by prescribing it Your Obliged Friend Richard Sampson An INDEX containing the Contents Alphabetically A. ABortion what with its causes and sings Page 104 c. How prevented and cured pag. 112 c. Air ambient dangerous in child-bed p. 111.116 After-pains what their causes and cure p. 133 c. After-burden what it is p. 84 c. Why so called p. 90 91 92 c. Must be brought away and why It s danger being left behind How it is hindred in its coming forth How drawn out ibid. Aged women commonly bring forth females and why p. 101. They are subject to the falling down of the womb p. 163 Age of the best nurse described p. 141 Allantois part of the secundine in beasts but not to be found in men and is as a girdle p. 90 Amnios the inward membrane of the secundine p. 89 c. Anger in nurses naught p. 143 Aorta what arterie and how generated p. 8 Arterial vein what it is ibid. Astringent powder useful for Midwives p. 30 B. BAgg described Page 76. c. In use Behaviour of nurses to be enquired into p. 124 c. Birth natural what and how described p. 24. How facilitated 110.130 Blood after conception distinguished three waies p. 14. Bones generated from the seed p. 12. Botches in children their causes p. 115.145 Brains how generated and for what p. 9 c. Breath stinking argues a child dead and putrified in the womb p. 79 Breasts sore to cure p. 101 Breeding women what forbidden them p. 101 C. CApsula of the heart generated p. 6 Cake of the womb what p. 88 89 c. Cartilages whence generated p. 11 Cataplasms against a loosness in child-bed 137. Against miscarrying to be applyed to the navil p. 118 Cataplasme in case of sore breasts p. 102 Caudles in after-pains and in case any of the secundine be left behind p. 134 Causes of immoderate flowing of the Lochia in child-bed with their cure p. 119 120. Cautions to Midwives in their business p. 28 29 a Caution to the Irish women in a loosness p. 105 Child when so properly called p. 112 Child-bearing women ought to be cheerful p. 110 Children how overlaid with the reasons p. 141. Of their pining away 150 Chorion what and why so called p. 88 Coats of the Arteries whence p. 11 Cold in child-bed dangerous with its cure p. 124 Cold dangerous in Child-bearing 111 Calostrat what children p. 144 Conception with its signs 95 96 c. Conception in Nurses make the child diseased p. 144 Conditions of Nurses to be inquired into with her complexion p. 143 Convulsion-fits in infants whence and how cured 134 135 Cordials against fainting fits p 112. A general excellent Cordial-water p. 113. Against a nauseous stomack p. ibid. Costiveness the cause of difficult birth p. 35 Costivenes in breeding women naught how it may be prevented p. 112 Cotyledons of the womb what p. 104 Courses why stop'd after conception p. 14. How they are to be provoked p. 115 c. They are stirred up by the use of Venery are destructive to milk p. 144 Cranium what how generated p. 10 Critical Fevers in child-bed their cure p. 123 c. Crying in children discovers want of milk p. 151 Cupping-glasses how and where to be applyed p. 147 D. DAncing in the child-bearing women or running naught for the child p. 110 Dancing of the child a good exercise for the Nurse p. 147 Danger from being not well purged in child-bed p. 115 c. a Decoction against too much milk p. 148 Dead child how delivered of p. 93 c. signs of a dead child p. 102 c. 108.131 Diet prescribed for breeding women p. 111. For child-bed women p. 120 Diarrhaea see Loosness in p. 131.136 Different postures of infants in the womb why p. 78 Difficult births their causes p. 34 c. Distinction of parts when p. 12 Dreams in the infant discover want of milk p. 151 Dropsies how distinguished from a Mola or false conception p. 82 Drunkenness not to be indured in nurses p. 140 The dura mater how generated p. 10 E. EAting flesh in child-bed the cause of Fevers p. 124 Eating and drinking to be observed by nurses p. 143 Eight moneths birth not like to live p. 19 c. The reasons ibid. Emplaster against abortion p. 113.132 Against Convulsions in infants p. 135 c. Against the inconveniency of milk to be applyed in the breasts p. 122.146 Embryon what p. 87 Epar uterinum that is the liver of the womb what its use and why so called p. 86 88 Exercise attenuates milk p. 146. In the nurse good for the child p. 147 Experiments to know if a woman hath conceived or no p. 98 c. Experiments to try milk p. 126 The Excrements are not voided by the fundament whilst the child is in the womb p. 16 c. F. FAlse conception what p. 79. How it differs from a true conception p. 81. How distinguished from a Dropsie p. 82. How delivered of p. 94 Falling out of the womb p. 162 c. Fainting fits in breeding women how prevented p. 112 Fevers in child-bed in general and of a Fever of milk what it is with the cures p. 121 Female when conceived and how known p. 200 Fibres in the first generation what p. 2 Figure of a child of 18 daies old p. 12 Fume or suffumigation in fits of the mother p. 160 G. GAlea is part of that coat of the secundine called the Amnios p. 87 a General cordial water against all fainting fits at all times p. 128 a Gibbous infant the cause of a difficult birth p. 35 Glysters for a looseness in child-bed p. 136 c. For the retention of the Lochia then p. 116 Gluttony in nurses condemned p. 143 Great breasts and great nipples in nurses not commendable why p. 141 Grief in nurses naught for the child p. 143 Naught for child-bearing women p. 110 Gripes in the belly of infants whence p. 149 H. HAndsome children why some so why others unhandsome p. 21 Hastiness in the Midwife not good p. 27 29 Hasty rising up of the mother naught for the child in the womb p. 110 Hard breasts the signs of the infants thriving in the womb p. 101 Haemorrhoids the cause of difficult birth p. 35 Heart generated when p. 6 Heat of the seed the cause of generation of males they are generated in the right side p. 21 Helmet called the Galea part of the Amnios p. 87 Heavy burdens carried by the mother are naught for the infant in the womb p. 111 Hysterick fits see Strangulation of the womb and mother-fits p. 155 c. I. INnate heat in infants requires constant aliment p. 150 Infant when said to be p. 16 How it lyeth in the womb p. 33 c. How nourished in the womb p. 14 It attracts the purest blood ibid. Hath more from the mother then from the father ibid. Why like their Parents p. 21 To know
is conveyed upwards into the breasts Milk how generated and there is prepared for milk Eighthly the thighs swell with pains but the body is weaker and the face pale Ninthly the belly is costive by reason of the compressure of the intestines The urine is white with a cloud swimming at the top wherein are to be seen many atomes like those observable in the beams of the sun but when in the first moneth many of these sink to the bottom and the vessel in which it is being shaken it seems to be drawn out like to wooll In the later moneths the urine is reddish or yellow it becomes blackish with a red cloud at the top I will here-with relate to you two experiments Experiments by which it may be known whether or no a woman hath conceived First And the first is this Stop up a womans urine three daies in a urinal at the end of which strain it or rather drop it through fine linnen and if she hath conceived you shall see little creatures like to lice if these be red 't is a token of a male Signs of a Male. but if white they portend a female But this is said to be sure Experiments If a womans urine be put in a brass Bason and stand there one night if you put into it a bright needle if she hath conceived that needle will be bespeckled with red spots but if otherwise it will be rusty all over Dr. Philadel These 't is true Quest may be promiscuous signs of Conception But Mrs. how know you the Sex whether male or female Eutrapelia By these signs Sir Answer First usually as First If she hath conceived a male the right eye moves oftner and is better as to its native colour than the left The belly is sharper about the navil Second The right breast groweth turgid before the left and the nipple is sooner changed Thirdly The milk increaseth sooner and if it be milked out and set in a glass in the sun it will grow into a clear mass not unlike to an oriental pearl as also if the courses appear about the 40th day after the Conception The right cheek is redder Fourthly and the whole colour of the face better neither is she so heavy as otherwise and the first stirring on the right side is the sixtieth day and that strongly too and the right foot moves first in walking and in arising from a seat the right foot is first apt to bear up the body The pulse is more frequent on the right side than on the left Fifthly Signs of a Female Now the signs of a female are contrary and these are most commonly the signs The first motion after conception is selt the 90th day The 90th day and that first in the left side Secondly Females are born with more sickness the thighs and privities swell the colour is paler the appetite stronger and yet apt to loath that which is contrary to it Thirdly the Courses appear about the 30th day after conception Youth bring males Fourthly the age of the woman is very considerable for the younger women most commonly bring males by reason of their greater heat in the womb And the more aged females Aged females by reason of the defect of heat contracted in the matrix by their age and females are more often generated by such Patents that are more cold and moist by nature and of seed that is too moist cold and liquid Dr. Philadel Since you have given such a character of the signs of Conception Quest and the distinction of Sexes let me know by what signs you apprehend the infant to be well and thrive in the womb or not Answer Sign of the infants thriving Eutrapelia I shall Sir And first if it be well the breasts will be hard but if otherwise they will be flaccid and a waterish humor will flow out of them like to milk of its own accord Secondly if the courses flow too often out of the womb in the time of child-bearing it is an argument of an unhealthy child And moreover the fattest women commonly bring forth the weakest insants Thirdly if a woman bring twins the one a male the other a female there is great danger of the female because they are nourished by a different aliment in the womb but if they be both females there is the less danger Fourthly if the child be gotten in the time of the monethly terms they are mix'd with untoward humors from whence it is experienced that many leprous infants are begotten Superfaetation what Aristot Hist Animal Lib. 7. C. 4. Fifthly if there be superfaetation the last conception seldom liveth Now superfaetation is when a woman having once conceived conceiveth again after a certain time which sometimes happeneth Hence the Poets feign Iphicles and Hercules to be twins by Alcmaena the wife of Amphitrio the first begotten by Amphitrio but the last viz. Hercules begotten by Jupiter But this by the way although more instances might be alledged nearer home Signs of a dead child Sixthly if a Dropsie overtake the praegnant woman and that her nose cars and lips look red it is a sign of a dead child Seventhly if the infant come forth after the ninth moneth 't is oftentimes very weak Eighthly if a virgin conceive before her first flowers it proves a lusty and perfect child Lastly all these things praemised Note Midwives also usually observe that as many knots as they find in the navil-string of an infant so many males they say she will have But so much for Conception Tell me now somewhat of Abortion with its Causes and Signs SECT XXVIII Of Abortion DR Philadel Tell me Quest Mrs. Eutrapelia what is that which you call Abortion or miscarrying Eutrap Answer It is to bring forth an untimely birth which may proceed from divers causes and those either internal or external First from internal causes as from the infant it self Internal Coâ—yledons what as when the Cotyledons that is the mouths of the vessels ending in the womb through vvhich the blood is conveyed into the vvomb from all parts of the body are so infirm that those vessels by reason of their rarity and vveakness are sooner broken and so of consequence and Abortion Secondly if the tunicles that is the secundine vvherein the infant is vvrapped be so vveak that it break and the humor contained therein flovv out by vvhich the matrix is slippery vveak and the infant being destitute of those humors faileth And also vvhen virulent moistures flovv forth and provoke the expulsive faculty of the vvomb Thirdly the third cause is vvhen the Woman is so vveak and consuming in her self that she vvithdravvs the nourishment from the infant insomuch that it hath neither matter to grovv by nor to generate the parts and members of it Fourthly the fourth cause may be the wideness of the orifice of the womb and
their danger how corrected p. 24 In child-bed women not well purged dangerous p. 112 T. TArtness of milk how corrected p. 146 Terms in child-bearing to help p. 113 Timpany how caused p. 82 Truncus phrenicus what p. 7 The trunk of the hollow vein ascending and descending p. 5 Tryal of milk p. 135 Twins have so many navil-cords as there are twins and yet but one Placenta p. 103 V. VEin hollow what p. 9 Vein two forked what It s ose p. 3 The Venal Arterie with its use p. 7 Venery and its use spoyl the milk in the nurse p. 144 Venereous thoughts in the nurse spoyl the milk ibid. Ugly children the reason why they are so p. 21 Vitious seed the cause of strangulation of the womb p. 156 Virtue of the milk of a male child if a female suck it and of a female if a male suck it p. 145 Unguent against Abortion p. 41.126 See Ointment Vomit of Oxymell good to attenuate thick milk p. 146 Urine of the infant in the womb by what passages voided in the womb p. 16 W. WAnt of milk the causes and cure p. 147 Waterish humors flowing out of the breasts of its own accord is an argument of a weak child p. 105 Weakness of the matrix is the cause of the secundine not coming forth p. 90 Whelps dye with sucking women p. 142 Winds sharp and cold not good for the child in the womb p. 106 Women meet helps for man p. 27 Fit helps for women by reason of the modesty of their Sex p. 27 c. How delivered ibid. How long to keep their beds in child-bed with safety p. 115 Women above 40 years old bring forth with more difficulty p. 30 They are to be dealt withal in child-bed as with wounded persons p. 124 Womb its natural property to receive seed p. 1 The falling out of it p. 162 The signs ibid. The causes p. 163. Prognosticks and cure p. 164 Y. A YEar sufficient for a child to be suckled p. 153 Young women bring forth males most commonly why p. 100 c. The end of the Table THE PREFACE SInce all Arts and Sciences tend to the use and benefit of Mankind all things by the Almighty Creator being subjected to him who is no other than a little World in himself Man would not only be ungrateful to his Creator but wanting to his off-spring should he not endeavour to improve his whole industry Reason and skill to propagate his kind to all posterity And therefore besides other helps as Physical Anatomical and Diaetetical c. The art and skill of Obstetricie commonly called Midwivery is none of the least Non minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri It being no less virtue and prudence to preserve a child when begotten than content and pleasure in begetting in both which both Sexes are and ought equally to be concerned for where the womb proves the tomb there is neither room for Physick Anatomie Chirurgery or diet c. or any thing like it This then being the first work in reference to mans future well-doing laying aside all other Argumentative circumlocutions and deviations let us by way of discourse examine and contrive how that creature man may be preserved from the beginning of his Conception to the hour of his birth and that with safety too to her that bare him And truly it may be worth the while if we consider the excellency of man whom some call as like unto God The dignity of man described 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so The Interpreter of the gods Pythagoras calls him The Measure of all things And Plato calls him The Wonder of Wonders Theophrastus stiles him The Great Pattern of the Vniverse Aristotle terms him A Politick Animal born for society whom God made with his face upright whereas all other creatures look with their faces downward Pronaque Ovid. Met am Lib. 1. cum spectant animalia caetera terram Os homini sublime dedit coelumque tueri Jussit erectos ad sydera tollere vultus Horizontem corporeorum incorporeorum Divinum animal plenum rationis consilii Mundi Epitomen naturae delicias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 8. ve 4 5 c. Synesius terms man the Horizon of all corporeal and incorporeals Tully calls him a Divine creature full of Reason counsel whom Pliny also calls the Epitomy of the World and delight of Nature And whom all with one consent call a Microcosme a little world in a bigger Of whom the Kingly Prophet David in Psalme the 8th saith Thou hast made him little lower than the Angels thou hast crowned him with glory and honour and hast placed him over all the works of thy hands Now then man being so excellent a Creature who though the last in the Creation yet not the least God making him as after his own Image and Likeness Gen. the 1 Chap. ve◠26 27. and instructing him with so large a Commission and a blessing annexed to it as to subdue the Creation making all the creatures subject to the dominion of man whom God had or dained as his Vice-Roy on earth with this blessing viz. be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth Let us make a nearer indagation and scrutiny into the formation of man as to the order of the generation of the parts and increase of the infant according to the daies and times from the first conception till the day of his birth And then the more we seriously weigh it and pry into it Ps 139. ver 13. the more with the Psalmist we shall admire our Creator by our creation and bless that God that hath cover'd us in our Mothers womb and praising him say We are fearfully wonderfully made marvellous are thy works Ver. 15. Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My bones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 16. c. My fubstance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them And if God who created male and female thought it fit to provide the woman as a help meet for him Gen. 2.20 Women being most fit to help women in their deliveries by reason of the modesty of their sex It shall be the whole subject of this ensuing small Tract to describe a Midwife and such a woman too that may be most apt for so necessary an employment and then still aiming at a publick good declining that Idiom best becoming the Pen of Doctors The Latin Tongue shall shape my Quill to an English Dialect and avoiding intricate and Bombastick words and Acroamatical sentences where they may be otherwise expressed afford such material directory assistance in the business of Midwivery as shall be suitable to the meanest capacity not presuming to
infant indangered by this only but by a double motion The first is that when after the motion of the seventh moneth it is born the eighth moneth as aforesaid The next is because by reason of the influence of the stars every seventh moneth produceth a dangerous and hurtful motion to the infant for the Sun is ever standing in an opposite sign at that time and because the 8th moneth is ever nearest unto Saturn an enemie to all that receive life And it is to be conceived The difference of the sex Hippocrates Aphor. v. Book and 48. that the males are generated in the right side of the matrix but females in the left out of the left testicle for the right side by reason of the Liver is hotter but the left cooler but principally the abundant heat of seed is the cause of the generation of males Of infants being like their parents And because males are sometimes like their parents is from the virtue of the seed that the infant should most resemble those whose seed is most in virtue But 't is believed that the motion of the stars can do somewhat Stars have influence The reason of handsome and unhandsome children as when the seed is conceived under the aspect of some good Planets this makes an excellent form but when under the aspect of some untoward Planet then it produceth an ugly shape and unbeautiful form This figure sheweth the Womb Anatomized and how the Infant lyeth in it The parts are described in the following page Câ—oss sculpsit SECT IV. Of the due time and form of the Birth and what are the causes of pains in Child-bearing THe ninth moneth being now at hand the nourishment of the infant in the womb beginneth to fail by reason of that bigness to which the infant is grown or now being big it requires much nourishment which because it cannot longer attract by the small veins and by the navil it is moved with great struglings and force in the womb insomuch as it breaketh the ligaments the veins and coats in which the infant is involved I mean the secundine with the other coats of which hereafter and according to this figure fitteth it self toward the birth What are the pains in Child-bearing By this indication Midwives and other women which sometimes are assistant unto pregnant women may observe the true pains of a woman in travail which in truth are nothing else but the force of the infant now perfect by which they are enforced and tossed and with which they contend downwards that they may go forth for the membrane being broken by that force and the womb open the humors begin to flow down of which the infant being now freed he presently is sensible of the air and being desirous of this life is turned toward the out-let of the matrix with his head towards the orifice of the same And this see the precedent figure is the form of a natural birth A natural birth what if the head tend forth to the out let with the hands drawn down to the sides and plac'd on the hips as in the last figure An unnatural birth of which more at large God willing hereafter may be said to be where any of these conditions are wanting or defective therefore let the Midwife take care that she be timely prepared for the reception of any birth with all necessary A Naturall Birth Cross sculy conveniences as with a fit stool The Midwives furniture a sharp knife astringent powder a sponge swathes c. warm oyle of Lillies with which she may aptly anoint both the womb of the woman and her own hands but of that also more particularly hereafter Let us now in the next Section make inquiry for the fittest and best Midwife with whom we may discourse There is a good woman called Mrs. Eutrapelia who promised to undertake the office and to be satisfied with directions And see here she comes and offers discourse SECT V. A Dialogue between Eutrapelia the Midwife and Philadelphos the Doctor Eutrap Sir I understand you are inquiring after a woman that may make a fit Midwife the employment being such a necessary and publick good I should be willing if your Worship and other Learned Physicians think me fit to be serviceable in my generation and to take upon me that employment Dr. Philadelphos Your name I beseech you Mistress Eutrap Sir my name is Eutrapelia and I am she that last night promised to wait on you this morning Philad Are you she Welcome Mrs. Eutrapelia your name bespeaks you fit for the work as being a well-bred woman therefore give me leave to tell you what kind of person a Midwife ought to be and that in the subsequent description A good Midwife described The best Midwife is she that is ingenuous that knoweth letters and having a good memory is studious neat and cleanly over the whole body healthful strong and laborious and well instructed in womens conditions not soon angry not turbulent or hasty Exo. 1.15 Shiphrah Puah Exod 1.17 and ver 20 and 21. unsober unchaste but pleasant quiet prudent not covetous but like the Hebrew Midwives such as fear God that God may deal with them and that the people may multiply and increase after their hands and that the Lord may build them houses By this description I tell you only how the best Midwife must be qualified let me hear from you somewhat of your experience and skill that I may the better judge of your abilities and approve of them First then Mrs. let me know how women are delivered B. the Back of the Stoole o o o o. the feete a a. rests for the hands r r. the ring in shape like the Moone c c c c. the Cloth round the ring to keepe out the Aire etc Crofs sculpsit An astringent powder â„ž of Aloes Frankincense Dragons-blood of each a drachm of burnt Harts-horn sealed earth called Terra sigillata fine flour of each two drachms of the wooll of Hares shread small half an ounce of these make a fine powder As to the washing of the child and swathing I need not give you any account I suppose you take it for granted that most women understand that I only here shew you the shape of the stool I use which I hope you will not disapprove of though all Midwives nay few have them or use them Dr. Philadelphos I like Mrs. the use of your stool as being most useful and especially by reason of the skirt of cloth that usually ought to be about n = * Of a black colour it to keep away the air which gives me occasion to give you one necessary admonition by the way A Caution Therefore let all Midwives take heed that they expose not their women that are in labour to the cold air but rather that they cover the privities with the secundine also whilest it is yet hot or else with warm clothes presently after the
birth For believe me neither is it only my opinion but also the opinion of the most Learned Doctors that there is nothing worse to child-bearing women than the cold air Rodericus a Castro parte 2 lib. 4. Cap. 12. because that entring into the womb the womb it self is distended waxeth cold and swelleth and its orifices are shut from whence cometh the menstruous matter and thence arise grievous symptoms and often times death it self But as to the suppression of them and their cure we shall by divine assistance treat more largely e're we leave this subject in hand This precedent figure is the form of a child lying in the womb according as cut in Tho. Bartholinus in Page 197. naked and out of all its coats both proper and common The description of it appears by the explanation of these letters in it viz. AA Shews the parts of the Chorion diffected and removed from their proper place B A portion of the membrane Amnios CC The membrane of the womb diffected DD The placenta Uteri or hepar uterinum being a fleshy substance full of many vessels by which the infant receives its nourishment E The varication of the Vessels which makes up the navil string FF The navil string by which the Umbili or vessels are carried from the placenta to the navil GG The infant as it lyes perfect in the womb near the time of travel H How the umbilical vessels are inserted into the navil of the infant SECT VI. Of the site of the child in the womb The infant how it lyeth in the womb THE infant in the womb lyeth altogether bowed and contracted together his knees to his belly and head to his knees the anckles being joyned to the buttocks cross-legg'd his hands lifted up towards his head on which he so leaneth his head that his eyes seem to be fixed to the thumbs of his hands the one placed on the temples the other on the cheeks insomuch that white spots may be seen in the skin as if they had been fretted the one against the other The former part of the body tends towards the lower part of the belly of the mother if it be a male and the hinder part towards the back but if it be a female the posture is clean contrary But the usual posture is as in this figure which goeth before SECT VII Of difficult births whether praeternatural or whether they proceed from Causes external or internal DIfficult births from external causes may be either first from excessive heat dissolving the strength of the women or second excessive cold condensing the womb Their canses or third from sweet things often applied to the nostrils of the woman that by smelling to sweet things she may recover her strength and faintings for sweet smells do attract the womb upwards and so render the birth more difficult Difficult birth from internal causes may be either first from the woman second from the womb third from the infant fourth from the membranes of the womb 1. From the woman as when she is too angry too fearful or too modest or if she be in age above 40 years Women of above 40 years bring forth with difficulty from whence the muscles of the womb may be concluded to be dry and so the less extensible or when she is so thick and fat that the passages be narrow Or 2. From the womb it self as when it is so small nature so weak and feeble that it cannot expell the birth Or if there be any inflammation Inflammation The stone Costiveness Haemorrhoids or other preternatural affect in the privities be it the stone or haemorrhoid's or extraordinary costiveness all which may so compress the womb with their weight that it cannot expell the birth 3. Is from the infant it self as if it be of an unusual bigness of a great head or a monstrous birth hydropical gibbous that is crook-back'd full of wind dead in the womb or lying there in a posture beyond nature as when it comes overthwart with the feet forward and not the head or if the thigh before the head 4 th From the membranes of the womb as when they are so forcibly broken by the child in the womb that the moysture floweth thence leaving the infant behind that when the child should come forth that moysture faileth and so the membranes being dryer maketh the birth the more difficult or when it is so firm and sollid that it is broken with much difficulty and so makes the labour the harder SECT VIII Of the Schemes Fashions and Figures of the birth lying in the womb and how they are born or may be born THE postures of the infant in the womb are generally four First they offer to come with their heads forward which is the natural birth Secondly with the feet forwards Thirdly overthwart Fourthly doubled to all which the Midwives care and skill is required but especially in the three later But chiefly very many postures and schemes have been observed and are to be found by continuance of practise for that child that comes with his head forward sometimes hath his head right as to the orifice of the matrix but the rest of the body crooked and sometimes overthwart and sometimes the infant pitcheth his head either in the former part from the orifice or backward or comes crooked and sometimes also these schemes are without any tye as to the bottom of the matrix and sometimes with it sometimes also it puts forth one hand or both so as that they are twisted above the head sometimes it cometh forward with its feet asunder and those fixed in the parts of the womb sometimes the feet being doubled it endeavours to come forth with the knees forward sometimes it is so doubled that it shews forth its little buttocks like one that is sitting or contrarily may be so doubled that you may find the soles of the feet joyned to the head in the orifice of the matrix but those that lye o'rethwart sometimes lye on one side and sometimes with the face upwards and sometimes downwards But if there be twins then that which presenteth it self fairest must be laid hold on and the other put back As to all which the next 15 or 16 Sections will not only furnish with schemes but with directions Hitherto having described the Midwife and her office together with the site of the infant in the womb as natural together with difficult births in general and their causes It is reasonable good Mrs. Eutrapelia that we discourse of praeternatural births because those bring the greatest danger with them both to the mother and infant SECT IX Scheme the first Of praeternatural Births Quest 1 DR Philad Courteous Mrs. Eutrapelia If you perceive a child come with his feet forwards and the hands drawn downwards to the thighs according to this next ensuing form How will you deliver the woman Eutrap In this I will take care to be furnished with Oyles
Answer and convenient liniments and only to help the coming forth of the infant by anointing and cherishing it lest it go back again but that it may come forth the same way as it began But first of all I shall take care that both arms of the infant so stretched downwards be so secured by me that the infant may not have power to draw them back again but that I may compell it to come forth after this very same manner But if the infant breaking forth after this manner and by reason of its bigness as well as his arms drawn down be so streightned by the narrowness of the matrix that of it self it cannot wholly come to the birth then the womb of the woman is to be annointed with oyle of Lillies Oyles Opus est Elleboro or sweet Almonds and some sneezing Powder of Hellebor c. blowed up into her nose to help the sending forth of the birth and the womb gently to be compressed with both hands that it tend not upwards but downwards as it ought untill it comes forth entirely SECT X. Scheme the Second DR Philadel Quest 2 But tell me I pray Mrs. Eutrapelia What if an infant come with the feet forward and the hands lifted up above the head and not drawn downwards to the thighs as in the following sigure what course will you take with most safety Eutrap Sir I am not at all to receive it so lying Answ except the infant be very small and little and the matrix so extensive and open that it may be hoped a safe delivery both to the woman and to the child neither must I receive it before the matrix and the infant be diligently anointed But it were much better to thrust back the infant into the womb and to turn it to the right form which may be done after this manner Let the woman lye on her back upon a bed with her buttocks raised higher and her head lower which done I must swathe her belly toward the midriff gently that I may drive back the infant again into the womb by which means it may give an occasion of coming forth in another form but above all I must take care to turn the face of the infant toward the back of the mother and then I must lift up the buttocks and thighes of the infant toward the navil of the mother that it may hasten toward a lawful birth and there cannot be a safer experiment in this case as I conceive which is also most useful in such births as come praeternaturally SECT XI Scheme the Third PHiladelphos Quest 3 I pray forsooth tell me If the infant happen to come forth but with one foot and the arms let down to the sides but the other foot turned backwards How will you help Eutrap Answer In this case Sir I must not trouble the woman but must bring her to her bed again and so by the assistance of other women bend her and turn her after the same manner as was formerly proposed putting back also the other foot into the womb which done she must often tumble her self upon her bed till I find the infant in some measure turned and the woman brought fitly to her labour and helped with all means possibly to be used And this kind of tossing and tumbling may be used in all births where the infant appears after an unapt manner In the mean time when there is need she ought to be refreshed with such Physical means as may be proper But if it shall happen that either by the rolling to and fro of the woman or my industry that the foot so bent back come right to the birth then I must take care that laying hold of the arms otherwise drawn downwards toward the sides I bring the infant handsomely out so as is answered in the first Chapter SECT XII Scheme the Fourth PHiladelphos Quest 4 If an infant lye a-cross on the one side or on its back with the hands and feet up how will you help it Eutrapelia Answer Sir In this case and condition I must not trouble the woman nor expect the infant to be born so lying which without some way of turning is impossible Therefore I am to take care that I reduce it to the true form of a natural birth by lifting up the buttocks and directing the head to the birth and if this course succeed not to see that by often rolling upon the bed as aforesaid the infant return to its right form of lying SECT XIII Scheme the Fifth PHiladel Tell me Mrs. Eutrapelia Quest 5 What if the infant happen to hasten to the birth with his arms and legs distorted and crooked according to this figure How then will you help Eutrap Answer As things so stand Sir I must not endeavour the birth of the child but must bring her from the stool to the bed where I must press back the womb as before-said or must desire her to roul her self about till the infant is turned to a more commodious posture And if this course prevail not I must endeavour to joyn both feet together and if possible must bring down the hands so to the sides that I may direct it to the birth But the safest way is that it be converted in the womb to its right posture SECT XIV Scheme the Sixth DR Philadel Tell me Midwife Quest 6 what if the infant fall down with both the knees bent and the hands hanging down to the thighs How will you go to work Eutrap Here Doctor Arswer I must with my right hand lift up both knees upward till the feet happen to come forth foremost then with my left hand I must lay hold on the feet and with my right hand keep the hands to the sides and encourage the infant toward the birth But if this way be not thought safe enough I must bring the woman to the bed where lying in such a posture as before she shall so roul her self up and down till the infant come to a better and more commodious posture SECT XV. Scheme the Seventh DR Philadel Quest 7 But Mrs. Eutrapelia What if the infant come out hastily with one hand and the other hand down towards the side and the feet stretched out streight into the womb according to this figure How will you receive it Eutrap May it please you Sir Answer I am not at all to receive it so nor to suffer it to proceed farther toward the birth but must bring her to the bed where her head must lye lower than her buttocks then I must swath her belly gently that the infant may fall back again into the womb but if it fall not back of its own accord I must put in my hand and press back the shoulders and must reduce the arm that hanged out to the side that it may be disposed of to a natural form in the womb and so may come forth easily SECT XVI Scheme the Eighth DR
the vessels of the after-burden Epar Uterinum which immediately sticks to the womb by a certain fleshy mass that is formed being round and of somewhat a ruddy colour not compassing the whole infant by reason of innumerous springs of veins and arteries by which the blood is inter-woven as if it were poured in and by which the infant is nourished This towards the infant is smooth but that part which is towards that fleshy round mass is rougher Of the Placenta Uteri or Epar Uterinum This round fleshy substance is called the liver of the womb or the cake of the womb which having a parenchyma such a substance as the liver hath no wonder if it should make and prepare blood for the nourishment of the infant On that side towards the womb it is rough and unequal like clefts in a bak'd cake and being cut in this part it sheweth an infinite company of fibres which if you trace they will bring you to the orifice of the veins themselves And although there be twins or more yet there is but one placenta for into one placenta so many navil-strings are inserted in divers places as there are young ones Embryones though it may differ as to the bigness according to the body and condition of the infant yet the ground is still the same in the diameter The use of the Placenta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The use serves as a support of the unibilical vessels for which it serves as a pillar it is also called secundae the secundine The third is called Allantoides 't is a coat betwixt the Chorion and Amnios 't is difficulty Be it as it will wheresoever these make but the least stay I must endeavour all that I can to bring them forth for when they are deteined longer than their due time they cause bad symptoms Symptoms as a horrible stench which fumes up to the stomach heart liver midriff and so consequently to the brain from whence ariseth great pains in the head at the heart decay of spirits faintings swounings often Convulsions cold Sweats Apoplexies Epilepsies sometimes Gangrenes and often death it self but of this Cure hereafter Sir I shall beg your advice Philadel Quest Mrs. you shall have it at your pleasure you answer expertly tell me now how they must be perswaded out Eutrap Answer I shall Sir I must first anoint my left hand with convenient oyles and after I have laid hold of it must not violently draw it away Secundine how to be brought away nor yet force it directly downward lest I draw down the womb and all together but I must shake it lightly and gently to and fro till I perswade it to follow my intention and whilest they are thus reteined I must refresh her with Caudles A Caudlebroth or Panatells wherein the yelks of Eggs in Wine with some Saffron and Cinnamon strewed or broth of a Hen or Capon with mace saffron and cinnamon boyled in it As to other means where the danger is more I think it ever best and safest to consult with learned Physitians or with experienc'd Ladies whose Closets are furnished with choice praescriptions which they have had from Doctors in such cafes Philadel But Quest Mrs. we have formerly discoursed of Births natural and praeternatural with their respective schemes Tell me now A dead child how delivered and how of a Mola how you will deliver a woman of a dead child and how of a false Conception or Mola Especially where no pains or throws are which are most commonly occasioned by the motion and force of the child only alive as hath been shewed in the 21th Page and 4th Section Eutrap Answer Here Sir is great danger and difficulty I have by Gods blessing with safety to the women delivered them of many a dead child and of a Mola or false Conception also and believe the method of curing one of them will serve to cure the other as I have been informed by learned Physitians but where Chirurgical Instruments or other Physical means must be used I ever recommend such a case to learned Physitians and Chirurgeons expert in Anatomy both for assistance and direction SECT XXVII Of the signs of Conception in general and the different Sexes in particular DR Philadelphos Good Mrs. Eutrapelia Quest vouchsafe me your observations about Conceptions Signs of Conception and let me understand what are the signs of Conception in general and what signs distinguish the Sexes Eutrap Although Sir Answer 't is hard to know whether a woman hath conceived yea or no yet it may be conjectured by many experienced Arguments as for instance First it is thought a credible sign of Conception if a woman either the tenth day after coition or sooner perceive by reason of any humors any of her terms be they whites or reds Stopping of the courses no sure sign And though the stopping of those be accounted for a sign yet that fails often because it may be as well before conception as after But waving this let us find out other marks and prognosticks of a true conception gathered from the state and condition of the woman her self being seriously examined from head to foot Secondly pains and giddiness in in the head and a mist over the sight if they meet together these portend conception Thirdly the apples of the eyes are lessened the eyes swell and become swarthy the veins of the eyes grow red and are full with blood the eyes fink the eye-lids are remiss divers colours are seen in the eyes and are observed in a looking-glass the veins betwixt the eyes and the nose are turgid with blood and are seen clearer the veins under the tongue are somewhat greenish Fourthly the chest is warm and the back cold Fifthly the veins and arteries are turgid and the pulse easier the veins in the breast are first black then either yellow or blew Sixthly The breasts grow big and hard with pain the nipple grows red if she drinketh that which is cold she feels cold in her breast Seventhly there is a great loathing of meat and drink and destruction of the natural appetite with longings after various meats with an absurd appetite a continual vomiting and weakness of stomach sower belchings loathing of wine an inordinate pulsation of the heart sudden joy and after that as sudden grief pains about the navil Invicem cedunt dolor voluptas heaviness about the loins swelling toward the bottom of the belly inward pricking in the body chilness of the outward parts after coition retention of the seed seven daies after copulation about the beginning of conception a shooting pain about the back and belly The courses are stop'd for those veins from which they flow carry the blood through certain holes that are at the end of them for the nourishment Acetabule of the infant by the navil and part of it
its overmuch moysture and an evil temperature of qualities and ventosities included in the womb as also Ulcers and Apostemations in the womb besides other distempers As are too many Courses too great a Flux of blood A caution to the Irish where these distempers are Epidemical and Sporadical too great a Looseness of the belly or too great Costiveness a Tenasmus called commonly a Needing a Cough a constant Sneezing and all things that shake the body too much and lastly any acute sickness which doth so afflict the womans body that by them the infant is deprived of its nourishment Quest The external causes of Abortion Answer Philadel Now then Mrs. pray inform me vvhat are the external causes of Abortion Eutrap Sir the external causes are many As first to fall to run to leap to ride to exercise too immoderately and to be smitten vvith strokes Again too much cold and too great heat for over-much cold killeth the child and too great heat intercepts the air from the infant and so suffocateth it in the womb and this may be done by hot baths if women use them in the first moneths after their conception Thirdly Stinking smells as the snuff of a candle or lamp newly extinguished Fourthly an absurd appetite and manner of eating and drinking as to cat salt coals dirt c. by which either ill humors or a dangerous thirst are procured Fifthly too great hunger for by overmuch fulness the infant is sooner suffocated the passages appointed for nourishment being the sooner obstructed Sixthly immoderate exercise and labours overmuch sleep and a continual laziness unseasonable and unreasonable watchings besides other accidents As sudden fury great wrath over-much fear and sorrow sudden joy and a dull appetite longing for that which is not to be had unsatiable copulation and lust Dr. Philadel Quest You have now discovered the causes of Abortion What I pray Mrs. Eutrapelia are the signs of Abortion Eutrap Answer Sings The signs of Abortion are twofold First before conception in those that use to miscarry as superfluous moysture sudden and unusual fatness against nature which was wont to be of slender and lean constitution or which are ever pained about the loyns and kidneys or fall suddenly into other dangerous diseases Signs of Abortion Secondly the signs of Abortion after conception are these viz. when the breasts that at first were turgid and hard are observed to grow flaccid and soft of a sudden if there be too great a flux and a continual flowing of the terms Moreover if there be horrors colds pains in the head or a swimming there be in the eyes these be sure signs of Abortion Dr. But Quest what are the signs of a dead child Answer Of a dead child Eutrap Where the child is dead Sir there is no motion perceived when the eyes of the woman sink when her colour is turned into a tawny whiteness when there are great pains about the navil and loyns when by reason of the lower parts being compressed there happeneth a Strangury a * A Needing â—enesmus Again when the ears the lips the top of the nostrils are taken with a pale coldness and the face swells and the belly though it sinketh not yet groweth soft so that lying to either side by the touch there may be perceived a hard mass Stinking breath a sign that the child beginneth to putrifie as also stinking breath an argument that the infant doth begin to putrifie These are manifest signs of a dead child The cure whereof I leave to the care of the expert Physitians and Chirurgeons SECT XXIX Rules for Child-bearing Women EUtrap According to your promise I beseech you Doctor lay me down some Rules to be observed by Child-bearing women Dr. Philadel Good Midwife I shall and that very necessary ones too that she may know how to go on safely through by Gods blessing to the last hour or by neglecting them may make her delivery the harder and I shall reduce them under ten heads First let her be chearful not breaking her self with mourning and careful anxiety for this doth exhilarate the infant Res sex non naturales and stirs up all the faculties and confirms it in its parts and members Secondly let her avoid all violent motion and abstain from all hard labours not rising up too hastily not leaping running dancing riding not lacing her self too streight or carrying too heavy a burden but surely sleep is very fit for her Thirdly let her beware of sharp and cold winds of excessive hear anger perturbations of the mind affrights terrors over-much venery and of intemperancy of eating and drinking Fourthly let the diet of breeding women be frugal and moderate abstaining from gross meats hard of digestion let her eat eggs chickens land-fowl birds of the mountains c. variety of broths grewels panadoes mutton veal lamb kid rabbets she may use in her meats nutmeg and cinamon she may drink wine moderately Fifthly in the first four moneths let her open no vein use no cupping or scarrifications fontanells nor use any pills or other Physick without the advice of a prudent Physitian for in these moneths the ligaments of the child are very tender soft and feeble and therefore the easier destroyed and the nourishment kept from him Sixthly if it shall happen that the woman be too costive by which many miscarry let her boyl spinage Against Costiveness and lettuce well buttered with salt and vinegar or wine which if they will not move the belly Suppositories let her use suppositories with honey and the yelk of an egg or of Castile-soap and if these common things will not do let her advise with an expert Physitian Seventhly if it happen that she conceive with grievous symptoms Symptoms and after conception is troubled with faintings let her take this Cordial following Take of Sorrel-water and red-Rose-water of each one ounce of Cinamon-water one ounce Against fainting of Manus Christi pearled called in the Shops Saccharum tabulatum perlatum simplex half an ounce or as much Diamargariton this may be taken as need requires Eighthly if she fear that she may come too soon that is before her time as in the seventh moneth or some other unscasonable time and feels throws as of child-bearing occasioned by immoderate exercise too great costiveness from a Fever or some other disease A suffumigation Let her sit over a suffumigation of Frankincense for that contributes no small strength both to the matrix and to the infant also Ninthly if she nauseate her meat she may use a plaister of Mastich to her stomack and take this following Cordial every morning fasting to strengthen her stomack The Cordial Take syrup of Pomegranates one ounce and half of Mosch and Amber-greece of each two grains of Lignum Aloes finely powdered one scruple of Cinamon half a scruple the water of Sorrel three ounces let these be mingled and drank off
blood-warm Against terms it Child-bearing Lastly if whilst she goeth with child she perceiveth her terms let her eat milk made boyle with red-hot steel and in that let Plantain and Comfrey be boyled But in all these cases let her advise with learned Physitians which will direct them with medicines and advice from time to time I shall now treat of some few distempers incident to child-bed and leave you some choice Remedies in the following Sections and then wind up all SECT XXX Of the Retention of the Lochia in Child-bed known by the name of Courses though improperly so called and of their immoderate Flux THE retention or suppression of the Lochia in Child-bed Hippoc. lib. de natura pueri by the consent of Hippocrates as well as other Learned Doctors to which daily experience may be added brings the greatest inconveniences to women Purgations of women in Child-bed Hippo. ibid. and often death it self I shall therefore in this Section treat of the purgations of women in Child-bed which Hippocrates determines to be at the most but 40 daies By the Levitical Law 33 daies was in case of a male Levit. cha 12. verse 4. and for a female 66 daies ve 5. if the women bring forth a female and 30 daies to a male But withal saith that a woman is passed all danger after 20 daies purgation Now if women be not sufficiently purged in Child-bed either it causeth a great * A swelling hot and red Phlegmon in the womb by reason of the inflammation of the blood or else those lochia being carried to some higher part bring dangerous affects to the part that receiveth them as Squinancies Pleurisies Fevers Frenzie Nauseousness Unquietness Dropsies and what not Cause The cause of their retention is generally cold by reason of the ambient air which the woman receiveth in her delivery Ambient air perhaps through the improvidency of Midwives who most commonly take more care of the child than of the woman or else by reason that the woman may be delivered in some cold moist room which cold suddenly rushing into the inward parts of the womb suddenly stoppeth them See Sect. the fifth Therefore Midwives must not only be very wary in this case as hath been already hinted in the latter end of the fifth Section to which I refer you but also proceed to the Cure The Cure A Glyster First then this Clyster may be given Take of the roots of Marshmallows * Aristolchia â—…ga 〈◊〉 long round Birthwort of white Lillies of each half an ounce of the leaves of Mallows Pellitory of the wall Mercury and Violets of each half a handful of Chamomel flowers Melilot flowers Elder flowers each two * A pugill is as much as may be held betwixt the thumb and two fingers pugills of the seeds of Dill Foenugreek and Seseli of each two drachms let these be boyled in spring-water till a third part be consumed strain it and to ten ounces of the straining dissolve the yelk of two eggs of Sal-Gemm and unguent de Arthanita each one drachm oyle of Dill and of Bayes each half an ounce of these make a Glyster A bagg You may also make a bagg triangular whereof you see a description with its use in the xxvth Section in which you may quilt these herbs following being grosly bruised and pounded Take of the roots of long and round Birth-wort of Gentian Angelica Bryonie * Cyclamine Sowbread of the herbs of Mugwort Balm Savin Orgamint and Calamint of each one handful of the flowers of Chamemile Ingredients for the bagg Tansy and Elder each half a handful of the seeds of Dill Caraway Anniseeds and Seseleos each one drachm These being mash'd and pounded and quilted into a bagg big enough to cover the lower part of her belly and privities and well secured with strings must be boyled in spring-water and applyed warm Two baggs best to be applyed the one hot whilst the other groweth cold but it were better to have two bags to apply as they grow cold The belly hips and thighs which by reason of the consent of parts must consequently sympathize with great pains may be anointed with this ointment Take of the oyle of Chamomile The ointment Lumbricorum Catellorum Hipericonis Dill and of the oyle of Eggs oyle of Worms whelps St. John's-wort with these mixed anoint the parts abovesaid warm At night you may let this Julep be given take of the waters of Balm A Julep and Mugwort of each one ounce of the water of Cinamon distilled without wine one ounce Confection of Alkermes half a drachm of Laudanum two grains of syrup of Poppy half an ounce the bagg may be renewed as need shall require warming it in the liquor in which it was first boyled the next day you may repeat both the Glyster and the bagg and expect good success After which if the woman be plethorick A Purge you may purge her with Manna and syrup of Roses in broth and this may be given after seven daies lying in I come now to speak somewhat of the immoderate flowing of them Immoderate flowing of the Lochia which must be considered as well as being stop'd there being danger in either for 't is well observed by Hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hipp. Aph. 51. Lib. 2. Omne nimium vertitur in vitium The Causes that every thing wherein is excess is an enemie to nature Therefore let us endeavour to stop them in their over-much flowing with a very great caution lest by stopping them all together there follow worse effects It happens many times that both after the birth and miscarrying that there floweth out such a quantity of blood by reason of the eruption or apertion of the vessels immoderately or by reason of the great fervor of the blood proceeding from the use of over-hot Remedies in laborious births To remedy them Then First use such alimentary food as may incrassate and thicken the blood Cure by Diet. as Panadoes Gellies Rice in the broth of Calves-feet Pears boyled Quince and Roast-meats whereon the juice of Pomegranates have been sprinkled yelks of eggs Drink Their drink may be red Wine mix'd with water wherein steel hath been quenched then the blood may be drawn by revulsion to the upper parts either by Phlebotomy or Cupping-glasses under the papps c. Stupps dipp'd in vinegar water applyed to the loynes with an ointment The whole belly must be swathed there may be stupps dipp'd in Oxycrat and applied to the loyns after which take of Unguentum Comitissae two ounces of juice of Plantane one ounce beaten well together these things being not hard to be gotten I tender to you but when they will not be stop'd by these means 't were best to have recourse to Learned Physitians for advice SECT XXXI Of the Fever of Milk EUtrap Quest You have already
seldome blameable Then use the decoction of Myrtle-berries and red Roses and with clothes dipped in it lay them on the breasts Or else clothes imbibed in Vinegar wherein Cummin-seeds bruised have been infused with Myrrh and Camphire The inconveniency of too thick milk By reason of the thickness of the milk all those excrements that the child should send forth are intercepted as by Stool by Urine c. The passages for transpiration are stuffed up so that the progress of the aliment being stop'd of necessity the milk must be regurgitated and vomited up after which will follow much flegmatick matter a sure argument of crudities Cause of Botches c. Sometimes there will arise botches and apostemations about the body much matter and snot and quittor will come out of the nose and corners of the eyes and eye-lids and the appetite will be lost Of too thin milk the cause of gripings Contrarily from the thinner and sharper sort of milk the belly is looser than it ought being troubled with pinches and gripes in the belly of the infant Also very angry pustules and whelks will arise about the body like the small Pox and the body groweth weak by little and little Cause of pustules the infant not caring for food for the strength of the appetite will be more remiss by reason of the acrimony of that which the infant desires so that it is not much sensible of that aliment which it hath and that aliment of which it is sensible is naught and vicious Of overmuch milk Now from the over-abundance of milk the infant oftentimes when it sucks is over-whelmed being so puffed up and the belly distended as if it would break untill by much pissing or breaking wind it is slacker But where there is too much scarcity of milk Of too little milk here the infant being altogether destitute of its nourishment will pine away Marasmus and all the parts of the body being starved in those years when it most wants nourishment by reason of the vehemency of the innate heat Vehemency of the innate heat and that habit of body that the least blast will puff down which requires much and constant aliment By all which women ought to be the more provident lest all these mischiefs happen especially not to make choice of such a Nurse A good caution not to choose a Nurse in poverty Another Nurse to be chosen whose poverty must needs starve her self and her nursery and if they should so happen to amend them as hath been said before e're they grow incurable and require the help of another Artificer that may cure it Or if the fault in the milk cannot be cured and amended in the Nurse which she hath contracted Then you have no more to do but presently to look for another Nurse that hath none of these inconveniencies that so the infant may have suck enough which is all it requires for want of which you may hear sad ejulations crying and weeping And this may be discovered by their dreams Dreams as by the often motion of the lips in the cradle as if they were sucking when they are a sleep The infant participates of that food which the Nurse eats or drinks Neither is it strange that the infant should be sensible of and participate of whatsoever food as meat drink and physick that the Nurse taketh which maketh our modern Physitians purge the Nurse to cure the child And this also is concluded on by Hippocrates * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hippoc. Epidem vi That if a woman take any purging Physick she purgeth her child also So Galen reports of Goats feeding in Asia where Scammony did grow did communicate a purging faculty to their milk And so the milk of Asses generally accounted the best in Consumptions is counted better if the Asse be fed with Capillary herbs such as are Maiden-hair c. And again when young Goats suck Sheeps-milk the rough hair shall lose its coursness and become like a fleece of wooll and so contrarily when lambs are brought up by Goats their wooll groweth the more hairy If then the qualities of the milk pass into those that suck them Qualities of the milk pass into those that suck them and so impurities as without doubt they do it is easie to gather that other impurities follow thither also neither is it improbable Surely then we ought to take no less care of the Nurse than of the child as in her diet exercise physick c. since whatsoever conduceth to the benefit of the Nurse tends to the good and welfare of the infant I have been the larger in this Section of Nurses and Milk because tender infants can neither make choice of their Nurses themselves nor discover or plead for their wants Their own mothers surely if they are able both by duty and nature being the most fit to nurse their own children The greatest Ladies and all Mothers fittest to nurse their own children which the greatest Ladies may do with the greatest conveniences by reason of their plenty of all things besides their attendance of servants who can bring their nurseries to them at all hours be it by night or day and take it from them again not to disturb their rest which also they may intend at their own pleasures The time of sucking not above twelve moneths The longest time that a child need be suckled is not to be above one year I shall leave only one caution for Nurses and wind up this Section and 't is this Let Nurses ever milk out some milk e're they suckle the child and after it is suckled Nurses not to rock the infant too violently after sucking that they rock it not too much presently after lest violent rocking disturb the meat in the stomack or the other parts draw away the milk in the stomack as yet unconcocted SECT XXXIV EUtrap Sir I was unwilling to interrupt you in your discourse it being so profitable till you had done and truly Sir I must beg your pardon if I mind you of some distempers incident to women and are peculiar to the womb and though there may be more yet I shall trouble you but with two And the first is concerning your judgement of Fits of the Mother and the second of the Falling out of the womb which sometimes hapneth after hard Labours or an unskilful Midwife Philadel Mrs. Eutrapelia I shall readily do both as well to satisfie You as other Ladies whom I am willing to gratifie Of Suffocation of the womb commonly called Fits of the Mother Section 34. AMongst all the fierce distempers that women are affected with the strangulation of the womb is accounted none of the least This by the Latines Uteri suffocatio is called the Suffocation of the womb and so by the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeks which we render Hysterical Fits from a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
senses by reason of the vital spirit are justly made After the nerves The original of the pith of the back-bone called the Silver cord Eccles cap. 12. ver 6. from the brain also is formed the pith of the back-bone not of an unlike nature from the brain so that it scarce can be called marrow because it hath no likeness to marrow either by sight or in substance for the marrow is a kind of superfluous aliment arising from the blood of the members The marrow what and how generated The Spinalis medulla what appointed to moisten and make the bones of the body grow but the brain and pith of the back have their original from the seed not deputed for the nourishment and growth of the other members but that by themselves they might make private parts of the body The brain and Spinalis medulla ordained for the use and motion of the senses for the use and motion of the senses that from thence all the other nerves may take their rise For from the pith of the back many nerves arise from which the body hath sense and motion as may appear by the difference betwixt the vital and animal faculties as hath been before hinted Cartilages bones c. generated from the seed Moreover here it is to be observed that from the seed it self cartilages bones coats of the veins of the liver and of the arteries of the heart the brain with the nerves and again the tunicles and as well other pannicles or membranes as those that wrap up the infant are generated but from the proper blood of the infant is the flesh it self ingendred and all those parts that are of a fleshy substance as the heart the liver and lungs And then at length all these grow together by the menstruous blood attracted by the small veins of the navil which are observed to be directed with their orifices into the womb All parts distinct by 18 daies All which are distinctly made by the eighteenth day of the first moneth from the very conception at which time it may be called seed but afterwards it becometh to be and is called a child When called a child which the Ancients have comprehended in these two verses Sex in lacte dies ter sunt in sanguine trini Bisseni carnem ter seni membra figurant The lesser figure denotes the Nerves derived frō the Back and dispersed through the whole The explanation of the larger figure see in the following page Cross sculpsit ' Englished thus Six daies in milk thrice three the seed's in blood Twice six makes flesh thrice six makes members good FF Sheweth a young one of 18 daies though some hold it but 14 daies in which all the members may be discerned apart GG The four Umbilical Vessels meeting in one HH How the Umbilical Vessels become thick by degrees that that doubt amongst some may be resolved whether they spring from the womb or no. III Sheweth how the Umbilical veins and arteries are spread throughout the Chorion by infinite branches KKK Sheweth the membrane called Amnios in which sweat and urine are gathered together in which the infant swimmeth and sits as safe as in a Bath SECT II. Of the Nutriment of the child in the womb and by what nourishment it is preserved and when it groweth up to be an Infant Infant how nourished WHilest the young one is in the womb it is nourished by blood attracted by the navil by which it is that women after they have conceived have their terms stop'd Why courses stop'd after conception for then the infant begins to crave and attracts much blood For the blood presently after conception is discerned by a three-fold difference A threefold dist nction of blood after conception The first and purest part of it the young one attracts for nourishment The second less pure and thin the matrix forceth upwards by certain veins to the breasts Venae mammariae The generation of milk where it becomes milk by which the infant is nourished so soon as it is born The third and more impure part of the blood remains in the matrix and floweth out with the secundine both in the birth and after the birth Hence it is that Hippocrates saith Hippocratis Aphor. lib. 5.39 52. there is much affinity betwixt the flowers and the milk since the one happeneth to be made out of the other And Galen also by reason of this thing The infant hath more from the mother than the father elegantly adviseth that the infant hath more from the mother than from the father for this reason because the seeds are first increased by the menstruous blood and then by these the infant is presently nourished in the womb and again being newly born it is nourished with milk And as roots have more nourishment from the earth than the plant that bare them that is from whence they came so also infants receive more from the mother than from the father And hence he saith that it comes to pass that so much more is attributed to the mother by how much more she contributeth more towards generation A rule to know it If the infant be formed in 45 daies it will stir in 90 daies which is the middle time that it lies hid in the womb for in the ninth moneth it will come forth and make haste to the birth although females are oftentimes born in the tenth moneth And so much for the formation increase and perfection of the infant according to the account of daies and times SECT III. How the infant doth in the womb the fifth the sixth the seventh and eighth moneth and also of the difference of sexes and forms AFter the third and fourth moneth the infant useth a more plentiful nourishment by which it groweth more and more untill the time of birth shall come Therefore it is to be understood that when it is born in the sixth moneth it cannot in nature live because though it be formed distinctly yet it is not of its just perfection But if it be born in the seventh moneth Why an infant born in the seventh moneth may live it may easily live because then it is sufficiently perfect And whereas those that are born in the eighth moneth can rarely live whereas such as are born in the seventh moneth are often times living it is not without reason for on the seventh moneth the infant is ever moving towards the birth at which time if it be strong enough it comes to the birth but if not it remaineth in the womb till it groweth stronger viz. the other two moneths After the motion at seven moneths end if it be not born it removes it self into some other place of the womb and is so weakned by that motion that should it come to the birth in the following eighth moneth Two mortal signs by the infants moving it cannot live by reason of that motion and neither is the
Philadel Quest 8 But Mrs Suppose the infant come forth with both hands stretched forth above the head and the feet streight stretched into the womb which is here figured and is much more dangerous than the former Eutrap 'T is true Sir Answer this posture is much more dangerous than the former but I shall take all the care I can to bring back again this birth into the womb wholly And first of all I shall annoint my hands and the womb of the woman with oyles for this purpose for this requires no small labour then if possible with my other hand shall drive it back so by the shoulders that it may wholly fall back into the womb And again lest the infant should return to the same form of birth I must put in my hands and bring down the arms of the infant to the sides and by that means bring it to the form of a natural birth If this course take not I must bring the woman to the bed where after she hath lain quiet a while I must proceed after the same manner as I have before delivered and if this also be to no purpose and that it neither be changed to another form she must be brought to the stool and the womb by the help of the women that are assistants must be depressed on both sides and downwards And my hands being annointed as before-said together with the womb and both the arms as they come I must do what I can to joyn them together and so receive it as it comes forth And in this birth there is the less danger if that I or any other Midwife do our duties with all possible diligence and in case the infant be not too weak SECT XVII Scheme the ninth PHiladel But I beseech you Quest 9 Mrs. Eutrap How will you deliver a woman of a child that falls down with its buttocks forward and the hands spread over the head according to this figure Eutrap Here Answer Sir I must annoint my hand as above-said and putting it up must lift up the fundament of the child and turn the head to the Birth But in this case I must not make too much haste lest it fall into some worser form neither is it possible that a child should be so born without great loss to the mother and the infant therefore if it cannot be turned with the hand she must be brought to the bed where if she be very weak she may be refreshed with convenient meats and cordials and then often proceeded with as is said before untill the infant shall come to a more commodious form of birth SECT XVIII Scheme the tenth DR Philad Quest 10 But sometimes Mrs. it happens that it offers it self with its shoulders forwards and the head turned backwards but the feet and hands lifted up as in the ensuing figure How will you help here Eutrap In this case Sir I must in the first place move backward the shoulders of the infant that it may first appear with the head forward and this may easily be done because the shoulders being but a little up the head of it self will fall down to the orifice of the womb as being nearest to it But if there must be any other way attempted she must be brought back to the bed and then so stirred and rouled and used according to those directions formerly hinted SECT XIX Scheme the Eleventh DR Philadel Mrs Quest 11 I fear I trouble you with many Questions be pleased to satisfie me in this and four or five more and I shall forbear What then if the infant incline to the birth with the hands and feet together as if it stood upon all four with the back upward into the womb as in this figure What I say will you do Eutrap Here Answer Sir I must take care lest some danger happen from this difficult and unshapely figure therefore I must do thus I must so move up the feet of the infant that I may handle the head and do what I can to direct that first to the birth I must also move up the arms lest of their own accord they fall down to the sides of the womb And if this way succeed not she must be brought back to the bed and the same means used for the turning of the infant as hath been formerly described SECT XX. Scheme the Twelfth PHiladel Sometimes Quest 12 Mrs. it falls out that contrary to the former shape the infant falls down upon its breast with the hands and feet cast backward into the womb as in this figure what will you do in such a condition Answer Eutrap Truly Sir this case is the most dangerous of all hitherto proposed First therefore I must carefully annoint both my hands and also the womb of the woman which done I must enquire after the arms of the infant and lay hold of them so till I can lay hold of the head also and with all care hold it so fast that I may direct the head first to the birth next I must dispose of them to the sides for this being done the birth will come forth the sooner and with less danger but if this succeed not it will be safest to bring the woman to the bed and to proceed as formerly shewed that if perhaps by this kind of delay the infant may accommodate it self to a more fit posture for the birth SECT XXI Scheme the thirteenth DR Philadel There being the same reason in twins as in a single birth Quest 13 except that the single birth is natural and the twins not so certainly the same method must be observed Mrs. Tell me then if there be two or more and all come fair with their heads toward the birth What is to be done Eutrap Here Answer Sir I must observe that which lyeth readiest and fittest in the womb and first receive that and not to let the other go till the first is born lest it turn into another shape by sliding back again into the womb but the one being born I must presently lay hold on the other Now this birth will be easier and without danger because the first birth hath made the way for the second so plain that it may come forth without any difficulty at all But in this birth I must take care that I bring forth the after-burden timely enough After-burden lest that the womb being freed from her infants presently fall down and so keep in the secundine or after-burden with great danger SECT XXII Scheme the fourteenth DR Philadel But Quest 14 Mrs. What if there be twins and they both come praeternaturally with their feet forward as in this figure what course will you take Eutrap This birth Answer Sir is dangerous enough and yet it is to be mended by the prudence of a discreet Midwife Wherefore I must anoint the womb of the woman that the passages may be the easier for the infant which being done I must take care to lay
hold of the arms of one of them and bringing them down to the sides secure them so that I may lightly promote the head to the birth and the first being born I must presently proceed with the other after the same manner but if I can lay hold of neither of their arms so that there is no good hopes of a happy birth I must have recourse to the former method if at least the infants may come into the world by that pains and conversion which is wrought upon the bed SECT XXIII Scheme the fifteenth DR Philadel Quest 15 I come now to the last praeternatural birth of twins If then there be twins these form being compound as of a natural and praeternatural birth the one coming down with the feet what is to be done in this case Eutrap Answer Where infants offer themselves after this manner I must first bring forth that which presents it self with a natural form and must move up the other that is with the feet forward and if possible cause it so to return into the womb that that birth also may be disposed of to a natural birth but if it cannot be converted to be in a better posture I must lay hold presently on the hands and encourage it to the birth But it were safer that this should be brought to a natural form to which end I must diligently endeavour it by anointing directing moving it tumbling and rouling the woman lest perhaps the womb be hurt by the form of such an unnatural birth and the privities swell with n = * See the page toward the later end of the fifth Section wind from whence the birth cannot come forth without danger or be hindred too long All which danger may with provident care be avoided or at the least very much corrected and amended SECT XXIV Scheme the sixteenth DR Quest 16 Philadelphos Courteous Mrs. Eutrapelia I have hitherto troubled you with many Questions that I might not only be sure of your abilities but also give testimony of your sufficiency if need require I have now only one Question more and then I have done as to these postures and schemes And this though the last surely is a miraculous posture What if the infant be so involved in the womb the head and the neck being of such a length that it is so bent back that the face lyeth betwixt the buttocks the right hand to the left region of the reins but the left hand to the knee of the same side the right legg being across the left in form of the letter X and both leggs bent up toward the breast Eutrap Answer Worthy Dr. This case is the hardest of any that hitherto you have propounded to me and though it may never fall out to be so in one amongst 5000 yet because in your description of the best Midwife you tell me that a Midwife must have a good memory I remember a learned Doctor not long since acquainted me with such a posture which he told me he had from the hands of an expert n = * Gulielmâ—s Fabritius Hildanus Century the sixth Observation Lxiv Chirurgeon and Physitian whose wife also was an expert Midwife and the course the Midwife took in such a case he told me was this which must serve also for my answer because I think there cannot be a better After the woman had been eight daies in labour and given over by all Midwives as desperate being in a violent Fever with no throws but very weak and by reason of hot medicines given to expel the birth and strong wines given to support the spirits those humors that usually accompany the infant had so flown out Blood and water that the genitals were so dry and closed that they would scarce admit the probation of two fingers This method was used First instead of wine she gave her good store of Almond-milk and because her belly was very costive she gave her Clysters and to keep up her spirits she gave her Cordials of which in their order She laid plaisters to her hand-wrists and anointed the whole region of the belly hips loins the rump-bone and privities Os sacrum with anodyne Oyles with emollient and relaxing Unguents and then she made a triangular bagg stuff'd with emollient and relaxing herbs boyled in water according to this description and of which more hereafter It is of such a bigness as that it might cover the lower part of the belly and the privities and with tapes fitted to the corners was applyed hot and continued on some hours after which though her hand were well anointed she could scarce thrust in the top of her finger into the orffice of the womb the womb was so closed Called the Os pubis and the infant so depressed toward the share-bone by reason of the precedent throws and pangs But at length when with much labour and industry the genitals were somewhat dilated that she could get in her fingers farther she found the loyns and the right hand of the child first offer it self to the birth that therefore she might correct this monstrous and so inverted posture of the infant so doubled and twisted and either perswade the head or the feet to come forward she useth the best of her skill but to little purpose the genitals were so narrow and streight But yet not giving off her endeavours she did deliver her within eight hours after she came to her assistance but the child was dead Dr. Phila. Mrs. You give a very good account of an expert Midwives practice which you may follow with safety expecting the succcess from Heaven but it is no wonder the child should be still-born as you phrase it for being so turned and doubled the child must of necessity be strangled in the womb Having thus run through births as well natural as praeternatural I shall give you the reason and that in my own opinion why these births are of so various different postures in the womb observing not alwaies the same posture and 't is thus The reason of these different postures Because the infant swimming in water and moving it self sometimes this way sometimes that way and is bent and tumbled several wates insomuch that sometimes it is strangely entangled with its own navil-cord which I am confident you have seen in your own experience oftentimes SECT XXV Of a Mola DR Philadel We have hitherto Quest Mrs discoursed of births natural and praeternatural there is somewhat more not like these but often with them and without them which Physitians call a Mola but you call it a false Conception I pray Mrs therefore what is that Mola or false Conception Answers A Mola or false Conception what Eutrap A Mola Mr. Doctor generally called a false conception is a hard inform tumor full of pores like so many ugly eyes scarce to be cut by a knife of a stony substance to touch and round appearing sometimes at the entrance of
child to suck it away or else to use some other way as Young whelps killed with sucking of women by the use of young whelps whom I have oftentimes seen dye with sucking womens milk surely the reason must be because the milk was * Of another nature heterogeneous or else because grumous and corrupted or milked out some other way especially when the Nurse perceives her self prejudiced by it But it is ever best Plenty of milk ever best that she abound rather than want milk and then in this case it is best they be big though all Nurses need not have big breasts for there may be as much milk if not more in a lesser brest than in a great one Our next enquiry will be into the manners and behaviour of a Nurse The best Nurse then is she that is mild chaste The Nurses Conditions sober courteous chearful lively neat cleanly and handy because bad conditions as well as good are suck'd in with the milk and so radicated that it is a hard matter to pull out the bad conditions and leave the good behind but that there will be a remainder of the bad conditions perhaps so long as they live wherefore let not the Nurse be of an angry malepert and saucy disposition shameless scolding or quarrelsome not gluttonous but so careful of her nursery that she neither eat or drink that which may be hurtful to the infant Her care in eating and drinking That she do nothing to anger her self to grieve or sad her self Passion hinders the good milk Mirth for such passions will presently distribute themselves to the prejudice of the infant than which there is nothing of more efficacy to destroy the goodness of the milk Neither is it sufficient that they abstain from the use of their husbands Abstinence from Venery not sufficient but when they have wanton thoughts and lascivious minds wholly upon Luxury and Venery they cast off all care of their nurseries and dreaming at night of that which their minds run on in the day Somnians dixit quae vigilans voluit Terent. Comaed and by other filthy pollutions they infect the milk So also by the use of their husbands the Courses are stirred up by which both the plenty and goodness of milk is derived another way and so the child robbed of its nutriment or else the Nurse conceiveth with child and so the infant becometh * Colostrati diseased and Ricketty by sucking grumous curdy and unwholsome milk and is the worse for it during life Therefore let all those things be avoided Meats to be avoided by Nurses that either do or are supposed to provoke lust as junkets made with spices also onions leeks garlick and all salt meats are to be avoided persly Persly an enemy to milk and smallage some say have a peculiar malice to the increase of milk besides that it doth increase lust and is an enemy to the growth of infants Again that Nurse were best that hath lately been brought to bed of a boy if to nurse a boy the milk of such a Nurse being better tempered The vertues of the milk of a male and of a female For the milk of a male child will make a female nursery more spritely and a manlike Virago and the milk of a girl will make a boy the more effeminate As to the milk let it be a mean The conditions of the milk betwixt thick and thinn which you may perceive by dropping it upon the thumb-nails for if it be too thinn it will run off the sooner but if thicker Tryal of the milk it will stay the longer let it be sweet and pleasant both to the smell and taste not offending the palate with rancidness sourness sharpness or saltness or the nostrils with any strange quality Let it be can did to the sight By its Quality in it self equal in each particles not infested with brown yellow green blue Colour or any other evil colour or as sometimes with various colours and substance as with lines and streaks upon it but let that milk be most praise-worthy that makes as much curd as whey which may be tryed by this Experiment Experiment viz Put some of this milk into a glass and put in some Myrrh or Rennet which being stirred together will curd and then may the contents be seperated the tryal is that if there be most whey then is the milk thinner in its substance but if most of curd 't is thicker yet all these may be corrected and amended for that which is too thick may be mended by an extenuating diet Correctives of milk too thick Vomit and the flegmatick matter may be avoided by a vomit of Oxymel and Exercise before meat the better to consume and attenuate the thickness of it Of milk too thinn Diâ— Alica The thinness of milk is amended by contrary food such as doth incrassate it as Formenty of Wheat and Rice Hogs-feet Calves-feet Trotters and sweet Wine unless somewhat else be in the way to hinder it Sometimes it happens that the milk is more tart than it ought to be Sharpness c. wherefore then all diligence must be had to feed upon such meats as are of the best juice till that acrimony at least be attempered Want of milk the Causes Sometimes there is little or no milk in the breasts as after some sickness or notable distemper now turned into a chacochymical habit or any other of what kind soever that possesseth those parts or is the morbifick cause but that shall not be our business to consider of now Now if these be not the causes let the Nurse use supping meats as Broths Possets c. and eat plentifully and use frictions to her breasts and duggs Exercise and dancing of the child good for the Nurse Cupping-glasses Fomentations exercising her hands and her arms by domestick Employments or instead thereof let her dance the child by which the aliment may be recalled into those parts Sometimes cupping-glasses to the breasts with a fomentation of emollient herbs boyled in water and applyed warm either sponges or wollen-clothes after which Embrocation embrocating them with oyle of Lillies The seeds of Fennel and the roots of Parsnips boyled in Barley-water What food is best and buttered The broth of Hens or Capons with Cinamon and Mace Or Poch'd-eggs with the seeds of Annis and Dill and all things else that are hot in the first and second degree are good Earth-worms Worms such as come out of the earth not out of a dung-hill six or seven of them dried and powdered and drank in Barley-water sugared for a fortnight together All these may be of good use in the defect of milk But now let us see to the inconveniency if there be any in too much milk If the milk abound too much Milk in too great abundance A Decoction which sometimes is though
〈◊〉 word which signifieth The womb It is called by most women The Mother Fits and that from another Greek b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word which signifieth the Matrix which is from another word which signifieth a Mother because women after they have brought forth are Mothers and hence Fits of the Mother Which is What is the suffocation of the womb a retraction of the womb to the upper parts making the principal parts fellow-sufferers of the distemper For although the womb may be concluded to be moved out of its place yet except it be carried downwards it never causeth a suffocation for a suffocation is nothing else but a defect in breathing Therefore it is necessary that the upper parts that serve for Respiration be affected The parts affected what and how and carried upwards by reason of that suffocation and amongst all the chiefest are the heart lungs the midriff and the brain to which the force of the affection cometh viz. to the heart by the veins and arteries and so to the lungs to the brain and midriff by the nerves and membranes of the spine of the back The cause is from the womb The causes which being full of some naughty humor as menstuous blood Menstruous blood Vitious seed or vitious and putrid seed offendeth the noble parts with some stinking malignant sharp griping cold vapours The symptoms The symptoms that follow are various either according to the greatness of the efficient cause or the variety of some qualities or natures for some women are without any sense or motion and seem to have no pulse at all or at least that very small and weak and sometimes lye without any manner of breathing at all that can be perceived Others there are that neither want sense nor motion and seem not to be troubled with any passion of the mind but they faint and very hardly fetch breath some also seem to have Convulsions in their joynts as in their hands arms feet but these generally are the signs of the fit at hand viz. a Signs of the Fit coming in augmente A dulness of the mind a laziness weakness of the thighes paleness and clamminess about the face b Signs of the Fit present but when the fit is come then there cometh a c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profound sleep like those in an Apoplexy or Lethargy the mind is dotish the senses are intercepted the voice ceaseth the thighes are contracted the cheeks look red and the face is swelled Signs of the declination of the distemper But when the suffocation declineth a certain moysture distilleth from the privities with great rumbling and murmuring of the belly and the womb by little and little is relaxed and so the sense returneth This disease is moved also by d Suppose of the moon course as is the Falling-sickness and doth most of all infest young women desirous of husbands and that about Autumn and the Winter as also those that are childless or unfruitful or such whose womb is chilled upon any account This differs from * How it differs from a Syncope or swouring fainting Fits in this viz. In a Syncope there is no pulse but in the strangulation of the womb there is ever a pulse though small rare weak In fainting Fits or swounings there are cold sweats and paleness of the face but in this the countenance is plump How from an Apoplexy and ruddy It differs also from an Apoplexy for women that have these Fits have not their parts deprived of sense and motion and although their senses be benummed yet if they are pinched or pricked they are sensibly disturbed and will make signs with their hands that they are strangled now it is clean contrary in an Apoplexy And again those in an Apoplexy do snore which is never seen in these hysterick Fits How they differ from an Epilepsie or Falling-sickness Spasmus Cinicus A distortion of the mouth Lastly these Fits differ from an Epilepsie or Falling-sickness in this that these parts affected are not contracted with Spasmes or Convulsions neither do they foam at mouth except the woman be vehemently suffocated and especially when an Epilepsie is not stirred up out of the womb it self as oftentimes it doth happen Having thus discoursed of the causes symptoms and signs we now come to the Cure The Cure First then let the lower parts be strongly rubbed with clothes and tyed with strong ligatures as also let Cupping-glasses Cupping-glasses how to be used be applyed to the hips groynes * Os pubis or Pectinis Beware the navil share-bone but not to the navil Next sneezing is commended to which Hippocrates agrees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aphor. lib. 5. 35. And though I have given you one Receipt for a sneezing-powder in the beginning of the 31th Section which is proper not only in difficult births but here also I now will leave with you the Receipt of another powder A sneezing powder which shall be this Take white Pepper Mustard-seed Pellitory of Spain Castoreum of each a scruple Euphorbium and white Hellebore of each one scruple Twenty grains make a scruple and make a subtile powder which may be used so long as there is no redundance of humors perceived in the head Suppositories Suppositories are good as Take of Agarick Troschisc of the species of Hiera logodii of each a drachm 60 Grains make a drachm of Rats-dung Figs Rue-leaves and Cummin-seeds all made into powder and with honey made up into a Suppository An Ointment Take oyle of St. Iohn's-wort of Orange-flowers of Rue of each one ounce oyle of Mace by expression half an ounce of a Beasts gall dryed and powdered six drachms Venice-Treacle half an ounce Spiders alive in number forty infuse all these for ten hours in a vessel well stop'd on the embers that it neither boyle too fast not evaporate too much of this make an Ointment with which anoint the back and loynes and the navil avoiding all cold A fume to sit over A Suffumigation of Nutmegs powdered and set in a close-stool to burn receiving the smoak by sitting over it is excellent Stinking things to smell to Stinking things are ever best to smell to such as are Partridge-feathers old Leather Brimstone burnt all Assafoetida Castoreum Galbanum Rue malaxed with Vinegar Contrarily all sweet things are proper to be tyed to the thighes in a bag but not smell'd to Sweet things best to be tyed to the thighes The scrapings of Goats-horns and Assafoetida mixed and burnt is excellent Take Assafoetida dissolved in distilled vinegar of Castor prepared into powder Pills of each a scruple Laudanum two grains made into six Pills and taken just before the Fit Lastly if these Fits proceed from the stoppage of the flowers those medicines must be given proper to provoke them but if from the retention of the
seed Quod si ex retento semine affectio proveniat nullum proponerem nffectae mulieri praestnntius auxilium quam viri sui frequeates amplexus Hieronymus Pulverinus Cap. XCI de Strangulatione Uteri then let nature here be their best director except they could construe the authority of * Learned Physicians with whom let them advis SECT XXXV Of the coming forth of the womb IN the last Section Mistriss I described how the womb might be moveable upwards yea from side to side I now come to speak of its motion downwards which sometimes is so low that it cometh forth and is to be seen outwardly and that which hangs out doth appear like a soft The signs Scrotum and round tumor and like the Testicles of a man but the pain and the heat possess the privities and bottom of the belly and the urine distilling by some and some vexeth the privities The causes may be many as The causes First when a woman from on high falleth upon her hips those skins and membranes which support the womb and tye it to the neighbouring parts being broken The second cause is by extraction of the Secundine as hath been formerly set forth in the 26th Section that through the unskilfulness of the Midwife The third Cause is by a sudden and immoderate flux of blood as is usually in Abortions as hath been shewed in the 5th Section The fourth Cause is by an artificial extraction of a dead child or overmuch holding the breath to blow or carrying of too great a weight The fifth is oftentimes through overmuch humors and the defluxions of them and often bearing of children which makes those Appendices to which the womb depends relaxed and loosed The sixth and last is through some vehement passion of the mind being affrighted with the sudden tydings of the loss of children incursions of enemies dangerous Sea voyages and sometimes from neither of these Old age but from old age it self or much weakness But now as to the Cure in which observe these Prognosticks by the way Prognosticks That when this affection is new the womb is easily reduced to its proper place and being right put up it continues there especially in the prime of age and may both conceive and bring forth again but in riper years it becomes contracted it may be put up truly but upon the least occasion slips out again And in short this All fallings down of the womb which are not and cannot be cured by proper means shew that the Appendices as aforesaid are either laxed or broken The Cure The Cure is First to provide Glysters to be administred by which the strait gut may be discharged of gross and hard excrements and the bladder of its urine by some pipe fitted for the purpose for sometimes it happens that the womb being in a streight betwixt those two Nascimâ—… inteâ—…stercus Urinam cannot be reduced into its proper place The first may be done by Glysters the latter with a pipe put up in the neck of the bladder Fistula urinaria which done the womb may be put up by this following method Let the Patient lye with her face upwards her hamms bent backwards and thighes spread abroad after which foment it with the decoction of Beets Mallows Marsh-mallows Lineseed and Foenugreek A fomentation made in spring-water Then make a pledget of wooll wrap'd up in a linnenrag to the proportion of the privypart which being dipped in the juice of Acatia and Hypocistis dissolved in red Wine apply it to the womb To be bought at the Apothecaries and so without violence press up all that which is come forth After which foment the whole * The share-bone Another fomentation Pecten with this fomentation Take red Wine a quart red Rose-leaves Bramble-leaves Plantain Myrtle-berries Shepherds-purse Hagtaper Horse-tail and Comfrey-roots applyed with sponges using afterward the oyles of Mastich and Myrtles to the place and Unguentum Comitissae to anoint the Reins Now because the main of our drift is to cure the falling out of the womb upon difficult births adde this method to the former First purge her with one drachm of Pulvis sennae compositus major A Purge to be bought at the Apothecaries given in broth or Mace-ale twice or thrice then Take the leaves of Plantain of Withy of Medlars of the Oake of Sloes of red Brambles of red Roses of each a handful of the roots of Tormentill Comfrey and Bistort of * Balaustia Pomegranat-flowers of Cypress-nuts of each an ounce of the seeds of Annise two ounces let these be grosly bruised and sewed up in a bag A bag used of which you have a description in the 24th Section of this Book Boyle these in Smiths water such as they use to quench iron and apply it warm four times a day wearing it continually well trust up Si quid novisti rectius istis Horat. Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Imprimatur Tho. Tomkyns Ex Aed Lamb. Maii ult 1671.