The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of the cure of the Strangulation of the Womb.

* 1.1SEeing that the strangulation of the womb is a sudden and sharp disease, it therefore requi∣reth a present and speedy remedy; for if it be neglected it many times causeth present death. Therefore, when this malady cometh, the sick woman must presently be placed on her back, having her breast and stomach loose, and all her cloaths and garments slack and loose about her, whereby she may take breath the more easily; and she must be called on by her own name, with a loud voice in her ears, and pulled hard by the hairs of the temples and neck, but yet especially by the hairs of the secret parts, that by provoking or causing pain in the lower parts, the patient may not only be brought to her self again, but also that the sharp and malign vapour ascending upwards, may be drawn downwards: the legs and arms must be bound and tied with painfull ligatures, all the body must be rubbed over with rough linnen clothes besprinkled with salt and vineger, untill it be very sore and red; and let this pessary following be put into the womb.* 1.2 ℞. succi mercurial. artemis. an. ℥ ii. in quibus dissolve pul. bened. ʒ iii. pul. radic. enula camp. galang. minor. an. ʒ. i. make thereof a pessary. Then let the soals of her feet be anointed with oil of bayes, or with some such like oil; let a great Cupping-glass with a great flame be ap∣plied to the belly below the navel, to the inner part of the thigh, and to the groin, whereby both the matter that climbs upwards, and also the womb it self running the same way, may be brought downwards or drawn back. There may be made a fumigation of spices to be received up into the womb, which, that it may be the easier done, the womb may be held open by putting in the instrument here following described, into the neck thereof. Let it be made of gold, silver or latin, into the form of a pessary; at the one end thereof, that is to say, that end which goeth up into the neck of the womb, let there be made many holes on each side, but at the lower end let it be made with a spring, that it may open and shut as you will have it. Also it must have two laces or bands by which it must be made fast into a swathe or girdle tied about the patients belly.

[illustration]

The description of a Vessel made with a Funnel or Pipe for to fumigate the Womb.

[illustration]

The form of a Pessary to be put in the neck of the Womb, to hold it open.

The matter and ingredients of sweet and aromatick fumigations, are cinnamon,* 1.3 calam. aromat. lig. aloes, ladanum, benzoin, thyme, pepper, cloves, lavander, calaminth, mugworth, penniroyal, al••pta moschat. nutmegs, musk, amber, squinant, and such like, which for their sweet smell and sym∣pathy, allure or entice the womb downwards, by their heat consume and digest the thick vapours, and putrified ill juice. Contrariwise, let the nostrils be perfumed with fetid and rank smells, and let these be made with gum. galbanum, sagapenum, ammoniacum, assa foetida, bitumen, oil of Jeat, snuff of a tallow-candle when it is blown out, with the fume of birds feathers, especially of Partridges and Woodcocks, of mans hair, or goats hair, of old leather, of horse-hoofs, and such like things burned, whose noisom or offensive savour the womb avoiding, doth return unto its own place or seat again.

Moreover it shall be very necessary to procure vomit by thrusting a goose-feather down into the throat, or else the hairs of the patients own head.* 1.4 Shortly after she must use a potion of fif∣teen grains of black pepper bruised and dissolved in hydromel, or water and hony mixed together, or in some strong wine, which remedy Avicen holdeth for a secret.

Also instead thereof three hours before meat ʒss. of Treacle dissolved in ℥i. of the water of Wormwood may be given her: Also it is thought that one drop of the oil of Jeat dropped on the tongue, is a very profitable remedy.* 1.5 There be some that allow a potion of half a dram of Castoreum dissolved in white wine, or in the broth of a Capon; also it is profitable not only to give her Trea∣kle to drink, but also to inject it into the womb, being first dissolved in aqua vitae, and in the mean time to drop two drops of oil of Sage, or some such Chymical oil, into the ears. If she be drousie or sleery, she must be awaked or kept waking with sneesing powders, of white hellebore and pellitory.

It is also requisite to inject glysters both into the fundament and secret parts,* 1.6 which must be made of the decoction of things that discuss winde, as of calamint, mugwort, lavander, penniroyal, cam∣momil, melilot, and such like; and let pessaries or suppositories be made of ladanum, ginger, gallia m••schat. treacle, mithridate, c••vet and musk, of the oil of cloves, anniseeds, sage, rosemary, and such like, chymically drawn; this following is a convenient description of a glyster. ℞. radic. enulae,* 1.7 camp. Iraeos, el uli, aristoloch. an. ʒ i. fol. absynth. ••rtemesiae, matricar. puleg. origani, an m. i. baccarum lauri, juniperi & sam••uc. an p. i. sem. amios, cymini, rutae, an. ʒ ii. florum stoechados, rorismarin. salviae, centaur. minor. an. p. ii. fiat decoctio, cape colaturae lb. i. in qua dissolve mellis anthosati, sace. rulr. & b••ned. an. ℥ i. diacharth. ʒ ii.

olei aneth. nard. an. ℥i ss. make thereof a glyster, and apply this plaister following to the belly. ℞ m••sp. empi. oxycrocei,* 1.8 & melilot. an. ℥iii. olei nard. as much as shall suffice to make it conveniently soft, make thereof a plaister, and spread it on leather, and apply it to the region of the belly when the fit is ended: if she be married, let her forthwith use copulation, and be strongly encountred by her husband, for there is no remedy more present than this.

* 1.9Let the midwife anoint her fingers with oleum nardinum or moschetalinum, or of cloves, or else of spike mixed with musk, ambergreese, civet, and other sweet powders, and with these let her rub or tickle the top of the neck of the womb which toucheth the inner orifice; but her secret parts must first be warmed by the applying of warm linnen cloaths; for so at length the venemous matter contained in the womb, shall be dissolved and flow out, and the malign, sharp and flatulent vapors, whereby the womb is driven as it were into a fury or rage, shall be resolved and dissipated, and so when the conjunct matter of the disease is scattered and wasted, the womb, and also the woman shall be restored unto themselves again. Some hold it for a secret to rub the navel with the juice of garlick boiled and mixed with Aloes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The pulling of the hairs of the lower parts are profitable both for this malady and for the cause of the same.
• * 1.2

  A Pessary.
• * 1.3

  The matter of sweet fumiga∣tions. By what power sweet fumiga∣tions do restore the womb unto its own nature and place. Stinking smels to be applied to the nostrils.
• * 1.4

  Avicen's secret for suffocation of the womb.
• * 1.5

  Castoreum drunken. Expressions in∣to the womb.
• * 1.6

  The matter of pess••ries.
• * 1.7

  A glyster scat∣tering gross vapors.
• * 1.8

  A quick, cer∣tain, & a plea∣sant remedy for the suff••cation of the womb.
• * 1.9

  Tickling of the neck of the womb.