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 the inordinate Flux of the Flowers.

THE disorderly Flux of the Courses is either the coming of them down before their time, or else the stoppage of them for some time after the usual

course of Nature. They come down sometimes before their time, partly by reason of internal Causes, and partly by reason of external Causes, as falls, blows, and such like casualties that open the veins: Or from the expulsive faculty of the Womb too much provoked. First, by the plenty of blood, which is known by this, that the blood which is sent to the womb from all part is fluid, and of its natural constitution; signs of a Ple∣thora, or fulness of blood, are apparent in the Wo∣man. It is Cured by blood letting if the blood abound by good diet, and frequent though gentle exercise. Secondly, it proceeds from the Acrimony and sharp∣ness of the blood which is known by the hot temper of the body, the blood it self is more thin and yellow∣ish. It must be Cured by evacuating Medicines, as Rheubarb, and such things as temper the blood, where∣of we have already spoken.

It comes also when the retentive faculty of the womb grows lank, which may be known by the looseness of the Vessels of the Womb, besides a moist and faint ha∣bit of the body: In the Cure, beware of things which are too Astringent; baths, wherein the force and strength of Iron may be effectual, may with safety be used. The subsistence and stay of the Courses beyond the accustomed time, proceeds from a frustration of the expulsive faculty; as when there is small store of blood, which is known by this, that the Woman is not troubled with the stay of the Courses; and espe∣cially, if she have over-exercised her self, or used a spare diet before. Secondly, the thickness of the blood, which is known by the whiteness and clammi∣ness thereof. In the performance of the Cure, you must purge before too much blood be gathered toge∣ther: Next, the Courses are to be attenuated, for the performance of which, Calamint and Mercurialis are to

be most commended. In this Case scarification of the heels is not amiss.

There is another difference of this Disease, which arises from the weakness of the expelling faculty, cau∣sed either by the frigid distemper of the Womb, of which we have spoken already; or by a kind of num∣ness thereof, of which we shall speak anon.