The English midwife enlarged containing directions to midwives; wherein is laid down whatever is most requisite for the safe practising her art. Also instructions for women in their conceiving, bearing and nursing of children. With two new treatises, one of the cure of diseases and symptoms happening to women before and after child-birth. And another of the diseases, &c. of little children, and the conditions necessary to be considered in the choice of their nurses and milk. The whole fitted for the meanest capacities. Illustrated with near 40 copper-cuts.

SECT. VI. Of involuntary voiding, and stop∣ing of Urine.

THE seat of the Bladder which is just up∣on the Womb, is sufficient to instruct us, why Women with Child, are sometimes troubled with difficulty of Urine; and why often they cannot hold their water; which is caused 2 ways, 1. because the Womb by its bigness and weight presses the bladder, so that 'tis hindred from its ordinary extension, and so incapable of containing a reasonable quantity of Urine; which is the cause the big∣ger she grows, and the nearer her time, the oftner she's compelled to make water, 2. if the weighty burthen of the Womb doth ve∣ry much press the bottom of the bladder, it forceth the Woman to make water every mo∣ment, but if the neck of it be pressed it is fil'd full with Urine, being not able to expel it, because the Sphincter Muscle, in this compres∣sion, cannot be opened to let it out, which causes great pain. Sometimes by its sharp∣ness, stirs up the bladder often by pricking it, to discharge it self; and sometimes by its

heat it makes an inflammation in the neck of the bladder, which causes its stopping: and if it be from a stone in the bladder 'tis more in supportable and dangerous to a Woman with Child then one that is not; because the Womb, by its swelling causeth the stone per∣petually to press against the bladder, and the pains are violenter, if it be greater, or of an unequal or sharp shape.

'Tis of great moment to hinder these vio∣lent endeavors to make water, and to remedy them, if possible, in all indispositions, because by long continuance of forcing downwards to make water, the Womb is loosened and bears down, and is sometimes forced to dis∣charge its self of its burthen before its time: which we must endeavour to hinder, having respect to its different causes; as when it comes from the weight of the Womb, pres∣sing the bladder, as for the most part; now she may remedy it, if with both her hands when she would make water, she lift up the bottom of her belly; or wear a large swath or keep her bed.

If it be sharpness of Urine that makes an inflammation i'th neck oth' bladder, appease it by a cooling dyet, forbearing strong drinks, using emulsions made of the 4 cold seeds, or

whey with syrup of Violets; use not purging because its heat augments the inflammation; these are proper to cleanse the Urinary passa∣ges, without either prejuding Mother or Child, taken Morning and Evening. If all this prevail not let her blood a little i'th Arm; and bath the outward entry of the neck of the bladder with a decoction of Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Pellitory and Violets, with a little Linfeed; and inject some of the same into the bladder, to which you may add Hony of Violets, or luke warm Milk: abstaining from all diuretics, for fear they provoke Abortion. And when all fails she must send for a Physitian or Chyrurgeon to make use of his Catheter; And also if it arise from the stone in the neck of the bladder, they may thrust it back with it; but if small draw it forth; for a great one cannot be drawn forth before she be delivered; being better to leave her so then endanger her life or the Childs.