and Lavender-water that the child may be the more strengthened thereby She may every day eat toasted bread that nothing may grow to the childe The naturall parts may also be gently stroaked down with this Fomentation The Fomentation Take three ounces of Linseed Of Mallowes and of marsh-Mallowes sliced of each M. i. Let them be put in a bag and boiled moderately Let the woman with child every morning and evening take the vapour of this decoction in a hollow stoole taking great heed that no wind or air come to her in any part and then let her wipe the parts so annointed with a linnen cloth that she may annoint the belly and groins as at the first Being near her time to bring forth so that she be within ten dayes thereof if the woman with child shall begin to feel difficulty and pain let her daily use this Bath The Bath Take of Mallowes Marsh-Mallowes ana M.i. Cammomil Mercury hearb Maiden-hair ana M. ss Of. Linfeed four ounces Let these be boiled in a sufficient quantity of water as may suffice to make a Bath therewith But let not the woman sit too hot on the seat nor higher than a little above her Navill nor let her sit longer on it than about half an hour least her strength languish and decay for it is better to use it often than to stay too long at once in it But if she cannot indure to sit over the water let her cherish her naturall parts with a spunge or with clothes wet in it A Laconick and sweating Bath is not convenient at that time but hurtful though we think women may use it After the Bath she shall alwayes annoint her natural parts of her loines her flankes navil sides and other parts adjoyning thereto with the ointment or fat made of the fore-prescribed thing or cherish them with the fat marrow And also fats melted sometimes and rightly put up into the natural parts with a spunge or glister-pipe if the womb be hot and dry and the party with child be of a lean and slender body Fumes also used applied to the womb conduce to facilitate delivery Suffumigations of the genitals to facilitate delivery Musk Ambergreace Gallia Moscata Aloes-wood put upon hot coales and also sweet Hearbs Mint Penniroyal Calamint Origanum Majoram are of a pleasant and grateful smell and open womens passages and draw down conception But we must beware that such sweet smells of this kind be not used to the nostrils but rather Balls of Galbanum Assa foetida Mirrh or Rue What Meat is most usefull Then Pottage of Hens Capons and such like are most in use and I should advise them then to drink thinne generous Wine allayed with water What manner of Chamber the woman with child should lye in It doth not a little avail to the happy delivery that the Chamber wherein the Child-bearing woman lyeth be temperate and be neither too cold nor too hot for that shutteth up the mouth of the womb and this disperseth and digesteth the strength In Summer time therefore if heat scorcheth the Chamber may be strowed with Willow leaves and Vine leaves and Rose-water with a little Vinegar In Winter a high or upper Chamber moderately kept warm shall be convenient which shall be kept warm with a continued fire as is accustomed to be done in Italy France and other hot Countries But this is expedient every where that the natural parts and those nearest unto them be moderately rubbed with hot clothes CHAP. VII What is to be done at the birth THe birth being at hand and paines oppressing them it shall be fit if the belly doe fall down of its own accord but if it be bound it must be provoked with a gentle Glyster for the excrements being cast out the womb and the passages thorough which the Child issueth are lesse pressed and so the birth followeth more easie These things being well prepared the child-bed woman must be put into bed if tender weak grosse and fleshly but it ought to be made ready after this manner How and wherewith the child-bed womans bed ought to be furnished A large boulster made of linnen cloth must be stuffed with straw and be spread on the ground that her upper part may lye higher than her lower on this the woman may lye so that she may seem to lean and bow rather than to lye drawing up her feet unto her that she may receive no hurt CHAP. VIII To whom the seat may agree and be fit LEt the strong and lusty women be placed in a chair which also must have the lower part not upright but stooping a little that the child-bearing woman may sit as it were bending backward clothes or close compassing garments being cast about their backs In this the belly together with the whole burthen may sooner goe down than in a bed but it often cometh to passe that the whole Babe lyeth at the mouth of the womb before that it shall get forth more loosly and openly with the adjoyning places and by that meanes is compelled to stick longer there from whence ariseth no small danger of life CHAP. IX What the Midwife shall doe in the very moment of the birth VVHen now the pangs of child-bearing women increase more and more let the Midwife inwardly annoint the secret or natural parts with oyle of Cammomil and white Lillies nor let her set the woman in the seat before she perceiveth the womb to be loosed and resolved and the humours to flow over more plentifully Moreover she may not bring her to labour and strugling before the birth shew it self to her view for they doe but labour in vain and doe violently distort and wrest away the strength of the labouring woman that afterward when she shall have need it will not be able to work it forth But she shall sit fitly over against the woman in labour and shall diligently observe on what part the birth moveth it self for if it come the right way she shall annoint and cherish the secret parts with odoriferous Oils and if it declineth to the sides she shall with both hands govern and dispose the belly that it may fall to the mouth of the womb And if the hand or feet shew it self first the Midwife with a soft and gentle hand moistened with broth of Fenugreek and Linseed shall gently reduce it into the place Certain women have the mouth of their womb so streightned that without great help scarce or never they can part with the child And that cometh to pass by reason of divers causes for either some strong heat coming from the natural parts doth two much streighten the inward parts or the Creature is to big or the child-bearing woman is to grosse and fat or the child is dead who cannot by motion be furthering and helping to nature or else cold for the most part in the winter especially in young ones who have a narrow passage of the womb doth more a stringe and bind
QUEEN ELIZABETHS CLOSSET OF PHYSICAL SECRETS With certain approved Medicines taken out of a Manuscript found at the dessolution of one of our English Abbies and supplied with the Child-bearers Cabinet and Preservative against the Plague and Small Pox. Collected by the Elaborate paines of four famous Physitians and presented to Queen ELIZABETHS own hands LONDON Printed for Will. Sheares Junior at the Blue-Bible in Bedford-street in Covent-Garden 1656. To the Reader Courteous Reader IVst as the Child-bearers Cabinet and the other Book of the cure of the Plague and Pox were the last sheet on the Press a freind of mine knowing of the impression communicated to me two other physicall peices one of them collected by a great Navigatour of his own Experiments and presented with his own hands to our late Queen Elizabeth the other being a Phisitians Collections drawn with his own hands from an antient Manuscript found in an Abby at their dissolution with some of his own Observations and Experiments annexed thereto and being perswaded by him that gave them me that it would be great pitty papers of such use and consequence should perish in the times present which had been so carefully formerly preserved unto posterity I thought good for the publike benefit of my Country to publish them with the two former Treatises who were delivered me with good approbation from an able hand hoping what was lovinglie presented by me shall be as kindlie accepted by you from your freind A. M. The Printer to the Reader THese two Treatises being freely bestowed on me by a worthy Freind knowing they may prove of very good use in these crazie times I thought good to publish them for the publick good being assured by my Freind that the Medicines are good and safe and pen'd by juditious hands A. M. The Contents of the severall Chapters of the insuing Treatise CHAP. I. VVHat things are to be taken heed of in the first Moneths CHAP. II. What is fit to be observed in the third Moneth CHAP. III. What to be observed from the fourth Moneth CHAP. IV. What to be observed from the fifth sixth and seventh Moneth CHAP. V. What is to be observed in the eighth Moneth CHAP. VI. What is to be observed in the ninth Moneth wherein what Ointments Foments bath suffumigation diet conveniency of place to be brought in bed is necessary CHAP. VII Sheweth what is to be done near the birth and also how and wherewith the child-bed womans bed is to be furnished CHAP. VIII Sheweth to whom the seat 〈◊〉 â—gree CHAP. IX What the Midwife ought to doe in the very moment of the womans labour CHAP. X. What is to be done when the Infant is come into the world CHAP. XI What is to be done if the Seconds break not readily and what also after the Child is born if yet the Secundines be retained with Remedies approved for extracting them CHAP. XII Sheweth the way of eduction of a dead Child CHAP. XIII Sheweth if the child-bearing woman be costive how she may be made soluble CHAP. XIV What things are to be applied to the naturall parts when the Child is born Fomentations Ointment Girdle for the belly CHAP. XV. What is to be done from the seventh eighth and ninth day of the womans being brought to bed under which is expressed an Ointment to dissipate Milk as also when and what Bath is to be used CHAP. XVI Sheweth how to help the wringings and gripings of the belly in child-bed women by outward and inward Meanes and Drinks CHAP XVII Sheweth the government of the Nurse and Cure of the Infant CHAP XVIII Sheweth how to make a Bath for Children by which meanes they may grow and increase CHAP. XIX Treateth of the diseases of Infants together with the diseases and symptomes proceeding from the birth in women with child as also against the gripings of the belly from the birth CHAP. XX. Treateth of the Rupture of the Genitals and Cods which cometh from the difficulty of bringing forth CHAP. XXI Treateth how to ease the wind of the belly CHAP. XXII Treateth of Remedies against Itch in their parts CHAP. XXIII Sheweth how to help immoderate Fluxes of bloud CHAP. XXIV Sheweth how to help the falling down of the Womb from or upon the birth CHAP. XXV Treateth to remedy the piles after their birth CHAP. XXVI Treateth of pain of the breasts gotten by the Milk CHAP. XXVII Treateth how to cure Imposthumes in the breasts CHAP. XXVIII In the additionall Observations VVHat is to be administred to the Child after it is born for the first thing it taketh CHAP. XXIX Sheweth what is to be done for Infants troubled with wind and flegm CHAP. XXX Sheweth how children may teeth easily CHAP. XXXI Teacheth how to cure Agues in Children CHAP. XXXII To help Worms in Children CHAP. XXXIII To kill heart-Wormes in Children CHAP. XXXIV To cause a young Child to goe to stool Certa probata tibi medicamina profero luci Si non pauca placent addito plura bona A SHORT COMMENTARIE Concerning the Care ought to be had of Women which are with child such as are ready to bring forth such as are brought to bed and also of Infants SInce many sad and incommodious things are wont to happen to women with child and in bringing them into the world by ignorance and carelessnesse I thought I should undertake a thing not unbeseeming a Christian Physitian if I should reduce as it were into a breif Comment what things were fit to observe as well in their time of bearing as also in the birth from which being somewhat more instructed they might better enjoy their health preserve their off-spring and after birth better defend their bodies CHAP. I. What things are to be taken heed of in the two first Moneths SO soon as the woman shall begin to be with child which she shall easily know by stopping of her monethly flux without disease or ancientnesse of yeares she shall abstain from all vehement motions and excrcise whether she walk on foot or ride on horseback or in a Coach or be carried in a Horse-litter For where the body is too much stirred the internall membrane of the Womb is either accustomed to be broken or to be loosly resolved and thereupon abortment presently followeth To these things the woman with child must diligently beware that she lift not her armes up too high nor carry great burthens nor repose her self on hard and uneasie seats But instead of exercise which may alwayes in some precede before meat she may walk on foot gently or suffer her body and armes gently to be rubbed and stroked or may stretch them forth with spinning or carding Let her moderately use meat of good juyce and easie concoction and Wine not too strong and too sharp but a little mingled with water or if she be abstemious she may use water wherein Cinnamon is boyled But she may not feed on sweet meats sharp and windy she must also avoid fasting thirst
it up or sometimes heat in some is so dissolved that their strength faileth them in the birth Therefore when there appeareth difficulty in bringing forth the Child Jesus Christ the onely preserver and saver in danger is heartily to be called upon that with his gratious favour he would be pleased to be Assistant to the wretched party in travell CHAP. X. When the Infant is come into the world VVHen now the Child or Issue cometh into the world either with the head or feet the Mother must be incouraged that as much as in her lyeth she keep in her breath and restrain it that by that indeavour she may put forth the Child And the Midwife in the mean time must with her hand gently compresse and keep down the region of the womb which is above the navill and urge the Infant to the lower parts And although the astriction of the womb causeth the bringing forth to be more difficult the parturient woman is to be set in a Bath in which Mallowes Faenugreek Linseed and Barly are sodden and the sides hips and flank must be annointed with oyle of Roses and Violets let the thighs be well rubbed with Oxysacchar and half a drachm of Mint and as much of Wormwood be exhibited in drink to her The woman bringing forth may gently be led to her bed and they which assist her at her labour must not look or gaze in her face as such who are ashamed in their bringing forth that after it as it falleth out she strive not to bring forth her young one with sharper pain CHAP. XI If the Secondines break not readily BUt if the Skin containing the young one called the Secondine because it is brought forth after the birth be lesse easily broken but stifly resisteth the Midwife must either break it with her nails and laying hold on it with her fingers cut it with a pair of Sizzers taking care that the Child may be preserved safely in doing it On the contrary when the skins are broken or cut in peices if all the humours presently shall overflow before the child come forth and the naturall places shall be dried up let Goose greace with oyle of white Lillies melted be poured in warm or the white of an Egg with the yolk be put up What is to be done after the child is born if yet the Secondine or after-birth be retained If the Child being born the Secondines be as yet pertinaciously retained sneezing must be provoked if it come not voluntarily putting Ginger or some other sharp thing up into the nostrils or a scruple of Unicorns horn beaten into powder ought to be drunk hot in white Wine in want of Unicorns horn use good Harts horn or Bezar four graines or the juyce of Borrage exhibited in drink bringeth them down because it easily moveth vomit and they thereby are brought forth Another approved Remedy for drawing them forth Take of Sesely Cinnamon Of Mirrh and of sweet Cassia of each equall parts Let these be exhibited with Mugwort-water Another Receit Take powder of the Jet stone exhibited in Mugwort-water or else about a drachm of the powder of Mallowes seeds exhibited in hot water or the suffumigations of Horse hoofes CHAP. XII To draw forth a dead Child IF the child be dead an equall quantity of Rue of Mugwort Wormwood and black Pepper being each of them reduced into fine powder and boyled in Wine must be exhibited or Vervain boyled in Wine or Water or Vinegar or Savory bruised and tied upon the belly bringeth forth the Child whether it be yet alive or dead or Butter with Honey boyled in Wine or decoction of Hysop well dryed exhibited in hot water but if it yeildeth not nor cometh away with these let Rue Mugwort Oppoponax and Wormwood dryed with a little Oil and Sugar be laid to the groin or the navill and moreover the skin of a female Snake put about the woman in the manner of a girdle Also the stone Aetites tied unto the thigh after the Child is brought forth ought presently to be taken away least the womb after the Child be brought forth come forth also Moreover sneezing alone accellerateth delivery but it ought to be used with the mouth and nostrils close stopped and Ginger or some such thing put up into them for from hence a great force of the spirits is thrust thence unto the inward part CHAP. XIII How the bellies of child-bearing women being costive or bound may be loosned IF the belly doe not evacuate the excrements the first dayes of her being brought to bed bring a Fig cut in the middle into the form of a sharp tent fashioned like a mans Yeard and put it up into the Fundament instead of a Suppository or else put a grain of Coriander confected with Sugar up into that place or put a peice of Swines flesh powdered or Lard brought into the same form up into the same place or frame a Suppository of white Sope and apply it thereto About four or five dayes after the birth you may use a gentle Glister of half a pound of Sallade oyle with a quartern of Barly boyled in broth with two ounces of Sugar with the yolke of an Egg beaten together But if at the eighth day the belly answer not their expectation in loosenesse let three drachms of Cassia newly extracted well confected with Sugar be taken morning and at evening before supper in the manner of a bole and presently let her eat thereupon CHAP. XIV What things are to be applied to the naturall or secret parts SO soon as the Child is born let this astringent Fomentation be applied unto the naturall parts The Fomentation Take of red Roses two pugils a pugill is the quantity you may take up at once between your first three forefingers Let them be boyled to a third part in high red Wine inclining to a blackish colour with a fourth part of water put thereunto then put into the decoction a whole Egg and let it be mingled together and applied to the place with flanen rowlers and kept on for the space of two dayes Another Take of oyle of Hypericon four ounces Of Rose-water two ounces Of the juyce of Solomons Seal one ounce Mingle these well together and let the rowlers dipped in them be applied to the secret parts An Ointment Let the belly be forthwith annointed with this Ointment least it become wrinkled or deformed and that it may be thereby better strengthened and may return to the old form Take two ounces of Rose-water An ounce of Mirtles Half an ounce of Cats fat These things ought to be melted and mingled with the before recited Oyles A Girdle for the belly After the Unction put on a Girdle of Dog-skin well prepared by a Leather-dresser and annointed with two ounces of oyle of Mirtles and one ounce of oyle of Mastick and half an ounce of oyle of Hypericon mingled together But it must be so large as it may comprehend or compasse the whole belly
as by ease and sloth they are augmented Also copulation of the Nurse exceedingly offendeth and hurteth the Child as that which cheifly retracteth and diminisheth the Milk and maketh it of an unsavory taste tasting hot and rank or goatish which bringeth no small inconvenience and hurt to the Child For which cause in times past Husbands were driven away from their Wives and restrained from their companies But if the Milk decrease Pultesses of Bean meal and Rise are meet to be used also like paps made of Bread with Milk and Sugar to which may be added a little Fennel-seed And if the Milk be thick it must be made thinne with slender diet and subtill Wine and Sirrup of Vinegar as also with exercises But if it be too thinne and waterish grosse and strong meats and longer sleeps will be convenient and meet For the corruption of the Milk a little Mugwort grosly bruised and put into a linnen cloth and so into broth with a little Honey added thereto will doe very much good The care of the Infant And if the Childes belly be loose the food ought to be more grosse and strong and her sleeps longer But children may suck so long as till they have brought forth sharp and great teeth But if you suffer them to drink Wine or strong drink or other Potions before they have toothed them they will be corrupted but when they have gotten these teeth their armes and back bones are gently to be rubbed after their sleep CHAP. XVIII A Bath of sweet water very profitable for children as by whose meanes they may grow up and increase THey are fasting to be bathed in water before meat for the space of a quarter of an hour yet so that the belly may first goe down or be emptied and then they are to be annointed with oyle of Olives made hot And it is not of little concernment in what swadling clothes children are wrapped for when they are not tied up at all or the clouts are too loose they are subject to Fluxes Imposthumes apt to be crooked backt and other discommodities but especially when their knees are too strictly tied and bound up and their thighs left at liberty they are lamed When they cry or feel pain or will sleep they are to be pacified either by shewing the breast or by singing or by rocking either in Cradles or hanging Beds or by carrying up and down But we must observe that children may lie strait whensoever they lie down and ought not to be covered too much or hot with coverings nor yet with too few least they may catch cold Moreover let the linnen cloth wherein they are wrapped be neat and clean for children are offended and infected by foul and filthy excrements From three years of age till the seventh they are to be educated gently and kindly not to be severely reprehended chidden or beaten for by that meanes they be made throughout their whole life after too timorous or too much terrified astonished and sotted Being yet in their first years they are not to be compelled to going for seeing all their bones are soft as Wax and the body fall the heavier they either become lame or universally resolved in their feet Food must be daily given them thrice a day till they are three years old for if they be much filled they are subject and accustomed to be troubled with Convulsions and other diseases In the sixth or seventh year of their age they are to be sent to schoole and committed to the breeding and instruction of courteous and temperate Schoolmasters who may not terrifie them Before these yeares they are not to be compelled or forced to harder labours otherwise they will not thrive well but stand at a stay and keep little or become Dwarfes CHAP. XIX The Diseases of Infants VVHen as the Infant beginneth to grow sick as for example from a cold disease the Nurse is to be nourished with hot and dry meat and drink so that thereby forthwith it may grow well again so also if it be taken with other diseases as with an Ague the Nurse shall use plantain water and such like things Paps made for children of crums or morsels of bread broken or sliced are more wholesome than made of meal or flour Till two years old give them Honey often for that keepeth them from Convulsions and costivenesse of the belly and that the milk they eat hurt them not When Infants cast up their milk a Corrall should be hung about their neck down to their middle for it is usefull for them in teething and Ivory also is good for the same purpose Diseases and Symptomes proceeding from the birth in women with child Gripings and pangs come often upon women from their birth for the womb as a wild beast by reason of her suddain evacuation and emptinesse by wandering up and down hither and thither disposeth it self Therefore the belly must be covered all over with Barly meal and the white of an Egg mixed together wirh juyce of Elder also drinking of hot Wine wherein Cummin hath been boyled is very convenient and usefull Also Suffumigations of Styrax calamita Frankincense and Smallage seed of each one drachm will very much availe CHAP. XX. Against the Rupture of the Cods and perinaeum and the part between the rising of the Yeard and the Fundament which proceedeth from difficulty of bringing forth TO help the Rupture of the naturall parts which ariseth from hardnesse in bringing forth the powder of the great Comfery root dryed with Cummin and Cinnamon are very good put up into the womb In some the wrinkled skin of the Cods is broken from the birth so that there is but one hole between the womb and the fundament and the same course whereby oftentimes the womb goeth forth and is hardened therefore the diseased parts must be cherished with hot Wine in which Butter hath been resolved untill the Matrix be softned and then it must be gently put up after the Cod skin is broken in three or four places it must be sowed up with a silken thred presently let a linnen cloth be put upon the belly according to the largenesse of it lastly let it be annointed with Tar for the womb by reason of the evill scent is drawn in again At last we heal the Rupture with powder of both Comferies and Cummin sprinkled upon them But a child-bed woman is to be put to bed so that she may have her feet lie the higher let her lie there eight or nine dayes continually and let her take her meat ease her self and make water there She must abstain from bathing so long as possibly she may also from all those things which may provoke coughing and from meats which cannot easily be digested And for preventing this danger in bringing forth let a long ball of linnen cloth be made and put up into her Fundament and as often as the child-bearing woman striveth to bring forth the Infant let her strongly compresse and
keep in her belly that no disruption or rupture be made in these parts CHAP. XXI For windinesse or Collick of the belly IF the secret or naturall parts receive wind in which being kept in brings forth pain a Fomentation made with the decoction of Mustard or Onions is vety good Also sometimes in others so great plenty and abundance of wind oppresseth them that they seem broken or as those troubled with the Iliack passion for whose ease a Bath made of Mallowes Pellitory of the wall and the like must be used and the belly often kept soluble But she ought to stay the longer in the Bath and when she cometh out of it a plaister of the juyce of Mullein or Turnup and Barly meal must be laid on hot and then let her use her Bath again CHAP. XXII For the Itch. IF those parts itch so that women by scratching take away the skin whereupon blysters arise which greatly molest and trouble them they ought to be annointed with the Ointment prescribed for burnings Take an Apple Bole armoniack Mastick Frankincense Oyle hot Wine Wax and Tallow and thus you may prepare it Purge the Apple from the outward rind and the core and put it in a pot to the fire with the Oyle Wax and Tallow and when it shall be hot the Mastick and Frankincense being reduced into powder must be put in and then being mingled strained through a cloth CHAP. XXIII For the Flux of bloud FOr those unto whom an immoderate Flux of bloud happeneth it shall be convenient to give the juyce of Mugwort Sage Pennyroyall and of other hearbs of that kind made up into the form of a Sirrup Also Baths made for the same disease of the said hearbs are good or by a plaister made up with Clay and Vinegar which must be applied to the right side If the Flux of bloud come from the nostrils it must be applied to the forehead and temples having a respect to the contrary side For bloud useth not to flow out of the nostrils unlesse a male Child be begotten CHAP. XXIV For the falling down of the Matrix from the birth A Bath made of Mugwort Flea-bane Juniper Camphire and Wormwood boyled in water let the child-bed woman sit in this up to the breast afterwards let her be gently put into her bed and let her lie with her feet drawn backward that the Matrix may return into its place The Womb being put into its place again put powder of Penniroyall of Galingale Spikenard Nutmegs Avence with oyle of Nutmegs and Penniroyall into a fine thinne cloth and in manner of a Ball or Pessary bind it up and put it into the Womb and shut up the orifice of the Matrix that it fall not down again But have a care that it may peirce backward toward the reins and there it is to be bound up but before that be performed a plaister of Bay berries of Mustard Frankincense and of Cinnamon of each as much as shall be sufficient being brought into powder and being heated at the fire mingled with Honey and let it be laid to the back being yet hot and bound up with a swath wherewith the Pessary put up into the Matrix is tied But let the woman brought to bed lie in her bed upward for the space of nine dayes or more if need require so that she may not move her self up and down unlesse great necessity urgeth her and such meat shall be given her which may not easily passe through her belly or may not often provoke her to make water But now going abroad after her delivery we must put on an intire garment that may keep it in least it goe out again unlesse it be when she maketh water The third day we must make ready a Bath and then least they should swell powder of Ginger Pellitory of the wall and Cinnamon of every one by equall parts mixed must be blown up CHAP. XXV For the Piles after the birth VVEe use to cure the Piles arising from the fault of the bringing forth with a Bath of Wormwood Southernwood Cinnamon rind and the bark of Cassia fistula boyled well in Wine when the woman delivered goeth forth of the Bath put Bombace or Cotton with powder of Alloes mixed with oyle of Penniroyall unto her lower parts CHAP. XXVI Against pain of the Breasts contracted by too much Milk CLay kneaded with Vinegar after the manner of a plaister is available to astringe and keep back the Milk but the place is first to be suppled with hot water CHAP. XXVII For the Imposthume of the Breasts A Plaister of marsh-Mallowes Mallowes Wormwood Mugwort and Swines greace made up according to art is very profitable when the swelling is come unto the height lay Nut kernels bruised to peices unto it And if the Imposthume break not let it be launced with a Launcet or Pen-knife and squeeze it a little least by the suddain evacuation a worse mischeevious Imposthume may come upon it and when it is broken put in a linnen cloth twice or thrice a day smeared with the yolk of an Egg and Turpentine which strengtheneth exceedingly And if the Imposthume chance to passe into a Fistula put into it a root of black Hellebor dipped in Oyle or Honey or sprinkle powder of the colt-Bur upon it for with these is every Fistula purged and destroyed so as it be not between the bones wherefore these Medicines are so long to be administred untill it dye and be dried up and afterward the Ulcer be cured Some few additionall Observations concerning the passages in ths former Treatise CHAP. XXVIII What is to be administred unto the Child after it is born for the first thing it taketh ARnoldus de villa nova a most learned Phisitian writeth that if you give unto a Child half a scruple of Corrall finely powdered with womans milk first before it taketh any other thing after it is born that it shall never be troubled with the falling Sicknesse Also I know persons of good quality in this our Country of England I presume instructed by some able Phisitians who give unto all their own children and advise all other women where they are desired to be assistant at the birth to exhibite unto the children new born the first thing they take a little Salt well mingled in a spoonfull of Saxifrage or Hysop water to prevent the trouble of frets and other diseases in children following their birth Conceiving also as they suppose they have some ground for their action from the fourth verse of the sixteenth Chapter of Ezekiel where the Lord reckoning up the Midwives duties about children at that time of their nativity thus speaketh And as for thy nativity in the day thou wast born thy navill was not cut neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee thou wast not salted at all nor swadled at all CHAP. XXIX For Infants troubled with wind and flegm MAny Midwives advise the Nurses to give them a little pure Sugar-candie
and drink again but without sweating and use some exercise to keep the body warm use this last order twelve dayes together use good Cordials and Restoratives with sirrup and conserve of Fumitory For the green Sicknesse and Jaundies Boyle of Rue and Sage of each a bundle in a quart or three pints of Ale with one scruple of Saffron To cure this disease the Electuary of Steel is excellent if the body be first purged for it doth open all obstructions but the Patient must use some exercise after the taking it to stirre up naturall heat the better the dose is half an ounce at a time to take of it The Steel for the Electuary is thus prepared â„ž Of the filings of the best Iron or Steel as much as you please grinde it subtilly and finely upon a Porphiry or red Marble stone with Vinegar then dry it at the Sun or at the fire and grinde it again with Vinegar as at the first and doe thus seven times one after another and thus you have the Steel prepared fit for you The Electuary of Steel is made up thus â„ž Of the filings of Steel so prepared half an ounce Cinnamon Nutmegs condited of each three drachms of chosen Rubarb two drachms of the species of Aromaticum rosatum half a drachm of chosen Honey and of fine white Sugar of each one pound and one ounce mingle these all together over a soft fire and make it up into an Electuary After the taking of this Electuary let the Patient in all cases use some bodily exercises being first universally purged for this Electuary is most excellent against all obstructions of the Liver Spleen or other disease and for the green Sicknesse For the green Sicknesse or green Jaundies The green Sicknesse or Jaundies cometh of yellow choller mixed with corrupt or putrified flegm and corruption of bloud debility of nature and faintnesse of heart it happeneth also when the Liver is weakened that it cannot convert the nourishment into bloud but the digestion is raw and crude so that the whole body is filled with water and flegm instead of good bloud it is cheifly found in young Maidens who desire to abate their fresh colours and as they conceive to be fine and fair and foolishly feed upon trash which altereth the colour and state of their bodies as of unripe Apples Peares Plums Cherries and raw Fruits and Hearbs or Meale Wheat Barly raw Milk Chalk Lime and the like and they that have this disease are very pale and greenish if they chance to cut their finger no bloud but water will follow they feele great pain in their head with continuall beating are faint short-breathed and their naturall Flowers are stopped and stayed to the prevention and cure whereof the body must first be well and orderly purged as by the Medicines before prescribed The Table for the Child-Bearers Cabinet WHat things are to be taken heed of in the two first Moneths page 1. Orders for the third moneth 2. From the fourth moneth 3. From the fifth sixth and seventh moneth ibid. In the eighth moneth 4. In the ninth moneth 5. A Liniment 6. The Fomentation ibid. The Bath 7. Suffumigations of the Genitals to facilitate delivery ibid. What meat is most usefull 8. What manner of Chamber the woman with child should lye in ibid. What is to be done at the Birth ibid. How and wherewith the child-bed womans bed ought to be furnished 9. To whom the seat may agree and be fit ibid. What the Midwife shall doe in the very moment of the Birth ibid. What to be done when the Infant is come into the world 10. If the Secondines break not readily 11. What is to be done after the child is born if yet the Secondine or after-Birth be retained ibid. Another approved Remedie for drawing them forth 12. Another Receipt ibid. To draw forth a dead child ibid. How the bellies of Child-bearing women being costive or bound may be loosned 13. What things are to be applyed to the naturall or Secret Parts ibid. The Fomentation ibid. Another 14. An Ointment ibid. A Girdle for the Belly ibid. The order from the seventh day after the woman is brought to bed 15. On the eighth day ibid. On the ninth day ibid. A Liniment to scatter and disperse the Milk ibid. When and whath Bath they must use 16. Another 17. Against the gripings of the belly in Children ibid. Outward Remedies for the same ibid. Inward helps in their meats ibid. A Drink ibid. The government of the Nurse 18. The Care of the Infant 19. A Bath of sweet water very profitable for Children as by whose meanes they may grow up and increase 20. The diseases of Infants 21. The diseases and symptomes proceeding from the birth in women with child ibid. Against the Rupture of the Cods and perinaeum and the part between the rising of the Yeard and the Fundament which proceedeth from difficulty of bringing forth 22. For windinesse or Collick of the Belly 23. For the Itch. ibid. For the Flux of the bloud 24. For falling down of the Matrix from the birth ibid. For the Piles after the birth 25. Against pain of the Breasts contracted by too much Milk ibid. For the Imposthume of the Breasts ibid. What is to be administred to the Child after it is born for the first thing it taketh 27. For Infants troubled with wind and flegm 28. A most excellent Medicine to cause Children to teeth easily ibid. For Agues in Children ibid. For Wormes in Children ibid. For Heart-Wormes 29. The Cure ibid. To cause a young Child to goe to stool ibid. Another certain Experiment .. ibid. The Table of the Cures for severall Diseases FOr Ach in the bones 33. For all Aches and lame Members ibid. An Ointment for all Aches which come from cold causes shrunken Sinewes straines in man or beast it is incomparable and will keep forty yeares but it must be made onely in May. 34. To counterfeit beyond-Sea Azure ibid. To know good Azure and pure 35. For an Ague ibid. For a Tertian or a double Tertian Ague ibid. For a short Breath ibid. An Electuary for the shortnesse of Breath .. 36. For a Bruise or Squat ibid. A Restorative for the back 37. For Aches in the Back ibid. For bleeding at the Nose ibid. For burning or Scalding ibid. For a Cough of the Lungs 38. For purging of Colds Coughs and Comforting the Lungs ibid. A Julep for a Cough 39. Another ibid. For a Canker in the Mouth ibid. For a Consumption and Cough of the Lungs 40. For Collick and paines in the Back ibid. For the Cramp 41. For a Canker ibid. Another ibid. For a Canker in the Lips ibid. A water for a Consumption ibid. For the Cough 42. For a Cough or shortness of Breath ibid. For a Consumption ibid. For the Dropsie 43. Another ibid. For pains in the Eyes ibid. For sore Eyes by salt Rheum ibid. To cleer the Eye-sight 44. For the Flux ibid. Another
watching mourning sadnesse anger and all other perturbations of the mind Her familiar freinds must present no unwholsome thing to her nor so much as name it least she should desire it and not be able to get it and so minister her an occasion of abortment or the Child carry with it some foule impressions But if she desire chalk clay or coales let beanes boyled with sugar be given unto her or if she cannot get her longing let her presently drink a large draught of pure cold water CHAP. II. Order for the third Moneth BEfore the fourth moneth be ended she must neither be let bloud nor have her body evacuated with any purgative medicine But if too much bloud abound or some incident disease happen which may require evacuation you shall use cupping-glasses with scarification and a little may be drawn from the shoulders and arme especially if she have been formerly accustomed to them CHAP. III. From the fourth Moneth VVHen now the fourth moneth is past bloud-letting and physick is permitted especially if it be gentle and milde such as best may agree with women with child and tender or delicate persons And by Hyppocrates precept may be conceded even untill the seventh moneth CHAP. IIII. From the fifth sixth and seventh Moneth FRom that time forward none of the before mentioned remedies is wont or ought from thence to be used because the Babe being now become greater standeth in need of greater nourishment and bloud and also can bear no commotion of physick Although sometimes I have met with women which have so much abounded with bloud that unlesse they had been let bloud in the second moneth they would have aborted in the third others again unlesse they should attempt the same in the seventh or eight moneth they could not carry their great belly so long or else would be delivered of a dead issue But since these things happen but to few they may not be granted to all but we must provide for every one according to their nature and constitution And this is to be prohibited to all which are with child that they give not way to take any bloud from the ancle bone of the foot during the whole time of the womans going but in stead thereof if the disease so require an ounce of Manna in the broth of a Cock or so much Cassiafistula or of Sirrups made of Damask-roses infused in May dew about the quantity of an ounce with a little water of Cinnamon may safely be taken a little before meat But if the belly be bound onely without any apparent disease the broth of a Chicken or of Veal sodden with Oil or with the decoction of Mallowes or marsh-Mallowes Mercury and Linseed put up in a glister by the lower parts will not be amisse yet in a lesser measure then is wont to be given in other Children to wit of the decoction five ounces of common Oil three ounces of Sugar two ounces of Cassia fistula one ounce But sharper Purgations as also Suppositories made of Honey and Salt are altogether hurtfull to great bellyed women or such as lie in childbed But of fat Pork which they call Lard or the yolks of Eggs without salt Purgations and Glysters are commended But if she will not take a Glyster either for modesty or otherwise because she was not accustomed to take it one or two yolks of new laid Eggs or a few Pease pottage warm with a little salt and sugar supped up a little before meat will be very convenient But if the belly shall be sometimes distended and stretched out with wind a little Fennelseed and Anniseeds reduced into powder and mingled with Honey or with Sugar made after the manner of an Electuary will doe very well But if the thighs and feet swell let them be annointed with Oxphrodinum which is a liquid Medicine made with Vinegar and Rose-water mingled with a little Salt CHAP. V. The eighth Moneth IN the eighth moneth which is usually perillous the better diets rather than plentiest will be most commodious But as they must abate their diet so their bodily exercise must increase And because then women with child by reason of the sharp humours alter the belly are accustomed to weaken both their spirits and strength they may well take before meat an Electuary of Diarrhodon or Aromaticum Rosatum or Diamargariton in the morning before meat and sometimes they may lick a little Honey even as they which loath and nauseate their meat may take green Ginger condited with Sugar or the rindes of Citrons and Oranges condited as also it is usuall sometimes to take specificall Sirrups Moreover let the woman with child often use Honey for the strengthning of the Infant When she is not farre from her labour or bringing forth she shall eat daily seven tosted Figs before meat least the seconds may be bound up but if they shall be restrained and stay firme they may be resolved But the woman with child may not eat salt and powdered meats least the child be born without nails CHAP. VI. In the ninth Moneth IN the ninth moneth being near their time they must not be idle neither sit much nor stoop much nor lie on their sides so that the child may not well turn it self but ought to lie with her face upward neither shall she bend her self much lest the child be infolded and wrapped up in the umbilical ligaments and bonds by which meanes it oftentimes perisheth but she must walk and stirre often and exercise her self rather by going upward than downward Let her use light and easie meats of digestion as damask-Prunes with Sugar or Figs and Raisins before meat and also the yolks of Eggs flesh and broth of Chicken Birds Patridges and Pheasants and Fish living in stony places with good broth And such meats shall not onely be convenient for this moneth but also for the two succeeding moneths that the natural parts by them may be dilated Also astringent meats and roasted meats and also Rise hard Eggs Millet and others of that kind will be very profitable Baths of sweet water with emollient hearbs used with intermission is meet But the hot house which they call a stow is hurtful After the bath let the belly be annointed with oyle of Roses and Violets but the natural parts with the fat of Hens Geese Ducks with oyle of Lillies and the decoction of Linseed and Faenugreek boyled with oyl of Linseed marsh-Mallows grains of Quinces or with this which followeth A Liniment both of them cut and fliced of each one ounce Take of Mallowes Of marsh-Mallowes Of Linseed also one ounce Let them be boiled from twenty ounces of water to ten let them take three ounces of the boiled broth of oyle of Flour-deluce and of Almonds of each one ounce three ounces of Deer suet Bath this from the rest and annoint her with it warm Also they may use for fourteen dayes before the birth morning and evening to bath and moisten the belly with Muscadine