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.

A Full SUPPLY

Of such most useful and admirable Secrets, which Mr. Nicholas Culpepper in his brief Trea∣tise, and other English Writers in the Art of Midwifery, have hitherto wilfully passed by, kept close to themselves, and wholly omitted; now at last made publick for the general good:

By T. Chamberlain, M. P.

CHAP. I. In what manner the Generative, or Begetting Seed hath its beginning; and particularly of the four Degrees of Concoction.

THAT we may the better discern the whole course and order of Generation, I have thought it convenient to demonstrate how great a similitude it bears with the production of Plants: but first it is necessary to take notice what Generative Seed is, and how extracted out of the three Concoctions.

We may observe the natural Procreation of man to be altogether such, as we perceive the generation and beginning of Plants or Herbs of every kind to be: For

as they every one of them from the Seed of his Kind, cast into the Womb of the Earth, do bud or increase, and do naturally grow to the perfect Form of its pro∣per Nature: So Man also being a reasonable Creature according to the quality of the Body, doth naturally draw his Original and Begining from the sperm and seed of Man, projected and cast forth into the Womb of Woman, as into a Field: But that matter of Gene∣ration which we call sperm or seed, by its original and nature, is only a superfluous Humor, the residue and remainder, I say, of the nutriment and food, and the superfluity of the third concoction in the Body, derived and conveyed along through the hidden and secret or∣gans or instruments from the chiefest Members of the body unto the generative parts, and serveth for ge∣neration And it hath its beginning and breeding from the residues and remnants of all the meats belonging to the nourishment of Man, after they be altered and transmuted even to the third Concoction: Of the su∣perfluity of which concocted food collected and gather∣ed together in its proper and due manner, it is evident that the same is ingendred, according to the constitu∣tion of the age and nature; for there is made a three-fold concoction of any meat, altered and converted in∣to the nourishment of the living Creature, even to ge∣neration of seed, that concoction nevertheless following, which is the purest of all Concoctions: For the Food being sent down into the stomach, by chewing streight∣way the pure Nutriment which is ordained to the o∣ther part (the dry Excrement being driven downward thorough the Guts to the Belly) through the sucking Veins (named in Latin mesaraicae) carried as it were to one Gate flowing out of innumerable Channels, is brought to the Liver; where to the disposition of the former concoction, made in the stomach, there is forth∣with

made the second concoction in the Liver of the food derived unto it, the superfluous matter being se∣parated, that is to say, both kinds of choler, and the watrish humour drawn and attracted by the emulgent vessels (in Latin vasa emulgentia) that it being strain∣ed through the kidnies, might descend down into the bladder; then the residue, refined and cleansed in the Liver by this concoction, that is to say blood, is con∣veyed over to the Heart, to receive its vital admini∣stration and office. In the Heart again, is made the third Concoction of the food being received at one time; for there blood having taken unto it vital and lively spirit, being diffused and sent abroad throughout the several members of the body, doth again expel and void out that which is superfluous in it self, by the secret pores and passages. At length here the Spirit chang∣eth and turneth the blood conveyed through the sper∣matical or seed-vessels (being branches of vena cava) there also further concocted into the nature of sperm or seed, by the twined revolutions and back-turnings of the smallest vessels for this purpose, and by the glandu∣lous or kernel'd substance of the Testicles, and the seed passages (which they call Parastatae) available in that behalf: So the blood, exquisitely wrought and labour∣ed, and for the most part converted into vital spirits, is straight-way conveyed by the Artery named Aorta, and branches thereof to all the other Members of the whole body. But in the fourth place (that we may add one thing over and above our purpose) there is made an alteration of the food into the like substance of the thing nourished, this juyce quickning and strength∣ning life, which being the purest of all, remained last∣ly with the vital spirit; that in like sort being expelled, if any impure thing shall be remaining or engendred.

CHAP. II. The Generation of Man, compared with the production of Plants.

THAT the reason of this Generation may be made the more plain and evident unto us, we will declare by a brief demonstration, that there is the same begining of Plants and Herbs, and of other things which fall under the same consideration; therefore as in the seeds of every kind, the grain it self cast into the Earth, is the food, and as it were the first subject of all the alteration following, whereby it buds and springs, is augmented and grows up into a nature like unto it; so meat being taken, affordeth in mans body the first matter to a variable concoction. And as in Plants we may observe a most certain separation of the pure from the impure, and of the remnant from the superfluous matter; so here we perceive a natural separation and sequestration of that which is unprofitable, from that which is profitable, by their certain degrees: For first the seed being committed to the Earth, by and by swel∣ling with the moisture of the same, strippeth it self from that little skin, in which it was inclosed, and springing upward, casteth forth the same being empty, as a dry Ex∣crement, the grain in the mean time budding and sprout∣ing forth, that it may proceed forward toward the increase; afterward the increase and growth stretching even to the fruit disrobed and bereaved of the Flower, the second purg∣ing casteth down the flower sprung up in the top of the bough, but preserveth the hope of the Fruit, being stripped of his flower, as that thing which remaineth pure and profitable by the second purging. Afterwards the Fruit being grown to its just quantity, the third alteration casteth down the leaves, as the superfluity of this degree; but ordaineth the fruit, being now so of∣ten

cleansed and purged, for the utility of mans nou∣rishment, maturity, and ripeness being granted unto it. Put now, either the seed breaketh, the fruit lying hid in it, or else it sendeth it out by putrefaction; and being cast into the ground it hasteneth again into the property of its own nature, not tending towards it self, which is remaining, but to the likeness of its first origi∣nal, from whence it had its begining; so that in this it appeareth absolutely true, that Nature ingendereth things like unto it self; for every thing doth naturally covet and desire the form and likeness of that form whence it is bred: Hence it comes to pass, that Apples grow not from Pears, nor Pears from any other kind of fruit, unless it be so brought about by the means of grafting and planting. And the same thing is to be acknowledged in the generation of Man and Woman, which is to be confessed in the growing of Plants and Herbs; that because we see bodies well distinguished by Members to be engendred of seed, we may also believe that the same seed is derived from the distinct and seve∣ral parts of the body; wherefore let those be advised what they say, who affirm the seed of generation to be ingendred of the Brain only, when as it is not so a∣greeable to the consideration of the Concoctions, nor to the constitution of the bodies. True it is, that some, and that not a small part, is derived from the Brain, but the chiefest part is collected together from the chief∣est parts of the whole body: For if we say, that this should be ingendred of one or two parts only; every one would find that this consequence would follow by an infallible reason, namely, that those same parts on∣ly should be ingendred again: Therefore we may more rightly conclude, that besides that beginning which it draweth from the Brain, it is ingendred from the whole body, and the most especial parts of the same,

the effect it self manifesting the cause, most especially when we see distinct members, and perfectly finisht, according to the due form of the body, and so truly, that the thing begotten doth answer and agree to the constitution of the thing begetting; of feeble seed, a feeble man being born; of strong seed, a strong and lusty man: By which means it happeneth that we ma∣ny times see the infirmities and ill favoured marks of the body in the Children, which are inherent in the Parents, and these we firmly believe to have passed in∣to them by the corruption of the seed. And these things thus determined, may suffice to have been spo∣ken concerning the beginning and substance of Ingend∣ring Seed.

CHAP. III. What course Parents ought to take that they may beget wise Children.

IT may well be admired, what the reason should be, that Nature being so wise and provident in all her actings, should nevertheless be so overseen in a work of so special regard as Mankind, that for one whom she produceth wise, solid and judicious, she bringeth so many into the World of those that are shal∣low, half witted, and void of prudence: But having seriously consider'd with my self, and searcht into the reason of natural causes of this so strange a matter; I easily found the true reason to be this, namely, that Parents apply not themselves to the act of generation, with that order and diligence that is required by nature, nor know the conditions which ought to be observed, that their Children may prove wise and judicious. Now if by art we may procure a remedy for this, we shall have brought to the Common-wealth the greatest be∣nefit she can receive. The main difficulty of this matter

chiefly consisteth herein, that we cannot discourse here∣of in terms so seemly and modest, as exact decency would require; but if for this reason I should forbear to insist upon any particular note or observation, the whole business would be of small validity; forasmuch as divers grave Authors are of opinion, that wise men ordinarily beget foolish Children, because in the act of Copulation they abstain from certain diligences, which are of importance that the Son may partake of the Fa∣thers Wisdom.

For the more Methodical proceeding, I have thought good to divide the matter of this discourse into four principal parts. The first is to shew the natural quali∣ties and temperature which Man and Woman ought to possess, that they may use Generation. The second, what diligence the Parents ought to imploy, that their Children may be male, and not Female. The third, how they may become wise and not fools. The fourth, how they are to be ordered after their birth for pre∣servation of their wit. As to the first point: Divers both ancient and modern Authors have delivered their o∣pinions to this effect, that in a well ordered Common-wealth, there ought to be assigned certain surveyors of Marriages, who should have skill and judgment suf∣ficient to look into the qualities of the persons that are to be married; and to allot to every woman a husband, and to every man a wife agreeable and proportionable to them in all respects: But whether such a thing be of absolute necessity in a State, or no, let it lye upon the care and consideration of such as take upon them to ma∣nage, and dispose the affairs of Common-wealths. Hip∣pocrates and Galen took much pains in prescribing cer∣tain Precepts about this matter, with several rules to know what sort of Women were fruitful, and what not; what men were able for generation, and what disable:

But touching all this, they deliver very little to the purpose, and that not with such distinction as is requisite for the business in hand, therefore it will be necessary to begin this discourse from its principles, and briefly to give the same its due order and method that so we may plainly and clearly demonstrate from what Union of Parents wise children are generated, and from what fools and faineants issue. To which end is needful: First to be informed of a particular point of Philosophy, up∣on the knowledge of which depends all that which is to be delivered touching this first point; and that's this, that man is different from Woman in nothing else, as Galen also observes, than in having his genital Mem∣bers without his body whereas a woman hath all the very same parts within, so that if, when nature hath fi∣nished her work in the formation of man, she would convert him into a Woman, there needs nothing else to be done, saving only to turn the Organs of genera∣tion inward, and if, having formed a woman she would transform her to a man, she may effect it by doing the contrary: But whether or no these things have hapned, as some affirm they have, and of the certainty of Her∣maphrodites being found in nature, may more commo∣diously be referred to a discourse by it self. Now what might be the cause that the genital Members are in∣gendred within, or without, and that the creature be∣cometh Male or Female, is a thing plain and evident enough to demonstrate, considering that heat extendeth and enlargeth all things, and cold retaineth and clo∣seth them up; so that it is concluded by all that are knowing in Philosophy and natural causes, that if the seed be cold and moist, a woman is begotten, not a man: And if the same be hot and dry, a man is begot∣ten, not a Woman: Whence it is to be inferred, that there is no man to be termed cold in respect of a woman, nor woman hot in respect of a man.

This therefore is to be noted as a thing without all controversie or exception, that the qualities which ren∣der a woman fruitful, are cold and moisture, the womb holding the same proportion with mans seed, that the earth doth with Corn or any other grain; and we see, that if the earth want cold and moisture, the seed will not prosper; and that those are the most fertile soyls which partake most of cold and moist: yet these two qualities ought to keep a certain measurableness, lest that, either by excess, or deficiency, generation be spoyled; for as the Corn is vitiated by excess of rain, and overmuch cold; so in conception the seed may be choaked by over-abundance of these qualities; and on the other side, if those parts in a woman should be tem∣perate as in a man, it were impossible she should con∣ceive, or be a woman: Nor could she breed that fleg∣matick blood which ingendereth milk, by which, as Galen and Hypocrates affirm, the birth is nourished while it remaineth in the mothers belly; neither could she be beardless, or void of hair, if she were overmuch inclining to hot and dry. Nevertheless, all women are not cold and moist alike, there being of these qualities several degrees, some being cold and moist in the first degree, some in the second, some in the third, and in each of these they may conceive, if a man answer them in proportion of heat. As for the signs of these seve∣ral degrees of coldness and moisture in women, though hitherto they have not been taken notice of by any, yet it will be very requisite in this place to consider them according to the several effects, which each of these de∣grees produceth. First, by the quick apprehension and acuteness of wit in women, for if they be very witty and acute, they are to be judged cold and moist in the first degree only; if very shallow and simple, in the third degree, but if they partake of a middle na∣ture

between these two extreams, it signifieth that they are in the second degree. Secondly, their Conditions; they being either curst, or good natured, according to these three degrees. Thirdly, their voice; which is either shrill, or big according as they are more or less cold and moist. Fourthly, their substance in flesh; leanness being a sign of little coldness and moisture; grosness or over much corpulency, of the redundance of those qualities: to be meanly fleshed, betokeneth the second degree. Fifthly, the colour of their face; which is either white, or swarthy, as these qualities are intense or remiss; of the second degree is composed a fresh and lively colour. Sixthly, their hair; which is also either much, or little, according to the exuber∣ance, or defect of cold and moist. Seventhly, a hand∣som form and proportion of body is the result of the middlemost degree; deformity arising from either Ex∣tream.

Now from all these Signs it may be concluded, that those women who are cold and moist in the second de∣gree, are of the perfectest temper, and in the best ca∣pacity, as to their own proper nature, of bringing forth Children.

CHAP. IV. The signs to know the several degrees of hot and dry in a Man.

AS there are in Women three degrees of cold and moist, so likewise in Men there are as many of hot and dry; and the same signs which discover those in women, specifie these in men; only, the first, or remiss degree in women holdeth a proportion with the third, or intense degree in men; as namely, whereas among women those have the biggest voices that are cold and moist in the first degree; the like is to be con∣cluded

of men that are hot and dry in the third, the defect in those answering to the excess in these: now to understand these temperatures the more exactly, we must take notice of a very observable point mentioned by Galen, which is; that the temperature of all parts of the body, especially the brain, follows the tempera∣ture of the Testicles: and he affirmeth that they are of more importance than the Heart, alledging this reason; namely, that the Heart is the beginning of the life only, but the Testicles are the beginning of living healthfully, and without distempers.

CHAP. V. What Women ought to marry with what men, that they may have Children.

IN respect of married Women that prove Childless, Hypocrates adviseth this experiment to be tried, to know whether the defect be on the Womans part, or on her Husbands, which is to make her suffumigations with Incense, or Storax, with a Garment close wrap∣ped about her, which may hang down on the ground, in such sort, that no vapor, or fume may issue out, and if within a while after she feel the savour of the Incense in her mouth, she may conclude that the bar∣renness comes not through her own defect, but through her husbands; for as much as the fumes found the pas∣sages open, whereby it pierced up to the Nostrils: But although this proof perform that effect which Hippocra∣tes speaketh of, namely, the piercing up to the inner part of the mouth; yet this is no infallible argument of the Husbands barrenness, nor of the fruitfulness of the Wife: Since want of Children may arise through an unapt disposition in them both, in respect of the correspondency of qualities, for it hath oftentimes hap∣ned that a man who could not have Children by one

wife, hath had them by another; the like also hath befallen Women. What the correspondency should be, which the man and wife ought to bear each to o∣ther, is expressed by Hypocrates in these words. If the hot answer not the cold, and the dry the moist, with measure and quantity; that is, if there meet not in the Womb two Seeds, the one hot, the other cold, the one dry, the other moist, extended in equal degree, there can be no generation: For so marvellous a work as the formation of Man could not be perform'd, without a proportionable commixture of seeds, which could not be, if the mans seed and the womans were both of the same temperature. To exemplify what I have said, it is to be concluded, that a woman who is wily, ill-condition'd, shrill-voiced, lean, swarthy-co∣loured, and deformed, (which are the signs of cold, and moist in the first degree) may conceive by a man who is ignorant, good natured, sweet voic'd, corpu∣lent, having little hair, a well-coloured face, and a hand∣some body, which are the signs of hot and dry in the first degree; a woman cold and moist in the second degree, in regard she retaineth a mean in all those signs above-mentioned is most like to be fruitful, be∣cause she comes nearest in proportion to men of each several temperature: But from the first of these Unions or Conjoynings of man and woman, are most likely to issue the wisest children, because the dryness of the mother, correcteth and amendeth the defect of the fa∣ther. Moreover, it is requisite that women be dryed by a mature age, and not marry over young; for from thence it comes to pass most commonly, that chil∣dren prove shallow, and indued with little wit.

CHAP. VI. What course is to be taken that Male Children be brought into the World, not Female.

THose who see the comfort of having wise Chil∣dren, must indeavour that they be born Male; for the Female, through the cold and moistness of their Sex, cannot be endowed with so profound a judgment. We find indeed, that they talk with appearance of knowledge in slight and easie matters, but seldom reach any further than to a slight superficial smattering in any deep Science. It is a thing very well worth ob∣servation, that, whereas the right side of the reins, and the right testicle, are naturally more hot and dry, and the left side of the reins with the left testicle, more hot and moist, Nature seems to have intended that which at the beginning of the World is recorded in History to have been very frequent; as namely, that a woman brought forth two Children at a birth, the one Male, the other Female, the right side which is hot and dry, being assigned to the generation of Males▪ the left side which is cold and moist, to the generation of Females, and it seems to have been so ordained, to that end, that for every man there might be a wife: But after the Earth came to be well increased with people, it hapned as it appears, that this method and design of Nature was broken off, and now not only the double Child-bearing is very rare, but a far greater number of women are daily brought forth into the World than men: Whence it is to be gathered, that either Nature is grown weary, or else interrupted in her course of working: However, since this defect of Nature is to be remedied with care and diligence, if men would imploy their serious considerations in a mat∣ter of such importance; there are six things to be ob∣served

by those that would obtain the accomplishment of their desire, in the design whereof this Chapter treats. The first is, the eating those sorts of meats which are hot and dry, provided they have not those qualities in too high an excess, lest thereof be engenderd a man extreamly wily and malicious, and such a one whose actions may prove pernicious to the Common-wealth; but rather let those viands be hot and dry in a mode∣rate degree, such as are Hens, Partridges, Turtles, Thrushes, Goats, &c. and those roasted. The se∣cond thing is the feeding so moderately, that the sto∣mach may overcome and digest that meat which is ea∣ten; for those very sorts of meat which are in their proper nature hot and dry, yet being eaten in so great a quantity, that the nature cannot digest them, they become cold and moist also, the immoderate drinking Wine is absolutely to be forbidden, there being no rawness which so much endamageth generation, as that of Wine, being so vaporous and subtle a Liquor. Whereupon a Law was anciently enacted in the Car∣thaginian Commonwealth, which prohibited the mar∣ried couple to taste of Wine that day they were to per∣form the rights of the Marriage Bed. The third is, to use much exercise, which by fretting and consu∣ming the excessive moisture of the Seed, heateth and dryeth the same; whereas ease, and overmuch delicacy breedeth coldness and moisture in the Seed. And hence it comes to pass, that rich and great persons that live at ease and feed high, have for the most part Daughters: And Hypocrates reporteth that the principal persons of the ancient Scythians, who were very effeminate and womanish, most commonly either begot Females, or else they proved either Eunuches, or Hermaphrodites: and being ignorant of the natural cause of this defect, he saith (and derides them for it)

that they used to sacrifice to their gods, imploring from them a remedy of that which was an effect of their mis-governance. The fourth diligence is, not to use the act of Generation untill the Seed be well concocted and ripened, it being convenient for seven or eight days before, to use those meats which we have already pre∣scribed, and observing the same course as Gardiners do with the Seeds which they would preserve; for they attend till they ripen, and cleanse, and wax dry, since if they should pluck them from the stalk before they are deeply seasoned, and arrived to that point which is to be required, though they should lye in the ground never so long, they would not grow at all. The fifth point, for a man to accompany with his Wife four or five days before her natural Courses, in regard the Child immediately standeth in need of much food to nourish it. The sixth and last point is to procure, that both the Seed of the Husband and Wife fall into the right side of the Womb, by which means it hapneth that Males are ingendred; the reason of which is, as Ga∣len affirmeth, that the right side of the Womb holdeth affinity in temperature with the Liver, the right side of the Reins, and the right Testicle, which we have already delivered to be more hot, as the left side is more cold, by which Females are ingendered: To these things there is another consideration to be added, which Galen hath also observed, namely, that the Seed of each Testicle, are of a different nature, for whereas that of the right Testicle cometh out more hot, more speedily, and in a lesser quantity, that of the left co∣meth out more cold, more slowly, and in greater a∣bundance.

CHAP. VII. What means are to be used for preserving the Childrens wit, after they are formed.

MAN is compounded of a substance so subject to alteration and corruption, that at the same in∣stant in which he begins to be formed, he also begins to fade and decline; whereupon Nature hath provided, that in mans body there should be four natural facul∣ties: Attractive, Retentive, Concoctive, and Expul∣sive; the first, concocting and altering the aliments which we eat, return to repair the substance that was lost, each succeeding in his place; So that it little a∣vaileth to have ingendered a Child of the perfectest Seed, if we make no choice of the meats which after∣wards we feed upon: For the Creation being finished, there remaineth not for the creature any part of the substance whereof it was composed. True it is, that the first Seed, if it be well concocted, possesseth such vertue, that digesting, and altering the meats, it ma∣keth them (though bad and gross of themselves) to turn to its own good temperature and substance; but yet we may so far forth use contrary meats, as the creature shall lose those good qualities which it receiveth from the seed whereof it was made; therefore Plato said, that one of the things which most brought mans wit and his manners to ruine, was, his evil bringing up in diet: For which cause, he counselled that we should give children delicate meats and drinks, and of good temperature, that, as they grow up, they may know to abandon evil, and embrace good; the reason whereof is very clear: For, since at the beginning the brain was made of delicate seed, and that this member is every day impairing and consuming, and is to be repaired with meats which we eat; it followeth certain∣ly,

that by using such meats as are gross, and of evil temperature, the brains will become of the same na∣ture: Therefore it will not suffice that the Child is born of good seed; but also that the meat which he eateth after he is born, be indued with the same qua∣lities.

The ancient Greeks were very curious in this parti∣cular; Galen, and other Greek Physicians, prescribed to those parents who were desirous of begetting wise children, to eat much Goats milk boyled, for about seven or eight days before Copulation; this meat being of a moderate substance, the heat exceeding not the cold, nor the moist the dry. The Greeks also used to extract out of the milk, the Cheese and Whey, as be∣ing the grosser parts of the Milk, and left the butter; which being of a more spairy substance, they gave their Children, mingling it with Honey. They also gave them Cracknels of white bread, of very delicate water, with Honey, and a little Salt. But yet, in this way of regiment and ordering of the diet, there ariseth one great Inconvenience; namely, that children using such kind of delicate meats, will not enjoy strength sufficient to resist the injuries of the Air, or other occasions which use to breed Maladies: And so by endeavouring that our Children may become wise, we shall cause them to become unhealthful, and short-liv'd; Therefore it is to be considered, how things may be so ordered, that the advancing of Childrens wit by their diet and education, may not prove incon∣sistent with the preservation of their health and strength; which may be easily effected, if Parents will put in pra∣ctice these Rules and Precepts which I shall prescribe. Hypocrates takes notice of eight things which make the flesh plump and fat: The first is, to be merry, and en∣joy content and ease of heart; the second, to sleep

much; the third, to lie in a soft bed; the fourth, to fare well; the fifth, to be well furnished and apparelled; the sixth, to ride much on horseback; the seventh, to have ones will, and not be crossed in any thing; the eighth, to be much conversant in all kind of Plays and pastimes, that yield contentment and delight. That this manner of life produceth the aforesaid effect, is most true; but is likewise true, that it causeth the seed to be moist, and that the children engendred of that Seed, must also abound with superfluous moisture, which both for the production of Wit, and the preservation of health, ought to be dried up; for as much as this qua∣lity stifleth the operations of the rational soul, and also occasioneth sickness and short life: So that it appears, that a good wit, and a sound body, arise from one and the same quality, namely, dryness; whence it is to be observed, that the same rules which we are to lay down for the making Children wise, will also be effectual for the making of them healthy and long lived.

First, it behoveth for those Children that are born of delicious Parents, whose constitution must therefore necessarily consist of more cold and moist than is con∣venient, to be washed as soon as they are born with hot salt water, which, according to the opinion of all Physitians, soaketh and drieth up the flesh, strength∣neth the Nerves, and by consuming the superfluous moisture of the brain, increaseth the wit, and freeth him from many dangerous Diseases; whereas a Bath of hot water that is fresh, breeds (as Hypocrates affirmeth) five inconveniences; namely, the effeminating of the flesh, weakness of the sinews, dulness of the spirits, fluxes of the blood, and a nauseating in the stomach: But those that are born with excessive dryness, are to be bathed in hot fresh water, that the extremity of their temper may be corrected by a contrary quality. Now the rea∣son

why hot salt water is available for those that are over moist, is, because it stoppeth the pores of the skin, and of two extreams, it is more conducing to health to have a skin hard and somewhat close, than thin and open.

The second thing requisite to be performed when the Child is new born, is to make him acquainted with the winds, and with change of air, and not to keep him lockt up in a Chamber, which much enfeebleth the strength, and wasteth the spirits; nothing being so ad∣vantageous to a healthful kind of living, as to expose ones self to all kind of winds and weathers, hot, moist, cold and dry; it is no wonder therefore that Shepherds of all men living enjoy the soundest health, since they accustom themselves to all the several qualities of the Air, and their nature is dismayed at nothing; where∣as on the contrary we find that those men that give themselves to live deliciously, and to beware lest the Sun, the Wind, the Evening, or the Cold, offend them, are within a small time dispatched with a Post-Letter to another World. So far were the ancient Germans from nicety in this point, that they use to dip their Children as soon as born, in a cold River.

The third thing necessary to be performed, is to seek out a young Nurse of temperature hot and dry, with which two qualities the much cold and moist will be corrected, which the Infant brought from his Mo∣thers Womb; she should be innur'd to hardness and want, to lye on the bare ground, to eat little, and to go poorly clad in wet, drought, and heat, such a one will yield a firm milk, as being acquainted with the alterations of the air, and the Child being brought up by her, will come to enjoy a great firmness of body. The course then which is to be observed with the Nurse, is to take her into the House about four or five Months before the Childs birth, and to give her the same sorts

of meat to feed on, which the Mother useth to eat, that she may have time to consume the blood and bad humors, which she hath gathered by the harmful meats she used before, and also to the end that the Child may suck the like milk with that which relieved it in the Mothers belly, or at least made of the same meats.

The fourth thing requisite to be observed, is not to accustom the Child to sleep in a soft bed, or to keep it over-warm in apparel, or give it too much meat, which are things that fatten and enlarge the Flesh; whereas the restraint of them diminisheth and dries it up, which driness increaseth wit, and much availeth to∣ward long life, According to this Rule which I have prescribed, was He, who of all men living that ever the World had, was the wisest brought up; for as soon as he was born, he began to be inur'd to cold and other alterations of the air; his first bed was the Earth, his apparel coarse; and a few days after, they went with him to Aegypt, a place very hot, and the meat they gave him, was that which I have already mentioned to have been used by the ancient Greeks. Whereupon it is that the Prophet Esay saith, He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to eschew evil, and chuse the good: For though he was very God, yet being also per∣fect Man, he omitted not to make use of the same na∣tural remedies as were used by the rest of the sons of men.

Thus we have shown what the qualities are, which the Brain ought to have, and what the substance; ha∣ving proved according to the opinion of Heraclitus, that driness maketh the wisest soul; and that by age from the day of our birth, 'till that of our death, we still acquire more and more dryness, and by consequence more knowledge. We have also proved, that the sub∣tile and delicate parts of the Brain are corrected by what we eat; for those that always feed upon Beef and Pork, must of necessity have a Brain so gross and of such evil

temperature, that the reasonable soul cannot be so ca∣pable of eschewing evil, or adhering to good.

CHAP. VIII. Some farther Considerations than have before been men∣tioned concerning the gradual progress of the Births Formation in the Womb.

COncerning the Gradual Formation of the Infant in the Womb; of the growing up of the Fibrae within the first seven days; of the Umbilical Veins and Arteries, of the Formation of the Liver, the Heart, the Brain, the Nerves, the Gristles, &c. a particular Dis∣course hath been already made in this Book: It remains only that we touch upon some things, in reference to the same matter.

As the use of the two Membranules that enwrap the Birth (whereof the first is called Ambiens, Avicius, Am∣nium, Aurela, Abcas, Abigas, Sela, Aligas, or the Ar∣mature of the Conception; the latter Alanthoides, Bilis, Ascari, Secca, Involucrum) which hath been formerly delivered, is a thing of great consequence, to be known and well considered; so likewise is the consideration of the Umbilical Veins and Arteries a matter no less im∣portant. These Veins meeting together a little beneath the Navel, and extended along that concavity where the Liver is to be formed, serve for the purging of the menstruous blood, which is to be destributed through the members. The two Arteries are connected with ductile ligatures unto the great Artery: Through those the heart of the Embryo receives ventilation, and draws spirit, and the purer part of the blood from the Womb.

Then after the first six or seven days, the lineaments of all the members are described. Next, the Lineation being perfected within the space of between four and

eight days after, a certain sanguinous matter drawn through the Navel, passeth all along through the whole Birth, and being pre-disposed toward the formation of the members, fills up at that time the lineatures. The following days from the ninth to the fifteenth, this san∣guineous juice is converted into Flesh. At which time also the Members receive their colour, and that degree of hardness or softness, which is peculiar to them; like as a Painter when he hath drawn the outward lines of any Picture, in the next place, he fills it up with va∣rious colours, according as the nature of each several part requires.

Thus Nature proceeds to perfect the Formation of the Heart, Liver, Brain, and other principle Mem∣bers: All which things are distinctly brought to pass from the Conception to the eighteenth day of the first Month, at which time it is called Seed, but afterward it begins both to be called, and to be a Feature. But for the better retaining of these things in memory, that Au∣thor did not amiss who thought fit to comprehend them in these following Verses.

Sex in lacte dies, ter sunt in sanguine trini; Bis seni carnem, ter seni membra figurant.

Six days compleat to milk, thrice three to blood con∣vert the seed; Twice six soft flesh do form, thrice six do massive members breed.

Otherwise thus,

Injectum semen sex primis rite diebus, Est quasi lac, reliquisque novem fit sanguis; at inde Consolidat duodena dies, bis nona deinceps

Effigiat, tempusque sequens producit ad ortum; Talis perficitur praedicto tempore forma.

The first six days to milk the fruitful seed, Injected in the Womb, remaineth still; Then other nine of milk, red blood do breed, Twelve days turn blood to flesh by Nature's skill. Twice nine firm part, the rest ripe birth do make; And thus foregoing time doth form man's shape.

To conclude this subject, the ancients were of opi∣nion, that the heart (which in all animals possesseth the middle seat, (like a King which hath the chief Seat of his Empire, in the midst of his Dominions) is both the first principal member which is formed in mans body, and the last which dies: But later Physitians hold that the liver is first formed, next the Heart, and lastly the Brain.

CHAP. IX. Concerning the Notes of Virginity, and whether or no it may be Violated without the knowledge of man.

ABOUT the orifice of the sinus pudoris, vulgar∣ly miscalled the Neck of the Womb, is that pen∣dulous production, by some termed the Hymen; by o∣thers (more rightly) claustrum Virginale, and by the French Bouton de Rose; for that it beareth a near re∣semblance with the expanded bud of a Rose or Gilli-flower; Hence therefore originally sprung that com∣mon expression of the Deflowring of Virgins.

Forasmuch as the Integrity or Violation of this part is accounted the most certain and infallible sign of Vir∣ginity intire, or violated, some Learned Physitians that have written of this Subject, esteem it a great va∣nity and folly, to think that there is any other Hymen.

Moreover, this word Flower, is used in divers accep∣tations, for besides the proper signification it is com∣monly taken for the prime or chief part of any thing, and so youth is called the Flower of a Mans age; or for that which is handsome or elegant; and so Rheto∣rical expressions are called Flowers; or else for such things as are not marred or spoiled by use; and accord∣ing to this sense a Woman deprived of her Virginity may be said to have been Deflowred, or to have lost her Flower.

Now this Claustrum Virginale, or Flower consisteth of four Caruncles, or Fleshy substances, called Myrtle-formed, in regard they resemble Myrtle berries. These four caruncles are situated as it were in the four Angles of the said Sinus Pudoris, and are connected together by certain Membranes or Ligatures, which are each of them situated in the interstices or spaces between each Caruncle, with which they are in a manner equally ex∣tended; which Membranes being once dilacerated, are an apparent sign of devirgination; nor can it be de∣nied, but that this dilaceration may be caused by other accidents, besides the accompanying with a man; as by violent Coughing, Sneezing, or loud Vociferation; all which may occasion a violent flowing down of hu∣mours, to the breaking of those ligatures or membranes; but as for any Stories of a Hymen, as that it should be a transverse membrane, situated now in the lower ex∣tremity of the Sinus Pudoris, now in the midst of the concavity, that it is perforated all about in the manner of a Sieve, or in the middle only with one larger hole, or that the breaking of this Hymen should be the only cause of Devirgination, are all to be rejected as vain and Frivolous,

CHAP. X. Whether there may be a mutation out of one Sex into another; and of Hermaphrodites.

BEfore any thing can be positively determined con∣cerning this argument (so much of uncertainty there is in it;) it will be convenient to recite what hath been delivered both as to the negative and the affirma∣tive, by Authors that have maintained each contrary opinion, Severinus Pinaeus, who holds the Negative, writes to this effect, viz. That the genital parts of both Sexes, are so unlike each other in substance much more in composition, situation figure, action, and use, that scarce any thing can be found more unlike, and by how much the more all other parts of the body (ex∣cepting the Breasts, which in women are more tumid, because of their secondary use) have an exact resem∣blance; so much the more unlike are the genital parts of the one Sex, compared with those of the other; and if their figure be thus different, much more is their use. True it is, indeed, that both are appointed for gene∣ration, but in a different manner; for women con∣tribute the matter, but men the form: The Vene∣real appetite also proceeds from different causes; for in men it proceeds from a desire of emission, in wo∣men, from a desire of repletion. In women also the chiefest of those parts are concave, and apt to receive; but in men they are only porous, and in a man∣ner solid.

These things considered, I cannot but wonder, saith he, how any one can imagine, that the Genital Mem∣bers of Female Birth should be changed into those that belong to Males; since by those parts only the diffe∣rence

and distinction of Sexes is made: Nor can I well impute the cause of this vulgar error to any thing, but a mistake of some not over-expert Midwives, who have been deceived by the evil conformation of the parts, which may have happened in some Male-births, to have had so small a protrusion, as not to have been discerned; as appeared by the example of a Child Christned at Paris, by the name of Joan, as if it had been a Girl, when as it proved afterwards a Boy: And on the contrary, the over-far extension of the Clitoris in female Births, may have occasioned the like mistake. But notwithstanding what hath been thus said in the Negative, there have not been want∣ing some learned Physitians, who have firmly asserted the affirmative part; of which number Galen himself is one. A man, saith he, is different from a woman in nothing else except in the having his genital mem∣bers without his body: And this is certain, that if Nature having formed a man, would convert him in∣to a Woman, she hath no other task to perform, but only to turn his genital members inward; and if a woman into a man, to do the contrary. And this, however held for a Fable, hath chanced many times in nature, as well while the Creature hath been in the Mothers Womb, as after the same hath been born: For divers times Nature hath made a Female Child, and she hath so remained in her Mothers belly for the space of one or two Months, and afterwards plenty of heat growing in the genital Members, upon some oc∣casion they have issued forth, and the Child hath be∣come a Male; but yet retaining some certain ge∣stures unbefitting the Masculine Sex; as a shrill voice, womanish actions, and the like. Contrariwise, Na∣ture hath often made a Male, and cold growing on, and turning the genitals inward, it hath become a

Female; yet still retaining a manlike fashion, both in voice and gesture.

Now to give an impartial judgment of these two o∣pinions, I cannot but hold that the latter of them car∣rieth a greater semblance of truth with it; for as to what Pinaeus affirms of the great difference of figure in the genital members of each, it will not be of so much force; if we consider that the inversion of them is that which chiefly occasioneth this difference of form; the reason of which is evidently deduced from the contra∣ry natures of heat and cold; heat enlarging and ex∣tending all things, and cold retaining and closing them up.

Now as to the business of Hermaphrodites, or those that enjoy both Sexes in one person, many there are that will not afford any belief, or, at the least, doubt whether or no there are any such things in nature; but although there cannot be so apparent a reason gi∣ven for this as for the mutation of Sexes; yet in this we may suffer our selves to be guided by the same Cri∣terium, as in the business of Specters and Apparitions of Spirits; concerning which, although it hath puzled many learned men to find out, what should be the true causes and reasons, that such things come to pass; yet it argues much indiscretion not to give credit to them, both in regard Histories have abounded with frequent examples of them in all ages; and al∣so, considering the daily reports we have of such things, both from the mouths and pens of serious and judi∣cious men.

Perhaps it may be judged by some, to have been more decent that these things should have been deliver∣ed in the Latin, than in the vulgar Tongue, that so the secrets of Nature might not have been prostituted to every unworthy Reader, that makes use of such things,

only for a mockery, and a May-game, and to pro∣mote idle and lascivious discourse; yet forasmuch as they are written for God's Glory, and the benefit and help of mankind, and intended only for the use of so∣ber, pious, and discreet Matrons; and that the want of skill and knowledge in these mainly important Secrets, hath been the occasion of very many mistakes, to the great misery oftentimes of Women in travail, and pre∣judice of the poor Infant, the concealment of them had been much more inexcusable, than the publishing can be.

Exod. 1.17.

But the Midwives feared God,

[verse 20] Therefore God dealt well with the Mid∣wives.

Deo Gloria.