The sicke vvomans private looking-glasse wherein methodically are handled all uterine affects, or diseases arising from the wombe; enabling women to informe the physician about the cause of their griefe· By Iohn Sadler, Doctor in Physicke at Norwich. Sadler, John, 1615-1674. 1636 Approx. 145 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 151 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A11278 STC 21544 ESTC S116338 99851555 99851555 16834

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A11278) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 16834) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1218:13) The sicke vvomans private looking-glasse wherein methodically are handled all uterine affects, or diseases arising from the wombe; enabling women to informe the physician about the cause of their griefe· By Iohn Sadler, Doctor in Physicke at Norwich. Sadler, John, 1615-1674. Droeshout, John, d. 1652, engraver. [24], 164, [2] p. Printed by Anne Griffin, for Philemon Stephens, and Christopher Meridith, at the Golden Lion in S. Pauls Church-yard, London : 1636. With an additional title page, engraved, "The sick womans priuate looking-glasse", signed: Io: Droeshout sculp. A1v bears verses "Vox medici". Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.

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eng Uterus -- Diseases -- Early works to 1800. 2002-12 Assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-02 Sampled and proofread 2003-02 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
Vox medici. HErbarum vires, Astrorum juncta potestas Ars medici moderans, et Deus ista beans, Virginibus, pueris, uxoribus atque maritis: Queisque recepturis causa salutis erunt.
THE strength of herbs and planets influence, Physicians skill, through Gods benevolence, To young and old, to husband and to wife, Are the appointed meanes for healthfull life.

THE SICK WOMANS Priuate Looking-glasse Wherein methodicaly are handled all uterine affects, or diseases arising from ye Wombe. Enabling Women to informe the physitian about ye cause of their griefe By John Sadler Dr in Physick in the Citie of Norwich

London Printed for Ph: Stephens & Ch: Meredith at the gilded Lyon in Pauls Churchyard Io: Droeshout sculp i636

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THE SICKE VVOMANS PRIVATE LOOKING-GLASSE WHEREIN Methodically are handled all uterine affects, or diseases arising from the wombe; enabling Women to informe the Physician about the cause of their griefe.

BY IOHN SADLER, Doctor in Physicke at Norwich.

Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.

Iuvenal.

LONDON, Printed by Anne Griffin, for Philemon Stephens, and Christopher Meridith, at the Golden Lion in S. Pauls Church-yard. 1636.

TO ALL VERTVOVS AND Modest-minded Women I.S. Doctor in Physicke wisheth health.

BECAVSE I had my being from a woman, I thought none had more right to the grape than she which planted the vine. Considering therefore the manifold distempers of body, which yee Women are subject unto through your ignorance & modestie, I could not but doe my best, to informe and advise you in the conservation of your own health. And when I had spent some meditations, and consulted with Galen and Hippocrates for my proceeding; amongst all diseases incident to the body, I found none more frequent, none more perilous then those which arise from the ill affected wombe: for through the evill quality thereof,Tatum corpus ab uter afficitur. Hippoc. lib. 1. de locis in homine. the heart, the liver, and the braine are affected, from whence the actions vitall, natural, & animal are hurt; and the virtues concoctive, sanguifficative, distributive, attractive,Galenus 6. de locis affect. cap. 5. Bottonus de morbis mulierum cap. 39. expulsive retentive, with the rest are all weakened. So that from the wombe comes convulsions, epilepsies, apoplexies, palseyes, hecticke fevers, dropsies, malignant ulcers, and to bee short, there is no disease Baptista Montanus d uterinis affect pag. 1. so ill but may procede from the evill quality of it.

How necessary therefore the knowledge of uterine diseases is, judge yee. And how many of you labour of them, all through your own ignorance and modestie, woefull experience makes it manifest. For when a woman is afflicted with any disease of the wombe; first through her ignorance, shee knowing not the cause thereof being not instructed in the state of her own body. And secondly through her modestie, being lo h to divulge and publish the same unto the Physitian to implore his aide, shee conceals her griefe and so encreaseth her sorrow.

For the aide and benefit of a woman in this cause, have I composed this treatise; Wherein as in a glasse she may see her selfe in private, and view the nature, cause, signes, prognosticks and cure of all uterine diseases, But yet no further, then thereby to bee instructed to conferre with the Physitian for the cure of her griefe, least by the misapplying of the remedy you augment your disease, I confesse if you looke unto the matter it is old;Nil dictum quod non dictum, prius. if unto the method new: part of it being selected out of the Greeks, part out of the Latines, and part out of the experience of my owne practice, wherein I have followed the industrie of the Bee, who gathers hony out of divers floures to weave into her owne combe. Many things more might have been added in it, which for modestie sake my pen hath omitted. I have also stooped to your capacities in avoiding hard words and Rhetoricall phrases, desiring rather to informe your judgements with the truth, though a plaine manner, then to confound your understandings with a more Rhetoricall discourse. But fearing to bee over-tedius, craving acceptance for these first fruits of my braine, untill God indues mee with a better harvest, I rest,

The wellwisher of your health IOHN SADLER.
Ad proceres Artis Aesculapij.

PRAENOBILEM medicinae Artem ignobili proferre vulgo, opus hand dignum hodie non immerito existimetur. Vos igitur qui hujus art is illustrissime est is professores, me fortean subinsullie esse animi censeatis; qui artem hanc incly am gregalibus verbis dedecoravi: quod ne putetis, causam in lemeam coram vobis veniâ vestrâ sic agam. Sciatis vellem, quòd ego opusculo hoc meo promulgando faemininum solummodò sexum instit ere decrevi: vestra proin lenitudo & benevolentia (spero) conamen istud meum (licèt squalidum) abs que inusto stigmate in lucem prodire patientur. Hoc que confido magis, quippe quod Hippocrates, qui mihi exemplar est, honoratissimus de hoc subjecto nonnulla vulgo exarata dedit. Et de materia si quaeratur, hanc, ingenuè fateor, me ex authoribus tum antiquis tum modernis excerpsisse totam: circa quam, si errorem quendam inscius aut incautus expromere videar, suppliciter peto eundem mihi denudatum fieri, & ipsum elimare conabor serio. At si codicillus iste meus incultus iudicio vestro (uti spero) inculpatus vixerit; clemen ia vestra me vinculo observantiae vobis devinctum habebit imperpetuum. Et quod ad Momum attinet (cui calumniandi & maledicendi prurigo semper inhaeret) flocci pendo, quamvis fungus iste sannis & scommatibus hunc meum exerceat laborem: quem scire vellem, suam de me sententiam inanem prorsus, levem que ducere. Tumescat ideo invidiâ donec disrumpatur odio: mihi curae est honos non offendere & ignorantes informare. Hic scopus. Hic saltus. Hic pes igendus.

Ornato
Imprimatur.

Tho. Weeks R. P. Episcopo Lond. Cap. domest. Iohn Smethwicke.

Ornato atque erudito juveni Domino Iohanni Sadlero Medicinae Doctori, Alexander Reidus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 atque e sociorum inclyti Collegii Londinensis medici numero S. P. D.

CLarumtuū morborum uteri orum, speculum non oscitanter perlegi, quod ad corum & dignotionem & curationem elaborasti, quod que publici iuris facturum te mihi significasti. Si de eo quaeras quid sentiam, brevem apertamque animimei sententiam accipe Dignum existimo quod lucem aspiciat; ad quod 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 omnes manibus versent. Non est meo indicio quod sciolorum cerulas miniatulas pertimescas. Phrasis in eo tersa at que elega s: in eo certant brevitas & perspicuitas, ut de te Horatianum istud vere pronunciari non possit, Brevis esse laboro, Obscurus fio.

Methodus clara est atque rei traditioni conveniens. Medicamenta quae proferuntur selecta sunt & tuta: Ita ut possit liber ipse secure maligni livoris dentem contemnere. Quamobrem oro autor sibisim eum publicandi, ut pulchris ingenii tui felicis primitiis gloria tibi accedat, atque ad gratitudinem exprimendam populares omnes obligentur.

Londini, prid. Id. Ianuar. anniab exbibito in carne Messia supra millesimum sexcentesimum tricesimo quinto, Ex musaeolo meo.
To the Author. IVst in thy spring did the nine Muses meet; Whom when they spide, they did conspire to greet: And with fresh Laurell then Parnassus deckt: That they on thee some honour might reflect. The multitude amaz'd stood in a round, To see whose prayse fames rathing trump did sound: 'Ere long they heard that, Sadler, 'twas thy worth That caus'd that stir, and brought the Muses forth. Then did Apollo God of Physicks Art, And the nine Muses all consent in heart, Thy well-deserving minde, thy name, thy state, With learning, honour, fame to celebrate. But foggie sleepers and those wanton boyes That spend their golden time in melting joyes Th'unpartiall Muses daygn not to respect, They neglect learning; and them they neglect; Or send their Satyrs to proclaym their crime 'Cause creggie stayrs of honour they' not climbe But generous Sadler, thou tooks better way By making learnings pleasant fruite the prey, Thou sought'st by early, late, by constant payne, By cost, by travell, that thou mightst obtaine Not the vain-glorious shell of emptie prayse Which shines a while, and sudenly decayes: But the sound kernell of the honour'd Art Which honour thee for thy deserved parts. Divine Hyppocrates, Galen all such As read this booke may witnesse well thus much. 'Mongst Doctors of thy Art, goe, take thy chayre: Now thou mayst rest; greene lawrell is thy share. I. S.
The Contents. pag. 1. pag. 14. pag. 30. pag. 44. pag. 49. pag. 61. pag. 78. pag. 86. pag. 93. pag. 9.6 106. pag. 122. p. 180. pag. 142. pag. 107. pag. 149 pag. 149.
THE Sick womans Private Looking-Glasse. Wherein Methodically are handled all uterine affects or diseases arising from the wombe.
An Introduction. CHAP. I.

IF any one, but of a meane capacity were asked what were the wonder of the world; I thinke that reason would move him to answer, Man; he being the Quia homo secundum intellectum continet totum mundum. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or little world, to whom all things are subordinate: agreeing in the Genus with things sensitive, all being Animal, but differing in the Species, for man alone is endued with reason; Exemplū que Dei quisque est in imagine parvâ. Let us make man in our image, after our likenesse. Wherefore of the Greeks hee is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , of turning his eyes upward towards him, whose image and superscription hee beares: whence the Poet writeth; Silius Italic. lib. 5. Nonne vides hominum, ut colsos ad sidera vultus Sustulerit Deus? ac sublimia fi xerit ora. See how the heavens high Architect hath fram'd man in this wise; To stand, to goe, to looke erect, with body, face, and eyes. And Cicero saith, Cùm cateras animantium naturas abjecisset ad pastum, solum hominem erexit, & ad coeli quasi cognationi pristmi conspectum excitavit. Cicero lib. 5. de L gibus that all creatures were made like Moles, to root upon the earth, man onely excepted; to him was given an upright frame, to behold that mansion prepared for him above.

Now to the end that this so noble and glorious a creature might not quite perish, hath the Almighty given unto woman the field of generation for a receptacle of humane seed; whereby that naturall and vegitable soule which lies potentially in the seed, may, by the Vis plastica, bee produced into act; that man being mortall, and leaving his off-spring behinde him, may become as it were immortall, and live in his posterity.

And because this field of generation, to wit, the wombe, is the subject-matter from whence our ensuing discourse is drawne, like so many lines from the center; that you may the better judge of that which followes, wee will in briefe lay before you the parts of the wombe, together with the qualities of the menstruous bloud.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .First, touching the womb; of the Grecians it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the mother; or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , saith Priscian, because it makes us all brothers.

It is placed in the Hypogastrium, or lower part of the belly, in the cavity called Pelvis, having the Columbus Anatom de visceribus. ib. 11. ca. 16. streight gut on one side, to keepe it from the hardnesse of the back-bone, and the bladder on the other side, to defend it from blowes. The forme or figure of it is like a Fushsius institut. medicin. lib. 1. sect. 5. c 13. virill member, onely this excepted, the manhood is outward, and the womanhood within.

It is divided into the necke and the body. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . The necke consists of a hard fleshie substance much like a Weckerus sentax. lib. 1. part. 1. p. 67 cartilage: at the end whereof there is a membrane transversly placed, called Hymen, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . or Eugion. Neere also unto the necke there is prominent panicle, Haec etiam membrana flos virginitatis vocatur, quia cum eclest. Signum est virginitatis. Ostiolum uteri de uterinis offect. p. 9. which is called of Montanus, the doore of the wombe, because it preserveth the matrice from cold and dust. Of the Grecians it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; of the Latines Praeputium muliebre, because the Jewish women did abuse this part to their owne mutuall lust,Rom. 1.26 as Saint Paul speaks, for which Iuvenal turns Satyrist against them.

Nec distare putant humana carne suillam, Qua paterabstinuit moxet praeputia ponunt.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .The bodie of the wombe is that wherein the childe is conceived; and this is not altogether round, but dilates it selfe into two angles, which Herophilus comparing to the hornes of a calfe, calleth them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . The outward part of it is nervous, and ful of sinewes, which are the cause of its motion: but inwardly it is fleshie.

It is fabulously reported, that in the cavity of the wombe there are seven divided cels or receptacles for humane seed. But those that have seene Anatomies, doe know there are but two, and those not divided by a partition, but onely by a line or future running thro gh the middest of it. In the right side of the cavity, by reason of the heat of the Liver, Hyppac. lib. 5. Aph r. 48. males are conceived. In the left side, by the coldnesse of the Spleene, females are begotten. And this doe most of our Modernes hold for an infallible truth; Quibus, dextrum vas spermaticum a renali, & sinistrum a vena cava descendit, iis mares sinistrâ, dextrâ verò parte uterifoeminae gestantur. Hipp. 6. Epidem. initio. yet Hyppocrates holds it but in the generall; for in whom (saith he) the spermaticall vessell of the right side comes from the reines, and the spermaticall vessell of the left side from the hollow veine, in them males are conceived in the left side, and females in the right. Well therefore may I conclude with the saying of Empedocles. La interdum vis est seminis ut utr qu sinu asculos proferat. Such sometimes is the power of the seed, that a male may be conceived in the left side, as well as in the right. In the bottome of the cavity there are little holes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . called the Cotyledones, which are the ends of certaine veines and arteries, serving, in breeding women, to conveigh sustenance to the childe, which is received by the Vmbilicall veine: And in others to carry the cources into matrice.

Now, touching the menstruals: They are defined to bee a monethly flux of excrementitious and •• profitable bloud. Aristot. de generatione animali. lib. 1. c. 20.

In which we are to note, that the matter slowing forth is excrementitious; Sanguis menstruus est benignus non malignus, inquantitate, non qualitute procons. 14. de usu partium 8. which is to be understood of the superplus or redundancie of it: for it is a excrement in quantity, in quality being pure and incorrupt, like unto the bloud in the veines.

And that the menstruous bloud is pure, and simply of it selfe, all one in quality with that in the veines, is proved two wayes: First, from the the finall cause of this bloud, Causa finalis menstrui est propagatio & conservatio humanae speciei. which is the propagation and conservation of mankinde; that man might bee conceived; and being begotten, hee might bee comforted and preserved, both in the wombe, and out of the wombe. And all will grant it for a truth, that the childe, while it is in the matrice is nourished with this bloud; and it is as true, that being out of the womb, it is still nourished with the same; for the Aristot. de generatione animali. lib. 4. cap. 8. milke is nothing but the menstruous bloud made white in the breasts; and I am sure womans milke is not thought to bee venomous, but of a nutritive quality, answerable to the tender nature of an infant. Secondly, it is proved to be pure from the generation of it, it being the superfluity of the last aliment of the fleshie parts.

It may be objected, if the bloud bee not of a hurtfull quality, how can it cause such Fernelius de hominis procreatione lib. 7. cap. 7. venomous effects; as if the same fall upon trees and herbs, it maketh the one barren, and mortifies the other. And Averroes writes, Aver. 3 Collect. cap. 7. that if a man accompany with a menstruous woman, if she conceive, she shall bring forth a Lepar. Sol. Sanguis menstruus obdiuturnam in utero moram, mala qua dam naturam contrahit. I answer, this malignity is contracted in the wombe; for the woman wanting native heat to digest this superfluity, sends it to the matrice, where seating it selfe untill the mouth of the wombe be dilated, it becomes corrupt and venomous, which may easily be, considering the heat and moistnesse of the place. This bloud therefore being out of his vessels, offends in quality; In this sense let us understand Pliny, Fernelius, Florus, and the rest of that torrent. L udabilis & alimentarius est hic sanguis, cujus causa efficiens est color foeminae debilis. But if frigidity bee the cause why women cannot digest all their last nourishment, and consequently that they have these purgations: It remaines to give a reason why they are of so cold a constitution more than men; which is this: The naturall end of mans and womans being, Gen. 1.28.9.1. is to propagate; and this iniunction was imposed upon them by God at their first creation, and againe after the deluge: now in the act of conception there must be an Aliquod ut materia, aliquod ut efficiens. Agent and a Patient, for if they be both every way of one constitution, they Fernelius de morbis partium & symptom. lib. 6 cap. 7. cannot propagate; man therefore is hot and dry; woman cold and moist: he is the Est enim mas, a quo motus procreationis que origo manat: Agent, she the F mina verò quae materiam segetem que subministrat. Patient, or weaker vessell, that she should Semen essusum in remium s scipiendo. be subject unto the office of the Man. It is necessary likewise that woman should be of a cold constitution, because in her is required a redundancy of matter for the infant depending on her; for otherwise, if there were not a superplus of nourishment for the child, more than is convenient for the mother, then would the infant detract and weaken the principall parts of the mother; and like unto the Viper, the generation of the infant would be the destruction of the parent. Adde decem ternis, mulierum menstrua cernis, ad quinquaginta durat purgatio tota. These monethly purgations continue from the 15. yeare, to the 46. or 50. Yet often there happens a suppression, which is either naturall, or morbifficall. They are naturally supprest in breeding women, and such as give sucke. The morbificall suppression fals now into our method to bee spoken off.

CHAP. II. Of the retention of the months.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .THe suppression of the Termes is an interception of that accustomary evacuation of bloud, which every moneth should come from the matrice, proceeding from the instrument or matter vitiated. The part affected is the wombe, and that of it selfe, or by consent.

Cause.

The cause of this suppression is either externall or internall. The externall cause may bee heat or drinesse of the aire, immoderate watching, great labour, vehement motion, and the like, whereby the matter is so consumed, and the body so exhaust, that there is not a superplus remaining to be expelled; as is recorded of the Varandeus lib. 1. de morbis mvli. cap. 2. Amozonites, who being active, and alwayes in motion, had their fluxions very little, or not at all. Or it may bee caused by cold, which is most frequent, making the bloud viscuous and grosse, condensing and binding up the passages, that it cannot flow forth.

The internall cause is either instrumentall or materiall, in the wombe or in the bloud.

In the wombe it may bee divers wayes; by Apostoms, Tumors, Ulcers, by the narrownesse of the veines and passages; or by the H urnius de morbis mulierum. cap. 1. Omentum or kell in fat bodies, pressing the necke of the matrice: but then they must have Hernia Zirbalis: for in mankinde the kell reacheth not so low. By overmuch cold or heat, the one vitiating the action, and the other consuming the matter. By an evill composition of the uterine parts; by the Galennu 5 Aphor. 28. necke of the wombe being turned aside; and sometimes, though rarely, by a Paraeus de hominis generatione cap. 51. & 43. membrane or excrescence of fl sh growing about the mouth or necke of the wombe. The bloud may bee in fault two wayes, in quantity or in quality. In quantitity, when it is so consumed, that there is not a superplus left, as in Viragoes and virill women, Erotis de passionibus mulier. cap. 23. who through their heat and strength of nature, digest and consume all their last nourishment; as Hippocrates writes of Phaetusa, Hippoc. Epidem. 6 who being exiled by her husband Pythea, her termes were supprest, her voyce changed, and had a beard, with a countenance like a man. But these I judge rather to be Anthropophagae, women-eaters, than women-breeders, because they consume one of the principles of generation, which gives a being to the world, viz. the menstruous bloud. The bloud likewise may be consumed, and consequently, the termes stayed by bleeding of the nose; by a flux of the Emroides; by a Dysenteria, commonly called the bloudy flux, by many other evacuations, and continuall and chronicall diseases. Secondly, the matter may bee vitious in quality; as suppose it bee sanguineons, flegmaticall; bilious, or melancholious, every one of these, if they offend in grosnesse, will cause an obstruction in the veynes.

Signes.

Signes manifesting the disease, are paines in the head, necke, backe, and loynes; wearinesse of the whole body, but especially of the hips and legges, by reason of a confinity which the matrix hath with these parts: trembling of the heart. Particular signes are these; if the suppression proceeds of cold, she is heavie, sluggish, of a pale colour, and hath a slow pulse, Venus combates are neglected, the urine is crude, watrish, and much in quantity; the excrements of the guts usually are retained. If of heat, the signes are contrary to those even now recited. If the retention be naturall, and come of conception; this may be known by drinking of Hydromell, Hyppoc. lib. 5 Aph . 41. that is water and honey, after supper going to bed, and by the effect which it worketh; for, after the taking of it, if shee feeles a beating paine about the navell and lower parts of the belly, it is asigne she hath conceived, and that the suppression is naturall: If not, that is it vitious, and ought medicinally to be taken away.

Prognosticks.

With the evill quality of the wombe the whole body stands charged; but especially the Heart, the Liver, and the Braine; and betwixt the wombe and these three principall parts, there is a singular consent.

First, the wombe communicates to the heart by the mediation of those Arteries which come from Aorta; hence the termes being supprest, will ensue faintings, swoonings, intermission of pulse, cessation of breath.

Secondly, it communicates to the Liver by the veines derived from the hollow veine; hence will follow obstructions, cachexies, jaundise, dropsies, hardnesse of the spleene.

Thirdly, it communicates unto the braine, by the nerves and membranes of the backe; hence will arise Epilepsies, Apoplexies, Frensies, melancholy passions, paine in the after parts of the head, fearfulnesse inability of speaking. Well therefore may I conclude with Hyppocrates, Lib. 5. Apho. 57. if the moneths be supprest, many dangerons diseases will follow.

Cure.

In the cure of this, and of all the other following effects, I will observe this order. The cure shall bee taken from Chirurgicall, Pharmaceuticall, and Diaeteticall meanes.

This suppression is a plethoricke affect, and must be taken away by evacuation: and therefore first we will beginne with Phlebotomie.

In the middest of the menstruall period open the Liver veine; and for the reversion of the humour, two dayes before the wonted evacution, open the Saphena on both feet. If the repletion be not great, apply cupping glasses to the legges and thighs. And although there be no hope to remove the suppression (as in some the Cotyledones are so closed up, that nothing but copulation will open them) yet it will be convenient, as much as may be, to ease nature of her burden, by opening the Hemerhoid veines with a Leech.

After Phlebotomie, let the humours bee prepared and made fluxile with syrrupe of Staechas, Calamint, Betonie, Hysop, Mugwort, Horehound, Fumeterre, Maiden-haire. Bathe with Camomill, Penny-royall, Savine, Bayleaves, Iuniper berries, Rue, Marjoram, Feverfew. ℞ of the leaves of Nep, Maiden-haire, Succory, Betony, ana. m.j. make a decoction; take thereof ℥iij. syrrupe of Maiden-haire, Mugwort, Succory, ana. ℥s. Misce: After she comes out of the Bath, let her drinke it off. Purge with Pil. de Agarico, Elephang. Coch. Foetid. Galen in this cause commends pil. de Hiera cum Colocyutide, for as they bee proper to purge the humour offending; so also they doe open the passages of the wombe, and strengthen the faculty by their Aromaticall quality.

If the stomacke be overcharged, let her take a vomit; yet such a one as may worke both wayes, lest working onely upward, it should too much turne backe the humour. ℞ Trochisks of Agrick ʒij. infuse them i ℥iij. of Oximel, in which dissolve of the Electuary Diasarum ℈is. Ben dic. La •• t. ℥s: Take this after the manner of a purge.

After the humour hath beene purged, proceed to more proper and forceable remedies. ℞. trochiscks of myrrhe ʒis: persly-seed, castor, rindes of cassia ana ℈i. of the extract of mugwort ℈is. muske gr.x. with the juce of smallage make 12 pils, tak 2 every morning or after supper going to bed. ℞. of cinnamō, ℥s. roots of smirnium, valerian, aristolochia, ana ʒii. roots of Asrum ʒi. castor, saffron, ana ℈ii. specdiambrae. ʒii. trochisks of myrrhe, ℈iiii, tartari vitriolati, ℈ii. make all into a powder; with mugwort water and suger qs make lozenges, take ʒi of them every morning: or mingle ʒi of the powder with ʒi of sugar and take it in white wine. ℞ of prepared steele, specierum hierae ana ʒii. borace, species of myrrhe, ana ℈i. with the juce of savine make 38. take three every other day immediatly before dinner. ℞. of castor ℈i. wilde carret seed ʒs. with syrrupe of mugwort make 4 pils take them in the morning fasting, and so for three dayes together before the wonted time of the purgations. ℞. of Agaricke, aristolochia, juce of horehound, ana ʒv. rhubarb, spicknard, anice-seed, galbanum, assafaetida, smallage roots, gentiane, of the three peppers, laccae, ana ʒvi. with honie make an electuarie: take of it ʒiii for a dosis. In flegmaticall bodies nothing better can bee given then the decoction of the wood guaiacum with a little Dictam taken in the morning fasting, and so for 12 dayes together without provokeing of sweate.

Administer to the lower parts by suffumigations, pessaries, unctions, injections, insessions.

Make suffumigations of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, bayberries, mugwort, galbanum, melanthium, Amber &c. Make pessaryes of figgs, and the leaves of mercury brused and rowled up with lint. If you desire a stronger; make one of myrrhe bdelium, opopanax, Ammoniacum, galbanum, sagapenum, mithridate, agarick, coloquintida &c. Make injections of the decoction of origane, mugwort, mercurie, betonie and figgs powring the same into the wombe by a metrenchyta. ℞. oyle of sweet and bitter almonds, lillies, capers, chammomill ana ℥s. ladani, oyle of myrrhe, ana ʒii, with wax make an unguent with which let the places bee anointed. Make insessions of faengreeke, chammomill, melilote, dill, marjerom, pennyroyall, feverfew, juniper berries, and calamynt. But if the suppression comes by a defect of matter, then ought not the cources to be provoked, untill the spirits bee animated and the blood againe encreased. Or if by proper affects of the wombe, as dropsies, inflammations, and the like; then must a particular cure bee used, the which I will not insist upon here, but of them as they lie in order.

If the retention comes from repletion or fulnesse; let the aire bee hote and drie; use moderate exercise before meales; Let your sleep bee shorter then ordinary; and your meat and drinke attenuating. Seeth with your meat garden savorie, time, origan and Cicer. Ariel: num. ciche peason. If of emptinesse or defect of matter; let the ayre bee moyst and moderately hote. Shun excercise and watchings, let your meate bee nourishing, and of a light digestion; as reare eggs, lambe, chickens, almond milke and the like.

CHAP. III. Of the overflowing of the cources.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .THE Scholearium saith, by comparing of contraries, truth is made manifest. Having therefore spoken of the suppression of the terms; order requires now, that I should insist upon the overflowing of them, an effect no lesse dangerous then the former. And this immoderate flux of the months is defined to be a sanguineous excrement proceeding from the wombe, exceeding both in quantity and time. First it is said to be sanguineous the matter of the flux being only blood; wherein it differs from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 commonly called the false cources, or whites; of which I will speake hereafter. Secondly it is said to proceed from the wombe: for there are two wayes by which the blood flowesforth. The one is by the internall veynes in in the body of the wombe; and this is properly called the monthly flux. The other is by those veynes which are terminated in the necke of the matrice and this is called of Aetius the Hemorrhodes of the wombe. Lastly it is said to exceed both in quantity and time. In quantity sayth Hippocrates when they flow above 18 ounces. Hippoc. lib. 1. de morbis mul. In time saith Aristotle when they flow above three dayes. Aristotelis l. 7. de hist. animali ca. 2. But wee take this for a certaine character of their inordinate flowing, when the faculties of the body thereby are weakened. In bodyes abounding with grosse humours, this immoderate flux sometimes unburdens nature of her load and ought not, to bee stayed without the councell of a Physitian.

Cause.

The cause of this affect is internall or externall. The internall cause is threefold; in the matter, instrument, or faculty. The matter, which is the blood, may be vitious two wayes. First, in quantity, it being so great that the veynes are not able to contayne it. Hippoc. l. 2. de morbis mulierum. Secondly, in quality, it being adust, sharp, watrish or unconcocted. The instrument viz: the veynes are faulty by the dilatation of the orifice; which may bee caused two wayes: Per 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . first, by the heate of the constitution, climate or season, heating the blood whereby the passages are dilated, and the faculty weakned that it cannot retaine the blood. Per 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Secondly, by fals, blowes, violent motion, breaking of a veyne, &c.

The externall cause may be calidity of the aire, lifting, carrying of heavy burdens, unnaturall child birth, falls, &c.

Signes.

In this inordinate flux the appetite is decayed, the concoctions depraved, and all the actions weakened, the feet are swelled, the colour of the face is changed, and a generall feeblenes possesseth the whole body. If the flux comes by the breaking of a veine, the body is something cold, the blood flowes forth on heapes and that suddenly with great payne. If it comes through heate, the orifice of the veynes being dilated, then is there little or no payne, yet the blood flowes faster then it doth in an Erosion, and not so fast as it doth in a Rupture. If by Erosion or sharpnesse of blood; shee feeles a great heate scalding the passage; It differs from the other two, in that it flowes not so suddenly nor so copiously as they doe. If by weaknesse of the wombe, shee abhorreth the use of Venus. Lastly if it proceeds from an evill quality in the blood; droppe some of it on a cloth and when it is drie, Hippoc. lib. 1. de morbis mulierum. you may judge of the quality by the colour. If it bee cholericke it will bee yellow; If melancholie, blacke; If flegmaticall, watrish and whitish.

Prognosticks.

If with the flux be joyned a convulsion; it is Hippoc. lib. 5 Aphor. 56. dangerous, because it intimates the more noble parts are vitiated; and a convulsion caused by emptinesse is deadly. If it continues long it will bee cured with great difficulty: for it was one of the miracles which our Saviour Christ wrought to cure S. Math. 9.20 this disease when it had continued 12 yeares. To conclude, if the flux bee inordinate Hi poc. l. 5.57. many diseases will ensue; and without remedy, the blood together with the native heare being consumed, either chacheriall, hydropicall, or paralyticall diseases will follow.

Cure.

The cure consisteth in three particulars. First, in repelling and carrying back of the blood. Secondly, in correcting and taking away the fluxibility of the matter. Thirdly, in corroborating the veynes and faculty. For the first; To cause a regression of the blood, open a veyne in the arme, and draw out so much blood as the strength of the patient will permit; Non confertim sed per intervalla. and that not together, but at severall times; for hereby the spirits are the lesse weakened, and the retraction so much the greater.

Apply cupping-glasses to the Hyppoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 50. brests; and also to Riolanus sect. 4. tract. 2. de morbis uteri. the liver that the reversion may be in the fountaine.

To correct the fluxibility of the matter, catharticall meanes moderated with astrictories must be used.

If it be caused by erosion or sharpnesse of blood; consider whether the Erosion bee by salt flegme, or adust choller. If by salt flegme; Prepare with sirupe of violets, wormewood, roses, citron-pills, succorie, &c. then take this purgation following. ℞. myrobolan. chebul. ℥s. trochiscks of agaricke ʒi. with plantaine water make a decoction: adde thereunto sir. rosat. lax. ℥iii. make a potion.

If by adust choller prepare the body with sirrupe of roses, myrtles, sorrell, purcelaine, commixt with water of plantaine, knot-grasse, and endive; Then purge with this potion. ℞. rindes of myrobolanes, rhubarbe, ana ʒi. cinnamon gr. xv. infuse them one night in endive water: Adde to the straining pulpe of tamarind, cassia, ana ℥s. sirupe of roses ℥i. make a potion.

If the blood bee watrish and uncencoct as it is in hydropicall bodies and flowes forth by reason of the tenuitie and thinnesse, the use of of hydragoga will bee profitable. Purge with agarick, elaterium, and coloquintida. Sweating is proper in this cause, for by it the matter offending is taken away, and the motion of the blood is carried to the outward parts. To procure sweate she may take cardvus water with mithridate: or the decoction of guajacum, fassafras, and sarsa-parilla, the gumme of guajacum also doth greatly provoke sweate. Pills of Sarsa-parilla taken every night going to bed are worthily commended. If the blood flowes forth from the opening or breaking of a veyne, without any evill quality in its selfe, then ought onely corroboratives to bee applied; which is the last thing to bee done in the cure of this inordinate flux.

℞. Of bole-armonie ℈i; London treacle ʒi. old conserve of roses ℥s. with sirupe of myrtles make an electuarie. Or if the flux hath continued long ℞. Of masticke ʒii. olibani, troch. de carabe ana ʒi. balaustiorum, ℈i. make a powder; with sirupe of quinces make it into pills; take one alwayes before meales. ℞. Lapidis haematitis triti ana ℈ii. specierum triasani ali ʒi. troch. de carabe, de scoria ferri, corall, frankincence, ana ℈i. fine bole ℈i. beate these to a fine powder; and with sugar and plantaine water q.s. make lozenges. Asses dung is well approoved of whether taken inwardly with sirupe of quinces, or applied outwardly with steeled water. Galen by conveighing the juce of it through a metrenchita into the wombe 4. dayes together, cured this immoderate flux which no wayes else could bee restrained. Going to bed let her take ℈is. Philonii Romani in a wafer, make suffumigations for the matrice of masticke, franckincence, burnt froggs, not forgetting the hoofe of a mule. ℞. Of the juce of knotgrasse, comferie, quinces, ana ℥i. campher, ʒi. dippe silke cotton therein and apply it to the places. ℞. Oyle of mastick, myrtles, quinces, ana ℥s. fine bole, troch. de carabe, sanguinis draconis, ana ʒi. wax and viniger q.s. make an unguent, apply it both before and behinde. ℞. Of plantaine, shepheards purse, red rose leaves ana M. iii. of goates and asses dung dried ana ℥is. acatiae, hypocistidos ana ℥is dried mint ℥i. bean meale ℥iii. boyle all these in plantaine water, and make of it two plasters: applie one before and the other behinde. If the blood flowes from those veynes which are terminated in the necke of the matrice, then it is not called the overflowing of the termes but the hemorrhods of the wombe: yet the same cure will serve them both; only the instrumentall cure will a little differ; for in the esterine hemorrhods, the ends of the veynes hang over like little teates or pushes which must be taken away by Paulum lib. 6. c. 7 . incision, Lege apud and then the veynes closed up with Aloes, fine bole, burnt alum, troch. de terra sigil. myrrh, masticke, with the juce of comfery and knotgrasse laid plasterwise thereto.

The aire must be cold and drie: all motion of the body is forbidden. Let her meat bee Pheasant, Partridge, mountaine birds, Cunnies, Calfes feet, &c. and let her beere bee mixt with the juce of quinces and pomgranuts.

CHAP. IIII. Of the Weeping of the wombe.

THE Weeping of the wombe is an unnaturall flux of blood comming from the wombe by dropps or after the manner of teares; causing violent pains in the same; keeping neither period nor time. By some it is referred unto the immoderate evacuation of the cources, yet they are distinguisht in the quantity and manner of their flowing. Distinguu secundùm magis & minus, & Exeundi odo. In that they flow copiously and freely; In this continually, yet by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 little and little, and that with great paine and difficulty: Wherefore it is likened unto the Silvius comment. de mensibus mulierum. strangurie.

Cause.

The cause is in the facultie, instrument or matter. In the facultie, by being enfeebled, that it cannot expell the blood: and the blood resting there, makes the parts of the wombe grow hard and stretcheth the vessells, from whence proceeds the Dolor tensivus uteri. paine in the wombe. In the instrument, by the narrownesse of the passages. Lastly, it may be in the matter of the blood, which may offend in too great a quantity, or in an evill quality, it being grosse and thicke that it cannot flow forth as it ought to doe, but by drops.

Signes.

The signes will best appeare by the relation of the patient.

Prognosticks.

Hereupon will ensue paines in the head, stomacke and backe, with inflammations suffocations, and excoriations of the matrice.

Cure.

If the strength of the patient will permit, first open a veine in the arme, rubbe the upper parts, and let her armes bee corded, that the force of the blood may bee carried backward.

Then apply such things as may laxate and mollifie the stretching of the wombe and asswage the sharpnesse of the blood; as cataplasmes made of bran, lineseed, faengrecke, melilote, mallows, mercurie and atriplex: If the blood bee viscuous and grosse adde thereto mugwort, calamint, dictam, and betonie: And let her take of Venice treakle the quantity of a nutmeg with sirrup of mugwort every morning. Anoint the places with oyle of lillies roses, lineseed, sweete almonds, and calfes marrow. Make injections of the decoction of mallows, mercurie, lineseed, groundfuell, mugwort, faengrecke, with oyle of sweet almonds.

Sometimes it is caused by a winde, and then phlebotonie is to bee omitted; and in the stead thereof ℞. Sirupe of feverfew ℥i. honie of roses, sirupe of staechas, ana ℥s. water of calamint, mugwort, betonie, hysope ana ℥i. make a julep. If the paine continues, take this purgation. ℞. Specierum hierae ʒi. diachatholicon ℥s. Sirupe of roses laxative ℥i. with the decoction of mugwort, and the 4. cordiall flowers make a potion. If it comes through weaknesse of the facultie, let that bee corroborated. If through grossenesse or sharpnesse of the blood, let the quality of it bee altered as I have shewne in the foregoing chapter. Lastly if the excrements of the gutte be retained, provoke them by a clyster, of the decoction of chammomill, betony, feverfew, mallowes, lineseed, juniper—berries, cumminseed, aniceseed, melilo e: adding thereto of diacatholicon, ℥s. hierae picrae ʒii. hony, oyle, ana ℥i. Sal iter ℥is. The patient must abstaine from salt, sharp, and windy meats.

CHAP. V. Of the false cources or whites.

FRom the wombe proceeds not only the menstruous blood, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . but accidentally, many other excrements which by the Ancients are comprehended under the title of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , which is a distillation of variety of corrupt humours through the wombe, flowing from the whole body, or part of the same; keeping neither cource, nor colour, but varying in both.

Cause.

The cause, is either promiscuously in the whole bodie, by a cachochymia or weaknesse of the same; or in some of the parts: as in the liver, which by the inabilitie of the sanguifficative faculty, causeth a generation of corrupt blood; and then the matter is ruddish; sometimes in the gall, being sluggish in its office, not drawing away those cholericke superfluities, which are ingendred in the liver; and the matter is yellowish. Sometimes in the Spleene, not defecating and clensing the blood of the dregges and excrementitious parts; and then the matter flowing forth, is blackish. It may also come from catarrhes in the head; or from any other putrified or corrupted member. But if the matter of the flux bee white,The cause of the whites. the cause is either in the stomacke, or reynes. In the stomacke by a flegmaticall and crude matter there contracted, and vitiated through Ex maerore tristitia & animi affectionibus, vires deiiciuntur & vitiatur prima concocti : Gal. arte medicina li. griefe, melancholie, and other distempers: for otherwise, if the matter were onely Pituita, crude flegme, and no wayes corrupt or vitiated, being taken unto the liver it might bee converted into blood, for flegme in the ventricle, is called Pituita e •• succus alimentarius, & sanguis ex dimidio c ctus. Fernel. de functionibus & humoribus lib. 6. cap. 9. Dimidio coctum alimē um; quòd in jecore concoctum, sanguis ti . Fuc s us institut. med. lib. 1. Sect. 4 . 〈◊〉 . 3. Secunda concoctio non potest co rigere primam vitiatam. nourishment halfe digested: But being corrupt though sent unto the liver, yet it cannot bee turned into nutriment; for the second concoction cannot correct that which the first hath corrupted; and therefore the liver sends it to the wombe which can neither disgest it nor repell it and so it is voided out, still keeping the colour which it had in the ventricle. The cause also may be in the reynes being over heat, whereby the spermaticall matter by reason of its thinnesse flowes forth. The externall cause may bee moystnesse of the aire, eating of corrupt meats, anger, griefe, slothfulnesse, immoderate sleeping, costivenesse of body.

Signes.

The signes are extenuation of the body, shortnesse and stinking of breath, loathing of meate, paine in the 〈◊〉 , swelling of the eyes and feet, melancholie, humidity flowes from the wombe of divers colours, as reddish, blacke, greene, yellow, white. It differs from the flowing and overflowing of the cources, in that it keepes no certaine periods, and is of many colours, all which doe degenerate from blood.

Prognosticks.

If the flux be flegmaticall it will continue long and be difficult to cure yet if vomiting or the flux Diarrhaea hapeneth, diverting the humour it cures the disease. If it bee cholericke, it is not so permanent, yet more perilous, for it will cause (Rhagadia) clifts in the necke of the wombe, and sometimes make an excoriation in the matrix. If melancholius, it is most dangerous and contumacious: yet the Hippoc. 6. Apho . 11. flux of the Hemorrhodes administers cure.

Cure.

If the matter flowing forth, bee reddish, open a veine on the arme; if not, apply ligatures to the armes and shoulders. Galen. lib. de praenot. ad posthum. c. 8. Galen glories of himselfe how hee cured the wife of Boetus labouring of this disease, by rubbing the upper parts with crude hony.

If it be caused by a distillation from the braine, take sirrup of betonie, staechas, and marjerom. Purge with pil. coch. sine quibus, de Agarico: Make nasalia of the juce of sage, hysope, betonie, nigella, with one drop of oyle of cloves and a little silke cotton. ℞. elect. dianth. aromat. rosat. diamb e, diamosci dulcis, ana ʒ i. nutmeg ʒ s. with sugar and betonte water, make lozenges, to be taken every morning and evening. Take Aureae Alexandrinae ʒ s. at night going to bed. If these things help not, use the suffumigation, and plaster as they are prescribed pag. 203.

If it proceeds from crudities in the stomacke, or from a cold distempered liver, take every morning of the decoction of lignum sanctum. Purge with pil. de agarico, de hermodact. de hiera diacolocynthil. fae idae, agrigativae. ℞. elect. aromat. ros.ʒ ii. cytron-pills dried, nutmeg, long pepper, ana ℈i. diagalangae ʒ i. santali albi, lignialoes ana ℈s. sugar ℥vi. with mint water make lozenges. Take of them before meales. If with frigility of the liver, there be joyn la repletion of the stomacke, purging by vomit is commendable: for which take ʒ iii. of the Electuary diasaru. Galen allowes of dureticall meanes; as of Apium, petroselinum &c.

If the matter of the flux bee cholerick , prepare the humour with sirrup of roses, violets, endive, succorie. Purge with myrobolanes, manna, rhubarbe, cassia. ℞. Of rhubarbe ʒ ii. anice-seed ʒ i. cinnamon ℈is. infuse them in ℥vi. of prune broth. Adde to the strayning of manna ℥i; and take it in the morning according to art. ℞. Specierum diatrionsantalon, diatragacant. frig. diarrhod. abbatis, diacydonit. ana ʒ i. sugar ℥iiii. with plantaine water make lozenges. If the clyster of the gall bee sluggish and doe not stirre up the facultie of the guts, give hot glisters of the decoction of the foure mollifying hearbes with hony of roses and Aloes.

If the flux be melancholious, prepare with sirrup of maydenhaire, epithimum, polipodie, borrage, buglosse, fumeterre, harts-tongue, and sirrupus bysantinus, which must bee made without vineger: otherwise it will rather animate the disease then nature; for melancholie by the use of vineger is increased; and both by Hippocrates, Sylvius, and Avenzoar it is disallowed of, as an enemie Hippoc. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lib. 3. de ratione victus in morbis acutis. to the wombe, and therefore not to bee used inwardly in uterine diseases.

Purgers of melancholie are pilulae fumariae,Iacobus Sylvius comment. de mensibus mulierum. Avenzoar lib. 2. tract. 5. c. 1. pilulae Indae, pil de lapide lazuli, diasena and confectio hamech. ℞. Of stamped prunes ℥ii. sene ʒ i. epithimum, polipodie, fumeterre, ana ʒ is. sowre dates ℥i. with endive water make a decoction: Take here of ℥iiii, adde unto it confectionis hamech ʒ iii. manna ʒ iii. Or ℞. pil. Indarum pil. faetidarum, agarici trochiscati ana ℈i. pills of rhubarbe ℈s. lapidis lazuli gr. vi. with sirrup of epithimum make pills, take them once every weeke. ℞. Elect. laetificantis Galeni ʒiii. diamargariti calidi ʒ i. diamosci dulcis, conserves of borrage violets, buglosse, ana ʒ s. citron pills condited ʒ i. sugar ℥vii. with rose water make lozenges.

Lastly let the wombe be clen ed, from the corrupt matter, and then corroborated: for the purifying thereof, make injections of the decoction of betony, feverfew, mugwort, spikenard, bistow, mercury, sage, adding thereto sugar, oyle of sweet Almonds ana ℥ii. pessaries also may bee made of silke cotton, madified in the juce of the forenamed hearbs. To corroborate the wombe, you may thus prepare trochiskes. ℞. Of mugwort, feverfew, myrrhis, amber, mace, nutmeg, stirax, ligni aloes, red roses ana ℥i. with the mucilage of tragacanth make trochisks: cast some of them on the coles, and smother the wombe therewith. Make fomentations for the wombe, of red wine, in which hath beene decocted masticke, fine bole balaustia, and red roses: An oint the matrix with oyle of quinces and myrtles and apply thereto Emplastrum pro matrice; and let her take of diamoscum dulce and elect. Aromaticum, every morning.

A drying Galen. lib. devictu atten ante. diet is commended to bee best, because in this affect the body most commonly abounds with flegmati all and crude humours. For this cause Hippocrates councells the patient to goe to bed supperlesse.Hippoc. l. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Let her meat bee Partridge, Phesant, mountaine birds rather rosted then boyled. Immoderate sleep is forbidden moderate exercise is commanded.

CHAP. VI. Of the Suffocation of the Mother.

THis affect which simply considered is none, but the cause of an affect, is called in English the Suffocation of the Mother, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; ab co quòd mulieres praefoces. not because the wombe is strangled, but for that it causeth the woman to bee choked. It is a retraction of the wombe towards the Diaphragme and stomacke, which presseth and crusheth up the same, that the instrumentall cause of respiration the midriffe is saffocated; which consenting with the braine causeth the Animall facultie the efficient cause of respiration also to bee intercepted; whereby the body being refrigerated, and the actions depraved, she falls to the ground, as one being dead.

In these histericall passions some continue longer, some shorter. Rabby Moyses lib. 2. directorij cap. 41. Iacobus Ruffius lib. 6. de morbis mulierum cap. 8. Rabby Moyses writes of some, which lay in the paroxisme of the fit two dayes. Ruffius makes mention, of one, which continued in the same passion, three dayes and three nights; and at the three dayes end shee revived. That we may learne by other mens harmes to beware, I will give you one example more. Ambrosius Paraeus lib. de generatione hominis cap. 64. Paraeus writeth of a woman in Spayne, which suddainly fell into a uterine suffocation and appeared to the judgement of man as dead: her friends wondring at this her suddaine change, for their better satisfaction, sent to the Chirurgian to have her dissected, who beginning to make an incision, the woman began to move, and with a great clamour returned to herselfe againe, to the horrour and admiration of all the spectators.

To the end therfore, you may distinguish the living from the dead, the Ancients prescribe three experiments. The first, is to lay a light feather to the mouth, and by the motion of it you may judge, whether the patient be living or dead. The second, is to place a glasse of water on the brest, and if you perceive it to move, it betokeneth life. The third is to hold a pure Lookingglasse to the mouth & nose; and if the glasse appeare thicke with a little dew upon it, it betokeneth life. And these three experiments are good; yet with this caution, that you ought not to depend on them too much: for, though the feather and the water doe not move, and the glasse continue pure and cleare, yet it is not a necessary consequence that shee is destitute of life: for, the motion of the lungs, by which the respiration is made, may bee taken away that shee cannot breath; yet the internall transpiration of the heate may rem ine, which is not manifested by the motion of the br st, or lungs, but lies occult in the heart and inward arteries. Examples Arist. l 1. historia animali 1. hereof wee may have in the flie and swallow, which in the cold of winter, to the ocular aspect, seeme dead, inanimate, and breath not at all, yet they live by the transpiration of that heat which is reserved in the heart and inward arteries; therefore when the summer approcheth, the internall heat being revocated to the outward parts, they are then againe revived out of their sleepie extasie.

Those women therefore that seeme to die suddainly, and upon no evident cause, let them not bee committed unto the earth untill the end of three dayes, lest the living be buried for the dead.

Cause.

The part affected is the wombe; of which there is a twofold motion, naturall and Symptomaticall. The naturall motion, is when the wombe attracteth the humane seed, or excludeth the infant or secundine. The Symptomaticall motion, of which we are here to speak, is a convulsive drawing upward of the wombe.

The cause usually is in the retention of the seed, or in the suppression of the monthes, causing a repletion of corrupt humours in the wombe; from whence proceeds a flatulent refrigeration, causing a convulsion of the ligaments of the wombe. And as it may come from humidity or repletion, being a convulsion, it may bee caused by emptinesse or Arist. 1. de generatione animali. drinesse: and lastly, by Abortion or difficult childe-birth.

Signes.

At the approaching of the suffocation there is a palenesse of the face, Galenus 6. de locis affectis cap. 5. weaknesse of the legges, shortnesse of breath, frigidity of the whole body with a working up into the throat, and then shee falls down as one voyd both of sence and motion. The mouth of the wombe is closed up, and being touched with the finger feels hard. The paroxisme of the fit once past, shee openeth her eyes, and feeling her stomacke opprest, shee offers to vomit. And least that any should bee deceived in taking one disease for another, I will shew how it may bee distinguisht from those diseases which have the neerest affinity with its selfe. It differs from the Apoplexie, being it comes without shreeking out also in the hystericall passion, the sence of feeling is not altogether so destroyed and lost, as it is in the Apoplecticall disease. It differs from the Epilepsie in that the eyes are not wrested, neither doe any spumy froth come from the mouth; and that convulsive motion which sometime is joyned to the suffocation, is not so universall, as it is in the epilepsie, onely this or that member is convulst, and that without any vehement agitation. In the Sincope both respiration and pulse is taken away; the countinance waxeth pale, & she swounds away suddainly; but in the histericall passion, commonly there is both respiration and pulse though it cannot well bee perceived, her face looks red, and shee hath a forewarning of her fit. Yet it is not denied but that a Sincope may be joyned with this suffocation. Lastly, it is distinguisht from the Lethargie by the pulse which in the one is great in the other little.

Prognosticks.

If disease hath its being from the corruption of the seed, it foretells Maguinus Mediolanensis, de regimine sanitatis. cap. de coi u. more danger then if it proceeded frō the suppression of the cources; because the seed is concocted, and of a purer quality, than the menstruous blood; and the more pure being corrupted, becomes the more foule and filthie; as appeares in egges the purrest nourishment, which vitiated yeeld the noysomest savour. If it be accompained with a Sincope, it shewes nature is but weake, and that the spirits are almost exhaust. But if Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 35. neezing followes, it shewes that the heat which was almost extinct doth now begin to returne, and that nature will subdue the disease.

Cure.

In the cure of this affect two things must bee observed: first, that during the time of the pararoxisme, nature be provoked to expel those malignant vapours which binds up the sences, that shee may be recalled out of that sleepie extasie. Secondly, that in the intermission of the fit, propper medicines bee applied to take away the cause.

To stirre up nature, fasten cupping-glasses, to the hipps and navell: Apply ligatures to the thighs. Rubbe the extreame parts with salt vineger & musturd. Cause lowd clamours and thundrings in her eares. Apply to the nose Assa faetida, castor and saga penum steeped in vineger. Provoke her to neeze, by blowing up into her nose the powder of castor, white pepper, pellitory, of Spaine, and white Hellebore. Hold under her nose Partridge feathers, haire and old shoes burnt and all other stinking things: for evill odours are an enemie to nature, hence the Animall spirits doe so contest and strive against them, that the naturall heate is thereby restored. The braine is so opprest sometimes that wee are compeld to burne the outward skin of the head, with hot oyle, or with a hot iron. Sharp clysters and suppositories are available. ℞ Of sage, calamint, horehound, feverfew, marierom betonie, hysope, ana m.i. anice seed ℥s. coloquintida, white hellebore, salis gemmae ana ʒii. boyle these in lib. ii. of water to the halfe: adde to the straining oyle of castor ℥ii. heirae picrae ʒii. make a clyster. Or ℞. of hony boyled ℥ii. euphorbii ℈s. Coloqnintida. gr. iiii, white hellebore gr. ii. salt ʒi. make a suppositorie. Hippocrates writeth of a hystericall woman which could not bee freed from the paroxisme, Hippoc. 5. Epid. but by powring cold water on her: yet this cure is particular, and ought to be administred, in the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 24.middest of summer when the Sun is in the Tropicke of Cancer.

If it bee caused by the retention and corruption of the seed; at the instant of the paroxisme, let the Midwife tak oyle of lillies, marjerom, and bayes, dissolving in the same of Civet and Muske ana gr. ii. Let her dippe her finger therein and put it up into the neck of the wombe tickling and rubbing the same.

The fit being over, proceed to the curing of the cause. If it ariseth from the suppression of the months looke the cure, page 25 If from the retention of the seed; a good husband will administer cure: But those which cannot honestly purchase that cure, must use such things as will drie up and diminish the seed, as Diacyminum, diacalaminthes, &c. Amongst Botanicks, the seed of Agnus Castus is well esteemed of whether taken inwardly, applied outwardly, or received as a suffumigation: It was held in great Libra de ortu sanitatis. cap. 11. honour amongst the Athenians, for by it they did remaine as pure Vestales, and preserved their chastity, only by strowing it in the b d whereon they lay; hence the name Agnus Castus, is taken from the effect. Make an issue on the inside of each legge, a handfull bredth below the knee. ℞. Trochisks of agaricke ℈ii. wilde carrotseed, ligni aloes ana ℈s. w sht turpentine ʒiii. with conserve of Anthos make a bolus. The use of castor is worthily commended, ʒi. of it being taken in white wine. Or you may make pills of it with mithridate and take them going to bed. ℞. Of white brionie root dried and cut after the manner of carrots ℥i. Put it into a draught of wine placing it by the fire, Pharm. Dogmat. re titu a cap. 25 and when it is warme drinke it of. Quercitane draweth a faecula out of the root, the substance of which is to be taken in white wine or peonie water. ℞. Of myrrhe, castor, Assafaetida ana ℈i. saffron, rue seed, ana gr. iiii. make 8 pills, take every night 2. at your entrance into bed. Galen by his owne example commends unto us Agaricke pulveriz'd, of which he gave frequently ℈i. in white wine. ℞. Of the seeds of rue, Agnus castus, anice, feuell ana ʒs. ligni aloes, citron pills dried ana ℈i. sugar ℥iii. with feverfew water make lozenges. ℞. Of tryphera magna Nic. ʒi. mugwort water ℥iiii. Take this every other day for the space of 12 dayes. Hang about her necke little tabulets of Vngula Alces. ℞. Of bdellium, ammoniacum, and ℥ii. Agnus castus, Centorie, Cassia-wood, feverfew, marjerom ana ʒis. turpentine q. s. make two plasters applie one before and the other behind. Lay to the navill at bed-time, a head of garlicke brused, fastening it with a sweathing bande. Make a girdle of galbanum for the wast, and also a plaster for the belly, placeing in one part of it, both civet and muske, which must be layd upon the navill. ℞. Pulveris benedict. Trochiscks of a garicke, ana ʒii. mithridate q. s. make a pessarie: It purgeth the matrice of winde and flegme: foment the naturall parts with sallade oyle, in which hath beene boyled rue, feverfew and chammomill. ℞. Of rose leaves m.i. cloves ℈ii. twilt them up in a little cloth and boyle them in malmsie, the eight part of an houre; and then applie them close to the mouth of the wombe as hote as may bee indured: Let her be covered well that the smell passeth not to the nose.

A drieing diet must bee observed, the moderate use of Venus is commended. Let her bread bee Anice seed bisket; and her flesh meate, rather rosted then boyled.

CHAP. VII. Of the descending or falling downe of the Mother.

THE falling down of the wombe is a relaxation of the ligatures, wherby the matrice is carried backward, and in some, hangs out in the bignesse of an egge. Of this there bee two kindes distinguisht of Fernelius by Descensus, Fernilius lib. 6. de partium morbis cap. 16. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Prolapsus by a descending and a precipitation. The descending of the wombe, is when it sinketh downe to the entrance of the privities, and appeares to the eye, either not at al or very little. The precipitation, is when the wombe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . like a purse, is turned the inside outward, and hangs bewixt the thighes in the bignesse of a cupping-glasse.

Cause.

The cause is externall, or internall. The externall cause is difficult child birth, violent pulling away of the secondine, rashnesse and inexperience in drawing away of the child, violent coughing, neezing, falls, blowes, carrying of heavie burdens. The internall cause in generall is overmuch humiditie flowing unto those parts, hindring the operations of the wombe, whereby the ligaments by which the wombe is supported are relaxt. The cause in particular, is refer'd to bee in the retention of the seed; Hippoc. 2. Epidem. Arist. 7. de historia animali. or in the suppressions of the courses.

Signes.

The Arsgut and the bladder oftentimes are so crushed, that the passage of both the excrements is hindered. If the urine doth flow forth, it is white and thick: the proecordia are molested, the loynes be grieved; the privities payned; the womb sinkes down to the entrance of the private parts, or else comes cleane out.

Prognosticks.

This griefe possessing an old woman, is cured with great difficultie, because it weakens the faculties of the wombe, and therefore though it bee reduced into his propper place, yet uppon every occurrance it is subject to the like danger it was in before. So is it with the younger sort, if the disease be inveterate. If it bee caused by putrifaction, in the nerves it is incurable.

Cure.

The wombe naturally being placed betweene the streight gut and the bladder, and now fallen down, ought not to be put up againe untill the facultie both of the guts and bladder bee stirred up.

Nature being unloded of her burden, let the woman be placed on her Hippoc. l. 2. de morbis mulierum. backe, in such sort that her legs may be higher then her head; let her feet be drawne up to her hinder parts, with her knees spread abroad. Then mollifie the swelling with oyle of Lillies and sweet Almonds; or with the decoction of m llows, beetes, faengreck, and lineseed. When the inflation is dissiputed; let the midwife annoint her hand with oyle of Mastick, and reduce the wombe into its place. The matrice being put up, the situation of the patient must bee changed. Let her legs bee out at length and layd together. Set cuppingglasses to the brests and navill. Boyle Mugwort, Feverfew, red Roses, and Comferie in red Wine, and foment the places therewith. Make a suffumigation for the matrice of Castor assa faetida, Frankincence and Mastick; ℞. Sandarachae Olibani Cipres Nuts, ana ʒiii, Masticke, Styrax, Franck in ence, ana ℥i. fine bole ʒi. with oyle of myrtles and wax make two plasters apply one before and the other behinde. ℞. Of red roses, Pomgranate pills, Accorne cups, Myrtle berries, ana ℥ii. Medler leaues, Sage, Rue, Origan, Comferie, wormewood ana mis. boyle all these in water and make an insessiō. Move sweet odours. to the nose: And at the comming out of the Bath, give her of sirrup of Feverfew ℥i. with ʒi. of Mithridate. ℞. Ladani, Masticke, ana ʒiii. Galbani ℥s. Styracis ʒ;ii. make a plaster for the navill. Make pessaries of Assafaetida, Saffron, Comfery, masticke, adding there to a little Castor. The practice of Paraeus, Paraeus de generatione hominis cap. 41. in this cause, was to make them only of corke, in figure like a little egge, covering them over with wax and masticke dissolved together, fastning to it a thred, and so to put it up into the wombe. The present danger being new taken away, and the matrice seared in its naturall abode, the remote cause must bee remooved. If the body bee plethoricke open a veyne; Prepare with sirrup of betonie, calamint, hysope, and feverfew. Purge with pil. de hier a cum agarico, pil. de colocynthide. If the stomacke bee opprest by crudities, unburden it by vomiting. Sudorifficall decoctiōs of Lignum sanctum and sassifras taken twenty daies together dries, up the superfluous moister and consequently suppresseth the cause of the disease.

Let the aire bee hote and drie, and your diet hote and attenuating. Abstaine from dancing, leaping, neezing, and from all motion both of body and minde. Eate sparingly; drinke not much: sleepe moderately.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Inflammation of the wombe.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .THE Phlegmon or inflammation of the matrice, is a tumour possessing the whole wombe or part of it, accompanied with unnaturall heate, by obstructions and gathering together of corrupt blood.

Cause.

The cause of this affect is suppression of the months, repletion of the whole body, immoderate use of Venus, often handling of the genitalls, difficult childe-birth, vehement agitation of the body, falls, blowes; to which also may bee added the use of sharp pessaries, whereby not seldome the wombe is inflamed. Cupping-glasses also fastened to the pubes and hypogastrium draw the humours to the wombe.

Signes.

The signes are aguish horrours, paines in the head and stomacke, vomitting, coldnesse of the knees, convulsions of the necke, doting, trembling of the heart; sometimes there is a Dyspnaea or streightnes of breath, by reason of the heat which is communicated to the diaphragme. The brests symphathizing with the wombe are payned and swelled. Particular signes. If the forepart of the matrice be inflamed, the privities are grieved, the urine is supprest, or flowes forth with difficutie. If the after part; the loynes and backe suffer, the excrements are retained. If the right side; the right hip suffers, the right legge is heavy slow to to motion, in so much that sometimes shee seemes to hault. And so if the left side of the wombe be inflamed, the left hip is payned, and the left legge is weaker then the right. If the necke of the wombe bee affected; the midwife, putting up her finger, shall feele the mouth of it retracted and closed up, with a hardnesse about it.

Prognosticks.

All inflammations of the wombe are Hippoc. l. 2. de marbis mulierum. 5 Aphor. 43. dangerous, if not deadly; and especially if the totall substance of the matrice bee inflamed. Yet lesse perilous are they if they bee in the necke of the wombe. A flux of the belly foretells health if it bee naturall; for nature works best by the use of her owne instruments.

Cure.

In the cure, first, let the humours flowing to the wombe be repell'd; for effecting of which, after the bellie hath beene loosened by cooling clysters, phlebotomie will bee needfull. Open therefore a veine on the arme; and if shee be not with childe, the day after strike the Saphena on both feet. Fasten ligatures and Cupping—glasses to the armes; rubbe the upper parts.

Purge lightly with Cassia, Rhubarbe, Sene, Myrobolanes, &c. as, ℞. Of Sene ʒii. Anice seed ℈i. myrobolanes ℥s. Barly water. s.q. make a decoction: dissolve in it sirrup of Succorie with Rhubarbe ℥ii. pulp of Cassia ℥s. oyle of Anice seed gut. ii. make a potion. At the beginning of the disease anoint the privities and reynes, with oyle of roses and quinces. Make plasters of Plantaine, Lineseed, Barley meale, Melilote, Fengrecke, whites of egges, and if the paine be vehement, adde a little opium. Foment the genitalls with the decoction of Poppieheads, purcelaine, knotgrasse, and water-lillies. Make injections of Goates-milke, rose water, clarified whey, with hony of roses. In the declining of the disease, use insessions of Sage, Lineseed, Mugwort, Penny-royall, horehound, faengrecke. Anoint the lower parts of the belly with oyle of chammomill, and violets. ℞. Of lilly roots, mallow roots ana ℥iiii. mercurie m.i. Mugwort, feverfew ana m.s. Chammomill flowers, melilote, ana. p.i. bruse the hearbes and the rootes and boyle them in a sufficient quantity of milke: then adde of fresh butter, oyle of chammomill, lillies, ana ℥ii. bean meale s.q. make two plasters apply one before and the other behinde.

If the tumour cannot bee removed but tends to suppuration ℞. Of faengrecke, mallow roots, decocted figgs, line seed, barley meale, doves dung, turpentine ana ʒiii. deers suet ʒs. opium ℈s. with wax make a plaster. ℞. Of bay leaves, sage, hysope, chammomill, mugwort with water make an insession. ℞. Of wormewood, betonie ana ms. white wine, milke ana lib. s. boyle them untill one part bee consumed; then take of this decoction ℥iiii. hony of roses ℥ii, make an injection. Yet beware the humours bee not brought downe unto the wombe. ℞. Of rosted figgs, mercurie brused. ana ʒiii. turpentine, ducks grease, ana ʒi, opium gr. ii. with wax make a pessarie.

The aire must bee cold: All motion of the body, especially of the lower parts is forbidden Vigilancie is commended, for by sleepe the humours are carried inward, whereby the inflammation is increased, eate sparingly. Let your drinke bee barley water or clarified whey; and your meate chickens and chicken broth boyled with endive, succhorie, sorrell, buglosse and mallowes.

CHAP. IX. Of the Schirrositie or hardnesse of the wombe.

OF a Phlegmon neglected, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . or not perfectly cured, Galenus lib. 2. artis curativae ad Glauconem. is generated a Schirrus of the matrice, which is a hard unnaturall swelling insensible, hindering the operations of the wombe, and disposing the whole body to slouthfulnesse.

Cause.

One cause of this disease may bee as i ed to want of judgement in the Physitian; as many Empirickes, administring to an inflammation of the wombe, doe over much refrigerate & astring the humour, that it can neither passe forward no backward; hence the matter being condenst degenerates as it were into lapidious or hard substance. Other causes may bee suppression of the menstrualls; retention of the Lochia, commonly called the after-purgings; eating of corrupt meates, as in the disordinate longing called Pica, unto which breeding women are often subject. It may proceed also from obstructions and ulcers in the Matrix; or from evill affects in the Liver and Spleene.

Signes.

If the bottome of the wombe bee affected, shee feeles, as it were, a heavy burden representing a mole; yet differing in that the brests are attenuated, and the whole body waxeth lesse. If the necke of the wombe bee hardned, no outward humour will appeare; the mouth of it is retracted, and being toucht with the finger feeles hard, that shee cannot have the company of a man without great payne and prickings.

Prognosticks.

A Schirrus confirmed, is Riolanus de morbis uteri sect 4. tract. 2. incurable, and will turne into a Canker or a Dropsie, and ending in a Canker proves Hippoc. libro. 6. Aphor. 38. deadly; because the native heat in those parts, being almost smothred, can hardly againe be restored.

Cure.

Where there is a replection, phlebotomy by our master Galen is both commended and commanded. Wherefore open the mediana on both armes, and then the Saphena on both feet, especially if the termes bee supprest.

Prepare the humour with Sirrup of Borage, Succhory, Epithimum, and clarified Whey. Then take of these Pills following, according to the strength of the patient. ℞. Hierae picrae ʒvj. blacke Hellebor, Polipodie ana ʒiis. Agaricke lapidis lazuli abluti, salis indi, coloquintida ana ʒis. misce make Pills. The body being purged, proceed to molifie the hardnesse, as followeth. Anoynt the privities and the necke of the wombe with Vnguentum dialtheae and agrippae. Or ℞ of Opopanax, Bdellium, ammoniacum, Myrrhae ʒij. Saffron ʒ9. Dissolve the gumms in Oyle of Lillies and sweet Almonds; with Wax and Turpentine make an Vnguent. Apply below the navill the playster of Melilot and Diachylon Fernelij. Make insessions of Figges, Mugwort, Mallowes, Pennyroyall, Althea, Fenell roots, Meliote, Foengrecke, Line seed boyled in water. Make injections of Calamint, Line seed, Melilote, Foengrecke, and the foure mollifying hearbs, with oyle of Dill, Chammomile, and Lillies, dissolving the same ʒiij. of the gumme Bdellium. Cast the stone Pyrites on the coales, and let her receive the fume of it into her wombe. Foment the secret parts with the decoction of the leaves and roots of Danewort. ℞. of the gumme Galbanum, Opopanax ana ʒi. Iu e of Danewort, Mucilage of Fengrecke, anna ℥s. Calves marrow ℥i. Wax q.s. make a pessary. Or make a pessary onely of Lead, dipping it in the aforesayd things, and so put it up.

The aire must be temperate. Grosse, viscuous, and salt meats are forbidden; as Porke, Bulls-beefe, Fish, old cheese, &c.

CHAP. 10. Of the dropsie of the wombe.

THE uterine dropsie is an unnaturall swelling, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ellevated by the gathering together of winde, or flegme in the cavity, membranes, or substance of the wombe, by reason of the debility of the native heat not digesting the aliment received, and so it turnes into an excrement.

Cause.

The causes, are over much cold and moystnesse of the Milt and Liver, immoderate drinking, eating of crude meats; all which causing a repletion doe suffocate the native heate. It may bee caused likewise by the overoflowing of the courses, or by any other immoderate evacuation. To these may bee added abortion, ulcers, phlegmons, and schirrosities of the wombe.

Signes.

The signes of this affect are these. The lower parts of the belly with the genitals are puffed up and payned, the feete swell; the natu all colour of the face decaies, the appetite is depraved, and the heavinesse of the whole body concurres: If she turnes her selfe in the bed from one side to the other, a noyse like the flowing of water is heard. Water sometimes comes from the matrice. If the swelling bee caused by winde, the belly being hit with the hand, sounds like a drum; the guts rumble, and the winde breakes thorough the necke of the wombe with a murmuring noyse. This affect may be distinguisht from a true conception many waies, as will appeare by comparing this chapter with the 14. It is distinguisht from the generall dropsie in that the lower parts of the belly are most sweld. Againe, in this the s nguificative faculty doth not apppeare so hurt, nor the urine so pale, nor the countenance so soone changed; neyther are the superiour parts so extenuated as in the general dropsie.

Prognostickes.

This affect foretels the totall ruine of the naturall functions, by that singular consent the wombe hath with the liver, and therefore that a cachexia or a generall dropsie will follow.

Cure.

In the cure of this disease, imitate the practice of Hypocrates. Hippoc. lib. de morb mulierum. First, mittigate the payne with fomentations of Melilote, Mercury, Mallows, Line seed, Chammomile, Althea. Then let the humour be prepared with syrrupe of Staechas, Hysope, Calamint, Mugwort, de bisant. With the distilled waters or decoctions, of Dodder, Marjorum, Sage, Origan, Sperage, Penny-royall, Betony. Purge with sene Agaricke, Rhubarb, Elaterium. ℞. Specierum hierae, Rhubarb, trochisckes of Agaricke ana ℈i. with the juce of Ireos make pills. Or ℞. pill de Rhubarbaro ℥s. pill de mezereo ℈i. with Mugwort water make pills. In diseases which have their being from moystnesse, purge with pills: and in those affects which are caused by emptinesse or drynesse, purge with potions. Fasten cupping glasse to the belly with a great flame, and also to the navill, especially if the swelling be flatulent. Make an issue on the inside of each leg a handfull bredth below the knee. ℞. Specierum diambrae, diamosci dulcis, diacalamenti, diacinnam omi, diacymini troch. de Myrrha ana ʒij. Sugar lb. i. with Betony water m ke Lozenges: take of them two houres before meales. Apply to the bottome of the belly, as hot as may bee indured, a little bagge of Chammomill, Cummin, and Melilot, boyled in Oyle of rue. Anoynt the belly and secret parts with Vnguentum Agrippae, and Vnguentum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , mingling therewith Oyle of Ireos. Cover the lower parts of the belly with the playster of bay berries; or with a cataplasme made of Cummin, Chāmomill, Briony rootes, adding thereto Cows and Goats dung. Our Moderns ascribe a great vertue to Tobacco water, distilled and poured into the wombe by a metrenchyta. ℞. of Baume Sothern wood, Organ, Wormewood, Calamint, Bayleaues, Marjorom, ana m i. Iuniper berries ℥iiij. with water make a decoction: of this may be made fomentations, injections and insessions. Make pessaries of S yrax, Alloes, with the roots of Dictam, Aristolochia, and Gentiane. Instead of this you may use the pessary prescribed pag. 77. Let her take of Electuarinus aromaticum, diasat rion, and Eringo 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 roots, condited every morning.

The are must be hot and dry: moderate exercise is allowed. Much sleepe is forbidden. She may oate the flesh of Patridges, Larks, Chickens, mountaine birds, Hares, Conies, &c. Let her drinke be thin Wine.

CHAP. 11. Of Barrennesse.

Hoe fuit maximum Opus obstetricum, scire conj ngere invicem corpora apta ad conceptione. Nimole •• Rocheus de morbis •• l. •• p. 20.IN times past before woemen came to the marriage bed, they were first searched by the midwife; and those onely which she alowed of, as fruitfull, were admitted. I hope therefore it will be thought a needles labour, to shew how yee may prove your selves, and turne the stonny ground into a fruitfull soyle.

Barennesse is a deprivation of life and powre which ought to bee in the seed, to procreate and propagate; for which end both man and woman were made.

Cause.

It is caused by overmuch heat or cold; Hippoc. 6. Epiden. 5. Aphor. 62. that drying up the seed, and making it corrupt; this, extinguishing the life of the seed making it watrish and unfit for generation. It may be caused also by the not flowing or overflowing of the cources, by swellings, ulcers and inflammations of the wombe; by an Mauricius Cordo ••• in Hippoc. lib. 1. de mulier bus, comm ni. 2. excrescence of flesh growing about the mouth of the matrice: by the mouth of the wombe being turned unto to the backe, or side: by the grossenesse and fatnesse of the body, whereby the mouth of the matrice is closed up, by being prest with the Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 46. Omentum or caule; and the Arist. 2. de partibus animal. matter of the seed is converted into fatnesse. Or if shee bee of a leane and exhaust body, to the world shee proves barren, because though shee doth conceive yet the fruit Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 44. of the wombe will wither before it comes to perfection for want of nourishment.

Actius libro ultimo cap. 26.

Sylvius libell de generatione b mi •• s commeat.

Aetius and Sylvius, ascribe one maine cause of barrennesse to compeld copulation; as when parents enforce their daughters to have busbands contrary to their liking, therein marrying their bodies but not their hearts, Coitus co ctus, est coitus inanis. and where there is a want of love, there for the most part is no conception; as appeares in women which are Non concipitur saet s abs que mutu voluptate. Columbia de Anatom. l. 11. cap. 16. Cuj s que omplexionis excessus mutuâ qualitatum contrariarum repugn nti coerceretur. deflowred against their will. Another maine cause of barrennesse, is attributed to the want of a convenient moderating quality, which the woman ought to have with the man, as if hee bee hot, shee must be cold; If hee bee drie, she must bee moist: But if they bee both drie or both moyst of constitution, they cannot propagate, Sape tamen usu venit, ut ••• ter coen ••• um sit sterilis s d quia eorum int r se s nt abhorrentes naturae, nihilidcircò exs s , es al is verò ge n rare p ss nt. Fernelius de pariium morbit & Symptom. lib. 6. cap. 7. and yet simply considered of themselves they are not barren; for he or she which before was as the barren fig-tree, being now joyned with an apt constitution becomes as the fruitfull Vine. And that man and women being every way of a like constitution cannot procreate, I will bring nature it selfe for a testimonie, who hath made man of a hotter constitution,

Cum ita que calidum frigide, commixtum fuerit, ex hisjusmodi c mmixti e aliquid generari potest.

Hortensius Baptista lib. 1. divin. instit de aminia vegitiva cap. 19.

then woman, that the quality of the one may moderate the quality of the other.

Signes.

If barrennesse proceeds from the overmuch heat, shee is of a drie body, subject to anger, she hath blacke haire, quicke purfe; her purgations flow but little, and that with paine; shee loves to play in the courts of Venus. But if it comes by cold, then are the signes contrary to those even now recited. If through an evill quality in the wombe: Make a suffumigation of red storax, Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 59. myrrhe, cassia wood, nutmeg, cinnamon, and let her receive the sume of it into the wombe, covering her very close; and if the odour so received passeth through the body up into the mouth and nostrills; Lege apud Moschionem cap. 161. of herselfe shee is fruitfull: but if shee feeles not the fume in her mouth and nose, it argues barrennesse one of these wayes; that the spirit of the seed is either through cold extinguisht, or through heat dissipated. If any woman bee suspected to bee unfruitfull, cast naturall brimstone such as is digged out of the mine, into her urine and if wormes breed therein, of herselfe she is not barren.

Prognosticks.

Barrennesse maketh women looke young, because they are free from those paynes and sorrowes, which other women are accustomed to bring forth withall. Yet they have not that full perfection of health which fruitfull women doe injoy, because they are not rightly purged of the menstruous blood and superfluous seed, the retayning of which two, are the principall cause of most uterine diseases.

Cure.

First the cause shall be removed, and then the wombe strengthened, and the spirits of the seed enlived.

If the wombe bee overhot; take sirrup of succhorie with rhubarbe, sirrup of violets, endive, roses, cassia, purselaine. ℞. Ofendive, water lillies, borage flowers, ana m. rhubarbe, myrobolaneus ana ʒiii. with water make a decoction, adde to the strayning of the sirrup laxative of violets ℥i. sirrup of cassia ℥s. manna ʒiii, make a potion. ℞. Of the sirrup of mugwort ℥i. sirrup of maiden haire ℥ii. water of succhorie, borage, feuell, ana ℥iii. pul . elect. tri sand. ʒi. make a julep. ℞. diapru. solut. elect. ros. Mesuae ana ʒiii. rhubarbe ℈i. make a bolus. Apply to the reynes and privities, fomentations of the juce of lettice, violets, roses, mallowes, vine leaves and nightshade. Anoint the secret parts with the cooling unguent of Galen.

If the power of the seed bee extinguisht by cold Take every morning two spoonfulls of cinnamon water with ℈i. of mithridate. ℞. Sirrup of calamint, mugwort, beto y ana ℥i. water of penny royall, feverfew, hysope, sage ana ℥ii. make a julep. ℞. Oyle of anice seed ℈is. diacymini, di c l minthe, diamosci, diagalangae ana ʒi. sugar ℥iiii. with water of cinnamon make lozenge : take of them ʒis. twice a day two houres before meales. East n cupping-glasses to the hipps and bellie. ℞. of stira •• , calamint, ana ℥i. masticke, cloves, cinnamon, nut •• g, lig. aloes, frankincen •• ana ℥s. muske gr. 10. ambergrise ℈s. with rose-water make a confection: divide it into foure equall parts; Of one part make a pomum odoratum to smell on, if shee bee not hystericall. Of the second, make a masse of pills, and let her take three every night. Of the third, make a pessarie, dippe it in oyle of spikenard and put it up. Of the fourth make a suffumigation for the wombe. If the faculties of the wombe be weakened, and the life of the seed suffocated by over much humidity, flowing to those parts; ℞. Of betonie, marierom, mugwort, penny royall, bawme ana m.i. roots of asrum, fenell, ellecampane ana ʒii. anice seed cummin ana ʒi. with sugar and water. s. q. make a sirrup, take of ℥iii. every other morning. Purge with these pills following; ℞. Of digridion gr.ii. specierum dacastorei, ℈i. pil. faetid. ℈ii. with sirrup of mugwort make vi. pills ℞. spec. diagemmae, diamosci, diambrae, ana ʒi. cinnamon ʒis. mac , cloves, nutweg ana ʒs. sugar ℥vi. with water of feverfew make lozenges, to bee taken of every morning Take of the decoction of sarsaparilla, and virga aurea, not forgetting sage; which Agrippa wondering at the operation of, hath honour'd it with the name of a holy hearbe. Sacra berba. And it is recorded, that after so many of the Egiptians were dead, Heurnius methodus ad praxin. cap. 14. the surviving women that they might multiply the faster,Read D d naeus history of plants. lib. 2. cap. 77. were commanded to drinke the juce of sage. Anoynt the genitalls with oyle of aniceseed and spikenard. ℞. Of mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, rax, amber ana ʒi. cloves, •• dani ana ʒs. turpentine q s. ••• ke trochis ks, to smother the •• ombe. ℞. Of the roots of Va •• rian, ellecampane, ana lb. i. •• ulangale ℥ii. origan, laven •• r, marjerom, betonie, mug ort bay-leaves, calamint ana 〈◊〉 . iii. with water make an •• osession, in which she shall 〈◊〉 after shee hath had her •• ources.

If barrennesse proceeds •• om drynesse consuming •• e matter of the seed; Take very day of Almond milke, •• d Goates milke extracted ith hony. Eate often of •• e roots Satyrion condited, •• nd of the electuary diasaty on. Take three weathers •• ds, boyle them untill the flesh comes from the bones; then take of melilote, violets, chammomill mercury, orchi , with their roots ana m.i. faengrecke, li es ed, vale an roots ana li.i. Let all these bee decocted in the foresaid broth, then let the woman fit in the decoction up to the navill. ℞. Of Decres suet . Cowes marrom styracis liquid , ana ʒii. oyle of sweet almōds ℥ii. with silke cotton make a pessarie. Make injections only of fresh butter and oyle of sweet almonds.

If barrennesse bee caused by any proper affect of the wombe, the cure is set down in the foregoing chapters. Sometimes the woman proves barren when there is no impediment of either side; except onely in the manner of the act: as when in the emission of the seed, the man is quicke and the woman too slow, whereby there is not a concurse of both seeds at the same instant, as the Petrus Bayr ••• prac . lib. 3.15. cap. rules of conception require. Wherefore to take away this inconvenience, Muller praeparari ac disponi debet molli complexu, lascivis verbis osculu lasciviora miscenda. If this doth not suffice; before the act of coition, foment the private parts with the decoction of betony-sage, hysope, and calamint. Annoint the mouth and necke of the wombe with Muske and Civet.

The cause of barrennesse being removed, the wombe shall be corroborated as followes. ℞. Of bay berries, masticke, Nutmegge Frankincense, Cypresse nuts, Ladani, Galbani, ana ʒi. Styracis liquid ℈ii. Cloves ℈s. Amber grise gr. ij. Muske gr. vi. with Oyle of Spiknard, make a pessary. ℞. of red Roses, Lapidis hematitis, white Frankincense ana ℥s. sang. draconis, fine bole, Masticke, ana ʒii. Nutmegge, Cloves ana ʒi. Spicknard ℈s. with oyle of Wormewood make a playster for the lower part of the belly. Let her eate often of Eringo roots condited. Make an injection onely of the juce of the roots of Satyrion.

The aptest time for conception is instantly after the monthes be ceast, because then the wombe is thirsty and dry, Post purgationem siccior est vierus et semen avidius •• abit. apt to draw the seed, and also to retaine it, by the roughnesse of the inward superficies. And besides, in some, the mouth of the wombe is turned unto the backe, Rhoderic. cast de natura muliebri lib. 2. cap. 13. or side, and is not place right untill the last day of the courses.

Excesse in all things is to be avoyded; lay aside all passions of the minde. Shun study and care as adverse to conception; for if a woman doth conceive, the wise parents being otherwise addicted, of ten beget but foolish children, because the animall faculties of the parents viz. The understanding and the rest (from whence the childe hath his reason ) are, as it were, confused through the multiplicity of cares and cogitations. Examples hereof we have in learned men, who after great study and care, instantly accompanying with their wives, often beget doting children. A hot, and moyst aire is most convenient, as appeares by the women in Aegypt, which usually bring forth three, or foure children at one time.

CHAP. 12. Of the Mola, or halfeconception.

THis disease, is called of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and the cause of this denomination is taken from the loade or heavy weight of it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . it being a moles, or great lump of hard flesh burdening the woman.

It is defined to bee an inarticulate peece of flesh without forme, begotten in the matrice, as it were, a true conception: In which definition wee are to note two things. First, in that a mole is sayd to be inarticulate, and without forme, it differs from monsters, which are both formata and articulata. Secondly, it is sayd to bee, as it were, a true conception, which puts a difference between a true conception and a mole; which difference holds good three waies. First, in the Genus, in that a mole cannot be fayd to bee animall. Secondly, in the Species, because it hath no humane figure and beares, not the character of a man. Thirdly, in the Individuum, for it hath no affinity with the parent, eyther in the whole body, or any particle of the same.

Cause

About the cause of this affect, amongst learned authours I finde variety of judgements. Avicenna 10 de animalibus et 21. tertij tract. 2. cap. 19. Some are of opinion, that if the womans seed goes into the wombe and not the mans, thereof is the mole produced. Others there be that affirme it is ingendred of the menstruous blood: Aristol. 4. de generatione animali. cap. 7. but if these two were granted, Plinius lib. 10. cap. 64. then mayds by having their courses, or thorough nocturnall polutions might be subject unto the same, Hippoc. 2. Epidem. which never any yet were. The true cause of this fleshy mole proceeds both from the man, Galenus 14. de usu partium. 17. and from the woman, from corrupt or barren seed in the man, and from the menstruous blood in the woman both mixed together in the cavity of the wombe; where nature finding her selfe weake (yet desiring to maintaine the perpetuity of her species) labours to bring forth a vitious conception rather than none. and so instead of a living creature generates a lumpe of flesh.

Signes.

The signes of a mole are these. The months are supprest, the appetite is depraved, the brests swell, and the belly is puffed up and waxeth hard. Thus farre the signes of a breeding woman, and of one that beareth a mole are all one. I will now shew you how they differ.

The first signe of difference is taken from the motion of a mole; it may bee felt to move in the wombe before the third moneth, which the infant cannot: yet that motion is not to be understood of any intelligent power in the mole, but of the faculty of the wombe, and of the seminall spirits defused through the substance of the mole; for it lives not a life animall, but vegitative in the manner of a plant. Secondly, in a mole, the belly is suddenly puft up; but in a true conception the belly is first retracted and then riseth againe by degrees. Thirdly, the belly being prest with the hand, the mole gives way, and the hand being taken a way it returnes to the place againe: But a child in the wombe, though prest with the hand, moves not presently, and being removed returnes slowly or not at all. Lastly, the childe continues in the wombe not above eleven moneths; but a mole continues sometimes foure or five yeeres, more or lesse according as it is fastned in the matrice. I have knowne when a mole hath fallen away in the fourth or fifth moneth.

If it remaines untill the eleventh moneth, the leggs waxe feeble, and the whole body consumes; onely the swelling of the belly still increaseth, which makes some thinke they are hydropicall though there be little reason for it; for in the Dropsie the legges swell and grow bigge, but in a mole they consume, and wither.

Prognostickes.

If at the delivery of a mole the Flux of blood bee great, it shewes the more danger; because the parts of nutrition having beene vitiated by the flowing back of the superfluous humors, whereby the naturall heate is consumed: and then parting with so much blood, the woeman thereby is so weakened in all her faculties, that she can hardly subsist.

Cure.

Wee are taught in the schoole of Hippocrates, Libro. 5. Aphorism. 31. that phlegbotomy causeth abortion, by taking away that nourishment, which should sustaine the life of the child. Wherefore, that this vitious conception may bee deprived of that vegetative sappe by which it lives; open the liver veyne, and then the saphena on both feet. Fasten Cupping-glasses to the loynes and sides of the belly: which done, let the uterine parts be first mollified, and then expulsive faculty provoked to expell the burden.

To laxate the ligatures of the mole: ℞. Mallowes with the roots m.iij. Chammomile, Melilot, Pellitory of the wall, Violet leaves, Mercury, roots of Fenell, Parsly ana m.ij. Lineseed, Faengrecke, ana lb. i. boyle them in water and let her sit therein up to the navill. At the going out of the bath, annoynt the privities, and reines with this unguent following. ℞. oyle of Chammomile, Lillie , and sweet Almonds ana ℥i. fresh butter, Labdani, Ammoniaci, ana ℥s. with the Oyle of Lineseed, make an unguent. Or instead of this may be used nguentum Agrippa or Dialtheae. ℞. of Mercury, roots of Althea, ana m. s. fol. Branchae Vrsinae m. s. Lineseed, Barley meale, ana ℥vi. boyle all these with water and honey, and make a playster. Make pessaries of the gumme Galbanum bdellium, Ammoniacum Figgs, Hogges suer, and Honey.

After the ligaments of the mole are loosed; let the expulsive faculty be stirred up to expell the mole, for effecting of which all medicaments may bee used which are proper to bring downe the courses. ℞. troch de myrrha ℥i. castor, aristolochia, Genti •• , dictam, ana ℥s. make a powder, like ʒi. in ℥iiij. of Mugwort water. ℞. of Hypericon, Calamint, Penny-royall, Betony, Hysope, Sage, Horebound Valerian, Madder, Sabine with water make a decoction, take ℥iij. of it with ℥is. of Sirrupe of Feverfew. ℞. of Mugwort, Myrrh, Gentiane pil. coch. ana ℈iiij Rue, Penny-royall, Saggapenum, Opopanax ana ʒs. assa foetida, Cinnamon, Iuniper berries, Borage, ana ʒi. with the iuce of Sabine make pills to be taken of every morning. Make insessions of Hysope, Bay leaves, Assrum, Calamint, Bayberries, Chammomile, Mugwort, Sabine. ℞. of Sagapenum, Marjerom, Gentiane, Sabine, Cloves, Nutmegge, Bayberries, ana ℈ij. Galbanum ʒi. hierae picrae, blacke Hellebore, ana ℈i. with Turpentine make a pessary. But if these things prove not availeable; then must the mole bee drawne away with an instrument put up into wombe, called a Pes griphius; which may be done with no great danger, if it bee performed by a skilfull Chirurgeon.

After the delivery of the mole (by reason that the woman hath parted with much blood already) let the flux of blood bee stayed as fast as may bee.

Fasten Cupping-glasses to the shoulder, and ligatures to the armes. If these help not; open the liver-veine on the right arme.

The aire shall bee moderately hot and drie; and her diet such as doth mollify and attenuate, shee may drinke white wine.

CHAP. XIII. Of the generation of monsters.

BY the Ancients monsters are ascribed to depraved conceptions; and are defined to bee excursions of nature, which are Heurnius institut. medicin. lib. 5. cap. 8. vitious one of these foure wayes. In figure, situation, magnitude, or number.

In figure, when a man beares the character of a beast, as did the Ruffius de mul. lib. 5. cap. 3. monster in Saxonia, which was borne about the time of Luthers preaching.

In magnitude, when one part doth not equalize with another, as when one part is too bigge or too little for the other parts of the body; and this is so common amongst us, that I need not produce a testimonie for it.

In situation, as if the eares were on the face and the eyes on the brest or legges, of this kinde was the Conradus Licostenes tractat. de miraculis. monster borne at Ravenna in Italy, in the yeare 1512.

In number, when a man hath two heads or foure hands, of this kinde was the Ludovicus lib. 24. cap. 3. monster borne at Zarz ra in the yeere 1540.

I proceed to the cause of their generation, which is either Divine or Naturall. The Divine cause proceeds from the permissive will of God, suffering parents to bring forth such abominations, for their filthie and corrupt affections which are let loose unto wickednesse, like brute beasts that have no understanding. Wherefore it was enacted amongst the ancient Romans, that those which were any wayes Gellius lib. 1. cap. 12. deformed should not be admitted into religious houses. L 18. epistola and Demetriadem. lib. 2. And S. Hierome in his time grieved to see the deformed and lame offered up to God in religious houses. Lib. de arte conci •••• di. And Keker a e by way of inference excludeth all that are mishappen from the presbyteriall function in the Church: and that which is of more force then all, Levit. 21.18. God himselfe commanded Moses not to receive such to offer sacrifice amongst his people; and hee renders the reason, Least hee polute my sanctuaries: Verse 23. because the outward deformity of the body is often a signe of the polution of the heart, Quot natū ra nolavit d mn vit. as a curse layd upon the child for the parents incōtinency. Yet there are many borne depraved which ought not to bee ascribed unto the infirmity of the parents. S. Ioh 9 .2. Let us therefore search out the naturall cause of their generation, which (according to Aristotle and Avicen which have dieved into the secrets of nature) is either in the matter or in the agent, Arist. t. tertio mat •• r. Avicenna 2. metaph. in the seed or in the wombe.

The matter may bee in fault two wayes, by defect or by excesse. By defect when as the childe hath but one legge, or one arme. By excesse, when it hath three hands, or two heads.

The agent, or wombe may be in fault three wayes. First, in the formative facultive, which may be too strong, or too weake, by which is produced a depraved figure. Secondly, in the instrument or place of conception, the evill conformation or disposition whereof, will cause a monstruous birth. Thirdly in the imaginative power at the time of conception, which is of such force that it stamps the Cardanus de rerum veritate. lib. 8. cap. 44. character of the thing imagined upon the child: so that the children of an adultresse may be like unto her owne husband though begotten by another man; which is caused through the force of the imagination which the woman hath of her owne husband in the act of coition. Aristotle reports of a woman, who at the time of conception beholding the picture of a Blacke more, conceived and brought forth an Aetheopian. I will not trouble you with any more humane testimonies, but I wil conclude with a stronger warrant. Wee read how Iacob having agreed with L ba to have all the spotted sheep for the keeping of his flocks; Gen. 30.31. to augment his wages, tooke hasell rodds, and pilled white strakes in them and layd them before the sheep when they came to drinke, and the sheep cuppling there together, whiles they beheld the rods conceived, & brought forth spotted young.

The Imagination also workes on the child after conception: Per imaginationis impressionem, f tu in utero matris afficitur figno notabil sine corporali contactu. Osualdus Crollius praefatione admonitoriâ ad Basilicam Chymicam. for which wee have a pregnant example of a worthy gentlewoman in Suffolcke, who being with child and pas ing by her butcher-killing of meat, a drop of blood sprung on her face, whereupon she said, that her childe would have some blemish on the face, and at the birth it was found marked with a red spot.

Some are of opinion, that monsters may be ingendred by some infernall spirit. Of this minde was Libro de Cometa. Egidius Facius speaking of that deformed monster borne at Cracovie. And Lib. de rebus contra aturam. Hieroni us Cardamus, writeth of a maid, which was got with child, by a Divell, shee thinking it had been a faire young man. The like also is recorded by De naturali specul . lib. 21. cap. 30. Vincentius, of the Prophet Marliu, that he was begotten by an evill spirit.

But what a repugnancie would it bee, both to religion and nature, if the Divells could beget men, when we are taught to believe, that not any was ever begotten without humane seed except the Sonne of God. The Divell then being a spirit having no corporall substance, but in appearance, and therfore no seed of generation; to say that hee can use the act of generation effectually, is to affirme that hee can make something of nothing, and consequently the Divell to be God, for creation solely belongs to God alone. Againe if the Divell could assume to him a dead body, and enliven the faculties of it, and make it able to generate (as some affirme hee can) yet this body must beare the image of the Divell; and it is against Gods glory to give permission so farre unto him, as out of the Image of God to rayse up his owne of-spring. In the schoole of nature wee are taught the contrary, viz. that like begets like; Omne generans generat sibi sim l . therefore of a Divell cannot man be borne. Yet it is not denied, but that Divells transforming themselves into human shapes, may abuse both men and women, Lege apud Ruffium lib. 5. c. 6. and with wicked people use the works of nature. Yet that any such conjunction can bring forth a human creature is contrary to nature and religion.

CHAP. XIV. Of the signes of Conception.

IGnorance makes women become murderers to the fruit of their owne bodies. For many having conceived, and thereupon finding their bodies to bee out of cource, and not knowing rightly the cause, doe either run to the shop of their own conceit and take what they thinke fit; or else as the custome is they send, to the Physitian for cure, and he perceiving not the cause of their griefe (seeing that no certaine Forestus lib. 2. de incerto urinarum judicio cap. 3. judgement can bee given by the urine) prescribes what hee thinks best, peradventure some strong diureticall, or catharticall potion whereby the conception is destroyed. Wherefore Hippocrates saith, S ientiâ multi opus est ut mulier in uteris ges e puerum, & ut nutriatur & ut evadat ab ipso partu. lib. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . there is a necessity that women should bee instructed in the knowledge of conception, that the parent as well as the childe might bee saved from danger. I will therefore give you some instructions by which every one may know whether shee bee with child or not.

The signes of conception shall bee taken from the woman, from the urine, from the infant, and from experiment.

Signes collected from the woman are these. The first day after conception shee feeles a light quivering or chillinesse running through the whole body; a tickling in the wombe, and a little paine in the lower parts of the bellie. Ten or twelve dayes after, the head is affected with giddinesse, the eyes with a dimnesse of sight: then followes red pimples in the face, with a blue circle about the eyes; the brests swell and grow hard with some paine and pricking in them: the belly suddainly sinketh, and riseth againe by degrees with a hardnesse about the navill. The nipples of the brests wax red, the heart beats inordinately, the naturall appetite is dejected, yet shee hath a longing desire after strange meates. The necke of the wombe is retracted that it can hardly bee felt with the finger being put up, and this is an infallible signe. She is suddainly merrie and as soone melancholie; her monthly courses are stayed without any evident cause; the excrements of the guts are unaccustomedly retained by the wombe pressing the great gut; and her desire to Venus is abated.

The surest signe is taken from the infant which begins to move in the wombe the third or fourth month, and that not in the manner of a mole from one side to another rushing like a stone, but mildely as may bee perceived by applying the hand hot on the bellie.

Signes taken from the urine. The best clerks doe affirme that the urine of a woman with child is white and hath little motes, like those in the Sunne beames ascending and descending in it, and a clowd swimming aloft of an opall colour; the sediment being devided by shaking of the urine, appeares like carded wooll. In the middle of her time, the urine turneth yellow, next red, and lastly blacke, with a red cloud. Signes taken from experiment: At night going to bed, let her drinke water and hony; afterward if shee feeles a beating paine in her bellie and about her navill, shee hath conceived. Or let her take the juce of Card us, and if she vomiteth it up, it is a signe of conception; Cast a cleane needle into the womans urine put in a brasen bason, let it stand all night, and in the morning if it bee coloured with red spotts shee hath conceived, Lege apud Hippoc. lib. de sterilitate. but if it bee blacke or rustie shee hath not.

Signes taken from the Sex to shew whether it bee male or female. Being with childe of a male, the right brest swells first, the right eye is more lively then the left, her face well coloured, because such as the blood is, Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 42. such is the colour; and the male is conceived of purer blood and of more perfect seede then the female. Vide Moschionis caput 162. Red motes in the urine setling downe to the sediment, foretell that a male is conceived, but if they be white, a female. Put the womans urine which is with childe into a glassen bottle, let it stand close stopt three dayes; then straine it through a fine cloth, and you shall finde little living creatures; if they be red, it is a male, if white a female. To conclude the most certaine signe to give credit unto is the motion of the infant: for the male moves in the third moneth, and the female in the fourth.

CHAP. XV. Of untimely birth.

WHen the fruite of the womb comes forth before the seventh moneth, (that is before it comes to maturity) it is said to bee abortive. And in effect the child proves In nostris regionibus praecipuè: In Aegypto autem et Hispania octomestres partus sunt vitales, quia aer ibi calidus est similis loco uteri, in quo perman bat faetus. abortive (I meane not to live) if it bee borne in the eight moneth. And why children borne in the seventh, and ninth moneth may live and not in the eight moneth, may seeme strange yet it is true: The cause hereof by some, is ascribed unto the Planet under which the childe is borne; for every moneth from the conception to the birth is governed by his proper planet: and in the eight moneth, Saturne doth predominate, which is cold and dry; and coldnesse being an enemy unto li e, destroys the nature of the childe. Hypocrates gives a better reason: Libro de Septimestri pari . The infant being every way perfect, and compleate in the seventh moneth, desires more aire and nutriment than it had before, Septimo mense semper movet infans ad partum. which because hee cannot obtaine hee labours for a passage to goe out: and if his spirits bee weake and faynt, and have not strength sufficient to break the membrances and come forth; it is decreed by nature that he should continue in the womb untill the 9th month, that, in that time his wearied spirits might be againe strengthned and refreshed; but if he returnes to strive againe in the eight moneth and bee borne, hee cannot live, because the day of his birth is eyther past or to come; for in the eight moneth, sayth Avicen hee is weake and infirme,21. tertij tract. de abortu. and therefore b ing then cast into cold ayre his spirits cannot but sinke.

Cause.

Vntimely birth may bee caused by cold; for as it maketh the fruit of the tree to wither and fall downe before it be ripe, so doth it nip the fruit of the wombe before it comes to full perfection, and make it to be abortive. Sometimes by Hipoc. 5. Aphor. 45. humidity weakening the faculty that the fruit cannot be retain'd untill the due time: by drinesse or 5 Aphor. 44. emptinesse, defrauding the childe of his nourishment; by one of the three alvine 5 Aphor. 34. fluxes; by 5 Aphor. 30. phlebotomy and other evacuations; by 5 Aphor. 43. inflammations of the wombe, and by other 5 Aphor. 31. sharpe diseases. Sometimes it is caused by joy, laughter, anger, and especially by Gulenus 2. in 3. Epid. 8. feare; for in all, but in that especially, the heate forsakes the wombe and runnes to the heart, to helpe there, and so the cold strikes into matrice whereby the ligaments are relaxt, and abortion follows. Wherefore Plato in his time, Libro 5. de legibus. commanded that the woemen should shunne all temptations of great joy and pleasure, and likewise avoyd all occasions of feare and griefe: Abortion also may bee caused by the corruption of the ayre; by filthy odours, and especially by the smell of the Aristot. 8. de historia animali. cap. 24. snuffe of a Candle, also by falls, blowes, violent exercise, leaping, dancing, &c.

Signes.

Signes of future abortion, are extenuation of the brests with a flux of watrish milke; payne in the womb; heavinesse in the head; unaccustomed wearinesse in the hippes, and thighes; flowing of the courses: Signes foretelling the fruit to bee dead in the wombe, are hollownesse of the eyes, griefe in the head, aguish horrours, palenesse of the face and lippes; gnawing of the stomacke; no motion of the infant; coldnesse and loosenesse of the mouth of the wombe; the thicknesse of the belly which was above is fallen downe; waterish and bloody excrements comes from the matrice.

A regiment or rule for breeding women.

THe prevention of untimely birth consists in the taking away of the forementioned causes; which must bee effected both before and after conception.

Before conception, if the body bee ever hot, cold, dry or moyst correct it with the contraries; if cacochimiall, purge it; if plethoricall, open the liver veine; if too grosse, extenuate it; if too leane, corroborate and nourish it; all diseases of the wombe must be removed as I have shewed.

After conception, let the ayre bee temperate: sleepe not overmuch: avoid watching, exercise of body, passions of the minde, loude clamours and filthy smells: sweet odours also are to be rejected of those that are histericall. Abstaine from all things which provoke eyther the urine or courses; also from salt, sharpe, and windy meates: a moderate diet shall bee observed.

If the excrements of the guts bee retayned, lenifie the belly with Clisters made of the decoction of Mallows, Violets with Sugar, and common Oyle; or make broth with Borage, Buglosse, Beets, Mallows, taking in the same a little Manna. On the contrary; if she be troubled with loosenesse of the belly, let it not be stayed with out the judgment of a Phisitian; for all alvine Fluxes, have a maligne quality in them, which must be evacuated before the Flux be stayed.

The cough is another accident which accompaneth breeding women, and puts them into great danger of miscarrying, by a continuall distillation falling from the brayne; to prevent which, shave away the haire on the coronall, and sagittall commissure, and apply there on this playster. ℞. Resinae, ℥s. Ladani ʒi. Citron pills, Ligni aloes, Olibani ana ℈i. Stiracis liquidae et siccae s.q. dissolve the gumes in Vineger, and make a playster. At night going to bed, let her take the fume of these trochickes cast upon the coales. ℞. of Frankincense, Stirax, powder of red roses, ana ʒis. Sandarachae ʒiij. Masticke, Benjamen, amber, ana ʒi. with Turpentine make trochis kes. Apply a cautery to the nape of the necke: and every night let her take of these pills following. ℞. Hypocistidis, terrae sigillatae fine bole, ana ℥s. Bistort, Acatiae, Stiracis Calamitae ana ʒij. Cloves ʒi. with sirrupe of Mirtles make pills.

In breeding women there is a corrupted matter generated, which flowing to the ventricle dejecteth the appetite and causeth vomitting: and the stomacke being weake, not able to digest this matter, sometime sends it unto the guts, wherby is caused a flux of the bellie, which greatly stirreth up the faculty of the wombe. For the eschewing therfore of all these dangers, the stomacke shall bee corroborated as followeth.

℞. Ligni Aloes, Nutmeg ana ʒi. Mace, Cloves, Masticke, Ladanum ana ℈ii. Oyle of Spike ℥i. Muske gr. ii. Oyle of Masticke, Quinces, Wormewood ana ℥s. make an ungvent for the stomacke, to be applied before meales. Insteed hereof may bee used Cerotum stomochale Galeni. ℞. of conserve of Borage Buglosse, Anthos ana ℥s. Confect. de Hyacintho, Lemon pills condited Specierum diamarg. pulv. de gemmis ana ʒii. Nutmeg, Diambrae ana ℈ii. Peonie roots, Diacoralli ana ʒi. with sirrup of roses make an electuarie of which shee shall take twice aday, two houres before meales. Another accident which perplexeth women with child, swelling of the leggs, which happens the first three months, by superfluous humours falling downe from the stomacke and liver; for the cure whereof. ℞. Of Oyle of roses ʒii. Salt, Vineger ana ʒi. shake them altogether untill the salt bee dissolved, and anoint the leggs hot therewith, chaffing it in with the hand. But purging is more proper if it may bee done without danger, as it may in the fourth, fift and sixt month of Hippoc. 4. Aphor. pregnation: for a child in the wombe is compared to an Apple on the tree. The first three months it is weak and tender, subject with the apple to fall away: but afterwards the membranes being strengthened, the fruit remaynes firmely fastened in the wombe, not apt to michances; and so it continues, untill the seventh month; then growing neere the time of maturity, the ligaments are againe relaxt (like unto the apple that is almost ripe) and grow looser every day untill the time of delivery. If therefore her body hath need of purging, shee may purge without dāger in the 4, 5, or 6. month; but not before, nor after, unlesse in some sharp diseases in which the mother and child both are like to perish. Apply plasters and unguents to the reynes, to strengthen the fruit of the wombe. ℞. Of Gum arabeck, galangale, bistort, hypocistid storax. ana ʒi. fine bole, nutmeg, masticke, balaust. sang. draconis, myrtle berries ana ʒis. wax and turpentine s.q. Make a plaster: apply it to the reines in the winter time; and remove it every fourteen daies, lest the reynes bee over hot therewith. In the interim anoint the privities and reynes with Vnguentum Comitissae. But if it bee summer time, and the reynes hot, this plaster following is more proper. ℞. Of red roses p.i. Masticke. red sanders, ana ʒii; bole armenie, red corall, bistort, ana ʒi. Pomgranate pills, prepared coriander ana ʒiis. barberies ℈ii. Oyle of Masticke and quinces ana ℥i. juce of plantaine ʒii. with pitch make a plaster, anoint the reynes also with unguentum sandalinū. Once every week wash the reines with two parts of rose water and one part of white wine, mingled together and warmed at the fire: this will asswage the heat of the reynes, and disperse the oyle of the plaster out of the pores of the skinne, and cause the oyntment or plaster the sooner to penetrate and strengthen the wombe. Some are of opinion that as long as the loadstone is layd to the navill it keepeth the woman from abortion. The like also is recorded of the stone Aetites being hanged about the necke. The same vertue hath the stone, Samius.

Thus briefly (as farre as modestie would give leave) I have runne through all distempers of the matrice: God make my labour profitable; for healing commeth of the most High.

Hinc omne Principium huc refer exitum.

Horat.
The Authors prayer for his patient. WHat Cure I undertakeS. Luke 7.6. within this roofe, Lord say the Word bee whole, and 'tis enough. Thy Word alone,Acts 3.7. did make the lame to walke; The deafe to heare,S. Marke 7.3. yea and the dumbe to talke. The servants Palsie,S. Mat. 8.13. by thy word was cur'd; The Leapers clensed,S. Math. 8.3. and of health assur'd. By it the borne blinde man,S. Iohn 9.1. was made to see: By it the dead to life,S. Iohn 11.44. ev'n raised bee. By it were the secures wrought, o Lord grant then, Vnto my prayer that, thou wilt say Amen. Wisdome. 16.12. For neither hearbe, nor plaster will doe well: Vnlesse therewith thy benedict doth dwell. FINIS.