The womans doctour, or, An exact and distinct explanation of all such diseases as are peculiar to that sex with choise and experimentall remedies against the same : being safe in the composition, pleasant in the use, effectuall in the operation, cheap in the price / faithfully translated out of the works of that learned philosopher and eminent physitian Nicholas Fontanus.

CHAP. VII.

Of the swelling of the Legs in Women with Childe.

FRom the same cause, namely from abun∣dance of phlegme, and c••ude humours, especially in the last moneths, proceed the swelling of the legs, face, and eye-browes, and when I have told you that the flesh of the whole body groweth soft, and that she looketh white and wan in the face, I have discovered unto your consideration the signes of this disease.

Women in this condition cannot be re∣stored to perfect health till she be delivered: yet may we not delay our helps, least a worse evill happen unto her; for whereas the legs and feet are outward parts, and at a great distance from the fountaine of heat, they are quickly affected with cold, and mortified through the abundance of crude humours, which many times settle in them.

You may securely, speedily, and gently ac∣complish the cure by strengthning and dis∣••olving remedies.

In the first place therefore provide a bath with chalybeated water, Saltpeter, Sulphur, Wormewood, Stechaz, Rosemary, and Camo∣mile: in this liquor let her wash her lips, her thighes, her legs, and her feet, and when she washeth them, let her also rub them soundly.

If her flesh grow very soft and lank, so that you feare a mortification, apply this Poultis following, which will exceedingly comfort her.

Take

• two handfulls of Wormewood,
• Meale of Vetches,
• Meale of beanes,
• Meale of barley of each an ounce and a halfe.
• An ounce of Bran.

With a sufficient quantity of oxymel, and a brine made with lemon pills, according to art make your Poultis.

If the coldnesse of the part be such, that you feare a gangreen, there is nothing will more certainly prevent it then Scarifi∣cation: for by this meanes the part is ven∣tilated, and preserved from putrifaction.

Strengthning remedies must sometimes be exhibited to expell the winde, yet you must administer them with a good diet, consisting of drying, and corroborating

things, as Treacle, Mithridate, and other drying confections and powders, Diacinna∣monium, aromaticum rosatum, Diarrhodon Abba, tis, unto which we may well adjoyne a de∣coction of China and Salsaparilla with a lit∣tle stick of cinamon, and a few annise seeds.

Note that these remedies may properly be accommodated to the cure of the disease, called the Ʋterine Flux, which happens sometimes to women when they are ready to lye down, by reason that there is an excessive abundance of humour in their bo∣dies, or else because the childe in their bel∣lies is very large and great.