A physical nosonomy, or, A new and true description of the law of God (called nature) in the body of man confuting by many and undeniable experiences of many men, the rules and methods concerning sicknesses or changes in mans body, delivered by the ancient physicians and moderns that followed them ... : also, in the second part of this book is a practice of physick drawn from the best of the moderns and completely treating of those diseases specified in the table formerly, writ by the author, though added to these new scrutinies as if they were a latter work / by William Drage ...

CHAP. VII.

Of Stones of the Matrice.

CAUSES.

CAuses be Internal, the same as the Stone of the Reins is caused by, viz.

1. A Material, as crude, slow and tough Humours, sticking to the Tunicles of the Uterus, otherwise they would easily be cast forth. Hippocrates saith, Pus remaining in the Uterus, is dried, hardned and concrete into a Stone: Many Histories do tell us of these Stones bred in the Matrice, and by some the Uterus hath been found stony.

2. Efficient, as great heat of the Uterus.

Feeding or suppeditating Causes, be ill Dyet, encreasing crude and viscous pitutious Matter, as Cheese, Milk, Fish, Pulse, and gross Nutriments, and bad Air.

SIGN.

There is pain in the Region of the Uterus, which being crushed, 'tis much exacerbated; it hinders Conception, and causes immoderate flux of Menses. Aetius discovered them by putting his Fingers up the Fun∣dament.

PROGNOSTICKS.

If too long delayed ere Cured, the Uterus being the common sink of gross and vitiated Menstruous Blood, it may be so encreased, that the whole Uterus may be made stony.

Nicholas Fontanus saith, That he hath known it fill the whole capacity of the Uterus, and totally suppress the Menstrua, therefrom being made cor∣rupt and purulent Ulcers.

CURE.

A good order of Dyet set. 1. Preparation by Saxifraga's is to be instituted. 2. Evacuation of the Antecedent and Suppeditating Mat∣ter. 3. Solution of the Stone, and lenition or appeasing of Pain, with slippery making Medicines, may pass all under one; Juyce of Mallows, of Pellitory of the Wall, Bisinallows, Liquorish, Fenugreek-Seeds, Line-Seeds, Oyl of Sweet Almonds, Broath of Licers, &c. Clisters also

of those Herbs, and the like, may be often injected, onely to mollisie and lenify.

Insessions also, Half-Tubs, Foments, and other Applications, are not altogether to be slighted.

After these, Extraction is to be made by the Midwife, putting up her Finger into the Fundament, and pressing down the Belly upon the Bones adjoyning near the Privities, that the place the Stone is seated in may be lifted up; then with a Crows Bill, or Nippers, artificially drawing it out.

This done, a Prophylactick Method is to be kept for some while after.