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 Inflammation and Aposte∣mation of the Breasts.

THe Breasts being made of a spungy sub∣stance, easily receive in too great abun∣dance, the humors flowing to them from all parts by blood; being over-heat by throws and pains in travel, and so are soon inflam'd; being then painfully stretch'd; to which helps the suppression of the Lochia, and a fulness of the whole Body; or it may happen from having been too streight lac'd, some blow, or bruise by lying upon them, or for not give∣ing the Child milk.

Now convenient remedies are speedily to be applied lest dangerous symptoms fol∣low; wherefore the certainst means to hin∣der the Flux of so great quantity of blood to the Breasts, is to procure a large evacuation of the Lochia; the habit of the body is to be emptied by bleeding i'th the Arm; after i'th Foot; chasing into the breasts Oil of Roses and Vinegar beat together, laying upon them unguentum refrigerens Galeni, or unguentum al∣bum,

and a 3d part of populeon mixt, or a pultis of the setlings in a Cutler's Grinstone-trough, Oil of Roses and a little Vinegar mixt together. If the pain continue great, take the crums of white bread and milk with Oil of Roses and the yelks of raw Eggs, upon all these may compresses be laid dipt in Vi∣negar and water, or plantain water.

When you have emptied the greatest part of the humors, and the height of the Inflam∣mation is past, then draw the milk; or else, unless it be turn'd to matter, pure Honey laid to them resolves milk; or a Cabbage leaf anointed therewith being first a little wither'd and the hard stalks and veins taken away; lace not too streight, nor apply course clothes. A whole red Cabbage boil'd in Ri∣ver water to a pap, and well bruised in a wooden or Marble Mortar, and pulp'd through a Sieve, adding Oil of Comomil, is a very good pultis.

Let her dyet be cool, not very nourishing, keep her body open, lying on her Back in Bed, all the while; stir her Arms as little as may be, and after the 14th or 15th day of her delivery, being sufficiently cleansed, and in∣flammation abated, and no longer Feaverish, purge her once or twice; and if for all these

the swelling goes not down, but she feels great beating and pain, a hardness more in one place then another, of a livid color and soft i'th middle 'tis certain 'twill apostemate: then apply ripening Medicines, as a pultis of Mallows, Marsh-Mallows with their roots, Lilly roots and Linseed bruis'd, boil'd to pap, and pulp'd through a sieve, then add a good quantity of Hogs Grease or Basilicon, laying a little cloth thick spread with Basilicon upon the place where 'tis likely soonest to break, and the pultis all over it, renewing it 12 hours after, continuing till it be full ripe; then if it open not of it self, it must be open'd by a Lancet or Incision knife, which being the Chirurgeon's work, he is to do it.