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. VIII. Of the swelling and pains of the Thighs and Legs.

MAny think, which is in part true, that the Woman having more blood then the Infant needs to nourish it, nature by vir∣tue of the expulsive faculty of the upper parts which are always strongest, drives the super∣fluity upon the lower, as the Legs, &c. as most feeble and apt to receive it; and so are caused their swelling and pain and sometimes red spots, from the swelling of the Veins, along the inside, which extreamly hinders her going: but the doctrine of the circula∣tion of the blood, invented by our Country∣man the immortal Dr. Harvey, the English Hippocrates, will teach us better how this comes, then that we need have have recourse to this expulsive faculty; but because 'tis fitter for Physitians and Chyrurgeons that are learned in Anatomy then Midwifes, be∣ing they may help them without such curious knowledge; I shall omit it, and if you would

be satisfied, see what the learned and expert French Chirurgeon Moricean, hath written on this Subject, 'tis put into English by Dr. Chamberlain.

Now to remedy these let her only use a palliative cure, in swathing the parts with a rowler 3 or 4 fingers broad; beginning at the bottom, and she should most keep her bed, if she can; and if there be signs of abundance of blood in other parts she may bleed without danger.

Some Womens Legs swell only from weakness, and are so Flegmatick that when you press them with your finger the print remains; because they want Natural heat sufficient to concoct all the nourishment sent to them, and expel its superfluities, which remaining makes them so Hydropi∣cal. To resolve these swellings, make a Lee made with the ashes of Vines, or other wood ashes, and Melilote, Camomil, and Lavender boild in it; if that do not foment them with this. Take Rosemary, Bays, Time, Merjoram, Sage and Lavender, of each a handful, Province Roses half a hand∣ful, Pomgranat flowers and Alum, each an ounce, boil them in 3 pints of strong

red wine, to the wasting of a 3d part and use it. But these swellings commonly cease when she brought to Bed, because she purg∣eth the superfluity of her whole habit, by her Lochia.