Chap. 11. Of the Dropsie of the Womb.

THey are also deceived, and think they are with child: when there is water that swel• the womb; this is a D•opsie of the womb. This* water is either in the cavity o• between the co•ts of th• womb, o• in its vessels. ••salius, Mar∣cellus Donatus shew that water is in the cavity, for it doth not pre•ently by its plenty or quality, force its passage out, because the ori•ice is not al∣waies open, and Nature gathers it by degrees, and is used to it.

*A•tius•aies, There are somtimes bladders of water in the womb. And Christopher Vega•aith, that Leonora thought that she had gone six months, and then voided sixty bladders of wa∣ter, and seven pieces of •lesh, like that of the s•leen in membranes.

* There is sometimes a Dropsie of the womb wi•h conception, as Schenki•s and William Fa∣bri•ius•aith of his own Wi•e.

* A•e gathering of water from moistness mixed with the t•rm•, and from an evil sang•ifi•ation in the liver and ••leen, f•om •h•ir weakness, o• f•om errors in diet; or from weakness of the Page  39 womb, from hard travel, or often mischances, cold air or water, or whatsoever hurts the hea• of the womb.

Also stoppage of the terms doth cause gather∣ing of water, for the water useth to be evacuated with them. Many take this for the only cause.

Somtimes the tunicles of the womb may be di∣vided in some place, and water may be gathered between them.

Hippocrates saith, The terms are •ewer, and* cease before the time; the bottom of the belly swells, and the papps are so•t without milk, and she thinks she is with child: by these you may know it is a Dropsie.

But because Doctors and Midwives are often deceived, you must distinguish this from other swellings.

When a woman is sound, and useth a sound man, the womb by degrees swells, and the child moves in its time, but often there is a Dropsi• with conception before or after; therefore in a Dropsie the tumor is equal, according to the largeness of the womb and •elly, and no• point∣ed as in a woman with child.

Secondly, i• the woman be in years, and hath not conceived before, and hath a good colour, it is a sign of a Dropsie rather then conception. If the tenth month be past, and the child moves not, nor the breasts swell, but are soft, say there is a D•opsie of the womb. Thirdly, in a true con∣ception, women are b•tter after some months, and the Symptoms abate, but in a Dropsie they increase still.

It is distinguished from a mole by the weight in the bottom of the belly.

From an inflation• because the belly is st•etched Page  40 in that, and sounds being striken, but is so•t in a Dropsie.

It differs from the Dropsie of the belly, be∣cause the face is pale or wane, in that from the distemper of the liver there is thirst, but in the won b•dropsie she is of a good colour, except the liver be also bad.

It differs from inflammation of the womb, for that is •ith a constant feaver, and the Symptoms o• it, and •rom other tumors which are harder, but in a D•opsie of the womb, if the belly be pre•∣•ed• it yi•ld•.

You shal know whether it be from the fault in the wo•b •rincipally, or ••om some other part, thus. I• t•e woman be of a good colour, and there were onely some diseases and causes that might hurt the womb• as abortion, hard travel, stoppage of terms, or too many of them, then the womb is chiefly affected; but if there be signs of a distem•er in the whole body, or in the liver or spleen, a•d the colour is bad, it is by consent from other parts.

You shall kn•w whether the water be in blad∣de•s or in the cavity of the womb, thus: If you find the ori•ice o• the womb closed, and there is little pain, it is in the cavity, but if the ori•ice be open, and there is great pain, it is in bladders or without the cav••y.

* If the humor in the womb be not corrupt, this disease is of long continuance, but may be easily cured: it is ea•ier cured in the cavity, then when it is in bladders, and between the •unicles. A woman after conception having a Dropsie of the womb, her child di•th, and she is in danger.

* When it is fro• st•ppage of terms, and new, and the st•ength •irm, open a vein in the legs, o∣therwise bleed not.

Page  41 Purge according to the humor, with respect to the womb, as in Chap. 6. of a cold Distem∣per.

Then purge Water. Take Angelica and Mad∣der roots, each half •n ounce; Calamints• Penny∣royal, Mugwort, Lovage, e•ch a handful; Savin a pugil, boyl them in wine, sweeten it with Sugar Or make Broaths with the same. Take Dianisum, Diagalangal, each half a dram; Oyl of Aniseeds, Cloves, each five drops; Sugar three ounces, make Rouls.

Inject into the Womb as in Dropsies. Take Asarum roots t•ree drams, Pennyroyal, Calamints, ea•h hal• a handful; Savin a pugil, Mechoacan a d•am, Aniseed, Cummin, each half a dram; boyl, ta•e six ounces strained, Oyl of Elder and Orris, each an ounce; make a Clyster. Or use Pe••aries. Take Agarick a dram, Coloquintida half a dram, Gni∣•ium ten grains, with Honey and Wool, make a Pe••ary.

Make Fomentations and Baths of Danewort, Me cury, Elder, Pennyroyal, Organ, Chamomil∣flowers, Ba•berries, wild Cowcumbers, Broom, Carrot, Rue seeds. And anoint after with Oyl of Elder, Danewort, Orris, with drops of Oyl of Ang•lica, Anise, Caraway.

S•lphur Baths are good, and those of Niter, o• the Plaister of Bayberries, or Snails to the bot∣t•m of the belly. Vomiting and neesing break the bladders. Give Clysters at the fundament as in Dropsies. Take Mercury leaves, Danewort, Soldanella, Mugwort• Motherwort, each a handful; Chamomil, Elder, Broom flow•rs, each a dram; boyl and to ten ounces strained, add juyce of Beets, Mer∣cury, Danewort, ea h six drams; Boys urine an ounce and half, Hiera six drams, Honey half an ounce, make a Clyster.

Page  42 Let the Diet be drying, as in Chap. 5.