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. IX.

Of the flowing away of Bloud from the Matrices of women with Childe.

ALthough we made mention of this dis∣ease in the first booke, where we treated

of the immoderate flowing of the Courses; yet we conceive it may be worth our la∣bour, and the Readers thanks to add a few things, which in the Chapter aforesaid, were purposely omitted by us.

Bloud then floweth immoderately from the Matrix, either when the lips thereof are unlockt, or when the vessells are open, or lastly, by transcolation.

The inward cause of these symptomes is an extreame heat, or thinnesse in the bloud; which either eats asunder the ves∣sells, or rarefies the tunicles thereof; the outward causes are all those things which have a power to make thin, to heat, to open, to rarefie, and to subtilize the bloud; as immoderate cares of the minde, long watch∣ings, a continuall use of hot meats, as dishes pepperd and spiced: also drinking too much wine; yet you may exhibit a glasse of Claret wine in a moderate quantity, to refresh her spirits, provided that no Fever be suspected, and that her Matrix be not inflamed.

The signes of this evill are manifest; for the spirits are deficient, the heat is dimi∣nished, the face groweth pale, the feet swell, the strength decayes, the meat is forsaken, and no sleep can be obtained.

The danger of this Flux is unknown, I suppose, to few women; for seeing that our naturall heat hath its chiefe, and sole perseverance in the bloud, the losse of that bloud in an immoderate quantity, must needs exhaust the spirits, weaken the body, and at length when the naturall heat is almost extinguisht, and the sanguificati∣on is depraved, there will undoubtedly su∣pervene either a Dropsey, or a Consumption.

When you begin the Cure, keep the Pa∣tient in a darke roome, and let the ayre be cold and dry; or if naturally it be not so, make it so by art; her meat should be po∣tentially cold, thick, and binding: as the flesh of Partridges, and sheeps-feet, or sheeps-heads, or broths made of them; pease beanes, quinces, Services, and the like, are not unwholsome for her, and for her drinke, let it bee beere, or water wherein steele hath often been quenched.

Let her bloud immediately to divert the humour, but in what part, there is indeed a great controversie among the Physitians about it; but to promote the Revulsion of the humour, if the Patient be strong enough, we tye ligatures about her legs, and boldly open a vein in her arme; or if she be very strong, we apply ••uppinglasses

wi••h scarification to her shoulders.

When the veine is opened, give her thick∣ning Syrups, as Syrup of poppies, Myrtles, quinces, or Syrupe of restharrow; Juleps al∣so made with the disti••led waters of plan∣tane and roses, and mixt with the Syrups aforesaid, will be convenient for her, or you may mingle Conserve of roses, or Con∣serve of acacia with Bolearmenick, and the Trochisch. de Carabe, which will be an ex∣cellent mixture to thicken, and stay the bloud; but however forget not to prescribe this Purge.

Take

• two scruples of Rubarb gently boyled.
• Ten grains of the myrabolans called chebule.
• Syrup of dried roses, or
• Syrupe of sowre Pomegranets, halfe an ounce.
• Three ounces of plantane water, or a de∣coction of tormentill root••.

Mingle them, and make a Potion.

Procure some sleepe for her with Opiates, as Athenasia, Requies, Nicholai, Philonium Persicum, new Treacle, or Philonium Roma∣num; yea with pills de Cynoglossa, or foure or five graines of Opium: all these things doe wonderfully thicken the bloud, straighten the passages, fatten the body,

concoct the bloud, provoke sleep, and therefore are very proper for women thus affected. Note that the Opium restraines, and stops all superfluous evacuations, sweat excepted, which it provokes; besides, by inviting sleepe it refresheth the body; for by sleep the aliment is soonest concocted, the naturall heat retiring to the inward parts, whereas when the Patient waketh, the heat is distributed and diffused all over the outward parts.

Lay this plaister which followes the oyntment to the reines of her back, and with the oyntment anoynt her privie parts, and the region of her Kidnies.

Take

• the powder of Cyprus Nuts.
• The roots of Comphrey,
• Bistort, of each two drams.
• Red Sanders,
• Red Corall,
• ...Bolearmenick,
• Mastick, of each a dram.

With foure ounces of Ʋnguentum Comitis∣sae make an oyntment.

After the oyntment apply this Plaister, as was said above.

Take a pound of loom, and beat it to pow∣der, with ten drams of gum-arabick tosted by the fire, and the whites of foure Egs,

incorporate them, and make a plaister.