Praxis medicinæ reformata: = or, The practice of physick reformed Being an epitome of the whole art: wherein is briefly shewed, the true causes, signs, prognosticks, and cure, of most diseases. Published for the benefit of all persons. By Robert Johnson, Med. Professor.

CHAP. XVI. Of the immoderate menstrual Flux, and the Whites in Women.

THE monthly terms being immode∣rate, may be called in Latin mensium fluxus immodicus.

And the Whites in Women Alboe mulie∣rum fluxiones.

The causes of too many Courses are either external, or internal.

The external Causes may be by an Ulcer in the Matrix, or some outward Violence, and sometimes by too much Coition.

The internal Causes are either a sharp se∣rous humour abounding in the Bloud, in∣creasing its fluidity, or else an over great heat in the Womb, stirring up a more potent, and therefore a swifter rarefaction of Bloud, provoking an expulsion of it, either by brea∣king, (or some other preternatural opening) of the vessels of the Womb.

The white Flux of the Womb, is an excre∣mentitious humour flowing from it.

This distemper is subject not onely to Wo∣men, but sometimes to Maids also.

These humours may be bred in the Womb, either by a cold or hot distemper therein.

The cold doth render it unable to digest its nourishment.

A hot Distemper corrupteth it, hence cometh this excrementitious humour.

Also Abortion, Contusion, Inflammation, Imposthume or Ulcer in the Womb, may weaken and dispose it to breed such hu∣mours.

The signs that distinguish between this Distemper, and an Ulcer in the Womb, and Gonorrhoea, are these.

1. If there be an Ulcer there, the Womb will not admit of Coition, without pain, and

the matter which floweth from her is strin∣gy, and more digested, and sometimes bloudy.

2. In the Gonorrhoea, the seminal matter cometh in a small quantity, and seldom, ex∣cept it be gotten by acting with an unclean Person, then the Urine is sharp, with many other malignant Symptoms.

All long Hemorrhagies of Bloud are dan∣gerous, especially those of the Womb; If it be caused by exulceration, and be in elder∣ly Women, 'tis incurable.

The white Flux is not very dangerous, but is often difficult of curation, especially in old Women, because they abound with Phlegm; and 'tis hard to divert the humours from this Chanel, it being the sink of the body, through which the superfluous hu∣mours of a healthy Woman are every month evacuated.

If this distemper continue long, it may breed great evils, as Barrenness, Falling out of the Womb, &c.

These diseases may be both cured by the same medicines.

If the courses have continued too long, the following mixture will soon stop the flux of Bloud, and will cure most rup∣tions of vessels.

Take the Waters of Plantain, Comfry, of each three ounces; Cinamon-water, Syrups

of Mirtles, Quinces, of each one ounce and half; distill'd Vinegar one ounce; red Coral prepar'd one drachm; Dragons Bloud one scruple; Laudanum opiat. six grains; mix it, and give three spoonfulls every four hours.

When the flux of Bloud is stopt, you may purge with the following.

Take of Manna one ounce; Powder of Rhubarb tosted, Cream of Tartar, of each half a drachm; Resin of Jallop four grains; mix it, and take it in broth.

If the Patient like Pills, I commend the following.

Take Resins of Jallop and Scammony, ex∣tract of Rhubarb, Agarick, Salt of Amber, Powder of Dragons-bloud, of each ten grains; Oil of Mints six drops; with Syrup of Rhubarb, let it be made into twelve Pills for three doses.

After purging, these Astringents will be profitable.

Take of Cinamon, the Roots of Bistort, Tor∣mentile, Rhubarb, Seeds of Plantain, Dill, Flowers of red Roses, Balaustins, red Coral, sea∣led Earth, whitest Amber, Harts-horn, Gum∣dragon and Arabick, of each two drachms; Saccharum Saturni, Dragons-bloud, Salt Pru∣nella, of each two scruples; Laudanum opiat. Camphire, of each ten grains; let them be all finely powder'd and searced, and with Honey of red Roses, Syrups of Quinces and

Comfry, of each equal parts; let it be made into an Electuary according to Art.

Let the sick take the quantity of a Nut∣meg of this Electuary, every morning and evening, either upon the point of a knife, or dissolve it in two or three ounces of red Wine, to which you may add a few drops of Tincture of red Coral, and drink it.

This Julep is also of great virtue.

Take the Waters of Comfry, Plantain, Oak-buds, Knot-grass, red Wine, of each four ounces; in which infuse red Rose-buds, Balaustins, Flowers of Comfry, Bugloss, of each one handfull, for the space of twenty four hours, then boil it gently for half an hour; strain it, and add Tincture of red Coral, Syrups of dried Roses, Comfry and Mirtles, of each two ounces; Oil of Vitriol twenty drops; mix it, and take six spoon∣fulls every three hours.

Let the Region of the Womb be anointed with this Linament.

Take Unguent. Comitissoe, Oil of Mirtles, of each one ounce; Saccharum Saturni one drachm; Camphire ten grains; mix it.

After the part is anointed, let this Plaster be applied.

Take the Plaster against Ruptures, Dia∣palma, of each one ounce; the carminative Plaster of Sylvius half an ounce; mix it, and spread it on leather, and apply to the region of the Womb.

In the Whites, let this be used for a Fume.

Take of Olibanum, Amber, Cloves, of each half a drachm; red Rose-buds, Balaus∣tins, of each two drachms; beat them all to∣gether into a gross powder; put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles, and let the Woman sit over it.

Notes

• Cause.
• Cause of Whites.
• Signs.
• Progn.
• Cure.
• Astrin∣gent Iulep.
• Purge.
• Purging Pills.
• Astrin∣gent Elec∣tuary.
• Astrin∣gent Iulep.
• Linament
• Plaster.
• Fume.