CHAPTER I. Of Marriage, and at what Age Virgins and Youths are capable of Generation, and the reason that prompts them to desire Copulation; with the signs of Barrenness, and how long a Man or Woman are capable of getting Children.

THat Marriage is an Honourable State ordained by God in Paradise, and since confirmed by our blessed Saviour, who wrought his first Miracle at a Wed­ding, I hope none will deny; therefore it is convenient that Parents well take care of their Daughters Chastity, and when they find them inclinable to Marriage, not rigorously to restrain their Affections, for Nature will have its course, but rather to provide for them, if possible, such Hus­bands as may be for their advantage, and with whom they may live comfortably in that blessed State, lest being crossed in their purposes, and delayed, they part with their Honour dishonourable ways.

The propension and inclination of Maids to Marriage, is to be discovered by many Symptoms; as, when Nature fringes the [Page 6]obscure parts, and their Terms flow at the time appointed, which is usually in the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age, when as the Seed increaseth in some sooner, and in others later, according to their Ha­bits or Constitutions: And the Blood, which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies, abounding, incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery. And by the Re­tention of the Seed, many times it falls out that they are cruelly afflicted with fainting Fits, and strangling of the Mother: for all learned Physicians are of Opinion, that more harm comes by the Seed corrupting, than by their Courses being unseasonably obstructed; for the Seed derogates to a ve­nomous quality; and from the effects thereof arise the Swarth and weasel Co­lour in Maids, when they begin to be in Love, and desirous of Copulation; as also their short Breathings, Tremblings, and Pantings of the Heart. The Expulsive Fa­culties being moved to cast out the super­fluous Humour. But if they happen to be Married to their own Content, these affli­ctions vanish, and their native Beauty re­turns more gay than before: nor is their eager gazing, & desiring to associate them­selves with Men, a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordain'd: [Page 7]Their due of which, sometimes being by obdurate Parents debarred in a lawful way, breaking the bounds of modesty, rather than enduring such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves, they satiate their desire in unlawful Love. The same may in all Particulars be observed in young brisk Widows, whom Death, that Enemy of sweet Conjugal Love, has separated from the Bosom of their Husbands.

At fourteen Years of Age, commonly the Terms in Virgins begins to flow, and then they are capable of Conceiving, and so con­tinue generally till forty four; at what time, for the most part, the Eflux being stayed, they are no longer capable of Generation, unless such as are exceeding healthful, strong of body, and have used themselves to Tem­perance, who have appear'd to be deliver­ed of Children till fifty five Years; but such Prodigies rarely happen, although the Terms extend sarther in some Women than in others; but many times such Eflux proceeds not from any natural cause, but by reason of some violent straining, or other violence, and does often endanger the life of the Party: And therefore young Men that marry Women surmounting the Age aforesaid, if they expect Children, unless by Miracle, must labour against the [Page 8]Wind, though if an old Man, that is not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency, marry a brisk lively Lass, there is hopes even to threescore and ten, and some that are extraordinary lusty, till fourscore.

Hypocrates, that Famous and Learned Physician, is of Opinion, that a Youth at 16 years, or between that and 17, having much vital strength, may be capable of get­ting Children, and that force and heat of Procreating matter continually increases till 45, 50, & 65. and at the end of the latter be­gins to flagg; the Seed by little and little be­coming unfruitful, the natural Spirits being extinguished, and the humours dried up; and in general, most Physicians at this day do observe it, but as to particulars, as I have before mentioned, it often happen­eth otherwise; nay, 'tis reported by a cre­dible Author, that in the Reign of Erecus, King of Sweedland, a Man was married at a Hundred years old, to a Bride of Thirty, and had many Children by her, but look­ed so fresh, that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age.

In Campania, where the Air is tempe­rate, serene, and calm, men of 80 years usu­ally marry young Virgins, and have Chil­dren by them, which argues, that Age in men hinders not Procreation, unless they [Page 9]be exhausted in their Youth, and their Members shriveled up. If any ask why a Women is sooner barren than a Man? I answer, the Cause is, the natural Heat, which is more predominant in the latter than in the former; for since a Woman is more moist than a Man, as her Courses do most evidently demonstrate, as also the softness of her Body; 'tis also apparent, that he doth exceed her in Native heat; and as for that heat, it is the chief thing that concocts the Humours, and changes them into the substance of the Seed, which Aliment the Woman wanting, grows fat, when a Man, by reason of that heat, melts his fat by degrees, and his Humours are dissolved, but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed: and this may, for the better Confirmation of what I pro­pose be added, That the Woman is not so strong as a Man, nor so wise and prudent, nor hath so much reason, nor is so ingeni­ous in contriving her Affairs, whereby the Faculties are hindered in their operation. And so I conclude my Assertion.

CHAP. II. General and particular Rules, laid down by Learned Physicians, how to proceed in get­ting a Male or Female Child; and of the Embrio and perfect Birth, and the Season sittest for Copulation.

WHen a young likely Couple have entred the holy State of Wed­lock, & are desirous of mutual enjoyment for Generation sake, which is the chief end for which Wedlock was or­dain'd, and rather covet to be blessed with one Sex than another, let them know first for certain, that the Success of such things depends upon Divine Providence, tho' se­condary causes must be actual and instru­mental therein; and those are especially two: First, the Genital Humour which pro­ceeds partly from the Brain, and partly from the Liver, the Fountain of Blood; then the spirit that is conveyed by Arteries from the Heart, by force whereof the Yard is erected, and made capable to eject the Seed; and partly it flows from the whole Body without exception. To which may be added the Appetite and desire to Copula­tion, [Page 11]which fires the Imagination with un­usual Fancies, or by the sight and feeling a brisk charming Beauty, whose wit and liveliness may much incite, and more in­flame the Courage; but if Nature be infee­bled, then are there fit artificial Remedies to restore it; viz. such meats as most con­duce to the affording such aliment as proves to make Seed abound, and restore the de­caies of Nature, that the Faculties may free­ly opporate: for as Dung and well manu­ring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless; even so seasonable and proper Diet opporates to the restoring the faint heart, weak spirit, coldness and dryness of the Genital Parts, and reduceth the weak­ness of the Nerves to their Temperament, and removes Impediments, obstructing the Procreation of Children. Then since the Diet may, and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better, it is necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such meat only as tend to render them fruitful; and among such things as are in­ducing and stirring up thereto, are all meats of good juice, that nourish well, and makes the body lively and full of sap: of which Faculty are all hot moist meats: for ac­cording to Gallen, the substance of Seed is made of the pure concocted and windy su­perfluity [Page 12]of Blood, from whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate or heap up Seed, as also to aug­ment it, and other things of force to cause Erection and Ejection of Humour, as Hen-Eggs, Pheasants, Woodcocks, Guatsappers, Thrushes, Black birds, young Pidgeons, Sparrows, Partridge, Capons, Almones, Pine-nuts, Rasons, Currants, all strong Wines moderately taken, especially those made of the Grapes of Italy; but the Geni­tals are chiefly erected and provoked by Satyrium, Eringoes, Cresses, Eressimum. Parsnips, Artichokes, Turnips, Rapes, Asparagus, Candid Ginger, Gallinga, Acorns bruised to powder and drunk in Muscadel, Scalli­ons, Sea-shell Fish, &c. And these, though excellent Restoratives, will not have pre­sent Operation, but you must use your self to them sometime before you handle your Arms, or your Wife will grudg the charge; for when Husbands will win their Wives favour, then they shall account nothing too good nor too dear for them: then must they be well prepared to enter this Con­flict; and when they find themselves so to be, they must take the opportunity of do­ing their business well, and that is when the monthly Terms are over, lest the Seed be hindred from coagulating and fer­menting, [Page 13]and the Womb be rendred unfit for Conception. When therefore the Terms are finished, and the Womb well cleansed, they must proceed decently, and not over rashly, tho' courage and activity must not be wanting, nor the force of Imagination: and having performed what is necessary, the Woman must gently repose on her right side, with her head lying low, and her body sinking down, that by sleeping in that Posture the cells on the right side of the Ma­trix may prove the receptacles of the Seed, in which are the greatest force of Genera­tive heat, which is the chief inducement to the procreation of Male Children, and rarely misses to answer the expectation of such as experience it, especially if they keep themselves warm, and without much mo­tion, leaning for the most part to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juyce of Hysop in a Glass of Malligo or Aligant when they lie down and rise, for the space of a Week. Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children, is when the Sun is in Leo, and the Moons Sign is Virgo, Scorpio, or Sagitarius.

This Order may be observed for a Fe­male Child, by lying as aforesaid, on the left-side, and strongly sancying a Female in the time of Procreation, especially if the [Page 14]Woman drink the decoction of Female Mercury, four days from the first day of Pur­gation; the Male Mercury (both Herbs so called,) having the like Operation in case of a Male Child, for the juyce or concoction of these Simples are of force, the one to purge the right, and the other the left side of the Womb, and thereby open the Re­ceptacles, making a way for the Semenary of Generation: and the best time to copulate for this Sex, is, when the Moon is in the Wain and the Sign in Libra, or Aquarius; for then they will be of a most gentle, affable temper, very fair and perfect in all their Members. Avicenna, an Author of good re­pute, describes the time of Procreation thus: When, saith he, the Terms are spent and the Womb is cleansed, which is commonly in five days, or seven at most, if a Man lye with his Wife from the first day she is pur­ged to the fifth, she will conceive a Male, but from the fifth to the eighth day a Fe­male, and from the eighth to the twelfth a Male again; but after that number of days peradventure neither distinctly, but both in an Hermophrodite. And thus this Opinion of his by the Learned is explained; viz. for as much as the first day the Wom [...] [...]eing cleansed, and the sordid humour perfectly purged forth, the Matrix has more heat, [Page 15]whereby the Seed of either Sex are better contracted, and take surer place on the right-side of the Womb, by the attracting force of the Liver and right Kidney, from which also in those days het Blood is deri­ved for the Nutriment of the Child that shall be for the left part, as being cold, numb'd and void of Blood cannot contribute any thing so soon as the Terms are purged, but Blood is drawn later, and more sparingly from the Veins on the left side, which are called emulgent Veins, that creep about the Milt and left Kidney; so that at length, after the first day until the eighth day, some Blood comes forth of them, whereby the Child is to be nourish'd so that when these Parts perform their Office, and the right­side ceases by reason of the Situation and cold Nutriment, a Female is generated: after the eighth day the parts on the right side opporate again, & Blood comes from them to nourish the Male after these circuit of days, because the menstrual Blood flows without distinction from all parts, and the Matrix is made too moist with cold Hu­mors flowing into it; and the Seed adheres to neither side, but floats in the middle of the Womb, the Seed of either Sex confounded or confused, and out of due Place and Or­der, fixed at last in the Cell at the bottom [Page 16]of the Womb, generates an Hermophrodite, tho' sometimes such unusual and unuatural Conceptions are occasioned by the indecen­cy of Copulation, when preposterously the Woman in the Act lies uppermost, and the Man under her, or by the force of strange Imaginations: but many are of Opinion such Births happen through the powerful influence of Mercury and Venus in conjuncti­on. In a word, they that would be com­mended for their Wedlock Actions, and be happy in the fruit of their labour, must ob­serve to copulate at distance of time, not too often nor yet too seldom, for both these hurt Fruitfulness alike; for to eject immo­derately weakens a Man and wasts his Spi­rits, and too often causes the Seed, by long continuance, to be ineffectual, and not manly enough. And thus much for the first general and particular; from whence I shall proceed to the second; which is, to give the Reader to understand how the Child is formed in the Womb, and what Accidents it is incident to, how nourished, and when brought forth.

Certain it is, there are various Opinions concerning this matter; therefore I shall, for the satisfaction of the curious, lay down the Opinions of the learned, as thus. Man consists of the Seed of both united in the [Page 17]Matrix by Copulation, and for the first se­ven days the Mothers Blood running to it it grows in shape like an Egg; but there is a forming faculty and virtue in the Seed from a divine and heavenly gift, it being abundantly indued with Vital and Etherial Spirit, which gives shape and form to the Child; so that all the parts and bulk of the Body, which is made up in the space of many months, and is by degrees framed and formed into a decent and comely Fi­gure of a Man, do consist in that, and are adumbrated thereby: on which Holy Da­vid contemplating, fell into his divine Rap­ture and Admiration expressed in Psal. 138. I will praise thee, O Lord, because I am wonder­fully made: thy Works are wonderful. Mr Soul searcheth and knoweth it right. Well thou know­est all my Bones when I was fashinned in the secret place, and when I was wonderfully formed in my Mothers Womb. Thy Eyes beheld me yet unmade, and in thy Book were all my Members written, which day by day were fashioned. Thy Knowledge is wonderful unto me, whereby I was made, I cannot understand it. &c. And Phy­sicians that have narrowly contemplated Mans Nature, constitute four different times wherein this Microcosm or little World is framed and perfected in the Womb.

First, When after Copulation and mu­tual embracing it hath the nature of Seed; at which time it is called Conception or Geniture, because the Seeds of the Man and Woman mixing and fermenting, become like Cream and are perfect in the first week if no Eflux happen, which sometimes falls out through the slipperiness of the Matrix, or the head thereof that shuts over like a Rose bud opening on a sudden by reason of some cold distemper, or over-weariness in Travel.

The second time of forming is constitu­ted when Nature and the force of the Womb, by the use of her own inbred for­ces and vertue, makes a manifest mutation in the Seed, so that all the substance seems congealed Flesh and Blood, rather than Seed, which happens about the 12 or 14 day after Copulation; and though this Concretion, or fleshy Mass, abound with hot fiery blood, yet it remains undistinguish­able without form of figure, and may be called the rough draught, or Embrio, and well likened to Seed which is sown in the ground, which through kindly heat and moisture grows up by degrees into a per­fect form, either in Plant or Grain; or as when a Potter fashions a Vessel out of a rude Lump of Clay.

The third time to make up this Fabrick, is set when the three principal Parts shew themselves evidently and perspicuously, viz. The Heat from whence proceeds the Ar­teries, the Brain from which the Nerves proceed like many small threads running through the whole Body, and the Liver from whence the Veins derive their Origi­nal. These are the Seeds and Fountains of Life, that nourish and support each part of the Body; in framing which, the Faculty of the Womb is busied from the time of Con­ception to the eighteenth day of the first Month.

But lastly, which time reacheth to the 28 or 30 day, the outward Parts are seen ex­quisitely claborated and distinguished by Joynts, and then the Child begins to grow and pant; from which Progress of days, by reason the Limbs are divided, and the whole frame is perfect, it is no longer held an im­perfect Child or Embrio, that is, a Concre­tion that springs sorth, but is held to be a perfect and absolute Child. Males for the most part are perfect by the 30 day, but Females seldom till the 42 or 45 day; and the reason why the one is sooner perfected than the other, is, that the heat of the Womb is greater in producing the Male than the Female; for heat extends the hu­mour [Page 20]like soft wax, diffusing & delating it, and hen by its force contracting, framing and fashioning it, so heat and vigout of the Body, and Alacrity of nature in the Man makes the Male to move in 3 months, but the Female rarely under 4, at which time also his Hair and Nailes come forth, and the Child begins to stir, kick, and tumble in the Womb; so that the motion is plainly perceived, and the Women are troubled with nauseating and loathing of their meat, and oftentimes covet and greedily long for things contrary to Nutriment, as Coals, Rublish, Chalk, Lime, Starch, Oat-meal, [...]aw Flesh and Fish or the like, which desire proceeds from a former contraction of evil humours, occasioning im pure Blood in their containing Vessel, within, and often occa­sions abortion and miscarriage; some Wo­men as it has been noted by divers Authors of Credit, have been so extravegant in their longings, that they have coveted Hob-Nails, Leather, Herse Flesh, Mans Flesh, and the Flesh of divers ravenous Be asts, for want of which they have cast their Birth untime­ly, or the Child has contiued dead in the Womb, for many days, to the eminent hazard of the Womans life: But to pro­ceed in this great mystery, I shall un­fold by what means the Infant is sustained [Page 21]in the Womb, and the posture it there re­mains in.

The Infant being arrived to some per­fection, is fastened by a long string to the Navel, as the Apple by the stalk is fastened to the Tree; by which, through the help of the Umbelical Vein, it is nourished by a Fountain of pure Blood, not taking it in at the mouth, as some ignorant People have imagined; that being of no use during the aboad in the Womb, neither do any Ex­crements fall from the Vessels of Evacuati­on; but the Umbelical Vein springing from the Matrix, enters the Liver in two parts, & terminates in Vena Porta, from which the most pure Blood from the Seminary Ves­sels are derived to the Matrix. And hende it is that the Blood and Spirits, like Auxiliaries, are always convey'd downwards, that so none of them be wanting, whereof are those Channels and Rivers of Veins and Arteries that proceed from the Mothers Body are carried to the Womb, and then fastened into the Navel, feed the Child by insensible ways, and by the faculty of the Seed that is fostered by the heat of the Womb, and moistened with Blood; being perfected at the times specified in all its parts equal ballanced, it is in the midst of the Womb, as in the Center lying all [Page 22]on a heap, and being something long, is tur­ned round, so that the Head a little inclines, and it lays its Chin on its Breast, his Heels and Ancles upon his Buttocks, its Hands on its Cheeks, and its Thumbs to its Eyes; but its Legs and Thighs are carried upward with its Hams bending, so that they touch the bottom of its belly: the former and that part of the body which is over against us, as the Fore-head, Nose, Face, are turned towards the Mothers Back, and the Head inclining downwards towards the Cocyx or Rump­bone that joyns to the Os Sacrum, which Bone, together with Os Pubis, in the time of the Birth parts and is loosened; whence it is that Male Children commonly come with their Faces downwards, or with their Heads turned somewhat Oblique, that their Faces may be seen; but the Female chil­dren with their Faces upward, tho' some­times it happens that Births follow not ac­cording to Natures order, but Children come forth with their feet stradling, their Necks bowed, and their Heads lying Oblique with their Hands stretch'd out, which great­ly endangers themselves and the Mother, giving the Midwife great trouble to intro­duce them nto the World: but when all things proceed orderly and naturally, the Child, when Natures set bounds are ac­complished, [Page 23]is desirous to break its bounds, and come forth of the Womb; and by in­clining himself, he rowls downward; for he cannot longer be obscured in those hiding places, than he can find Nutriment from the Navel, and the heat of the Heart can subsist without external respiration; where­fore being grown great, he is more and more desirous of Nutriment and Light; when coveting the Etherial Air, he by strug­ling to obtain it breaks the membrains and Coverings whereby he was restrained and fenced against Attrition; and for the most part with bitter Pangs of the Mother issucth forth to view the Day, commonly in the ninth Month; for then the Matrix divided, and Oss Pubis being loosened, the Woman strives what she can to cast forth her bur­then, and the Child doing the like to get forth by the help of its inbred strength, the Birth comes to be perfect; but if the Child be dead, then more dangerous is the Deli­very, tho' Nature, as a kind Commisera­tor, often helpeth the Womans weakness herein; but the Child that is quick and lively labours no less than the Woman.

Now there are Bitths at 7 or 8 months, and some Women go to the 10th month; but of these, and the Reasons for them, I shall speak more largely in another place, and at present proceed to unrayel other my­steries of Nature.

CHAP. III. The Reason why Children are often like their Parents, and what the Mathers Imagination contributes thereto: How the Mother contri­butes Seed, and is a Companion in the whole Generation; and whence grows the Kind, viz. Whether the Man or the Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Child, &c.

IT is the opinion of learned Physicians, grounded upon reason, That if a Wo­man in the Act of Copulation afford most Seed, her likeness will have the great­er impression upon the Child; but if on the contrary, then will follow the contra­ry effects; or if a proportionable quantity proceed from either, then will the Simili­tude depend upon either.

Lactantius is of opinion, That when a Mans seed falls on the left side of the womb a Male Child may be gotten: but by rea­son it is the proper place for a Female, there will be something in it greatly resembling a Woman, viz. It will be fairer, whiter, and smoother, not very subject to have hair on the Body or Clain, long lank hair on the Head, the Voice small and sharp, [Page 25]and the Courage feeble; and arguing yet further, he says, that a Female may per­chance be procreated if the Seed fall on the right side; but then through extraordinary heat, she will be very large boned, full of Courage, indued with a big Voice, and have her Chin and bosom hairy not being so clear as others of the Sex; subject to quarrel with her Husband when married, for the superiority, &c. yet in case of the si­militude, nothing is more powerful than the imagination of the Mother; for if she con­ceive in her mind, or do by chance fasten her eyes upon any Object, and imprint it in her Memory, the Child in its out ward parts frequently has some representation thereof; so whilst a Man and Woman are in the Act of Copulation, if the Woman earnestly behold his Countenance and fix her mind thereon, without all peradventure, the Child will resemble the Father; nay so powerful is its Operation, that though a Woman be in unlawful Copulation, yet if fear or any thing else causes her to fix her mind upon her Husband, the Child will resemble him, tho' he never got it. The same effect, according to the opinion of the Learned, proceeds from Imagination in cause of Warts, Moldspots, Stains, Dashes, and the figures of strange things, though [Page 26]indeed they sometimes happen thro' frights or extravagant longings. Many Women there are, that seeing a Hare cross them when great with Child, will, through the strength of imagination, bring forth a Child with a hairy-lip. Some Children again are born with flat Noses, wry Mouths, great bluber Lips, and ill shaped Bodies, and most ascribe the reason to the strange conceit of the Mother, who has busied her Eyes and Mind upon some ill shaped or distorted Creature; therefore it greatly behoves all Women with Child to avoid any mon­strous sight, or at least to have a stedfast mind, not easily fixed upon any one thing more than another. And this opinion Pliny confirms in his 7th Book of natural things, and the 12th Chapter. The Famour Sir Tho­mas More likewise confirms it, and discants merrily on a Passage of his times, wherein a Person having divers Children, would own none but one that was like him, when in the end it proved, by the asseveration of the Mother, that all, except that, were of his own begetting; but whilst another man was mounted in his Saddle, she fear­ing that he would come and detect her in the Act, had her imagination so fix'd on him, that as she conceived, the similitude could proceed from no other cause, where­fore [Page 27]it is apparent that likeness can confiirm no Child to be a lawful Fathers own: yet in manners, wit, and the propension of the mind, daily examples reach us that Chil­dren which have all force and Spirits from the faculty of the Seed, are commonly of the same condition with their progenitors, and of the same nature, but there is much in this, whether venery be used with great or weak desire, for many are less venerous and not so hot, and consequeutly not so de­sirous of copulation, but rather decline it, unless the obstreporusness of their Wives cause them to complyance therein, and then they proceed faintly and drowsily, whence it happens that the Children fall short of the Parents nature, wit and manners; and hence it is that wise men frequently beget stupid sloathful Children of feeble minds, because they are not much given to these delights, but as I said on the contrary, when the Progenitors are hot in venerious Acti­ons, and do liberally and abundantly em­ploy themselves therein: it oftentimes hap­pens that the Children are of the same de­sires, manners and actions of the mind with their Parents. And thus much for the first point, now I shall proceed to the Second, which is to prove that the mother's equal­ly contributing to the making the Child, &c.

Though it is apparent that the Seed of man is the chief efficient and beginning of action, motion, and Generation, yet that the Woman does afford seed, and effectual­ly contributes in that particular to the pro­creation of the Child, is evinced by strong reasons; in the first place, Seminary Vessels had been given them in vain, and genital Testicles inverted, if the Woman wanted Seminal excessence; for being Nature doth nothing in vain, therefore it must be grant­ed that they were made for the use of seed and procreation and fixed in their proper places, both the Testacles and Receptacles of Seed, whose nature and force is to ope­rate, and afford fruitful vertue to the Seed: and to prove this, there needs no stronger Argument than that if a Woman do not use Copulation to eject her Seed, she often­times falls into strange Diseases, as appears by young Widows and Virgins. A second reason may be urged, that although the society of a lawful Bed consist not altoge­ther in these things, yet it is apparent, that the Female Sex is not better won, and ap­pear more blith and jocund, than when they are often satisfied this way; which is an in­ducement to believe that they have greater pleasure, and reccive more content than a man: for since by Nature much delight [Page 29]accompanies the ejection of the Seed, by breaking forth of the swelling Spirit, and the stiffness of the Nerves, in which case the operation of the Womans part is double, she suffering both ways, even by ejection and reception, whereby she is more recre­ated and delighted in the Venereal Act.

Hence it is that the Child more frequent­ly resembles the Mother than the Father, because the Mother confers the most to­wards its Generation: and further it may be instanced from the great love they bear them, for besides their contributing Semi­nal matter, they, during the time they are in the Womb, feed and nourish the Child with the purest Fountain of Blood: which Opinion Galen confirms, by allowing the Child to participate more of the Mother than the Father, and refers the difference of the Sex to the influence of menstrual Blood; but the reason of the likeness he at­tributes to the force of the Seed; for as Plants receive more from fruitful ground than from the industry of the Husbandman, so the Infant in more abundance receives from the Mother than the Father; for first the Seed of both is heaped and fostered in the Womb, and there grows to perfection, being nourished with blood. And hence it is that Children for the most part affect [Page 30]their Mothers best, for it proceeds from the nearness of nature by a natural instinct, because the Mothers forces were most im­ployed about 'em? for nine months, and sometimes ten, she nourisheth the Child with her purest Blood, then her love towards it newly born, and the likelyness do clearly demonstrate, that the Woman affordeth Seed, and that Women do contribute more towards making the Child than Men. And thus much for the clearing of this point also: and now to the third thing proposed, viz. Whence grows the kind, and whether the Man or the Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Insant.

The primal cause, as is justly due in this and all other causes, we must ascribe to God the Ruler and Disposer of all things; yet many things, by his high sufferance, proceed in regular order by the Rules of Nature, and are carried by their inbred motion, ac­cording to their usual and natural Course without variation, tho' indeed by favour from on high. Sarah conceived Isaac; Han­na, Samuel; and Elizabeth, John the Baptist; but these were to fulfil the Almighties Decree: nor since those times have the Prayers of the righteous been unsuccessful, in obtaining Children: but passing over such Supernatural and Extraordinary causes [Page 31]that have their peculiar effects: I shall pro­ceed to speak of things natural and com­mon, and how Nature worketh by her in­bred Forces; for she prepares a Body fit for the reception of the Soul (of whose Nature I shall hereaster discourse) and gives every thing its temper; but siuce there are two Principals out of which the Body of Man is made, and which render the Child like the Progenitors, and to be of one or the other Sex, viz. Seed common to both Sex, as I have before demonstrated, and men­strual Blood proper to the Woman only. The Similitude consists in the force of the Male or Female Seed, so that it proves like to the one or the other, as more or less plen­ty is afforded by either; but the difference of Sex is not referred to the Seed, but to the menstrual Blood, which is proper to the Woman; for were that force altogether retained in the Seed, the mans Seed being of a hotter quality than the Womans, Male Children would be superabundant, & none of the other Sex (or very rarely) would be propagated, whereof the kind of the Creature is attributed to the temperament of the active qualities, which consist in heat and cold, and to the substance or nature of the matter under them, that is to the flow­ing of the menstrual Blood: now the Seed [Page 32]affords both force to procreate and form the Child, and matter for its Generation, also in the menstrual Blood there is both matter and force; for as the Seed must helps the material Principles, so likewise the menstrual Blood, the potential Seed, is, saith famous Galen, Blood well concocted by the Vessels that contain it, so that Blood is not only the matter of generating the Child, but also Seed, in possibility that menstrual Blood has both principles, as matter, and faculty of effecting. Many do allow that the Seed is the strongest efficient, the matter of it being very little in quantity, but the potential of efficient faculty of it is very feeble: wherefore, if the material part and principal of Generation, according to which the Sex is made, were only in the menstrual Blood, then would the Children be all or mostly Females, as if the efficient force was in the Seed, they would be all Males: but since both have operation in menstrual Blood, Matter predominates in quantity, and in the Seed force and verue. Deserved­ly, saith samous Galen, the Child receives its Sex rather from the Mother than from the Father, although his Seed doth contri­bute something to the material Principles, though more weakly. But as for similitude, although Imagination be of extraordinary [Page 33]force, it is referr'd rather to the Father than the Mother, as to the quality of the Seed, at or for a short time after Copulation, but continues not long so to do, for the Wo­mans Seed receiving faculty from the men­strual Blood for the space of nine months, overpowers the Mans as to that particular, because the menstrual Blood flowing into the Vessels, rather cherishes and augments the one than the other; from which it may be more easily conjectured, that the Woman not only affords matter to make the Child, but force and vertue to perfect the Conception, though the Womans Seed be fit Nutriment for the Mans, by reason of the moisture and thinness of it, being more fit to frame and make up Conception thereby: for as of soft Wax and moist clay the Workman can frame what he intends, so the Mans Seed mixing with the Womans, as also with the menstrual Blood, helps effectually to make the form and per­fect part of Man; or to give you a better comparison, viz. as the Earth is to Plants, so is the Womb for Conception; for as the seed of every Plant requires the Earth to nourish and increase them, so the Seed of Man re­quires the Womb, which is affected with a desire of off-spring, for by its moisture and the help of the effluent Blood, it doth grow [Page 34]and incorease. Hence you may plainly con­jecture what curious Art Nature useth in conceiving and framing a Child, which by an innate force grows up by degrees, and secretly inereasing comes to maturity.

CHAP. IV. A serious discourse of the Soul of Man: How it comes not from the Parents Seed, but is infu­sed by God, and can neither dye nor corrupt: and what day of Child-bearing it is infused: of the Immortality thereof, and Certainty of the Resurrection.

THE Soul of Man is of so divine a na­ture and excellency, that man him­self can in no wise comprehend it, it be­ing the insused breath of the Almighty im­mortal and incomprehensible, but by him that gave it, it being, as it well may be termed, a part of himself; for Moses, by Holy Inspiration, relating the Original of Man, tells us, That God breathed into his No­strils the breath of Life, and he became a living Soul. Now as for all other Creatures, at his Word they were made, and had life, [Page 35]but the Creature that God hath appointed to let over his works, was favoured with the more immediate hand of the Almighty, forming him out of the dust of the Earth, and secondly condescending to breath into his Nostrils the breath of Life; which im­plies that there was more care, and (if we may so term it) labor used about man, than about all other Creatures or created things, he only partaking and participating with the divine Nature, being made in his like­ness, bearing the Image of God, that is in innocence and purity, whilst he stood firm; but in his Fall that lively Image was defa­ced; yet such was the insinite love of God towards him, that alto' he rebelled against him, he would not altogether cast him off, but found a way to restore him. Nay, so much in esteem was he thought, not deserving the least favour, that the Son of God, the second Person in the glorious Tri­nity, when the fulness of Time was come, laying aside his Crown of Stars, left the right-hand of Glory, Majesty, & the bright effulgence that adorned him, and descend­ing, took upon him our nature. O infinite & unspeakable love. Nay more, indured shame reproach, scourging, buffetting, spitting on, and the death of the Cross, that he might bruise the head of the Serpent, and deliver [Page 36]beloved man from the jaws and brink of inter ruine; and the better to confirm his love towards us, is ascended on high, lead­ing Captivity captive, where he is so far from forgetting us, that he is become our Mediator, and makes daily Intercession for us to the Father, whose offended Justice he has satisfied as to the Original Sin: but to come nearer to my purpose.

If a man would understand the excellen­cy of the Soul, as far as it is capable of com­prehending it self, let him after serious Re­collection descend into himself, and search diligently his own mind, and there he shall find so many admirable Gifts and excellent Ornaments, that it must needs strike him with Wonder and Amazement, as Reason, Understanding, true Choice, agility of Wit, Memory, and divers other Faculties, that absolutely approve the Soul to be more admirable than that any should imagine it to be finite or subject to Annihilation; yet by reason of its many Offices and Operati­ons, whilst in the Body it is specified un­der sundry denominations. For at St. Au­gustine saith, when it enlivens the Body it is called the Soul; when it gives it knowledge the judgment, the mind, when it recalls things past, the memory, whilst it discours­erh & discerneth, Reason, whilist it contem­plates [Page 37]she Spirit, whilst it is in the sensitive parts of the senses: and these are the prin­cipal Offices, whereby the Soul declares its. Power and performs its Actions; for pla­ced in the highest part of the Body, and nearest Heaven, it diffuseth or disperseth effectually its force into every Member, not proceeding from the Parents seed, nor mixed with gross matter, but the infused breath of the Almighty immediately pro­ceeding from him, never passing from one to another, as fond and absurdly the Pitha­gorians have insinuated in their Opinions a­bout the Transmigration of the soul; and so vain were they, that they did not only ima­gine the souls of deceased men passed into new born Infants, but into Beasts also; and from thence it was they forbid the eating of Flesh, and abstained themselves from so do­ing, lest, as they fondly fancied, they might as Tertullian records it, Eat their Grand­father in a Calf: but such frivolous and su­perstitious Notions are to be rejected by Christians, and those true ones observed which are both reasonable and agreeable to humane Capacities; fot Orthodox Divin [...] conclude in general, that the Soul is given to every Infant by Infant by Infusion, when he or sh [...] is perfected in the Womb, which happen [...] about the 45 day after Conception; especial [Page 38]all for Males that in likelihood will be born at the end of nine Months, but that Females (who are of a weaker Constitution, and not so soon formed and perfected through the defect of heat) have not their Souls till the fiftieth day.

And altho' this day in all cases cannot be perfectly set down, yet Hypocrates has un­dertaken to give his absolute opinion, when the Child has its perfect form, when it be­gins to move, and when born if in due sea­son; for in his Book of the nature of Infants he affirmeth, That if it be a Male, and he be perfect on the thirtieth day, move at the [...]tieth, he will come forth at the seventh Month: but if he be perfectly formed on he 35 day, he will move on the 70th, and be born in the 8th Month: again, if he be perfectly formed on the 45th day, he will move on the 90th day, and be born in the ninth Month. Now from these passings of [...]ays & months, it plainly appears, that the day of Forming being doubled, makes up he day of moving; and that day 3 times [...]ckoned makes up the day of Birth.

As for Example, where 35 perfect the [...]orm, if you double it, it makes 70; the [...]ay of motion and three times 70, amounts [...] 206 days or 7 months, allowing 30 days [...] one month, & so you must consider the [Page 39]rest: But as for a Female, it is longer per­fecting in the Womb, and the Mother ever goes longer with a Boy than a Girl, so that there is difference in the Accompt; for a Female formed in 30 days, moves not till the 70 day, and is born in the 7 Month; when she is formed in the 40 days, she moves on the 80 day, and is born in the 8 month: but if she be perfectly formed on the 55 day, she moves on the 90, and is born in the 9 month; but she that is Formed on the 50 day moves on the 100 day, then will she be born in the 10 month. And thus have I more largely demonstrated it to the Reader, that he may know the reasonable Soul is not in the Parents Seed, but is infu­sed by God when the Child hath its per­fect Form, and is exactly distinguished in its Lineaments; for the Soul is not preent in the first month the Child begins to be formed, but the faculty of the Matrix, and force of the Seed perform the work by de­grees, distinguishing the parts, and ren­dering the form perfect.

Now as the life of every other Creature, as it is testified in the 17 Chapter of Levitie is, is in the Blood, so the life of Man consist­eth in the Soul; the which, although sub­ject to passion, by reason of the gross com­posture of the Body, in which it has a tem­porary [Page 40]confinement, yet it is immortal and cannot in it self corrupt or suffer change, it being a spark of the divine mind, and a blast of Almighty Breath that distinguishes Man from other Creatures, and renders him immortal: and that every man has a peculiar Soul, it plainly appears by the vast difference between the Wit, Judgment, Opi­nion, Manners, Affections, &c. in men. And this David observes, when he says, God hath in particular fashioned the Heart and Minds of all Men, and has given to every one its own Be­ing, and a Soul of its own Nature. Hence So­lomon rejoyced, that God had given him a happy Soul, and a Body agreeable and suitable to it.

It has caused many Disputes amongst the Learned, especially Philosopers, in what part of the Body the Soul chuseth to reside: and some have given their opinion, that its resident is in the middle of the Heart, and from thence communicates it self to every part; which Solomon, in the Fourth of his Proverbs, seems to assert, when he says, Keep thy Heart with all thy diligence, because Life proceedeth therefrom: but many curious Physi­cians scarching the Works of Nature in Man's Anatomy, &c. do give it as their Opinion, that its chief Seat is in the Brain, from whence proceed the Senses, Faculties, [Page 41]and Actions, diffusing the operations of the Soul through all parts of the Body, whereby it is enlivened with heat and force; but it doth communicate particular force to be Heart by Arteries, Catotides, or sleepy Arteries that part upon the Throat; the which if they happen to be broke, or cut, cause Barrenness, and if stopped they become Apoplectick; for there must ne­cessarily be some ways through which the Spirits animal and vital may have inter­course, and convey native heat from the Soul. For although the Soul is said to reside in one place, it operates in every part, ex­ercising every Member which are the Souls Instruments, by which she manifest­eth her pow'r: but if it so happen that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune, the Work is confuied, as it may appear in the case of Idiots, Madmen, &c. Though in some of them, the Soul by forcibly working recovers her supernatural vigor, & they be­come right after a long dispondency of mind and in some it is lost in this life. For as fire under ashes, nor the Sun obscured from our sight by thick Clouds, afford not their full lustre, so the soul overwhelmed in moist or faulty matter, is darkned, and Reason thereby overclouded; and although reason shines less in Children than in those that [Page 42]are arrived to maturity; yet no man must imagine that the Soul is an Infant, and grows up with the Child, for then would it again decay; but it suits it self to the weakness of Nature, and the imbecility of Body wherein it is placed, that it may the better operate. And as the Body is more and more capable of receiving its influence, so it shews it self in its prper lustre, having its force and indowments at the time it en­ters the formed Child in the Womb, for the Substance of it can receive nothing less: And thus much to prove that the Soul comes not from the Parents Seed, but is infused by God: and the next thing now to be handled is its Immortality; and thereby I shall demonstrate the certainty of the Resurrection.

That the Soul of Man is a divine Ray infused by God, I have already made appa­rent, and now come to shew you that whatever immediately proceeds from him must participate of his Nature, and from thence consequently be as Immortal as it's Original; for although all other Creatures are indued with life and motion, yet wnat they a reasonable Soul: and from thence 'tis concluded, their life is in their Blood, and that being corruptible, they perish, and after their expiring are no more. But Man [Page 43]being endued with a reasonable Soul, and stamped with the divine Image, is of a dif­ferent nature, and tho' his Body be cor­ruptible, yet his Soul cannot perish, but must, when it is expunged its earthly Ta­bernacle, return to God that gave it, either to receive reward or punishment: now that the body can sin of it self is impossible, be­cause wanting the Soul, it cannot act nor proceed to any thing either good or evil; for could it do so, additional sins might be accumulated even in the Grave; but 'tis plain, that after death there is a cessation; for as Death leaves us, so judgment finds us. And St. John, in the fifth Chapter of his Gospel, tells us, That the hour shall come, that all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice, and they that have done well shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done evil, to the Resurrection of Condemnation. And Holy Job, in the fourteenth and nineteenth Chap­ter speaking to the same purposes, says, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth: And though after my Skin Worms destroy my body, yet in my Flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for my self, and mine Eyes shall behold, and not another, though my Reins be consumed within me. By this 'tis plainly proved, that the Soul is made of immortal Essence, incapable [Page 44]of death, having a place assigned it after its separation from the Body, till the day of the general Resurrection, not in the Grave, but in a Mansion prepared by the Almighty for its Reception; and that through the mighty working of him that is able to subdue all things to himself, it shall again enter the same Body that was laid down, tho' the dust thereof be scattered to the four Winds of Heaven; nay, such force and vigour shall it have, that it shall as it were take up the Body; for Job posi­tively says, I shall rise out of the Earth at the last day, &c. Which being applicable to the future Tense, may be meant two ways, I shall, or will rise; for plainly foreseeing the Resurrection, he claimed it as the pro­mise of his Creator. Nay, so far were the Heathens, by the light of Nature, from doubting the immortality of the Soul, that Plato in his Phaedro thus reasons; viz. What consists not of Elements (saith he) is immortal and can neve dye. The Soul is not made of Elements nor of created matter, but came from God, and therefore it cannot dye, &c. Then may it be without difficulty granted, that the body which has been a long Compa­nion of the Souls, will once again enjoy it never more to be separated; for the Body at the Resurrection shall be incorruptible, [Page 45]and so as far from a capacity of perishing any more as the Soul; made so by him that at first created it. For St. Paul speaking of the Resurrection, saith, He shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body. The consideration of which, makes him in another place cry out, O the depth of the Riches, of the Wisdom, and Knowledge of God! How unscarchable are his Judgments, and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his Councel­lor? For by him, and through him, and to him are all things. Nay, the Resurrection of mans Body may be proved by the renew­ing of many inconsiderable Creatures, and their returning to life after they seem dead, nay, some of them thereby also changed; as who hath not observed that when a Grashopper is grown old, and hath cast his skin, a lively new shrill insect will come forth of it. From a dying & sluggish Cater­piller comes out a lively painted Butterfly. From Ants a winged Fly. The Silk-worm having spent her Bowels in weaving out her Web, after many days seeming dead and motionless, becomes a Butterfly, pro­viding for increase by laying a number of Eggs, and then expires. But above all, the Phoenix, that the Learned Lactantius writes of, may put us in mind, if not confirmed to [Page 46]us the Resurrection, for after she has liv'd in the Arabian Fields (as some affirm) about 600 years, and finding her self wasted with Age and infirmity, she gathers the sprigs of Cassei, Myrrh, Frankincense and other Aromatick combustion, when labouring with her wings, she firing them by the heat of the Sun, which in those Countreys is excessive, she expires upon the Funeral-Pile, when out of her Ashes springs a Worm, and from that Worm another Phoenix, to supply her place, Nay, further doe we not behold Grain thrown into the ground, continue there for a season as if lost and dead, but when warmth and moisture gives it force, it springs up, and bears a hundred fold: Yea, Herbs aud Plants whilst Winter with his Icy Arms grasps the Earth, seem dead retiring as it were into the Grave, and wait the Resurrection of the Spring. But to conclude as to this point the infinite love towards Man, may con­vince him that he was not made to be anni­hilated, since the second person of the Tri­nity condescended to take his nature upon him. Even he who is the Wisdom of the Father, and of whom the wise Man Testi­fies in the 3 of his Proverbs, viz. I was with God in the beginning before any thing was made: I was with him from Eternity, when he [Page 47]made the Heavens: I was there when he com­passed in the depth by a Law: I was preent when he sustained the Heavens above, and the Earth beneath: I was with him, ordering all things, and was continually delighting before him, recre­ating my self in the Earth, and my delight was with the Sons of Men.

CHAP. V. Of Monsters and monstrous Births, and the rea­son thereof, according to the Opinions of sun­dry learned Men, with serious considerations, whether Monsters are endued with reasonable Souls.

THat many monstrous Births have happened contrary to the course of Nature, is evident, not only in this but in former Ages; wherefore I shall take some pains, for the satisfaction of the Rea­der, to inquire into the cause of such pre­posterous forms.

Now a monstrous habit or shape of Bo­dy is contracted divers ways, as from Fear, sudden Frights, extraordinary Passi­on, the influence of the Stars, too much or too little Seed, the Mothers strange Ima­ginations [Page 48]and divers phantasms which the mind conceive deform the body, and ren­der the Children of an improper shape, and many times not perfect in either Sex: sometimes the whole course of Nature is changed, either when the Seeds are vita­ted, or the Instruments of Generation unfit, sot hat the natural Faculties, to pro­pagate and form the Child, cannot per­form their Office exactly: for as the most ingenious Artist can bring nothing to per­fection if his Materials be bad or out of or­der, so Nature wanting the force of her Faculties, or not having fit matter, must of necessity proceed preposterously in for­ming the Child. As in the Art of melting of Mettals it may be observed, if the matter be impure and not well cleansed, the Vessels or Receiver Oblique, and full of windings, not well joynted, the Corners set awry, and full of Chinks or Plates; if loosed or holds ill together, it is apparent men cast ill shaped Figures. So if the Womb or the Matter be unfit or ill tem­pered, 'tis impossible, without an extraor­dinary over-ruling Providence; but above all, unseasonable Copulation, or intempe­rate Venery, is the caue of so many mon­sterous shapes.

So the Low-Country Women, especially [Page 49]those living near the Sea-side, being rest­less and troubled in Copulation, bring forth mishapen Embrio's, or rude and deformed burthens, not only without motion, but some that pant and are alive, and these most commonly happen in case of Sailors or Mariners, who coming home rashly mar­ry, or run upon their Wives without any due regard to their menstrual courses, or the Wombs cleansing it self to the Season of the year, or the Moon or Suns progress through the Celestial Signs, nor are the Women without regard to the health or shape of their posterity, less desirous to re­ceive them after a long separation, which is not only exceeding hurtful to them­selves, for thence proceed not monsterous or untimely Births only, but dangerous dis­eases often to those who so rashly proceed. The first is because the Seed mixing with menstrual Blood contracts an unnatural mass of corrupt matter, which either turns to miscarriage, abortion, or a Monstrous and deformed Birth, for by that means the faculty of the Womb as I said looseth its force to Generation and Success of breeding the Child, or if it try to come to any thing it is at most some monsterous Form, not shaped like a Man, unless in some parts, which after a long continuance in the [Page 50]Womb, will come forth with great pain and labour, not unlike to this, there is an Eflux that greatly troubles such as by their inconsiderate rashness are subject to it.

Our Women, because conception begins in the fourth Moon, when the terms flow down by force, & that Planet in conjunction call it a Moon Birth, or many kinds. And some are of opinion that this conception may be made without the help of a Man, by force of Imagination, in those that are extreamly Lascivious; for that by often secing and touching their Husbands, at the same time strongly fancying themselves in the Act, their Seed flows to the Blood, and is by the heat of the Womb formed into a foul mass, but arrives at no perfection. And to the same purpose it is when Men strive against the Stream: entering into copulation in the fourth and silent Moon, and in the fourth day of its conjunction; for then not observing Natures Rules, he either loses his Labour, or Generates a monsterous Birth, ot if it change, which is almost next to a miracle to be perfect, it is by the Latins called a Birth of the fourth Moon, because the product is commonly unhappy in all the Series of its lise, having had its enterance by Generation, contra­ry to Natures order; which Moses consi­dering, [Page 51]or being so commanded by God, strictly commanded the Hebrew men not to touch a Woman that was unclean of her Blood: and these that have been so rashly profligate of either Sex, have many times by sad experience found their wilful folly too late, but especially the Female Sex; for by the violent concussion and motion used in copulation, and evil mixture, the contagion by degrees will seise upon the whole habit of the Body, causing the Pox and Leprosie: the like Effects it has upon Men, if the Woman be infected, especial­ly if he deal with Whores at such times, who commonly are infected, and may be accounted so many walking Contagions, or Emissaries of the Prince of Darkness, for the destruction of Mankind, and at this day the greatest pest and grievance of the Nation.

These things rightly considered, no man need wonder at so many mis-shapen Births and monsterous People with scald Heads, bowed and distorted Legs, Arms, and Backs, wry Necks, crumpled Feet, inci­dent to swellings and inherent Diseases, especially swellings in the Groin, Buboes, and Emerods, as also that their minds are dull, stupid, forgetful, foolish, mad, and un­reasonable, which are indeed the effects of unseasonable and unreasonable Venery, [Page 52]which every Creature but Man observes in the Season Nature has allotted; and when their Females have conceived, they desire no longer, but rest satisfied.

Therefore let Man, who is indued with a rational Soul, and ought above all other Creatures to have dominion over his appe­tite and affections, codsider how eruel he is to his posterity that brings such mischiefs upon them, and chiefly they are here to be understood that are conceived in the fourth Moon, when the Womans Courses are up­on her, therefore all men ought to refrain, neither should the Woman dare to copulate with Men, as better knowing the Season of their Courses than some rash inconsiderate and unexperienced Novices of the Mascu­line Gender do; for the Children then con­ceived want all or most of those gifts and properties that Children begotten at season­able times are endowed withal, being capa­ble of nothing that is good nor great; and if it so happen they do any thing well, they have ill Success in their Undertakings, by reason their natural Faculties are short, not by their own but their Parents fault, who undecently in Procreation violate Natures Law; whence it is that many things are wanting in them, or else given them spa­ringly, and with some ill qualities that [...]

CHAP. VIII. The Opinions of the Learned concerning Children conceived and born within the space of seven Months, with lively Arguments upon the Sub­ject, to prevent suspicions of incontinency, and the bitter Contests that thereon too often arise between Man and Wife. To which is added, Rules for knowing the disposition of Mans Body by the Genital parts.

CErtain it is, that many bitter Quar­rels have arisen thro' misunder­standing, when solid reason would have rectified the Judgment, and have pre­vented the conception of such an evil; and from whence does this arise, but through Suspicion and Jealousie, when indeed it is many times founded upon a slender Foun­dation, as the new married Womans be­ing brought to Bed before the expiration of nine months, which is vulgarly taken from the time of Conception to the Birth: to remove which groundless Suspicion, I shall endeavour, not that 'tis common dare I avouch, but that 'tis possible, and has been frequently known, that Children have been born at 7 months; but the matter being [Page 70]wholly left by the Lawyers, who decide Controversies to the Physicians to judge of, it is in their power to determine, by inspecting the Child, whether it is a Child of 7, 8, 9, or 10 months. Paul the Coun­sellor has this Passage in his nineteenth Book of Pleadings, viz. It is now a received truth, that a perfect Child may be born in the 7 month, by the Authority of the learn­ed Hypocrates. And therefore we must be­lieve, that a Child born at the end of the 7th month, in lawful Matrimony, may be lawfully begotten. Gallen, in the 6th Chap­ter of his third Book, handleth this Argu­ment, but rather according to Mens Opini­ons than according to the truth of the bu­siness, or from natural Reasons, who sup­poseth there is no certain time set for bear­ing Children. And from the Authority of Pliny, who makes mention of a Woman that went 13 months with Child: but as to what concerns the 7th month saith Lemni­us, I know many married People in Hol­land that had Twins, who lived to extream Old Age, their Bodies lusty, and their Minds apt and lively; wherefore their Opinion is foolish, and or no moment, who assert that at 7 months a Child cannot be perfect and long lived, and that he cannot in all parts be perfect till [Page 71]the 9th Month: and thereupon this Learn­ed Author proceeds to tell a passage from his own knowlege, as follows: Of late saith he, there happened a great disturbance amongst us, which ended not without Blood shed; and was occasioned by a Vir­gin, whose Chastity had been violated, descending of a noble Family, and ever be­fore that time held to be of unspotted fame. Now several there were who charged the Fact upon a Person of Note, viz. a Judge President of a City in Flanders, who strongly denyed the Fact, saying that he was ready to swear it upon the holy Evan­gelist, that he never so much as penetrated her Body, or broke the Membrane of her Virginity, and that he would by no means therefore be taken for the Father of the Child that was not his: and further alledg­ed that he verily believed that it was a Child born in seven Months, and that him­self was many miles distance from the Mo­ther of it when it was conceived, where­upon the Judges before whom the hearing was, decreed That the Child should be viewed by Able Physicians, as also Experi­enced Women, and that they should make their report, who having made diligent inquiry, all of them with one accord, con­cluded the Child (without respecting [Page 72]who was the Father) was a Child Born within the space of Seven Months, that it was carryed in the Mothers Womb but 27 Weeks, and some odd Days, but if she could have carried it to full 9 Months, the Childs Parts and Limbs would have been more firm and strong, and the Sructure of the Body more compact and fast, for the Skin was exceeding loose, and the Brest­bone that defends the Heart, and the Sword-like Gristie that lies over the Stomach were higher than naturally then should be, not plain but crocked, and sharp Ridged, or pointed like those of young Chickens that are hatched at the beginning of the Spring. And being a Female Infant, it wanted its Nailes upon her Fingers, and the outmost Joynts of her Fingers upon which from the Musculous or Cartilaginous matter of the Skin, Nails that are very smooth do come, and by degrees harden, she had in­stead of Nails a thin Skin or Film: as for her Toes there was not the least appear­ance of Nailes about them, by reason they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart. These and the like weighty matters being considered, and above all, one Gentlewo­man of quality that assisted, affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children, [Page 73]and that divers of them had been born, and lived a 7 Months, they without favour to any party made their report that the infant was a Child of 7 Months, and so must be accounted though it was born within the seventh Month, for that in such cases the revolution or circute of the Moon ought to be observed, which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less then 28 days, in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the Moons force, the Courses of the Woman flow from them, which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood, which happens on the 5th day, then if on the 7th day a Man lye with his Wife, the copulation is most natural, and the conception best, and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month, and prove very healthful, so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent, upon proof that he was a hundred miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot: own as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father, being forced in the dark and that through fear and surprize was left in ignorance: though Physitians are of opi­nion, that if a Woman prove with Child, it cannot be accounted a Rape, for unless she cast forth her Seed to commix with the [Page 74]Man (which imploys a willingness in her to be a Copartner in the Act,) the Child cannot be formed: but my opinion is, that poor silly Girls, strugling to defend them­selves in case of such violence, and not in such fear and perplexity regarding the ni­cety of containing their Humour, the Semi­nary Vessels by an natural proneness will open, and the Seed in such cases, whether they desire it or not, will flow, to commix with the Mans in the Matrix, and by coa­gulating with the Blood that descends to nourish, it will form the Child: and thus much for these particulars.

For for Copulation, it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in health, lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Childen so begot­ten, creating in them, through the abun­dant ill humour, divers lingering and lan­guishing Diseases; wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man, wherefore Midwives and other skilful Women, in former days were wont to see the Testicles of Children, thereby to conjecture or guess at their tem­per and state of Body, and young men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of life and death, for if the cases of the Testi­cles be loose and feeble, and the Cods fall down, it denotes the natural faculties and [Page 75]vital Spirits, whichare the props of Life, are fallen: but if the Secret parts be wrink­led and raised up, the Yard, at any occa­sion so requiring, standing stif, it is a Sign all will be well: but that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction, it is necessa­ry to consider what part of the Body the disease possesseth: for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted, as he Head or Stomach, then will it not so well appear by the Members, which frequently are un­concerned with such grievances; but the lower part of the body exactly sympathi­zing with them, their liveliness, on the contrary, makes it apparent; for Natures force and the Spirits that have their inter­course, first manifest themselves therein, which occasions Midwives often to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident, and whether life or death be portended thereby, the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Ves­sels that have their intercourse with the principal Seats of Life.

CHAP. IX. The cause of the Green sickness in Virgins, with its Symptoms and Directions for its cure; To­gether with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women, and by what means to remove the Cause, and render them fruitful.

THE sormer of these ill conveniencies is too apparent in Virgins, espe­cially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion, evidently shewing it self by discolouring the Face, in making it look green, pale, or of a dusky yellow, which proceeds from raw undigested humours, nor only does it appear to the Eye, but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses, with difficulty of breathing, pains in the Head, Palpitation of the Heart, unusual beating and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples, Neck and Back, many times casting them into Fevers, if the humour be very vicious, also loathing of meat, and distension of the Hypocondrick part, by reason of the inordinate reflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels, and by reason of the abundance of humour, the whole body is often troubled with swelling, or if not at [Page 77]least the Thighs, Legs, and Ankles all above the Heels.

Now this affliction proceeds from crude, raw, and undigested Humours arising from the suppression of the monthly Courses, by reason of the natural narrowness of the Vessels, or their accidental Contraction by violent motion, but oftner through eating Chalk, Oat-meal, Tobacco-pipes, Loame, Starch, Nutmegs, and drinking of Vine­gar, for thereby an ill Concoction in the Bowels is occasioned, and the Humours moreover contracted into the habit of the body, become habitual, and concordant with it: many of these Afflictions happen through the long Retention of the Seed, when Virgins are ripe for the Act of Ge­neration; which vitiating, the Vessels spread it into evil Humours: There­fore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause, is matrimonial Conjunction, and such Copulation as may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted; for by that means the Humours being diffused and dispressed, they will soon wast themselves, and then no more matter being admini­stred to increase them, they will vanish, and a good temperament of Body will re­turn: but in case such a Conjunction cannot be had so soon as necessity requires, then let [Page 78]the Damsel blood in the Heel, and if she be about 16, you may do it likewise in the Arm, though sufer her not to bleed over­much, especially if any pure blood come forth, for then the vitiated Humour cling­ing to the Veins will stay behind, and that bloods loss render her less capable to oppose them. If the diseases be of any continu­ance, then is itto be eradicated by purga­tion, preparation of the Humour being first considered, which may be done by the Virgins drinking decoction of Guaicum, with Dittany of Creet: but the best Purge in this case ought to be made of Aloes, Agrick, Juice of Lavin, Succorrina; and for the un­obstructing of the Humour, take prepared Steel, Bazoar-stone, the Root of Scorzone­ra, and Oyl of Christal in small Wine, and let the Diet be moderate, but in no wise let Vinegar be used therewith, nor upon any other occasion. And in so observing, the Humours will be dilated, dissipated, and transfused, by which means the Complexi­on will return, and the Body be lively and full of vigour. And now since Barrenness daily occasions discontent, and that discon­tent creates difference between Man and Wife, or by immoderate grief frequently easts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper; I shall somewhat largely treat thereof.

This defect comes divers ways, but most commonly through the defect of the Geni­tals, Vessels, Blood or Menstrum: and of these I shall discourse in their order, and then proceed to mention other matters Re­lating to the same subject. The defect then in the Genitals frequently happens in Wo­men through the strict closure of the mouth of the Womb, which by that means denies the Seed entrance, or through the nar­rowness of the parts or share-bone, that will not admit the Yard entrance, or ma­ny times by reason of some Ulcers of excre­cencies in the neck of the Womb, to which may be added the defect of the Seed, by rea­son of some Distemper in the Generative Vessels, which the Woman may perceive by the little, or no satisfaction she receives in the act of copulation; sometimes again Children are wanting, when the Woman being too young, her Courses are not come down, or that she is so old they cease to flow: For tis the opinion of the Learned, that when the Courses are wanting, the Man labours in vain, and further it may be attributed to the want of Seed, when there is not a due proportion of either Party, or when by reason of some cold moist Hu­mours flowing into the Womb, it loseth it's attractive force, and cannot draw the [Page 80]Seed to its proper place or station.

Now if the Orifice of the Womb be clo­sed, that the Seed cannot enter, it must be opened by incision, or rather the two wings or Nymphae, which many times extend themselves over the Clytoris, so far that the Yard cannot pass the neck of the Womb: and subject to this defect in Na­ture are many Women, especially in hot Countries, but most of all in Egypt, where the Chyrurgeons are forced with Silver In­struments, to make way for the Instru­ment of Generation, a thing not altogether unpracticable in England.

In case the neck of the Womb be so strait that the Yard cannot enter, then is the case to be inquired into, whether it be natural­ly so, or proceed from some swelling, or Schirrhus either within or without, and if any such thing appears, it is for the most part incureable, but if it be a natural strait­ness, then supple it with a Tent dipped in Oyl of Roses and the white of Eggs, and drink Chamomile Posser sweetned with Sugar-Candia, morning and evening: and by the operation thereof, the Womb which is of a reaching quality, will in all parts distend and give way to the Instru­ment of Generation, or if it so happen in a young Woman, Nature will increase the [Page 81]passage, and time produce things fitting to their mutual Satisfaction; but let no man by violence endeavour in attempting Copu­lation to force the Passage, lest he break the Vessels, nay indanger the Bladder it self, which has been broke with such violent Intrusion, and so cost the Woman her life.

If the neck of the Womb be ulcerated, or any Excresenses happen there, which equal­ly hinder Copulation, then may they be known by the pain and shooting upon the least compressure, and the issuing forth of putrid Humours, and sometimes Blood if the Ulcers be great, and the Terms flow, the Water hot, pains arising in the fore part of the Head, and oftentimes they oc­casion gentle Fevers.

And these Obstructions of Generation happen divers ways, as from external cau­ses, viz. Rash Physick, hard Labour, or excessive Copulation; from internal causes, as the Corruption of the Secundine, the Courses too long retained, or obstructed heat, and overflowing of the Urinal Vessels, Virulent Gonorrhaeas, Pox, Inflammation turned into Apostume, Humours flowing from divers parts of the Body, and setling there; all which must be duely considered.

Now some are in the outward part, and may be the easier come at, and external [Page 82]plications as are most convenient applied thereto; but those that cannot be come at, must be cured if possible by injection: the best injection in this case is as follows; viz.

Break four Eggs, and take the Whites only, the which beat with an equal quan­tity of Rose-water, mingled with Plantain-water, Litherage of Gold, Camphire, Bole-Armonick, Ceruse, of each a dram, half a dram of Green Copperas, all which well beaten, dissolved, and mixed together, strained through a fine Cloath, and with a Syrringe inject it Morning and Evening till the grief cease; and if it smart that it can­not be well endured, you may sometimes inject warm Milk to cleanse the puttified matter.

Others there are that are not so violent, and therefore admit of any easie Cure, n [...]t being so deep, known by a putrid Greenish matter that flows from them. To cure this, take Water wherein Barley has been boiled, Honey of Roses, new Milk and Sugar, with the decoction of Lentils, and after them gentle Astringents must be applied. Some again are sordid, having much contagious Humour flowing from them; to cure which, stronger Medicaments must be applied: others there are that eat into the Flesh, having a green Contagion [Page 83]flowing from them, to cleanse which Aloes and Wormwood concocted in white Wine are most requisite.

Another sort of Ulcers there are which appear long cating away the skin from off the Neck of the Wood, and are discerned by the Blood and pain the occasion, imme­diatly upon the concression appearing in the Neck of the Womb, much like Chilblains, occasioned by ill lying, extraordinary Vene­ry, by violent inflammation or flux of sharp humours: The best cureafter a gentle purge, is an astringent Glyster, and after that to anoint them with the Grease that fryes out of a Ladle often used in a Kitchen, when it is held to the fire, mixed with an oyntment called Pomarum, if the defect be in the Seed through tenderness of age in the Woman, so that her menstrual Blood not coming down, flow not to it, then the best remedy is, convenient diet, moderate exercise and temperate Air, to­gether with patience in the main, till nature in process of time operates so effectually that all things appear and conspire to mu­tual satisfaction.

If the Woman be stricten in years, and it cease to be with her after the Custom of Women, that is her Courses are stayed, which in some happens sooner, and in some [Page 84]later, and between 44 and 55 with all them unless strong preparatives, viz. an Extra­ordinary diet, easie longing, and moderate exercise restore them, those Woman must despair of further Generation: for as the learned in this Art frequently observe, where there is neither Buds nor Blossoms there can to no Fruit.

If any obstruction happen in the Vessels of Generation, that the Seed has no free passage, then the cause must be enquired into, and this often happens, the which is known by the small desire to Ve­nery, and the little or no pleasure or satis­faction received thereby, a settling in the Courses, and a slimy F [...]gmatick matter mixed therewith, as also by their inordi­nate flowing occasioned by the plenty of humours collected in the Womb, which by reason of the abundant of windy Va­pours contracted therein causes obstruction, to which may be added the cruditie and wateryness of the Seed, which debars the pleasure in ejection, and from hence it is that sudden paleness arises in the face, &c. To remedy this, the party must alter her Diet, not eating any cold, raw, Flegma­tick substance, but rather such things as are apt to stir up Cholerick, hot humours in the Body, as Anniseeds, or Carraway­seeds [Page 85]in her Bread, Store of Peniroyal in her Broth, let her likewise each morning for a week together make a Posset, in which she must boil the Roots of Birthwort, Angeli­co, Sage, Rosemary, Cinamon and Bur­rage: The takeing the Male Herb Mercu­ry, Dittany, Centaury, Marygolds, Cu­beds, Safron, Mugwort and Clovegilly-flowers, of each a handful, boil them in white Wine, and eject the Concoction by little and little at sundry times, as the cold or obstruction can be perceived, Anoint­ing the Belly and Reins of the back, one day with Oyl of Cinamon, the next with Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace, and the 3d. with Oyl of Myrrh, and so continuing to do for a month together. When the Woman lies down, Nature will be wonderfully restored and recover such force as to re­move to Obstructions.

Barrenness is likewise caused through want of due proportion of Seed in either party, to remedy which, let their Diet be such as I have prescribed in the former part of this Book, Chap. II. Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by inchantation, but those opinion s are altogether frivolous and vain.

If the Womb be defective in attracting the Seed ejected, Men frequently labour in [Page 86]vain: in such a case the Woman must avoid Sorrow, Anger, or much Sleep, Eating new Cheese, Milk, and raw food, espe­cially Lettis, Endive, Spinage, Beets, Nuts, Cherries, Purstain, Oynions Gar­lick, and the like, They all being hurtful to Generation: nor must she drink nor use Vinegar, nor eat the Fat of Meat too fre­quently, but the Womb must be cleansed from the over abundant moisture, with the decoction of Hearts Tongue (a Herb so called) Cummin, Fenel, and Anniseed, and strengthned with the Sirup of Wormwood, and for a gentle opperative Purge in this case, take half an ounce of Laudanun, Bees­wax, Sheeps Suet, and Agarick, of each a like quantity, melt and bruise them, after which make them up into little Pills and take 3 in a morning, and next to them take of this conception to the bigness of an Nutmeg, viz. The shavings of Ivory, Ash Keys, Yellow and wild Rape-seed, Sil­er, Montanus, with red and white Behen, of each one Dram, Cinaman, Galinga, Long-pepper, Cloves and Mace Balsam­wood, Rosemary Flowers, Blatiae, Beza­ria, Gentle Marjorum and Pennyroyal, of each 4 Scruples, Balm, Bogluss, Cittern, Reils, of each two Scruples, Pearl disolv­ed or beaten to power one Scruple, Musk [Page 87]two Grains, White-Sugar one pound and a half, bruise them and seeth them over a gentle fise, in as much Malmsey as will make them into a Confection. This Con­fection is indeed a most singular and ap­proved one in all cases of Barrenness, where cold or obstructions of the Vessels do occa­sion weakness in the Womb.

Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows far, so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its Bounds with its fatness, obstructs the Pas­sage into the Womb; to prevent which, the Woman must not sleep over much, espe­cially in the day time, nor feed riotously, but exercise her self in walking, or mode­rate Exercises, and often use Purgation and strong Glysters made of such Herbs and Drugs that are hot and dry, which will in a short time remove such Obstructions.

But a more dangerous cause of Barren­ness than yet I have named, are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of an excrementitious Humour, collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood, incident to Yonng and Old, at such times as they are capable of Generation; and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art, and renders Women inevitably barren, occasi­oning [Page 88]Leanness, Consumption, Melanchol­ly, Dropsie, falling of the Womb, swoon­ing, Convulsions, which renders it diffi­cult and dangerous in long continuance, though in the beginning it may be easily re­moved. In the Cure of this, let Phlebotomy, or Blood letting, be avoided, for as much as the bad Humour must be by no means recalled to defile the Blood, the Disease it self being a sufficient weakning of the Bo­dy and vital Spirits. First, then to discuss the Humour, in order to its Expurgation, take two ounces of Guaicum, the like quan­tity of China, and Lentick-wood, decoct them in Water and Honey, drinking a pint fresh made each morning: then to dry [...]p the Contraction of the Vessels, or Hu­mour that lodged there, take the Root of [...]ilipendula, beat it to powder, and drink it in White-wine Morning and Evening: as also for Astringents, use Bones burnt and beat to powder, likewise the ashes of Capons Dung ejected after a long time steeping in fair water: the Patient must likewise avoid sleeping upon her Back, lest the Humour descend and contract in the Vessels of the Womb, but let her be rubbed often to dis­perse them, that they settle not in any one place.

Sometimes this occasion of Barrenness [Page 89]happens through the violent attraction of the VVomb, and then appears signs of af­flictions of the Womb, the Fiux not being so great, to cure which Suffumarions are the most proper, and those may be made of Frankinsence, Laudanum, Santa­lum, or Mastick: the Woman upon such occasion, having great regard to her self that she take not cold, or proceed to in­temperate Diet.

Many women there are whose violent lust contracts a heat that destroys the Seed, and renders it incapable of coagulating, and mixing with the Blood, which very sparingly on such occasions flow from the several parts to the womb: In this case 'tis requisite to avoid hot Air, soft lying, hot Meats and Spices, and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein, and Purge moderately with Electuary h [...]m de Epithijmo, and juice of Roses, each two drams and a half, Whey half a pint, mix them together and drink them fasting in the morning, and so conti­nue 4 hours after, or for want of the for­mer, you may take Triphera Sarasenicia and Rhuberb, of each half a dram, pulverized and mixed with 2 ounces of Syrup of Roses, Violets, or Endive; but the most excellent re­storative to cool and moderate the Temper in this case, is a Diet drink made as follow­eth, [Page 90] viz. Take Pistacho, Pingles, and Eringoes, of each half an ounce, of Saffron a Dram, Lignum, Alloes, Gallinga, Ca­ryophillata, Mace, red and white Behen, and Baulm flowers, of each 4 Scruples, shavings of Ivory, Rind of Cassia, each two Scruples, Syrup of Confected Giner twelve ounces. White Sugar six ounces, add to these 12 ounces of Baulem water, and set them over a gentle Fire, permitting them to seeth, then take it off, suffer it to cool, and put more water to it, stiring the ingre­dient, lastly increasing them with a Scruple and a half of Musk and Amber, then strain out the Liquid prt and boil it up again in­to a Conserve, of which let the Woman eat 3 times a day, but not exceeding the bigness of a Walnut at a time. The times most convenient are Mornings, Noons, nad Nights, and this let her continue till she finds her body in good temper.

Another occasion of Barrenness proceeds from the obstruction of the Courses, in which case open the Basilick Vein, and take from thence a moderate quantity of Blood, after which take Hiera composita, and Oppopanax, of each half a dram, and a dram of Syrup of Gilliflowers, make them into [...] Pills, take them in the Morning and sleep upon them a considerable time, then [Page 91]drink off half a pint of Sugered water, and 3 hours after, a portion of Syrup of Vine­gat compounded: for want of this take Syrup of Eupatory 3 quarters of an ounce, Female-Mugwort, and Elecampaine Root, of each an ounce, with Syrup of Vinegar a proportionable quantity, mix them toge­ther, and take them, when made into an Electuary, Morning and Evening, to the quantity of an Hazel Nut at a time; and if the Courses flow not within a short time after, let a pessary of Musk, Amber, Wood of Aloes, and Ash-Keys, of each 2 Grains, Saffron half a Scruple, Hares Renet an ounce, be put into the Womb Tent-wise, and continue there for the space of a day, and it will remove the Obstruction, cause the Courses to flow, and in short time ren­der the Woman capable of Generation. And thus, Reader, have I, with much cau­tion, performed my promise in these par­ticulars; and the next thing I shall proceed to, amongst other matters relating to the Mystery of Generation, are the signs of Virginity, &c.

CHAP. X. Virginity what it is, in what it consists, and how violated; together with the Opinions of the Learned in the point of mutation of Sexes in the Womb, during the Operation of Nature in framing the Body.

SEeing many ignorant people have boa­sted their Knowledge as to the first Particular, and some Virgins have un­dergone hard Censures through the igno­rant Determinations of such as have taken upon them to discuss the matter; I thought it altogether necessary to clear the Point, that so for the future the Conceited might not be indulged in their vain opinion, nor by traducing others prejudice the Female Sex, whose vertues are frequently such as do not only require our admiration, but imitation. Then since the mysterious word Virginity has puzled many to define it, I mean the cause from whence it arises, for the Word barely in it self signifies the prime chief, or best of any thing: but as to the point in hand, the main matter bears the following Construction. It is observed by the curious Searchers into Natures Secrets, [Page 93]that in young Maids or Females, that in the Secret place about the S [...]mus Pudoris, or rather by some vulgarly called the Neck of the Womb, is that pendulous production by some called the Hymen, but more right­ly the Claustrum Virginale, and in French it is termed the Button de Rose, or Roses Bud, for that it much resembles the Bud of a Rose, expended, or a Clove Gilliflower, from whence it derived the Word D [...]floro, to de­flower, or the deflowring of Virgins, be­cause most are of opinion that the Virginity is altogether annihilated when this Dupli­cation is fractured and dissipated by vio­lence, and that when it is found perfect and intire no penetratio has been made. Also some learned Physicians are of opinion, that there is no other Hymen or Skin expand­ed containing Blood in it, which divers imagine, in the first Copulation, flows from the fractured expanse.

Now this Claustrum Virginale, or Flower, is as it were composed or consisting of 4 Ca­runcles, or little Buds like Mirtle-berries, which in Virgins are full and plump, but in Women flag and hang loose; and these are placed in the four Angles of the Sinus Pudo­ris, joyned or held together by little Mem­branes and Ligatures like Fibres, each of them situate in the Intresticles or Spaces [Page 94]between each Caruncle, with which in a manner they are proportionably distended, which Membranes being once delacerated, denote devirgination, and many curious Coxcombs prying into this Secret the first night of their Marriage, and finding their Wives defective in this point, have [...]ver after held them in evil esteem, concluding it happened thro' the effect of Copulation with some other, who had been enter­tained in the Chambers of Venus. Nay, one I knew that upon this vain [...]ancy took such conceit, that he would never copulate with his Wife: when to undeceive such Idiots, it is affirmed by the Learned, that such fra­cture may happen divers ways by accident as well as Copulation with man, viz. by extraordinary straining, violent coughing, immoderate sneezing, stopping of Urine, and violent motion of the Vessels, inforcibly sending down the humours, which pressing for passage, break the Ligatures or Mem­brane, so that the intireness or fracture of this thing, commonly taken for the Virgi­nity or Maiden-head, is [...]o absolute Sign of dishonesty: tho' certain it is, that in Co­pulation 'tis more frequently broke than otherwise.

Once at an Assize held for the County of Rutland, a young Man was put upon Tryal [Page 95]of life and death, which Tryal was foun­ded upon an indictment, for forcing a Vir­gin, when after divers questions asked, and the Maid swearing positively to the matter, naming the time, place, and manner of the Action, it was upon mature Deliberation resolved, that she should be searched by a skilful Chirurgeon and two Midwives, who were to make their report upon their Oaths, which after due Examination they accordingly did affirm, that the Mem­branes were intire and unfractured, and that it was their Opinion, for that reason, that her Body had not been penetrated, which so far wrought with the Jury, that the Prisoner was acquitted, and the Maid afterward confessed she swore against him out of revenge, because he had promised to marly her, and then declined it. And thus much concerning Virginity: and now I shall proceed to the second particular, which is, Reader, to shew you the Opini­ons of divers learned men to relation to Natures operation in changing Sexes in the Womb.

This Point is of much necessity, by rea­son of the different Opinions of Men re­lating to it. Therefore before any thing positive can be asserted, it will be altoge­ther convenient to recite what has been de­livered, [Page 96]as well in the negative as the affir­mative. And first of the first Severius Pli­naeus, who argues for the negatives writes thus. The Genital parts (saith he) of both Sex, are so unlike each other, in Substance, Composition, Scituation, Figure, Action and Use, that nothing is more unequal, and by how much more all other parts of the body, (the Brests excepted, which in Wo­men swell more, because of their secondary use) have an exact resemblance so much the more, in resemblance are the Genital parts of one Sex, compared with the other una­like, and if their Figure he thus different, much more is their use, for Women contri­bute the matter, but Men the form in case of Generation. The Venerial Appetite also proceeds from different causes, for in Men it proceeds from a desire of Emission, and in Women from a desire of Completion, in Women also the chiefest of those parts are concave and apt to receive, but in Men they are only porous, and in a Woman Solid.

These things considered, I cannot but wonder (added he how any one can ima­gine that the Genital Member of Female Births should be changed into those that be­long to Males) since by those parts only the difference and distinction of Sexes is made, [Page 97]nor can I well impute the reason of this vulgar Error to any thing but the mistake of unexpert Midwives, who have been de­ceived by the evil conformation of the parts which in some Male Births may have happened to have had some small protru­sion, not to have been discerned as appear­ed by the example of a Child Christned at Paris, by the Name of Joan, as if it had been a Girl, when as afterwards it proved a Boy, and on the contrary the over-far ex­tension of the Clytoris in Female Births, may have occasioned the like mistakes. Thus far Plinaeus proceeds in the negative, yet notwithstanding his negation there are not wanting divers learned Physicians that have asserted the affirmative, of which num­ber Galen is one, a Man (saith he) is differ­ent from a Woman in nothing else but ha­ving his Genital members without his body: and this is certain, that if Nature having formed a Man, would convert him into a Woman; she hath no other task to perform, but to turn his Genital member inward, & a Woman into a Man by doing the contra­ry. But this is to be understood of the Child when it is in the Womb, and not perfect­ly formed, for divers times Nature hath made a Female Child, and it has so remain­ed in the Belly of the Mother for a month [Page 98]or two, and afterward plenty of heat in­creasing in the Genital Members, upon some occasion they have issued forth, and the Child has become a Male, yet retain­ing some certain Gestures, unbefitting the Masculine Sex, as Female Actions, a shrill Voice, and more feeble than ordinary, con­trariwise, Nature often having made a Male, and cold Humours flowing to it, the Genitals have been inverted, yet still retaining a Man like fashion, both in Voice and Gesture.

Now these opinions considered, I am rather inclinable to believe the latter as a thing altogether probable, for there is not that vast difference between the Members of the two Sexes, as Plinaeus would have us believe there is, for the Woman has in a manner the same Members with the Man, though they appear not outwardly, but are inverted for the conveniency of Genera­tion, the main difference being that one is more solid than the other, and that the chief reason of changing Sexes is, and must be attributed to heat or cold suddainly or stowly contracted, which operates accord­ing to its greater or lesser force. And thus much for these two particulars, leaving which I shall proceed to lay down seasona­ble and necessary instructions or directions [Page 99]for Midwives, &c. opening in that dis­course a Cabinet of many rare Secrets not vulgarly known, and indeed only fiting to be known to such as may observe and put them in practice for the publick good, and in no wise convert them to obscenity.

CHAP. XI. A Midwife, how she ought to be qualified.

THose that undertake this great task, ought by no means to enter upon it rashly or unadvisedly, but with all imaginable caution, well eighing and preconsidering that she is accountable for all the mischief that befalls thro' her wil­ful ignorance or neglect; therefore let not unskilful Women take upon them this Office, barely upon pretence of their Ma­turity of Years and Child-bearing, for in such for the most part there are divers things wanting that ought to be observed, which is the occasion so many Women and Children are lost: now as for a Midwife, in relation to her Person these things ought to be observed, viz. She must not be too [Page 100]old nor too young; neither extraordinary fat, nor weakned by leanness, but in a good habit of Body, not subject to Diseases, Fear, nor sudden Frights; her Body well shaped, and neat in her attire, her Hand smooth and small, her Nails ever paired short, not suffering any Rings to be upon her Fingers during the time she is doing her Office, nor any thing upon her Wrists that may obstruct: and to these ought to be added Activity & a convenient Strength, with much cution and diligence: not sub­ject to Drowziness nor Impatience.

As for her Manners, she ought to be courteous, affable, sober, chast, and not subject to Passion; bountiful and compassi­onate to the Poor, and not covetous when she attends upon the Rich.

Her Temper chearful and pleasant, that she may the better comfort her Patients in their Afflictions: nor must she at any time make over-much hast, tho' her business be urgeht in another place, lest by indanger­ing the Mother or the Child she disgrace her Self, and forfeit Heavens Blessing upon her Endeavours for the future.

Of Spirit she ought to be prudent, wary and cunning, but above all, to have the fear of God before her Eyes, and to imploy the Talent he has lent her to his Glory.

CHAP. XII. Things worthy to be observed by Midwives, tend­ing to their Advancement, and what they ought to avoid, &c.

LET her that undertakes this Office, attended with many circumstances of danger and disgrace, take good heed to what I shall relate. In the first place, let her be diligent to leave nothing unsearched which may be advantagious to her practice, never imagining her self so perfect but she may add to her Knowledge by study and experience; yet never let her apply any remedies in that case, unless she has tryed them, or known them tryed with Success, or at least is conscious of their force, that they will do no harm, doing nothing in that nature, to practice upon poor or rich, but speaking freely of what she knows, and giving reason for the farther Confirmation thereof, by no means daring to give directi­ons for such Medicines as will cause Abor­tion, to pleasure those that have unlawful­ly conceived, which to do, is a high degree of Wickedness, and may be ranked with Murther: but if any come to her with spe­cious [Page 102]pretences, let her send them to able Physicians, and neither for fair words nor lucre be won to hearken to them. If she be sent for, let her know to whom she goes, and be careful therein, lest by laying any one that has an infectious Disease, as the Pox, &c. she get it, and so spoil other Wo­men, as a Midwife once did, who laying a Strumpet, that had an inveterate Pox, which occasioning a Bubo upon her right hand, and she not leaving off her Calling, spoiled divers Women, nor the Women only, but the Men also, to whom it was communicated by their Wives, which made them think hard of each other, and for a long time could not imagine how it hap­pened; but at last it was discovered by an able Physician, and the Midwife for ever after barr'd her Practice, and not so only, but followed with Curses even to her Grave. She must likewise observe, that she enter­tains no great belly'd Women at Bed and Board in her House, lest thereby she bring a Scandal upon her Self, and so lose her Practice. If the Birth at any time be hard and difficult, she must not be dismayed, but chear up the Woman, and try her utmost Skill to make the Labour easie, Directions for which shall hereafter be incerted; nor must she ever think of any thing but doing [Page 103]well, and using her utmost skill, causing all necessary things that are proper for the work, consolation of the Woman, and re­ception of the Child to be in a readyness; and above all let her use her diligence, ei­ther by perswasion or otherwise, to keep the Woman from being unruly in her pangs, least thereby she destroy both her self and her Child, and not in any wise to proceed too hasty in her business, but wait Gods leasure in all things, and by no means let her suffer her wits to scatter, by dismay or doubt, if things go not well, for fear it disorders the senses, and a Person that keeps her wits together, is capable of give­ing assistance in weighty affairs, for when we are most at a plunge, then there is most need of prudence to set things right. And seeing she can never be an expert Midwife that has no further knowledge than of the external parts, I shall not think it amiss briefly with modesty, to proceed in des­cribing the generative part of Woman; as they have been Anatomized, by the learn­ed of the present and past ages, and shew the use of such Vessels, &c. as are contri­buting to Generation.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Genitals of Women, External and Inter­nal to the Vessels of the Womb.

WAs it not for the benefit of Practi­tioners and Professors of the Art of Midwifry, I should above all things spare to Treat of these particulars because they may be turned by some Lascivious and lude Person into ridicule, but they being absolutely necessary to be known. I will hope the best, and proceed in order.

At the Bellies Inferior parts is the Pubis where when Virgins come to maturitie; Nature has ordained a covering of Hair to hide as it were the Secret parts, and shroud 'em from any ill conveniency, when des­cending downward there appears two clo­sures of Flesh as it were Lips, which are the Portals of the Pallace of Generation, giving enterance into the more Secret and Abstruse parts, and between these being the Exterior Orifice, it is properly called the privy Member composed of protuber­ances, and are accounted two soft oblong bodies, composed of Skin and a spongy kind of Flesh.

The next things that offer are the Nim­phae and Clytoris; the former of which are of a Membrany and flimy Substance, spongy, soft, and partly Fleshy, being of a bloody colour, in the shape of Wings, two in number, though from their rise they are joyned in an acute Angle, producing there a fleshly Substance which cloaths the Cly­toris, and many times they spread so far, that incision is required to make way for the Mans Instrument of Generation.

The Clytoris is a substance in the upper part of the Division, where the two Wings concur and is the Seat of venerial Pleasure, being like a Yard in Situation, Substance, Composition and Erection, growing some­times out of the Body two Inches, but that rarely happens, unless thro' extream lust or extraordinary accident. But to proceed, this Clytoris consists of two spongy and skinny Bodies, containing a distinct Ori­ginal from the Pubis Bone, the Head of it being covered with a tender skin, having a hole or passage like the Yard of a Man tho' not quite through, in which, and the bigness, it only differs from it.

The next things in course are the Fleshy Knobs, and the great Neck of the Womb. And these Knobs are behind the Wings, be­ing four in number, much resembling Mir­tle [Page 106]berries, being placed in quadrangle one against the other, and in this place is in­certed the Orifice of the Bladder, which opens it self into the Sissure to evacuate the Urin, for securing of which from Cold, or the like inconveniency, one of these Knobs are placed before it, and shuts up the Passage.

The Lips of the Womb that next ap­pear, being separated, disclose the Neck thereof, in which two things are to be ob­served, viz. The Neck it self, and the Hy­men, but more properly the Claustrum Vir­ginule, of which I have before discoursed. By the Neck of the Womb is to be under­stood, the Channel that is between the aforesaid Knobs, and the inner Bone of the Womb which receives the Yard like a Sheath; and that it may the better be de­lated for the pleasure of Procreation, the Substance of it is smewy and a little spon­gy, and in this Concavity are divers folds or Orbicular Plights made by Tunicles, wrinkled like an expanded Rose; in Vir­gins they plainly appear, but Women that have been used often in Copulation they are extinguished; so that the inner side of the Wombs Neck appears smooth, and in old Women it becomes more hard and grifley: And now note, that although this [Page 107]channel be sometimes writhed and crooked sinking down, yet in the time of copula­tion, labour, or the monthly Courses, it is erected and extended, which over Ex­tension occasioned the great pain in Child-Birth.

The Hymen or Claustrum Virginale, is that which closes the Neck of the Womb, being as I have before cited in the Chapter relating to Virginity, broken in the first copulation, its use being rather to stay the untimely Courses in Virgins than to any other end, and commonly when it is broke in copulation or by any other accident, a small quantity of Blood flows, with some small pain passing. Hence it is observed that between the duplicitiy of the two Tunicles which constitute the Neck of the Womb, there are many veins and arteries running along, and arising from the Vessels, descend­ing on both sides the Thighs, and passing in­to the Neck of the Womb, being extream­ly large, and the reason of their largements is for that the Neck of the Bladder requires to be filled with abundance of Spirit, there­by to be extended and dilated for its bet­ter taking hold of the Yard, great heat be­ing requied in such motions, which be­coming more intense by the act of fricati­on, does comsume a considerable quantity [Page 108]of moisture in supplying, which large Ves­sels are altogether necessary.

Another cause of the longness of these Vessels there is, viz. By reason the month­ly Courses have their way through them which often occasions Women with Child to continue their purgations, for although the Womb is shut up, yet the passage in the Neck of the womb through which these Vessels pass, are open: In this cause there is further to be observed, that as soon as you penetrate the Female Siffure or pu­dendum, there appear two little pits or holes, wherein is contained a contract hu­mour, which by being expugned in time of Copulation, greatly delights the Woman.

CHAP. XIV. A description of the Wombs Fabrick, the prepa­ring Vessels, and Tisticles in Women, as also of the different, or Ejaculatory Vessels.

IN the lower part of the Hypogastrion, where the Lips are widest and broa­dest (they being greater and broader thereabouts, then those of Men, which is [Page 109]the reason they have likewise broader But­tocks then men,) is the womb joyned to its Neck, and is placed between the Bladder and the streight Gut, which keep it from swaying or rowling, yet give it liberty to stretch and delate it self, and again to con­tract as nature in that cause disposes it: Its figure is in a manner round, and not unlike a Gourd, lessening a little, and growing more acute toward one end the bottom, being knit together by its proper Liga­ments, its Neck likewise is joyn'd by its own substance, & certain membranes that fasten it to Os Sacrum, and the Share-bone. As to its largeness that much differs in women, especially the difference is great between such as have born Children, and those that have born none: In substance it is so thick that it exceeds a Thumbs breadth, which after Conception is so far from decreasing that it augments to a greater proportion, and the more to strengthen and confirm it, it is interwoven with Fibres overthwart strait, and winding, and its proper Ves­sels are Veins, Arteries and Nerves, and amongst these are two little Veins, which pass from the Spermatick Vessels to the bettom of the Womb, and two larger from the Hypogastricks, which visit both the bottom and the Neck, the mouth of these [Page 110]veins piercing as far as the inward conca­vity, in which place the extremities of them are called Acetabula, which when the Courses flow, open themselves, and evacu­ate the eflux of Blood, and therefore they are the more conspicuous in Women with Child, that part called the Liver of the Womb, being joyned to them the better to extract Blood for the Childs nourishment, at which time their veins do so swell espe­cially near their time of delivery, that they equal in bigness the Emulgent veins, or ap­pear half as thick as the hollow Veins.

The Womb hath also two Arteries on [...]oth sides, the spermatick Vessels and the Hypogasticks, which still attend or ac­company the Veins, and besides these there are divers little Nerves knit and intwin­ed in the form of a Net, which extend throughout, even from the bottom to the Privities themselves, being chiefly placed for sense and pleasure, moving in Sympathy between the Head and the Womb.

Now it is to be further noted, that by reason of two Ligaments that hang on ei­ther side the Womb, from the share-bone and piercing through the Peritonaeum, and are joyned to the bone it self, that the Womb is movable upon sundry occasions, often salling low or rising high; as for the [Page 111]Neck of the Womb it is of an exquisit feel­ing, so that if it be any time out of order, by being troubled with a schirous brawn, over-fatness, moisture, or relaxation, the Womb is subjected thereby to Barrenness: In those that are with Child there frequent­ly stayes a most glutenous matter in the enterance to facilitate the Birth; for at the time of delivery the mouth of the Womb is opened in a strange manner, to such a wideness as is conformable to the bigness of the Child, suffering an equal dilatation from the bottom to the top.

As for the preparatory of Spermatick Vessels in VVomen, they consist of 2 veins, and 2 arteries, not differing from those in a Man, but only in their largeness & man­ner of insertion; for, as for their number, there are so many Veins and the like pro­portion of Arteries as in men, the right vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow vein descending, & the left from the Emul­gent vein, and on the side of them are two Arteries which grows from the Aorta, and bring vital Blood for the accomplishment of the work of Generation.

As to the Longitude and Latitude of these Vessels, they are narrow, and shorter in women than in men; only observe where they are wrinkled or crumpled, they are [Page 112]more wreathed and contorted than in men, as shrinking together by reason of their shortness, they may by their loosness be the better stretched out, when occasion re­quires it, and that by their drawing up as it were, the Blood might stay there in great­er quantity for the preparation of the Seed. And these Vessels in Women are carried with an oblique Course through the lesser. Guts to the Testicles or Stones, but are in the mid-way divided into two Branches, the greater going to the Stones, constitu­ting the various or winding Body, and wonderful Inoculation; the lesser Branch ending in the Womb, in the side of which it disperseth it self, and chiefly at the higher part of the bottom of the Womb, for the nourishment thereof, as also of the Child, and that part of the Courses may purge through these Vessels: and feeing the Stones in Women are seated near the Womb, for that cause these Vessels fall not from the Peritonaeum, neither make they such Passa­ges as in Men, nor extend themselves to the Share-bone.

The Stones in Women, commonly cal­led the Testicles, altho' they perform the same Action as mens, if rightly considered, yet are they different in their situation, magnitude, temperament, substance, form [Page 113]and covering. As for their seat it is in the hollowness of the Abdomen, neither are they Externally pendulous, but rest upon the Muscles of the Loyns, that so they may by contracting the greater heat be more Fruitful, their Office being to contract and elaborate that matter, which in con­junction with Mans Seed ingenders Man, yet they differ from those of Men in figure, by reason of their lessness and flatness, at either end not being so round nor Oval. The external Superficies being likewise more unequal, appearing like the compo­sition of a great many knots and kernels mixed together, there is also another dif­ference in their substance, they being much more soft and plyable, loose, and not so well compacted.

Their magnitude and temperament be­ing also different, for they are much colder and lesser than those in Men, by reason of which a thinner and feebler Seed is contra­cted by one Sex then by the other; as for their covering or inclosure, it likewise dif­fers extreamly, for as Mens are wraped or covered in divers Tunicles, by reason they are externally Pendulous, and subject to di­vers injuries, unless so fenced by nature, so Womens Stones being internal and less sub­ject to casualty, are covered with one Tu­nicle [Page 114]or Membrane, the which though it closely adhere to them, yet are they like­wise half covered with the Peritonaeum.

The different or Ejaculatory Vessels, are two obscure passages one on either side, nothing differing from the Spermatick veins in substance; rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb, not reaching from their other extremity, either to the Stones, or any other part, but shut up and unpassable, adhearing to the Womb, as the Colon does to the blind Gut, and winding half way about; the Stones are every way remote to them, yet though they touch them not, they are tyed to them by cer­tain Membranes, resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-mouse, through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the Stones end, in these beginning, or may be termed here to have their passages, pro­ceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Stones, and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Stones and the Womb are united, and strongly knit to­gether, and these Ligaments in Women, are the Cremesters in Men: Of which I shall speak more largely, when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation.

CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Ʋse and Action of the seve­ral Parts in Woman, appropriated to Genera­tion, &c.

THE Externals, commonly called the Privy Member, re designed to co­ver the great Orifice, and that to receive the Yard, and give passage to the Birth and Urin. The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries, are for the security of the internal parts, shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder, and by their swel­iing up cause Titulation and Defire in those parts, and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine.

The Action of the Clytoris is like that of the Yard, viz. Erection, where Erection is for motion and attraction of the Seed.

The action and the use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Yard, viz. Erection, occasioned divers ways. First, in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Yard to the Womb. Secondly, whilst the Pas­sage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood, it becomes more strait for embra­cing [Page 116]the Yard: as for the conveniency of Erection it is twofold. First, for as much as if the neck of the Womb was not erect­ed, the Yard could have no convenient Passage to the Womb. Secondly, the Affri­cation which occasions the Seed to issue forth, could be no other ways: nay, to this we may add, that it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation.

As for the Vessels that pass through the neck of the Womb, their Office is to re­pleat it with Blood and Spirit, that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contra­cted there in Copulation, it may by those Vessels be renewed, and the menstruous Blood at unseasonable times, for its Efflux be kept back: nor are these all their Offi­ces, for they contribute Nutriment towards the Child when in the Womb.

The Womb it self has many properties attributed to it, as, First Attraction of the Seed by Familiar Sympathy.

Secondly, It retains it, which is proper­ly called Conception.

Thirdly, It cherishes and changes the Seed, continuing so to do till it by the help of Nature frames the Child, and brings it to perfection, and then it strongly operates [Page 117]in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired, dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful man­ner; and indeed is the Field of Mans Gene­ration, being designed for no other purpose, and so aptly removed from the Senses, that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth, unless by accident or the like it be rendered de­ficient. When to strengthen and inable it, besides the helps of Nature, sundry Re­mendies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction. For which shall be hereafter mentioned.

The Utility of the preparing Vessels are taken from their Original, and from the in­certion of the right vein, proceeding from the hallow, and the left from the emul­gent vein as in men, that hot and pure Blood may more abundantly flow: from the right vein for the Procreation of Males, and that serous and watery Blood may pro­ceed from the emulgent vein for the pro­creation of Females.

The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men, by reason of their nearness to the Stones, which defect is yet lengthened and made good, by the many Intricacies or Windings, to which those [Page 118]Vessels are subject, for in the middle way they derive themselves into two branches, though different in magnitude, for one be­ing greater than the other passes to the Stones conveying matter for composition of Seed, and the lesser to the Womb, scat­tering there such Nutriment as it extracts from other parts of the Body; as for the Arteries, they afford the Blood which is more full of Spirit to perfect the Seed.

The Stones in Women are greatly use­ful, for where they are defective Genera­tion is at an end, by reason they operate in preparing the Seed, as those in Men, and by reason the Woman is colder than the Man, therefore are they seated within, that they should have the more heat to cherish them; and for that cause are they covered only with one Tunicle, that the heat may have the easier access, though by reason of their softness they cannot perfect so substantial a Seed as those of Men, as being cherished with less heat, that the re­mainder might supply the inferiour parts.

Their figure is not exactly round but de­pressed, that the small meanders of the veins dispersed, through the Members, from the Stones to the different Vessels, might have more room to be inserted for the attracti­on of the Seed, by the Substance of the [Page 119]Stones, the inequality contributing to the longer stay of the Seed in those meandring Vessels, nor is rugedness or unevenness of them less conducing thereto.

CHAP. XVI. Of Conception, and the infallible Signs thereof; as also whether it be a Male or Female, that is conceived, or both at once, commonly called Twins.

THE next thing convenient to be ob­served in this Treatise, and as it falls in course, is Conception and its Symptoms, very material and worthy of note, not only by Midwives, but all young Women. Now the signs of Conception 3 or 4 days after convenient and satisfactory Copulation, are

Pains in the Head, Virtigo and dimness of the Eyes, the Aples of the Eyes decrease, the Eyes themselves swell, and become of a dull or dark colour, their veins waxing red and shut with Blood: Again, if the Eyes sink, the Eybrows grow loose, various co­lours appear in the Eyes, and little red [Page 120]Pimples suddainly arise in the Face, and almost as suddainly disappear. Third­ly. if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are exteuded with Blood, the Veins under the Tongue look greenish, the Neck flusheth with heat, the Back bone cold, the Veins and Arteries swell, and the Pulses are observed more easily. Fourthly, If the Veins in the Breasts appear blackish, and afterwards turn yellow, the Teats look firey, and upon drinking cold drink, the Woman feels it as it were in her Breasts. Fifthly, if she on a suddain fall to loath­ing her Meat and Drink, coveting things, unreasonable and not fit for Sustenance: be troubled with Pukeins, weakness of Sto­mach, sore declining, and there be little Worms found about her Navel. Sixthly, If the lower part of the Belly swell, and weakness be contracted in her Loyns with inward Gripings and retention of the course 7 days after copulation: After which act, there is a Cold and Trembling seizes on the Members External, by reason the force of the Womb violently attracts the heat, & dries up the moisture. Seventhly, It is a cer­tain sign of Conception, if the Midwife put­ing up her finger, find the interior neck of the Womb exactly closed. If the Womb wax round and swell, the Courses stay, the [Page 121]Thighs swell with some pain, the whole Body grows weak, the Face at times be­comes Pale, the Urine white with a little cloud after some standing at the top of it, if many Attoms appear in it. Eighthly, if Urine be put up in a Glass three days, and the Woman have conceived, certain live things will appear to stir in it: if a bright Needle be put in a whole night, and she have conceived, divers little red Specks will be thereon, but if not it will be black­ish or rusty: nor are these Imaginations, but the approved Assertions of the Learned in Physick, and Skilful in Midwifry, who have made it their study to search into the depth of Natures Secrets: And next comes a nicer Point to be treated of, not without the Patronage of such, whose Wisdom and indefatigable Labours have rendered them famous to Posterity. The which take as followeth.

After Conception, and the Child be come to some perfection, so that the Sex may be distinguished, if it happen to be a Male Child, then the right Eye of the Woman will, to appearance, move swifter, and sparkle more than the left: the right Pap will rise, swell, and be more hard than the left, and the Teats colour will change more suddenly, and the increase of the [Page 122]Milk will be speedy, and if it be milked out and set in the Sun, it will look like Pearl, contracting it self into a more solid matter than ordinary; or if upon the milk­ing it out, you cast it upon the Womans Urin, it will sink to the bottom. Her right Cheek will often glow, and be more ruddy than the left, and indeed the whole colour of her Face more lively than at other times, she feels less Sadness than if she conceived a Female. And when first the Child stirs, it is more brisk and strong in its motion than the other, having commonly its first mo­tion on the right side on the sixtieth day if her Courses flow the fortieth day after Conception, if her Belly be more accute towards the Navel, and as she goes she puts her right Leg foremost, and rising ob­serve to ease her self on the right side more than on the left.

Now in case a Female be conceived, the tokens are averse to these for the most part, the first motion rarely happening before the 19th day after Conception, and then it is made on the left side. Females are car­ried with more pains than Males, thro' de­fect of heat in the Womb to attract the substance, also the Thighs and Genital Members of the Woman swell more than ordinary, her Colour departs, and her [Page 123]Longings are Extream, and her Courses flow the Thirtieth day after Conception.

If Twins are conceived, which many times happens through the strange disposi­tion of the Womb, and exceeding quantity of Seed, the sign thereof will not appear till the third or fourth month after concep­tion, and then the first appearance will be by the motion of the Infants both ways, that is, on either side of the Womb at once, for they receive their Souls at one and the same time; also if her two Flanks swell higher than the middle of the Belly; if there does appear a line, or as it were a division from the Navel to the Groyn, ma­king a kind of a Channel, or if the Woman with more than ordinary pain support her burthen. And thus much may suffice for these, from whence I shall proceed to give the Reader an insight into false Concep­tions, that frequently deceive Women, especially such as are over desirous of Children.

CHAP. XVII. Of false Conceptions, and how to know them.

HAving already treated of true Con­ceptions, the next thing note worthy is, what relates to false Conceptions, and in this case Women are sometimes delu­ded, thinking themselves with Child, when their Belly only swell with the re­tention of their usual Courses that fall not according to their usual times, or else by a lump of indigested Flesh, for the most part like the Gizard of a Fowl, greater or lesser, according to the time of its continuance there, which is frequently four months, and is called a Moon Calf.

At other times they are deceived by Moles, which are twofold, viz. The true and a false, the former of which is a fleshly body, filled with many Vessels, streaked with white, green, or black Lines, not deficent of Membranes, but incompassed with divers, yet without growth, motion, Bones, Bowels, or any Internals, receiving its nourishment through certain veins, not­withstanding it lives, as we may say the life of a Plant, without any figure or order [Page 125]ingendered Original in the concavity of the Matrix adhearing to its side, but not participating of its substance.

The latter of these, viz. the false Mole may be divided into four distinctions, as following. First the windy Mole, being a contraction or conflux of wind. Secondly, the watery Mole being a gathering of Wa­ter. Thirdly, the Humourous Mole, or con­flux of divers humours; and Fourthly the Membranous Mole, being many Mem­branes in the form of a Bag filled with Blood, and of these in their order.

The Mole is contracted in the Womb, when a Woman has copulation, during her monthly Purgations, or otherways unseasonably, or else when she lies with great desire and lust with her Husband, when she has already conceived, or by re­taining her Courses beyond the time Na­ture allows for their expurgation.

The windy Mole is occasioned through defect of heat in the Womb and parts ad­jacent, as the Liver and Spleen, which in­gender a polite or windy vapour, which fills the membranous parts, and puffs up the concavity of the Matrix.

The watry Mole is ingendred of divers apt confluences of thin matter or watry Efluxes, which passing through the Vessels, [Page 126]evacuates into the Womb, having its Ori­ginal from the Spleen, Liver, or parts ad­joyning, and above all from the Liver, when 'tis cold, weak, and not able to con­coct all the Nutriment into Blood, so that the remainder turning into watey humour falls into the Womb, and cannot be easily voided thence.

The Humorous Mole is ingendered by moist attracted humours, as the Whites or certain watery Purgations, which distill from the Menstruous Veins, and gathering into a glutenous substance, stay in the con­cavity of the womb.

The Membranous Mole is no other then a contraction of Blood within a Skin or Membrane, to which is fastned many white and transparent Vessels filled with Blood, the which coming forth, and being thrown into Water, the Blood goes out, and the Membrane rumbles together, shrinking on a heap like coagulated Seed.

Now most or all of these false conceptions have many signs or symptoms, coherent with the true, as the depravity of Appe­tite, puking, swelling, suppression of the Courses, swelling of the Breasts and Belly, so that many are at a plunge to distinguish them; for indeed it is most easily to be done, though in these following matters [Page 127]there is distinction, viz. In case of a false Conception the Breast swell, and fall again not containing any Milk, the Face is fre­quently puffed up, the Arms, the Groyn, and the Thighs, grow megat and lanker, the Belly waxes hard, as if Dropsical, be­ing almost of an equal roundness, with ma­ny prickings at the bottom, scarcely ad­mitting of Intermission, which breaks the rest of the Women so afflicted; divers other signs are there to know it by, especially the true or fleshy Mole; as thus, A Male In­fant begins to move at the beginning of the third month for the most part, and the Fe­male at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth: now when any motion hap­pens, the Women ought to consider whe­ther she have any Milk in her breasts; if she have, it is a sign of a true Coneption, but the contrary, of a false one: it is also the sign of a true Conception, if the Child move freely and lively in all parts of the Womb, for although there is a motion in a false Conception, yet it is dull, and not quick nor active in motion, the motion not being in it self but in the expulsive Faculty of the Mother: and further, if the Wo­man observe, she may perceive it fall al­ways to the side she lies on, and she lying on her back, if her belly be stroked down, [Page 128]the burden will descend, and not have for want of inbred force a power to recover its Station. But what confirms it more is, that 9 Months expired no Travel ensues, but her Belly still increases, whilst all the rest of the body grows lean, and out of order.

The Signs of the windy Mole are divers, as the sudden stretching of the Belly like a bladder, yet soft and spungy, especially near the Groins, and small thereof, when if it be struck it sounds like a drum, and that the Swelling is sometimes more, and sometimes less, so that according to its in­crease or decrease, the Woman feels more heavy or more light.

The watery Mole is known by its di­stention of the Belly, and especially when she lies upon her back, the sides thereof are more swelled than the middle or the bottom, which grows flatter by reason the watery Humour falls to the sides, moving up and down, as if it were a fluctuation of Water, and much to the same purpose as the Symptoms of the humorous Mole, only with this distinction, that the Flanks and Thighs are more stretched by the Wate­ry Mole than by the other, because the Water being thinner than the Humour, or not confined in Cells, flows thither, and [Page 129]that which in case of a watry Mole comes through Natures conduite is clear, when in case of a humourous Mole, the water is red or of a bloody colour.

Further observe, in case of a false concep­tion the Courses come not down, and the Navel of the Mother advanceth it self little or nothing; which in true Conception is otherwise.

Other false Conceptions there are occasi­oned by divers Tumours, which the Igno­rant take for Moles, when they are only Rotundies and swelling the Belly, which are not discovered till the Womb be open­ed; and then though the Womb be not all out of order, there does appear at one or both corners thereof little bags full of wa­ter, in others there are to be seen a heap of Kernels, or superfluous flesh, like a cluster of Grapes in the Womb, causing it to swell. Yet in such cases, the Courses are observed to proceed in due order, which denotes the Womb to be in good order.

Another Excrescency of Flesh there is which some call a Pendent Mole, being a piece of fleshy substance, hanging within the Interior Neck of the Womb, being in breadth about a finger at the place where it is fastned, increasing bigger and bigger towards the bottom like a small Bell, pos­sessing [Page 130]the whole Orifice of the privy Mem­ber, sometimes appearing outward to a great bigness.

CHAP. XVIII. Instructions for Women how to govern themselves, during their being with Child.

THese Instructions being exceeding necessary, I thought fit to lay them down for a Rule to such as are desi­rous of self-preservation. And indeed for want of due observance, divers Diseases afflict Child-bearing Women; nay the Child is frequently lost, or if it come to a perfect Birth, proves sickly and disorder­ed through the evil Humours that are de­rived to it, through the Mothers misob­servance.

In the first place, then the Woman with Child ought to choose a Temperate Air, not infected with Fogs arising from Marsh­es, Ditches, Ponds, Lakes, or Rivers, and not to go abroad in too hot, nor too cold weather, nor when the South wind blows strong; for that wind above all [Page 131]others, disturbs and disorders Women with Child, oftentimes causing Abortion: And next to it the North-wind is hurtful, causing Catarrhs, Coughs, and Rhumes, which opening the body, causes the Wo­man to bring forth before her time. In short, if any evil Vapour be drawn in du­ring pregnancy, causes divers Diseases.

In case of Diet, she ought to be very cautious in chusing such Meats as create wholsome Nourishment, all Meats that are moderately dry being taken so to do; and let her observe not to fast immoderately, for that renders the Child sickly and weak, and often for want of Nourishment con­strains it to be born before its time; nor on the other hand, must she be too glut­tonous, for that again stuffs it, and causes it to swell beyond its natural bounds.

All Meats either too hot or too cold, and moist, are to be avoided, as Salads, Spices, Meats, and the extraordinary use of her Meats, which makes the Children come forth oftentimes without Nails, which is a sign of short life. The most wholsome Meats in this case are Pidgeons, Turtles, Larks, Partridges, Pheasants, Veal, Mutton, or any such Meats that is of good Juice, and contributing to kindly Nourishment, as also such Fruits as are sweet and often [Page 132]digestion, as Cherries, Pears, Damsons, &c. but let her avoid such things as subject her Body to windiness

Her Longings, if Extravagant, she must restrain, at least as much as in her lies, not eating any thing that is filthy or contrary to nourishment, nor let her sleep immedi­ately after Meals, and not at all in the day­time if she can avoid it; the Night being preferable in such cases, when she may sleep her fill, so it exceed not 9 hours.

Her Exercise ought to be moderate: for violent motion, either in walking or other­wise, loosens the Cylendons through which the Child receives its Nourishment, riding in a Coach, especially upon the Stones, or in uneven way (the last three Months is dangerous) as also extraordinary Sounds, Noises, and above all the Ringing of the Bells, and discharging the Guns.

Laughing, Crying, or immoderate An­ger, or any other Passion, is extreamly hurtful; nor in the first four Months after Conception ought she to lye with her Hus­band, for as much as the Act of Copulati­on moves and shakes the Womb, and con­sequently the Fruit therein causes the cour­ses to descend. She must likewise in the 6th and 8th Month abstain; but in the 7th and 9th it is not forbidden, but rather [Page 133]to be encouraged, by reason as Physicians affirm, it opens the passage, and thereby fa­cilitates the Birth: and the better to help it, the Woman ought to take such things as may keep her Body soluble, as Syrups and other loosening matters, as may help Nature in its operation; especially let her observe when she grows any thing big, to lay aside her busk, and go loose, that the Child may have free Scope, for two Rea­sons. First, that it may not be hurt: and secondly, that being unrestrained, it may come to its full growth.

CHAP. XIX. Further Considerations how Women ought to go­vern themselves during Pregnancy.

TIS further to be observed, that af­ter delivery the Breasts frequently grow extream large, and swell over much, to prevent which (and to avoid the danger of too much Blood, which cause curdled or curdy Milk, so that from the effects thereof divers Diseases arise in the Breast) so soon as the Woman perceives [Page 134]her self with Child, let her wear about the Neck a small Necklace of Gold or Steel, or a small ingot of the latter, to hang be­tween her two Breasts, somenting her Breasts a quarter of an hour every morn­ing with Water distilled from Sage, Pere­winkle, art ground-Ivy, being blood-warm.

In her fourth month, when the motion is great, and her belly seells big, she may swath it with a Swath-band, anointed with Pomatum, or the like, to make which I shall give direction, and in so doing she will keep it smooth, and free from wrin­kles, as also from hanging down like a Trip after delivery.

Receipt.

Of the Gall of Kid, and of a Sow, of each 3 ounces, of Capons grease, and Goose grease, of each one ounce and a half, and having melted them, put thereto a quarter of a pint of water, after which strain them through a Linnen Cloath into fair water, casting it to and fro therein till it be white, at what time add to it the marrow of a red Deet, one ounce, and lay it in red Rose­water 12 hours, after the expiration of which you may use it in anointing the Swath as aforesaid, as also the Belly.

If the Ingredients aforesaid cannot be gotten, then the following Linnament is effectual, though the former is better, viz.

Make of Mutton Suet adjoying to the Kidneys, and of Dogs Grease, each two ouces, Whale Oyl, an ounce, and of sweet Almon Oyl, the like quantity, wash them well after they are melted together in the water of Germander, or new White­wine, and anoit the Belly therewith, or the Swath band ordained to support it. But for such as are not desirous to anoint their Bellies, they may use the following Bath or Concoction.

Take of all the sorts of Mallows, and of Motherwort, each two handfuls, Lilly-roots, the white ones, to the weight of 3 ounces, Melilot and Chammomile, of both two handfuls, Lime-seed, Quince-seed and Feen-greek seed, 3 ounces proportionable of each, concoct them in Spring-water, and bath therewith.

If the Woman during her pregnancy feels but little motion in her Womb, let her make a quilt as followeth, and bind it upon her Navel, and it will greatly strengthen the Infant, viz.

Take the powder of Roses, red Cor­ral and Gillyflowers, of each 3 ounces, Mastick a dram, and of Augelica seeds two [Page 136]drams, two grains of Ambergrease, and one of Musk, all which being well beaten, put them into a Linnen bag, expanded and quilted that they may be in every part of it, placing it upon the Navel.

CHAP. XX. Rules to he observed upon a Woman lying down, and her delivery, &c.

HAving thus far proceed, in what as I highly conceived is necessary to be known by the Professors of this Art. I shall Gradually proceed to what remains: And first to inform the Reader what is necessary to be observed upon a Womans lying in order to her delivery.

The hour, according to computation of time, and the disposition of the Body ap­proaching, let the Woman send for a skill­ful Midwife not delaying so to do, but rather too soon than too late; at what time let her prepare a little Bed or Couch of a mo­derate height, and so situate that it be far from the Door, near the Fire, and conve­nieut for the Midwife and her assistants to [Page 137]pass round, and be aiding on every side as occasion requires, having change of Lin­nen, and a small Cricket, or little Log of Timber to rest her feet against, she having more force when they are bowed, than otherwise.

Having thus provided, when the Wo­man find her Pains come on, if the weather he not extream cold, let her walk leisurely about the Room, resting her self by turns upon the Bed, expecting so the coming down of her Water, which is a Humour that is contracted in one of the outward Membranes, and flows thence when it is broke by the strugling of the Child, or some other accident, there being no direct time affixed for its Efflux, though for the most part it flows not above two hours before the Birth. Motion likewise will cause the Womb to open and dilate it self, when lying long in Bed will prove troublesome, yet if she be much spent and weakened, she may take some gentle Cordial to refresh her self, if her pains will permit it.

If her Travel be tedious, to revive her Spirits she may take any broath of Chikens or Mutton, and after it a poached Egg, but must not take any thing to excess. As for the Postures Women are delivered in, they are divers, some laying in their beds, others [Page 138]siting in a Chair, supported and held by others, or resting upon the side of the Bed or Chair; some again upon the Knees, being supported under their Arms; but the safest and most commodious way is in the Bed, when as the Midwife ought to observe these following Rules.

Let her see that the Woman be layed upon her Back, her head a little elevated by the help of a Pillow, having the like help to support her Reins and Buttocks, and that her Rump lye high; for if she lye low, she cannot be well delivered, then let her keep her Knees and Thighs as far asun­der as she can, her Legs bowed together, her Buttocks, the Soles of her Feet and Heels being fixed upon a Little Log of Tim­ber placed for that purpose, that she may have the greater force to strain: now in case her Back be exceeding weak, a Swath-band may be cast under it, the band being four double, and about 12 inches broad, and this must be held by two persons, who with steady hands and equal motion must raise her up at the time the Pains happen; but if they be not exact in their motion 'tis better evaded: and at the same time let 2 Women hold her Shoulders, that she may the better strain out the Birth with more advantage, and the better to facilitate it, [Page 139]let a Woman stroak or press the upper part of her Belly gently, and by degrees, nor must the Woman her self be faint hearted, but Couragious, and of a good Heart, forcing her self by straining and stopping her Breath.

In case of Delivery, the Midwife must wait with patience, till the Childs Head or othre Members burst the Membrane; for if through Ignorance, or hast to be gone to other Woman, a ssome have done; the Midwife tear the Membranes with her Nails, she indangers both the woman and the Child, for it lying dry, and wanting that slipperyness that should facilitate it, its ligress comes forth with greater Pain.

When the Head appears, the Midwife must gently hold it between her two hands, and draw the Child at such times as the Womans pangs are upon her, and at no other, slipping by degrees her four fingers under its Armpits, not using a rough hand in drawing it forth, least by such means the Child through its tenderness, receive any deformity of Body.

As soon as the Child is taken forth, which is commonly with its Face down­wards, let it be laid upon its Back, that it may more freely receive external Respi­ration [Page 140]then cut the Navel-string with a a sharp Instrument about three inches from the Body, tying that which adheres to the Belly with a Silken string as near as you can, then cover the Head and Stomach of the Child well, suffering nothing to come upon the Face.

The Child being thus drawn forth, and in Health, lay it aside, and let the Mid­wife regard the Patient, in drawing or cau­sing to come forth the Secundine, which are the contracted Membranes: And this may be done by wagging and stirring them up and down, and afterward with a gentle hand drawing them forth, or if the work be difficult, let the Woman hold Salt in her hands, shut them close, and breath hard into them, whereby she shall know whether the said Membranes are broken or not: The like may be known by causing a strain, or Vomiting, by putting one Fin­ger down her Throat, by straining or moving her Inferior parts, being all obser­ved to be done out of hand. If this fail, she may take a draught of raw Elder wa­ter, or the Yolk of a raw Egg, or smell to a piece of Fssa-Faetida, especially if she be troubled with the Wind chollick; a Reme­dy for which I shall hereafter prescribe. If she have taken Cold, it is a great ob­struction [Page 141]to the coming down of the Secun­dines; and in such cases the MIdwife ought to chase the Womans Belly with a gentle hand, which breaks not only the wind, but obliges the Secondine to come down: And these proving Ineffectual, the Midwife must dilate with her hand the exterior Orifice of the Womb, and gently draw it forth. Having discoursed of common Births, or such as for the most part are easie, I shall proceed to give directions in case of Extremity.

CHAP. XXI. In case of Extremity, what ought to be Observed, especially to Women who in their Travel, are accompanied with an Eflux of Blood, Con­vulsions or Fits of the Wind.

IN case of Extremity, greater regard must be had then at other times, and first of al the situation of the Womb, and her posture of lying must be cross the Bed, being held by such as have strength to prevent her sliping down, or moving her self in the operation of the Man Midwife, or Chirurgeon, her Thighs must be sun­dered as wide as may be, and so held whilst her Legs invert or bend backward [Page 142]towards her Hips, her Head leaning upon a Bolster, and the Reins of her Back support­ed with the like, nor Rump and Buttocks likewise Elevated, observing to cover her Stomack, Belly, and Thighs with warm Linnen, to keep them from cold winds.

The woman being in the posture afore­said, let the Operator put up his hand, if he finds the neck of the Womb dilated, and remove the contracted Blood that ob­structs the passage of the Birth, and having by degrees with much gentleness made way, let him tenderly move the Infant, his hand being first anointed with sweet Butter, or a harmless Pomatum; and if the waters are not come down, then with­out any difficulty may they be let forth, when if the Infant attempts to break forth with the Head foremost or cross, he may gently turn it to find the Feet, which ha­ving done, let him draw forth one, and fasten to it a Ribbon, then put it up again, and by degree find the other, when bring­ing them as close and even as may be, and between whiles giving the Woman leave to breath, urging her to strain in helping Nature to perfect the Birth, he may draw it forth, and the better to do it, that his hold may be the surer, he must fasten or wrap a Linen Cloath about the Childs [Page 143]Thighs observing to bring it into the World with its Face downward.

In case of a flux of Blood, if the Neck of the Womb be open, it must then be ma­turely considered, whether the Infant or the Secundines come first, which often the lat­ter happening to do, stop the mouth of the Womb and hinder the Birth, to the endan­gering both the Woman and the Child; in such a case, I say, the Secundine must be removed by a swift turn, and indeed they have by their so coming down deceived many, who feeling their softness, supposed the Womb was not delated, and by their being so decived, the Woman and Child or at least the latter, has been lost, the Se­cundines removed, the Child must be sought for, and drawed forth as has been directed, and if in such a case the Woman or Child dye, the Midwife or Chirurgeon is blame­less because they did their true endeavour.

If it appear upon enquiry that the Secun­dine comes first, let the Woman be deli­vered with all convenient expedition, be­cause great flux of Blood will follow, for then the Veins are opened, and upon this account two things are to be considered. First the great or lessness of the Secundines advancing, if the former and the head of the Child appear first, it must be guided [Page 144]and directed towards the Neck of the Womb, as in case of natural Births, but if there, thro' the weakness of the Child or Mother, appear any difficulty in the deli­very, the best way is to search for the feet, and thereby draw it forth; but if the latter, the Secundines may be put back with a gen­tle hand, and the Child first taken forth.

Another matter is note worthy, viz. If the Secundines be far advanced, so that it cannot be put back, and the Child follow it close, then are the Secundines to be ta­ken forth with much care, as swift as may be, and laid aside without cutting the entrail that is fastened to them, for by that you may be guided to the Infant, the which whether alive or dead must be drawn forth by the Feet with all expedition; tho' it is not to be acted unless in case of great ne­cessity, for in other cases the Secundine ought to come last.

As for a dead Child, in drawing it forth let these Directions be carefully observed by the Chirurgion, viz. If the Child be found dead with its head foremost, the danger is the greater, and more difficult will be the Delivery; for it is an apparent sign the Womans strength begins to fail her, and that the Child being dead and wanting its inbred forced, can be no ways assisted to [Page 145]its delivery; wherefore the most certain and safe way is, for the Chirurgeon to put up his left hand, sliding it as hollow in the Palm as he can into the neck of the Womb into the lower part thereof, towards the Feet, and that between the Head of the In­fant, and the Neck of the Matrix, when having a Hook in the right-hand couch it close, and slit it up above the left-hand, between the Head of the Child, and the flat of his hand, fixing in it the bone of the Temple towards the Ear, or else in the hollow of the Eye, or for want of conve­niently coming at these in the occipital Bone, observing still to keep the left hand in its place, with it gently moving and stirring the Head, and so with the right­hand and Hook draw the Child forward, admonishing the Woman to put forth her utmost strength, still drawing when the Womans pangs are upon her. The Head being drawn forth, he must with al speed slip his hand under the Arm-holes of the Child, and take it quite forth, giving these things to the Woman, viz. A toste of fine Wheat bread, in a quarter of a pint of Ipo­crass Wine.

Now the former Application and Endea­vour failing, and the following Medicines will not inable the, Woman to cast forth [Page 146]the Birth, you may proceed to Instruments after another manner. First, when the Woman is in her bed, let her receive the insuing potion hot, abstaining from all manner of Meats, and rest till she feel the Operation; which is this.

Take blue Figs to the number of 7, cut them in pieces, adding to them Fenegreek, Mother-wort, and Seeds of Rue, of each 2 Drams, water of Peneroyal and Mother­wort 6 ounces of each, boyl them till one half be consumed, and having strained them again, and Trochischs of Mirrh a dra, and of Saffron 3 Grains, sweetning the Liquor with Loaf-sugar, and spicing it with Cinnamon.

Having rested upon this, let her labour again as much as may be; and if she be not yet successful, make a Suffumation of Ca­stor, Oppoponax, Sulpher, and Assa Faetida, of each half a Dram, beating them into Powder, and wetting them with the juice of Rue till they become stiff, then burn them upon Coals, so that the Smoak or Fume may only come to the Matrix, and no further.

If these effect not your desire, then this Emplaister is very fitly to be applied, viz. Take of Galbanum one ounce and a half, Colocynthis without Grains 2 drams, the [Page 147]juice of Motherwort and Rue, of each half an ounce, and 2 ounces of Virgin Bees-wax, bruise and melt them together, spreading them as a Scere cloath, to reach from the Navel to Os Pubis, spreading likewise to the flanks at the same time, making a con­venient pessary of Wooll, closing it in a bag of Silk, and dipping it in the concocti­on round Birthworth, Savin, Colocyn­this with Graines, Staves Acar, black Ele­bore, of each a dram, and of Rue a lit­tle sprig or two.

These things failing, and the Womans life in danger, let the Chirurgeon use his Instruments to dilate and widen the Womb, to which purpose the Woman must be set in a Chair, so that she may turn her Crup­per as much from its back as is convenient, drawing up her Legs as close as she can, but spreading her Thighs as wide as may be, or if through her weakness it appear more convenient that she be laid upon the Bed, with her Head downwards, her Buttocks raised, and her Legs drawn up as much as can be, a what time the Chirurgeon with his Speculum Matricis, or his Apertory, may dilate or widen the Womb, and draw out the Child and the Secundines together if it be possible, after which the Womb must be well washed and anointed, and the Wo­man [Page 148]laid in her Bed, comforted there with Spices, pleasant Meats and Cordials: This course must be taken in the delivery of all dead Children, likewise with Moles, Se­cundines; or otherwise false Births, that will not of themselves come forth in due season, or if the Instruments aforesaid will not sufficient widen the Womb, then other Instruments, as the Drakes Bill, and long Pincers ought to be used.

If it so happen that any Inflamation, Swelling, or concreet Blood be contracted in the perputium of the Matrix, under the Film of those Tumours, either before or after the Birth, where the matter appears thinner, the Midwife with a Pen-knife, or incision Instrument may Lance it, and press out the corruption, healing it with a Pessary dipped in Oyl of Red Roses.

If at any time through cold or some violence, the Child happens to be swelled in any part, or have contracted a watry Tumour; yet if it remain alive, such means ought to be used as are least inju­rious to the Child, or Mother, but if it be dead, that Tumour must be let out by incision to facilitate the Birth.

It often happens that Children come with their Feet foremost, and the Hands dilating themselves forth the Hips, in such [Page 149]a case the Midwife must be well provided of necessary Oyntments to stroke & anoint the Infant with, thereby to help its coming forth, lest it return again into the Womb before it can be drawn forth, holding at the same time both the Arms of the Infant close to the Hips, that so the Child may issue forth after its own manner, but if then it prove too big, then the Womb must be well anointed. The Woman may like­wise take sneezing powder, to cause her the more to strain, and at the same time, those that attend may gently stroke down her Belly, to make the Birth descend, and keep the Child when advanced, from re­tiring back.

Sometimes it falls out that the Child coming with its Feet foremost, has its ARms exended above its Head, the which so happening the Midwife must not receive it in that posture, but put it back into the Womb, unless the passage be Extraordina­ry wide, and then she must anoint both the Child and the womb, nor is it safe to draw it forth before it is put into due form, which must be done after this manner. The Woman lying upon her Back, with her Head depressed, and her Buttocks elevated, the Midwife with a gentle hand, must com­press the Belly of the Woman towards the [Page 150]Midrif, by that means to put back the In­fant, observing to turn the Face of the Child towards the back of the Mother, rai­sing up its Thighs and Buttocks towards her Navel, thereby to bring it to a more regular and natural production.

If a Child happen to come forth with one Foot, the Arm beign extended along the side, and the other Foot turned back­ward, then must the Woman be instantly brought to her bed, and laid in the posture aforesaid, at what time the Midwife must carefully put back the Foot so appearing, and the Woman rock her self from one side to the other, till she find the Child is turn­ed, but she must not alter her posture, nor turn upon her Face, after which she may expect lier pains, and must have great assistance, Cordials especially not being wanting to revive and support her Spirits.

At other times it so comes to pass, that the Child lies cross in the Womb and falls upon its side; if so it happen, the Wo­man must not be urged in her Labour, nei­ther can any expect the Birth in that man­ner: Therefore the Midwife when she so perceives it, m ust use great diligence to re­duce it to its right form, or such a form in the Womb, as tis possible to deliver it; especially by moving the Buttocks and [Page 151]guiding the Head to the passage; but if she be successful herein, let her again try by rocking her self too and fro, and wait with patience till it changes its manner of lying.

Sometimes it falls out that the Child ha­stens to the Birth with the Legs and Arms distorted or expanded, in which, as in the former, the Woman must rock her self, but not with any violence, till she find the Legs and Arms fall to their proper stations; or it may be done by a gentle compression of the Womb: but if neither of them prevail, the Midwife with her hand must close the Legs of the Infant, and if possible she can reach them, do the like to the Arms, and so draw it forth, though if it could be reduced of it self to the composure or posture of a natural Birth, it is better.

If the Infant come forward with both Knees foremost, the Hands hanging down upon the Thighs, then must the Midwife put both Knees upward till the Feet appear, taking hold of which with her left hand, let her keep her right hand on the side of the Child, and in that posture endeavour to bring it forth; but if she cannot, then must the Woman rock her self till the Child is in a more convenient posture for Delivery.

When it happens that the Child presses for­ward with one Arm extended upon the Thighs, and the other elevated over his Head, the Feet likewise stretched out at length in the Womb, the Midwife in such a posture must not attempt to receive the Child, but must lay the Woman upon the bed in the manner often before recited, making a soft and gentle compression upon her Belly to oblige the Infant to retire: and if of its own accord it retire not, then must the Midwife thrust it back by the Shoulders, and bring the Arm that was stretched above the Head to its right place, [...] certain it is the most dangerous in these Lxtremities: in this therefore the Mid­wife ought to take more care herein than ordinary; and first, she must observe well to anoint her Hands, then the Womb of the Woman, either with some sweet But­ter, or some convenient Pomotum, thrust­ing up her hand as near as she can to the Arm of the Infant, and reduce it to the side: but if she cannot recall it, then must the Woman be laid on her bed, there to re­pose for a while, and then again conduct­ed to a Seat prepared for the most conve­niency in that affair, by which time per­haps the Child may be reduced to a better posture; the which when the Midwife [Page 153]finds, she m ust draw the Arms close to the Hips, and so receive it.

If an Infant came with its Buttocks fore­most, being in manner double, then the Midwife anointing her Hand, must thrust it up, and by degrees by heaving the But­tocks, and after them the Back, strive to turn the Head to the passage, but be not over-hasty in so doing, lest the Infant re­tiring should shape it self worse, there­fore if it cannot be turned with the hand, the Woman must to Bed, and rock her self, taking such comfortable things as may support her Spirits till she perceive the Child turn.

If a Child come foreward with its Shoul­ders, the Neck being bowed as it often happens, as also the Hands and Feet stretched upwards: In such a case the Mid­wife must with much diligence move the Shoulders, that she may direct the Head to the passage; and the better to perfect it, the Woman must rock her self, &c. These and such like methods are to be observed in all single Births: And the same may be observed in case of Twins, or Trebble Births, for as the single Birth has but one Natural way and many unnatural forms, even so it happens with the Birth of many Children, wherefore the Midwife must ob­serve [Page 154](if Twins be in the Womb and press forward, according to the Natural form) that she receive that first which is nearest the passage, not letting the other go, lest by retiring it should change the form, nor must she when one is born delay to bring forth the other; and this Birth in the na­tural form is more easie, because the Chil­dren are most commonly less than the sin­gle births, and consequently require a les­ser passage; but if this Birth happen in an unnatural form, it is more difficult and dangerous. In the birth of Twins let the Midwise be exceeding careful that the Se­cundine be naturally brought forth, lest in such a case the Womb being delivered of its burthen fall, and by its so doing the Se­cundine continues there longer than is re­quisite, to the indangering of the Woman.

If so it happen that the Womb is preg­nant with Twins, and one come naturally, and the other unnaturally, as the one with the Head, the other with the Feet fore­most, then must the Midwise consider to deliver the natural birth first, and then if she cannot turn the other, draw it out in the posture it presses forward, but if that with the Feet downward be much be­fore the other, then may she deliver that first, turning the Head of the other aside.

In this case the Midwise must be diligent to search, that instead of Twins, it be not a monsterous Birth; as a Body with two Heads, or two bodies joyned together, which she may observe if both the heads come foremost, by putting up her hands between them as high as she can: and if she find they are Twins, she must gently put one of them aside to make way for the other, taking that first that is most advan­ced, having regard to the other, that she change not its situation.

Now to prevent the first Child's being in danger of its Life, the Midwife, assoon as 'tis come forth, must tye the Navel-string, as has been before directed, and also bind it again with a large and long Fillet, that part of the Navel that is fastened to the Se­cundines, the more readily to find them. The Second Infant born, let her diligently it quire whether there be not two Secun­dines, for by the shortness of the Ligament it often happens that it retires back, to the damage of the Woman: wherefore, lest in such a case the Womb should close, it is most expedient to hasten them forth with all convenient speed.

If two Infants are joyned together by the body. as sometimes monstrously falls out, then although the Heads comes fore­most, [Page 156]yet is it convenient if possible to turn them, and draw them forth by the feet, observing when they come to the Hips to draw them forth as swift as may be: and in this case great care ought to be observed in anointing and widening the passage. And thus much for Extremity or Unnatu­ral-births, and the next thing I shall pro­ceed to, is how to order the Woman after Natural or Unnatural Births, or Delivery.

CHAP. XXII. What ought to be observed after Delivery, &c.

PResently after Delivery, in case of a Natural Birth, especially if the Woman has had hard labour, it is convenient to wrap her in the Skin of a Sheep taken off before it is cold, putting the fleshy side to her Reins and Belly, or for want of this, the Skin of a Hare or Coney, being flayed off as soon as killed, may be applied to her Belly: and in so doing, the dilatation made in the Birth will be closed up, and the ill melancholy Blood expelled from those parts: And these [Page 157]may be continued in Summer the space of an hour, and in VVinter two; after which let the Woman be swathed with a fine linnen Cloth about a quarter of a Yard in length, chafing her Belly before with Oyl of St. Jahuswort, after that raise up the Ma­trix with a linnen Cloath many times solded, then with a little Pillow or Quilt cover her Flanks, then use the Swath somewhat above the Hanches, winding it pretty stiff, applying at the same time a warm cloth to her Nipples, not presently applying remedies to drive back the Milk, by reason the body at such a time is disor­dered, and as it were out of frame, for there is neither Vein nor Artery which does not strongly impulse, where such re­medies as drive back the Milk being all of a dissolving Nature, it is improper to apply them to the Breast during such confusion and disorder, lest by so doing evil Hu­mours be stayed or contracted into the Breast; wherefore 12 hours ought to be the least space allowed for the Circulation and Settlement of the Blood, and what was cast upon the Lungs by the vehement Agitation during the Labour, to retire to its proper Recepticles.

A while after Delivery you make a re­strictive of the Yolk of two Eggs, a quarter [Page 158]of a pint of White-wine, an ounce of Oyl of St. Johns-wort, as much of the Oyl of Roses, Plantain and Rose-water, of each one ounce, bray them together, fold a lin­nen cloath and dip it therein, warm it be­fore a gentle Fire, and apply it to the Breast, and the pains of those parts will be greatly eased.

Present sleep is not convenient, but above four hours after Delivery she may take Broth, Caudle, or what other liquid mat­ter is nourishing, and afterward if she be disposed to sleep, it may be safely permit­ted. And this is as much, in case of a Natu­ral Birth, as ought immediately to be done.

In case of Extremity, or an unnatural Birth, these Rules ought to be observed: In the first place, let the Woman keep a temperate Diet, by no means overcharg­ing her self after so demonstrate an Evacu­ation; and to say true, her Diet must be equal to that of wounded persons, not be­ing ruled, or giving Credit to unskilful Nurses, who admonish them to feed lusty, the better to repair the loss of Blood, for that Blood is not for the most part pure, but such as has been detained in the Vessels or Membranes, better avoided for the health of the Woman than kept, unless there happen an extraordinary Flux of Blood; [Page 159]for if her nourishment be over great, it will indanger her falling into a Feaver, nay more, it will increase the Milk to super­fluity, which Curdling often times turns to Apostumes, wherefore it is requisite for the first five days especially, that she take moderately Ponado broath, Poach'd Eggs, Gelly of Chickens or Calves feet, French Barley-broath, each day somewhat increasing her allowance. If she intend to be Nurse to her Child, she may take a little more than ordinary to increase the Milk by degrees, which must be of no continuance, but drawn off either by the Child or other wise. In this case likewise let her have Coriander or Fennel-Seed boyled in her Barley-broth: but by any means for the time specified let her abstain from Meat. If no Feaver trouble her, she may drink now and then a small quantity of White­wine or Claret, as also Syrup of Maiden-Hair or other Syrup that is astringent, take­ing it in a little Water well boyled: And after the suspition of a Feaver, or fear of contraction of Humours in the breast, she may be nourished more plentifully with the broath of Pullets, Capons, Pidgeons, Mu­ton, Veal, &c. Which must not be till af­ter eight days from the day of delivery is over, at what time the Womb, unless some [Page 160]accident hinder, has purged if self; it will then likewise be expedient to give her cold Meats sparingly, that so she may be inabled to gather strength, she during the time resting quiet and free from disturbance, not sleeping in the day time if she can avoid it. If there happen any obstruction in the e­vacuation of Excrement, a Glyster may be administred to help the defect made after the manner following.

Receipt.

Of both the Mallows and Pelletory of the Wall a handful of each, Cammomile and Mellilot Flowers, of each a handful, Anni-seeds and Fennel-seeds, of each two ounces, boyd them in the decoction of a Sheeps head, and take of this 3 quarters dissolving in them of common Honey and course Suger, two ounces of each, and of new fresh Butter 3 ounces strained well, and administer it Glysterwise, but if it o­perate not to your mind, then may you an ounce of Catholicon.

CHAP. XXIII. What ought to be done to the Child when new­ly born, with divers other matters relating thereto.

THE Navel of the Child having been before recited, the Midwise must cleanse the Infant, not only in the Face, but likewise the whole Body, anointing the Groyn, Hips, Buttocks, with Oyl of sweet Almonds, or Oyl of Roses, to make the Skin supple, and close the Pores, thereby to exclude the penetration of the Air, and strengthen the Members; nor would it be amiss if she should take the decoction of Ro­ses or Rose-Cakes, and red Sage, decected in White Wine, and bath the Child there­with, the decoction being blood-warm.

The Infant being thus well anointed or suppled, and well dried, wrap it up warm and give it a spoonful of Sugar and Malla­go, or a Sctuple of Mithridate or Venice Treacle, dissolved in half a spoonful of Ca­nary, and after it a little Cardus-water, observing to bath or anoint it each morn­ing as aforesaid. If the Child have extream throws immediately afcer it comes into the [Page 162]World, it must be rubed with the juice of Peletory or the Deeoction, into which fresh Butter is melted, or for wanting of that Spiriage Juice, with Hogs Grease applied to the Navel, with new layed Eggs, mix­ed or cemented with Nut-Oyl, laying them likewise to the Navel, or you may admi­nister a Clyster made of Milk, the Yolk of an Egg, and a small quantity of Sugar, which will undoubtedly ease the pain.

Now some Children are born of evil constituted Parents, or are defective thro' the evil nourishment the Woman has unad­visedly taken during her pregnancy, which occasions the Child to be much afflicted with flegmatick Humours, to expel which you must lay the Child on one side, and then turn him to the other, for layed upon the back, it is subject to Suffocation or Strangling by the ascent of the humour, the belly must above all things be kept solu­ble, causing thereby the Infant to void the blood kept in the intrails from the time of its being in the Womb, by giving it a small quantity of Suppository of black Soap, mi­xed with fresh Butter to take away the Acrimony of it, after which immediately let the Infant take a spoonful of Syrup of Violets, which will oblige the Flegm to pass down; but if hear be defective, add to [Page 163]the Syrup, half the quantity of Oyl of sweet Almonds, bathng the Belly and Stomack of it, as often as it is undressed.

If it happen that the Childs Cods be full of wind, the Child must be gently moved to and fro, and the Cods anointed with Oyl of Mirth, giving it the liquid of Anni­seeds decocted in small drink, if they be swelled or extended with water, rub and chafe the Skin with fresh Butter, and the water will sweat out. But what is more to be regarded than any other thing, is the choosing of a good Nurse, for upon that choice depends the thriving or not thriv­ing of the Child, and in such cases these things ought to be regarded, viz. Ob­serve that she be not dull sighted, squint-Eyed, or have down cast looks; that she be not consumptive or subject to Fits, that her breath is pure, that so no noisome va­pour be conveyed to the Lungs of the Child, that she be not infected with bloa­ches, boils, blaines, or that she, or her Husband never were afflicted with the French disease, that she be not given to ex­cessive drinking or Gluttony, nor in the least subject to Epilesie or falling Evil. For the Nurse being in a manner the second Mother to the Child, it drawing from her good or evil humours, especially care must [Page 164]therefore be taken that the Nurse be good conditiored, moderate in meat and drink, wakeful and vipilant, not fretful nor sub­ject to Passion; that her Milk be clean and sweet, flowing sufficiently, her Breasts well fixed and large, not over fleshy, nor she over fat, and above all that she be not too desirous of carnal copulation, by which means the Milk will be rendred unwhol­some. Having thus far proceeded in these offairs, I shall through God's blesing lay down divers necessary matters for the pre­servation of Childing Women and Infants, thereby to prevent the hazard and loss, which two often happens in such cases.

CHAP. XXIV. To know the exact time of Delivery, by signs that precedes it, and how to cause a Woman to re­tain the Birth.

IN the business of Generation nothing is more to be regarded by the Woman, than the time of her Conception and quickning, that thereby she may be enabled to be exact in the day of her delivery, eve­ry [Page 165]natural delivery be [...]g at the end of 9 months, especially if at the tune or near it, the Woman is wont to have her natural Purgations, or that the time fall out with the full or new Moon: Nay though a day or two before or after, for these things to falling out, not only hasten but facilitate delivery; and the knowledge of this must extend to the Woman for many reasons. First that she may prepare and dispose her self for so great a task. Secondly, For that at such a time divers Maladies are incident to her, nor can their cause be penetrated into, unless those things be well known, &c. Now one thing neceessary the better to in­able the Woman to understand it, is the time of her natural Courses, for in case she have forgot, or by not rightly understand­ing their natural [...]fflux or is puzled there­in, by reason of some unnatural retention or extraordinary evacution, she may recti­fy her judgment by these directions, viz. From the age of 14 to 21 Women have their Courses, according to the most natu­ral courses in the n [...]w Moon; from 21 to 30 in the first Quarter; from 30 to 37 or 38 in the fud Moon; and from that time to the time they cease in the last Quarter.

Beside what is before mentioned, she will be made sensible of the approaching timeby [Page 166]pain in her Groyn, Thighs, the small of her Belly, the lower part of her Navel, to­gether with swelling, and hardness in the said places, shivering & quaking throughout the Body as if possessed with an Ague, and suddainly after with flushing heat; Feeble, ness and Lassitude, small Sweats on the Face, and flushings of the blood there, as her bo­dy will be in a manner restless, she shall per­ceive the Child, more down ward with more force than ordinary, and a bloody water will distil from the inferior parts, in case of these Prodromos, as many term them, she may be assured her time is at hand, whenas shemust not delay sending for her Midwife, whose office 'tis to order her to the best advantage, directions for which I have al­ready given; for wonderful it is that Nature has so well ordered her works, that the Matrix opens not unless upon some Extra­ordinary Casualty before the time prefix­ed, and not till then do these signs appear: But appearing they ought to be much re­garded, if the Woman desire her own safe­ty, and the preservation of the Child.

In case the Woman be subject to mis­carriage or to come before her time, let her take Mint, Roses, Marjorum, of each a small handful, Saffron and Musk, of each 3 grains, bruise them to gether, put them in [Page 167]a bag flat and hang it about the Womans Neck, so that it may reach the pit of her Stomach, and it will draw the Womb up­ward, or keep it in its place that it shall not fall down, or give the Child occasion to seek for untimely passage.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Washing of Woman after Delivery, with Directions how to make them.

FOR the first Wash take a good hand­ful of young Charvil, boil it in 2 pints of water, which having done, add to it a spoonful of Honey of Roses, and let the Midwife use it at her discretion, and it will draw down the Purgations, heal and cleanse the afflicted part. There are some that use Milk instead of Water, affirming that it greatly mittigates the pain: but by those whom Experience has taught better it is rejected: this having been used eight days the second wash may be made.

Take Province Roses moist if you can, but if not, the dry Cakes, put them in a little linnen Bag, and boyl them suf­ficiently [Page 168]in half a pint of Water, and half a pint of White Wine, and use it as the former for other eight days, viz. The li­quid part being well straine.

The third and last wash must be made of the decoction of Province Roses, de­cocted in a pint of VVhite VVine, and a quarter of a Pint of Mirth-water, and used only four days.

CHAP. XXVI. An Astringent for Women when occasion requires, as also Directions for a Cere-Chath, and how to cleanse her before she rise.

TO make an Astringent, take Pom­granets, Roach Allum and Galls of each 2 ounces, Knot Grass a hand­ful, of Province Roses four ounces, the Rinds of Cassa and Pomgranets, each 3 ounces, of Scarlet-berries, of Spermaceti, one ounce. The waters of Roses, M [...]n, and Burnet, of each one ounceand a half, white VVine, and water of the Smiths Forge of each a quarter of a Pint, then take two [Page 169]little baggs about a quarter of a yard long, and half a quarter broad, boyl them in the Waters with the Drugs or Simples in them, and in a new glazed Pipkin, and use them successively as occasion requires.

To make an exceeding convenient Sear­cloath, to ease the pain and reduce the Body into good temperament.

Take Virgins wax 8 ounces, Spermaceti and Venice Turpentine, well washed in Rose and Plantane water, of each an ounce and a half, adding to them whilst they are melting an ounce of white Lead of Venice pulverized, and having by the operation of the Fire well mixed them together, spread them Plaisterwise upon a Cloath, fit to cover the Belly as far as it is conve­nient, some of this you may lay upon the Nipples, having first anointed them with Oyl of Acrons of Spermaceti, and it will allay the inflammation and much streng­then them.

To cleanse a VVoman before she rises. Take a considerable quantity of bitter Al­monds, peel them, bruise them well, and make them into a Past, with the Yolk of an Egg, and Powder of Grise, put the Past into a bag of Shamy, and dip it in black Wine, tempering it well, and use it upon the place where the Sear-cloaths have been [Page 170]laid, and after that wash the said places with black Wine, wherein Orange flowers have been steeped, and it will cleanse these parts to admiration.

CHAP. XXVII. How to expell the Chollick from Women in Child-Birth, and the violent Griping that attend the first Delivery.

THese Pains frequently afflict the Woman no less than the pangs of her Labour, and are by the igno­rant taken many times the one for the other, sometimes again they joyn Forces, and happen at the same instant, which is oc­casioned by the crudy matter in the Sto­mach contracted through indigestion, and whilst such a Pain lasts, the Woman ad­vanceth nothing towards her Travel, to expel the fits of the Chollick; therefore,

Take two ounces of sweet Almond Oyl, and an ounce of Cinnamon-water, with 3 or 4 drops of Spirit of Ginger, and let the Woman drink it off, and if this work not your desire, make a Glyster of Cammomile [Page 171]Baum leaves, Olive-Oyl, and new Milk, concocting the former in the latter, and having strained it very well administer it as 'tis usual in such cases; nor are Fomen­tations proper for dispelling wind amiss.

If the pain prove, the griping or fretting of the Guts continuing long after Delivery, or if it happen upon the Courses descending by reason of the smallness of the Veins, which convey the Blood into the Matrix, which often befalls Women lying in of their first Child: wherefore it is altoge­ther convenient to use such a Remedy at such a time as may eradicate the cause for the future: and above all I recommend this most approved one, used with success by many Noble Women.

Recepe.

Of the Root of great Camfory a dram, Nutmegs and Peach-Kernels of each two scruples, yellow Amber and Amber grease of the former a dram, and the latter a scru­ple, bruise them together, and give them the Woman as soon as she is layed down, in two or three Spoonfuls of White-wine, but if it so happen that she be feverish, then let it be in as much warm Broth.

CHAP. XXVIII. The approved Receipts for hindring the Monthly Flux in Women with Child; also to cause Women that are fearful and subject to Abortion to contain the Birth: Together with preparato­ry Ointments, to be used before the time of De­livery, and Directions for staying or preventing Vomiting, much incident to Women with Child.

TO hinder the Superfluity or Eflux, dangerous to VVomen far gone with Child,

Take the Oyl of Roses, Virgins-wax, juice of Male Knot-grass, of each 3 ounces, Bolearmonick, Crocus Martis, of each six drams, melt them and bruise them till they become plyant, and capable of being spread Plaster wise, and when the Flux descends lay it to her Loyns whilst she lies in the bed. Or to the same effect, you may take Crocus Martis a dram, Knot-grass juice, 4 ounces, Rose-water and Vinegar, of each one ounce, adding to them the white of an Egg, and apply them cold upon a Linnen Cloath to her Loins. IOf the VVoman be [Page 173]fearful of containing the Birth, and reject to Abortion.

Take the Roots of Tormentile and Snake-weed, of each an ounce and a half, Joubertus, Astringent Powder, Mirtle­berries, Psida, Pomgraner Flowers, of each six drams, Dragons-blood, and Spong-Bedeguar of each half an ounce, Frankin­cense and Mastick, of each 3 drams, Nut­meg and Cloves of each half a dram, com­mon Pich six ounces, Cinnamon a dram, Venice Turpentine washed in the juice of Shepheards purse 2 ounces, of Ship Pitch 3 ounces, Virgin-wax two ounces, melt and well imbody them till they become pliable to be spread Plaister-wise, and apply the Plaister upon Leather to the Reins.

To make an Oyntment exceeding useful before Delivery. Take the Oyls of white Lilly Roots and Cammomile, each 4 ounces new Hogs-Seam strained and fresh Butter of each an ounce and a half, Muscilage of the Seed of Fenegreck extracted in Mug­wort-water 2 ounces, the Powder of round Billwort Roots and Saffron, of each two drams, Wax an ounce and a half, melt them over a gentle Fire, and having strain­ed forth the suplist part, anoint and supple the Womans Thighs, Hips, and Matrix therewith.

In case of Vomiting or Nauseating, which too frequently befalls young Child­ing Women.

Take a Cere-cloath, sprinkle it with Galbanum, Powder of Cloves and Ma­ [...]ick, them covering it with linnen or silk in the form of a Stomacher, apply it to the Stomach, renewing it as the scent decays.

CHAP. XXIX. A Pomatum for Midwives to anoint their hands with when they are about their Office, as also the Womb of the Woman to be Delivered: Ex­cellent Applications to straighten and strengthen the Womb after Delivery.

AMongst the many Excellent Poma­tums or Oyntments for Midwives Hands, and anointing the Womb or Child to render the Birth easie, I re­commend this as chief, viz. Take of Hemp seed Oyl an ounce and a half, half an ounce of Castor Oyl, Galmoschate half a scruple, of Laudanum a scruple, with a [Page 175]gentle fire make them into an Oyntment, and attribute it to the use beforementioned.

To contract the Womb after Delivery. Take the Leaves of Startwort and Mirtle, of each 3 ounces, Green Medlars, Pruans, and wild Pears, of each 8 or 9 ounces, the Stomachs of 3 Cocks fresh killed and new­ly taken out; all which distill, and dipping Cotten into the water issuing from them, make it into the form of a Pessary and put it into the Womb, where let it continue a considerable space.

To strengthen the Womb, take of Bor­rage and Violet flowers, each a handful, Dit­tany of Creet an ounce, Wood Sorrel a handful, Honey of Roses half an ounce, Maiden-Hair an ounce, boyl them in White-wine, and Inject the Liquid part in­to the Womb, the woman taking soon after it, this potion, viz. Of Fennel and Bugloss Roots, with Cicora ana take two ounces, boy them in 24 ounces of White­wine to the consumption of two parts, ad­ding afterward Fennel water, and Cicory water, of each 3 ounces, boyling them again till a 5th part of what remains be consumed, and of this let her drink an ounce at a time, continuing so to do Morn­ing and Evening for 10 days.

CHAP. XXX. To keep the Milk from Curdling in the Breast, or to dry it up, most approved Receipt; as also to increase Milk.

IF the Milk be subject to Curd in the Breast, past doubt in will contract pains or disorder there, as well as in the Child that draws it forth; wherefore to prevent it so doing.

Take the Roots of Althea half a pound, boyl them in White-wine Vinegar, strain them through a fine Seive, adding to the liquid part Bean flower one ounce, pow­der of Rue and dried Mint, of each a dram, Oyl of Mastick two ounces, boyl them again till they come to the thickness or plyableness of an Oyntment.

To dry up the Milk take Honey newly taken from the Bees, dissolve it in water, and often wash the Breasts therewith, or take the Juice of Speremint and Shepherds Purse, of each half an ounce, mix them and sweeten them with a little of the aforesaid Honey, and drink them in the morning with the Broth of a Hen or Chicken.

Or she may take of the Oyl of Violets 3 ounces, the juice of Mint and Paisley a like quantity, an ounce of white-wine Vi­negar, Rose water two ounces, boyl them over a gentle fire to the consumption of the juice, adding a little wax to make them into an Oyntment, and anoint the Breast therewith; or for want of these, take El­der tops, Sage and Mint, of all of them a handful, boil them in Spring water loft, and lay them to the Breast.

If the Woman be scarce of Milk, and for the benefit of the Child, she would in­crease it; Let her take the Decoction of Fennel and bath her Breast therewith, mix­ing the juice of Oak-Apples, and at the same time take inwardly this following powder, viz. Of Anniseeds, Fennel seeds, and Cummin seeds, of each 2 drams, beat­en Ginger half an ounce, of both sorts of Pepper two drams, of Coral a dram, of Christal and Cinnamon each a dram, the Seed of Daucia a dram, Silver Mo [...]tanus one ounce and a half, Cardamons and long Pepper of each a dram and a half, of Se­selcos half an ounce; the Seeds of Sesamum one ounce, of White-poppy one ounce, mingle and dry them till they are all capa­ble of being beaten into a powder: one [Page 178]dram of which the Woman must take at a time, Morning and Evening, in a broth made of Red Colwar [...]s, anointing her Breast the mean time with an Oyntment made of Venice Turpentine, Vinegar of Roses and Bees wax, of each an equal pro­portion.

CHAP. XXXI. For a Pain in the Breast immediately upon Deli­very, or the Fissure.

TAke new Bees-wax, two ounces, Nut Oyl half an ounce, Rape seed Oyl, the like quantity as the latter, when melt­ing the Wax, add the Oyls, & temper them well together to the thickness of a stiff Oyntment or Salve, and spread them up­on a cloth fit to cover the Breast, and ap­ply it with extraordinary success.

In case a Fissure happen in the Breast, take of the Powder of Gun-Arabick one ounce, Rose-water and Aqua vitae, of each an ounce, prepare them by beating them together till they are of an apt thickness, then seeth them over the Fire, and when cool, apply them Plaister-wise to the Fissure [Page 179]or for want of these, take Unguentum Ro­sarum, and anoint the place grieved, ap­plying upon it a Poltiss of Ground Juice.

CHAP. XXXII. The Cause of the Bellies swelling after Delivery, and how to prevent it, or Cure it if it happens.

Certain it is, and Experience teachet [...] often, that many Women have their bellies swelled after Delivery as much al­mo [...] as before, and this happens through too much neglected & carelesness, in not ha­ving regard to foment them, as also to apply things convenient to the privities, by which means polite windiness and Vapours enter and contract in the hollow Concavities, Veins and Arteries, the latter of which they enter by insensible ways: Now to prevent it, take Origanum, Night shade and Ma­stick, of each a scruple, Sagapenum a dram, mix them together and make them into 7 Pills, take them all at once, and after them drink to the quantity of a quarter of a pint of the water of white Lillies, viz. of the Flowers.

In c [...]se it be already come, let her take half a pound of Spanish Figgs, the Meal of Barley and Beans fine sifted, four ounces of each, two ounces, of well burnt Brick, pul­verized, Cyprus Nuts one ounce, boyl them in as much water of the Smiths Forge as will suffice to bring them to a thickness, then spread them upon a Linnen Cloath, and apply them to the Belly twice or thrice, and it will retire to its wonted smallness.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of Inflammations in the Breast, and its Cures.

THE Inflammation of the Breast, is no other than the hard swelling, ac­ [...]ompa [...]ed with a shooting pain, as also a b [...]ating and redness, and is mostly caused by the abundance of Blood, drawn or s [...]wing to the Breast, and sometimes but [...]a [...]ely it is occasioned by the suppression of the courses the Hemorrhoids or some bruise received by blow or the like and is known by a certain redness and burning heat, [Page 181]causing the whole body to be feaverish and out of order. To cure it then, first let the Dyet be comforting, moistening, and of good nourishment, as the broth of Pullets, Capons, Cocks, Chickens, Veal, &c. Wherein Indive, Borrage, Pu [...]slain or Let­tice has been boyled, and if she can get it, let the Woman drink the juice of Pomgra­nets, but for want of that Barley-water, wherein Anniseeds have been boyled, but let her refrain drinking of Wine, and strong Liquors, as likewise hot Spices, and if she find any obstruction in her excremen­tal Evacuation, let her take a softning or mollifying Glyster, and sleep at seasonable times as much as shecan. Another way to remedy it is by diverting the Humours, which may be done by rubbing the body in all the adjacent places, letting Blood in the Foot, Scarification in the Legs, or Visica­tores applyed in those places, especially if the Courses, are stopped, or ready to come down, if not, it is requisite to bleed in the Arm.

But if what has been mentioned, pre­vail'd not to remove the Humours, make a Cataplasm of the Leaves of Mellilot, and Nightshade, each half a handful, and when boyled in Spring-water add to them Bean Meal 2 ounces, Oyl of sweet Almonds and [Page 182]Oatmeal of each an ounce, and apply them to the Breast, observing so to do before the Breast be extraordinarily inflamed.

CHAP. XXXIV. A Tumour in the Breast, its Cause and Cure.

OF Tumours there are several sorts, but first of the Flagitious Tumour, the cause of which proceeds from a thick and unnatural Vapour arising from the Menstrual blood, which is retained or cor­rupted in the Matrix, and that again is occasioned by the suppressions of the Cour­ses, or when Nature is defective in dis­charging them into their proper place, and due time, as also from corruption of humours, whereby are ingendered evil Va­pours, and there passing by insensible ways, causes the Breast to swel or distend as if it were a true swelling, and is known by a shooting pain, and disorder of the Heart, by reason of the wind that oppresses it; the left Breast being for the most part more swelled than the right, Communicating pains to the Arms and Shoulders, as like­wise [Page 183]the Ribs on the same side, the Breast being white and shining, sounding like a Drum if touched gently, and swelled in all parts alike. To cure this, as also the Va­lery Tumour, you must order the Wo­man to observe a moderation in diet, that thereby Crudities may be avoided, and all such things as contract windy or valery hu­mours in the Veins, suffering her to drink water wherein Cinnamon and Anniseeds have been boyled, as also the Rind of Cit­tron, and then let her observe to take such things as are proper to provoke the courses, in doing which, she will find the humours abate: then let her take Celondine, Cam­momile, Groundsil & Ground-juice, stamp them and boyl them in White-wine, and in so doing you will ease the pain, and re­store the Breast. As for Diseases and Acci­dents incident to young Children, there are but fe VVomen of any experience but are skilful in curing and ordering them; wherefore, for brevities sake, I shall pass them over, and proceed to Anatomise the Instrument of Mans Generation, that one thing remaining necessary in this Treatise; as also to instance what Men nad Women ought to marry, that their Issue may be Fair, Healthful, and Prosperous.

CHAP. XXXV. The Anatomy of the Instrument of Man's Gene­ration.

THE Yard of Man is an official Member, and the Tiller of Mans Generation, compound, and made of Skin, Brawns, Tendones, Veins, Ar­t [...]ries, Sinews, and great Lygaments: And it hath in it two passages, or principal issues, one for the Sperm, and another for the Urine. And as the Philosophers say, the quantity of a common Yard, is Eight or Nine Inches, with measurable bigness, proportioned to the quantity of the Ma­trix.

This Member hath (as Avicen saith) three holes, through one passeth insensible politions and wind, that causeth the Yard to rise: the other two holes is declared be­fore. Also the Yard hath a Skin, and about the head thereof it is double, and that Men call Praeputium, and this Skin is moveable, for through his consecration the Spermatick matter is the better and sooner gathered together, and sooner cast forth [Page 185]from the Testicles: For by him is had the most delectation in the doing. And the foremost part of the head of the Yard before, is made of a brawny flesh, the which if it be once lost, it can never be restored again, but it may be well skin­ned, &c.

The Cods is a compounded Member, and an official, and though it be counted a­mongst the Generative Members, yet it is called a principal Member, because of Ge­neration. This Purse was ordained for the custody and comfort of the Testicles and other Spermatick Vessels: And it is also made of two parts, of the inner and of the outer.

The outer is compound and made of Skin, and Lazartus, Longitudinal and Transversal, in like manner as the Myrac. The inner part of the Cods is of the sub­stance of the Syfac, and are in similitude as two Pockets drawn together by themselves, and they differ not from the Syfac: And there be two, because if there fall any hurt to the one, the other should serve. The Testicles or Stones be two made of Glan­dulous flesh, or Curnelly flesh. And fur­thermore, throug the Didimus cometh the Testicles from the Brain, Sinews, and from the Heart, Arteries, and from the Li­ver [Page 186]Veins, bringing unto them both feel­ing and stirring, Life and Spirit, and Nu­trimental Blood, and the most purest blood of all other Members of the Body, whereof is made the Sperme by the labour of the Testicles, the which is put forth in due time.

The Groyns be known: They be the empty Junctures, or purging place unto the Liver, and they have Curnelly flesh in the plying or bowing of the Thighs. The Hips have great brawny flesh on them, and from thence descend downwards, Brawns, Cords, and Ligaments, moving and binding together the Thighs, with the Haunches themselves.

CHAP. XXXVI. What Women ought to Marry, with what Men, that they may have Children.

IN respect of Married Women that prove Childless, Hyppocrates adviseth this Experiment to be tried, to know whe­ther the defect be on the Womans part, or on her Husbands, which is to make her [Page 187]suffumigations with Incense or Storax, with a Garment close wrapped about her, which may hang down on the ground, in such sort that no Vapor or Fume may issue out; and if within a while after she feel the Sa­vour of the Incense in her Mouth, she may conclude that the Barrenness comes not through her own defect, but through her Husbands, forasmuch as the Fumes found the Passages open, whereby it pierced up to the Nostrils: But although this proof perform that effect which Hippocrates speak­eth of, namely, the piercing up to the in­ner part of the Mouth, yet this is no in­fallible Argument of the Husbands Barren­ness, nor of the Fruitfulness of the Wife; since want of Children may arise through an unapt disposition in them both, in re­spect of the Correspondency of Qualities; for it hath oftentimes happened that a Man who could not have Children by one Wife hath had them by another: the like also hath befallen Woman. What the Correspondency should be which the Man and Wife ought to bear each to other, is expressed by Hipprcrates in these Words, If the hot answer not the cold, and the dry the moist, with measure and quantity, that is, if there meet not in the Womb two Seeds, the one hot, the other cold, the [Page 188]one dry, the other moist, extended in equal degree, there can be no Generation; for so marvellous a work as the Formation of Man could not be peform'd without a pro­portionable commixture of Seed, and the Womans were both of the same tempera­ture. To exemplifie what I have said, it is to be concluded, that a Woman who is wily, ill condition'd, shrill-voiced, lean, swarthy coloured, and deformed, (which are the signs of cold and moist in the first degree) may conceive by a Man who is ig­norant, good natured, sweet voyc'd, cor­pulent having little Hair, a well coloured Face, and a handsome Body, which are the signs of hot and dry in the first degree, in regard she retaineth a mean in all those signs above-mentioned, is most like to be Fruitful, because she comes nearest in pro­portion to Men of each several tempera­ture. But from the first of these Unions, or conjoyning of Man and Woman, are most likely to issue the wisest Childen, because the dryness of the Mother correcteth and amendeth the defect of the Father. More­over, it is requisite that Woman be dried by a mature Age, and not marry over young; for from thence it comes to pass, most commonly, that Children prove shal­low and indued with little wit.

CHAP. XXXVII. A Word of Advice to both Sexes in the time of Copulation.

WHen the Husband cometh into hi Wives Chamber, he must enter­tain her with all kind of dalliance, wanton behaviour, and allurements to Venery but if he perceive her to be slow and more cold, he must cherish, embrace, and tickle her, and shall not abruptly, the Nerves being suddenly distended, break into the Field of Nature, but rather shall creep in by little and little, intermixing more wan­ton Kisses with wanton Words and Speech­es, handling her Secret Parts and Dugs, that she may take fire and be inflamed to Venery, for so at length the Womb will strive and wax fervent with a desire of casting forth its own Seed, and receiving the Mans Seed to be mixed together there­with. But if all these things will not suf­fice to inflame the Woman, for Women for the most part are more slow and slack unto the expulsion or yielding forth of their Seed, it shall be necessary first to fo­ment her Secret Parts with the Decoction of hot Herbs made with Muscadine, or [Page 190]boyled in any other good Wine, and to put a little Musk or Civet into the Neck or Mouth of the Womb, and when she shall perceive the Flu of her Seed to approach, by reason of the tickling pleasure, she must advertise her Husband thereof, that at the very instant, time, or moment, he may also yield forth his Seed, that by the concourse or meeting of the Seeds, Conception may be made, and so at length a Child formed and born. And that it may have better Success, the Husband must not presently se­parate himself from his Wifes Embraces, lest the Air strike into the open Womb, and so corrupt the Seeds before they are perfectly mixed together: when the Man departs, let the Woman lye still in quiet, laying her Legs or her Thighs a-cross one upon another, and raising them up a little lest that by motion or downward situati­on the Seed should be shed or spilt; which is the cause why she ought at that time not to talk, especially chiding, nor to Cough or Sneese, but to give her self to rest and quietness, if it be possible.

Thus, Reader, have I finished the diffi­cult Mystery of Generation, as I hope, to the Satisfaction of all Modest and Ingeni­ous Persons.