Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books ... wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences.

CHAP. XXIX.

How the Matrix ovar-widened in Child-birth, may be made narrower.

TRotula saith, we may honestly speak of this, because Conception is sometimes hindred by it, if the Matrix be too open; and therefore it is fit to lend help for such an impedient. For some women have it stand wide-open by reason of their hard labour in Child-birth; and if their Husbands be not content with it, that the men may not abhor the women, it is thus remedied▪ Take Dragons-Blood, Bole-Armeniac, Pomegranate-shells, white of an Egg, Mastick, Galls, of each one ounce: powder them, and make them all up with hot water. Put some of this Confection into the hole that goes into the Matrix. Or, Galls, Sumach, Plantain, great Com∣frey, Allome, Chamaelaea: take equal parts of them all, and boyl them in Rain-water, and foment the Privities. Or, beat sowre Galls very finely: mingle a little of the Powder of Cloves with them. Let them boyl in sharp red Wine: wet a woollen cloth in it, and apply to the part. Or thus may you restrain that part of common whores, with Galls, Gums, whites of Eggs, Dragons Blood, Acacia, Plan∣tain, Hypocistis, Balanstia, Mastick, Cypress-nuts, Grape-skins, Akorn-cups. Or, in that hollow part where the Glans breaks forth; and gaping, shews the Nucleus, with Mastick and Terra Lemnia. If all these be boyled in red Wine or Vinegar, and the Matrix be often wet therewith, it will come very close, and be much straighter. Or else powder all these, and cast them in through a Reed, or make a fume under them Great Comfrey will be excellent for this purpose: for flesh boyl'd with it, will grow together. And the other also, if it be boyl'd, will very well glew together fresh Wounds. The Decoction of Ladies Mantle, or the juice, or distilled water of it, cast into the Matrix, will so contract it, that Whores can scarce be known from Maids: or, if they sit in the Decoction of it; especially, if we mingle other astrin∣gent things with it, and wet the Secrets therewith. The distilled water of Starwort, being often injected into the Matrix, will make one scarce know which is corrupted, and which is not. But if you will have.

A woman deflowred made a virgin again,

Make little Pills thus: Of burnt Allome, Mastick, with a little Vitriol and Orpi∣ment: make them into very fine Powder, that you can scarce feel them: when you

have made them Pills with Rain-water, press them close with your fingers; and let them dry, being pressed thin, and lay them on the Mouth of the Matrix, where it was first broken open: change it every six hours, always fomenting the place with Rain or Cistern-water, and that for twenty four hours, and it will here and there make little Bladders; which being touched, will bleed much blood, that she can hardly be known from a Maid. Midwives that take care of this, do it another way. They contract the place with the Decoction of the forementioned things, then they set a Leech fast on upon the place, and so they make a crusty matter or scab; which being rub'd will bleed. Others when they have straightned the part, inject the dried Blood of a Hare or Pigeon; which being moistned by the moysture of the Matrix, shews like live fresh Blood. I found out this noble way: I powder Litharge very fine∣ly, and boyl it in Vinegar, till the Vinegar be thick; I strain out that, and put in more, till that be coloured also: then I exhale the Vinegar at an easie fire, and resolve it into smoak.