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.

Of windy Tumours in the Breasts.

THE flatuous Tumour of the Breasts is caused by a thick vapour, which rises from the menstrual blood which is retained▪ or corrupted in the Matrix.

The causes of which are; first, the suppression of the flowers; or when the flowers are not discharged into their proper place, and in their proper time; as also from the corruption of the humours, by which are in∣gendered divers bad fumes and vapours; for, this being received into the Breasts, causes a distention much like a true swelling. The sign by which it is known, is the pain which it brings along with it, which is sharp and prickling, causing a distention of the part. The heart is not a little out of order, by reason of the win∣dinesses which lye so near it; and commonly the left Breast is mow swoln, communicating its pain to the arm, shoulder, and ribs of the same side. And the signs differ from those of a Cancer; for in this distem∣per the Breast is white and shining, by reason of the distention; and if you touch it, it sounds like a drum. And if you press it with your hands, you will find that it is swelled in all parts alike, and not in one more than another. This is Cured first by a good or∣der of diet, taking little victuals, whereby crudities may be avoided that do afford matter to the obstru∣ctions, and increase windiness: For which cause she must also drink little, and that, water boyled with Ci∣namon, Aniseed, and rind of Citrons. The next re∣medy is by using things which are good to provoke the Courses, (among which use this Receit, strain Ce∣landine stampt into posset-ale, and drink it four days before the new-moon, and four days after.) And it will not be amiss to let blood three or four times in the year, about the time that the Courses ought to be∣gin. For by this means you may provoke the flowers, and hinder the increase either of a Scirrhus, or of a Cancer; to which purpose, baths and frictions are not a little to be used. In the next place, you must prepare the humours that foment this windi∣ness

both in the Matrix and in the Veins, and that by Syrups which do expell flegm and melancholly; after which you must purge your Patient; for which purpose you may use this gentle Apozem. Take of the root of Tamarinds, Cypress, Bugloss, of each an ounce and a half; flowers of Borage, Epithymum, Sena, of each half a handful, flowers of Balm one handful, Raisins one ounce, Prunes in number twelve, boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water, and then in a pint of the water dissolve four ounces of the syrup of Violets; make of this an Apozem clarified according to Art, and sweeten it with a sufficient quantity of Su∣gar, giving four or five ounces at a time. In the next place, you may use Topicks to attenuate and re∣solve; to which purpose you may bathe or foment the Breast with a Sponge dipt in Lye, and then lay upon it a linnen cloth, dipt and moystned in Aqua-vitae, and dryed in the shade, or else dipt in fresh butter that hath boyled a good while, or in oyl of Lillies, or in oyl both of the root and seed of Angelica; or you may foment the Breast with this Decoction. Take wheat-bran two handfuls, leaves of Dill and Melilot, of each half a handful; Aniseed, Fennel, and Cumin∣seed, of each two drams, Camomile-flowers one hand∣ful; boyl all these in a sufficient quantity of water and white-wine, and let them boyl to the consumption of the third part. In this decoction you may wet a sponge, and wash or foment the Breast therewith. After you have fomented the part, you may put this Oyntment upon the part affected: Take oyl of Lillies and Elder, of each an ounce and a half, of the best Balsom half an ounce, powder of burnt-lead unwasht, Aniseed one dram, and as much wax as is sufficient.