The compleat midwife's practice enlarged in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man containing a perfect directory or rules for midwives and nurses : as also a guide for women in their conception, bearing and nursing of children from the experience of our English authors, viz., Sir Theodore Mayern, Dr. Chamberlain, Mr. Nich. Culpeper ... : with instructions of the Queen of France's midwife to her daughter ... / by John Pechey ... ; the whole illustrated with copper plates.

CHAP. XXVII. How the Secondines are to be hastned out.

THE Secondines, after that the Infant is born, may be many ways hindred; first by the debility, or weakness of the Matrix, which happens by the fre∣quent motion and endeavouring of the Infant, as also by reason of the difficulty of the Birth, or by reason that the womb doth not continue distended, or because it is many times streightned, by which the womb is so weakned, that by its own force it is not able to expel the Secondines: Besides, the Secondines may inwardly stick close to the womb, which happens many times through the abundance of superfluous Humours that are retained in the Matrix, by reason of which glutinous Humours, the Secondines stick to the Matrix. These are no way else to be pulled away, but by the Hand of the Midwife. Thirdly, the Secondines are hard to come

away, if all the waters come away with the Infant, for then the Secondines, being left without moisture, cannot come away by reason of the driness of the womb; be∣sides that, the Matrix and the Neck of the womb are rougher by reason of the driness thereof, for these wa∣ters render the way slippery and easie, both for the In∣fant, and for the Secondines; which being slipped away, the womb is to be anointed with Juices and Oils. Fourth∣ly, when the Mouth of the Matrix, by reason of the pains of Child-bearing, swells, as often happens, unless there be a provident care taken to prevent it. Fifthly, when the Neck of the Matrix is streighter and more close, and for that reason fat Women travel with much more difficulty: Therefore when the Secondines do make any extraordinary stay, the Midwife is to use all her endeavour to make way for them; for that reten∣tion causes suffocation, and divers other Evils; for be∣ing long detained, they putrifie and cause an evil smell, which ascending up to the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Dia∣phragme, and so to the Brain, cause pains in the Head and Lungs, shortness of Breath, Faintness, cold Sweats; so that there is great danger; and also Apoplexies and Epilepsies, are not a little to be feared. Now in all the time of their stay, the Women are to be refreshed with convenient Food, to add strength to them, giving them sometimes the Yolks of Eggs boiled in old wine with Sugar, and sprinkled over with Saffron and Cinamon, or some Broth made of Capon or Hen, seasoned with Cinamon and Saffron: It may not be amiss to make certain Perfumes for the Woman to receive up into her womb, made of Saffron, Castor, Myrrh, and Cina∣mon, of each the quantity of a Bean, and care must be had that the Fume pass no further than the Matrix, and this may be done till the Fume of these Spices shall cease. After this a little sneezig Powder is to be put in∣to

to her Nostrils, composed of Hellebore, or such like; the Woman shutting her Mouth hard, and keeping her Breath: If these things prevail not, give her this fol∣lowing Potion.

Take Trochisch of Myrrh, ten grains of Saffron, one Scruple of Cinamon, Penny Royal waters two ounces; make of this one draught and give her; after she hath taken this, and rested a little while, let a Pessary of Hel∣lebore and Opoponax wrapt up in pure wool, be thrust up into the neck of the womb. This will certainly bring down the Secondines, for it is of so great vertue, that it is efficacious in expelling the Child which is dead, toge∣ther with the Secondines.

Take Mallows, Hollihock, Wormwood, Mugwort, Calamint, Origanum, each one handful, make a Bath, and let her sit therein up to the Navel, and stroke ever downwards with her Hands, and give her inwardly Myrrh a Scruple, Cinamon poudered in Nutmeg-water or wine, or drink Calamint, or Penny-Royal in wine.

Neither will it be amiss to anoint the Matrix with the Ointment called Basilicon; if this doth nothing a∣vail toward the bringing down of the Secondines, and that the Woman is in great danger of her life, then with the Consent of her Husband and Kindred, give her se∣ven of the following Pills, which being taken, let her lie still 'till the vertue of them do provoke new Pains; for they are of so great Vertue, that they also do ex∣pel the dead Child, together with the Secondines; yet herein it will not be amiss to consult the skilful Phy∣sician.

The Pills are these.

Take of Castor, Myrrh, Liquid Storax, of each a scruple; the bark of Cinamon, or Cassia, and Birth∣wort, of each half a scruple; Agaric half an ounce, Dia∣gridium 6 grains, Saffron, Siler of the Mountain, Savin,

of each 3 gr. Thebaic Opium, Assa faetida, of each one gr. mingle all these with as much extracted Cassia as is sufficient, and make of them certain Pills as big as pease, and give them to the Woman in a small quantity of Penny-Royal water. It may be also expedient to apply this ensuing Plaister.

Take one part of Coloquintida boiled in water, and as much of the juice of Rue, with these mingle Line∣seed, Fenugreek, Barly meal, of each a spoonful, let them all boil together, and the Plaister made of these must be laid upon all that part, from the Navel to the Privities.