The accomplisht ladys delight in preserving, physick and cookery.

Directions for Nurses.

LET there be given unto the Infant new born, Ho∣ney to lick, after let it be nourished with the Mother's Milk, which of all things best agreeth with it: But if by reason of some necessity it cannot enjoy it, a sound healthy Nurse is to be chosen, neither young∣er than 24 Years, nor elder than five and thirty, of a white and ruddy Complection, which is not infect∣ed with other Vices, nor yet hath too lately been brought to Bed, nor hath not long given Suck; let her not have sore Dugs or Breasts, nor too big, but a large Breast, and moderately Fat. Let her use choice Meats, of easie and light Concoction, engendring good blood or juice; let her abstain from hot aromatical Spices, as Pepper, Ginger, Cardamum, and such like; also from Leeks, Onions, Garlick, Salt, austere and tart things; Let her avoid strong Wines, as also cold Water: Let her eschew immoderate eating and drinking, for that corrupteth the Milk, and begetteth in Children leprosy or scurf, and other contagious Diseases: Let her ab∣stain from Cares and Vexations, and let her take heed, lest she provoke her menstruous Disease.

She must not Sleep much, or be given to Sleep, for that maketh the Milk Flegmatick; she ought not to watch more than is meet, for from hence the Milk com∣eth to be more hot, sharp, and distastful to the Infant; she ought moderately to exercise her self, especially her Arms, to wit, either in sowing, spinning, or knitting for by this means evil humours are consumed, as by ease and sloth they are augmented.

Also Copulation of the Nurse exceedingly offendeth, and hurteth the Child, as that which chiefly retracteth and deminisheth the Milk, and m••keth it of an unfavo∣ry Taste, tasting hot and rank, or Goatish, which bring¦eth no small inconvenience, and hurt to the Child.

But if the Milk decrease, Pultesses of Bean-meal, Rice, are meet to be used, also like Paps ma••e of Bread, with Milk and Sugar, to which may be added a little 〈…〉〈…〉

And if the Milk be thick, it must be made thin with slender Diet, and subtil Wine, and Syrup of Vinegar, as also with exercises: But if it be too thin and waterish, gross and strong Meats, and longer Sleeps, will be con∣venient. For the Corruption of the Milk, a little Mug∣wort grosly bruised, and put into a linnen Cloth, and so into Broth, with a little Honey added thereto, will do very much good.

The care of the Infant.

And if the Child's Belly be loose, the Food ought to be the more gross and strong, and her Sleep longer; but Children may suck so long as till they have brought forth sharp and great Teeth; but if you suffer them to drink Wine or strong drink, or other Potions, before they have toothed them, they will be corrupted; but when they have gotten the Teeth, their Arms and back∣bones are gently to be rubbed after their Sleep.

And 'tis not of little concernment in what Swadling∣cloaths Children are wrapped; for when they are not tied up at all, or the Clouts are too loose, they are sub∣ject to Fluxes, Imposthumes, apt to be crooked backt, and other discommodities; but especially when their Knees are too strictly tied and bound up, and their Thighs left at liberty, they are lamed.

When they cry, or feel pain, or will sleep, they are to be pacified, either by shewing the Breast, or Sing∣ing, or by Rocking, either in Cradles or Hanging-beds, carrying up and down: But we must observe, that Children may lye strait whensoever they lye down, and ought not to be covered too much, or hot with cover∣ings, nor yet with too few, lest they may catch cold: Moreover, let the Linnen-cloth wherein they are wrap∣ped, be neat and clean, for Children are offended and in∣sected by foul and filthy Excrements.

From three Years of Age till the seventh, they are to be Educated gently and kindly, not to be severely re∣prehended, chidden or beaten, for by that means they are made throughout their whole Life after, too timo∣rous, or too much terrified, astonished, and sottted.

Being yet in their first Years, they are not to be com∣pelled to going, for seeing all their bones are soft as Wax, and their body fall the heavier, they either become lame, or universally resolved in their Feet.

Food must be daily given them thrice a day, till they are 3 Years old; for if they be much filled, they are sub∣ject and accustomed to be troubled with Convulsions, and other Diseases.

In the sixth or seventh Year of their Age, they are to be sent to School, and committed to the breeding and instruction of courteous and temperate School-masters, who may not terrifie them.

Before these Years, they are not to be compelled or forced to hard Labours, otherwise they will not thrive well, but stand at a stay and keep little, or else become Dwarfs.

When as the Infant beginneth to grow sick, as for example, from a cold Disease, the Nurse is to be nou∣rished with hot and dry Meat and Drink, so that there∣by forthwith it may grow well again; so also if it be taken with other Diseases, as with an Ague, the Nurse shall use Plantain-water, and such like things. Paps made for Children of Crums, or Morsels of Bread bro∣ken or sliced, are more wholesome than made of Meal or Flower.

Till 2 Years old give them Honey often, for that keep∣eth them from Convulsions, and Costiveness of the Belly, and that the Milk they eat hurt them not.

When Infants cast up their Milk, a Corral should be hung about their Neck, down to their middle; for it is useful for them in teething; and Ivory also is good for the same purpose.

What is to be Administred unto the Child after it is Born, for the first thing it taketh.

ARnoldus de villa Nova, a most Learned Physitian, writeth, That if you give unto a Child half a

scruple of Coral, finely powdered with Woman's Milk first, before it taketh any other thing, after it is Born, that it shall never be troubled with the Falling-sickness.

Also, I know Persons of good Quality in England, who give unto all their own Children (and advise all other Women, where they are desired to be assistant at the Birth, to exhibit unto the Children New-born, the first thing they take) a little Salt, well mingled in a spoonful of Saxifrage, or Hysop-water, to prevent the trouble of Frets, and other Diseases in Children following their Birth.

For Infants troubled with Wind and Phlegm.

Many Midwives advise the Nurses, to give them a little pure Sugar-Candy, finely bruised in Saxifrage-wa∣ter, or Scabious-water, in a Spoon, well mingled to∣gether.

A most excellent Medicine, to cause Children to Teeth easily.

Take of pure Capon's-grease very well Clarified, the quantity of a Nutmeg, and twice as much of pure Honey, mingle and incorporate them well together, and 3 or 4 times in a day anoint the Child's Gums when they are Teething, and they will break Flesh easily, and prevent Torments and Agues, and other Griefs, which usually accompany their coming forth.

To cause a young Child to go to Stool.

Take a good big green Mallow Sprig, and strip off the outward Skin, and anoint the Sprig well with fresh Butter, and put it up into the Child's Fundament, and let it stay a while there, and in a very short time it will procure a Stool.

For an Ague.

Take the Herb called Hartshorn, stamp it, then min∣gle it with Bay-salt, and 3 or 4 hours before the Fit comes, apply it, spread upon a Linnen-cloth, to the Child's Wrists, and when the Fit is past, apply a fresh one before the next Fit, and in a few Fits (God wil∣ling) it shall be cured.