as Intermitting Agues Catarrhs Tenesmus c. do threaten Abortion and if they cause it not they can hardly be cured before the woman be brought to bed but do keep her company till she lie down Diseases Acute and Chronical in the first and last months are more dangerous than in the intermediate months For in the first months the bands wherewith the Infant is fastened to the Womb are weak so as they may easily be broken and the tender Infant is more easily over pressed with those preternatural Causes But in the last months namely the sixth seventh and eighth the Child being grown greater requires much nourishment which in these Diseases it is deprived of Also the foresaid bands do not stick so fast as in the third fourth and fifth months in which there is less danger of Abortion Therefore Galen doth excellently compare the Child in the Womb to Fruits hanging on a Tree which upon their first growing out have very tender stalks so that they may be easily shaken off with the wind or any other violent commotion and when they are neer ripe they hang not so fast upon the bough as in the intermediate spaces they did Likewise the Cure of the foresaid Diseases in women with child doth remarkably differ as touching their Diet and those two grand Remedies Blood-letting and purging whereunto we may ad Medicaments which evacuate by other waies viz. Such as move the Courie Piss-drivers and Sweat-drivers because it is feared lest by these evacuations abortion may be caused of these therefore we shall only treat at present referring what else belongs to the Cure of these Diseases to the proper Chapters where such respective Diseases are handled As for Matter of Diet it is not to women with Child in Acute Diseases to be enjoyned so spare lest the little Infant be famished neither is it to be allowed so liberal that the Feaver should be thereby strengthened but we must steer a middle course with this Caution That in the first months of their Belly-burden a thin Diet be enjoyned and in the latter somwhat more solid and plentiful because the Child doth then stand in need of more nourishment Yet if there must needs be some error in Diet it is better to err in keeping too full than too slender diet for recovery is chiefly to be expected from the strength of the Mother and the Child Touching bleeding that Aphorism of Hippocrates viz. the 31. of Sect. 5. is presently brought in opposition where he saies If a woman with child be let blood she miscarries especially if the child be grown And Galen renders the Reason in his Comment Because the Blood being let out the Infant wants its nourishment whence follows Abortion On the other side daily Experience shews That in very many Diseases of big-bellyed women especially acute diseases as the Pleurisie Inflamation of the Lungs continual Feavers and such like blood-letting is necessary and may be administred not only in the first but also in the middle months and somtimes in the last months of a womans Belly-bearing Which if it be omitted both Mother and Child are in great danger of death And to this latter Opinion the elder Physitians assent not dissenting from the Mind of Galen and Hippocrates by so doing For therefore it is they held a woman would miscarry if being with Child she were let blood because blood being taken away the Child would want its Nourishment So that if blood may so be taken away as that the Infant shall not want its nourishment there wil be no danger of Abortion thereby Now so the case may stand As first In the first Months of a Womans Belly-bearing while the Infant in the womb is little and wants but little Nourishment for then its Nourishment by bleeding will not be drawn away especially if certain signs of superfluity of blood be apparent in the Mother So that from the first month to the fift blood-letting may be safely practised But in the middle and last Months greater circumspection is to be used because the Child being greater and wanting more Nourishment cannot so safely admit of Phlebotomy Howbeit if the Woman abound with blood and a smal quantity be taken away she may safely be let blood because hereby the Disease will be allaied neither wil so much Nutriment be there by withdrawn from the Child as to cause Abortion But if it seem that Hippocrates thought otherwise let us consider that we let blood after a far other fashion than the Antients did they let blood by pounds and we by ounces The very truth is there is no better way to preserve women from Abortion than by blood-letting when it springs from overmuch blood strangling the Infant and overwhelming the same in such women as have been accustomed out of their time of being with child to have a plentiful flux of Courses for divers daies together Thus Petrus Salius Diversus in the 22. Chapter of his Book of particular Diseases I for my part protest quoth he that I have preserved many women from Abortion which they had often suffered only by letting them blood in the first months of their being big Neither would I have it thought that no other kind of blood-letting may be practised in childing women save that which is sparing or moderate For somtimes plentiful bleeding in the last month hath done very much good And I have somtimes experienced this plentiful Blood-letting in the last month when the women with Child were afflicted with a burning Feaver and were full of Blood hoping thereby an abatement of the Feaver and an hastening of the Birth both which I obtain'd by blood-letting and saved both child and mother in danger of death by this only Remedy Which being in some Patients omitted and neglected by Physitians minding more the words of Hippocrates than the matter it self hath been the cause that both child and mother hath miserably perished being strangled by the plenty and fer vency of blood So far Salius Amatus Lusitanus in the 57. Cure of his I. Section let a woman with child of eighteen yeers of age blood in the sixth month four times with happy succe she being in a burning Feaver And Rodericus a Castro in his third Book of Womens Diseaeases Chap. 21. writes that he let a woman of Lisbon blood who had a Pleurisie in the eight month and was given over for desperate by other Physitians four
times and no less one after another and she recovered and had a healthy Boy And to conclude If I may freely relate somwhat from mine own Experience I will set down the following History which is a rare one and worthy to be regarded The Wife of John Vicules Citizen of Montpelier had three miscarriages one after another at several times of her being with child When she was the fourth time with Child about the end of the second month she was taken with the same pains of her Belly and Loyns which had been the usual fore-runners of her former miscarriages I being called to her and considering she was a Sanguine Woman and full of Blood presently caused four ounces of blood to be taken from her and within half an hour the foresaid pains quite ceased and the Woman was so well that she would not use those other Medicines which I prescribed for her to prevent Abortion Now those Symptomes appeared in the self same time wherein she was wont to have her Courses when she was not with Child Again in the third month of her being with Child at the same period of time the same Symptomes return upon her She sending for me desires I would order her to be let blood seeing the month preceding she had found so sudden help thereby I consent and she is again let Blood with like good success as before In like manner in her fourth fifth sixth seventh and eighth months the same Symptomes returning in their just distances of time she was again let Blood and presently recovered The last of hâ—r â—leedings was but eight daies before the beginning of her ninth month with like profit 〈◊〉 before and about the end of the ninth month the said woman brought forth a living 〈◊〉 and Lusty Yet I would not have a young Physitian moved with these examples be too bold in letting women Blood in their last months of being with Child But the Nature of the Diseases and of the women raust be diligently considered that Medicaments may be conveniencly suited thereunto Allwaies remembring that sins of omission are lighter than sins of commission and that it is better in a doubtfull case to fall short than to outpass the due and fitting bounds Yet when he finds the evident indications of Blood-letting let him boldly draw Blood first enforming the by-standers or friends of the sick that there is more danger of abortion and of the death of Infant and Mother from the Cruellty of the disease than from Blood-letting and allwaies remembring that but little Blood be taken away that the Child may not miss of its nourishment And if plenty of Blood require a larget quantity to be taken away let it be done at divers times and not all at once Wherefore the foresaid Aphorism of Hippocrates does not absolutely forbid the opening of a vein but only warnes that Physitians be wary what they do in that kind Which is elegantly delivered by Cornelius Celsus in the 10. Chapter of his 2 Book in these words The Antients did judg that young and old people could not bear Blood-letting And they perswaded themselves that a woman with Child let Blood would miscarry But experience hath since taught us that these are no generall Rules and there are other considerations of more weight which the Practitioner is to regard For it matters not of what Age the Patient is nor what she hath in her Body but what her strength is So that if a young man be weak or a woman not with Child be weak Blood is ill taken from them for the remaining strength dies and they perish But a strong Child and a strong old man and a woman with Child that is lustly are safely cured by bleading So for Celsus Some latter Physitians have dared to open the lower veins in women with Child to Cure the Falling-sickness by consent of the Womb the venerial and pestilential Bubo yea and to prevent abortion as we may see in Zacutus Lusitanus in his Book of Wonderful Cures Obs 23. Book 1. and Obs 130 and 151 of Book 2. Who by his own and other mens experiments endeavours to prove that such Blood-letting may be safely practised Which I leave to prudent Physitians to consider of We said about the beginning of this Chapter that there is no difference in Curing the diseases of women with Child saving with respect to the greater remedies which difference must be in them thus determined viz. That the diseases which hold women not with Child as vomiting want of appetite and the like in them being not with Child they are to be Cured rather by vomiting than by Blood-letting because they come from evil humors abounding in the stomach and the whol Body but in women with Child they need rather Blood-letting because they Spring from Blood retained in in the very beginning of their being with Child And experience hath taught that the vomiting which is wont often to trouble women with Child is in the first months of Childing exasperated by purges but by bleeding much abated yea and wholly taken away if the Blood-letting be iterated every month till the symptom cease The use of Purging in women with Child Hippocrates hath defined in Aphor. 1. Sect. 4. Women with Child saith he are to be purged if the humor offending do work in the fourth month and to the seventh But these about the seventh less And we must take heed what we do when the Child is very young or old Galen in his Comment saies that there is the same proportion between a Child in the Womb and fruit upon the true For fruit when it first grows upon the bough it is held by a very tender stalk and therefore quickly falls being shaken by a vehement wind afterwards when they are grown greater they are not easily separated from the boughs And yet when they are fully ripe they fall off of their own accord In the same manner women suffer abortion in the first and last months because in them the Child is not so fast tied to the Womb. But in this Age of ours purges are wont to be given to women with Child in all the months very neer of their being with Child in diseases springing from the tyranny of humors excrements vitiated when the matter is in motion and works or when it is concocted so often as there is more danger seared from the evil humor causing the disease than from the commotion raised by the purging Medicaments Gentle and harmless Medicaments have made Physitians bolder in this kind such I mean as we use at this day as Rhubarb Myrobalans Cassia Manna Senna Agarick and the like But we must allwaies remember that saying of Hippocrates and we must more freely give purges in the middle months and more warily in the first and last Also the use of Pills is ever more suspected in women with Child both because they make a greater commotion in the Body and also by reason of the Aloes which by reason
of the extream bitterness is an enemy to the Child and is thought to open the mouths of the veines But if sometimes the use thereof seems necessary in some grevious infirmities of the stomach which are wont frequently to infest women with Child the first months of their being with Child bearing let it be carefully washed with Rose-water that the acrimony thereof may be taken away or let it be mixt with strengthening and astringent things as Rhubarb Mastich and such like Clysters are not very safe because by compressing the Womb they may cause abortion So that when there is need of them and in women accustomed to that kind of evacuation they must be made in less quantity and of such things as are rather mollfying and lenefying than much purging In a word touching Sweat-drivers Piss-drivers and such things as move the Courses our Opinion is That Movers of the Courses properly so called are never to be used in women with Child And Piss-drivers because they likewise are apt to bring down the Courses ought to be suspected and if the necessity of some disease require the use of them the gentler must be made choice of And finally Sweat-drivers may be safely given because they drive the humors out by the habit of the Body whereby no danger of abortion is incurred in so much that some women in the middle of their being with Child have bin Cured of the whores Pox without harm to their Child Chap. 17. Of Abortion or Miscarriage ABortion or Miscarriage is the bringing forth of an imperfect or unripe Child And consequently a child dead in the Womb is not counted an Abortion till it be excluded So that whether alive or dead Child be brought fourth not being ripe nor having attained to the just term of growth which it ought to have had in the Womb it is to be termed an Abortion or Miscarried Child The Causes of Abortion are some internal some external The internal may be reduced to four heads viz. to the Humors to the Child to the Womb and to the Mothers diseases The humors may cause Abortion while they offend in quantity or in quality They offend in Quantity either by way of excess or of Defect Humors offending by way of excess are seen in a Plethorick or over-full Constitution of Body for Blood being more plentyfull than is requisite to Nourish the Infant in the Womb flowes into the veines of the Womb and is excluded by way of the monthly Courses and brings away the Child with it Defect of Humor fitting to Nourish springs from such Causes which are able to draw the Nourishment from the Child as fasting whether voluntary or forced as when women with Child loath all kind of Meat or vomit it up again a thin diet in acute diseases immoderate bleeding by the Nose Haemorrhoides Womb or by immoderate Phlebotomy Whereupon Hippocrates in Aphor. 34. Sect. 5. If a woman with Child go very much to stool it is to be feared that she will Miscarry Hereunto may be referred extream leanness of the whol body wherein there is not Blood enough to nourish the Infant Of which Hippocrates in Aphor. 44. Sect. 5. Speakes thus Women with Child being very lean not by nature but accident as famin long-sicknes c. they Miscarry untill they get their flesh again In respect of the Child Abortion may happen if it be over great so that it cannot by reason of its bulk be contained in the Womb hence it falls often out that little Women miscarry especially if they be married to Men Bigger than ordinary whose Children grow very great and find not in the Womb place large enough to contain them till they come to their perfect growth Which made Hippocartes say In his Book of superfoetation If any Woman conceive frequently and do duly and at a certain period of time Miscarry as in her second third or fourth month or later the narrowness of her Womb is in fault which is not able to contain the Child as it grows great Also plurality of Children may cause abortion as when two or three or more are contained in the Womb at one time for then the Womb overloaden excludes the Children before the fit time which is the cause that Women often Miscarry of twinns Also the dead Child is to be reckoned among the causes of Abortion for as soon as the Child is dead Nature doth forthwith set her self to cast it forth Abortion happens in respect of the Womb it self if it be not of largness and capacity enough sufficiently to widen itself according as the child grows as was shewed above out of Hippocrates As also if there be any thing preternatural in the Womb as an Inflamation a Scirrhous Tumor an Impostume and very many diseases besides And finally if the Womb be overmoist and slack that it cannot contain the Child so well as it ought to do In respect of the Mothers diseases Abortion comes two waies First of all when as her diseases are communicated to the Child whereby it is killed or so weakened that it cannot receive due nourishment nor growth such as are continual and intermitting feavers the Whores-Pocks and many such like Secondly when the said diseases of the Mother do cause great evacuations or great commotions or the Body as â—â—rge Bleedings from what part of the Body soever fluxes of the Belly grievous swoonings Falling-sickness Vomiting and Tenesmus that is perpetual going to the stool and voiding nothing but a little slime which above all other diseases is wont to cause Abortion because by that frequent and almost continual endeavour of going to stool which perpetually attends this disease the Muscles of the Belly are perpetually contracted and do more compress the Womb than the streight Gutt upon which the Womb rests which continual compression or squeezing of the Womb doth at last cause Abortion External causes which further Abortion do some of them kill the Child others draw away its nourishment and others dissolve those bands wherewith the Child is fastened to the Womb. The Child is killed by greivous commotions of mind as Anger sadness Terror c. meates earnestly longed for and not obtained strong purging Medicaments such things as provoke the Courses such things as drive forth the Child such things as are reckoned by a secret property to destroy the Child in the Womb abominable smells especially the stink of a Candle ill put out The Child is deprived of its nourishment by the Mothers being famished and by immoderate loss of her Blood especially when the Child is big As Hippocrates teaches in the Aphor. 60 Sect. 5. The bands which fasten the Child to the Womb are loosed by vehement exercise Danceing Running Rideing or Jolting in a Coach or Cart carrying of an heavy weight or lifting it from the ground a violent fall and squelch a Blow upon the Belly that mauls the Child vehement motion of the Belly by coughing vomiting loosness neezing convulsions crying out immoderate or
reason of plenty of excrements heaped together in the first Region and distending the Belly it suffocates the child or it vitiates the blood in the whol habit of the Body rendring it unfit to nourish the child or it fills the Vessels of the womb which retain the child full of slime and snot This Badness of Humors may likewise be holpen by blood-letting but it must be in a lesser quantity seeing the principla scope of the Cure is by frequent Purgations to take away the super fluous Excrements of the Body And in the spaces between Purge and Purge such things must be used as help the distemper of the Bowels mitigate the sharpness of Humors if there be any or thicken the said Humors in case they be too thin Or if slegmatick Humors are too rife they must be discussed by Sweat-drivers Piss-drivers and other Remedies Howbeit we must diligently observe that whatever ill humor abounds Issues are wonderful profitable to prevent Abortion of which Zacutus Lusitanus gives a special note in these words By most happy Experiments I have observed That frequent Abortion caused by corrupted Humors which slow from the whol Body to the Womb and by their evil disposition or abundance do kill the child is hereby as by a most present help prevented Many women did miscarry upon this very account among which some having often times brought forth a Child of seven months or four months growth but torn and putrefied could by no other means be freed from so great a Calamity save by Issues made in their Arms and Thighs which were alwaies made at the beginning of the fluxion by which means they went out their time and brought forth Children healthy and not defiled with any Infection The peculiar Diseases of the Womb as over great Moisture Swellings Ulvers and such like must be cured by their proper Remedies described in the Chapters which treat of them In women with Child if the same Causes be present as in other women the difficulty is yet greater because big-bellied women cannot so easily bear all kind of Remedies Yet lest being destitute of all help they should remain in extream danger of Miscarriage and Death some kind of Remedies are to be used In case therefore the Patient be too full of blood she must have a Vein opened though with child especially in the first months and that the second and third time if need be Alwaies remembring that there never be much blood taken away at a time Of which kind of bleeding we have discoursed more at large in the foregoing Cure And when there is an abundance of some very bad Humors gentle Purgations must be reiterated especially in the middle months of a womans being with Child And if a moist rheumatick snotty or windy distemper do annoy the Patient we may somtimes proceed to a Sudorifick Diâ—t at least a gentle one in the stronger sort of women Mean while in the whol course of being with child astringent and strengthening Medicaments are to be used such as have a vertue to hinder Abortion Many of which have been described in our Chapter of immoderate flux of Courses whereunto these following may profitably be added Take of Kermes and Tormentil Roots of each three drams Mastich one dram and an half Make all into a Pouder of which give the Patient half a dram at certain distances of time or as much as may be taken up upon the point of a knife Or Take red Coral two drams Kermes berries Date Stones of each one dram Shavings of Ivory half a dram Pearls not bored through ascruple Make of all a Pouder Or ler her swallow every day certain grains of Mastich in the morning Our ordinary women do frequently use Plantane Seed which they take in the morning about the quantity of half a dram with Wine and Water or in an Egg or Broth or by it self almost every day the whol time of their being with Child and that not in vain To the same purpose very effectual Electuaries are compounded according to this following Example Take Conserve of Roses two ounces Citron peels candied six drams Myrobalans candied Pulp of Dates of each half an ounce Coral prepared Pearls prepared and Shavings of Ivory of each a dram With Syrup of quinces make all into an Opiate of which let the Patient take often the quantity of a Chestnut If a Liquid form shall be more desired a Decoction of Tormentil Roots sweetened with Conserve of Roses may profitably be given The following Lozenges are very good for they strengthen and do by little and little free the Body from Excrements though somtimes they do not visibly purge Take Mace the three sorts of Sanders Rhubarb Senna Carals Pearls of each a scruple Sugar dissolved in Rose-water four ounces Make all into Lozenges weighing three drams apiece Let her take one twice a week by it self or dissolved in a little Broth. Outwardly Oyntments and Plaisters are to be applied made after this manner Take Ship-pitch half an ounce Frankincense an ounce Mastich half an ounce Dragons Blood and red Roses of each two drams Make all into a Cerate or Plaister Or Take Oyl of Myrtles and Mastich of each an ounce red Sanders and yellow Hypocistis Acacia of each half an ounce Spodium red Roses of each two drams Bole Armoniack Terra Sigillata Shavings of Ivory of each two scruples Turpentine washed in Plantane Water an ounce Wax as much as shall suffice Make all into a Cerate or Plaister spread it upon a Cloth and apply it to the Reins Plaisters are compounded of the Mass of Emplastrum pro Matrice and Emplastrum contra Rupturam to be applied to the Region of the Share and of the Loyns Or after this manner following Take of the Mass or Rowl of Emplastrum pro Matrice three ounces Bistort Roots Acacia Hypocistis Pomegranate peels of each half an ounce Ladanum six drams Moisten and soften them with Juyce of Quinces and make a Rowl of Plaister for the use aforesaid Concerning Plaisters it is to be observed That they must not be worn long together but taken off ever and anon otherwise if they stick too long upon the Back they do so heat the Kidneys that the poor women are somtimes troubled with sharpness of Urine or do somtimes piss Sand Stones yea and Blood it self Neither must we omit such things which are accounted by a secret property of their Nature to retain a Child in the womb as an Aegle-stone worn about the Neck a Load-stone applied to the Navel Corals Jaspers Smaragds Bones found in the Hearts of Stags and such like worn under the Arm-pits or hanged about the Neck Zacutus Lusitanus in Obs 152. of the Second Book of wonderful Cures commends a Girdle made of the Hide of a Sea-horse and if that be not to be had he saith a Wolfs Skin may profitably be used instead thereof And that the success of these Medicaments may be happy the Patient must be enjoyned to rest
and keep her self as quiet as possibly she can both in her Body and Mind also to abstain from Genial Embracements which do vehemently towze and disquiet the Womb. For while the Womb opens it self to comprehend the Mans Sperm with which it is exceedingly delighted it drives forwards the lately conceived Child not yet throughly fastened in the womb But if notwithstanding the Medicines aforesaid by reason of the vehemency of the Cause whether it be internal or external the Patient be ready to Miscarry we must apply our selves to do the best we can with these following Remedies And in the first place so soon as pains and throws shall be perceived in the lower part of the Patients Belly towards her Share in her Loyns and about the Ossacrum we must seek to allay and stop them both by things given in and outwardly applied according to the variety of Causes For if Abortion be provoked by Crudities and Winds which is most usual when it begins from an Internal Cause a Pouder must be given compounded of Aromaticum Rosatum and Coriander Seeds Yea we may give of the Aqua Imperialis if the quantity of flegm and wind be very great At the same time let Carminative or Fart-forcing Medicaments be applied below the Patients Navel such are bags of Annis seed Fennel seed Foenugreek seed Flowers of Chamomel Elder Rosemary and Stoechados mingled together Or a Rose Cake fried in a Pan with rich Canary and sprinkled with Pouder of Nutmeg and Coriander or the Caul of a Wether newly killed or his Lungs laid on warm If with these means the pains cease not let a Clyster be cast in made of Wine and Oyl wherein two drams of Philonium Romanum may be dissolved or Narcoticks may be given inwardly in a smaller Dose to allay the violence of Humors and Winds as we are wont to do in pains of the Chollick But if by reason of contumacious pains that will not be asswaged or of the violence of some external cause blood begin to come away Revelling Medicines are to be applied to withdraw the course of the blood from the Womb such are Rubbings of the uper parts and painful bindings also Cupping-Glasses fastened to the Shoulder-blades under the Dugs and under the short Ribs on both sides Yea and if the Woman be ful of Blood it will not be amiss to take some blood from her both when she begins to void blood and especially before it begins to come and the blood must be taken away at several times a little at once And if all this will not suffice but the Flux of blood continues we must proceed to astringent and thickening Diet and Medicaments and so the Pouders and Electuaries formerly described may be administred Also Juyce of Plantane new drawn and Syrup of Poppies to the quantity of an ounce with Pouder of Bole-Armoniack or Dragons-blood Also outwardly may be used fomentations binding and strengthening made of Pomegranate peels Cyprèss Nuts Acorn Cups Balaustians Grape-stones and such like things boyled in Smiths water and red Wine Or a little Bag full of red Rose Leaves and Balaustians may be boyled and applied hot to the Patients Belly Hereunto may be added the foresaid Plaisters and Cerecloaths Or for to cause the more astriction make a Cataplasm of astringent Pouders with Turpentine and the whites of Eggs which must be spread upon Tow or course Flax and applied to the Navel and the Reins warm The Tow which shall be applied to the Navel must be moistened with Wine that which is to be applied to the Kidneys in Vinegar The two following Medicaments are accounted for Secrets and it is beleeved they will certainly hold the Child in the Womb if they be used before it be loosened from the Wombs Vessels Take twelve Leaves of Gold Spodium a dram the Cocks Treading of three Eggs that are not adle Mix all very well till the Gold be broken into smal Atomes Afterwards dissolve them in a draught of white Wine and give it to drink three mornings together At the same time let the following Cataplasm be laid on Take male Frankincense poudered two ounces five whites of Eggs Let them be stirred about together over hot coals alwaies stirring them that they may not clodder together add Turpentine to make them stick Then spread it upon Parcels of Tow which lay upon her Navel as hot as she can possibly endure them twice a day morning and evening on the three daies aforesaid Chap. 18. Of Hard Child-birth HArd Travel in Child-bearing is such as keeps not the due and ordinary Laws of Nature taking up longer time than ordinary and accompanied with more vehement pains than are usual and other more grievous Symptomes Divers causes here of may be assigned both internal and external The internal depend either of the Mother of the Womb or of the Child In respect of the Mother Travel with child may become sore and hard by the weakness of her Body either Natural or in regard of Age as in very yong and very ancient women or in regard of Diseases wherewith the woman was troubled during the time of her going with Child or is still troubled Hereunto also Leanness and over great driness of the whol body may be added as also over fatness and grossness compressing and straitening the passages of the womb ill shape of such bones as border upon and embrace the womb as in such as limp wind stretching the Guts stone or preternatural tumor possessing the bladder and pressing the Womb and the ill constitution of the Lungs and other parts serving for Respiration because holding the Breath is very necessary to exclude the Child In respect of the Womb divers Diseases thereof may cause a sore Labor as Swellings Ulcers Obstructions Astrictions Stoppages arising from preternatural Causes In respect of the Child Hard Travel is caused when there is some fault therein in respect of its substance its quantity its figure and certain things thereunto belonging The Child is faulty in regard of Substance when it is dead or putrefied or some waies infected or weakened with some Disease so that it hath no ability to contribute to its own exclusion In regard of Quantity likewise the Child doth not further it s own Birth which is either discrete or severed quantity or concrete and joyned the former is called Number the latter Magnitude In regard therefore of continued quantity the child is faulty if the Body or Head of it be over great which makes the Birth thereof become difficult and laborsom in regard of the disjoyned quantity of the child or burden Labor becomes difficult as when there are more than one in the womb so the Birth of Twins is more painful than of a single Child for the most part In respect of the Figure or Scituation of the Child in the Womb difficult Travel happens many waies as when the Child endeavors to come forth with its feet or its hands foremost or puts out one hand only or
one foot or when it endeavors to come forth doubled with its breech or its belly foremost In regard of the Childs Adjuncts or certain things belonging to the Child difficulty of Travail happens when those membranes which enclose the Child are more thin than ordinary so that they come to break sooner than they should whence followed an over quick effusion of the waters conteined therein whereupon the mouth of the Womb remaines dry at the time of the exclusion of the Infant or where the foresaid Membranes are more thick and compact than ordinary by which means the Child is hardly able to breake them External Causes depend upon things necessary and things contingent the things necessary are such as Physitians commonly call res non naturales things not natural So a cold and dry air and the Northern-wind are very hurtfull to women in travail because they straiten the whol Body drive the Blood and spirits inwards and prove very destructive to the Infant coming forth of so warm a place as the Womb. Also air more hot than ordinary dissipates the spirits and exhausts the strength both of Mother and Child easily introduceing a feaverish Inflammation into a Body replenished with ill humors and exagitated Meates raw and hard to digest or of an astringent quality taken in a large Quantity before the time of travail may render the same laborious the stomach being weakened and the common passages stopped which in this case ought to be very free and open Sleepyness and Sottishess do slacken the endeavours both of the Mother and the Child and shew nature to be weak Unseasonable stirring of the woman doth much delay the Birth of the Child whenas she refuses to stand to walk lie down or to sit upon the Midwifes stoole as need shall require or when she is unduely agitated to and fro whence it comes to pass that the Child cannot lâ—â—ue in a sitting posture or looses the good posture it had by reason of the Mothers undue and disorderly moveing her self The retention of Excrements at the time of Travail as of Urin distending the Bladder of hard excrements in the streight Gutt and hemorrhoids much Swelled do straiten the neck of the Womb and divert nature from her endeavour of expelling the Child And in a word vehement Passions of mind as Fear Sadness Anger may very much encrease the difficulty of Child birth To things contingent are referred Blowes Falls wounds which may very much hinder the Birth hereunto likewise appertain the parties assistant in time of travail to help the labouring woman viz. strong women and maid servants which may lift her up and support her when she is in her labours and especially an expert Midwife which ought to mannage the whol Business For if the Midwife err in her office it is wont to cause difficulty of Birth For sometimes the Midwises do over soon exhort the Childing woman to hold their breath and to strain themselves to exclude their Child while the bands which fasten the Child to the Womb are as yet unloosed by which means the strength of the woman is wasted before hand which should have bin reserved to the just time of her travail Yea and the truth is while the Midwifes do oversoon perswade the Childing women that the time of their travail is at hand they bend all their strength to exclude the Child and oftentimes violently break those bands with which the Child is fastened and cast themselves into no small Jeopardy Hard Travail is known both by the Childing woman and by the Assistants but especially by the Midwife And in the first place if the woman continue a longer time than ordinary in her Labors as two three four or more daies whereas a truly natural Child-birth ought to be accomplished within the space of 24. Houres Again it is a Sign of an hard Labor if the womans paines be weak and are long before they return and if her paines are more about her Back than Privities And the Causes of hard travail are known by relation of the Childing woman and are for the most part evidently to be seen So the weakness of the woman her over leanness or over fatness is perceived by the habit of her Body Diseases of the Womb are known by their proper Signes The Childs weakness is known by its weak and slow moving it self But the Signes of a dead Child shall be declared in the next Chapter The greatness of the Child may be gathered from the stature of the Parents especially when a big-Bodyed man is matched with a little woman But when there are none of these Signes and the woman labours stoutly and the Child stirrs and makes its way sufficiently and yet the travail is hard and painful it is a token that the secundine or After-birth is stronger than ordinary and can hardly be broken which conjecture is more probable if no water or moisture come from the woman dureing her Labors The disorderly posture of the Child is perceived by the Midwife and the other Causes are visible to the Eye as we said before As for the Prognostick Hard-Travail is of it self dangerous in which sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and sometimes both do loose their lives If a woman be four daies in Labor it s hardly possible the Child should live Sleepy diseases and convulsions which befall a woman in Travail are for the most part deadly Sneezing which befalls a woman in sore Travail is good Out of Hippocrates in his Aphorismes To cure difficulty in Child-birth first all causes which may delay the birth are as much as may be to be removed And afterwards such Medicines as further the Birth are Methodically to be administred And in the first place it is common among the women to give a groaning wife a spoonfull or two of Cinnamon Water Or Cinnamon it self in Pouder with a little Saffron may be given or half a dram of Consectio Alkermes may be drunk in a little Broath Also Saffron alone being given ten graines in every Mess of Broath the woman takes or every hour being taken in a little Wine is very good Or. Take Oyl of sweet Almonds and White Wine of each two ounces Saffron and Cinnamon of eath twelve graines Confectio Alkermes half a dram Syrup of Maiden Hair one ounce and an half Mix all and make thereof a potion If this shall not suffice but that stronger things must be used the following potion wil be most effectual which I have had frequent experience of Take Dictamnus Cretensis both the Birthworts and Trochiscs or Cakes of Myrrh of each half asc uple Saffron and Cinnamon of each twelve grains Confectio Alkermes half a dram Cinnamon Water half an ounce Orange-flower and Mugwort Water of each an ounce and an half Make all into a potion Among the more effectual sort of Medicaments are numbred Oyl of Amber Oyl of Cinnamon and extract of Saffron which do in a little quantity work â—â—ch viz. Extract of Saffron
to five or six grains Oyl of Cinnamon to four or five Drops Oyl of Amber to twelve or fifteen Drops in VVine Broth or other Liquor Sneezing hastens the Birth or Hippocrates in the Aphor. 35. Sect. 5. Sneezing which happens to a woman in sore Travail is good Sneezing may be provoked by the following Pouder Take White Hellebore half a dram Long Pepper one scurple Castoreum five grains Make all into a Pouder and blow thereof into her â—stâ—â—lls the quantity of a Pease The same Hippocrates prescribes another Remedy in the first Book of womens diseases which is omitted by all authors almost And that is the opening of one of the lower veines of the Body which he propounds in these words But if saith he a Big-bellied woman be so stopped that she cannot bring forth but continues divers daies in her â—ains if she be a yong woman vigorous and full of Blood her Anckleveines must be opened and Blood taken away according as her strength will bear Although this remedy be never used by our Practitioners and it seems much to be feared because in Travail nothing is so needful as strength which may be weakened by Blood-letting Yet if difficult Travail do arise from fullness of blood which Hippocrates doth insinuate in those words where he saies If the woman be yong and in the prime of her strength and very full of Blood there is no question but bleeding may be very profitable because the Veines being very full of Blood are wont to make al other inward passages of the Body more strait Whence it comes to pass that in pains of the Stone in the kidneys the like Blood-letting doth often work wonders and facilitate the expulsion of Stones conteined both in the kidneys and Ureters Also hard Travail may be holpen not only by those inward Medicines prescribed but likewise by outward Let the Midwife therefore frequently anoint the Womb of the Childing woman with Oyls of Lillies sweet Almonds Lin-Seed and such like Also let her belly be fomented on the nether parts with an emollient Decoction of Marsh-mallow and Lilly Roots Leaves of Mallows Violets Mugwort Seeds of Line and Fenugreek with the flowers of Chamomel and Melilot Let sharp Clysters be administred by the provokeing virtue of which the expulsive faculty of the womb may be likewise â—oused up and the Gutts being emptied will afford larger space for the womb Let her Navel be anointed with Oyl of Amber Some commend the Gaul of an Hen applyed to the same part Also such things may be used which are thought by a peculiar property to help the Birth as Aegle-Stone Load-Stone Storax and the rest being fastened to the Hipps Hartmannus Commends the Eyes of an Hare taken in the month of March which are carefully to be taken out and dried entire with Pepper Let one of these with Pepper be so tied to her Belly that the Sight of the Eye may touch her belly and it will bring forth the Child be it alive or dead Which being done take away the Eye least it bring forth the Womb it self He saies likewise that it is good to bring out the Mole Heed is likewise to be taken that the woman carry no Precious Stones about her either in rings or otherwise but let her lay them al away for many of them are conceived by a peculiar property to retain the Child in the womb If the Child seem to be weak it must be refreshed both with strengthening things given to the Mother as warm wine Confectio Alkermes Cinnamon Water and also with things outwardly applied as with a Crust of Bread or a Rose Cake strewed with Pouder of Nutmegs Cinnamon Cloves Kermes Berries and sprinkled with Aqua Imperialis or with warm Wine Or with a peice of Wether-Mutton a little broiled upon a Gridiron and sprinkled with Water of Roses or of Orange-flowers with the call of a wether newly kil'd not yet cold and such like If the Child begin to come forth in a disorderly manner as by putting out one Foot one Hand or any other way the Mid-wife must no waies receive it on that manner but thrust it into the Womb again and compose it to a right and natural posture or form of egress Which must be done by laying the Childing woman on her Back in the Bed with her Head somwhat low and her Buttocks high and then gently pressing her Belly towards the short Ribs and thrusting the Child into the Womb. Afterward let the Midwife endeavour to put the Child into a right posture for coming out by an artificial Hand procuring that the Child turn its face towards the Mothers Back and its Buttocks and shighes let her lift up towards the Mothers navel and so hasten the same unto a natural manner of coming forâ—h When all Hope of the Childs coming forth is past or when the Mether is almost dead some Authors proceed to the Caesarean Section that is to cut the Child out of the Womb as Caesar was cut out of which Francilcus Rossetus hath Printed a most elegant Treatise in which by many reasons and examples he endeavours to shew that such a thing may be somtimes done with good success Howbeit seeing this Operation is very dangerous and terrible it ought seldom or never to be practised by a discreet Physitian that would preserve his own reputation Chap. 19. Of A Dead Child IN sore Travel of Child-birth by reason of great and long Labour the Child is oftentimes killed and somtimes before a womans pains come upon her the Child happens to die through some preternaturall accidents such as those which are wont to cause Abortion and if it hath not attained to the due time of natural Birth it causes Abortion but if it have it causes an hard and sore Travel Because in a due and naturall Birth both the Mother and the Child ought to join their Forces to bring it from the Dark Dungeon to the Liberty of Day All such things therefore which cause difficult Child-birth being in a greater and more grievous degree are of power to kill the Child But especially the Child is wont to be kild if it come in so untoward and preposterous a figure that it can by no means be brought forth in that manner neither can the Midwife or Chyrurgion draw it forth or reduce it to a better Posture For while sticking thus in the mouth of the Womb it frustrates all the endeavours of the Mother straining her self to exclude it it comes to pass that in those sâ—â—ainings various motions and compressions somtimes both Mother and Child somtimes the Mother alone and somtimes the Child alone doth die It is to be admired which Fabricius Hildanus writes touching two women which died through hard Labour in whom their Wombes were found broken a sunder and the Heads of the Infants in their Mothers Bellies By which we may gather how strongly a lusty Child doth labour to work it self out of the Mothers Womb. A Dead Child is
known when the motion thereof ceaseth which either the Mother did feel or the Midwife perceive by hâ—r hand laid on or other warm and strengthening things which were wont to awaken and rouse up the powers thereof when they were in a slumber or stupified Also the Mothers find a greater sense of weight with which and pain of the Belly they are troubled when they turn from one side to another they perceive the Child to roul from one side to another like a Stone The lower part of their Belly feels very cold the native heat being extinguished and those spirits dissipated which were formerly in the Child their Eyes become hollow and troubled their face and Lips are pale their extream parts appear cold and of a Leaden-colour their Duggs become slap and flaggy and at length when the Child rots stinking moistures flow from the Womb like water and blood their belly is blown up with vapours asending thereunto a filthy smell and a stinking Breath comes both out of the Mouthes of such women and from their whol bodies If the After-Birth be excluded before the Child it is a certain token that the Child is dead in the Womb. As to the Prognostick A Child dead in the Womb is a very exceeding dangerous thing and if it be not timely voided forth it is wont to cause Feavers Faintings Dead-sleeps Convulsions and death it self Yet somtimes a Child dead in the Womb may be kept a long time as appears by many stories related by divers Authors which Schenkius hath collected in great number as rare Cases and Sennertus hath transcribed out of him touching many Women which have voided the Bones of Children dead and putrefied in the womb by their Water-gate their Dung-gate and by a Swelling that broke in their Belly I have seen one Woman which voided all the bones of her child by her Navel and her Navel growing afterwards whol again she recovered her perfect health The Cute consists wholly in the Exclusion or Extraction of the Child for seeing great danger of life at ends the Mother so long as the dead Child is in her Womb as soon as ever by the foregoing signs we certainly collect the Child is dead we must make hast to force it out Which is done by the same Remedies which were formerly propounded to hasten the Birth But among them we must chuse out the most strong and effectual whereunto some other things may be added which are yet stronger after this manner Take Leaves of Savin dried round Birth-wort Roots Troches of Mirrh and Castoreum of each one dram Cinnamon half a dram Saffron a scruple Mix all into a Pouder The Dose is a dram in Savin Water Or Take Dictamnus Creticus Savin Borax of each a dram Mirrh Asarum Roots Cinnamon Saffron of each half a dram Mix and make all into a Pouder The Dose is a dram in the foresaid or such like Liquor In the mean time let the Fomentations aforesaid be applied to the Privities the Share and space between the Water and the Dung-Gate adding Briony Roots Roots of wild Cucumer Florentine Orice round Birthwort called Aristolochia rotunda and Broom-flowers After Fomentation anoint the said Parts with Vnguentum de Arthanita or with this following Take Aristolochia rotunda or round Birthwort Coloquintida and Agarick of each one dram Gum Ammoniack dissolved in Wine and Bulls Gall of each two drams With Oleum Cherinum as much as shall suffice Make all into an Oyntment Also let this Pessary be put up into the Womb Take Aristolochia rotunda Orice Root Black Hellebore Coloquintida Mirrh of each one dram Galbanum Opopanax of each half a dram With Ox Gall make all into a Pessary Or this Take Ammoniacum Opopanax Castorium Sagapenum black Hellebore wild Vine round Birthwort Pulp of Coloquintida Scammony of each one scruple Euphorbium one dram With Juyce of Rue Bindweed wild Cucumer and an Oxes Gaul make all into a Pessary Zacutus Lusitanus in Obs â—54 of the Second Book of his strange and Admirable Cures doth testisie that a dead Child in the ninth months growth producing many Symptomes in the Mother was driven out by this Pessary and by help of an Oyly Bath wherein was mixed the Decoction of such Herbs as do open and widen the Passages of the Body A Fumigation of Galbanum or an Asses Hoof may be received by a Funnel into the Womb. If the Matter hang long it will be good the woman being sufficiently strong to give her a purging Medicine whereby evil Humors which in this case are easily collected may be evacuated and the dead Child comequently cast forth Angelus Sala in his Book which he calls Triumphus Emeticorum that is the Triumph of Vomits doth witness That in this case he had often with happy success given four or five grains of Mercurius vitae which doth most powerfully expel the dead Child and excel all other Medicines in that point Which notwithstanding in regard of its vehement working requires great Caution and Discretion in the Physitian that would use it If after Medicines long tried the dead Child cannot be ejected we must implore the Chyrurgions aid Who may pull it out either by Instruments as Paulus Aegineta describes the manner or only help of the hand as is taught by Carolus Stephanus Bauthine and others all which are diligently transcribed by Schenkius and Sennertus Chap. 20. Of the After-birth retained IN a Natural Birth commonly the Secundine is excluded presently after the Child yet somtimes it is retained in the Womb by which means the Mother is in great Danger of her life The internal Causes of this retention are the over thickness of those coats and their too great compactness by which means they cling more fast to the sides of the Womb their being swelled through conâ—luence of humors which is stirred up in a laborious Travel weakness of the Mother caused by hard Labor so that she wants strength to exclude the After-Birth and the shutting up of the Mouth of the womb after the Child is come away But the external causes are the Cold Air by force whereof the Secundine is repelled and the Wombs mouth stopped Certain smells by which the Womb may be enticed upwards or agitated some greivous passion of mind as fear or suddain terror or frowardness of the Childing woman which will not abide in such a posture nor use such endeavours as are necessary to this work the over great weight of the Infant by which the Navil-string is broak unawards and the secundine is left within and the Error of an unexperienced Midwife which cuts the Navil-strings too soon or holds them not fast in her leâ—t Hand as she ought to do for if she let them go they are drawn back into the Womb and there lie hid with the After-Birth which they ought to have holpen to pull out The Tokens of a Secundine retained are needless its apparant of it self yet somtimes a bit thereof is severed from the whol and
retained which is not so easie to be known yet it may be known because the Womb after the Birth doth yet labor to cast somwhat forth although those endeavors are not so great as formerly there is perceived in the womb a sence of pain and heat and after certain daies a â—ilthy and carrion-like smel exhales from the Womb. The Retention of the Secundine is a very dangerous thing and if it continue some daies in the womb it acquires a silthy putrefaction whence ariseth an acute Feaver aptness to vomit fainting difficulty or breathing a Diaphoretick Sweat Coldness of the extream parts Hysterical Fits Fits of Falling-sickness and at last death it self Hippocrates in the Second Book of Popular Sicknesses by the example of a certain Carriers Wife doth hint unto us That it is good in this case when corrupt blood doth suddenly come from the womb in large quantities for it is hopeful that those Membranes being rotted and wasted will flow forth upon the sixth or seventh day The After-birth retained is expelled by the same Remedies which were propounded to drive out the dead Child whereunto we may add some appropriated or specifick Medicaments mentioned by Authors Gesnerus and Augenius do very much commend the stones of a gelded Horse cut in pieces and dried in an Oven The Pouder whereof is given as much as can be taken up between three fingers with the Broth of a Pullet which Medicine if need be must be twice or thrice reâ—â—erated Rulandus gave thirty drops of Oyl of Juniper with happy success Some advise the Childing Woman to hold an Onion hard between her Teeth and squeeze it there swallowing down the Juyce and she is to bite it so three or four times still sucking out the Juyce and swallowing the same and at last to drink a draught of warm Wine upon it which presently helps her Forestus makes relation of a certain Midwife which received this following Secret from a â—ewish Physitian Shee took the green Tops of Lovage she stamped them and strained out the Juyce with the best Rhenish Wine and gave a draught of it to the Patient Angelus Sala commends Mercurâ—us vitae in this Case as well as in the Expulsion of a dead Child Hereunto add Sneezings Fumigations Fomentations Liniments and other Medicines both inward and outward soâ—â—erâ—y described in the case of a dead Child The following Decoction used by a Country woman of ours hath done wonders Take Vinegar of Roses eight or ten pints Bay Leaves and Bay Berries of each three handfuls one Rose Caze cut in bits Boyl all together and let her Hips and Legs be a long time together bathed from her gâ—oyns down to her feet Vpon the use hereof the Womb hath opened of its own accord and the After-birth fallen away To this Decoction may fiâ—â—y be added of Mirrh and of the two Birthworts of each one ounce And among other helps the hand of a skilful Chyrurgion can do much being put into the womb before the Inflamation or Inflation be augmented For he laying hold of the After-births and gently turning them this way and that way may draw them out and free the woman from so many Symptomes and tiresom Medicines If the Secundine can by no means be perswaded forth but stick strongly to the womb and there putrefie suppurating things are to be put into the womb clensing things being mingled with them that as much as is putrefied may be by little and little brought forth To which intent Rondeletius commends Vnguentum Basilicum especially if it be dissolved in the following Decoction Take Leaves of Mallows with their Roots three handfuls Roots of the two Aristolochia's or Birthworts of each six drams Lin-seed and Foenugreek seed of each half an ounce Violet Leaves one handful Flowers of Chamomel and the smaller Centaury of each half a handful Boyl all in Water mixing therewith if there need great supâ—â—ration or reduction to Matter a little Oyl but if there be more need of detersion or clensing add a little Unguentum Aegyptiacum Chap. 21. Of Immoderate Flux of the Loches or Child-bed Purgations THe Immoderate Flux of Child-bed Purgations called from the Greek Loches is not to be estimated from the quantity or the time of continuance because that in divers Natures Ages and Courses of Life it is very different but from the ill-bearing of the woman and her weakness therefrom arising The Causes of this immoderate Flux are the over wide opening of the Vessels or their rending in hard Travel or the violent drawing forth of the After-birth or a more than ordinary quantity of blood which hath been collected in the Veins of the Womb during the whol course of the Womans being with Child or the thinness and sharpness of the said Blood which doth too much open the Mouthes of the Veins and provoke Nature to Excretion Immoderate flux of the Child-bed Purgations is known as hath been said from the strength of the woman which is dejected through the exhaustion of her spirits that issue with the blood also the blood is clotted and the Patient loaths all meat is pained under her short Ribs feels a distention of her Belly her Pulse is weak and frequent her sight is dimmed she hath noise in her Ears is subject to Swooning and Convulsions As all great Fluxes of Blood are dangerous because blood is the Treasure of our Life so immoderate flux of the Child-bed Purgations is more dangerous than the rest because of the Travel which goes before and weakens the Patient But the danger is more or less according to the greater or less quantity of the Blood which comes away and as the Symptomes are more light or grievous which attend the same which made Hippocrates to say in the 55. Aphorism of the fift Section If Convulsion or Swooning betides a Woman upon her Feminine Purgations it 's a shrewd sign The Cure of an Immoderate flux of Blood consists in one only Point viz. The stoppage of the said flux Yet extraordinary care is to be taken lest that be kept within which by these Purgations was wont to be carried away and so prove the cause of grievous Infirmities And therefore if the flux do not extreamly urge we must begin with lighter Medicaments proceeding by little and little if need shall require to such as are stronger And in the first place The violent Motion of the Blood is to be bridled by an incrassating of thickening Diet as by Panadaes Gellies Rice Starch with Calves-foot Broths Pears and Quinces boyled Rosted Flesh sprinkled with juyce of Pome-granates Let her have pretty plenty of Meat but not at once but divers times one after another For by this means the Heat and Spirit which in the Womb do aslist to the Expulsion are called away to the Stomach and by that means the Patients strength is restored Let her Drink be Water that hath had Iron quenched in it or Gold or in which a little Mastich hath been boyled Then such things
Bay-leaves Calaminth Carrot seed Cummin and Caraway Seeds Flowers of Cheiri and Chamomel in Water white Wine or Milk Or the following Cataplasm may be applied Take three or four Onions well boyled in Water beat them in a Morter and put thereto Seeds of Line and Cummin beaten of each one handful As much Chamomel flowers Barley Meal as much as shall suffice to make all into a Pultiss And if need be add a little of the Water wherein the Onions were boyled Spread it upon a Cloth and apply it warm to her Navel It is likewise profitable to apply the Skin of a weather newly flead off while it is warm to her Belly For this kind of warmth is very neer of kin to our Natural heat concocts and mitigates the cause of the pain also it hinders the Skin of the Belly from gathering into wrinkles These following Medicines may be given inwardly Take Carrot Seeds poudered one dram white Wine three ounces Mix them Give it warm twice a day Or Take Nutmeg Annis seed Cinnamon of each one scruple mix them into a Pouder to be taken in white Wine or give one scruple of Oyl of Nutmegs in Broth. Or Take Date and Peach Kernels of each half a dram Nutmegs four scruples Pouder of Diamargaritum Calidum two drams Annis seed one dram Cinnamon two scruples Saffron ten grains Sugar the weight of all the rest Make all into a most fine Pouder whereof give two drams in Wine twice or thrice a day if the pains are much Forestus gave a Decoction of Chamomel flowers in Beer or a Decoction of Mugwort and Chamomel in Puller Broth with good â—ucceâ—s It 's good presently after the is brought to bed to give her the Broth of an old Cock three daies together earâ—y in a morning while she is fasting with a little Cinnamon and Saffron The following Pouder taked presently after the delivery of a woman doth wonderfully preserve her from Gripings insomuch that it is thought If it be given a woman after her first Childing she wil never after in her following Lyings-In be troubled with these Gripes Take the greater Comfry Root dried one dram Peach Kernels and Nutmeg of each two scruples Amber half a dram Amber-greece half a scruple Make all into a Pouder of which let her take one dram in white Wine or if she be Feaverish in Broth. For her ordinary Drink let her use a Decoction of Mugwort with Cinnamon If the Gripings be caused by Chollerick and sharp humors they are cured much after the same manner that the Chollick is cured when it proceeds from Choller As for Example Take Syrup of Vioâ—â—ts and Borrage of each one ounce Mucilage of Quince seeds drawn out with Violet Water half an ounce Water of Borrage and Scorzonera of each three ounces Mix all make thereof a Julep for two Doses Or Take Oyl of sweet Almonds two ounces Syrup of Violets an ounce Borrage Water half an ounce Mix all for a draught External Medicines must likewise be used such as are laxative and emollient which do likewise by one and the same labor ease pain Oftentimes after they are brought to bed women are pained in their Groyn by reason of their wombs being gathered together like a ball in their Groyn It is cured by applying to their Navel a Plaister of Galbanum and Anafoetida in the midst whereof some grains of Musk must be put Chap. 24. Of Acute Diseases of Women in Child-bed WHat we said before touching the Acute Diseases of women with Child we may now repeat touching the Acute Diseases of women in Child-bed viz. That they have the same Essence and the same Signs with the like Diseases in women which are not with Child and in men So that we shal refer the Reader for the Theory of these Diseases to their proper Chapters Now these Acute Diseases are for the most part continual Feavers both Essential as Synchus putrida a continual Tertian and the rest and also Symptomatical which accompany inward Inflamations as the Pleurisie Inflamation of the Lungs Inflamation of the Liver Phrenzy and such like Yet there is a peculiar sort of Feaver which besals almost al women in Child-bed which is called by them the Feaver of their Milk which is wont to befal them about the third or fourth day after they are brought to bed when their Milk begins to encrease in their Breasts and it ariseth from the reflux of the blood from the womb to the Dugs and the motion and agitation thereof Which kind of Feaver is reckoned among the Diary Feavers of the longest durance neither needs it any Medicines because within three or four daies viz. about the ninth after her delivery it is finished by sweat It is distinguished from putrid Feavers because commonly it seizes the woman about the fourth day after her being delivered and her Dugs begin to be filled with Milk and to be troubled with hardness pain and heat with heat and heaviness in her Back and Shoulders also her Child-bed Purgations slow duly which seldom is seen in putrid Feavers Now putrid Feavers do befal women in Child-bed from three causes viz. Suppression of their Child-bed Purgations or diminishing by the heaping together of bad Humors during the time of their Belly-bearing which were agitated by her Labors or by Errors in their Diet. Some add immoderate flux of the Child-bed Purga ions which is rather a sign of the secret badness of Humors causing the Feaver but cannot be it self any cause thereof In suppression of the Child-bed Purgations the blood and vitious humors which are collected during the whol time of her going with child do flow back again into the greater Veins and there putrefie and somtimes are câ—rrâ—ed to the Liver Spleen and other parts in which they raise Inflamations or if they abide in the Veins of the womb they putrefie and so cause a Feaver in those women which were before in perfect health But if the Child-bed Purgations duly flowing a feaver arise it comes either from superfluity of Choller or from errors in Diet. Evil Humors agitated by the Labors and Pains of Travel do easily inflame and putrefie and stir up a feaver Errors of Diet may happen divers waies And first in point of eating in which women that he In are wont to be very faulty stopping themselves with plenty and variety of Dishes which cannot be by them digested but causeth putrefaction in their Bodies Another error is committed when Childing women do unadvisedly expose themselves unto the cold Air especially while their Milk-feaver is in its vigor which is wont to be terminated by sweating and transpiration which is hindered by heedless admission of the cold Air whence it comes to pass that the Feaver which of it self was void of danger and would in a few daies have ceased is changed into a dangerous putrid Feaver There is yet another frequent Cause of the Feavers of Childing Women viz. When the After-births are not wholly cast forth but some
a miracle presently If the Child suck look that the Nurses Milk be good let her have meat of good juyce and light of digestion Let her drink no Wine but Water or Water and Honey and a smal drink made of Sarsaparilla Some Children are so subject to this Disease that it will return again after it is once cured Nay in some Families al the Children use to die of this Disease Therefore you must use preventing Medicines not only to those which are newly born but to those also which have recovered First therefore give to Children newly born before they suck give one scruple of the Pouder de gutteta mentioned before in a little milk and give the same quantity thrice in two daies It is good both for them which have been cured and children when they are a few daies old to apply a Caustick to their Necks But an actual Cautery is much better which our Physitians wil not use because they abhor violent and terrible Medicines Rondeletius affirms that the Actual Cautery is so used in Florence that the women do use to apply it themselves And this doth Aquapendens witness in his Chyrurgery Operations and teacheth the way of applying them in his proper Chapter of the burning of the hinder part of the head in children Let the Child be purged twice in a month with Manna Syrup of Roses or of Cichory with Rhubarb Every new Moon give it a dose of the Epileptick Pouder de gurteta above mentioned Make a Bag to strengthen the head and a Fume for the Head-cloaths as in the cure of cold Diseases of the head and also pouder its hair with the pouder before mentioned For the Cure of this Disease this is a good Preservative Take of Spirit of Wine four ounces Spirit of Castor one ounce Peony Roots three ounces Let them be infused and strained Wash the whol body of the child with it warmed CHAP. IX Of Giddiness called Vertigo Avertigo is a false Imagination in which all objects and the head it self seem to turn round so as the Patient often falls to the ground unless he lay hold on some stay at hand It may be objected That in a Vertigo the Imagination is not hurt for if it were so the Patients would think the objects truly turned round as men in Madness and Phrenzy do think what they imagine to be truly so We answer That in a Vertigo the Reason is not hurt which perceiveth the error of the Imagination but in a Phrenzy or Melancholly the Reason is hurt as wel as the Imagination There are two sorts of Vertigoes the one simple called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which the Sight remains unhurt the other is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a dark Vertigo in which the Eyes are both darkned as it were with smoak or a cloud In both kinds the Sight is somwhat hurt because the Spirits which use to go directly to the Eyes are moved out of order by the visive Nerve by reason whereof the Eye doth not so sitly enjoy them But in a dark Vertigo there is a more violent Motion of the Spirits so that they come less to the Eyes from whence the sight is darkned or hindred The immediate Cause of a Vertigo is the circumvolution of the Spirits coming of a vaporous matter or wind which coming into the Ventricles of the Brain and Plexus Choroides disturbs the Spirits and makes them run round whence the species of the Objects brought by those spirits are moved in like manner and so the objects themselves seem to be moved also the same way But here we may doubt since a Vertigo is a symptom of a hurt action and every action hurt depends immediatly upon a Disease how the Circumvolution of the Spirits can be the immediate cause of a Vertigo when it can be referred to no kind of Disease To which we thus answer A Circumvolution of the Spirits is a Disease in respect of Scituation for at that time the Spirits do not keep that place or position which they Naturally ought but move preternaturally and amiss And this Answer hath a weighty instance For a Disease is an affection of a true part but spirits are not true parts We answer That Axiome is not alwaies but sometimes true according to Galen that which is principal and hinders the action of its self is the true Disease We say that the word Part ought to be taken in a larger sense comprehending all those things which go to the making up of the Body and whatsoever hinders the action of any part is called a Disease So a yellow color in the Eye hurts the sight immediately and therefore it is called a Disease in number so a better savor in the tongue and noise in the Ears are Diseases in number in regard there is something in those parts besides which offendeth the actions After the same manner is the Circumvolution of the Spirits a Disease in Scituation or Position for the Reason above mentioned But those Vapors are sent up from evil humors not continually without intermission but by compass and going about and at a distance namely as often as they are raised up by an external cause and the humors are such as use to produce vapors namely Blood Choller Flegm and Melancholly and the watery Humor because both a cold as well as a hot vapor may cause a Vertigo as Galen 3. de loc affect chap. 8. and Comment Aphor. 23. Sect. 3. These evil humors are either contained in the Brain or in the inferior parts Hence a two-fold Vertigo ariseth one Proper the other by Consent Waterish and flegmy humors heaped up in the Brain send wind and vapors to its ventricles which stirring about there do cause a Vertigo And so a proper Vertigo comes to be a forerunner of an Epilepsy or Apoplexy But Humors contained in the inferior parts especially the stomach and the spleen do easily send up Vapors to the head which if they touch the Ventricles and the Arteries cause a Vertigo The external Causes are all such things as will quickly dissolve the Humors and turn them to Vapors or make an inordinate motion in those Vapors Among which are reckoned by Hippocrates Aphor. 17. Sect. 3. a South wind and sudden change of Air. To these ad the heat of the Sun windy Meats Garlick Mustard Radish Pease and Beans Drunkenness Gluttony immoderare Exercise and unseasonable the suppression of a wonted evacuation Anger Baths Hunger especially in those which are ful of bitter Choller often turning of the Body round long looking upon Wheels and things that run round and of Waters that run swift looking down from a high place a Fall a stroak upon the Head a Fracture or depression of the Skull compressing and lying upon the Brain We shall lay down no Diagnosis or general signs to know this Disease by because it is of it self manifest Yet in particular we shal declare those signs which
or from some peculiar part as the Stomach Liver Spleen or Mother But we may know what part is affected when a pain is communicated to the head by its proper signs A pricking pain comes from a sharp chollerick humor or vapor which toucheth the Membranes of the Brain A heavy pain comes from much thick and cold matter namely flegm or melancholly compressing the sensible parts An extending pain comes from wind or mild humors which work themselves into the Membranes and distend them A beating or pulsative pain comes of thin chollerick blood or spirits abounding by which the Arteries being stretched and swoln do beat more vehehemently and shake the Membranes and so striking the adjoyning parts cause in them a sence of Pulsation as Galen teacheth more at large 2. de loc aff c. 3. From what is said the chief causes of a Headach are sufficiently declared which in general are referred to the solution of continuity as to the immediate cause For whatsoever doth bring a manifest or hidden solution of continuity is like to bring a headach The signs of the kinds of Head-ach and of the causes that produce them may be learned from what is said and therefore we come to the Prognosticks An external headach is alwaies less dangerous and easier cured than an internal A Headach in a sharp Feaver with thin and white urine is dangerous for it signifies the chollerick matter is sent into the Brain whence there is fear of a Phrenzy A strong pain of the Head suddenly seizing without evacuation following or mitigation of the disease is deadly for it signifies the destruction of the animal faculty which no more feeleth that object which caused the grief In a great Headach it is evil to have the outward parts cold for by the vehemency of the pain there is a strong attraction of heat to the part affected which wil cause inflamation They that recover of a disease in the inferior parts and have after a vehement Headach if a manifest evacuation went not before will have an imposthume in their Brain for it signifies a translation of the matter which caused the disease into the Brain They who vomit green in a headach and are deaf being awake are suddenly very mad 1. Porrh for it signifieth a collection of choller into the Brain which maketh the Stomach consent therewith and suffer Headach and noise in the Ears without a Feaver or a giddiness or deafness or numbness of the hands signifieth an Apoplexy or Epilepsie to be at hand Hipp. in Coacis For those symptomes come from abundance of thick flegm in the Brain To women with child sleepy and heavy headaches are evil 1. Porrh for they signifie the flux of humors to the head which when they are many in women with child by reason they have not their courses do threaten danger A Headach which was not from the beginning of the Disease but rose from the disturbance of the body shews that there will be a crisis by bleeding at the nose or by vomit Since then the pain of the head cometh either of a cold or hot cause we must direct the Cure for the taking away of both For the Cure of a cold Head-ach the flegmy matter is first to be evacuated being prepared as is shewed in the â—hapter afore going Then we must correct the cold distemper of the Brain and the reliques of the humor are to be discussed with Bags mentioned in the former Chapter or in the Chapter of the cold distemper of the Brain With which being warmed let the head being shaven be rubbed for an hour and an half every morning till the cause of the pain be spent and exhausted After the head is well rubbed sprinkle upon it this following Pouder having upon it Cotton or Wool Take of Nutmegs Cloves Pepper Pellitory of each half an ounce the Leaves of Sage Bay-berries of each two drams Mustard seed and Water-cress seeds bruised of each six drams Make a pouder of these sprinkle it upon the Head as aforesaid and comb it in the morning before the use of the little Bags that the pouder laid on the day before may be taken off Errhinâ—s are also proâ—itable Neesings and Apophlegmatisms or things to chew which were described formerly A Magistral Syrup also made as followeth is very profitable Take of Guajacum wood and Roots of China sliced of each one ounce and an half Infuse them twelve hours in four pints of spring Water Boyl them till half be consumed adding in the end the Leaves of Vervain one handful the flowers of French Lavender and Marjoram of each a smal handful dissolve in it being strained half a pound of white Sugar Boyl it up to a Syrup but before it be perfectly boyled cast in two ounces of Senna tyed in a clout the best Agrick two ounces Rhubarb three ounces let him take two or three ounces once a week These Pills also following are very good which in times past were of great esteem in Italy in the daies of Eustachius Rudius chief Professor in the University of Padua who was reported to be the Inventor of them and accounted them a great Secret and therefore gave them to one Apothecary only to be made by him lest others should know the Receipt which indeed he borrowed out of Wickerus who propoundeth it from Andernacus and it is thus Take of Coloquintida six drams Agarick trochiscated Diagridium black Hellebore and Turbith of each half an ounce Aloes one ounce Diarrhodon Abbatis half an ounce Let the purging things be bruised and beaten together and put in a glass with the spirit of Wine so much as is sufficient and let them be digested for eight daies in a warm place and then ad the pouder of Diarrhodon and infuse them four daies longer then strain them and press them and let the Liquor so pressed forth be distilled in Balneo so long till the extract in the bottom of the Alembick grow so thick that it may make Pills the dose whereof is one scruple But the following Pills are ascribed to Fernelius of which he affirmed he found by experience such excellency that he never met with a Cephalalgia or Hemicrania that is half Headach but he cured it Take of the best Aloes half an ounce the Pouder of the Electuary of Pearls the three Sanders and red Roses of each three grains With Syrup of Wormwood and Violets make a Mass Give a dram thereof twice in a week one hour or two before Supper And finally in a stubborn pain that is old all those Medicines are convenient which were before mentioned in the Cure of the cold distemper of the Brain among which Epispasticks or blisterdrawing Plaisters are not the meanest Which also not prevailing some are so bold as to apply Vigo's Emplaister with Mercury which they say hath cured old headaches somtimes by causing them to spit much Baths of Brimstone and Bitumen are very efficacious in this case used both to the Head and the
of the Eyes such as are prescribed in Gutta serena to which you may ad a washing of the Eyes which must be done every day thus In the morning first chew sweet Fennel seeds some space of time then fill the mouth with Wine and after it is warm in the mouth wash the Eyes therewith till they begin to smart which wil cease when you leave washing Moreover Spectacles are very good to preserve sight which do make the Objects neither bigger nor less than they naturally are And it is profitable to refresh the sight with green or sky coloured Spectales And Lastly You must avoid al things which hurt the sight and use those things which help it as is declared in the Diet for the Cure of Gutta serena CHAP. V. Of the Enlarging or Dilatation of the Pupilla THe Tunicle called Vvea out of Galen 1. de sympt caus cap. 2. is obnoxious to divers diseases and especially to Ruption Distortion Dilatation and Constriction A Ruption may come both of an external Cause as stroak or contusion and of an inward when much humor distendeth and breaketh the Tunicle But this being incurable concerneth not us A Distortion of the Vvea cannot be but in the first constitution of it because it adhaereth to the Cornea Therefore Galen in the place quoted doth only reckon it among the different symptomes of the Vvea and doth not stand to explain it because it is of no concernment in the practice of Physick We therefore omitting the first two differences wil only insist upon the explaining of the Dilatation and constriction of the Pupilla The Dilatation of the Pupilla which is a hole in the Uvea Tunicle by which the Species of Objects pass into the Eye is called in Greek Mydryasis this hurts the sight because too much light goeth into the Eye hence it is that they which have this disease see better in a darkish place than in a light Which appears by Natural and ordinary change in the Pupilla in bright and obscure places for when the Sight is exercised in a cleer light place the Pupilla is contracted that the light may go less into the Eye and not hurt it with too much by dissipating and dispersing the Spirits and hence it is that they which go out of a very light place into a dark see almost nothing at their first entry because the Pupilla being formerly contracted doth not in an obscure place receive light enough to make a perfect Sight After when they have continued a while in an obscure place the Pupilla is by degrees dilated to receive more light for the cleering of Sight and then those things which at first entrance were not seen are cleerly perceived On the contrary they which go out of a dark into a very light place cannot at first endure the light and their Eyes are much dazled because the Pupilla being much dilated before in the dark place for to get light enough into the Eye when it comes suddenly thus enlarged into a great light too much light gets into the Eye and so makes it dazle and disturbs the Sight Whence it appears that light necessary to sight ought to pass into the Eye in a moderate quantity and for the receiving thereof it is necessary that the Pupilla be moderately large Now the Preternatural Dilation of the Pupilla is either in the first original which is not to be tampered with or comes of Preternatural causes which are internal or external The nearest and immediate of the internal causes is the stretching of the Vvea which comes either of driness or repletion Driness doth stretch the Vvea and makes the form of the Pupilla larger as when leather pierced through when it is dried hath the hole larger And this dry distemper comes from long watching Feavers and other drying causes The repletion of the Vvea when it distendeth it on every side makes the Pupilla larger and this is produced either of vapors and wind sent into the Eye or of humors flowing thither or from the extraordinary encrease of the watery humor of the Eye or lastly from the swelling of the Tunicle Uvea it self To these Causes we may ad the Convulsion of the Uvea which appeareth chiefly in Epileptical fits for then all the Nervous and Membranous parts are distended and so is also the Uvea and this appears chiefly most manifest in Epileptick Children in whom the dilation of the Pupilla is so great that it is over all the Circle called Iris and therefore the sight is abolished The internal Causes are a stroak or a fall or a retention of the Spirits as in Women in Child-birth and Trumpeters A stroak or fall make a defluxion to the Eyes hence comes extending of the Pupilla retention of Spirits makes wind and humors from whence comes distention The knowledg of this Disease is not difficult because it may be seen with your Eyes especially if the Physitian knew before it became infirm how large naturally the Pupilla was as also if there be a hinderance of the sight by reason of the over largeness of it Moreover The natural largeness of the Pupilla is known by this If when you shut one Eye the Pupilla of the other is larger which will not be in a Preternatural dilatation because then the Uvea cannot be further extended Lastly If this dilâ—aation of the Pupilla be only in one Eye it is Preternatural and signifieth one Eye only is affected As to the Prognostick The Dilatation of the Pupilla from the original so is incurable but that which cometh after is hardly cured especially that which comes of driness but that which comes of other â—inuance is curable because yong diseases of the Eyes according to Galens Doctrine may be cured out old may not but with very much difficulty be cured The Cure is to be varied according to the variety of the Cause and if it come from driness which can scarce come from an internal cause but also the whol Body must be so afflicted therefore we must refresh the whol body with moist Remedies and nourishments and such as are restaurative such we use in Hectick Feavers but more peculiarly the Body is to be moistened with a bath of warm water and new milk which also must be often put into the Eyes especially womans Milk If it comes from a humor which filleth the Eye because it floweth from the Head you must purge the Head and the whol Body also and then you must discuss the humor that is fixed in the Eye Which when they may be sufficiently performed by the Remedies propounded for the cure of a Cataract or Suffusion we shall not in vain repeat them here but send you to the asoresaid Trearite for them where you shall find all things necessary for the discussing and dissipating humors contained in the Eyes Yet you may after use some astringents which may make the Pupilla which is too much enlarged more narrow for this end you may
still the pain and weight in the side is most dangerous For it signifieth a very crude disease which will either shortly kill or be long in cure If the spitting begin with the first or within three daies it signifieth the disease will be short but if it begin late it will be long Hipp. Aph. 1. Sect. 5. Yellow Choller mixed with flegm or a little blood appearing in the beginning of the disease with much spittle is a sign of recovery Very bloody spittle is dangerous for it signifieth a ruption either of a Vein or of the flesh from whence we expect suppuration For it is thought that little blood doth breath through White glutinating and round spittle is evil for the clamminess comes from the siery heat which burneâ—h the matter Green and rustick spittle is evil but black worst of all For it signifies the greatest adustion or extinction of the Natural heat A plentiful spitting which doth not abate the pain and other symptomes is evil For it signifieth great plenty of matter A Pleurisie in old men women with child and in them that are Asthmatical or have twice or thrice had the same disease is dangerous Whosoever hath the disease in the side called Pleurisie and are not clensed of it in fourteen daies have an Empyema or collection of matter Aph. 8. Sect. 5. Others do extend it to the twentieth day A Diarrhoea or loosness coming upon a Pleurisie or Peripneumonia is evil Aph 16. Sect. 6. which we must understand of a Pleurisie in which there is so great an inflamation that the Liver and Stomach consent therewith or when the strength is so gone by the disease that the retentive faculty is almost spent But if the Pleurisie be not so great and be in a body full of evil humors the flux of the belly useth then to be healthful especially if any signs of concoction went before A Chollerick and plentiful vomiting in the beginning of a Pleurisie signifieth health to come For Nature being eased by that evacuation of Choller doth more easily overcome the disease If a Peripneumonia comes from a Pleurisie 't is evil Aph. 11. Sect. 7. For it is the translation of the matter to a more noble part If the pain in the Pleurisie and the Chollerick spitting go away without reason the Patient falls mad Hipp. 3. Prorrhet For the Choller is carried into the Head and then the urine looks thin and white A Pleurisie which followeth an old disease or is in a body of evil habit is dangerous Thick bodies used to exercise do soonest die of Pleurisies and Peripneumonia's as Hipp. in Coac And Experience teacheth us that almost all the Diggers taken with Pleurisies do die thereof Because such strong bodies fall not sick but upon some great cause and by reason of their thickness they cannot easily sweat so that the disease cannot breath forth They who in a Pleurisie have much noise in their Breast from the spittle and their countenance dejected with yellowness in their Eyes and mists in these death is to be expected Hipp. in Coac They who in Pleurisies have Chollerick tongues at the first are judged in seven daies but they who have not much Choller upon their tongue til the third or fourth day are judged about the ninth day For the Cure of a Pleuresie first the humor causing it is to be revelled derived and discussed and if it cannot wholly be discussed it must be digested maturated and expectorated as also the Feaver which is commonly essential to a Pleurisie and not alwaies symptomatical is to be cured by proper Medicines All which may be done by the following Remedies And first you must after a Clyster if the disease be not very violent open the Basilica on the same â—â—de but if it be violent give the Clyster afterwards You must bleed every day till the pain or feaver grow less nay somtimes twice in a day if the Pleuresie be very violent Hippocrates in his 2. lib. deratione victus in acutis Text. 10. gave an excellent rule to posterity most profitable in practice That blood be let till the color of it change For if at the first or second time â—t appear crude flegmy or watery it is to be continued every day somtimes twice a day till it appear red or yellowish But if it appear red in the beginning you must bleed so often till it become livid or black for that will signifie that the last blood came from the part affected or the neighbor Veins which is altered by the part inflamed and of crude is made red or of red black or blew by adustion Although the observation of that Rule bring commonly good success yet somtimes you must not expect that change of color but desist from bleeding namely when the strength is little or the Patient is of a thin habit of body easily dissolved or the weather very hot And although blood-letting is excellent in the beginning of the Disease yet if it be omitted or done insufficiently you may open a Vein after the seventh ninth or eleventh day according to the Example of Hippocrates who in 3. Epidem opened a vein for Anaxion in the eighth day either because he was not sent for sooner or because that it was a most crude Pleurisie which will scarce concoct till the eleventh day But when he expectorateth freely then you must abstain from Phlebotomy which will stop his spitting and bring him in danger of his life But blood-letting is so necessary in the beginning of this Disease that it must never be omitted neither in old nor yong nor women with child in child-bed or having their terms unto all which Experience hath taught us that Phlebotomy is good in this Disease Yet you must observe some Rules in bleeding of women in Child-bed or having their Terms which you may find hereafter in the Fifteenth Book and the last Chapter concerning the Cure of acute Diseases in women that lie inn From the beginning of the disease twice or thrice in a day you must give cooling Juleps which restrain the heat and boyling of the humor and stop the defluxion thus made Take of Poppy Water four ounces Syrup of Violets or Poppies one ounce Sal prunella one dram Make a Julep After the first Phlebotomy let the side be anointed with this Liniment covering the part with greazy wool sewed into a linnen cloth Take of Oyl of Lillies Chamomel and sweet Almonds of each one ounce fresh Butter and Hens grease of each one ounce and an half Make a Liniment Many put Wax to these Liniments which is not good because it stoppeth the pores but the mucilaginous bodies do not because they cool and astringe In a malignant pestilential Pleurisie you may ad to your Liniments Oyl of Scorpions of Mathiolus or a little Treacle After the second bleeding you must apply this Fomenâ—ation made thus Take of Althaea roots and Lillies of each two ounces the Leaves of Mallows Violets and Pellitory of each one handful
Blood is when Nutrition is hindered there is a corruption of both when their qualities are changed So when the Air is infected in time of Pestilence it begets Leipothymia and Syncope as also stinking vapors and sweet also do the same with some Women and the blood is corrupted from evil meats Too great Evacuations whether sensible or insensible do disperse the Spirits The sensible are chiefly of Blood from the Mouth Nose Womb Belly Hemorrhoids Phlebotomy and great Wounds and next of other Humors which though they are Excrementitious yet because of their great Evacuation the Spirits are much dispersed and cause a Syncope These Humors are discharged by Vomit Stool Urine Sweat the opening of a great Imposthume especially if it be inward as an Empyema or outward as in a Dropsie when the Navil is tapped The insensible Evacuations are by the Rarifaction of the Skin and by the acrimony and thinness of the Humors immoderate heat hot Baths or Houses great Labors Also long watchings and fasting Lechery great anger and joy long and violent sickness do dissipate the Spirits as also great pain of the Heart Stomach Guts Reins Ears Teeth and of all Nervous parts An evil disposition of the Bowels doth alter and corrupt the Spirits and whatsoever doth procure a malignant quality which is adverse to the Heart as Air Stinks venemous and pestilential taken in by the Breath or bred in the Body from putrifaction of Humors as also poyson taken in or applied outward or sent to the Heart by biting of venemous Creatures Lastly The vehement returning of blood and Spirits to the Heart and an abundance of evil vapors gathered about the Heart and the parts adjacent and too much cold and thick blood gathered about the Heart and its Veins Arteries and parts adjacent do suffocate and destroy the Spirits We lately saw a Noble Lady a Virgin which from her Infancy was subject to this Disease that with every light passion of the mind she was taken therwith taken with a violent Syncope which ushered death in by a sudden return of blood and Spirits to her heart for when she should have been married to a fine yong man which loved her deerly and her Parents Friends and Kindred were solemnly met about it they gave her a Pen to write her hand to the Contract but she having not fully written her name fel down dead upon the ground Hence we easily conjecture that there was a great and sudden retraction of the Blood and Spirits to the Heart by a vehement passion of the mind which choaked the Natural heat and the Spirits therein of which she died suddenly Petrus Salius Diversus saw as he reporteth Lib. de aff part cap. 4. a Girle of fourteen years old fal into a Syncope from abundance of cold and thick blood garhered about her heart and the great vessels for having for a whol day a heaviness of head with giddiness and disturbance she died the next day after suddenly After being opened the blood appeared so congealed in the great Artay and Vena Cava or hollow Vein that taking it by the end you might draw it out like a Sword from a Scabbard Wherefore we judged That the sudden death came from the interception and stopping of the Veins by congealed blood This happeneth seldom for you shal seldom see blood in dead bodies so congealed for the veins have such a property to retain blood that even after death they keep it thin though without them it growth alwayes thick But Salius gives the Reason of this Congealation by comparing it with blood without the Vessels which as soon as it is cold is congealed and the sooner from the coldness thickness and slyminess of the Melanchollick or Phlegmatick humor therein contained Somthing like to this may be-sal blood constrained in the veins which abounding with vicious juyce thick and cold doth â—o sill the greater Veins that it stops the spirits and so extinguisheth them and then the blood grows cold and thick from those humors which otherwise would have been thin The Spagiricks refer this to a congealing Spirit made of a peculiar and extraordinary mixture of Humors which since it seldom happeneth the Disease is very rare And truly a simple Refrigeration cannot cause that concretion for then in dead bodies especially in winter the blood would alwayes be thick in the Veins but we find it alwaies thin but we may suppose that this Congealing Spirit is like that which causeth a Catalepsis or Congealation which makes the parts inflexible The Chymists do acknowledge such kind of Congealing Spirits to be in many Creatures Vegetables and Minerals such as are reported to be raised out of the Earth in some Histories of Men and Beasts who have been Congealed by filthy vapors coming from Earth-quakes or Dens so that their bodies became presently stiffe And Cardanus saith That such spirits are in Thunder-bolts in his History of the Eight Mowers who Supping under an Oak were struck stiffe and remained as at first the one seeming to Eat the other to reach the Pot and the other to Drink The Signs to this Disease by either are from the Subject which is more capable to receive it or from the Fit either coming or present or from the Causes that produce it The Subjects which are most fit to receive a Syncope are men who by some Natural Debility or Weakness from some Disease become faint-hearted Women rather than Men especially in their Terms or with Child As also they who have fine Constitutions subject to the Jaundice Spleen or Melancholly These things signifie that a Syncope is coming to them who are subject to it Anxiety and sudden disturbance of mind heaviness in the head giddiness an apprehension of divers colours green and yellow a sudden and often change of the colour in the face and of the beating of the Pulse When Leipothymy is present the same signs are but greater and there is often a cold sweat as also the sick complain of their faintness But these signs shew a Syncope A sudden failing of al strength a slow pulse low and at length stopping a pale and blewish face coldness of al the body especially externally a cold sweat especially in the temples neck and breast from whence the Disease is named The signs of the Causes are commonly manifest for Feavers malignant acute syncopal or fainting cause a proper Syncope or Swoonding are easily known As also those external Causes which make a sudden Syncope may be plainly seen As Anger extraordinary and Joy a sudden Fright stinking smels great bleeding and other large evacuations long watchings and fasting much lechery and grievous pain These things do signifie that the Humors and the Body are thin a sharp nose hollow eyes temples fallen and the gnawing of the mouth of the stomach trouble of mind pricking heat and great pain do shew abundance of Choller When there is abundance of crude Humors you may know by the enlarging of the body swelling about
hapneth a Critical Diarrhoea without a Disease in some bodies which use to lay up evil Humors and being strong do throw them forth at times when they abound and burden nature as Galen taught 7. meth Cap. 11. of which Flux Celsus maketh mention lib. 4. cap. 19. in these words It is healthful for to go often to the Stool in one day and in many dayes together if there be a Feaver and if it cease before the seventh day for the Body is purged and that which inwardly would have hurt is now sent forth Among Critical Fluxes the Serous is one which comes without a Disease aforegoing in them who have much Water in their Veins and that chiefly in the Harvest time or Autumne namely when the night and morning cold of Autumne finding the passages external and pores of the skin open by reason of the heat of Summer aforegoing doth therefore insinuate it self deeper into the body pressing forth internally the Serous Humors contained in the Veins which Nature afterwards being over-burdened with sends by the Meseraick Veins into the Intestines and many times into the Uriters Hence it is that many in the beginning of Autumne and in the first cold weather do make abundance of Urine for many dayes together But if a Diarrhoea be Symptomatical it troubles the patient much and weakeneth him and the Disease upon which it comes is encreased or at least is in the same state This Symptomatical Flux in burning Feavers and Malignant is often melting and hence it is known because the Excrements appear unctious and the body forthwith becomes lean and consumed and almost in a Marasmus If the Diarrhoea comes from the Brain the Stools are frothy as Hippocrates taught Aphor. 30. Sect. 7. which is not alwaies so For Flegm may flow from the brain without Wind which is the only cause of froth as also Wind may be mixed with Humors that are bred or contained in the stomach or intestines from whence the Excrements may be frothy though they come not from the Head Therefore we must joyn other Signs to this namely If the Brain have any manifest Disease as a Catarrh Deafness Lethargy Apoplexy or great Heaviness Pain or Sleepiness and if the Flux be more at night than day If it come from the fault of the Stomach there wil be the Signs of the Concoction of the Stomach Hurt As if the Food be corrupted and have a sharp and stinking quality by which the Expulsive Faculty is stirred up to expel them Also there wil then be the Signs of a Hot Distemper of the Stomach So if the Stools be Crude and Flegmatick and if Concoction be slow and diminished we argue that the Concoction of the Stomach is hurt by a cold Distemper and lastly we know that the fault is in the Stomach if the Patient did before fill himself with evil Food which would easily corrupt The Flux of the Belly comes from the Guts when they are ful of Worms and then there wil be signs of Worms which you may take from their proper Chapters If from the Liver The Stools wil be Chollerick because Choller is bred there and there wil be Signs of a Hot Distemper Inflamation Obstruction and other Diseases of the Liver If from the Spleen The Stools wil be commonly black or blackish a distention in the left Hypochondrion a heaviness also or pain there and other signs of the Spleen Distempered wil appear If from the Mesentery There wil be extension stretching or pain in that part But Humors gathered in the Mesentery come commonly from the Liver and Spleen If from the Womb There wil be stoppage of the Courses or the Symptomes of the Womb affected which use to be more violent and the Flux also at that time when the Terms ought to flow The Prognostick of a Diarrhoea is made thus A Flux of the Belly which is easily endured and in which the Patient finds refreshment is good On the contrary that which is painful and weakneth is evil The first is to be accounted Critical the last Symptomatical When the Liquid Excrements grow thicker it is good For it signifieth That the Faculty Worketh well by Concocting of evil Humors which is done by making them thick Thin Excrements with pain often voided are evil for they signifie great sharpness of Humors which do violently pul stimulate prick and gnaw the Guts Liquid Stools without Feeling when they are voided are evil For they either signifie Disturbance of Mind or Doting or Dissolution of the Natural Heat which is followed by the loss of Sense Liquid Stools beginning with an acute Disease and continuing with the same is evil for it signifies great plenty of Matter or an evil quality therein which forceth Nature to so sudden a flux If a strong Diarrhoea comes upon him who hath the Leucophlegmatia it causeth recovery Hipp. Aph. 29. Sect. 7. For there is an Evacuation of the Matter which was in the whol Body But this wants a limitation The Aphorism is true if this flux happen in the beginning of a Disease while the strength is good otherwise it doth not take away the disease but the Patient If a Woman with Child have a flux of the Belly she is in danger to miscarry Hipp. Aph. 34. Sect. 5. For the food which should nourish the Infant is for the most part carried away and the strength is abated as also the Ligaments of the Womb are relaxed by a continual flux of Humors thither as also the Child and the Womb are infected by the vapor of those excrements which are continually voided Yellow Stools like Yolks of Eggs green like Verdegreece livid black of divers colors or very stinking are evil For the reason which we gave in the Chapter of Vomiting As to the Cure Since a Symptomatical Diarrhoea comes commonly from corrupt Humors Chollerick Flegmatick Melanchollick or Serous and especially from Chollerick which provoke the expulsive faculty of the Intestines by their sharpness You must begin the Cure by Evacuation of the Humor offending which must be done by a Medicine which doth astringe by purging lest that flux should be encreased by motion of the Humors and you may make it thus Take of the best Rhubarb one dram Citrine Myrobalans half a dram Yellow Sanders half a scruple Infuse them in Plantane Water dissolve in the Liquor strained half a dram the pouder of Rhubarb and one ounce of Syrup of Roses Make a Potion You may ad Diacatholicon or other Medicines according to the condition of the Humor to be purged Also Vomiting is somtimes good because it Revelleth and Evacuateth the Matter of the Disease If there be signs of blood abounding and strength you must first let blood And if there be a Feaver you must open a Vein though there appear no Plethory or fulness Before and after Purging give clensing Clysters such as these Take of whol Barley two pugils Bran and red Roses of each one pugil Liquoris scraped and Raisons whol of
4. Cap. 19. saith that a Tenesmus is easily cured and that of it self it never kils any yet Galen 5. de usu partium cap. 4. reckons it among the chiefest Diseases of the Belly and truly it may very wel be accounted grievous in respect of its troublesomness and long continuance yet it is not dangerous except it come of Melancholly for then it tends to a Cancer ulcerated besides it brings great inconveniences as Miscarriage or Abortion to Women So Hipp. Aph. 27. Sect. 7. saith If a Woman with Child have a Tenesmus she wil miscarry For the continual straining at stool doth much disturb the Womb which is so neer to the straight Gut Besides the same Muscles which serve to throw out the Excrements are imployed for delivery therefore when they daily compress the lower Belly they cause Abortion Lastly the Ulcers of the Rectum Intestinum being neer the Anus or Fundament if they contitue long turn to an incurable Fistula The Cure of a Tenesmus little differs from the Cure of a Dysentery And therefore first the sharp Humors that come from the Liver and other parts are to be purged with Medicines that leave an Astringent quality as chiefly Rhubarb which must be so often given till the Humor seem to be spent If there be an Inflamation which is chiefly known by a Feaver or if much blood you must open a Vein And in case it continue after bleeding and cause a strangury or difficulty of Urine as it often doth it is very good to open the Hemorrhoids with Hors-leeches Also you must use asswaging Clysters when there is much pain and clensing glutinating and astringent according as the Ulcer requireth the Forms whereof are to be found in the Cure of Dysentery But in the use of Clysters observe first that you give them often and in a smal quantity only half a pint because they wil be hardly kept any time by reason of the continual needing And the pipe must be warily conveyed in lest the pain be encreased And you must diligently apply Fomentations Insessions or Baths to sit in Fumigations Suppositories and Oyntments You may make a Fomentation thus Take of Mullein Wormwood of each six handfuls boyl them in new Milk and put them into two Bags which apply to the Anus and whol belly one after another very warm Or Take of Chamomel Flowers and Roses of each one handful Red Wine two Pints infuse them two hours upon hot Embers Foment the Fundament as hot as can be suffered with four times doubled cloathes After let the Patient sit upon a spunge dipped and straâ—ned from the same Liquor Or Fill two Bags with Barley Bran and boyl them in Vinegar Let the Patient sit one while upon one another while upon another as hot as he can If he void much Blood make the Fomentation thus Take of Mullein Leaves and Roots two handfuls Red Roses one pugil Pomegranate peels and Galls of each half an ounce boyl them in two parts of Iron-Water and one of Red Wine for a Fomentation which you may make stronger if you ad half an ounce of Allum Insessus or Baths to sit in to asswage Pain are made of Emollients boyled in Water or Broth of Sheeps Heads and Feet to which you may ad Violets Nightshade Gourds and Mellons sliced but for healing of Ulcers you must make them of Astringents afore-mentioned Fumigations are good to dry the Ulcer made of Frankinsence burnt or the Decoction of Savin made in Oxycrate or other things mentioned in the Cure of a Dysentery the Fume whereof must be taken sitting in a hollow Chair But this following is Commended by Forestus Take of Mastich one dram Frankinsence one scruple Myrtles one dram and an half Red Roses two scruples make a Pouder for a Fumigation Suppositories are good in this Disease they must be gentle and mild least they exasperate the part which is so sensible They are fitly made of Goats Suet cut into the form of a Suppository for they appease the pain heal the Ulcer but they wil be better against Pain if you mix the seed finely poudered of Poppies or Henbane tye them in a knot in Paper like a Suppository But far best if you instead of these things put three drops of the Oyl pressed out of these Seeds to every Suppository or one grain of Opium dissolved in half a scruple of Oyl of sweet Almonds The Ulcer wil be sooner healed if you first dissolve the Suet either alone or with white Starch Gum Tragacanth beaten and first steeped in Plantane Water or else with some Narcoticks Or thus Take of Gum Tragacanth as much as is sufficient sprinkle it with Plantane Water that it may only swel and not dissolve then ad as much of the mucilage of Fleabane seeds or Quince seeds and mix them with the white of an Egg roasted then with melted Wax make them into a Suppository You may also ad Narcoticks as likewise to Cure the Vcer better the Pouders of Ceruss Tutty Bole Pomegranate Flowers and the like which dry without Acrimony and sharpness And these must be very finely Poudered and sifted least the Part be Exasperated You may apply Oyls and Oyntments as in a Dysentery to the Belly and Fundament As Oyntment of Roses Populeon or of the Mucilages of the whites of Eggs Oyl of Roses and the like to take away Pain and Inflamation and other things that shal be mentioned in the Chapter of Haemorrhoids or to Cure the Ulcer the white Oyntment of Rhasis or Pompholygos melted in Hydromel or in Honey and Water Lastly In a more desperate Condition use Narcoticks both inwardly and outwardly but three or four grains of Laudanum is best given with Mastich and Terra Sigillata or mixed in a Clyster made or a Decoction of the Flowers of Chamomel Chap. 8. Of Fluxus Hepaticus or Flux of the Liver A Flux of the Liver is that in which serous and bloody Humors like water wherein flesh hath been washed are voided This Disease is produced from the Liver being weak and out of tune by reason whereof it cannot breed good blood but turneth the Chylous Matter into thin and ferous blood which because it is not fit to nourish is sent by Nature into the Intestines from whence comes this flux of the Liver This weakness and disorder may come from any distemper For by the excess of any of the first qualities the native heat and its power to make blood is dejected Yet this hath a doubt rising from Experience because we see often that great distempers of the Liver and excess in the first qualities do produce other diseases and not this And again this flux is many times without the excess of the first qualities That therefore the Nature of this Disease may be declared we must say with wise Varandaeus my Master There is somthing more than an ordinary distemper for producing of this disease And it is occult or hidden consuming the radical moisture in
But it is chiefly good for them who have the worms and a flux withal In which diseases coming together he commends also the Juyce of Plantane and the Decoction of Knot-grass given to drink To which may be added Topicks applied to the Belly partly astringent and partly having vertue to kill worms Women do use common Oyl given with Wine for that Oyl stops the pores of the Worms and so choak them for want of breath and VVine kills them by its sharpness But when there is a Feaver it is better to give Oyl with the Juyce of Lemmons or Pomegranates or which is better Oyl of bitter Almonds with the said Juyces or Orange flower water Stocherus in his Empirical Medicines commends the Oyl that is taken out of a dâ—ied Hazel stick if it be given but a drop or two at a time to a child or to a youth three or four in a crum of Bread For saith he it doth immediately kill them and cast them forth by stool also by but touching of Worms or Lice out of the Body it killeth them The best Authors will have this Oyl of Hazel to be the Oleum Heraclinum by which Martin Ruland did cure Children of the VVorms in a moment by anointing only their Lips and Navils as you may see in his Centuries But we have found by Experience that the Oyl of Juniper given but a drop at a time in Broth to be excellent for children so troubled if they have not a Feaver But Quick-silver would exceed all if we durst give it in wardly which great Doctors say may be done Some of whom I wil mention so that they who please to try it may have Authority for it Mathiolus in his fourth Epistle to Stephanus Laureus the Emperors Physitian saith Because Quick-silver as Dioscorides saith doth no otherwise kill but by tearing the Guts with its great weight we fear not that it will do it in a smal quantity especially because its weight and roundness will easily carry it through the Body Therefore let us not wonder why Brassavolus that famous Physitian of our Age hath written that he gave Quick-silver to Children without any inconvenience And also a padua Physitian used it with good success but never would tell us the way of giving and preparing of it And I though I never gave it have seen Midwives give a scruple or half a dram to Women that had hard labor without inconvenience and alwaies with good success Thus Mathiolus Fallopius in his Tractate of the French Pox Cap. 76. If saith he Quick-silver be drunk down it doth not so much as when it is used with an Oyntment I have seen Women to cause Abortion take a pound thereof without hurt I give it to Children for the Worms and it doth bring no symptome but only kill the Worms Platerus in the Cure of the Worms saith the same Give a drop or two or half a scruple of Quick-silver and it kills the Worms or makes them crawl out of the Body and it may be done without hurt as we shewed elswhere Fabricius Hildanus in his 71. Observation Cent. 2. saith of a woman troubled with the Worms sent to him by Gilbert Saracenus thus Having reckoned up many Medicines to these saith he I added the excellent Medicine of Quick-silver a dram and an half strained through Leather and yet she was not freed of them John Baptista Zappata in his Book of Womens Secrets Chap. 5. tells many famous Stories of the Cure of Worms by Quick-silver when Aloes and VVormwood would not do it He shews two waies of giving it The first is this Take of Quick-silver one dram but a scruple or two for little Children Benjamin half a scruple four or five drops of Aqua vitae mix them in a glass mortar with a glass pestle then put to it a little Conserve of Roses or Violets for a Bolus which let the Patient take in the morning by it self or with a little Bread The second way is this Take a little course Sugar and three or four drops of Spring Water mix them in a glass mortar till they are like Honey then put to it as much Quick-silver as was aforesaid mix them together with six or seven drops of Oyl of sweet Almonds which will keep the Quick-silver from coming again to its body And with a little Conserve of Roses make a Bolus Baricellus in his Book called the Genial Garden saith thus Quick-silver which some account poyson is safely given against worms and it is accounted so certain a Medicine in Spain that the Women there give three grains thereof to children which pewk up their milk I cured a Widdow which vomited nine daies together by reason of Worms and scarce eat in three daies neither could retain any thing she took to whom I gave two scruples of Quick-silver with a little Conserve of Quinces and she voided downwards above an hundred Worms and was cured the same day and went about her business to the great admiration of her Parents being formerly weak and lean I have given it also to others and with good success alwaies and I keep continually at home Quicksilver infused Water which Water I give to children for Worms nor did I ever receive any discredit thereby Mathiolus used the same Horatus Angenius and many other famous men who all do extol the benefit of this Medicine You may give it to Children in substance one scruple and to youths two scruples or a dram It is mortified and corrected with red Sugar in a glass mortar wherein it must be so long stirred that it be invisible and least it should return to its former condition you may add thereto two of the Oyl of sweet Almonds Give it with Sugar of Roses Violets or Quinces fasting Thus Baricellus Sanctorius in meth vitand error lib. 5. cap. 11. saith That except we use strong Medicines to kill worms as washed aloes or a scruple of Quick-silver with a little Turpentine and Aloes made into a smal Pill we do nothing They who fear to use Quick-silver crude may give it prepared as Mercurius dulcis not only thrice but six times calcined for by often preparation the malignity of it is abated with some few grains of Diagridium to carry it sooner out of the Body and expel both the Worms and the Matter of which they breed You must enlarge or diminish the quantity according to the Age of the Patient As for example to a Boy of eight or ten yeers old it may be thus given Take of Mercurius dulcis twelve grains Diagridium six grains Make Pouder to be given with a roasted Apple and Sugar or the like For ordinary drink the Water made of Quick-silver which was formerly mentioned is very profitable or that in which Quick-silver hath been shaken in a glass half full for the space of one hour Also VVater wherein melted Tin hath been often quenched But if you will rather use Quick silver it is better to let the Water boyl
which Nature cannot govern nor sufficiently distribute into the Veins So Carolus Piso reports of a yong man that had a Tertian Ague and drinking Water exceedingly in his Fit fel into an Ascites from which by the taking of one Lozenge of Diacarthamum he was Cured by discharging the Water which was in the Abdomen but if he had continued drinking so much water any louger he had not been so easily Cured because it would have brought great obstructions and a cold distemper of the Bowels by reason of the loss of natural heat But it is questioned of many by what wayes that serous matter should be carried by the Veins into the Capacity of the Abdomen to whom we may plainly answer by saying from Hippocrates that in a living body al things are passing to and fro so that in time of necessity not only thin and serous Matter but also that which is very thick may be sent through the insensible passages So in a Pleurisie blood and matter wil pierce through the thick substance of the Pleura and Membrane which covers the Lungs and be spit forth at the mouth So in a Fracture of the Leg or Thigh which hapens without hurt to the Muscles and Skin the matter which floweth from the broken bone pierceth through the substance of the other parts and wets the boulsters and rowlers So also in a Dropsie often times a great quantity of Water is vented in one day by giving of Quicksilver which cannot be except the Water conteined in the Abdomen do pass through the Tunicles of the Guts Nor is the Objection of Fernelius of any force when he saith that Nature had in vain made so many open wayes if the Humors can pass through those invisible passages For we Answer That in an ordinary and natural motion of Humors ordained for the nourishment of the whol body those passages are necessary through which they may easily flow but in an extraordinary case provident Nature doth find out extraordinary wayes by which she may cast out hurtful Matter or at least send it to a place less dangerous Fernelius Objects again That in them who have died by a stoppage of Urine for twenty dayes together it was never perceived that any Water went through those blind passages We Answer That Nature doth not alwayes work the same way in preternatural Causes nor send hurtful Humors to the same places but especially to those parts which are more disposed to receive them through weakness So in the Suppression or Stoppage of Urine the Serous Humor flowes openly through the Veins and Arteries and fils them and if it find any part weaker than the rest it falls forceably upon it hence it is that some die of the hurt of one or other remarkable part So nothing hinders if the parts of the Abdomen in which the Veins and Arteries end be grown weak but that the Watery Humor may be sent into its capacity or hollowness Nor is that true which Fernelius would infer namely That a Dropsie never comes from suppression of Urine for Reason and Experience teacheth the contrary as we shewed afore in the Discourse of the Loss of Attraction in the Reins but you must observe that the Stoppage of the Urine doth make an increase of Water rather in the branches of the hollow Vein then of the Gate Vein or Vena Porta by which the watery Humor chiefly flows into the capacity of the Abdomen as appears by what followeth Therfore we may Answer this Question by saying That the water got into the hollow of the Abdomen by the insensible passages though there are also other manifest wayes by which it may pass Hippocrates Aph. 55. Sect. 7. hath shewed them for saith he they who have much Water about the Liver if it get into the Omentum or Kels their belly will be filled with Water and then they die The meaning of which Aphorism is though Galen did not plainly see it that the Water from the Liver doth flow into the Branches of the Vena Porta which go to the Omentum and when they are filled either by their Tunicles made thin by Diapedesis or Rarefaction or by the mouths of the Vessels being opened by Anastomosis the Water gets into the Cavity of the Abdomen This happens often in the Spleen also when it draws Water in abundance from the Stomach as appears by many sayings of Hippocrates and in lib. 4. de morbis he saith That Water may press from the Spleen to the Omentum or Kell in these words Drink is also carried into the Stomach with which when it is filled the Spleen takes it from thence and sends it to the Veins and the Omentum From which we may perceive That Water chiefly gets into the Abdomen by the Veins of the Omentum which are called Epiploicae and Gastrepiploicae although it may pass also through their Veins Besides the aforesaid Causes of a Dropsie which are more ordinary there are mentioned by Authors some less usual confirmed by Observation and these come from the disorder of some peculiar part not only of the Liver and Spleen but also of the Mesentery Sweet-bread Stomach Guts Reins Bladder and Womb namely when the Homiosis or faculty to convert nourishment into themselves is hurt from sâ—me great Disease so that their proper nourishment is corrupted and turned into Water So Galen Comment Aph. 55. Sect. 7. saith that watery Bladders are somtimes in the out-side of the Liver which being broken send Water downwards into the Cavity of the Abdomen the encrease whereof breeds a Dropsie Fernelius supposeth that the Liver being very dry hath clefts like the parched Earth and that through them there flows a constant Water which fills the Cavity of the Abdomen Others say that a Dropsie may come from the Guts if they be perforated or pierced through and yet the Patient dieth not presently but a watery Humor still flows through them into the Cavity It comes also from the Kidneys if they be much Ulcerated and water flow from them So Platerus reports of one that in a Dropsie had many Ulcers in both Kidneys from whence both matter and water flowed into the Cavity There is also a Story in Sennertus taken out of John Heinzius of a certain Woman who had a Dropsie from the distemper of the Womb whose Bowels were all sound except the Testicles or Stones which were found to be swollen as big as the Head of a new-born Child being blew hollow and full of Ulcers from which there came a serous Matter which caused the Dropsie The Dropsie called Tympanites hath its name from Tympanum a Drum because the Abdomen is stretched out like a Drum and if you strike it with your hand it sounds like it This stretching comes from wind shut up in the Cavity of the Abdomen But somtimes this wind is in the Cavity of the Guts which Platerus observed saying in some that have been thought to die of a Tympany after they were opened have
is opposed with strong Reasons First If it should come of a slimy and thick flegm then it would often be bred in the Brain and the Stomach in which such flegm doth chiefly abound Neither will it suffice to say that there is not sufficient heat in those parts to harden it because according to the Doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen a gentle heat by a continual action is sufficint to congeal and hence is the reason why old men do more often breed the stone when yong men have hotter Kidneys because the matter of the stone lies longer in old mens Reins by reason of the weakness of the expulsive Faculty and so it 's longer concocted by the heat and at length hardened Secondly From Aristotle 2. meteor cap. 4. they which grow together by heat are melted by moisture as Clay But the stone is never dissolved with water Neither doth it hinder to say that a strong heat makes such a Concretion or growing together that it cannot be dissolved by moisture as in Bricks For first in Man there is not so great a heat then the not dissolving of Bricks with Water is not because of the strong heat they had but rather from the disposition of the Clay for Clay made of common Earth although it be baked in a Furnace wil never be hard as a Brick but alwaies be dissolved with moisture Thirdly From Aristotle in the place mentioned the heat that makes concretion must be dry But there is a continual flowing of moisture into the Reins and Bladder therefore such a drying and hardening cannot be in those parts Fourthly Stones bred in Rivers and Fountains in which there is no heat and in some Dens and Holes that are very cold the water that fals turns into a stone from whence strange shapes do arise Therefore we must find another cause besides heat and another Matter besides clammy and glutinous Flegm Fifthly Flegm made hard is like Chalk and is brittle as you may see in the knots of the Joynts But some stones are like flints which they cannot be from Flegm nor is there so much heat in mans Body to make it so This slimy flegm hath deceived the Physitians of all Ages which is found in the Urine of many Patients and they thought it to be the immediate Cause But they were out For first In the stone of the Kidneys such Urines are seldom made but often in the stone of the Bladder But if this were the matter of the stone it would be alike in both Therefore this Matter depends especially upon the proper Disease of the Bladder for it is an Excrement of it distempered The disease of the Bladder is this we have seen in the Bodies of them who have died of the Stone in the Bladder and who voided much of that matter that the bladder grew fleshy as thick as ones finger or thumb so that it filled the whol Cavity and lay next to the stone till by stopping the Urine it killed the Patient But in those who made thin cleer Urine their bladder was not altered The Reason of these accidents are taken out of Hipp. Aph. 66. Sect. 5. If there be no Tumor in great and evil wounds it is evil And Galen gives the Reason because there is a suspition that the Humors which should come by reason of pain to the wound are gone to some noble part Moreover it is Natural to all parts as Galen lib. de diff febr cap. 11. that they which are stronger send that which hurteth them to the weaker nor do they cease so doing till it come to the weakest So when the part wounded is very weak and therefore fit to receive Humors if they come not thither it is a sign that other parts are very weak which cannot send and that others are weaker than the wounded to which the humors are carried Not only the bad Humors are carried to the wound but also good blood which Nature sends to refresh it All these things are in the bladder that hath the stone A great uneven stone or sharp hurts the Tunicle of the Bladder hence comes pain and weakness And Nature to help it sends more than usual blood and the stronger parts send their superfluiteis These the bladder concocteth as much as may be into its self and so groweth thicker But when it cannot take in all especially the evil Humors hence come many foul Excrements which from the Nature of the part turn so flegmatick But in them who have clear Urine either the stone hurteth not which causeth the attraction or some other parts are weaker than the bladder to which the humors flow But because this Doctrine doth destroy an old Opinion we will confirm it by a cleer Example of the Womb. The Womb is Membranous as the bladder but in Women with Child it is rleshy and thick so that in the last months it is two fingers thick because Nature all the time sends much blood to it to nourish the Child which when the Child doth not wholly consume some part of it is taken into the Womb and so it encreaseth The same is in the Bladder though Preternaturally which in the Womb is Natural that when much blood comes to it it coverts it into its self and grows thicker But if without being with Child the Womb be distempered and made weak then Humors superfluous from other parts come to it which when they cannot be taken into its substance turns to the Whites And that flux is a proper Excrement of the Womb as the flegm is of the bladder The same thing is in the Reins though not so often as when by a stone in them there is pain and weakness Nature sends much blood and humors to them which when they cannot be turned into the substance of the part they are turned into a slimy Excrement which is voided in abundance and this vulgar Physitians take for Matter or Pus which is only flegm or mixed with a little Pus as when by the grating of the stone there is an Ulcer Some Modern Writers being converted with the aforesaid Reasons have made a Juyce which will turn into a stone to be the material cause of the stone called Succus Lapidescens and the efficient to be Spiritus Lapidescens They call the former a certain Humor naturally proper to turn into a stone And this they desire to prove by the breeding of stones in the Earth which are by many Authors said to come of Waters and things cast there into to be hardened presently some Waters in Caves to be made Stones and some part of the Wine groweth to the Vessel called Tartar and Urines that are cleer when they are cold grow to the glass And although the peculiar fitness of the Matter to be thus turned is not sufficiently known yet some say they have found it out saying that it is of Salt mixed with Earth Some Salts do grow hard in the Sun and are easily dissolved in Water and if they be
water-like and little in the beginning of the fit after which somtimes followeth a total stoppage if both Ureters are stopped but when the fit is past and the stone that was fixed in the Ureters is fallen into the bladder there comes forth much thick troubled Urine with a sandy Sediment The Fourth Sign is often voiding of sand and stones Concerning voiding of a stone it is evident That if the Patient voided any formerly though never so smal when he had a fit it is most certain that the Disease is the Stone But concerning Sand we cannot speak so infallible for we may see many all their lives time void Gravel and never be troubled with the stone for sand comes often from adustion of Humors in the Liver and Veins and it sticks to the sides of the Urinal and goes not to the bottom as that which comes from the Reins Besides if you rub it between your fingers it dissolveth and is like Salt when the other will not yeeld to the fingers and will not dissolve And finally because this Sand is salt it is dissolved in hot Urine nor will it appear while the Urine is so but when it is cold it grows together to the sides of the Urinal not unlike the Crystal of Tartar which being dissolved in warm water when it grows cold congealeth and sticks to the sides of the Glass so the Nature of them both is very like The Fifth Sign is a stone voided and this is most certain For if any former Sign though equivocal do appear and a stone be voided you may be certain of the Disease The Sixth Sign is a numbness of the Thigh on the same side that the Back is pained of for the stone being great doth oppress the Nerve which is in erted into the Muscles of the Loyns under the Reins called by the Anatomists Psenas and those Muscles go to the Hip for its motion such a numbness is percâ—ived by sitting upon the Thigh through the compression or in the Arm by long leaning thereon The Seventh Sign is the drawing in of one stone on that side where the pain is For the Kidneys and Ureters being provoked with the greatness of the pain do vehemently contract themselves and then the Spermatical Vessels and all the parts adjacent are also contracted and these Vessels do raise up the stone which is joyned to them so that it seems somtimes to be fixed to the Groyn And this retraction or drawing in of parts reacheth to the bladder and Guts For in great pain the belly is bound and Urine stopped so that then Purges will not work by reason they are hindered by that Contraction The Eighth Sign is loathing and vomiting by the connexion of the Kidneys with the Stomach by the Membrane that comes from the Peritonaeum and by the Nerve of the sixth Conjugation two branches whereof reach from the Stomach to the inward Tunicle of the Kidneys Therefore when those sensible parts in the Kidneys are pulled the Stomach consenting is stirred up to exclude that which hurteth and first it sends out Flegm then yellow Choller after green if the evil continue because through long pain and watching the blood is altered in the Veins and that part which is most disposed for it is turned into green Choller Finally The Nephritical pain is so like the Chollick that Galen himself was deceived in the distinguishing of them as we shewed in the Diagnosis or Knowldg of the Chollick where also we laid down signs by which we may distinguish them which we shall not need to repeat The Signs afore mentioned are equivocal and one of them can scarce give a certain knowledg Some Authors mention others which are more equivocal and uncertain but joyned with others they help the knowledg of the Disease therefore it will not be amiss to mention them Hipp. Aph. 34. Sect. 7. saith They who have bubbles in their Vrine have an old Disease in the Reins For these bubbles come from thick Humors full of gross vapors which are either bred in the Reins or sent from other parts to them that matter is proper to breed the stone and cannot be presently cured therefore the Disease is long Galen in his Comment upon this Aporism saith that the mouthes of the Arteries which come to the Reins are opened by the sharpness of the Urine and thence comes a Spirit which being mixed with the Urine maketh bubbles But it is not probable that such a gross Spirit that will remain so long should come from the Arteries and Urine being cold may long time so continue as we see many bubbles many hours swimming thereupon And also when the Arteries are opened by the sharpness of the Urine blood will also come forth And the mouthes of the Veins having thin Skins would be more easily opened and so there would be also blood mixed with the bubbles Hippocrates also Aph. 76. Sect. 4. saith They who void little bits of flesh and things like hairs with a thick Vrine do it from the Reins The bits of flesh come from the Ulcer of the Reins of which we shall speak hereafter but these thrids or hairs are said by Galen in his Commentaries to come from thick and crude flegm made long and round by the extraordinary heat of the Reins Yet Galen confesseth 6. loc aff cap. 3. that after a long search he was ignorant of the cause of their length Avicen saith that these thrids grow long in the vessels of the Reins or others for in regard these are taken away by Diureticks and the Patients acknowledg pain in the Reins it is credible that they receive their form from thence Actuarius doth directly say they come from the Ureters For when the Reins abound with flegm it goes with the Urine into the Ureters and sticking to them and growing thick by heat it gets a long shape like a thrid or hair But Fernelius writes that those hairs come from the Parastatis or kernels from his Observation in which they grow long like hairs from the matter of the seed which by force of the Disease flowing down by degrees grows thick by heat and that they appear much in those who have lately had a filthy Gonorrhoea and in those women who have the Whites or a foul Womb and in that Urine which they make next after they have known a man Others suppose that those thick Humors of which those filaments or hairs are made are first bred in the Veins but take their form in the narrow passages of the Reins through which as through a sieve they turn smal and after they descend into the Ureters in which they grow dryer till they are sent into the bladder neither can they be broken by reason of their toughness Whatsoever the cause is since the best Authors do agree that these hairs breed of thick flegm in the Kidneys or come to them from other parts it is certain that they may turn into a stone if there be an efficient cause fit
thus Take of Comphry and Plantane Roots of each one ounce Plantane Leaves one handful Pomegranate Flowers and yellow Myrobalans of each one dram Plantane and Purslain seed of each half a dram red Roses one pugil boyl them to a pint In the straining dissolve of Syrup of Quinces three ounces make a Julep for three Doses For the same end you may make a Pouder or an Opiate thus Take of Plantane Purslain and Coriander seeds prepared and red Roses of each one ounce prepared Coral Bole-armenick prepared Pearl and Tormentil Roots of each one scruple Nutmeg half a dram mix them into Pouder Take of old Conserve of Roses four ounces Bole prepared Coral and burnt Harts-born of each one scruple with Syrup of Quinces make an Opiate Erastus highly commends the Syrup of Comphry Roots and Sloes which he saith he used with good success in these Diseases Also Narcoticks or Stupefactives used wisely are very good as new Treacle Syrup of Poppies and Laudanum If it continue long Sheeps Milk Cow or Asses Milk are excellent if you first consume the Whey thereof with often quenching Flints therein and he may use it in the morning as we shewed in other Cures Sweating is commended by Authors by which means the serous Humor is drawn outward But it is to be mistrusted because it is very like to purge by Urine and encrease the distemper of the Bowels But if it be used at any time it must be of the mildest sort as of Roots of China Sarsa Endive Borrage Sorrel boyled in Water or for those who are consumed in Chicken Broth but we think it safer to provoke sweat by outward means as by a vapor from some convenient Decoction in a wooden Instrument Such Sudorificks as are prescribed in malignant Feavers are excellent especially if Spirit of Vitriol be in them to quench Thirst stay the flux and resist the malignity For Drink let the Patient use Iron'd Water with sharp and astringent Syrups or a Decoction of Sloes and the inward Bark of an Oak by which Medicine even alone Erastus saith that he cured this Disease in a Boy Outwardly Apply a Fomentation to the Loyns made of Sorrel Roots Plantane Pomegranate peels Sumach Seeds and the like with a little Vinegar or which is most proper make a Bath of the same Decoction to sit in And anoint the part with Unguâ—nt of Roses Sanders and Comitissa mixed together or this following Take of Oyl of Roses and Myrtles of each one ounce red Sanders red Roses and red Coral of each one scruple Juyce of Plantane one ounce Wax as much as will make an Oyntment Then you must allay the Symptomes that accompany this Disease as thirst watching consumption and the like by their Remedies mentioned in their proper Chapters Chap. 7. Of Pissing the Bed of Involuntary Pissing or not containing of Vrine THe not holding of the Urine consists in the hurting of the Retentive action of the Bladder as Diabetes or extraordinary pissing comes from the hurt done to the attractive faculty and Dysuria from the distemper in the Expulsive so this comes from the disorder in the Retentive Faculty of the Bladder This comes somtimes to people awake and then the Disease is worse somtimes to them asleep and then it is less because then the animal Functions are exercised less freely And this in time of sleep comes two waies either from weakness and loosness of the Sphincter Muscle of the Bladder as in sucking Children weak people and somtimes in them of yeers or from the hurt of the Imagination for many do piss their Beds either from too much drink or from the exquisite sence of the Bladder and the Urines sharpness with some consent of their will when they dream they are pissing against a wall or other place and they are so accustomed to it that it is done without any distemper either of the Bladder or its Sphincter nor are they to be cured with Medicines but by change of their foolish Imagination as Children by whipping or in those of yeers by adorning those places which they dream they piss upon with some costly things and shewing them often The true cause of this is in the Sphincter Muscle which suffers either from its self or by consent from other parts It comes divers waies by consent as when the whol Body is weak and the vital heat spent as in dying men or when the whol Body or half of it is taken with the Palsey or those branches of Nerves which come from the Os Sacrum to the Bladder somtimes the loosness of the Muscle comes from the pain only and neerness to other parts affected as in Women with Child from the swelling and pain of the Womb and in the great Disease of the straight Gut The Sphincter Muscle suffers divers waies by its self as when it is wounded as in cutting for the Stone or in deep Ulcers which hinder its contraction and shutting But the chief and usual cause is a cold and moist distemper which is most fit to weaken and make loose the part Which is produced of a cold and moist Native temper Youth old Age Women and the Diseases of the whol Body or some parts thereof coming of a moist and cold distemper to these you may add external causes often mentioned But here we may dispute how contrary Effects may be produced of the same Cause for Hippocrates in Coac saies that stoppage of the Urine comes of a cold cause in these words A stoppage of Vrine coming of cold is worst of all now not holding and stopping are contrary We must answer that when a cold distemper doth only hurt or abolish the sence of the Bladder there may be a suppression of Urine because the Bladder cannot be sensible of provocation to expel Urine but if the motive faculty which is in the Sphincter Muscle be hurt by reason of the loosness of it the Urine cannot be retained The Signs of this Disease either shew this Disease to be by consent and these must be taken from the Diseases before mentioned which are apt to produce this not holding the Urine which if you find you may conclude that the disease comes from them but if they be absent then you must bethink yourself of the propriety of the Disease to the part which will be easily discovered if it come from a wound and Ulcer or the like Disease of the Sphincter but if neither of these appear you must consider of the cold and moist distemper of the part and this is known by the causes both internal and external and by the effects which depend upon them as softness of the whol Body whiteness loosness of the Nerves and Privities Childhood Age evil Flegmatick Concoction and the like As for the Prognostick This Disease is incurable in old men by reason of their great moistness and the loss of Vital heat which cannot be repaired In an acute Feaver involuntary Pissing is very dangerous for it comes either of a Delirium
part of them is found out by touching seeing and relation of the Patients The Obstruction and straightness of the Vessels of the Womb are known by pain in the Loyns and parts adjacent especially in the time the Terms should flow and if any thing flow at that time it is slimy white and blackish Now the Diseases of the adjacent parts which may shut the mouth of the Womb or the Veins will appear by their proper signs You may know the abounding of blood in the Veins by the swelling of the Veins in the Thighs and Arms especially if the Woman be fleshy and red and have fed high You may suppose there is want of blood if the Woman be fat if she have had a long Feaver went before or loathing of meat The evil quality of the blood is known by the evil habit of the Body by the distemper of the Liver and other parts and especially by the blood it self if you can see some of it The preposterous motion of the blood when it flows another way is manifest of it self As to the Prognostick The stoppage of the Terms is very dangerous and many great diseases come thereof and some in the Womb it self as swellings imposthumes and Ulcers others in the whol Body and divers parts thereof as Feavers Obstructions evil Habits Loathing Dropsie Heart-ach Cough short Breathing Fainting sore Eyes Madness Melancholly Headach Joynt-gout and the like Hippocrates Lib. 1. of Womens Diseases hath shewed the encrease of Diseases from the stopping of the Terms in these words The third month after the stoppage of the Terms they begin to feel suffocations or shortness of breath with horrors heaviness of the Loyns and somtimes a Feaver But if it last long the Belly grows hard they piss much they loath meat and watch much they grate their Teeth in sleep and if they continue longer stopped the pains will be greater but in the sixth month that Disease which was formerly curable will be then incurable then she wil be troubled in mind and faint vomit flegm thirsty the Belly about the Privities will be pained there will be a Feaver and the Body bound and the Urine stopped the Back will ach and she will stammer Afterwards the Leggs Feet and Belly will swell and the Urine be red bloody and pain over all the Body especially the Neck and Back-bone and Groyns and so they die of a Dropsie Thus far Hippocrates But here is a doubt because the Author saith That in the sixt month the Disease is incurable when Experience teacheth the contrary and Hippocrates himself 4. Epid. reports that a Maid who had her Terms stopped for seven Yeers was restored to health by the return of them Hippocrates may be reconciled to himself by saying That after six months the Disease is incurable when the Terms are in the Body or Cavity of the Womb because there they putrefie and come to suppuration as in the After-birth or Blood retained But this is not to be understood of every Suppuration That Stoppage is least dangerous which comes from plenty of good Blood or fat bleeding or other Evacuations because those Causes may easily be removed That is harder to be cured which comes from heaviness of Humors Obstruction of Vessels or straitness because that stubborn Humor getting into the innermost passages cannot be got forth but by long pains and Medicines which Women are very unwilling to receive That stoppage which cometh from the distemper only of the Womb is worst because the part being hurt by propriety is hard to be cured by reason of the continual flux of Humors which the part is disposed to receive and therefore is called the Jakes of the whol Body The Cure of this Disease is divers according to the variety of the Causes And first if it come from too much blood you must abate the quantity by Phlebotomy in the Arm for if the lower veins should be first opened the blood would be drawn more to the Womb where it would make greater obstruction and distention of Vessels and break them or cause Inflamation of the Womb. After the Plethory or abundance of blood is taken away you must draw the blood down by opening the lower Veins about the time that the Patient used before to be clensed as also by Frictions Ligatures Cupping-glasses dry and with Scarrification These things done you must relax and soften the parts of the Womb with Fomentations and Baths and moistening Unguents which if they cannot master the Disease you may give Hysterical Purges and such as do properly provoke the Terms which we shal after descrhibe cusing the mildest If want of Blood be the cause as after long Feavers great Evacuations and Extenuation of the Body you must not provoke them till you have used Restoratives and blood be renewed and whatsoever is the cause of extenuation be removed which things being done the Terms do commonly flow of themselves which if they do not but Nature forgets her office you must open the inferior Veins and use the Medicines afore mentioned so that you take not away too much blood becaus the strength is little and lest the Patient fal into a Consumption But here you must diligently mark That every extenuation of the body doth not signifie want of blood but only after great evacuations consuming Causes for it comes to pass somtimes that the Terms stopt in the Veins get an evil quality which makes the blood unfit to nourish hence comes leanness although the Veins be filled with much bad blood and then large bleeding is very good as Galen confirms Comment 3. in Lib. 6. Epid. I saith he cured a Woman that had her Courses stopped eight months when she was lean by drawing much blood as also others But what happened to that famous Woman was remarkable I opened a Vein when other Physitians feared the success and were against me saying that it must hurt her not only because she was lean but also because she had no stomach to eat But these yong Physitians had a more Sophistical way to observe what happened to the Patients and to neglect the affects and Causes which are the ground of Cure I took to my best remembrance the first day a pint and an half of blood from the woman the next day one pint the third not above half a pint or eight ounces Thus Galen By which it is manifest That from lean women of this disease you may take a great quantity of blood although the women of our Age will not endure it The stoppage of the Courses comes from a preposterous motion of the blood when it is sent forth by the Nose Vomiting spitting or Hemorrhoids and the like The Cure is by repelling it from those parts and bringing it to the passage of the Womb. First while they bleed you must wash Arms Head and Face with cold Water and keep them from the use of those parts especially loud speaking then you must open a Vein beneath Two or three daies
for Fractures which is most excellent and works it's effect without heating the Part. The following Cataplasmes are much more effectual and very prevalent in a large Flux of Blood causing danger of Death They are made either of Bole-armoniack incorporated with iuyce of Plantane and a little Vinegar and so applied Oâ— of Plaister of Paris lib. 1. incorporated with ten drachms of Gum-Arabick one pound toasted at the fire and laid upon the Parts aforesaid in Cotton-Wool The Whites of four Eggs being first mingled with it Solenander saith that this Cataplasm stops al Womens Fluxes in one day A Cataplasm or Pultis made of Nettles fried in a Pan and laid upon the Share and Privities works more kindly than the former rather by a specifical property then by it's astringency Injections made of juy ce of Plantane alone are likewise conveighed into the Womb by an Instument for that purpose which is very effectual and much cryed up by Practitioners Juyce of Knot-grass may be used to the same intent And sometimes we are wont to add to the aforesaid Juyces of the Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth one ounce Starch one drachm Water of Rose-stalks and Seeds three ounces which are mixed and Injected into the Womb. Or Take of the leaves of Knot-grass Plantane Yarrow Shepherds-purse Hors-tail of each half a handful Boil all in Water sufficient to half a pint In the strained liquor dissolve three drams of Acacia Dragons-blood Bole-Armoniack and Blood-stone of each one ounce Mix all and make thereof a Clyster for the Womb. A Fume made with Vinegar poured upon a red hot Iron Plate and received by the Patient sitting over a Close-stool is very profitable or a Fume may be compounded after this manner Take of Frankinsence and Mastich of each two ounces Mirtles and Labdanum of each one ounce Amber Red Roses Balaustians of each half a drachm With the infusion of Gum Tragacanth in Red-Rose Water make Cakes to burn under a stool as before John Michael Paschalius doth test me that he cured a Woman troubled neer seven months with this Disease with the smoak of burnt Frogs and he affirms that the smoak of a Mules Hoof is an experimented Remedy wonderfully effectual in this Case Astringent Pessarles are likewise usual in this Cure Howbeit they profit little seeing they can hardly reach unto the Orifice of those Veins which are opened in this Disease But if the Veins of the Neck of the Wombare opened they may be useful and are thus Compounded Take of Juyce of Plantane or Knot-grass two ounces Troches of Carabe in pouder and Acacia of each one arachm Mix them with the White of an Egg rowl them in silk and make a Pessary Or Take of the pouder of Hyposistis Acacia Bole-Armoniack Dragons-blood Comfry roots Lambs-tongue Plantane Galls of each half a drachm Juyce of Purslain or Plantane or Syrup of Red Roses or Myrtles as much as shall suffice and with Cotton Wool make a Pessary Pessaries are likewise made of the leaves of Purslain Plantane or Knot-grass or some other convenient Herb bruised and rouled in a piece of fine Linnen or the Countesses Oyntment wrapt in Wool and put into the Womb. Neither are we to neglect the washing of the Patients Legs with cold Water or some astringent Decoction which is commonly used by Practitioners and doth not a little further the stoppage of the immoderate Courses Touching the administration of Topical Medicaments it is to be observed That astringent Medicines especially the stronger sort of them are not to be applied before sufficient Revulsions have been made especially by Blood-letting for it is to be feared least they cause Tumors or other worse Diseases in the Womb. Wherefore alwaies as far as the Disease will allow time the Cure must be begun with internal Medicines of a thickening and astringent Nature before we make use of the Topical Medicines aforesaid This Method of Cure aforesaid may with Judgment be accommodated to the Flux of Courses arising either from an opening of the mouths of the Veins or from a dreining of the blood through their Coats or from a breaking of the Coats of the Veins But if it arise from an eating or exulceration of the Coats of the Veins it ought to be cured after the same manner as an Ulcer of the Womb is cured of which hereafter In the whol Course of the Disease while the foresaid Medicaments are used care must be had to strengthen the Bowels and to correct the vitious quality of the Blood as we shewed in our Cure of the Hemorrhoids And to conclude When the Flux is allaid the same Rules of Prevention are to be used in this disease which we prescribed concerning the Hemorrhoids Chap. 4. Of the Whites A Woman is said to have the Whites the Womans Flux the Flux of the Womb or the White Menstruals when Excrementitious Humors do flow from her Womb either continually or at least without any certain order or course of time observed in their flowing And the said Excrementitious Humors are somtimes white and flegmatick very like to Whey or Barley Cream somtime they are pale or yellow or green by the mixture of Choller somtimes watery by the admixture of serous Humors somtimes blackish by the admixture of Melancholly somtimes sharp and Corrosive so as to eat into and exulcerate some parts of the Womb somtimes they are of a strong and beastly smel and other whiles again not at all offensive in that kind This Disease is wont to seize upon grown Women for the most part and such as are of riper Age yet are not Virgins alwaies free from the same so that some have done ill in daring to affirm That such Maids as are troubled with this disease have parted from their Virginity taking their Ground from the straightness of those Passages Naturally For if Virgins have the Veins of their Wombs so large that their wonted Courses can flow through them why may not the Whites likewise drop out by the same passages seeing they are many times more thin and fluxive than the Blood it self as being wheyish and chollerick The same is confirmed by the produced Experience of most learned Physitians and dayly Practice teacheth me as much viz. That the most chast and perfect Virgins in the World have had this Infirmity of whom there could be no suspicion that they had been corrupted And Fernelius doth witness That he saw a Girl eight yeers old which had this Disease and was afterward a long time grievously troubled therewith The Excrementitious Humors aforesaid are bred either in the whol Body or in some principal Part of the Body or in the Womb it self If the Humors flow from the whol Body they proceed either from bad Diet or from a vicious habitual distemper of the whol Body and they take their course unto the Womb as unto a Sink or Common-shoar whereinto the rest of the parts of the Body disburden themselves The particular parts by whose consent the Womb suffers
in this Disease are chiefly the Brain Stomach Liver Spleen Mesentery and the Bladder which dispatch their Excrements unto such parts as are more weakly and so more disposed to receive them These Excrementitious Humors are bred in the Womb because when it is unable to digest its proper nourishment by means of the weakness of its Retentive or Concoctive Faculty the greater part of its Aliment is turned into Excrements being imperfectly digested or corrupted rather It is imperfectly digested in cold distempers of the Womb and it is corrupted in hot distempers thereof And seeing the Womb by want of Digestion is defrauded of its Nutriment it presently draws new Aliment which being turned into Excrements is by the Womb expelled as unprofitable and new Aliment is continually drawn whereby this flux of evil Humors from the Womb becomes both plentiful and continual The Womb is weakened and more disposed to the Reception of these Excrements by Child-bearing travelling in Child-birth Abortion and Contusion Inflamation Imposthumes or Ulcers The Signs of this Disease are referred to the Infirmity it self to the part affected or to the cause producing the Disease The Disease it self is easily known by relation of the sick party and it is often times attended with divers Symptomes viz. Paleness of Face want of Appetite sickness of Stomach short breathing weakness swelling of the Eyes fulness pensiveness and sadness thick Urines turbulent and many other accidents which differ according to the diversity of the Humors offending as we shall declare more distinctly by and by The part affected and the place in which these Excrementitious Humors causing the flux are bred may beknown by these following tokens If the matter of the Flux is bred in the whol Body these signs do shew it viz. Weariness and heaviness not proceeding from any work of which the Patient is eased having disburdened her self by the flux plentifully and then again when new matter is collected she begins to be weary and heavy as before her Veins are full her Feet Hands and Thighs are apt to be numbed And these signs do especially discover only a plenitude of Humors But that corrupt Humors do abound in the whol Body is known by an evil habit in the whol Body that is an ugly sickly appearance in the looks and whol outward state of the Body a puffing up of the Hands and Feet an itching and stinging in the whol Body if the Humor be sharp and many such signs as these If the matter offending reside in some peculiar part the Symptomes and Excrements proper to that part discover the same as for example A pain heat and swelling of the Liver with Chollerick Excrements do shew the Liver to be affected and the same Symptomes happening on the left side with Excrements of a Melanchollick appearance do argue the flux to spring from the Spleen Flegmatick Excrements Stomach-sickness want of Appetite and somtimes extream Appetite frequent corruption of the meat and sowr belchings or fatty as of the Dripping-pan or over-scorched flesh are sure tokens of the Stomachs faultiness Pain of the Head Froathy Excrements some usual evacuation by the mouth or nostrils being stopped do witness that flux springs from the Head If none of the aforesaid signs of some part affected appear then we may conjecture that the flux proceeds primarily from the womb Also the Woman in such a case is well colored the matter flowing is but little in quantity being the excrement of the womb alone There have preceded such causes as weaken the Womb as are hard Travel Abortion a Fall upon the Belly or Back immoderate Carnal Embraces especially if the woman have been too young married Tumors Ulcers and other Infirmities of the Womb whose signs are propounded in their proper Chapters The Humor causing the Flux is known chiefly by the colors of that which comes away which were a little before declared and which appear in the cloaths wherewith it is received if as Hippocrates teacheth in his second Book of Womens Infirmities the said cloaths being dried shall be after washed in Water alone and dried in the shadow for so they manifestly declare the color of that Humor which most abounds in the Excrements Hereunto may be added the signs of an Humor abounding in the whol Body usually delivered in that part of the Institution of Physick which treats of Signs In the last place We are to propound such Signs as distinguish this Disease from others like unto it as namely Excretion of Purulent matter proceeding from an Ulcer of the Womb and the Gonorrhoea or flux of Seed It is distinguished from purulent Matter by the signs of an Ulcer in the Womb which shall be set down in their proper Chapter as likewise because the Purulent Matter or Quittor is much thicker whitish and lesser in quantity if it be digested rightly but if it be of a goary sanious and fleshy appearance like blood and water mingled there is then blood amongst the matter and it is wont somtimes to come away with strings from the Womb and with exceeding pain also the Women that have Ulcers in the Womb or its Neck admit not of Copulation but with pain which exasperates their Disease but those which are troubled only with the Whites do willingly and patiently suffâ—r themselves to be embraced by their Husbands In the Gonorrhoea the matter which comes away is not so much in quantity is thicker of a more shining whiteness holds up longer from flowing and seldom or never stinks But if it be a virulent or venemous Gonorrhoea such as accompanies the Letchers Pocks it is known by sharpness of Urine Ulcers of the Privy parts and other Signs that argue Malignity The Predictions or Prognosticks of this Disease are as followeth This Disease in one respect may be called good in another respect bad Good forasmuch as commonly it is not attended with any danger of death and bad because it is a stubborn Disease long lasting and most exceeding hard to be cured forasmuch as the flux of evil Humors having once taken this course is very hardly turned out of its Channel because the Womb as we said before is the Draught of the whol Body whereby even in time of Health the superfluous Humors of the whol Body are monthly evacuated If this Infirmity get head it may bring many other Evils upon the Patient as Barrenness falling down of the Womb Exulceration Cachexia Dropsie and Consumption A Flux of Whites blewish bloody stinking is worse than the white pale not stinking The longer this Disease hath lasted the harder it is to cure It attends old Women to the grave for the most part because of their abounding with flegm and the weakness of their Concoctive Faculty The Cure of this Disease is to be begun by a convenient purging of the Peccant Humor And because â—legmatick and wheyish Humors do most commonly oftend such things as purge those Humors must chiefly be used and with them Purgers of Choller or
which by a peculiar property diminish and cool the Seed Among which take these that follow for example Take Leaves of Water-lilly Willow Agnus Castus of each four handfuls Lettice Purslain Penny-wort or Two-penny Grass of each a handful the four larger cooling Seeds Lettice and white Poppy seeds of each half an ounce Dill seeds two drams the flowers of Water-lilly and Violets of each one handful Let all be stamped being fresh and let them be sprinkled with Juyce of Lemmons and distilled in Balneo Mariae and to every pint of the Water add a dram of Camphire Let the Patient take an ounce divers times Or of all or some of the Simples aforesaid a Decoction may be made and sweetened with Sugar and a little Camphire put to it to be taken divers times one after another Or an Emulsion may be made of the greater cool Seeds Lettice seeds and white Poppy seeds extracted with the Waters of Lettice Willow and Water-lillies and sweetened with Syrup of Violets An Electuary may be prescribed after this manner Take Conserve of the Flowers of Water-lillies Violets and Agnus Castus of each half an ounce Conserve of Roses half an ounce Lettice Stalks preserved one ounce Coral and Smaragd prepared of each one dram with Syrup of Violets and water-lillies make an Opiate In the greatest extremity of the Patients raving such things as procure sleep are very profitable both inward and outward Medicaments as they are set down in the Cure of Phrenzy and Madness In the whol course of the Disease Clysters which cool and gently purge are to be used taking heed of sharp Clysters and such as vehemently purge which do exagitate the Humor contained in the Womb or its Vessels whereby the Symptomes are wont to become more fiery Also Injections may be made into the Womb of the Decoction of such Herbs as have formerly been set down for Baths and other Remedies whereunto Sal Saturni may profitably be added Frequent Clysters may likewise be good to the same intent being made of Vinegar allaied with Water Also cooling Oyntments are to be applied to the Loyns Privity the Share and between the Water-gate and the Dung-gate made of Oyl of Water-lillies Oyntment of Roses Vnguentum Album Camphoratum with the Juyces of Nightshade Henbane and Water-lillies melted together adding a little Camphire Also a Plate of Lead is good to be worn continually upon the Reins In regard of the immediate Cause seeing the evacuation of the sharp and corrupted Seed may cure the Disease it is very good Advice in the Beginning of the Disease before the Patient begins manifestly to rave or in the space between her fits when she is pretty well to marry her to a lusty yong man For so the Womb being satisfied and the offensive Matter contained in its Vessels being emptied the Patient may peradventure be cured But if the Patient cannot so conveniently be married or the condition of her life will not bear that estate some advise that the Genital Parts should be by a cunning Midwise so handled and rubbed as to cause an Evacuation of the over-abounding Sperm But that being a thing not so allowable it may fuffice whilst the Patient is in the Bath to rub gently her Belly on the Region of the Womb not coming neer the Privy parts that the luke-warm temper of the Water may moderate the hotness of the Womb and that it may by the moisture be so relaxed as of its own accord to expel the Seminal Excrement and that nothing else be done with the hand save a little to open the Womb so as the Water may pass into its more inward parts forasmuch as the water will operate as much as any of those Medicines which are used to extinguish the seed withal Pessaries may be compounded to the same intent of the Leaves of Mercury bruised with a little Mirrh or the Pouder of Aristolochia or Birthwort which must be put up when the Patient is in the Bath lest otherwise the VVomb should be over-heated and after an hour it must be taken away And afterward let an Injection be made into the VVomb of VVhey or Barley water with a little Juyce of Nightshade Housleek or Hemlock which is specially commended in this Disease To purge out the Seed the following Bolus or Morsel will be very profitable Take of Venice Turpentine three drams Agaricktrochiscated one dram Carrot seed Hemp-seed and Lignum Aloes poudered of each eight grains With Sugar make all into a Bolus or Morsel to be swallowed If the Disease do yet continue let Issues be made in her Thighs for nothing is better than by such meanes to draw the matter downward from the Womb to those inferior parts And if swellings of the Spleen shall arise and Obstructions during this Cure as it often times happens they must be carefully cured with their proper Medicaments Finally Because in this Disease the Brain and Heart are grievously affected by reason of Vaporsarising from the Womb they are both of them diligently to be provided for the Brain being secured by rubbing and chafing the lower parts and by Cupping-glasses frequently fastened upon the Hipps and Groins and the heart defended by Cordial things out wardly applied both Liquid and Solid such as are described in our Chapter touching decay of strength Chap. 6. Of the Mother-Fits or Womb-sickness WHen Seed and Menstrual Blood are retained in Women besides the intent of Nature they putrefie and are corrupted and attain a malignant and venemous quality from whence venemous Vapors are elevated and carried to divers parts of the Body from whence divers Symptomes do arise and those so divers that Democriâ—us might justly say in his Letter to Hippocrates That the VVomb is Author of a thousand sad Sorrows and innumerable Calamities And Hippocrates himself saies in his Book of Virgins Diseases That miserable VVoman-kind is commonly laded with incomprehensible and manifold Diseases All which Infirmities we intend to explain in this Chapter under the name of Mother-Fits herein imitating Galen who in his sixt Book of Parts Affected and the fift Chapter saies that the Mother or Hysterical Passion is but one name indeed yet comprehending under it divers and innumerable Accidents Notwithstanding all late Writers in a manner do handle â—he Suffocation of the Womb under the Title of Hysterical Passion calling a particular Symptome by such a name as is common to many others because it of al the rest is most frequent and most troublesom But herein the very best Authors seem to have been superfluous in their Treatises of Womens Diseases while in different Chapters they describe several Diseases springing from the Womb viz. Suffocation of the Womb Head-ach Epileptical fits Palpitations of the Heart Pulsation of the Arteries about the short Ribs and in the Back the Diseases of the Stomach Liver and Spleen arising from the Womb and divers pains in sundry parts of the Body arising therefrom seeing all these Infirmities do arise from one and the same
respiration which if it were stopped and the Heart vigorous and hot present death would follow but that little warmth which is yet remaining in the Heart is cherished only by transpiration or ventilation through the Pores of the Body even as Creatures lying all the Winter in holes do live only by transpiration because they are exceeding cold and that little heat they have needs no ventilation by way of drawing in Air into their mouths Besides The fore mentioned cause of Womb-suffocation viz. A malignant and venemous vapor some ad another namely The ascending or rising of the Womb into the superior parts of the Body whereby the Stomach and Midrif are compressed from whence not only Hysterical Suffocations but other sicknesses also do arise This ascending of the Womb Hippocrates propounded in his Book of the Nature of Women in these words The Wombs of Women being turned from their Natural posture do strive towards the Liver and bear violently upon the Midrif for they are carried upwards seeking moisture to refresh them being over dried with Labor and the Liver is the fountain of pleasing moisture And Fernelius in his sixt Book of Pathology that is of Diseases and their causes Chap. 16. saies he had often felt the Womb thus ascending bearing up against the Stomach like a round Globe and grievously oppressing the same from whence it hath been often thrust down by force of hand and manifestly driven back into its own proper place Eustachius Rudius in the Second Book of his Practice in the 51. Chapter saies the same thing viz. That he with his own hands hath selt the Womb raised as high as the Navel and somtimes above the same and hath by little and little thrust the same down into its proper place But Galen in his sixt Book of Parts affected Chap. 5. opposes this Opinion and teaches that although the Womb may in some sort be moved and ascend yet that motion and ascention is very little neither is it any waies possible That the Womb should ascend unto the Stomach so far is it from being able to transcend the same so far as to reach unto the Midrif A very strong Reason hereof is brought from Anatomy seeing the VVomb is so fastened in its proper place by four very strong Ligaments that cannot be lifted up so high VVhereunto the Defenders of this Opinion do make answer That in the falling out of the VVomb those Ligaments are so relaxed that it is wont to come without the VVarer-gate and therefore it may ascend as far up as it can go down when those Ligaments are relaxed or slackened To this we reply That the falling out of the VVomb comes to pass by little and little through length of time by the moistening and softening of the Ligaments caused by a defluxion of Flegm thereupon but that which they call the Ascent or Rising of the VVomb or Mother happens in a moment and is as soon restored and it is requisite that the Ligaments should have been first relaxed and consequently all VVomen should be troubled with the falling out of their VVombs who are subject to this Ascent or rising we speak of because the occasions of this Ascent being ceased the VVomb would of its own accord and by its own proper weight fall down wards and lie continually without the Body It is harder to make Answer to the Experience of Fernelius Rudius and others of which they testifie themselves eye witnesses who profess they have with their own proper hands perceived the Womb to ascend like a Globe or Bowl to the Navel and higher being after wards by them thrust down into its own proper place Sennertus makes answer to this that the round body which was by them so felt was not the Womb but the Stones with that blind Vessel which from Fallopius the finder or first Observer thereof is called Fallopious his Trumpet becavse he likened the same to the broad end of a Trumpet For the Stones appertaining to the Womb being pendulous that is Hang dangling movable as on strings and the Body of the Trumpet aforesaid being hollow as a pipe lax and apt to move this way and that way when they are filled with corrupt Seed with vitious Humoes and with windy Vapors and swell and strout again they may move this way and that way in the lower Region of the Belly and ascend as high as the Navel And that such a round swelling may happen in the Stones and Trumpet as is somtimes felt in hystericall Women The observations of Riolanus may teach propounded in his Book called Anthropographia where he relates that in hysterical Virgins such as have had the Womb-sickness He had found their Stones greater than his Fist strouting with wheyish seed also the Trumpet of the womb amplefied or inlarged and very much widened And salius observed some such thing in a certain noble yong Damsel troubled with suffocations or strangling of the womb in whom one stone was swelled to the greatness of a large hand-bal being filled with a saffron-color'd humor very stinking and sending forth a filthy and poysonsom kind of vapor Which humor dyed the adjacent parts yellow just as we see the Gut Colon where it is carried under the Liver is by the Bladder of Gall rendered of a clay-like yellowish Colour Yet is not Sennertus very far from the judgment of the Authors aforesaid for granting as he saies that the Stones and Trumpet of the Womb being filled with corrupt sperm vitious Humors and vaporous winds do strout again move to and fro in the lower Region of the Belly and can ascend as high as the Navel seeing those parts are contiguous with the Womb they cannot be moved in the Region of the lower Belly nor ascend unto the Navel unless the Womb be moved with them so that this motion may be ascribed to the whol Womb very well as it consists of its owne perfect parts together with such parts as are knit there unto Againe if the Stones and Trumpet being filled with vitious Seed Humors or vapours may be diversly moued to and fro Why may not the Womb being filled with like Humors and vapors be moved with the same motion Thereason indeed of Sennertus which he borrowed from Galen does convince that the VVomb tied with four ligaments cannot ascend so high as the Midrif no not as high as the Stomach but it must not be denied that it may be carried as high as the Navel where the Authors aforesaid perceived that Globe both becavse those Ligaments may be somwhat stretched by matter working in them like yest and like-wise becavse the womb whiles it is blowne up sils a greater space and may be perceived towards the Navel so that whether the whole womb or the parts fastened there unto viz. The Stones and the Trumpet be moved upwards we may still call it the Rising of the VVomb or Mother and cleave to the Doctrin of Hippocrates Head-ach from the womb comes divers waies for
somtime it possesses the whol Head otherwhiles the forepart and then again the hinder part thereof and sometimes it is felt about the Eyes in such manner as if the Patients Eyes would leap out of her Head Now these pains are caused by the aforesaid sharp and malignant Vapors mounting into the Head and twitching as it were or grating upon these Membranous parts Also evil humors brought from the womb to the Head may cause the said pains For vitious Blood especially the more thin and wheyish part thereof ascends from the womb into the Head and being shed into the Membranous parts breâ—ds those pains VVhich pains are somtimes pricking smarting and sore as an Ulcer by reason of the sharpness of the Vapors or Humors ascending Sometimes they are stretching as it were and swelling because of the plenty and multiplicity which discend and stretch Somtimes they are pulsatory pain beating like the Pulse when the Vapors or Humors are carried thither in the Arteries or when the Arteries of some peculiar part of the Head are filled with over hot Blood The Falling-sickness springs from the womb being caused by the aforesaid sharp and malignant Vapors which being possessed with a very great Acrimony and malignity do vehemently and sharply smite the Nervous parts whereby they come to be contracted and whilst they endeavor to expel what offends them they draw themselves together and express these convulsive mocions Palpitation of the Heart is often caused by the said Vapors being carried from the womb to the Heart and provoking the expulsive faculty to the Heart Also a Pulsation is caused in the Arteries of the Back and about the short Ribs by reason of an over hot Blood carried from the womb into those Arteries and distending them whereby their Pulsation becomes greater which smiting the adjacent parts causes a feeling of the said Pulsation in them Yet somtimes such Pulsations are caused in Hypochondriacal melancholly which when we come to the Signs of this Disease we shal distinguish Divers disorders are likewise raised from the womb in the stomach liver and spleeâ— from the stomach disorders arise as appetite lost or more than is fit or desirous of absurd things or Hiccoughs Vomitings Belchings Heart-burnings al which Symptoms do spring from the aforesaid vapors sent into the stomach by the Hypogastrick and Caeliack arteries or other blind passages those vapors do stir up this variety of Symptoms according to the diversity of their Nature and the different degrees of their putrefaction and malignity For by their heat they cause want of appetite and thirst but if they be cold they hurt digestion And the coveting of absurd things as Chalk Oat-meal Smalcoles Linsey-Wolâ—ey cloth c. is caused by the malignant quality of the Humors and Vapors as we have shewed in our Discouse touching that Symptom and according to the different kind of malignity it comes to pass that the Patients appetite inclines her too long for this or that od thing as some for Coales others for Clay or Morter Salt Cinnamon Nutmegs c. And from a certain kind of malignity springs likewise the loathing of some certain meats and which is more wonderful in some hath been observed an universal loathing of al kind of Drink as Ludovicus Mercatus relates concerning a noble Gentlewoman which would not away with any Drink and of another who though she desired Drink yet did she Vomit it al up again being likewise vexed with other grievous Symptoms Where we may conjecture that the evil Humors in that Gentlewoman had attained such a kind of malignity as that is which causes Water-Fear in such as have been bitten with a Mad-dog It is notwithstanding undeniable that the diversity of parts into which these Humors and malignant Vapors are carried conduce not a little to the variety of the Symptoms For If they are carried unto the mouth of the Stomach they stir up Belchings and Vomitings if they stick to the Coates of the Stomach they induce perpetual inclinations to Vomit if they are endued with any singular Acrimony they cause Hiccoughs or pains of the Stomach which pains may also arise from the plenty of Humors weighing heavy upon and stretching the parts containing The Liver is easily offended by menstrual Blood retained and by the Veins â—lowing back thereinto hence springs the Green-sickness by reason of bad Blood flowing from the Womb into the Liver and from the Liver shed abroad into the whol Body Hence come Swellings Feavers and other Diseases very many in the whol Body and several parts thereof forasmuch as all of them are nourished by the Liver But if the vitious Blood aforesaid do flow back from the Womb unto the Spleen Swellings Stoppings and melanchollick and Hypochondriacal Diseases are wont to be raised And To conclude Women feel divers kinds of pains in their Loyns Thighs and other parts which arise from filthy Humors and Vapors conveighed from the Womb into the said parts Al which Symptoms taking rise from the Womb shal be distinguished from others which arise from other parts and are like them but produced from different causes in our following Description of the Signes of this Disease In the first place therefore Womb-sickness is known for the most part by what hath already been said of it For the fore recited Symptoms do appear therein not al in every one but some in one Patient some in another according to the differing condition of the Causes Now these Symtoms are Breathing depraved so as sometimes the Patient seems to be choaked other whiles her breathing is lessened or wholly taken away without any trouble or Sence of Suffocation Refrigeration or cooling of the whol Body and stopping or Interception of the Pulse somtimes also a taking away of Sence and motion somtimes Ravings Convulsions Swoonings Vomitings and Hiccoughs are joyned together But for a more clear Discovery of this Disease those Signs are first to be propounded which shew the Disease approaching such as have a noyse in their lower Belly first from the Navel downwards with belching or inclination to Vomit Wearinesses Yawnings and stretchings proceeding from a flatulent matter which begins to mount from the Womb into divers parts of the Body a sad Look pale Face caused by the drawing back of the Natural heat from those Parts to it's Fountains When the Disease gathers strength a sence of strangling begins to trouble the Patient as if they had swallowed some great morsel which stuck in their Throat Afterward their breathing stops and their Suffocation is increased And in conclusion al their Vital and Animal actions are depraved diminished or abolished Hence spring Ravings Convulsions and other grievous Symptoms In some the Womb is sensibly tossed and tumbled and gathered round like a Foot-bal and felt after that manner in divers parts of the lower part of the Body And when the Hysterical or Womb-Fit begins to go over a certain moisture flows out of the Water-gate their Guts rumble they lift up
their Eyes redness springs up in their Cheeks Sence and motion is restored their Body grows warm they fetch deep Sighs and so the Sick-Party by little and little is freed from her Fit By the Signs propounded Womb-sickness may easily be distinguished from such infirmities as are of kin or otherwise like the same viz. the Syncope Swooning-sickness Apoplexie blasting Planeâ—-striking and the Falling-sickness howbeit the difference between Womb-sickness and those diseases aforesaid is peculiarly to be noted And in the first place by three general Signs we may conjecture that these Symptoms which are common to Womb-sickness and the aforesaid maladies do proceed rather from the Womb than from any primary misaffection of the Heart or Brain The first whereof is that if the sick Patient be subject to Womb-sickness and hath been often anoyed with aforesaid Symptoms when they come afresh we may conclude the Disease to be no other than Womb-sickness The second is That when Women begin to feel those Symptoms they complain that their Womb is out of order A third is That in Womb-sickness Women do feel great ease when stinking things are put to their Noses and sweet smelling things are put in by the Water-gate which in those other infirmities falls not out And the Hysterical or womb-sickness is more peculiarly distinguished from that which we cal Syncope or the Swooning-Fits because in the Syncope the breathing and Pulse do wholly cease but in the VVomb-sickness it remaines in a small measure til they come into the very height of the Fit wherein is most danger Secondly The Swooning Fits come more quickly and seaze upon the Patient as it were on a sudden But in the VVomb-Fit there proceed evident tokens of the approaching Fit Thirdly The Patients Face is paler in the Swooning-fits than in the Womb-fits yea verily some Women have a ruddy countenance in their Fits of the Mother and than the Disease is sufficiently known by that Sign alone Fourthly In the Swooning Fits we find commonly cold and Diaphoretick Sweats which in the Womb-fits appear not Fiftly The Swooning Fits aâ—e shorter and the Patient is soon either wel or dead but the strangling Fits of the Mother last longer continuing a whol day or divers daies together sometimes But it is to be remembred that the Swooning-sickness and the Womb-fits are somtimes joyned together when the Heart is more grievously afflicted than ordinary or when the Patients strength hath been much weakned by protraction of the Disease and then the Symptoms of both Diseases may be mixed one with another The Womb-Fit is distinguished from the Apoplexie First because that in the Wombs-Choaking-Fits the Joynts are not so loosened neither is the Sence of feeling wholly gone as in the Apoplexie but if they be pricked or have their hairs puld off they give a sufficient Sign with their Hands that they feel the pain Secondly In persons Apoplectical Planet-struck as the simpler sort do phrase it there is a perpetual snorting of the Patient but in the Womb-stranglings not Thirdly Womb-strangled Patients when their Fit is over remember what was done and said during their extremity but in the Apoplexie it is not so It is distinguished from the Falling-sickness First Because convulsive motions are not alwaies â—â—yned with Hysterical Suffocations and those that do accompany the womb-Fits are not so Universal as in the Falling sickness but molest only one or two members Secondly The Pulse is greater in the Fits of the Falling-sickness than it uses to be when the Patient is wel but in the Mother-Fits it is quite contrary Thirdly In the Falling-sickness the Patient fomes at the mouth but in the Mother-Fits there is no such foming Fourthly In the Falling-sickness the Patient remembers not what was done to her during the Fit but in the Mother-sickness she remembers al as we shewed before Fiftly Those that have Fits of the Mother do in the end of the Fit come to themselves like persons awaked from sleep with a noyse in the lower part of the Belly the Womb as it were becoming quiet and returning to it 's Natural place and sometime much humor flows from the Womb which doth not befal such as have the Falling-sickness We must also enquire how such as are in the Fits of the Mother may be distinguished from those that are quite dead seeing many Histories relate that some Women in that Case have been accounted dead appointed to buryal yea and some buryed The waies which Authors prescribe to make this tryal are divers For either they lay teazed wool or light Feathers upon the Patients mouth and if they stir not she is given over for dead or they apply a bright looking Glass to her mouth which will be dulled with her breath if she be yet alive or they set a cup full of water upon her breast and if the water stir not they account the party dead These Signs do for the most part hold good but they are not perpetual neither do they put the matter past dispute seeing as was said before some VVomen in these Fits do live only by Transpiration as those live-wights which live in holes al the winter and fetch no breath at al by their mouths VVhich though it very seldom fals out yet it is a very good Caution not to suffer women which die of this Disease to be buried til the third day after their death or at least til they begin to stink The Signs of the Causes are likewise to be declared which Causes we have shewed to be three viz. Seed retained and corrupted Menstrual Blood in like manner retained and corrupted and vile humors contained in the vessels or in the Cavitie of the womb If this Disease arise from Seed retained or corrupted there have preceeded al those Causes which might encrease gather together and corrupt the Seed in the vessels as flourishing age ripe for Generation or formerly accustomed to the actions thereof which of late it hath left off Sanguine complexion an idle life and given to pleasures a rich and plentiful table with the use of such meates as are easily corrupted In such persons if the womb-Fits happen they having their Courses wel we may guesse they come from Seed retained If these womb-Fits depend upon the Menstrual Blood retained and corrupted as their cause the Patients Courses are either wholly stopt or flow very little and to no purpose and she her self is not to seek for carnal Embracements but wel provided And some Symptoms do attend this suppression as Melancholly Waspishness Sluggishness Drowsiness Head-ach swelling of the Dugs heaviness of the Loyns and Thighs That this Disease comes from evil Humors is known by the Patient having her Courses well being exercised sufficiently with actions of Generation by her being stept into years or being very sull of evil Humors or being troubled with some other Disease in her womb We must also set down these Signs of those other Symptoms which we formerly described as springing from
be good to give divers daies together made of Sassafras Guajacum with seeds of Fennel Rue and Agnus Castus To the same intent Sulphurous and Bitumenous Baths will be very good such as we have at Baleruca by whose use many are holpen as daily experience shews In this Disease being of long continuance besides the remedies aforesaid it will be good to purg the Patient frequently by usual Pills Syrups or Potions VVhich may be made after this manner Take Troches of Agarick one dram and an half Hiera of Coloquintida one dram Carrot seed Agnus Castus seed of each one scruple mirrh Costoreum Diagrydium of each half a scruple Turpentine as much as shall suffice to make all into a Mass Let her take hereof half a dram or two scruples twice or thrice in a month The following Syrup is mightily extolled by Mercatus as a wonderful Syrup and very prositable for all womb-sick women in his 13. Counsel Take Juice of Herb Mercury and the Cream of Carthamus seeds of each six ounces Scorzonera water seven ounces Sugar as much as shall suffice to make it into a Syrup Add hereunto while it boyls Confection of the Hyacinth stone Confection of Rermes Berries and Pouder of the Electuary de Gemmis that is made of precious Stones of each two drams Let the Dose be two or three ounces Take Briony Roots three drams Senna Leaves half an ounce Agarick two scruples Ginger one scruple Cinnamon one dram Let them steep all night in Fountain water In the straining mix one ounce of syrup of Damask Roses Make hereof a potion to be taken twice or thrice in a month Pilulae foetidae majores that is strong smelling Pils made of Gums taken twice in a month to half a dram are very profitable In such as easily vomit it is good to provok to cast once or twice in a month after this manner Take Agarick cakes troches of Agarick one dram and an half Oxymel one ounce Bawm water and Mugwort water of each three ounces Mix all into a vomiting Potion Chymists give salt of Vitriol in some appropriate water from half a dram to one dram and cry it up for a specifick remedie in womb-fits After all particular evacuations are ended that is after each evacuation some strengtheners are to be administred such as this following Electuary Take Conserve of Rosemary flowers Betony and Bawm of each one ounce and an half Species of the musked Electuary and of Electuary of Calaminth of each half a dram With syrup of Mugwort Make all into an Electuary Treacle by it self is very proper for this occasion which for hotter constitutions may be tempered by the mixture of Conserve of water Lillies Maiden-haire c. But the following pouder is far more effectual which heales old and stubborn womb-fits if it be frequently taken one dram at a time in Wine in a bolus or morsell made up with syrup of Mugwort Take Gentian Roots white Dictamnus tormentill pellitorie Rhaponticum Bistort Aristolochia or Birthwort the rounder Chamelion thistle Bay-berries Angelica Master-wort Coriander seeds prepared annis seed juniper berries Mastich Bole armoniack Terra Sigillata of each two drams and an half Orientall Saffron three ounces and an half Make all into a fine pouder and keep it in a close vessel Neither must we omit such Medicaments which are wont to help these fits by a peculiar property thought to be in them An Example whereof may be this that follows made in Pills because of the ungrateful taste of the Simples Take Assafoetida half a scruple Castoreum Mirrh Galbanum Sagapenum of each one scruple With Honey of Mercury make a Mass of which give the Patient half a scruple or a scruple frequently Platerus makes Pills of extreamly odoriferous Ingredients after this manner Take of Musk six grains Benjamin half a dram Sugar one dram With Cinnamon Water make them into a Mass for Pills The Dose is half a scruple Those Hysterical Waters before set down to be given in the fits may likewise be profitably used out of the fits a spoonful or two in a morning when the Patient is free by way of prevention Mathiolus extreamly commends the Briony Root in these words Briony doth wonderfully help Women subject to strangulations of the Womb so as to free them from their choaking fits and cure them Truly I knew a Woman dayly almost vexed with these fits for a yeer together who being at last taught by an ordinary Herb-man to drink white Wine wherein an ounce of Briony Root had been boyled once in a week when she was going to bed when she had used this Medicine for a yeer together she was perfectly recovered of that Disease The Liver of a Wolf dried and one dram taken may prevent the fits of the Falling-sickness proceeding from the Mother if it be given three or four times after an ordinary Purgation The Chymists do commend Vitriolum Martis that is Vitriolated Steel or chalybeated Vitriol or Salt of Steel whereof they give a grain or two with a double quantity of Sugar many daies together in Wine or other fitting Liquor And the Truth is it may be given to twelve fifteen and twenty grains in some convenient Conserve or it may be made into Pills with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth Cream of Tartar frequently taken is also very good in the Cure of this Disease These two Medicines do good not only by opening but also by cooling for oftentimes an hot distemper is rooted in the womb of VVomen subject to this Disease arising from Blood retained within its Veins and over-heated as Galen saies in Hypochondriacal Melancholly That there is a burning distemper in the Parts under the short Ribs by reason of blood retained in them by obstructions and there over-heated Those things therefore which have power to cool the Womb are very proper in this case such as are Baths to sit in Vinegar and Water mingled and drunk down or injected and such like Unto which we may add the History related by Dr. Harvey touching the Childing of a woman long afflicted with womb-fits not curable by all that could be done who at length after many yeers was cured by means of the falling out of her womb Because her Womb exposed to the Air was cooled and so its Inflamation and hot distemper was repressed Also the use of Steel it self is much commended by some Practitioners as very convenient for all Infirmities of the VVomb VVhose Preparations look for in our Cure of Obstructions of the Liver Issues made in the Thighs are likewise very good For they derive and turn aside evil Humors from the womb by reason of those Veins which are common to the womb and Thighs Neither are Amulets to be neglected fastened about the Patients Neck and hanging down upon her Navel as we formerly mentioned touching the Elks Claw good in this case Some commend Peucedanum or Hog-fennel root hung in a string about the Neck And our women do with good success wear a piece
of Assafoetida in a thin rag of cloth I have known some that have worn a Foxes Pizzle and Stones dried tied about their Neck in a string and resting upon their Navel and by that means preserved themselves from the womb-fits Some wear a piece of Wolfs flesh dried or of the Liver of a Wolf not without profit As for external Remedies after every Purge or at least once in a month eight or ten daies before the monthly Purgations of blood Fomentations or Baths to sit in will be good that the Humor causing this Disease being resolved may more easily find its way by the opened Passages of the Courses and flow out with them They may be made of the Roots of Marsh-mallows Briony Roots Orris Roots Madder Valerian Angelica Mugwort Leaves Nep Feverfew Bawm Bayberries and such like To discuss the remainders of the Matter causing the Disease and to strengthen the Womb after Fomentation or fitting in a Bath as aforesaid the following Plaister may be said on under the Navel Take Gum Tacamahacca and Caranna of each two drams Alipta Moschata half an ounce Agnus Castus seeds one dram and an half of each of the Sanders half a dram Turpentine Labdanum Wax of each as much as shall suffice to make a Plaister If this Disease arise from the Seed retained use those Remedies which we have formerly set down to quench and discuss Seed in our Cure of Womb-Fury Chap. 7. Of Inflamation of the Womb. INflamation of the Womb is a Tumor or swelling of that Part springing from blood that is shed into the substance thereof And the said Inflamation possesses either the whol Womb or some part thereof and it is produced either by pure blood and is called meerly Phlegmont an Inflamation or it comes from blood mingled with Choller and it is called Phlegmone erysipelatodes a chollerick Inflamation of kin to the Rose or St. Anthonies fire or it hath its original from blood mingled with flegm and is called Phlegmone oedematodes a flegmatick Inflamation or it comes from blood mingled with Melancholly and is called Phlegmone Scirrhodes which is a Melanchollick Inflamation or Swelling The Causes which produce or encrease this Disease may be divers viz. A Sanguine Constitution over loaded with blood or infected with choller a natural loosness of the womb w th wideness of the passages air extream hot inflaming the humors or very cold compacting knitting them together and so stopping the monthly Courses flowing or ready to flow vehement Exercise immoderate carnal Conjunctions a blow or fall lighting upon the Wombs Quarters Perturbations of Mind more violent than ordinary especially wrath acrimonious or sharp vehement meats of a hot nature and whatever else is taken in of a fretting and vehement operation as Authors report of Cantharides That they are very hurtful as well to the womb as the bladder sharp Pessaries long time used or purging Medicines or strong alteratives such as barren women are wont to take and rend from all quarters Retention of the Courses encreasing the over fulness of blood or over great flux of Courses relaxing the Passages and bringing the Humors from all the parts of the Body to the Womb likewise Cupping-glasâ—es fastened about the privy parts may violently draw the blood and humors unto the Region of the Womb and there detain them Laborsom Child-birth may cause as much Abortion a violent handling of the parts of Generation by an unskilful Midwise and a troublesom inconvenienâ— bearing of a Child in the Womb. The Signs to know the Disease by are Swelling Heat and Pain in the Region of the Womb with a continual Feaver But because the strait Gut that is that which is united to the Dung-gate and the Bladder do lodg in the same quarters with the Womb therfore must we distinguish this Disease by other signs such are Suppression or diminution of the Courses and their paleness or yellowish citrine color with pain in their coming forth and in the absence of the Courses certain stinking and rotten stuff sweats through the Vessels of the Womb and bedews the VVater-Gate Whereinto if search be made it will plainly discover the Disease for the inner mouth of the womb will be sound to swell to be drawn inwards and subject to pain if touched the neck of the womb will appear red and inflamed the Veins dispersed there-through strutting with blood If the whol Womb be inflamed all Symptomes will be more vehement If the Inflamation be rather in the neck of the womb the heat and pain is spread most towards the Groyns and the Water-Gate If the former side of the womb do suffer the Bladders fellow-seeing wil be the greater If the hinder side of the Womb be inflamed the strait Gut will be more compassionate and the pain wil stretch itself towards the Loyns If the right or left side of the womb be inflamed the heat and pain wil appear most about the one Groyn and the Thigh of the same side wil be heavy and as it were in a sort burdened The Signs of the Causes are these If the Inflamation spring from pure blood al the Symptomes are milder but if there be Choller mingled therewith the Feaver is more burning and al the Symptomes are more vehement but if the blood be Flegmatick or Melanchollick the Feaver wil be less acute but the Disease more lasting and more stubborn And here we are to consider such Signs as may inform us what Humor is most predominant in the whol Body If the Inflamation turn to an Imposthume and gather Matter the pain and Feaver are encreased and shaking sits come without any certain course yet commonly they take their turn about Evening And al the other Symptomes are heightened When Suppression is accomplished al the Symptomes are mitigated and Swelling rises higher whereby somtimes the Excrement of the Guts or Urine is stopped But if the Inflamation be discussed without Suppuration the Swelling lessens and the Symptomes becomes gentler If it turn to a Scirrhus that is hard swelling the Feaver Pain and other Symptomes are diminished the Swelling abides becomes harder likewise the weight and heaviness remain both in the womb and the adjacent parts so that the Patient can hardly stir her self A good Prognostick cannot be made of this Disease because it is very dangerous and for the most part deadly But more or less danger is threatened according to the greatness of the Disease its Causes and Symptomes as thus If the Inflamation possess the whol Womb it s a desperate Disease but if only a part be inflamed there is some hope of help If a VVoman with Child have a Chollerick swelling in her womb its deadly Hipp. Aphor. 43. Sect. 5. For the Child dies by reason of the greatness of the Inflamation whereupon follows Abortion which coming upon the back of a grievous disease kils the Mother Galen in his Comments upon this Aphorism doubts if this be not true of every Inflamation of the womb as well as
of the Chollerick and whether it be possible that a Child in such a case can live Inflamation of the womb easily degenerates into a Gangrene Because the womb as it were the Bodies Close-stool receives a mighty charge of nasty Excrements by which the inbred heat is easily suffocated Ravings turning of the womb Hiccoughs Coldness of the Hands and Feet Diaphoretick sweat seizing on a woman in this Disease do portend sudden death If an Inflamation of the womb come to Suppuration its hopeful that it may be cured but a foul Ulcer will follow which wil make the Patient to pine away with a lingering Feaver or to fall into the Dropsie If the Inflamation turn into a Scirrhus the evil becomes lasting and often brings a Dropsie To cure this Infirmity the Course of the Blood to the Womb is to be drawn back it is to be driven from the womb it is to be diverted another way that which is flown in and contained in the part is to be resolved And if the swelling tend to suppuration it is to be furthered and when it is broken the Matter or Quittor must be voided out Which may be done by the following Remedies An Emollient and cooling Clyster being premised let Blood be drawn from the Basilick Vein of the Arm on that side on which the Womb is most affected or from both Arms if the swelling be in the whol Womb and let the Blood-letting be repeated twice thrice or four times according to the strength of the Patient and the greatness of the Inflamation After sufficient Revulsion the Disease being come to its height when there is no longer suspition of any present flux into the Womb the lower Veins are to be opened to derive from the part affected In which sence we must understand Galen in his Book of Blood-letting and in his 13. Book of the Method of Healing where he teacheth That in the Inflamation of the Womb we must open the Veins about the Knees and Anckles But so long as there remains any Indication of Revulsion it is better to open the Veins of the Arm. Also to revel or draw back the Humors Frictions are good and Ligatures or bindings of the uper parts and Cupping-Glasses set upon the Shoulders Loyns and Back If vitious Humors especially Chollerick do abound in the Body which are as it were the Coach of the other Humors to hurry them about the Body they are to be evacuated with gentle Medicaments as Syrup of Roses and Syrup of Violets solutive Manna Rhubarb Catholicon or Electuary Lenitive for stronger Medicaments by stirring the Humors over much would excite the Flux of Humors more abundantly to the part affected And vomiting Medicaments though prescribed by Avicenna seem no way convenient in this case For if they be mild and gentle they evacuate nothing to speak of If they be stronger they cause a great Agitation in the Body by which means the Humors being in a Commotion may flow more plentifully unto the part diseased In regard of the greatness of the Feaver cooling Medicaments are to be used as Juleps and Emulsions whereunto if very great wakings pain and tumblings and tossings do disquiet the Patient some Narcoticks may be added which may likewise be given by themselves After the First Evacuations let outward Medicines be applied to the lower part of the Belly between the Navel and the Share and about the Kidneys first of all repelling and cooling things in the form of a Liniment an Epithem and Cataplasm The Liniment may be made of Oyl of Roses washed in Vinegar or of Oyntment of Roses Ceratum Santalinum or Galens cooling Oyntment with a little Vinegar added The Epitheme may be made of the Waters or Decoction of Plantane Sorrel Nightshade the tops of white Poppies and Roses adding a little Bole-Armoniack Dragons Blood and Terra Sigillata The Cataplasm or Pultiss may be made of the Crums of fine Manchet boyled with Milk to which a little Oyl of Roses may be added with Juyce of Henbane Nightshade and the whites of Eggs or of Barley Meal Linseed Fenugreek seed with Oyl of Roses whereunto likewise the aforesaid Plants being bruised may be added Injections must be made into the Womb compounded after this manner Take Plantane Leaves Water-lilly Leaves Nightshade and Endive of each one handful red Roses two pugils Boyl all till a third part of the Water be consumed and add to the strainings Oyl of Mirtles one ounce Vinegar half an ounce Make an Injection Of the same Herbs bruised with Oyl of Roses and Vinegar Pessaries may be made and put into the Womb. Neither must Repelling and Refrigerating Medicaments be long used lest the Swelling harden and degenerate into a Scirrhus Wherefore softening and discussing things are to be mingled with the repelling Simples with this Proviso That the longer the Inflamation is from its Infancy the greater must be the quantity of Digestives So that to the foresaid Medicaments may be added Mallows Marsh-mallows Mugwort Fenugreek Chamomel Melilot their Dose being augmented or diminished as the case shall require In the mean while if the Patient be costive she must be helped by gentle Purgatives Yea and the truth is frequent Clysters may do a great deal of good to temper the Inflamation seeing the Womb rests upon the streight Gut called Intestinum reotum But let them be little in quantity that they may be kept the longer and that they may not compress the Womb of which this may be an Example Take Marsh-mallow Roots the Leaves of Mallows Violets Lettice of each one handful Nightshade half a handful Violet flowers red Roses of each a pugil sowr Prunes ten boyl them in Barley Water In six ounces of the strained Broth mix three ounces of Oyl of Roses and make all into a Clyster If the Patient be in great pain to the aforesaid Clysters may be added the Yolks of Eggs the fat of an Hen Breast-milk Mucilage of the seeds of Fenugreek Lin-seed or Mallows yea and a little quantity of Opium with some Saffron In such a case Injections into the Womb may likewise be made of Goats or Sheeps Milk with Opium and Saffron of each three or four grains and a little Rose Water Or unto Pessaries may be added a little Opium with a little Saffron the whites of Eggs and Oyl of Roses Or Pessaries may be made of Philonium Romanum with Cotton Or a Fomentation to ease pain may be prepared on this manner Take Marsh-mallows Branch and Root Violet Leaves of each a handful Chamomel Melilot Roses of each a pugil Boyl all for a Fomentation When the Disease begins to decline Purgation is to be iterated with gentle Purgatives And when the Disease tends to a Resolution or Conclusion which is known by remission of the Symptomes and because the part is not so oppressed with any Heaviness Discussives must be used in greater quantity than any of the foregoing Medicaments Or this Cataplasm may be made Take Pouder of Marsh-mallow
Roots one ounce Chamomel and Melilot flowers of each two drams Mugwort Leaves poudered Barley and Bean meal of each half an ounce boyl them a little in harsh red Wine add new Hogs Grease Oyl of Chamomel and Lillies of each one ounce Make a Pultiss or Cataplasm Fomentations and Baths to sit in may likewise do good in this case If the swelling cannot be discussed but seem to tend to suppuration it is to be furthered by the following Cataplasm Take Marsh-mallow Roots poudered Chamomel flowers Melilot Meal of Lin-seed Fenugreek of each one ounce fat Figs eight boyl all to the consistence of a Pultiss Then add the yolks of four Eggs Saffron half a scruple Oyl of Lillies and fresh Butter of each an ounce Make of all a Cataplasm When Matter or Quittor is made which may be known by the abatement of heat and pain and by a certain inundation perceivable by the touch the Matter quaking like a quagmire endeavor must be used to break the Imposthume by moving of the Body by coughing by neezing by fastening Cupping-glasses by clensing and attenuating Injections or by Pessaries that wil draw and break As for Example Take Goose-Grease half an ounce Turpentine two drams Rue seeds poudered Nitre Orice Roots of each half a dram Mix all and with Wool make a Pessary When the Imposthume is broke we must endeavor to purge out the Quittor or Matter and to clense and consolidate or close up the Ulcer as shall be shewed in the Cure of an Ulcer of the Womb in the Chapter immediately following Chap. 8. Of an Vlcer of the Womb. AFter a suppurated Inflamation of the Womb follows an Ulcer which likewise depends upon other Causes namely so many as may cause an Erosion fretting or gnawing the substance of the Womb. The Causes therefore hereof are An Imposthume breaking Sharp Humors flowing into the Womb Sharp and Corrosive Medicines conveyed into the Womb or taken at the Mouth as was said before touching Cantharides or Spanish Flyes The Antecedent Causes are all such things which we have formerly shewed have power to cause an Inflamation as difficult Child-birth violent and unbridled Carnal Conjunction a long flux of Sharp Humors from the Womb wounds fals and bruises and especially a venemous Gonorrhea and the Lechers Pocks the infection whereof is soon communicated to the Womb and its Neck The Differences of this Disease are taken from the place the magnitude the figure and complication with other Infirmities In respect of the place that is to say the several parts of the Womb the Ulcer is somtimes possessed of the Neck of the Womb and its inner Orifice somtimes it is in the bottom though but seldom Somtimes and that most frequently it seizes the inner surface of the Womb somtimes but seldom it assaults the outer surface whence it comes to pass that somtimes the Quittor of these Ulcers comes out by the Bladder or Guts or if it settle in the Cavity of the Abdomen Imposthumes arise about the Patients Groyns of which Hippocrates speaks in his 47. Aphor. Sect. 5. In respect of Quantity some are great others smal Ulcers according as they take up more or less space in the Womb which if they be little and superficial they differ little from the Scab and Itch but if they be great grievous and as it were devouring they are called by Hippocrates Nomae that is eating Ulcers In regard of their Figure Ulcers are called Round Long Hollow or Fistulous that is like a Pipe In regard of Complication with other Infirmities they are called Phlegmonous Cancerous Scirrhous Painful VVater-bloodish Poysonous and Infectious The Signs of an Ulcer bred in the VVomb are Pain and biting in the womb or its neck voiding of snotty Matter or Quittor out of the Womb which Diagnosis wil be more illustrated if the Causes producing the Ulcer such as we have mustered up have preceded If the Ulcer possess the neck of the womb it is discerned by the sight by help of the Womb perspective Instrument also by the Midwiâ—es hand or in the genial Embracement in which the Patient feels a troublesom pain But if the Ulcer be in the bottom of the Womb the pain is felt about the Share and the Excrements flow more abundantly If the Ulcer pierce to the outward surface the Patients Urines or Stools appear Matterish or a Fluctuation is perceived in the Paunch or a Swelling towards the Groyns where it threatens to Imposthumate If the Ulcer be single and benign the Quittor is little white and not stinking But if it be malignant and eating the Quittor will be greenish Lead colored and party-colored coming away with great pain and stink If it shall arise of the Lechers Pox Gonorrhoea will usher it in or attend upon it and other tokens of the Whore-masters Pox will appear For the Prognosticks of this Infirmity Hippocrates in the first Book of Womens Sicknesses saies That no Ulcer in the Womb ought to be slighted because it is in a part of exquisite feeling which hath a fellow feeling with the principal parts of the Body and is very much disposed to receive a flood of Excrements from them If the Ulcers of the VVomb prove Cancerous Phagedenick or VVolf-ish such as we simple people cal the VVoolf and tel strange tales about how it eats flesh c. hollow or fistulous they are for the most part incurable and do vex the poor Patients miserably all their life long Ulcers in the Neck of the VVomb are more easily cured because Medicaments may be applied to them immediately In women that are recovering of this Disease it is a token of perfect health if they begin to conceive and conveniently to receive the Mans Sperm or if they have their monthly Courses orderly and without pain The Cure of a womb Ulcer must tend to hinder the flowing in of such Humors as either beget or cherish the Ulcer and to clense the Ulcer and cause it to come to a coalition To which purpose the following Remedies may be used And first of all If the Patient be over ful of blood or the Ulcer have an Inflamation joyned therewith a Vein in the Arm must be opened and repeated so often as there seems danger of a new Fluxion which is especially to be done when the Patient hath her Courses that they may flow the less because they are wont to supply Matter to the Ulcer and to cause other Humors to flow unto the womb Also Purgation is very necessary that the Body may be freed from evil Humors and it ought to be procured by the gentler sort of Purgatives as Senna Rhubarb Tamarinds Myrobalans Catholicum and such like and Purgation is often to be repeated that evil Humors may be diverted from the womb and it is in this case of such moment that Forestus witnesseth in the 48. Observation of his 28. Book That John Tiengius a Physitian of Amsterdam cured a Gentlewoman of Amsterdam of an Ulcer in her womb to
whom he gave every fourth day five ounces of the Decoction of Senna Epithimum red Roses and Indian Myrobalans sweetened with Sugar using to cast clensing Decoctions as Injections into her womb For to be ever in a readiness This following Magisterial Syrup may be compounded Take of the greater Comfry Roots and new Polypody of the Oak of each one ounce Citron peels dried six drams Leaves of Plantane Vinca pervinca Ladies mantle Sorrel Maiden-hair of each a handful Liquoris scraped and split and Raisons stoned of each one ounce Senna clensed six ounces Carthamus seeds bruised two ounces Agarick newly made into Cakes and bound in a Cloth ten drams Musk-melone seeds and Annis seeds of each three drams the Cordial Flowers Rosemary Flowers and Epithimum of each one pugil Make of all a Decoction in Barley Water in part whereof infuse of choyce Rhubarb half an ounce Cinnamon one dram In a pint and half of the strained Liquor dissolve three ounces of the Syrup of Damask Roses and as much Sugar as shall be requisite to make it into a Syrup perfectly boyled Of this let her take two or three ounces twice or thrice in a month with some Decoction of Agrimony and Plantane or the Infusion of Rhubarb in Endive Water If the Patient be easie to vomit a purge upwards by Vomit is to be preferred before the other because it draws back the Humors from the womb In the spaces between purging a Vulnerary Decoction is long to be used which may be made after this manner Take Leaves of Agrimony Burnet Knotgrass Plantane of each half a handful China Roots three drams Coriander seeds one dram Currence half a dram red Sanders one scruple Boyl all in the Broth of a Chicken Let the Patient take of the strained Liquor morning and evening Or Take Leaves of Mugwort Plantane Yarrow of each one handful Rhaponticum half an ounce Agnus Castus seed one dram Boyl all in a sufficient quantity of white Wine Sweeten the strained Liquor with Sugar and give her two or three ounces in a morning If a Feaver urge and great quantity of bloodyish Quittor be voided Whey and Milk will be very good let her take eight ounces or more in a morning adding a little Honey of Roses or Sugar If her flesh begin to fall a way with tokens of an Hectick Feaver Milk especially Asses Milk must be given with Sugar of Roses for a whol month Sweat-provoking Medicines may likewise do good where there is no Inflamation nor hot distemper to dry the Ulcer and to revel the serous humors towards the habit of the Body Turpentine washed in some convenient water for the womb as of Mugwort or Feaverfew or in some water respecting the Ulcer as of Plantane and red Roses taken now and then with Sugar of Roses doth clense and consolidate or fil up the Ulcer Pils of Bdellium given to a dram at a time or every day or once in two daies one scruple do very much good and stop the blood in case it flow Or new Pills may be made on purpose to be used after the same manner thus Take Bdellium three drams Mirrh Frankinsence of each one dram Sarcocella Storax Amber Cheb-Myrobalans of each half a dram red Coral two scruples With Syrup of Poppies make a Mass fit for Pills whereunto in case of extream pain a little Opium may be added Trochisci Alkekengi Cakes compounded with Winter-Cherries of which consult my London Dispensatory with Opium are likewise being poudered given to drink down where the Patient is troubled with great pain Also to mitigate pain the same Remedies may be used which we prescribed for that intent in our discourse of the Inflamation of the womb This following Pouder is very effectual to dry up the Ulcer Take Acacia Juyce of Hypocistis of each one dram Dragons blood fine Starch Plantane Roots Birthwort or round Aristolochia Roots of each half a dram Bole Armoniack one dram Mastich Sarcocolla of each half a dram Make all into a most sine Pouder whose Dose let be one dram with Plantane water red Rose water or water wherein Steel hath been often quenched Zacutus Lusitanus in the 87. Observation and the 88. of his second Book propounds an Electuary and a Water wherewith he witnesseth that he had cured Ulcers of the womb judged incurable Any one may find the Description of them in the places above cited To clense dry and fill up the Ulcer divers sorts of Injections are usually made which are nevertheless not to be used until the Inflamation be first taken away which is oftentimes attendant upon these kind of Ulcers and until the pain be asswaged which is not only very troublesom but also by vexing the part it is wont to encrease the flux of Humors In regard therefore of that same Inflamation and sharpness of Humors let Emulsions of the cooling Seeds VVhey of Goats Milk or Milk it self either alone or mingled with the Juyce of Plantane and Shepheards-purse or if need be a Decoction of Poppy heads and the tops of Mallows be first of al injected Some Practitioners are of Opinion that luke-warm water alone doth very much good in these cases if it be often injected And there is reason for it seeing by that means the heat and Inflamation of the womb is tempered the pain is asswaged and the filth adhering to the Ulcer is washed off Valescus de Taranta doth approve of cold water likewise in these words I have known saies he some women who perceiving they had Vlcers in their wombs did wash them with cold Water and then wipe them clean and dry them with linnen cloaths which they did often prâ—â— in at the Watergate And by these means often renewed they came many times to be perfectly cured The hot distemper taken away and the pain asswaged or for the most part diminished we must proceed to Clensers first using the more light and easie Clensers and after the more strong The gentle Clensers are VVhey taken with Sugar Barley water sweetened with Sugar or Honey of Roses to make it more clensing or Hydromel simple see my Dispensatory a mixture of water and honey boyled a while together For a more strong Clenser use the Decoction of Barley Lintels shaled Beans and the Leaves of Smallage Pellitory of the wal Plantane boyled together a little Honey of Roses being added to the straining VVhen the Ulcer is very foul the wound-decoction commonly called Aqua Catapultarum is the best thing that can be used whose Composition is thus Take the Roots of Gentian Rhapontick Zedoary and round Aristolochia or Birthwort of each one ounce white Wine six pints boyl all till a third part of the Liquor be consumed In the straining dissolve half a pound of white Sugar Let it be kept for use as occasion requires Or the following Decoction may be provided Take of whol Barley course Bran and red Roses of each one pugil Leaves of Agrimony Wormwood Woodbind and Smallage of each one handful
Womb an heaviness in the same place and a sence of some weight bearing down especially when the sick woman stands as though the womb would fal down into the water-Gate but when they sit or lie it bears upon the streight Gut with its weight There is no Feaver nor pain wherein it differs from an Inflamation or at most there is but very little pain in an imperfect Scirrhus but in the Womb there is none If it follow an Inflamation the Feaver and pain ceases the hardness and resistence abiding If it be in the Body of the Womb it is easily discerned by handling the parts about the Share but if it be in the Neck of the womb it may be perceived by ones finger It is distinguished from a Mole by the preceding Causes and because in a Mole if the Courses flow they flow disorderly but in this Hard Swelling they keep their order and in a Mole the womans Dugs strout with Milk but in the Hard Swelling they are extenuated As for the Prognostick Signs Every Scirrhus or hard stony Swelling is very exceeding hard to cure for an extream Hardness once contracted can hardly be softened also Natural heat is so very weak in that part where there is such a Swelling that it can very hardly discuss an hard and almost stony substance A great and unvanquishable Scirrhus or stony Swelling doth at length bring the Dropsie to keep him company A Scirrhus or stony hard Swelling of the womb if it be tampered withal with over hot and moist Medicaments it turns into a Cancer The Cure of this Disease aims at two things the Antecedent Cause and the conjoyned or concomitant Cause In respect of the Antecedent Cause a Vein must be opened first in the Arms if the Disease be of no very long continuance afterward in the lower parts especially when the Patients Courses are stopt The opening of the Hemorrhoid Veins is also very profitable in this case For they do both evacuate dreggy blood and they turn the Humor from the womb because of the communion which the Veins have with the womb Purging is likewise necessary by fits repeated procured by such Medicines as purge Melancholly using first the gentler and then the stronger sort by degrees And before the Purges such things must be given as prepare the Melancholly Humor and open the narrow passages of the Excrements in the form of Apozems Juleps or Broths according to the disposition of the sick party And besides the ordinary Openers Medicines with Steel must be likewise used whereby those strongest Obstructions caused by thick and rebellious Humors in the Womb and other parts may be dissolved And that superfluous humors may be derived from the womb Issues may profitably be made in the Thighs which are to be kept open until the Patients monthly Courses which are commonly stopt in this Disease shal return unto their ordinary form in respect of time quantity and quality In respect of the conjoyned Cause Emollient and Resolving Medicaments are to be applied outwardly compounded after this manner Take the Roots of Marsh-mallows and Lillies of each two ounces the leaves of Mallows Violets Marsh-mallows Bears-foot of each one handful Leaves of Mugwoâ—t Nep of each half a handful Seeds of Line and Fenugreek of each one ounce Flowers of Chamomel and Melilot of each a pugil Make a Decoction of all wherewith the Region of the Share and the Groins must be fomented a warm sponge being first dipped therein and then squeezâ—d out and so laid on and held to the parts aforesaid For the greater mollifying the Decoction may be made in Water and sweet Oyl or in the Broth made of a Wethers Guts There may also be added to the Decoction that it may become more powerful the Roots of Briony and wild Cucumers for we must begin with the milder and proceed to the stronger by Degrees Of the same Decoction augmenting the quantity of the Simples may a Bath be made for the Patient to sit in which is very effectual in this Case and more powerful than a Fomentation â—lso frequent Clysters and Injections into the Womb are to be made of the same Decoction whereunto the Oyls of Lillies Chamomel or sweet Almonds may be added Take of the Oyl oâ— Lillies and sweet Almonds of each three ounces Mucilage of Fenugreek seed extraâ—ted with white Wine one ounce Hens Gooses and Ducks Fat of each one ounce and an half new Butter and Hogs Grease of each two ounces Wax and Turpentine as much aâ— shal suffice Make all into an Oyntment This which follows is approved in al hard Swellings being described by Rhasis in his Seventh Book dedicated to King Almansor Take Bdellium Ammoniacum Galbanum of each equal quantities Beat them in a Morter with Oyl of Ben and of Lillies then add the Mucilages of Fenugreek Seed Lin-seed and Figs in equal quantities Make all into an Oyntment Of the same Materials adding Wax may a most effectual Plaister be made to be applied to the Region of the Womb both before and behind Or a Plaister may be applied made of Emplastrum Diachylum ireatum A Cataplasm or Pultiss may be made of what remains after the Decoction aforesaid being beaten and forced through an Hair Searce adding of the meal of Lin-seed and Fenugreek seed of each an ounce six Figs two drams of Orice Root half a dram of Saffron Hens Grease and Oyl of sweet Almonds of each a sufficient quantity Make of al a Pultiss The Bitumenous clay taken out of Brimstone Baths and such as are Bitumenous is profitably applied as a Cataplasm The Fume of the Stone called Pyrites that is the Marchasite or Fire-stone being made red hot and quenched in Vinegar is by Galen wonderfully extolled for dissolving all stony hard Swellings so that it works like a Charm In the said Vinegar Savory and Pellitory may be boyled but care must be had lest your Lapis Pyrites prove to be the Stone called Plumbarius or the Lead-stone which would do very much hurt Finally All the Medicines as wel internal as external which were before described in our Cure of the hard Swellings of the Liver and Spleen may also be useful in this case Yet must theâ—e â—edicaments in the whol course of the Cure be moderated and accommodated with the greatest judgment and discretion imaginable left the hard Swelling become harder or which is much worâ—e degenerate into a Cancer Which al Practitioners fear when Medicaments are unwarily administred for a long time together so that it is better somtimes to pause and give or apply nothing that we may mark what good is done by the former applications For it is vain striving when the Swelling having lost al sence of feeling hath put on the Nature of a stone Chap. 10. Of a Cancer of the Womb. A Cancer is a hard Swelling of the Body or Neck of the Womb which resists the touch and causeth a most vehement pain as it were pricking and cutting the part affected
great Inflamations when more blood flows in than the Natural heat of the part can digest or turn into Matter It is destroyed either by a cold distemper extinguishing it or by an hot one dissipating and resolving the same A beginning Gangrene is known by an unusual heat felt in the part a horror and trembling seizes upon the Patient with a languishing and quick-beating pulse and with fainting away or swooning And seeing this Disease doth for the most part happen to the Neck of the Womb so that the part affected may be perceived by the Eye it is discovered to be soft Lead-colored black and carrion like and may be prickt or cut and the Patient never feel it and it sends forth besides a stinking and carrion-like smel As for the Prognostick or Predictions belonging to this Disease It is a most grievous most dangerous Disease and for the most part deadly yet it hath been observed by very many Authors That the Womb being putrefied and Gangrenated hath either fallen away of it self or been cut away the womens lives being saved which Observations of Authors Schenkius hath collected to a great number in the fourth Book of his Observations The Cure is performed with the same Remedies which are wont to be applied to other parts being Gangrenated if it be in the Neck of the Womb or tend toward the outward parts as namely with Scarrifications and washings or bathings with a Decoction of Wormwood Mirrh and such like with the Oyntment called Aegyptiacum the Cataplasm called De Tribus farmis which is thus made Take Barley meal Bean meal and Orobus meal of each two ounces Oxymel one pound Boyl them to the thickness of a Pultiss or Cataplasm Whereunto if there be added meal of Lupines Mirrh Aloes and Wormwood it will be more effectual If any part of the Womb be wholly corrupt and dead it must be cut off or if the Womb fall down it must be separated by binding the Ligature every day faster and closer Of which kind of Operations there be many Examples collected by Schenkius in the fourth Book of his Observations Wierus also relates in his Observations That he cured a woman of twenty five yeers of age who in the hottest of the Dog-daies had a certain little bunch growing in her Water-Gate Whereunto an unskilful Chyrurgion applying Pultisses that were not proper within a few daies all that part began to putrefie grow black and dead and the Disease past on with incredible swiftness towards the Dung-Gate And Wierus undertook the Cure after this Method First he squirted good store of the Juyce of Nightshade and Plantane with a Syringe into both the Passages three or four times a day between which times he applyed a bolster wet with the foresaid Juyces Vinegar being mixed therewith which growing dry was wet again with the same Liquor And in this course of reiterated Application he continued til the fervent heat was quenched and the putrefaction began to cease She took in the mean while thrice every day a Potion of the Decoction of Sorrel Scabious Burnet Damask Prunes the tops of Borrage and Bugloss Marigold flowers with Water Sugar and Vinegar made in the manner of a long acid or sharp Syrup Her Diet was spare but cooling and tart to prevent putrefaction On the third day the fury of the burning heat and of the putrefaction was abated Whereupon he commanded the black and dead flesh to be drawn or plucked out with a little Forceps Chyrurgions Instrument like Tongs or Pincers and separated round about from the live flesh without any pain and so to be cut off Then he consumed the reliques even to the live flesh with the Oyntment called Aegyptiacum And proceeded to cicatrize or bring it to a Scar after the same manner which is used in other Ulcers In the whol course of the Cure care must be had to strengthen the Heart both by things given in and applied outwardly Likewise Emollient Clensing and Refrigerating Clysters are frequently to be given which do much help the part affected by reason of Neighbor-hood Chap. 12. Of the Wombs Wind-and-Water Swelling or Dropsie THe Inflation or blowing up of the Womb with Wind and its Dropsie are by Writers confounded or jumbled together so that they call the Inflation a Dropsie coming of wind whereas the Dropsie properly so called is ingendered by a watery Humor Yet are they distinguished and there is a certain puffing up of the Womb with wind suddenly rushing in and stretching the same and causing vehement pain as in the Chollick which because it continues not but is soon discussed it deserves not the name of a Dropsie and such a puffing up is often seen in Hysterical women which have the Womb-fits There is therefore to be reckoned a two-fold Dropsie of the Womb one from Wind which is like that sort of Belly-dropsie which is termed Tympanitis or the Drum-belly Dropsie another arising from a wheyish Humor answering to the Dropsie of the Belly called Ascites that is the Bottle-belly Dropsie Some add a third sort answering to the third sort of Belly-Dropsies called from its cause Leucophlegmatia that is white-flegm Dropsie which is seldom seen in the course of Practice Yet I have seen a Gentlewoman which in one day voided such plenty of thick flegm out of her womb as might weigh probably six or seven pound weight which flegm long retained might doubtless have caused in her a Dropsie of the womb Wind and water causing a Dropsie of the Womb are contained either within the Cavity of the Womb or in its Membranes or in certain Bladders Touching the Cavity of the VVomb it is somwhat doubted how Wind and Humors can be contained therein seeing there is so easie a Passage through the Neck and Mouth of the VVomb We answer The inner Orifice or Mouth of the VVomb may be closed up divers waies either by thick flegm sticking fast thereunto and growing hard or by a Scirrhus or some other cause Mercatus conceives That a snotty kind of flegm is voided by the mouthes of those Veins which are ordained for the monthly Purgations and that of the said snotty flegm a skin is framed which covers all the inner surface of the VVomb within which thin skin the wheyish and windy Matter is contained But Fernelius thinks That water may be contained in the womb without any thing amiss in its mouth but barely by its constriction or pursing of it self together All these sorts are to be allowed of and may be confirmed by divers Examples And first of all Examples of VVinds contained in the VVomb-Cavity are recited by Sennertus in the Fourth Book of his Practice Part 1. Sect. 2. Chap. 10. The first is taken out of Valescus de Taranta touching a certain Jewish woman of Lisbon who taking her self to be with Child when she expected to be delivered a great quantity of wind came away and so her womb was brought down again The Second is taken out of Mathiolus de
Gradi who relates the same thing to have befallen his own wife And other Examples taken out of Dodonaeus Thadaeus Dunus and other VVriters do testifie the like Cases and we see the same often in the course of our Practice Whereunto may be added a History which we shall in the Cure relate out of Solenander of a woman who by means of a Fumigation made of Nutmegs let wind fly out of her Womb which gave a report like a Pistol And Examples of Water contained in the Womb are propounded by the said Sennertus out of Rhasis who saw a woman out of whose Womb there flowed twenty five Cotila's of water which is a Measure not used with us containing about half an Ale Pint. Also out of Jacobus de Partibus and Dodonaeus who relate such a like Story And Vesalius Dissected or Anatomized a woman in the hollowness of whose womb were found above sixty Ausburg Measures of water each Measure containing three pints and the mouth of her womb was grown to a wonderful hardness And that water is somtimes contained in the womb in bladders many Authors do testifie who have seen examples thereof in some women who voided such bladders ful of water from their wombs among the rest Aetius Valeriola Christopherus a Vega Mercatus Platerus and Fabricius Hildanus Somtimes also women with Child have a Dropsie at the same time in their wombs as Fabricius Hildanus relates of his own wife whose Belly was swelled to a monstrous greatness and at the time of her delivery she voided first of all eighteen pints of water and half an hour after nine pints more and at last she was delivered of a Boy strong and healthy The like case we find in Skenkius but with a contrary event concerning a woman who being delivered of a living Child continued stil big-bellied and her belly growing stil greater and greater she died of it and her womb being opened a great quantity of water was found therein Finally Fernelius hath an Example in the sixth Book of Diseases Chap. 15. of water retained in the womb only by reason of the close shutting of the mouth of the womb without any other fault therein The story is of a woman that had a Dropsie in her womb who as often as she had her monthly Purgations voided al her watry Excrements out of her womb filling six or eight Basons with a very hot yellowish water til the swelling of her belly was wholly abated The next month the like redundancy of watry Excrements being collected was in like manner evacuated The immediate Cause of the windy and watry Swelling of the womb is the weakness of Natural heat residing in the Liver or Spleen and from those parts wind flegm or wheyish humors are transmitted into the womb or the weakness is in the womb it self whereby the said Excrements are therein collected and heaped together And the Causes which weaken Natural heat either directly or by accident are very many and the chief are of those things which are collected by Physitians Res non Naturales things not Natural So cold air especially after Child-birth heedlessly received into the womb is a most effectual cause of this infirmity Also cold Air unseasonably received when the Courses flow and going frequently into cold water or padling in the same especially during the said flux is a cause thereof So is much use of cold Meats or windy as fruits Herbs Beans and Pease and likewise of Vinegar Cold water plentifully and unseasonably drunk down long and deep sleep painful childing and abortion especially if it often happen immoderate flux of the Courses exhausting the Natural heat or their suppression choaking the same Add to these the proper Diseases of the womb as swellings ulcers and such like which do resolve the heat of the part or else shut the mouth of the womb and hinder the egress of Menstrual blood and excrementitious humors In the Discovery of this Disease many things are to be considered First How this particular Dropsie of the womb may be known and distinguished from that of the whol Body Secondly How the several sorts of this Womb-Dropsie may be discerned as whether it come from wind from wheyish Humors or from flegm Thirdly Whether it proceed primarily from some infirmity of the womb or by fault of some other parts of the Body Fourthly Whether the Matter offending be contained in the Cavity of the womb or between its Membranes or in certain Bladders Fifthly How to distinguish it from other Tumors of the womb Sixthly How from being great with Child Seventhly How it may be known from a Mole As for the First Question It is distinguished from an Universal Dropsie of the Belly in that the Womb-Dropsie swels chiefly the lower part of the Belly whereas the universal Dropsie distends equally the whol Belly in all the parts thereof Again In the Womb-Dropsie paleness and falling away of the flesh of the whol body are not so soon discerned as in the universal Dropsie in which also for the most part there is evident thirst and driness of the tongue which are not found in the womb-Dropsie in which al other Symptomes are likewise far more gentle than is usual in the universal Dropsie In a word In the Womb-dropsie some wind breaks out of the womb by fits or a little water comes away which evidently declare that wind or water are contained in the womb To the second Question we Answer thus That the sorts of Womb-Dropsies may be known from one another after this manner If it arise from wind the lower part of the belly being struck gives a sound the belly is afflicted with pricking paines which reach somtimes as far as the Midrif Stomach Loyns and other parts somtimes wind breakes evidently out of the neck of the Womb. Likewise women often feel their Wombs riseing like a Globe towards their stomachs Somtimes their breath is short and the sick woman when she awakes out of sleep oftentimes is much troubled to fetch her wind After all meat and drink whatever they are worse They often belch and their belchings give them ease They are oft troubled with Womb fits or suffocation of the Mother Somtimes they are pained below the navel so as they cannot endure to be touched Those Signes do also appear in the Inflation or Blowing up of the Womb with wind which differs from this Disease as was said before only in this that the Inflation is of less durance but a Dropsie of wind continues a far longer time But if the Wombs Dropsie arise from a wheyish Humor the Region thereof appeares soft and flaggy whereas wind stretches it stif there is a greater heaviness in the part and a noyse as of water flowing this way and that way some water now and then drops from the Privity And finally if it arise from flegm the softness and flagginess of the part will be yet greater and encrease daily more and more and the bordering parts as all under the
Bolus or Morsel will be most effectual Take of Mineral Borax half a dram Saffron twenty grains With Juyce of Savin make all into a Morsel Let it be taken twice in a week Sweat-drivers are likewise very profitable in this disease for by them wheyish and flegmatick humors whether in the womb or the whol body are discussed and evacuated In the mean while the inbred heat of the Stomach must be strenthened both with things given in and outwardly applied described in the Cures of the diseases of that Part. And outwardly Medicines must be applied to strengthen the womb and to discuss the Humors contained therein And in the first place Fomentations and Baths to sit in may be made of a Decoction of Briony roots wild Cucumer the leavs of Danewort or Dwarf-Elder Mercury Elder Origanum Calaminth Wormwood Rue Sage Marjoram Time Bay Penyroyal Mugwort Seeds of Broom Carrots Cummin Annis Fennel Berries of the Bay and Juniper Tree Flowers of Chamomel Melilot and Rosemary Of which little bags may likewise be made boyled in white Wine Or the foresaid Ingredients or some of them may be boyled in the Lye made of the ashes of Vine-boughs And that the foresaid Fomentations may work the better they are to be applied before and behind and the sick woman ought to sweat if she can in her bed or in a Stove conveniently prepared Which likewise may be procured by help of a Bathing Tub. In a windy Dropsie dry Fomentations will be more profitable with bags of Milet Salt Cummin-seed and Bran fryed in a pan and besprinkled with Wine After Fomentation let her Belly from the Navel downward be anointed with Nard Oyl Oyl of Dill Oyl of Rue Wormwood and Southernwood Which Oyls if drawn out by Chymical Art they wil be much more effectual After Unction lay on a Plaister of Bay-berries or a Pultiss of Cows and Sheeps Dung with Seeds of Smallage Parsly and Cummin as also Honey boyled therewith To the same purpose the Skin of a Sheep newly killed is commended sprinkled with warm Canary Sack and laid warm upon the Belly Clysters are frequently to be given made of the Decoction of Wormwood Origanum Penyroyal Rue Centaury and the like Or of the Oyl of Rue Nuts and Dill with white Wine Hypocras or Muskadine In which Clysters dissolve Benedicta Laxativa Hiera Diacolocynthidos Terebinthinam Confection of Bay-berries Rosemary-flower Honey and the like Injections into the womb may be very profitable to evacuate the Humors contained therein being compounded after this manner Take Roots of Asarabacca three drams Leaves of Penyroyal Calaminth of each half a handful Savin a pugil Mecboacan a dram Annis seed Cummin seed of each half a dram Boyl all and in six ounces of the strained Liquor dissolve an ounce of Oyl of Orice and as much of Elder Oyl and make thereof an Injection To the same end may Pessaries be made thus Take Coloquintida and Mechoacan of each one dram Sal Nitre ten grains boyled Honey as much as shall suffice Make all into a Pessary Or Take Bindweed Roots Roots of Esula of each a dram Seed of Gith or Nigella Romana half a dram Honey as much as shall suffice Make all into a Pessary Or Take Elaterium half a dram bruised Figs as much as shall be requisite Make them into a Pessary When the Swelling of the womb proceeds from wind a Fumigation of Nutmegs is very helpful being commended by Solenander in these words A Woman newly out of Child-bed exposing her self over soon to the wind and air fell into insufferable pains neither could she find any help At last comes an old well experienced Midwife and calls for three Nutmegs grosly poudered Then she put an Earthen pan with hot Coals under the woman and sprinkled the pouder of Nutmegs upon the Coals so placing the pan that the woman might receive the smoak through a funnel into her womb by the Water-Gate At the same time she was smoaked above with the same Fume Which when it had penetrated into her body the woman presently cries out I must needs go to stool which she had hardly spoken but a fizzing and sound was heard such as is made when Gun-pouder is fired being shut in a narrow box which wind being expelled the woman was perfectly well in a moment Being advised by this Experiment having upon like occasion used the like Remedy I have very often found it to do much good In the same case Cupping-Glasses with much flame is profitably set upon the Navel for it excellently dispels wind If the Disease come from Humors Issues are to be made in the Thighs that by those Fountains the filth of the womb may be by little and little drained out Brimstone and Nitrous Baths are commended likewise by many both to drink and to be washed in provided there be no great heat of the Liver or whol Body conjoyned with this Disease For the pain of the womb which is frequently troublesom in this Disease Amatus Lusitanus commends the water or Decoction of Chamomel flowers given to the quantity of four or five ounces And finally If the Inflation or puffing up of the womb happen after Child-birth there wil need no other Purgation than that by the womb Which if it find any hinderance it must be helped forwards by drawing Pessaries and by Cupping-Glasses fastened to the Thighs and by other Medicines described in our Chapter of Suppression of Courses And if there be wind the Fumigation made of Nutmegaforesaid will be most seasonable Chap. 11. Of the falling down of the Womb. WHen the womb loseth its Natural Scituation and fals towards the Water-Gate the Disease is termed the falling down or slipping forward of the womb Many Differences there are of this Disease differing only in degrees For somtimes only the inner neck falls down into the Water-gate somtimes the whol body of the womb fals downwards but does not appear without the Water-Gate in the threshold whereof appears the inner mouth of the womb in likeness of a mans Yard or a Goose Egg with an hole in it Other whiles with the bottom turned out it hangs without the Water-gate like a mans Cod or an Ostridges Egg save that it is rugged and hath an uneven surface and it is in a word somtimes so reluxed that it falls so far out as to reach the Patients Thighs The immediate Cause of the falling down of the womb is the Rupture or Relaxation of those Ligaments which are wont to retain it and its Neck in their proper place A Rupture of the foresaid Ligaments may proceed from all violent Causes as a blow a fall dancing and leaping lifting some heavy burden or carrying the same violent compression of the Abdomen vehement Coughing which dures long violent neezing especially in Child-bed hard straining to stool difficult Travel violent extraction of the Child out of the womb or of the After-birth vehement endeavor of the womb to cast out somwhat offensive thereunto as a dead
Child a Mole or an After-birth for then according to Galen in his Third Book of Natural Faculties the same thing betides the womb which is wont to happen to two wrastlers who endeavor to throw one the other upon the ground till both fall together Hereunto add frequent setting of Cupping-Glasses upon the Thighs and very vehement agitation of Body or of Mind Relaxation or slackening of the Ligaments is caused likewise by divers causes as by a long-lasting Catarth divers Crudities which are cast out into the womb as the sink of the whol Body Whence it is that women long troubled with the Whites can scarce avoid this Disease especially elderly women which are most of all troubled therewith Add hereunto external causes as over-frequent bathing especially in cold water Southern and moist Air especially being received into the womb after Child birth moist Diet much drinking Idleness long sleep and all other causes which may decrease flegm and cause its flux into the womb The Signs whereby to know this Disease are evident to the sence For the womb is found sticking in the Water-gate like an Hens or Gooses Egg or like a Clew of Thrid with the perceivance of a weight pressing upon the Water-Gate when the Patient stands upright And while they sit or go to stool a vehement pain is felt about the privy Parts and the Region of O sacrum or the Hanch-bone If it hang far out the greater pain and heat is felt the urine comes away by little and little and makes the womb smart as it passeth The Causes procuring this Falling-down of the womb may be thus distinguished If it proceed from loosness or slackness of the Ligaments it comes by little and little hath the less pain and white Purgations have preceded or other Causes moistening the womb and relaxing the Ligaments thereof But if it proceed from a breaking of the Ligaments the pain is more vehement and blood somtimes breaks forth and such Causes have preceded which have been able to break with violence the Ligaments As for the Prognosticks belonging to this Disease The Disease of it self is not dangerous yet is it very unhandsom and troublesom hindering the Patient from freedom to go and walk at will also from Conception and convenient expurgation of her Courses Yet may it somtimes occasion death if pains Feavers convulsions or other grievous Symptomes be joyned therewith Also the womb in this Case is somtimes corrupted through distemper of the Air or by violent impulsion and becomes Gangraenated which necessitates it to be cut off The Disease being fresh and the womb coming not far out is more easily cured than when it is an old Infirmity and the womb comes far out In yonger women the womb is more easily restored to its place than in Elderly women Falling down of the womb by reason of the Ligaments being broken is incurable To come to the Cure The womb is to be thrust back into its Natural place and to be detained there and the fault of its Bands or Ligaments must be corrected If they be broken by things that do glue and sodder together if they be relaxed or slackened with things drying aftringent and strengthening All which may be done by the following Medicaments In the first place therefore That the womb may more easily be restored to its place the Guts and Bladder must be disburdened left pressing the Neck of the womb they should hinder its reduction forasmuch as the neck of the womb rests upon the streight Gut and the bladder rests upon the neck of the womb VVhen the Gutts and Bladder are discharged of their Excrements let the woman lie along upon her Back with her thighs wide asunder and her knees drawn upwards and let her with her hands thrust her womb inwards and force it still upwards into the neck so as to turn it inwards as it goes till all is returned within the cavity of the Belly which should contain the womb Or if she is not able to do it her self let her do it by help of the midwife or use a thick blunt ended stick with Cloaths wrapt about it by which it may be forced further into the Cavity of the Belly than is possible by the hands to drive it Or for fear of hurting her Body a Pessary may be made of Linnen Cloth often doubled and rowled together with a string tied fast thereunto and accommodated to this service of thrusting up of the womb But if the womb fallen from its place shall swell so that it cannot enter into the cavity of the Belly the swelling must in the first place be removed And if there be an inflamation such things must be applyed as are sit to heal the same If otherwise it be blown up such things must be used as will discuss the inflation Rodericus a Castro washes the swollen womb with a Decoction of Beets and then sprinkles it with vineger and salt and so when the swelling is aborted he reduceth the same The same Rodericus a Castro writes that it is very good towards restoring the fallen womb for a Physitian or a Chyrurgion to come with burning red hot Iron in his hand and to make as if he would thrust it into the womb by that means nature contracts her self and the womb with her and any other part that sticks out of the Body For he relates that a certain very expert Chyrurgion did by this stratagem force Back a mans Gutts that were ready to come out at a wound in his belly when other remedies did no good For holding a great red hot Iron in his hand the Patient looking on he made as if he would Clap it upon the wound VVith the sudden fright whereof the Gutts were presently drawn back into their place Avenzoar in his Second Theizir Tract 5 Chap. 4. Propounds some such thing as this When this disease saith he begins first to appear the Physitian may gently cure the same And it is reduced all these wayes viz. by your hand If you please and if not make her he on her Back and let some Body sit upon her brest and another upon her thighes and then cause her to be frighted putting some creeping Vermin upon her Leggs such as Mice Efts frogs and such like by which let her be so frighred as to endeavour to get away by drawing her Leggs and thighs up to her whereby all her Members and her whol Body may at once be contracted by which meanes the Womb will return unto its own place Zacutus Lusitanus following Avenzoar relates the following story in the 66 observation of his Second Book Coming to a woman saies he Which had her Womb fallen down the space of a year an half with extream hardness it seemed very hard by reason of its stretching out to be reduced to its place especially seeing Avenzoar saies that this work must be done before the Womb be grown hard I devised many remedies for this disease astringent Insessions Pessaries
are joyned with over hot women over cold men with over cold women for those distemperatures can procure no mediocrity in the Seeds and other causes necessary to Generation Some fly likewise to occult or hidden qualities which make the Sperms to agree or disagree though no excess of the first qualities can be discerned To these Authors add an hidden kind of Disposition which makes some women barren though no manifest cause of such Barrenness appear in them The Signs of Barrenness we will run over according to these four sorts of Causes propounded And in the first place Causes hindering Reception of Seed are not hard to be discovered being evident to our very Sences For tenderness of Age is easily observed and so is an over elderly state of yeers and the evil constitution of those parts which border upon the womb as when women halt have crooked wreathen Legs have their Crupper-bone deprest or are over fat as for the cold distemper of the womb we shall treat of that in our third Rank of Causes Hatred between Man and Wife is known by relation of themselves or of those that live with them Also the particular Diseases hindering the reception of Seed as Tumors Ulcers Obstructions Astrictions shuttings up Distorsions may be known through search of the Genital Parts made by a Midwife or Chyrurgion Of the Causes hindering the retention of Seed which make the second Rank we shall treat of over great moisture among those of the third Rank as for Abortion and hard Travel they are known by the womans relation The Causes of the third Rank viz. Which have power to corrupt the Seed to require more exquisite signs to know them by which we shall prosecute as followeth A Cold Distemper of the Womb is hereby known In that the Woman longs not after Carnal Embracements and feels little pleasure therein her Face is soft whitish and cloudy her feeling is dull about her Share Loyns and Thighs she voids thin and crude Sperm and with little pleasure her Courses are suppressed or they come every sparingly and keep no constant orderly time and they are pale and discolored Add hereunto Diet preceding of a cooling Nature consisting of a long use of Fruits and Herbs with much drinking of cold smal Drink A moist distemper of the womb is known by the lax and slap flaggy soft habit of the womans body her much sitting frequent and almost continual flux of Whites plenty of Courses thin and watry no appetite to fleshly Conjunctions heaviness of her Loyns aptness to miscarry plenty of Urine and a moist Diet. An hot Distemper is known by the manly and strong habit of the womans Body such as is seen in Viragoes and Amazones by a ruddy countenance black hair of the Head and Eye-brows a strong and manly voyce she is frequently disposed to be angry over prompt to all kind of actions heâ— thirst cannot be satisfied her Urine is yellow her Courses few their color is a dark red their heat and acrimony so great that oftentimes they exulcerate the secret Passages their Privities itch and they are prone to carnal Embracements they are quick and suddain in the voiding of their Seed they have frequent Polâ—â—tions and lustful Dreams A dry distemper of the womb is known by the smal quantity of Courses driness itching and choppings of the Mouth of the Womb little excretion of Sperm in the Genial Embracement trouble arising from over much carnal Conjunction and Leanness If the Seed be corrupted and Barrenness caused by Witch-craft all other signs will be absent which are wont to declare the Natural and manifest causes of Barrenness There will be likewise some alienation of minds between the married Couple of which neither of them can give any handsom account yea and somtimes they can both of them but seldom shoot forth their Seed and that with Labor and Difficulty Diet or poysons that extinguish Seed if they have been taken in we shall come to knowledg thereof by diligent questioning of the woman and those that are about her And lastly Malignant Diseases such as are of power to extinguish the Sperm as Leprous Manginess the Whores-Pox and such like are known by their proper signs The fourth Cause of Barrenness which consists in defect or badness of the Menstrual blood is known first by the over great fatness of the whol Body to the nutriment whereof the blood is carryed away and consumed and is not allowed for the nutriment of the child in the womb The same is likewise known by great Leanness of the Body and extream slenderness â—â—r when there is not blood enough to nourish the Body it can hardly superabound to nourish the Conception And in a word All such things as consume and much diminish the blood if they have preceded or be at present in the Patient they signifie want of blood in her body such as are extream labors and pains-taking immâ—derate sitting up and watching austere fastings large bleedings at nose or elsewhere 〈◊〉 or chronical Feavers Fistulous Ulcers and Issues that run much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over great quantity of blood doth hinder the nourishment of the Seed and of the 〈◊〉 for the Seed is oppressed with so great plenty and cannot exerciâ—e its formative faculty which is 〈◊〉 to happen in full bodyed and ruddy women such as live a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and delight â—n Feasting 〈◊〉 wombs are alwaies bedabled with a continual moisture Now the 〈…〉 on of the womans blood may be known by the ill habit of her Pody the color of her 〈…〉 her strange dispositions together with an ill diet foregoing The 〈…〉 and the Wiâ—es Seed is hardly known but if both of them be of a very hot or a very hot 〈◊〉 Constitution we may conjecture That the disproportion 〈◊〉 from those distempers 〈◊〉 more manifest causes of Barrenness do not appear It is yet harder 〈…〉 hat kind of Barrenness which depends of a certain hidden disposition no manifest 〈◊〉 thereof appearing Yet many Experiments are related by Authors whereby to know whether a Woman be â—â—turally Barren which though they carry no great certainty with them yet are Physitians 〈…〉 somtimes to make use of them in favor of Princes and Nobles who are permitted to divorce their Wives in case of Barrenness Hippocrates in â—phor 59. Sect. 5. saith If a Woman conceive not and thou wouldest know whether she shall conceive or not cover her with blankets and burn some perfume under her and if the smell proceed through her Body up to her Nostrils and Mouth know that she of her self is not Barren The same Hippocrates supposeth that it may be known whether a woman be fruitful or not by putting a head of scraped and peeled Garlick into her Womb for if the next day the smel shall come into her mouth she is apt to conceive if not she is barren Or put Galbanum softened at the fire and enclosed in Silk into the womans womb at night and bind her whol head
in perfumed Linnen if in the morning the crown of her head shall smel of Galbanum the woman is wel purged and wil be fruitful You may try the same if you put a little Balsom mingled with Water and received in Cotton into the Womb binding it with a string to her Thigh for if the womb do draw it inwards it is a most approved sign of fruitfulness Amatus Lusitanus commends this following as a most true sign He takes a dram of a Hares Runnet which dissolved in warm water he gives the woman to drink being in a bath of hot water and fasting If the Woman do then feel pains in her Belly he pronounceth her fruitful if not barren Many seek to know the Barrenness of a woman by her Urine wherein they steep Barley which Barley if it grow within ten daies they count it a sign of Fruitfulness if not they account it a certain token of Barrenness And others Finally do powr the Womans water upon Bran or Fenugreek and take it for a note of barrenness if Worms breed there For a Conclution to these Discoveries We shall diligently consider and enquire whether Conception and Generasion be not hindred by fault of the Man or any defficiency in him For in such a Case it were vainly done to torment the Woman with a multitude of Medicines Barrenness proceeding from the Man may be known by the diseases of his Genital parts as inability to raise his Yard want of Sperm Swelling of his Stones Gonorrhoea and the rest And it gives some token hereof if the Man be faint hearted and Womanish by Nature if he want a Beard be slow in casting forth his Sperm and his Sperm be cold so that his Wife feel it cold in her Womb if he have little or no Lust to Carnal Embracements and perceive very little pleasure therein And lastly If such Causes have preceded which are of power to make the Seed unfruitful The Prognostick must be regulated according to the Method of the Causes as we have ranked them And in the first place Tenderness of Age hinders conception only for a time which cannot be expected till the Woman is more grown But Elderly years cause a Total dispaire of Conception But if the Parties Courses do as yet proceed in due season there may be yet some hope of Conception howbeit very smal especially in such Women as are at the fortieth yeer of their Age for although Women that have had Children younger are likewise wont to Conceive at that Age yet such as have never been with Child have little reason to hope that they shal Conceive at that Age because the Womb having been so long unimployed is become withered shrunken up and unfit to Conceive Child Barrenness which is caused by an evil shape of the Members as in such as are Lame have distorted Thighs or their Crupper-Bone depressed is incurable But if Barrenness proceed from over Fatness or some distemper of the womb not over old the cure is to be hoped by procuring leanness and by correcting the Distempers That Barrenness which is caused by other diseases as by a Swelling an Ulcer Obstruction whites want of Courses falling of the Womb Consumption Leprous Mangyness Whores-Pox and such like is easier or harder to cure according as the said diseases are either easie to be cured or hard For the Cure of this disease whichsoever of the causes aforesaid hath produced the same we must seek the removal thereof And in the first place the straitness of the Genital Parts in regard of youngness of Age needs no cure for as Age encreases they attain to a convenient wideness But in the mean time it is necessary that the Party abstain from Carnal Conjunction because the oversoon use thereof doth spoil the natural constitution of those parts Barrenness which is caused by lowness of stature or Elderliness of years is incurable yet endeavour may be used to help the same by Emollient and Relaxing Medicaments provided the Courses do still slow Over great Corpulency must be corrected by an extenuating Diet and convenient Evacuations If Barrenness seem to arise from a bad Course of Diet as in persons given over much to Belly-cheer to Wine or small Drink such women are to be reduced to an exact Course of Life and all excess of eating and drinking must be avoided Viragoes and strong constitution'd women such as come neer to the Nature of Men that they may be 〈◊〉 fit for conception must by all the art possible be effeminated and reduced to such manners as become their sex all meats of grosser nourishment being forbidden them and all labours and exercises their Courses being made conveniently to flow by plenty whereof they may be abated of their manly courage and grow soft and gentle And if their monthly courses shall not suâ—fice to that end their humors must be diminished by frequent Blood-letting and purging and by frequent bathing and other alteratiue remedies the whole habit of their Bodys must be moistened and cooled If Barrenness be caused by Closure of the Womb by distorsion by obstructions by Tumors or Ulcers all these must be remedied by such Medicaments as are propounded in those Chapters which treat of their Respective cures Barrenness depending upon an hidden property in the woman which is natural to her is incurable and therefoâ—e it ought diligently to be enquired after least remedies be applied in Vain If Barrenness come by witch-craft Charming or hidden power of Medicaments there is little place for Physick but the party must have recourse to prayers and supplications which being Zealously poured forth by men eminent in piety do procure Help from the Almighty Howbeit against Medicines which by a secret power do cause barrenness certaine Amulets are propounded by Authors which have a peculiar vertue to resist the malignity of such Medicaments Cardan will have it that the Pizzle of a Wolf worn about the woman will frustrate all such Incantations and fascinations Others do much commend the Adamant and the Hyacinth Stone The Antients called Saint John-wort the Divel-driver The same vertue is likewise attributed to the Squil or Sea-Onion to Eryngus â—agapenum Rue other things being worn by Man Wife Also certain it is that for the parties concerned to endeavour confidently to despise and slight all Charmes and Witch-crafts is very profitable in this case Also if the Author of the Witch-craft be not known it is good for them to Change their Habitation and to forsake their Houses Beds wearing Cloathes and other Houshold stuff wherein the Charmes are oftentimes concealed If an hot Distemper be the cause of Barrennes the same Cure is to be used which was described in the hot distemper of the Liver But if the Excess of Heat be yet more violent recourse must be had to those things which have bin described in our Chapter of Womb-fury But the camphire must be let out of those Medicines Because it is held to be a very great Enemy
ounce Castoreum a dram Mix all and according to art bring them to such a constitution as shall be fit to make Pessaries to put inâ—o the Womb. Or Take of Hiera Picra half an ounce Agaricktrochiscated and poudered Orice Roots of Florence of each one dram old Mithridate and Diaphoenicon of each two drams With Juyce of Mercury make a Pessary Roul it in a cloth put it up when she goes to bed and let her keep it two or three hours If the Womb be very full of Excrements a more strong Pessary must be put in after this following Injection Take Leaves of Wormwood Mugwort Mercury and Rue of each one handful and an half Pulp of Coloquintidaten grains Agarick trochiscated half a dram Ginger and Myrrh of each a scruple Boyl all in water and white wine to a pint wherein dissolve two ounces of Honey of Roses Let three ounces of this Liquor be injected into the Womb for three daies together in the morning and when she goes to bed after her Courses have done Then put up this following Pessary Take Hiera Picra and Benedict a Laxativa of each an ounce the pulp of Coloquintida and Agarick trochiscated of each half a dram Spicknard Seeds of the Roman Nigella Savin Leaves poudered of each a dram Incorporate them with Honey of Rosemary flowers and include them in a piece of Silk Make Pessaries hereof and put one into her womb when she is going to bed and let it bide there two hours and afterward wash the part with white Wine To strengthen fasten and dry the womb these following Medicaments may be used Take Roots of round Birthwort half an ounce Lignum Aloes three drams Cypress Nuts and Roots of each two drams Calamus Aromaticus a dram Dictamnus Creticus Winter Savory and Mirrh Leaves of each one handful choyce Mirrh Storax and Benjamin of each two drams and an half Stoechados Rosemary flowers and Marjoram of each one pugil Boyl all in a sufficient quantity of strong white Wine In a pint and an half of the strained Liquor dissolve two drams of Troches of Alipta Moschata Amber-greece and Musk of each seven grains Civet five grains Make hereof an Injection into the Womb warm morning and night for certain daies together Before or after the Injection this following Fumigation may be used Take Troches of Gallia and Alipta Moschata of each two drams Storax Benjamin and pure Ladanum of each half an ounce Lignum Aloes and Lignum Rhodium of each one dram Nigella Seeds Cubebs and Cloves of each four scruples Amber and Tacamahacca of each one dram and an half Mace half a dram Make of all a Pouder of which with Orange-flower water wherein Gum Tragacanth is dissolved make little Cakes or Troches of which let one or two be laid upon burning coals and let the smoak be received by a Funnel into the Patients Womb. The poorer sort may be smoaked with Mirrh Frankincense Lignum Aloes Storax Benjamin Cinnamon and Cloves of each a like quantity After the Injection and Fumigation let the following Pessary be put up Take Frankincense Mastich of each two drams Troches of Gallia and Alipta Moschata of each four scruples Bistort Roots Cypress nuts Shavings of Ivory and red Roses of each one dram Styrax Benjamin and Ladanum of each two scruples Calamus Aromaticus and Cypress Roots of each half a dram Make them into a Paste with Orange-flower Water then with thin linnen cloth make two Pessaries of sufficient greatness one of which put up when she goes to bed anointing the top thereof with a little Oyl of Nutmegs and Civet mingled together It is furthermore related of Garden Garliâ—k That if it be beaten with Oyl of Spike and thrust into a piece of Linnen made like a Pudding bag and so put up far within the Womb that it powerfully brings down the Courses being stopt and wonderfully delights the womb and purgeth it so that hereby many have been brought to conceive Children who for a long time had been past al hope of ever having any Before the strengthening Injections and Fumigation a Bath to sit in may be used for an hour together before the Patient goes to bed and it may be thus prepared Take Roots of Briony Master-wort â—alerian Orice Enula Campana of each three ounces Leaves of Marjoram Mugwort Nep Penyroyal Mercury Sage Bay of each four handfuls Bay-berries and Juniper Berries of each an ounce Boyl all and make thereof a Bath for the Patient to sit in As for total Baths such as arise from Brimstony and Bituminous Mines are most excellent and very many women in this Condition do flock unto such Baths as to a Sanctuary After Bathing and Fumigation the Share and the space between the Privities and Fundament must be anointed with this following Oyntment Take Oleum Nardinum Moschatellinum of each an ounce and an half Oleum Cheirinum half an ounce Pouders Diambrae and Diamoschi of each one dram an half Liquid Storax one dram Civet ten grains Musk Amber-greece of each six grains a little white Wax Mix all and make them into an Oyntment Wherewith let the parts aforesaid be anointed Within let her be nointed with Civet or Indian natural Balsom Or let the Man smear his Yard with Civet immediately before he joyn himself Finally Let Plaisters be applied to the Share and to the Loyns which let her wear continually or at least every night until the last week in which her Courses are wont to flow Let them be made after this manner Take of the Rowl of Emplastrum pro Matrice four ounces Of the Rowl of Emplastrum de Mastiche two ounces Tacamahacca and Caranna of each one ounce Pouder of Tormentil and Bistort Roots of each three ounces Pouder of Mirtle two drams Pouder of Aromaticum Rosatum four scruples Soften them with Oyl of Quinces adding thereto a dram of Oyl of Nutmegs Spread it upon Leather and shape two Plaisters the one round to be applied to the Share the other square for the Loyns of the Patient Chap. 16. Of Acute and Chronical Diseases of Women with Child THe Acute and Chronical Diseases of women with Child are the same in Essence or Nature and have the same signs with the like Diseases in women not with Child or in men wherefore it is needless in this place to speculate thereupon let the Reader please to look for them in their proper Chapters But the Prognostick of these Diseases is not the same because in women with Child they are far more dangerous and very often times mortal So saith Hippocrates in Aphor. 31. Sect. 5. For a Woman with Child to be feized by an acute disease is deadly For it the Disease have a Feaver joyned with it there is a two-fold danger attending the same as Galen shews in his Commentary upon this Aphorism one from the Feaver which will kil the Child another from the slender diet which is requisite to the Cure of the Feaver but is not sufficient to
this manner Take Roots of Marsh-mallows and Water-lillies of each one ounce the long and round Birthwort of each three drams Leaves of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pellitory Mercury of each one handful Line seed and Fenugreek seed of each half an ounce Flowers of Chamomel and Elder of each two pugils Boyl all to a pint In the strained Liquor dissolve Oyl of Dill and Lillies of each one ounce Hiera simplex half an ounce Unguentum de Arthanita one dram Mix all into a Clyster Let her Thighs be rubbed downwards let the Toes of her Feet be tied till they ake again let divers Cupping-Glasses be fixed to her Groyns and Hips and let some of them be scarrified If these means suffice not open the Veins about the Knees or of both the Thighs or the Hemorrhoid Veins if Nature seem to incline that way If a Feaver be caused by suppression of these Purgations a Vein must be opened in the Arm as shall be said in the Diseases of Women in Child-bed This following Fomentation may be applied to her Belly beneath the Navel and to the Privy Parts Take Roots of Marsh-mallows Lillies Briony Angelica and Birthwort round and long of each an ounce Leaves of Mercury Mugwort Penyroyal Savine Calaminth of each one handful Lin-seeds and Fenugreek seeds of each an ounce Flowers of Chamomel Melilot Elder Tansie of each a pugil Beat them and cut them according to art and put them into two bags which boyl in Fountain Water and apply by course one after another After Fomentation anoint the foresaid Parts with Oyl of Lillies Sweet Almonds and Sesamum adding thereto a little Saffron Hereunto may be added such Pessaries and Fumigations as have been set down in our Chapter of Suppression of the Courses beginning with the most gentle Let her drunk a Decoction of opening Roots Cinnamon and red Vetches with a little Saffron Or Take Opening Roots of each two drams Leaves of Bettony Endive Maiden-hair of each a handful Schaenanth one pugil Annis seed and Fennel seed of each one scruple red Vetches a spoonful Boyl all to a pint and an half To the strained Liquor ad Cinnamon Water two drams Syrup of the five opening Roots three ounces Let her take four ounces twice a day Before the Feaver be encreased we may somtimes give Troches of Mirrh one dram with white Wine or Fennel water Forestus useth the following Decoction though there be a Feaver Take French Barley one handful Liquoris scraped half an ounce Schaenanth one dram and an half Boyl all to a pint for three Doses For the weaker he causeth one dram of Schaenanth to be boyled in Chicken Broth which he gives the Patient to drink Also a Purgation may be convenient seven or nine daies after she is delivered of the Infusion of Rhubarb Agarick or Senna or with a Laxative Broth made of opening Herbs and Roots with Senna or with an ounce and an half of Manna dissolved in Broth. Chap. 23. Of Gripings after Child-bearing GRipings do so frequently betide Women in Child-bed that very few Women are free from them But they are not wont to seek to the Physitian for these Pains because within two or three daies they go away But if they happen more sharp and of longer durance than ordinary they are forced to send for the Physitian who before he prescribe any thing must consider the Causes The chief Causes of Gripings and Pains after Child-birth are the plenty of Blood its thickness sharpness and narrowness of the Vessels For the Veins of the VVomb having for nine months forborn their usual evacuation of blood and the blood being gathered in great quantity and by its retention becoming thick and sharp while it goes through the narrow passages it causeth pains which return by fits as often as the womb endeavors a new expulsion of blood which being over they cease till such time as other blood doth seek its way forth Somtimes these gripings are caused by Winds or by Cold received into the Womb but not so often These Pains are differenced from others which are wont to afflict the Belly by their continuance and by the distances of holding up which they observe according to distant fits of the bloods issuing forth and the women themselves can easily distinguish these pains from all others Thick blood is known by clottering but the thin blood by its tenuity fresh color or yellowish If the Pain spring from wind it is more wandring being somtime in one part of the Belly and somtimes in another neither doth it observe the distances in which the Blood issues If cold Air have entred the Womb it may be known by a relation of what hath been acted about the sick woman These pains are not dangerous but for the most part exceeding troublesom therefore must be removed or mitigated as soon as may be The Cure of these Gripings ought to be directed to these ends viz. That the Vessels of the VVomb be made wider the Blood thinner and its sharpness mitigated All which may be accomplished by these following Medicaments And first of all let the Patients Belly be gently swathed that her womb may settle and not be moved this way and that way as often falls out after Child-birth by reason of the sudden evacuation Then give her three ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds new drawn with an ounce and an half of Syrup of Violets and two ounces of Hippocras Let Clysters be cast in of Milk and Sugar with the Yolks of Eggs. Or they may be made of a Decoction of Chamomel flowers and Mugwort in Pullet Broth adding Oyl of Lillies and the Yolks of Egs. Anoint her Belly with Carminating or Wind-expelling and opening Oyls as Oyl of Dill Rue Jasmine or with this following which being of great efficacy ought to be made in time convenient and kept in the Apothecaries Shop for such occasions Take Roots of round Birthwort Orice and Peony of each one ounce Cypress Roots half an ounce dried Leaves of Mugwort Feaverfew Origanum Calaminth Penyroyal Dictamnus Cretensis Wormwood Savin Rue Bettony and Sage of each one handful Flowers of Rosemary Stoechados Lavender Chamomel Dill St. Johns wort and Elder of each half a handful Bay-berries and Juniper berries of each half an ounce Seeds of Cummin Rue Piony Carrots and Agnus Castus of each three drams Cloves Nutmeg Cinnamon Ginger of each two drams Storax and Mirrh of each one ounce Let all being beaten and cut be steeped in six pints of old Oyl adding a little white Wine And put them in an Earthen Vessel close stopped the space of a week and then boyl them over hot Embers the space of four oâ— five hours then let the Oyl be strained out and reserved for use If the foresaid Oyl be wansing upon occasion let the foresaid simples boyl in equal portions of Oyl and white Wine till the white Wine be consumed then let the Oyl be strained out Also a Fomentation may be made of the Decoction of Mugwort Bawm
portion remains behind This happens principally in the Womb-Liver a part whereof is somtimes annexed to the Womb and left there doth putrefie which makes the Child-bed fluxes to come forth greenish stinking and Carrion like and if within few daies it be not separated from the womb and excluded it casts the sick woman into great danger of death seeing it may mortifie the Womb. If Clotters of Blood or any other preternatural thing shal remain in the Cavity of the womb after Child-bearing it may thereby be known because the neck of the womb remains soft and open neither is the inner Orisice thereof shut neither is the womb drawn upwards and whereas when all goes well after Child-birth the womb is drawn upwards and its neck and orifice are quickly shut An Example here of is propounded by Dr. Havey in his Treatise de Partu concerning a woman who having a malignant Feaver and being very weak miscarried and after exclusion of a perfect Child and uncorrupted yet being very weak with a creeping Pulse and cold Sweats she was ready to give up the Ghost He feeling her womb perceived the Orifice thereof lax soft and very wide and putting in his fingers he drew forth a Mole as big as a Gooses Egg having certain holes in it containing a clammy black and stinking putrefied matter and the woman was soon freed from the foresaid Symptomes and quickly recovered her health It happens likewise in some women that the Orifice of the womb presently after their delivery is so shut up that the blood contained within the womb suddenly clottering and putrefying causeth most sad Symptomes and when no Art can bring it forth present death follows Yet Dr. Harvey relates in the place aforesaid the History of a woman cured by him of this Disease The Lips of the Water-gate were swelled and very hot the mouth of the womb was hard and close shut He opened it a little with an Iron Instrument which he forcibly put in so as it would admit an Injection made by a Syringe and thereupon clotted black and stinking blood some pounds in quantity came away by which means the sick woman had present ease The Prognostick of these Feavers herein only differs from the Prognostick of such like Feavers which happen to those that are not in a childing condition because through the Labors of Child-birth the strength of the patient is more dejected and by reason of the Child-bed Purgations suppressed there is a greater redundancy of Humors in the Veins and in both respects the Party is in greater danger The Decision of that famous Question Whether the computation of the daies of the womans sickness ought to be made from the beginning of her Disease or from the day in which she is delivered of her Child makes much to cleer the Prognostick of this Disease especially to foretel the Crisis Which Question we shal therefore thus briefly determine If the Birth of the Child were natural attended with no grievous symptomes and the Child-bed Purgations were as they should be and the Feaver come some daies after the account ought not to be made from the day of the Childs birth but from the day the Feaver began which was provoked by some other preternatural Cause viz. Evil Humors lurking within the Body or from some external Cause But if the Child-birth were hard and beside the Course of Nature and the Feaver arose after three or four daies we must reckon from the day of the Childs birth because then the whol order of the Body began to be overthrown and the Humors to be disturbed which was followed by the Feaver So in grievous wounds of the wont of the Head especially though the Feaver come not til after the fourth of fifth day yet the account is wont to be made from the day of the wound received because the Humors began then to be in a commotion and to be disposed to cause a Feaver The Cure of these Feavers differs not from the Cure of other Feavers unless in point of those great Remedies Blood-letting and Purging in the administration whereof there is no smal scruple which we shal briefly endeavor to remove As for letting of Blood in acute Diseases of women in Child-bed the disagreement of Authors is so great by reason of the contrary Indications on the one side and on the other that we can scarcely find two of the same mind We shal briefly in these following Theorems or Maxims propound that Opinion which cometh neerest the Mind of the wisest Authors and is in the course of Practice most successful An Acute Disease befals a Child-bed woman either in the beginning or in the middle or in the end of her Lying in If it happen in the beginning and the woman be plentifully purged there must be no other evacuation of blood than that which is directed by Nature when she rightly and conveniently performs her Operations But if the Child-bed Purgations are suppressed or flow sparingly let the interiot Veins be opened and take a good quantity of blood away because at that time the Child-bed Purgations of blood ought by the appointment of Nature to be plentiful If an Acute Disease happen in the middle time of her Lying In two things are to be considered The one is Whether the Morbifick matter be contained in one particular place or if it be dispersed through the Veins The second Whether the Woman hath been conveniently purged or not in regard of quantity If the Disease proceed from matter scattered abroad as in Feavers and the woman hath not been fully purged the lower Veins ought to be opened because both the Morbisick Matter wil be diminished and her Natural flux wil be provoked But if the woman have been sufficiently purged and the Disease get ground and the Natural Evacuation have not been sufficient for the Disease the inferior Veins must be opened notwithstanding and so much blood must be taken away that by two Evacuations that may be accomplished which the Disease requires according to the Doctrine of Galen in the ninth Book of his Method Chap. â— If the Feaver be very high and great heat vex the Patient let that be done which we shal presently declare which ought to be performed when the Disease ariseth of Matter driven into some corner and there putrefying In a particular Acute Disease as the Pleurisie Inflamation of the Lungs Squinzy and the like we must mark whether the Fluxion be only beginning so that the Disease is only ready to seize upon the Patient or is in its beginning and very little blood be collected in the part For then the inserior Veins are to be opened that revulsion may be made to such opposite part For then the inserior Veins are to be opened that revulsion may be made to such opposite parts as are at greatest distance from the part affected and by that means that preposterous motion of Humors may be stopped But if the fluxion be already in good measure
begun and an Inflamation bred which proves very troublesom whether the woman be sufficiently purged or not the superior Veins are presently to be opened right against the Part affected because such an Evacuation draws Blood out of the Part Affected But if the inferior Veins should be opened which are neither next the part affected neither can evacuate therefrom both the strength of the Patient will be weakened by the evacuation and that matter which is by Nature driven into a corner and subdued wil not be thereby diminished And so you must either draw all her blood in a manner out of her Veins to revel the matter of the Disease from the part affected or the woman will be killed by the Disease before sufficient Revulsion be made Neither need we fear lest by taking blood from the upper Veins we should draw the Course thereof from the womb because in such Cases the superior parts of the Body do abound with blood And although much blood be taken away yet are not the Veins so emptied that they should be forced to draw new blood from other parts Yet for the greater Caution it will not be unprofitable before blood be taken from the superior Veins to cause the Thighs to be lustily rubbed and presently after to tie them with bands so hard as to pain the woman which must abide so bound til the bleeding be over and a little after they may be loosened and now and then Cupping-Glasses must be fastened to the same parts or at least they must be again wel rubbed So we may procure an evacuation of the Matter offending and yet preserve the Natural course of the blood towards the Womb. The same course is to be taken in vehement and burning Feavers For although the matter offending be dispersed through the Body yet is the burning heat so great about the Heart and Bowels that it cannot be so wel extinguished by the opening of a smal and far distant Vein as by the opening of a neerer and greater such as is the Vein called Basilica This Method of Curing may be observed not only in Child-bed women but in other women who are taken with Acute Diseases and have their monthly Courses upon them If in the end of a Womans Lying-In an acute Disease befal her the same Course must be followed as in the middle the same conditions being observed observing this for a Rule That by how much a woman is further from the beginning of her Lying-In by so much more safely may the uper Veins be opened but the neerer she is to the beginning yea even in the middle we are to open those Veins with the greater premeditation And if the Disease be not importunate nor the sharpness thereof require such a thing and the Natural Purgation be copious we must wholly abstain But if the Purgation be scanty we must open the inferior Veins to supply that which is wanting in the Evacuation But if the contrary shal happen let us follow that Rule which we presceibed to be followed in followed in the urgency of an acute Disease The use of Purging in Childing Women that are held with acute Diseases shal be comprehended in these following Maxims While the Child-bed Purgations do Naturally flow a Purge is never to be administred for it is to be feared lest Nature be diverted from her business But if the Child-bed Purgations are not kindly we must consider whether their consist its Quantity or in Quality If they offend in Quantity so as to be too little so that the woman be purged either not at al or not sufficiently After al Remedies fit to procure these Purgations have been given in vain and the Morbisick matter appears digested eight ten or twelve daies being past since she was brought to Bed according to the more or less urgency of the Disease she may be purged gently wholly abstaining from al stronger Purgatives If other Purgations offend only in Quality so that a white flux or some other unnatural color do proceed from her the Matter being ripe she may in the last part of her Lying-In be safely purged But this must evermore be generally observed That by how much the longer a Childing Woman is distant from the day of her bringing to bed by so much the more safely she may be purged and contrarywise For Experience hath taught us That women wanting their Child-bed Purgations if after the seventh or ninth day they are taken with a loosness they commonly scape But if the Loosness seize upon them upon the first daies viz. on the secoed third or fourth for the most part they die And so have we finished the Cures of Womens Sicknesses all Praise and Honor be given to God therefore The End of the Fifteenth Book THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICK Of Diseases of the Joynts and Rhewmatick Pain of the whol Body The PREFACE THough all Diseases of the Joynts depend upon the same Causes differing only in respect of the place affected and are wont to be cured with the same Medicines yet is there some difference between the Sciatica or Hip-Gout and the pains of other Joynts by reason of the structure and largeness of those parts of which the Huckle or Hip-bone is articulated and made up in respect of which it requires some diversity in certain Medicines therefore it is that I have resolved to treat of the Sciatica by it self And because the Rhewmatick pain incident to the whol Body hath great Affinity with the running Gout which afflicts only the Joynts I have thought good to annex the Explication thereof in this place so that this Book will consist only of three Chapters Of which The First will treat of the Pains of the Joynts in General The Second of the Pains of the Huckle-bone called Sciatica The Third of those Rhewmatick Pains which seize all Parts of the Body Chap. 1. Of Pain in the Joynts called Arthritis or the Gout ARthritis or the Gout is a pain in the Joynts which comes for the most part by fits stirred up by an Influx of Humors into the said Joynts The parts pained are Membranes Tendons Nerves and al the Nervous parts that are neer the Joynts which are stretched by the Humor which flows into them or by their sharpness are pricked and twitched but the Ligaments which spring out of the Bones are void of sence Now the Humors which cause the Gout do seldom flow into the very Cavities of the Joynts and that only in an old Gout and where the Cavities are wider than ordinary as it happens in an old Sciatica in which somtimes the Thigh-bone fals out of its place the Ligaments and other parts binding the Joynts together being loosened and then the Cavity of the Joynt is filled with a snotty kind of flegm as we see in Hippocrates Apor 59. Sect. 6. It is wont here to be demanded why the Humors flowing into Nervous and Membranous Parts and distending and twitching then they should not cause a
be noted that if the disease proceed slowly the blood-lettings must not be hastened for the patients strength is too soon weakened so that it cannot hold out til al the morbisick matter be expelled According therefore as the disease is moved so the Physitian ought sooner or later to let the Patient blood And there is a great Controversie whether Purple spots or wheales appear Phlebotomy is to be used For some account it to be an hamous Crime to let blood when the Exanthemaia appear because at that time the humors are moved from the Centre to the Circumference which motion must be by al meanes furthered and by blood-letting the humors are put into a clean contrary motion and the blood is drawn from the Circumference to the Centre when as the inner parts being emptied it must needs be that the blood contained in the outward parts should run inwards again which Galen plainly teacheth in his 9 Desanit Tuend Cap. 10. viz. That the Blood when a vein is opened does flow back from the whol bulk of the body into the internal parts And the same Galen in his Comment upon the 9 Epidem Does conjecture that Simon of whom Hippocrates spake haveing broad pushes came out had no good from his vomit because such juyces were thereby to be evacuated which took their Course to the Skin Howbeit by the more sound Advice of Doctors it 's concluded that the Purple spots appearing in the beginning of the disease and on those dayes in which a vein is wont to be opened if blood were not sufficienly taken away before it must even then be drawn in immoderate quantity Nether is there any danger to be feared by so doing seeing that same Eruption of wheals which comes in the beginning of the disease is not critical but Symptomatical only arising from an exceeding ebullition of blood and from the fervency of malignant and putrefying Humors and therefore the Motion of Nature cannot be hindered when there is more to hinder For in Case the Pacients body being Plethorick the Urme thick and red you shal not let blood because of the Exanthemata or wheales breaking forth Nature wil scarce be able to Master such a quantity of Humors and it is to be feared least they should rush into some internal part of the body and breed therein a pernicious inflamation Howbeit blood at such a time must be sparingly taken away not so as the veines may be emptyed which might cause a retraction of the evil humors inward again but only so as to take away their over great abundance which being taken away the veines draw no new blood but only fal a little together as it were and become a litle loosened so as to purse themselves the better and consequently to be the better able to rule the remaining blood And so is the motion and expulsion of Nature furthered which she endeavours towards the Surface of the body for she being eased of part of her load wherewith she was oppressed does more easily cast off the remainder and drive the same out Which we doe every where behold in our practice whiles the very same day oftentimes in which a vein is opened yea verily somtimes a few hours after pleantiful sweats critical and healthy doe break forth And in truth though nature were so strong that she could sufficiently rule al the redundant blood seeing that in plet horick bodies the blood is wont to be thick and by these eruptions into the Skin the thinner part of the blood only is evacuated and the thicker abiding in the veines does more and more putrefie and makes the disease much more dangerous But I hold the most advised Course to be a little after the Blood-letting to fasten many Cupping glasses that the motion of the humors to the outward parts may be hereby the more assisted of the Admonstration of which cupping-glasses we shal speak by and by Now it must be diligently noted as we said before that we observe the time in which the Exanthemata do begin to appear For if it be in the beginning of the disease and before the fourth day in which time their breaking forth cannot be critical and no help comes to the patient thereby but the symptomes do rather grow more vehement in which regard blood-letting ought by no meanes to be hindred But if they break forth after the fonrth day and that in great quantity so that the sick party is thereby bettered and the symptoms lessened it is much betteer to abstain from blood-letting and to fix many Cupping-glasses with Scarrification that the motion of the Humors out wards may thereby be wel furthered What wee have hitherto said of blood-letting is to be understood of opening a vein in the Arm which does quickly diminish the blood Howbeit somtimes t is very profitable to open the inferior veins viz. if the patient be weak and cannot suffer a reiteration of the former phlebotomy But this is especially good in women for it is as Ribasius saies Lib. 7. Chap. 10. proper to women and very efficatious because it imitates the manner of their Natural evacuations Yea verily when they want their courses that kind of bleeding is proper for women because naturally they have much blood in these veines which are high the womb Also it is good for such in whom we fear a translation of the matter into the brain which is often wont to happen in these Feavers and to cause a Phrensie Which may be perceived easily as we said in the prognostick by the Urins thin white and void of Color and when the Urins are so it wil be very good to open the inferior Veines Also Oribasius relates in the forecited place that he was taken with a pestilential Feaver and having two pound of blood drawn from his inferior veines he recovered and al that used the like bleeding were recovered The opening of the Hemorrhoid veines by Horsleeches workes the same effect For seeing by this meanes the blood is drawn out by little and little there follows little abatement of strength Yet is the blood revelled from the in most bowells where is wont to be the Heat and the Matter which foments the disease and this is special good for Melanchollick persons because in such Nature is wont to evacuate earthly blood by these waies After Sufficient blood-letting Revulsions must be celebrated by Cupping-glasses both dry and with Scarrification Dry ones when we would only revel but Scarrified ones when the redundancy of blood is not wholly taken away by blood-letting which the patients strength could no longer bear For blood is drawn by Cupping with much less expence of strength and besides the venemous spirits lurking within are thereby drawn to the Surface of the body But Authors agree not touching the places where Cupping-glasses are to be applied for some and especialy al Italian Physitians very neer do hold they ought to be applied to the inferior parts viz. to the thighs and buttocks and