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.

The FOUR and TVVENTIETH BOOK: Of the GENERATION of MAN.

THE PREFACE.

GOD, the Creator and maker of all things, immediately after the Creation of the World, of his unspeakable counsel and inestimable wisdom, not on••y distinguis••ed mankinde, ••u•• all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 living Creatures also into a double sex, to wit, of Male and Female; that so they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moved and enticed by the allurements of lust, might desire copulation, thence to have ••••••∣creation. For this bountiful Lord hath appointed it as a solace unto every living creature against the most certain and fatal necessity of death: than for as much as each particu•• living creature cannot continue for ever, yet they may endure by their species or kind by pr••pagation and succession of creatures, which is by procreation, so long as the world endureth. In this conjunction or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 repleni••hed with such delectable pleasure, (which God hath chiefly established by the law of Matrimony,) the male and female yield forth their seeds, which presently mixed and conjoyned, are received and kept in the females womb. For the seed is a certain spum••us ••r foamy humor replenished with vital spirit, by the ben••fit whereof, as it were by a certain ebullition or fermentation, it is puffed up, and swoln bigger, and both the seeds being separated from the more pure bloud of both the Parents, are the material and formal beginning of the issu••; for the seed of the male being cast and received into the womb, is accounted the principal and efficient cause; but the seed of the female is reputed the subj••cent matter, or the matter wherein it worketh. Goo•• and laudable seed ought to be white, shining, clammy, knotty, smelling like unto the elder or palm, delectable to Bees, and sinking down in the bottom of water being put into it, for that which swimmeth on the water is esteemed unfruitful; for a great portion cometh from the brain, yet s••me thereof falls from the wh••le b••dy, and from all the parts both firm and soft thereof. For unless it come from the whole body and every part thereof, all and every part of the issue cannot be formed thereby: because like things are engendred of the•••• like: and therefore it cometh that the childe resem••leth the Parents, not only in stature and fav••ur, but also in the conformation and proportion of his limbs and members, and complexion and temperature of his in••ward parts, so that dis••ases are oft times hereditary, the weakness of this or that entral being translated from the parent to the child. There are some which suppose this falling of the seed from the whole bodie not to ••e u••∣derstood according to the weight and matter, as if it were a certain portion of all the bloud separated from the rest; but according to the power and form, that is to say, the animal, natural and vital spirits, being the fr••mers of formation and life, and also the formative faculty to fall down from all the parts into the seed, that is wrought or perfected by the Testicles; for proof and confirmation whereof, they alledge that many per∣fect, sound, absolute, and well proportioned children, are born of ••ame and decrepit Parents.

CHAP. I. Why the generative parts are endued with great pleasure.

A Certain great pleasure accompanieth the function of the parts appointed for generation; and before it, in living creatures that are of a lusty age, when matter aboundeth in those parts, there goeth a certain fervent or furious desire: the causes thereof many, of which the chiefest is, That the kind may be preserved and kept for ever, by the propagation and substit••∣tion of other living creatures of the same kind. For brute beasts which want reason, and there∣fore cannot be sol citous for the preservation of their kind, never come to car••al copulation, unless they be moved thereunto by a certain vehement provocation of unbridled lust, and as it were by the stimulation of Venery. But man, that is endued with reason, being a divine and most noble creature, would never yield nor make his minde subject to a thing so abject and filthy as is carnal copulation, but that the Venereous ticklings, raised in those parts, relax the severity of his minde; or reason admonisheth him that the memory of his name ought not to end with his life, but to be preserved unto all generations, as far as may be possible, by the propagation of h••s seed or issue. Therefore by reason of this profit or commodity, nature hath endued the geni∣tals with a far more exact or exquisite sense then the other parts, by sending the great sinews unto them, and moreover she hath caused them to be bedewed or moistned with a certain whayish humor, not much unlike the seed sent from the glandules or kernels called prostata▪ situ∣ated in men at the beginning of the neck of the bladder, but in women at the bottom of the womb: this moisture hath a certain sharpness or biting, for that kind of humors of all others can chiefly

provoke those parts to their function or office, and yeeld them a d lectable pleasure, while they are in execution of the same. For even so whayish and sharp humors, when they are gathered together under the skin, if they wax warm, tickle with a certain pleasant itching, and by their motion infer delight: but the nature of the genital parts or members is not stirred up or provoked to the expulsion of the seed with these provocations of the humors, abounding either in quanti∣ty or quality only, but a certain great and hot spirit or breath contained in those parts, doth be∣gin to dilate it self more and more, which causeth a certain incredible excess of pleasure or vo∣luptuousness, wherewith the genitals being replete, are spread forth or distended every way un∣to their ful greatness. The yard is given to men whereby they may cast out their seed directly or straitly into the womans womb, and the the neck of the womb to women, whereby they may receive that seed so cast forth, by the open or wide mouth of the same neck, and also that they may cast forth their own seed, sent through the spe••matick vessels unto their testicles; these sper∣matick vessels, that is to say, the vein lying above, and the artery lying below, do make many flexions or windings, yet one as many as the other, like unto the tend••ils of vines diversly plat∣ted or folded together, and in those folds or bendings the blood and spirit which are carried unto the testiles, are concocted a longer time, and so converted into a white seminal substance. The low∣er of these flexions or bowings do end in the stones or testicles. But the testicles, forasmuch as they are loose, thin, and spongeous or hollow, receiving the humor which was begun to be con∣cocted in the fore-named vessels, concoct it again themselves: but the testicles of men concoct the more perfectly for the procreation of the issue; and the testicles of women more imperfectly, because they are more cold, less, weak and feeble, but the seed becommeth white by the con∣tact or touch of the testicles, because the substance of them is white. The male is such as engen∣dreth in another, and the female in her self, by the spermatick vessels which are implanted in the inner capacity of the womb. But out of all doubt unless nature had prepared so many allure∣ments, baits and provocations of pleasure, there is scarce any man so hot and delighted in vene∣rous acts, which considering and marking the p••ace appointed for humane conception, the loath∣somness of the filth which daily falleth down into it, and wherewithall it is humected and moist∣ned, and the vicinity and nearness of the great gut under it, and of the bladder above it, but would shun the embraces of women. Nor would any women desire the company of man, which once premeditates or fore-thinks with her self on the labour that she should sustain i•• bearing the burthen of her childe nine moneths, and of the almost deadly pains that she shall suffer in her delivery.

Men that use too frequent copulation, oftentimes in stead of seed cast forth a crude and bloody humor, and sometimes meer blood it self; and oft-times they can hardly make water but with great pain, by reason that the clammy and oily moisture, which nature hath placed in the glan∣dules called prostatae, to make the passage of the urine slippery, and to defend it against the sharp∣ness of the urine that passeth through it, is wasted, so that afterward they shall stand in need of rhe help of a Surgeon to cause them to make water with ease and without pain, by injecting of a little oyl out of a Syringe into the conduit of the yard. For in generation it is fit the man cast forth his seed into the womb, with a certain impetuosity, his yard being stiff and distended, and the woman to receive the same without delay into her womb being wide open, lest that through delay the seed wax cold, and so become unfruitful by reason that the spirits are dissipated and consumed. The yard is distended or made stiff, when the nervous, spongeous and hollow substance thereof is replete and puffed up with a flatulent spirit. The womb allures or drawes the masculine seed into it self by the mouth thereof, and it receives the womans seed by the horns from the spermatick vessels which come from the testicles into the hollowness or concavity of the womb, that so it may be tempered by conjunction, commission and confusion with the mans seed, and so redu∣ced or brought unto a certain equality: for generation or conception cannot follow without the concourse of two seeds, well and perfectly wrought in the very same moment of time, nor with∣out a laudable disposition of the womb both in temperature and complexion: if in this mixture of seeds the mans seed in quality and quantity exceed the womans, it will be a man-childe; if not, a woman-childe, although that in either of the kindes there is both the mans and womans seed; as you may see by the daily experience of those men who by their first wives have had boyes on∣ly, and by their second wives had girls only: the like you may see in certain women, who by their first husbands have had males only, and by their second husbands females only. Moreover one and the same man is not alwaies like affected to get a man or woman-childe; for by reason of his age, temperature and diet, he doth sometimes yeeld forth seed endued with a masculine virtue, and sometimes with a feminine or weak virtue, so that it is no marvel if men get sometimes men and sometimes women-children.

CHAP. II. Of what quality the seed is, whereof the male, and whereof the female is engendred.

MAle Children are engendred of a more hot and dry seed, and women of a more cold and moist; for there is much less strength in cold then in heat, and likewise in moisture then in driness: and that is the cause why it will be longer before a girle is formed in the womb then a boy. In the seed lieth both the procreative and the for∣mative power: as for ex••mple; In the power of Melon-seed are situate the stalks, branches, leaves,

flowers, fruit, the form, colour, smell, seed and all. The like reason is of other seeds; so Apple-grafts engrafted in the stock of a Pear-tree, bear Apples; and we do alwaies finde and see by experience, that the tree (by virtue of grafting) that is grafted, doth convert it self into the nature of the Siens wherewith it is grafted. But although the childe that is born doth resemble or is very like unto the Father or Mother, as his or her seed exceedeth in the mixture; yet for the most part it happeneth that the children are more like unto the father then mother, because that in the time of copulation, the minde of the woman is more fixed on her husband, then the minde of the husband on, or towards his wife: for in the time of copulation or conception, the forms, or the likenesse of those things that are conceived or kept in minde, are transported and impressed in the childe or issue; for so they affirm that there was a certain Queen of the Aethiopians who brought forth a white childe, the reason was (as shee confessed) that at the time of copulation with her King, she thought on a marvelous white thing, with a very strong imagination. There∣fore Hesiod advertiseth all married people not to give themselves to carnal copulation when they return from burials, but when they come from feasts and plaies, left that their said, heavy, and pensive cogitations, should be so transfused and engraften in the issue, that they should con∣taminate or infect the pleasant joyfulness of his life with sad, pensive or passionate thoughts. Some∣times it happeneth, although very seldome, the childe is neither like the father nor the mother, but in favor resembleth his Grandfather, or any other of his kindred; by reason that in the inward parts of the parents, the engrafted power and nature of the Grandfather lieth hidden: which when it hath lurked there long, not working any effect, at length breaks forth by means of some hid∣den occasion: wherein nature resembleth the Painter, making the lively portraiture of a thing, which as far as the subject matter will permit, doth form the issue like unto the parents in every habit; so that often-times the diseases of the parents are transferred or participated unto the chil∣dren, as it were by a certain hereditary title: for those that are crook-backt, get crook-backt chil∣dren; those that are lame, lame; those that are leprous, leprous; those that have the stone, chil∣dren having the stone; those that have the ptisick, children having the ptisick; and those that have the gout, children having the gout: for the seed follows the power, nature, temperature and complexion of him that engendreth it. Therefore of those that are in health and sound, healthie and sound; and of those that are weak and diseased, weak and diseased children are begotten, unless happily the seed of one of the parents that is sound doth correct or amend the diseased impression of the other that is diseased, or else the temperate and sound womb as it were by the gentle and pleasant breath thereof.

CHAP. III. What is the cause why Females of all brute beasts, being great with young, do neither desire, nor admit the males, until they have brought forth their Young.

THe cause hereof is, forasmuch as they are moved by sense only, they apply themselves unto the thing that is present, very little or nothing at all perceiving things that are past, and to come. Therefore after they have conceived, they are unmindful of the plea∣sure that is past, and do abhor copulation; for the sense or feeling of lust is given unto them by na∣ture, only for the preservation of their kinde, and not for voluptuousness, or delectation▪ But the males rageing, swelling, and as it were stimulated by the provocations of the heat, or fervency of their lust, do then run unto them, follow and desire copulation, because a certain strong odor or smell commeth into the air from their secret or genital parts, which pierceth into their nostrils, and unto their brain, and so inserteth an imagination, desire, and heat. Contrariwise, the sense and feeling of Venerous actions seemeth to be given by nature to women, not only for the pro∣pagation of issue and for the conservation of mankinde, but also to mitigate and asswage the mi∣series of mans life, as it were by the enticements of that pleasure: also the great store of hot blood that is about the heart, wherewith men abound, maketh greatly to this purpose, which by impulsion of imagination, which ruleth the humors, being driven by the proper passages down from the heart and entrails into the genital parts, doth stir up in them a new lust.

The males of brute beasts, being provoked or moved by the stimulations of lust, rage and are almost burst with a Tentigo or extension of the genital parts, and sometimes wax mad; but after that they have satisfied their lust with the female of their kinde, they presently become gentle, and leave off such fierceness.

CHAP. IV. What things are to be observed, as necessary unto generation in the time of copulation.

WHen the husband commeth into his wives chamber, he must entertain her with all kinde of dalliance, wanton behaviour, and allurements to Venery; but if he perceive her to be slow, and more cold, he must cherish, embrace, and tickle her, and shall not abruptly, the nerves being suddenly distended, break into the field of nature; but rather shall creep in by little and and little, intermixing more wanton kisses with wanton words and speeches, handling her secret parts and dugs, that she may take fire, and

be enflamed to Venery; for so at length the womb will strive and wax servent with a desire of ca∣sting forth it own seed, and receive the mans seed to be mixed together therewith. But if all these things will not suffice to enflame the woman; for women for the most part are more slow and slack unto the expulsion or yeelding forth of their seed, it shall be necessary first to foment her secret parts with the decoction of hot herbs made with Muscadine, or boiled in any other good wine; and to put a little Musk or Civet into the neck or mouth of the womb: and when she shall perceive the efflux of her seed to approach, by reason of the tickling pleasure, she must advertise her husband thereof, that at the very instant time or moment, he may also yeeld forth his seed, that by the concourse or meeting of the seeds, conception may be made; and so at length a child formed and born. And that it may have the better success, the husband must not presently separate himself from his wives embraces, lest the air strike into the open womb, and so corrupt the seeds before they are perfectly mixed together. When the man departs, let the woman lye still in quiet, laying her legs or her thighs across, one upon another; and raising them up a little, lest that by motion or downward situation, the seed should be shed or spilt: which is the cause why she ought at that time not to talk, especially chiding, nor to cough, nor snees, but give her self to rest and quietness, if it be possible.

CHAP. V. By what signs it may be known, whether the woman have conceived, or not.

IF the seed in the time of copulation, or presently after be not spilt, if in the meeting of the seeds the whole body do somewhat shake, that is to say, the womb drawing it self toge∣ther for the compression and entertainment thereof, if a little feeling of pain doth run up and down the lower belly, and about the navel; if she be sleepy, if she loath the em∣bracings of a man, and if her face be pale, it is a token that she hath conceived.

In some, after conception spots or freckles arise in their face, their eies are depressed and sunk in, the white of their eyes waxeth pale, they wax giddy in the head, by reason that the va∣pors are raised up from the menstrual blood that is stopped, sadness and heaviness grieve their minds, with loathing and waywardness, by reason that the spirits are covered with the smoaky darkness of the vapors: pains in teeth and gums, and swounding often-times commeth: the ap∣petite is depraved or overthrown, with aptness to vomit, and longing, whereby it happeneth, that they loath meats of good juice, and long for and desire illaudable meats, and those that are contrary to nature, as coles, dirt, ashes, stinking salt-fish, sowr, austere and tart fruits, pepper, vi∣negar, and such like acrid things, and other, altogether contrary to nature and use, by reason of the condition of the suppressed humor abounding and falling into the orifice of the stomach. This appetite so depraved or over-thrown, endureth in some untill the time of child-birth; in others it cometh in the third month after their conception, when hairs do grow on the child: and lastly, it leaveth them a little before the fourth month; because that the child, being now greater and stronger, consumes a great part of the excremental and superfluous humor. The suppressed or stopped terms in women that are great with childe, are divided into three parts: the more pure portion maketh the nutriment for the child, the second ascendeth by little and little into the dugs, and the impurest of all remaineth in the womb about the infant, and maketh the secondine or after-birth, wherein the infant lieth as in a soft bed. Those women are great with child, whose urine is more sharp, fervent, and somewhat bloody, the bladder not only waxing warm by the compression of the womb; fervent, by reason of the blood contained in it, but also the thinner portion of the same blood being expressed, and sweating out into the bladder. A swelling and hardness of the dugs, and veins that are under the dugs in the breasts and about them, and milk comming out when they are pressed, with a certain stirring motion in the belly, are certain infalli∣ble signs of greatness with child. Neither in this greatness of child-bearing, the veins of the dugs only, but of all the whole body, appear full and swelled up, especially the veins of the thighs and legs; so that by their manifold folding and knitting together, they do appear varicous, where∣of commeth sluggishness of the whole body, heaviness and impotency, or difficulty of going, especially when the time of deliverance is at hand. Lastly, if you would know whether the wo∣man have conceived or not, give unto her when she goeth to sleep, some mead or honied water to drink; and if she have a griping in her guts or belly, she hath conceived; if not, she hath not conceived.

CHAP. VI. That the womb, so soon as it hath received the seed, is presently contracted or drawn together.

AFter that the seeds of the male and female have both met, and are mixed together in the capacity of the womb, then the orifice thereof doth draw it self close together, lest the seeds should fall out. There the females seed goeth and turneth into nutriment, and the increase of the males seed; because all things are nourished, and do increase by those things that are most familiar, and like unto them. But the similitude and familiarity of seed with seed is far greater then with blood; so that when they are perfectly mixed and

co-agulated together, and so wax warm by the straight and narrow inclosure of the womb, a cer∣tain thin skin doth grow about it, like unto that that will be over uns••immed milk.

Moreover, this concretion or congealing of the seed, is like unto an egg laied before the time that it should: that is to say, whose membrane or tunicle that compasseth it about, hath not as yet increased or grown into a shelly hardness about it; in folding-wise are seen many small threds dividing themselves, over-spread with a certain clammy, whitish or red substance, as it were with black blood. In the middest under it appeareth the navel, from whence that small skin is produ∣ced. But a man may understand many things that appertain unto the conception of mankind by the observation of twenty eggs, setting them to be hatched under an Hen, and taking one every day and breaking it, and diligently considering it; for in so doing, on the twentieth day you shall find the Chick perfectly formed with the navel. That little skin that so compasseth the in∣fant in the womb is called the secundine or Chorion, but commonly the after-birth.

This little skin is perfectly made within six daies, according to the judgment of Hippo∣crates, as profitable and necessary not only to contain the seeds so mixed together, but also to s••••k nutriment through the o••ifices of the vessels ending in the womb. Those orifices the Greeks do call C••tyledones, and the Latines Acetabula, for they are as it were hollowed eminen∣ces, like unto those which may be seen in the feet or snout of a Cuttle-fish many times in a dou∣ble order, both for the working and holding of their meat. Those eminences called Acetabula do not so greatly appear in women as in many brute beasts. Therefore by these the secundi••e cleaveth on every side unto the womb, for the conservation, nutrition, and increase of the conceived ••eed.

CHAP. VII. Of the generation of the navel.

AFter the woman hath conceived, to every one of the aforesaid eminences groweth pre∣sently another vessel, that is to say, a vein to the vein, and an a••tery to the a••tery▪ these soft, and yet thin vessels, are framed with a little thin membrane, which being spread under, sucketh to them; for to them it is in stead of a membrane, and a ligament, and a tunicle, o•• a defence; and it is doubled with the others, and made of the vein and artery of the navel. These new small vessels of the infant, with their orifices, do answer directly one to one, to the Cotyledones or eminencies of the womb; they are very small and little, as it were the hairy fibres that grow upon roots that are in the earth; and when they have continued so a longer time, they are combined together, that of two they are made one vessel, untill that by conti∣nual connexion, all those vessels go and degenerate into two other great vessels, called the um∣bilical vessels, or the vessels of the navel: because they do make the navel, and do enter into the childs body by the hole of the navel. Here Galen doth admire the singular providence of God and Nature; because that in such a multitude of vessels, and in so long a passage or length that they go or are produced, the vein doth never confound it self, nor stick to the artery, nor the ar∣tery to the vein; but every vessel joineth it self to the vessel of its own kind. But the umbili∣cal vein, or navel-vein, entering into the body of the child, doth join it self presently to the hol∣low part of the liver; but the artery is divided into two, which join themselvs to the two Iliack arteries along the sides of the bladder, and are presently covered with the peritonaeum; and by the benefit thereof annexed unto the parts which it goes unto. Those small veins and arteries are as it were the roots of the childe; but the vein and artery of the navel are as it were the body of the tree, to bring down the nutriment to nourish the child. For first, we live in the womb the life of a plant, and then next the life of a sensitive creature: and, as the first tunicle of the child is called Ch••ri••ns, or Allant••ides; so the other is called Amnios, or Agui••a, which doth compass the seed or child about on every side. These membranes are most thin, yea for their thinness like unto the Spiders web, woven one upon another; and also connexed in ma∣ny places by the extremeties of certain small and hairy substances, which at length, by the ad∣junction of their like do get strength; whereby you may understand, what is the cause why by divers and violent motions of the mother in going and dancing, or leaping, and also of the in∣fant in the womb, those membranes are not almost broken. For they are so conjoined by the knots of those hairy substances, that between them nothing, neither the urine, nor the sweat can come, as you may plainly and evidently perceive in the dissection of a womans body that is great with child, not depending on any other mans opinion, be it never so old or inveterate: yet the strength of those membranes is not so great, but that they may be soon broken in the birth, by the kicking of the child.

GHAP. VIII. Of the Ʋmbilical vessels, or the vessels belonging to the navel.

MAny of the antient Writers have written that there are five vessels found in the navel. But yet in many, nay all the bodies I sought in for them, I could never find but three; that is to say, one vein, which is very large, so that in the passage thereof it will re∣ceive the tag of a point, and two arteries, but not so large, but much narrower; because the child wanteth o•• standeth in need of much more blood for his conformation, and the nutriment or in∣crease of his parts, then of vital spirit.

These vessels making the body of the navel, which, as it is thought, is formed within nine or ten dayes, by their doubling and folding, make knots like unto the knots of a Franciscan Friers girdle, that staying the running blood in those their knotty windings, they might more perfect∣ly concoct the same: as may be seen in the ejaculatory spermatick vessels, for which use also the length of the navel is half an ell; so that in many infants that are somewhat grown, it is found three or four times doubled about their neck or thigh.

As long as the child is in his mothers womb, he taketh his nutriment only by the navel, and not by his mouth; neither doth he enjoy the use of eyes, ears, nostrils or fundament, neither needeth he the functions of the heart. For spirituous blood goeth unto it by the artertes of the navel, and into the Iliack arteries; and from the Iliack arteries unto all the other arteries of the whole body, for by the motion of these only the infant doth breath. Therefore it is not to be supposed that the air is carried or drawn in by the lungs unto the heart, in the body of the child; but contrariwise from the heart to the lungs. For neither the heart doth perform the generation or working of blood, or of the vital spirits. For the issue or infant is contented with them as they are made and wrought by his mother. Which, untill it hath obtained a full, perfect and whole description of his parts and members, cannot be called a child; but rather an embryon, or an imperfect substance.

CHAP. IX. Of the ebullition or swelling of the seed in the womb, and of the concretion of the bubbles or bladders, or the three principal entrails.

IN the six first dayes of conception the new vessels are thought to be made and brought forth of the eminences or cotyledons of the mothers vessels, and dispersed into all the whole seed, as they were fibres, or hairy strings. Those, as they pierce the womb, so do they equally and in like manner penetrate the tunicle Chorion. And it is carried this way, being a passage not only necessary for the nutriment and conformation of the parts, but also into the veins diversly woven and dispersed into the skin Chorion. For thereby it cometh to pass, that the seed it self boileth, and as it were fermenteth or swelleth, not only through occasion of the place, but also of the blood and vital spirits that flow unto it; and then it riseth into three bubbles or bladders, like unto the bubbles which are occasioned by the rain falling into a river or channel full of wa∣ter. These three bubbles or bladders, are certain rude, or new forms, or concretions of the three principal entrails, that is to say, of the liver, heart, and brain. All this former time it is called seed, and by no other name; but when those bubbles arise, it is called an embryon, or the rude form of a body untill the perfect conformation of all the members: on the fourth day af∣ter that the vein of the navel is formed, it sucketh grosser blood, that is, of a more full nutriment out of the Cotyledons. And this blood, because it is more gross, easily congeals and curdles in that place, where it ought to prepare the liver fully and absolutely made. For then it is of a no∣table great bigness above all the other parts; and therefore it is called Parenchyma, because it is but only a certain congealing or concretion of blood brought together thither, or in that place. From the gibbous part thereof springeth the greater part or trunk of the hollow vein, called com∣monly vena cava, which doth disperse his small branches, which are like unto hairs, into all the substance thereof; and then it is divided into two branches, whereof the one groweth upwards, the other downwards unto all the particular parts of the body.

In the mean season the arteries of the navel suck spirituous blood out of the eminences or Co∣tyledons of the mothers arteries, whereof, that is to say, of the more fervent and spirituous blood the heart is formed in the second bladder or bubble, being endued with a more fleshie, sound, and thick substance, as it behooveth that vessel to be, which is the fountain from whence the heat floweth, and hath a continual motion.

In this the virtue formative hath made two hollow places; one on the right side, another on the left. In the right, the root of the hollow vein is infixed or ingraffed, carrying thither ne∣cessary nutriment for the heart: in the left is formed the stamp or root of an artery, which pre∣sently doth divide it self into two branches; the greater whereof goeth upwards to the upper parts, and the wider unto the lower parts, carrying unto all the parts of the body life and vi∣tal heat.

CHAP. X. Of the third Bubble or Bladder, wherein the head and the brain is formed.

THe far greater portion of the seed goeth into this third bubble, that is to say, yeelding mat∣ter for the conformation of the brain, and all the head. For a greater quantity of seed ought to go unto the conformation of the head and brain; because these parts are not sanguine or bloody, as the heart and liver; but in a manner without blood, bony, marrow, cartilaginous, nervous, and membranous, whose parts, as the veins, arteries, nerves, ligaments, panicles, and skin, are called spermatick parts; because they obtain their first conformation almost of seed only: although that afterwards they are nourished

with blood, as the other fleshie and musculous parts are. But yet the blood, when it come unto those parts, degenerateth, and turneth into a thing somewhat spermatick, by virtue of the assi∣mulative faculty of those parts. All the other parts of the head, form and fashion themselves un∣to the form of the brain, when it is formed; and those parts which are situated and placed about it for defence especially, are hardened into bones.

The head, as the seat of the senses, and mansion of the minde and reason, is situated in the high∣est place; that from thence, as it were from a lofty tower or turret, it might rule and govern all the other members, and their functions and actions that are under it: for there the soul or life, which is the rectress or governess, is situated; and from thence it floweth, and is dispersed into all the whole body. Nature hath framed these three principal entrals, as props and sustentati∣ons for the weight of all the rest of the body: for which matter also she hath framed the bones.

The first bones that appear to be formed, or are supposed to be conformed, are the bones called ossa Ilium, conne••ed or united by spondyls that are between them: then all the other members are framed and proportioned by their concavites and hollownesses, which generally are seven, that is to say, two of the ears, two of the nose, one of the mouth, and in the parts beneath the head one of the fundament, and another of the yard or conduit of the bladder; and furthermore in women, one of the neck of the womb, without the which they can never be made mothers or bear children.

When all these are finished, nature, that she might polish her excellent work in all sorts, hath covered all the body and every member thereof with skin. Into this excellent work or Micre∣c••sm••s so perfect, God, the author of nature and all things, infuseth or ingrafteth a soul or life: which St. Augustine proveth by this sentence of Moses: If any man smite a woman with child, so that thereby she ••e delivered before her natural time, and the childe be dead, being first formed in the w••m••, let him die the death: but if the child hath not as yet obtained the ful propertion and conformation of his bo∣dy and members, let him recompence it with m••ny. Therefore it is not to be thought that the life is de∣rived, propagated or taken from Adam or our parents; as it were an hereditary thing distributed unto all mankinde by their parents; but we must beleive it to be immediately created of God, e∣ven at the very instant time when the childe is absolutely perfected in the lineaments of his body, and so given unto it by him.

So therefore the rude lumps of flesh called molae that engender in womens wombs, and mon∣sters of the like breeding and confused bigness, although by reason of a certain quaking and shi∣vering motion, they seem to have life, yet they cannot be supposed to be endued with a life or a reasonable soul: but they have their motion, nutriment and increase wholly of the natural and infixed faculty of the womb, and of the generative or procreative spirit that is ingraffed naturally in the seed.

But even as the infant in the womb obtaineth not perfect conformation before the thirtieth day, so likewise it doth not move before the sixtieth day: at which time it is most commonly not per∣ceived by women, by reason of the smallness of the motion. But now let us speak briefly of the life or soul, wherein consisteth the principal original of every function in the body, and likewise of generation.

CHAP. XI. Of the life or soul.

THe soul entreth into the body, so soon as it hath obtained a perfect and absolute distincti∣on and conformation of the members in the womb, which in male-children, by reason of the more strong and forming heat which is ingraffed in them, is about the fourtieth day, and in females about the fortie fifth day; in some sooner, and in some later, by reason of the efficacie of the matter working, and pliantness or obedience of the matter whereon it worketh. Neither doth the life or soul being thus inspired into the body presently execute or performe all his functions, because the instruments that are placed about it cannot obtain a firm and hard con∣sistence necessary for the lively, but especially for the more divine ministeries of the life or soul, but in a long process of age or time.

Those instruments of the soule are vitiated either in the first conformation, as when the form or fashion of the head is shaped upwards or pyramidal, as was the head of Thersites, that lived in the time of the Trojan war, and of Triboulet and Tonin, that lived in later years; or also by some ca∣sualtie, as by the violent handling of the midwife, who by compression, by reason that the seal is tender and soft, hath caused the capacitie of the ventricles that be under the brain to be too narrow for them: or by a fall, stroak, disorder in diet, as by drunkenness, or a fever, which infer∣reth a lethargie, excessive sleeepiness, or phrensie.

Presently after the soul is entred into the body, God endeth it with divers and sundry gifts hereof it commeth that some are endued with wisdom by the spirit; others with knowledg by the same spirit; others with the gift of healing by the same spirit; others with power, domi∣nion and rule; others with prophesie; others with diversities of tongues; and to others, other en∣dowments, as it hath pleased the divine providence and bounty of God, to bestow upon them, a∣gainst which no man ought to contend or speak. For it is not meet that the thing formed should say unto him that formed it, why hast then made me thus? hath not the Potter power to make of the same

lamp of clay one vessel to h••nor and another to dishonor? It is not my purpose, neither belongeth it un∣to me or any other humane creature to search out the reason of those things, but only to admire them with all humility: But yet I d••re affirm this one thing, that a noble and excellent soul neg∣lecteth elementary and a transitory things, and is ravished and moved with the contemplation of ce••e••••••al, which it cannot freely enjoy before it be separated from this earthly inclosure or pri∣son of the body, and be restored unto its original.

Therefore the soul is the inward Entelechia or perfection, or the primitive cause of all motions and functions both natural and animal, and the true form of man. The Antients have endevou∣red to express the obscure sence thereof by many descriptions. For they have called it a celesti∣••••l spirit, and a superior, incorporeal, invisible, and immortal essence, which is to be comprehended of its self alone, that is, of the mind or understanding. Others have not doubted but that we have our souls inspired by the universal divine minde, which as they are alive, so they do bestow life on the bodies unto whom they are annexed or united. And although this life be dispersed into all the whole body, and into every portion of the same, yet i•• it void of all corporal weight or mixtion, and it is wholly and alone in every several part, being simple and invisible, without all composition or mixture, yet endued with many virtues and faculties, which it doth utter in divers parts of the body: For it feeleth, imagineth, judgeth, remembreth, understandeth, and ruleth all our desires, pleasures, and animal motions; it seeth, heareth, smelleth, tasteth, toucheth: and it hath divers names of these so many and so great functions, which it performeth in divers parts of the body. It is called the soul or life; because it maketh the body live, which of it self is dead. It is called the spirit or breath; because it inspireth our bodies. It is called reason; because it discerneth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from falshood, as it were by a cer••ain divine rule. It is termed the minde; because it is mind∣full of things past, in recalling and remembring them: And it is called the vigor or courage; be∣•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 vigor and courage to the sluggish weight, or mass of the body. And lastly, it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sense and understanding; because it comprehendeth things that are sensible and intelli∣••••••••. Because it is incorporeal, it cannot occupie a place by corporeal extention; although not∣withstanding it filleth the whole body. It is simple; because it is but one in essence, not increased, not diminished▪ for it is no less in a Dwarf then in a Giant; and it is like perfect and great in an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as in a man, according to its own nature.

But there are three kindes of bodies informed by a soul whe eby they live; the first being the most imperfect, is of plants; the second of brute beasts; and the third of men. The plants live by a vegetative; beasts by a sensitive; and men by an intellective soul. And as the sensitive soul of brute beasts is endued with all the virtues of the vegetative; so the humane intellective comprehen∣ceth the virtues of all the inferior, not separated by any division, but by being indivisibly united with reason and understanding, into one humane form and soul whereon they depend. But because wee have said a little before, that divers functions of the life are resident, and appear in divers parts of the body, here in this place, omitting all others, we will prosecute those only which are ac∣counted the principal.

The principal functions of the humane soul, according to the opinion of many, are four in num∣ber, proceeding from so many faculties, and consequently from one soul; they are these: The Common Sense, Imagination, Reasoning, and Memory. And they think that the common or in∣teriour sense doth receive the formes and images of sensible things, being carried by the spirit through the passage of the nerves, as an instrument of the external senses, as it were a messenger to go between them; and it serves not only to receive them, but also to know, perceive, and discern them. For the eie, wherein the external sense of seeing consisteth, doth not know white or black. Therefore it cannot discern the differences of colours, as neither the tongue tastes, nor the nose savours, nor the ears sound, nor lastly, the hands their touching quality: yea, the eye doth not of it selfe perceive that it seeth, nor the nose that it smelleth, nor the ears that they hear, nor the tongue that it tasteth, nor the hands that they touch. For all these things are the offices and functi∣ons of the common sense; for this sense knoweth that the eye hath seen some thing, either white, black, red, a man, horse, sheep, or some such like material thing; yea, even when the sight is gone and past; and so likewise the nose to have smelled this or that savour, the ear to have heard this or that sound, the tongue to have tasted this or that taste, and the hand to have touched this or that thing, be they never so divers. For all the external senses, and all the functions thereof do end, and are referred to the Common sense, as it were the lines of a circle from the circumference into the center, as it is expressed in this figure.

[illustration]

For which cause it is called the common or principal sense; for that therein the primitive power of feeling or perceiving is situated, for it useth the ministery or service of the external senses, to know many and divers things, whose differences it doth discern and judge; but simple things, that are of themselves, and without any composition and connexion, which may constitute anthing

true or false, or any argumentation, belongeth only to the minde, understanding, or reason. For this was the counsel of nature, that the external sences should receive the forms of things super∣ficially, lightly, and gently only; like as a glass, not to any other end, but that they should present∣ly send them unto the Common sense, as it were unto their center and prince, which he (that is to say, the Common sense) delivereth to be collected unto the understanding or reasoning fa∣culty of the soul, which Avicen and Averrcis have supposed to be situated in the former pa•• of the brain.

Next unto the common sense followeth the phantasie or imagination, so called, because of it arise the formes and Ideas that are conceived in the minde, called of the Greeks Phanta••mata. This doth never rest but in those that sleep: neither alwaies in them, for ofttimes in them it cau∣seth dreams, and causeth them to suppose they see and perceive such things as were never percei∣ved by the senses, not which the nature of things, not the order of the world will permit. The pow∣er of this faculty of the minde is so great in us, that it often bringeth the whole body in subjecti∣on unto it.

For it is recorded in history, that Alexander the Great sitting at Table, and hearing Timotheus the Musician sing a Martial sonnet unto his Cythern, that he presently leaped from the Table, and called for arms; but when again the Musician mollified his tune, he returned to the table and sate down as before. The power of imagination caused by musical harmony, was so great, that it sub∣jected to it the courage or the worlds conquerour, by whose various motion, it would now as it were cause him to run headlong to arms, and then pacifie and quiet him, and so cause him to return to his chair and banquetting again. And there was one whosoever it was, who some few years agon seeing the Turk dance on a rope on high with both his feet fastned in a basin, turned his eyes from so dangerous a sight or spectacle, although came of purpose to see it, and stricken with such fear that his body shook and heart quaked, for fear lest that by sudden falling down headlong he should break his neck. Many looking down fron an high and lofty place, are so stricken with fear, that suddenly they fall down headlong, being so overcome and bound with the imagination of the danger, that their own strength is not able to sustain them. Therefore it manifestly appear∣eth that God hath dealt most graciously and lovingly with us, who unto this power of imagina∣tion, hath joyned another, that is, the faculty or power of reason and understanding; which discerning false dangers and perils from true, doth sustain and hold up a man that he may not be overthrown by them.

After this, appeareth and approacheth to perform his function, the faculty of Reason, be∣ing the Prince of all the principal faculties of the soul; which bringeth together, composeth, joy∣neth, and reduceth all the simple and divided formes or images or things into one heap, that by dividing, collecting, and reasoning it might discern and trie truth from falshood.

This faculty of Understanding or Reason is subject to no faculty or instrument of the body, but is free, and penetrateth into every secret, intricate and hidden thing with an incredible celerity: by which a man seeth what will follow, perceiveth the originals and causes of things, is not igno∣rant of the proceedings of things; he compareth things that are past with those that are present and to come, decreeing what to follow, and what to avoid. This bridleth and with-holdeth the fu∣rions motions of the minde, bridleth the over-hasty motions of the tongue, and admonisheth the speaker that before the words pass out of his mouth, he ought with diligence and discretion to ponder and consider the thing whereof he is about to speak.

After Reason and Judgment followeth Memory, which keeping and conserving all forms and images that it receiveth of the senses, and which Reason shall appoint, and as a faithfull keeper and conserver, receiveth all things, and imprinteth and sealeth them as well by their own virtue and power, as by the impulsion and adherence of those things in the body of the brain, without any impression of the matter; that when occasion serveth, we may bring them forth there-hence as out of a treasury or store-house. For otherwise to what purpose were it to read, hear, and note so many things, unless we were able to keep and retain them in minde by the care and custody of the Memory or Brain? Therefore assuredly God hath given us this only remedy and pre∣servative against the oblivion and ignorance of things, which although of it self and of its own nature it be of greater efficacy, yet by dayly and often meditation it is trimmed and made more exquisite and perfect. And hence it was that the Antients termed wisedome the daughter of me∣mory and experience. Many have supposed that the mansion or seat of the Memory, is in the hin∣der part, or in the ventricle of the Cerebellum by reason that it is apt to receive the forms of things, because of the engrafted driness and hardness thereof.

CHAP. XII. Of the natural excrements in general, and especially of those that the childe or infant being in the womb excludeth.

BEfore I declare what excrements the infant excludeth in the womb, and by what passages, I think it good to speak of the excrements which all men do naturally void; All that is called an excrement which nature is accustomed to separate and cast out from the laudable and nourishing juice. There are many kindes of those excrements.

The first is of the first concoction, which is performed in the stomach, which being driven down into the intestines or guts, is voided by the fundament.

The second commeth from the Liver, and it usually is three-fold, or of three kindes; one choler∣ick, whereof a great portion is sent into the bladder of the gall, that by sweating out there-hence, it might stir up the expulsive faculty of the guts to expel and exclude the excrements. The other is like unto whay, which goeth with the blood into the veins, and is as it were a vehicile thereto to bring it unto all the parts of the body, and into every capillar vein for to nourish the whole bo∣dy; and after it hath performed that function, it is partly expelled by sweat, and partly sent into the bladder, and so excluded with the urine. The third is the melancholick excrement which being drawn by the milt, the purer and thinner part thereof goeth into nourishment of the milt, and after the remnant is partly purged our downwards by the Hemorrhoidal veins and partly sent to the orifice of the stomach, to instimulate and provoke the appetite. The last cometh of the last concoction which is dissolved in the habit of the body, and breathed out, partly by insensible tran∣spiration, is partly consumed by sweating, and partly floweth out by the evident and manifest passa∣ges that are proper to every part: as it happeneth in the brain before all other parts; for it doth unload it self of this kinde of excrements by the passages of the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, palat-bone and futures of the scul.

Therefore if any of these excrements be staied altogether, or any longer then it is meet they should, the default is to be amended by diet and medicine. Furthermore there are other sorts of excrements not natural, of which we have entreated at large in our book of the Pestilence.

When the infant is in the mothers womb, until be is fully and absolutely formed in all the li∣neaments of his body, he sends forth his urine by the passage; of the navel or urachus, But a little before the time of childe-birth, the urachus is closed, and then the man-childe voideth his urine by the conduit of the yard, and the woman-childe by the neck of the womb. This urine is gathered together & contained in the coat Chorion or Allantcides, together with the other excrements, that is to say, sweat, and such whaysh superfluities of the menstrual matter, for the more easie bearing up of the floating or swimming childe. But in the time of childe-birth, when the infant by kicking breaketh the membranes, those humors run out, which when the midwives perceive, they take it as a certain sign that the childe is at hand. For if the infant come forth together with those waters, the birth is like to be more easie, and with better success; for the neck of the womb and all the genitals are so by their moisture relaxed and made slippery, that by the endeavour and stir••ing of the infant, the birth will be more easie, and with the better success: contrariwise, if the infant be not exclu••ed before all these humors be wholly flowen out and gone, but remaineth as it were in a drie place, presently through driness the neck of the womb and all the genitals will be contract∣ed and drawn together, so that the birth of the childe will be very difficult and hard, unless the neck of the womb, to amend that default, be annointed with oil or some other relaxing liquor. Moreover, when the childe is in the womb, he voideth no excrements by the fundament, unless it be when at the time of the birth, the proper membranes and receptacles are burst by the striving of the infant; for he doth not take his meat at the mouth; wherefore the stomach is idle then, and doth not execute the office of turning the meats into chylus, nor of any other concoction; where∣fore nothing can go down from it into the guts. Neither have I seldom seen infants born without any hole in their fundament, so that I have been constrained with a knife to cut in sunder the mem∣brane or cunicle that grew over and stopped it. And how can such excrements be engendred, when the childe being in the womb, is nourished with the more laudable portion of the menstrual blood; therefore the issue or childe is wont to yeeld or avoid two kindes or sorts of excrements, so long as he is in the womb, that is to say, sweat and urine, in both which he swims; but they are sepa∣rated by themselves, by a certain tunicle called Allantoïdes, as it may be seen in kids, dogs, sheep, and other brute beasts; for as much as in mankinde the tunicle Chorion and Allantoïdes or Farcimi∣nalis, be all one membrane. If the woman be great of a man-childe, she is more merry, strong, and better-coloured, all the time of her childe-bearing; but if a woman-childe, she is ill coloured, be∣cause that women are not so hot as men.

The males begin to stir within three moneths and an half, but females after: if a woman con∣ceive a male-childe, she hath all her right parts stronger to every work: wherefore they do begin to set forwards their right foot first in going, and when they arise they lean on the right arm, the right dug will sooner swell and wax hard: the male-childe stir more in the right side then in the left, and the female-children rather in the left then in the right side.

CHAP. XIII. With what travail the Childe is brought into the world, and of the cause of this labour and travail.

WHen the natural prefixed and prescribed time of childe-birth is come, the childe being then grown greater, requires a greater quantity of food: which when he cannot receive in sufficient measure by his navel, with great labour and striving he endeavo∣reth to get forth: therefore then he is moved with a stronger violence, and doth break the mem∣branes wherein he is contained. Then the womb, because it is not able to endure such violent motions, nor sustain or hold up the childe any longer, by reason that the conceptacles of the mem∣branes are broken asunder, is relaxed, and then the childe pursuing the air which he feeleth to enter in at the mouth of the womb, which then is very wide and gapeing, is carryed with his head downwards, and so commeth into the world with great pain both unto it self, and also unto his

Mother, by reason of the tenderness of his body, and also by reason of the nervous neck of h s mothers womb, and separation of the bone called Os Ilium from the bone called Os sacrum. For unless those bones were drawn in sunder, how could not only twins that cleave fast together, but also one childe alone, come forth at so narrow a passage as the neck of the womb is; Not only reason, but also experience confirmeth it; for I opened the bodies of women presently after they have died of travail in child-birth, in whome I have found the bones of Ilium to be drawn the bredth of ones finger from Os sacrum; and moreover, in many unto whom I have been called, being in great extremity of difficult and hard travail, I have not only heard, but also felt the bones to cracle and make a noise, when I laid my hand upon the coccyx or rump, by the violence of the distention. Also honest matrons have declared unto me that they themselves, a few dayes before the birth, have felt and hard the noise of those bones separating themselves one from another with great pain. Also a long time after the birth many do feel great pain and ach about the region of the coccyx and Os sacrum, so that when nature is not able to repair the dissolved continuity of the bones of Ilium, they are constrained to halt all the dayes of their life after. But the bones of the share called Ossa pubis, I have never seen to be separated, as many do also affirm. It is reported that in Italy the coccyx or rump in al•• Maidens is broken that when they come to be married they may bear children with lesser travail in childe-birth; but this is a forged tale, for that bone being broken, is naturally and of its own accord repaired, and joyned together again with a Callus, whereby the birth of the childe will be more difficult and hard.

CHAP. XIV. Of the situation of the infant in the womb.

REason cannot shew the certain situation of the infant in the womb, for I have found it altogether uncertain, variable and diverse both in living and dead women: in the dead by opening their bodies presently after they were dead; and in the living by helping them by the industry of my hand, when they have been in danger of perishing by travail of childe-birth: for by putting my hand into the womb, I have felt the infant comming forth, sometimes with his feet forwards, sometimes with his hands, and sometimes wish his hands and feet turned backwards, and sometimes forwards, as the figure following plainly describeth.

[illustration] womb with child

I have often found them coming forth with their knees forwards, and sometimes with one of the feet, and sometimes with their belly forwards, their hands and feet being lifted upwards, as the former figure sheweth at large.

[illustration]

Sometimes I have found the Infant coming with his feet downwards stri∣ding a wide, & som∣times headlong, stretching one of his arms downward out at length, and that was an Hermaphro∣dite, as this figure plainly declareth.

[illustration]

One time I obser∣ved in the birth of twins, that the one came with his head forwards, and the other with his feet, according as here I have thought good to describe them.

In the bodies of women that died in travail of childe I have sometimes found children no bigg∣er then if they had been but four moneths in the womb, situated in a round compass like a hoop, with their head bowed down to their knees, with both their hands under the knees, and their ••eels close to their buttocks. And moreover, I protest before God that I sound a childe be∣ing yet alive in the body of his mother (whom I opened so soon as she was dead) lying all a∣long stretched out, with his face upwards, and the palms of his hands joyned together, as if he were at prayer.

CHAP. XV. Which is the legitimate and natural, and which the illegitimate or unnatural time of childe-birth.

TO all living creatures, except Man, the time of conception and bringing forth their young is certain and definite; but the issue of Man commeth into the world, sometimes in the seventh, sometimes in the eighth, and sometimes which is most frequent, in the ninth month; sometimes in the tenth month; yea sometimes in the beginning of the eleventh month. Massurinus reports that Lucius Papyrius the Pretor, the second heir commencing a ••••it, gave the possession of the goods away from him, seeing the Mother of the Childe affirm that she went thirteen moneths therewith, being there is no certain definite time of Childe-birth. The childe that is born in the sixth moneth, cannot be long-lived, because at that time all his bo∣dy or members are not perfectly finished, or absolutely formed. In the seventh moneth it is pro∣ved by reason and experience that the infant may be long-lived. But in the eighth month it is seldome or never long-lived: the reason thereof is, as the Astronomers suppose, because at that time Saturn ruleth, whose coldness and driness is contrary to the original of life: but yet the phy∣sical reason is more true; for the physicians say that the childe in the womb doth oft-times in the seventh moneth strive to be set at liberty from the inclosure of the womb, and therefore it conten∣deth and laboureth greatly, and so with labouring and striving it becommeth weak, that all the time of the eighth moneth it cannot recover his strength again, whereby it may renew his accusto∣med use of striving, and that some by such laboring and striving hurt themselves, and so dye. Yet some strong and lusty women are thought to bring forth their children, being lively and strong, on the eighth month, as Aristotle testifieth of the Egyptians, the Poets of the inhabitants of the Isle of Naxus, and many of the Spaniards. Furthermore I cannot sufficiently marvel, that the womb, which all the time of childe-bearing is so closed together, that one can scarce put a probe into it, unless it be by superfoetation, or when it is open for a short time to purge it self, that pre∣sently before the time of childe-birth, it should gape and wax so wide, that the infant may pass through it, and presently after it close up again as if it had never been opened. But because that the travail of the first time of childe-birth is wont to be very difficult and grievous, I think it not unmeet that all women, a little before the time of their first travail, annoint and relax their pri∣vy parts with the unguent here described. ℞. sper. ceti, ℥ ii. ol. amigd. dul. ℥iv. cerae. alb. & medul. cervin. ℥iii. axung. ans. & gallin. an. ℥. i. tereb. Ʋenet. ℥ii. make thereof an ointment to annoint the thighs, share, privy-parts and genitals. Furthermore, it shall not be unprofitable, to make a t••uss or girdle of most thin and gentle dog-skin, which being also annointed with the same ung∣guent, may serve very necessarily for the better carrying of the infant in the womb. Also baths that are made of the decoction of mollifying herbs, are also very profitable to relax the privy parts a little before the time of the birth. That is supposed to be a natural and easie birth, when the infant commeth forth with his head forwards, presently following the flux of water; and that is more difficult, when the infant commeth with his feet forwards: all the other waies are most difficult. Therefore Mid-wives are to be admonished that as often as they perceive the childe to be comming forth none of those wayes, but either with his belly or his back forwards, as it were doubled; or else with his hands and feet together, or with his head forwards, and one of his hands s••••erched out, that they should turn it, and draw it out by the feet; for the doing whereof, if they be not sufficient, let them crave the assistance and help of some expert Chirurgian.

CHAP. XVI. Signs of the birth at hand.

THere will be great pain under the navel, and at the groins, and spreading therehence to∣ward the Vertebrae of the loins, and then especially when they are drawn back from the Os sacrum, the bones Ilia and the Ceccyx are thrust outward, the genitals swell with pain, and a certain Fever-like shakeing invades the body, the face waxeth red by reason of the endeavour of nature, a••med unto the expulsion of the infant. And when these signs appear, let all things be prepared ready to the childe-birth. Therefore first of all let the woman that is in travail be placed in her bed conveniently, neither with her face upwards, nor sitting, but with her back upwards and somewhat high, that she may breath at more liberty, and have the more power or strength to labour. Therefore she ought to have her legs wide one from another, and crooked, or her heels somewhat bowed up towards her buttocks, so that she may lean on a staff that must be placed overthwart the bed There are some that do travail in a stool or a chair made for the same

purpose: others standing upright on their feet, and leaning on the post or pillar of the bed. But you must take diligent heed that you do not exhort or perswade the woman in travail to strive or labour to expel the birth before the fore-named signs thereof do manifestly shew that it it at haue. For by such labour or pains she might be wearied or so weakned, that when she should strive or labour, she shall have no power or strength so to do. If all these things do fall out well in the childe-birth, the business is to be committed to nature, and to the Mid-wife. And the women with childe must only be admonished that when she feeleth very strong pain, that she presently therewith strive with most strong expression, shutting her mouth and nose if she please, and it the same time let the Midwife with her hands force the infant from above downwards. But if the birth be more difficult and painful, by reason that the waters wherein the infant lay are ••lown out long before, and the womb be dry, this ointment following is to be prepared. ℞, but ••ri recent••s sine sale in aquà artemes••ae l••ti, ℥ii. mueaginis ficuum, semin. lini. & altheae, cum aqua salinae extrati••, an. ℥ ss. olei ••ilierum, ℥i. make thereof an ointment, wherewith let the Midwife often annoint the se∣cret parts. Also this powder following may be prepared. ℞. Cinnamom. cort. cassiae fistul. dictam∣ni an, ʒ i ss. sacch. albi ad p••udus omnium: make thereof a most subtil and fine powder. Let the wo∣man that is in extremity by reason of difficult and painful travail in childe-birth, take half an ounce thereof at a time, with a decoction of line-seed, or in white wine, for it will cause more speedy and easie deliverance of the childe.

Moreover let the Midwife annoint her hands with this ointment, following, as often as she putteth them into the neck of the womb, and therewith also annoint the parts about it ℞, clei ex seminibus lini, ℥ i ss. ol••i de castoreo. ℥ ss. galliae meschatae, ʒiii. ladani ʒi. make thereof a liniment. Moreover, you may provoke sneesing, by putting a little pepper or white helebore in powder into the nostrils. Line-seed beaten, and given in potion, with the water of Mug-wort and Savine, is supposed to cause speedy deliverance. Also the medicine following is commended for the same purpose. ℞. certicis cassiae fistul. conquassatae ℥ ii. cicer. rub. m ss. bulliant cum vino albo & aquà sufficienti, sub finem ad∣dendo sabinae ʒii. in celaturâ prodosi adde cinam. ʒ ss. crcci gr. vi. make thereof a potion, which being taken, let sneesing be provoked, as it is above-said, and let her shut or close her mouth and nostrils.

Many times it happeneth that the infant cometh into the world out of the womb, having his head covered or wrapped about with a portion of the secundine or tunicle wherein it is inclo∣sed, especially, when by the much, strong, and happy striveing of the mother, he commeth forth together with the water wherein it lieth in the womb, and then the Midwives prophesie o•• fore∣tell that the childe shall be happy, because he is born as it were with a hood on his head. But I suppose that it doth betoken health of body both to the infant and also to his mother; for it is a to∣ken of easie deliverance. For when the birth is difficult and painful, the childe never bringeth that membrane out with him, but it remaineth behinde in the passages of the genitals or secret parts, because they are narrow. For even so the Snake or Adder when she should cast her skin thereby to renew her age creepeth through some narrow or strait passage. Presently after birth, the woman so delivered must take two or three spoonfuls of the oil of sweet almonds extracted with∣out fire and tempered with sugar. Some will rather use the yelks of eggs with sugar, some the wine called Hyppocras, others cullises or gelly: but alwayes divers things are to be used, according as the Patient or the woman in childe-bed shall be grieved, and as the Physician shall give counsel, both to case and asswage the furious torments and pain of the throwes, to recover her strength and nourish her.

Throws come presently after the birth of the childe, because that then the veines (nature be∣ing wholly converted to expulsion) cast out the reliques of the menstrual matter that hath been suppressed for the space of nine months, into the womb with great violence, which because they are gross, slimy and dreggish, cannot come forth without great pain both to the veines from whence they come, and also unto the womb whereunto they go: also then by the conversion of that portion thereof that remaineth into winde, and by the undiscreet admission of the air in the time of the childe-birth, the womb and all the secret parts wil swel, unless it be preven∣ted with some digesting, repelling or mollifying oil, or by artificial rowling of the parts about the belly.

CHAP. XVII. What is to be done presently after the childe is born.

PResently after the childe is born, the Midwife must draw away the secundine or after-birth, as gently as she can: but if she cannot, let her put her hands into the womb, and so draw it out, separating it from the other parts; for otherwise if it should continue longer, it would be more difficult to be gotten out, because that presently after the birth the orifice of the womb is drawn together and closed, and then all the secundine must be taken from the childe. Therefore the navel-string must be tied with a double thred an inch from the belly. Let not the knot be two hard, lest that part of the navel-string which is without the knot, should fall away sooner then it ought, neither too slack or loose, lest that an exceeding and mortal flux of blood should follow after it is cut off, and lest that through it (that is to say the the navel-string) the cold air should enter into the childes body. When the knot is so made, the navel-string must be cut in sunder the breath of two fingers beneath it with a sharp knife. Upon the section you must

apply a doudle linnen cloath dipped in oyl of Roses, or of sweet A••monds, to mitigate the pain; for to within a few dayes after, that which is beneath the knot will ••all away being destitute of life and nourishment, by reason that the vein and artery are tied so close, that no life nor nourishment can come unto it: commonly all Midwives do let it lie unto the bare belly of the infant, whereof commeth grievous pain and griping, by reason of the coldness thereof which dyeth by little and little as destitute of vital heat. But it were far better to rowl it in soft cotton or lint, until it be mortified, and so fall away.

Those midwives do unadvisedly, who so soon as the infant is born do presently tie the navel-string and 〈…〉〈…〉 off, not looking first for the voiding of the secundine. When all these things are ••on, the infant must be wiped, cleansed and rubbed from all filth and excrement with oil of Ro∣ses or Myttles. For thereby the pores of the skin wil be better shut, and the habit of the body the more strengthened.

There be some that wash infants at that time in warm water and red wine, and afterwards an∣noint them with the fore named oils. Others wash them not with wine alone, but boil therein red Roses and the leaves of Myrtles, adding thereto a little salt; and then using this lotion for the space of five or six daies, they not only wash away the filth, but also resolve and digest, if there be any hard or confused place in the infants tender body, by reason of the hard travail and labour in childe-birth. Their toes and fingers must be handled, drawn a sunder and bowed, and the joints of the arms and legs must be extended and bowed for many daies and often; that thereby that portion of the excremental humor that remaineth in the joints, by motion may be heated and resolved. If there be any default in the membe s, either in conformation, construction or soci∣ety with those that are adjoyning to them, it must be corrected or amended with speed. More∣over, you must look whether any of the natural passages be stopped, or covered with a membrane, as it often happeneth. For if any such cover or stop the orifices of the ears, nostrils, mouth, yard or womb, it must be cut in sunder by the Chirurgian, and the passage must be kept open by putting in of tents, pessaries or dosels, left otherwise they should joyn together again after they are cut. If he have one finger more then he should naturally, if his fingers do cleave close toge∣ther, like unto the feet of a Goose or Duck, if the ligamental membrane that is under the tongue be more short and stiffer then it ought, that the infant cannot suck, nor in time to come, speak, by reason thereof; and if there be any other thing contrary to nature, it must be all amended by the industry of some expert Chirurgian.

Many times in children newly born, there sticketh on the inner side of their mouth and on their tongue, a certain chalky substance, both in colour and in consistence; this affect proceeding from the distemperature of the mouth, the French-men call it the white Cancer. It will not permit the infant to suck, and will shortly breed and degenerate into ulcers that will creep into the jawes, and even unto the throat, and unless it be cleansed speedily, will be their death. For remedy whereof, it must be cleansed by Detersives, as with a linnen cloth bound to a little stick, and dipp∣ped in a medicine of an indifferent consistence made with oil or sweet almonds, hony and sugar. For by rubbing this gently on it, the filth may be mollified, and so cleansed or washed away.

Moreover it will be very meet and convenient to give the infant one spoonful of oil of almonds, to make his belly loose and slippery, to asswage the roughness of the weason and gul let and to dissolve the tough phlegm, which causeth a cough, and sometimes difficulty of breathing. If the eye-lids cleave together, or if they be joyned together, or agglutinated to the coats cornea or adnata; if the watery tumor called hydroccephalos affect the head, then must they be cured by the proper remedies formerly prescribed, against each disease.

Many from their birth have spots or markes, which the common people of France call Signes, that is, marks or signs. Some of these are plain and equal with the skin, others are raised up in little tumors, and like unto warts, some have hairs upon them, many times they are smooth, black or pale; yet for the most part red. When they rise in the face, they spread abroad thereon ma∣ny times with great deformity. Many think the cause thereof to be a certain portion of menstru∣al matter cleaving to the sides of the womb, comming of a fresh flux, if happily a man do yet use copulation with the woman, or else distilling out of the veins into the womb, mixed & concorpo∣rated with the seeds at that time when they are congealed, infecting this or that part of the issue being drawn out of the seminal body, with their own colour. Women referr the cause thereof unto their longing when they are with childe; which may imprint the image of the thing they long for or desire, in the childe or issue that is not as yet formed (as the force and power of ima∣gination in humane bodies is very great:) but when the childe is formed, no imagination is able to leave the impression of any thing in it, no more then it could cause horns to grow on the head of King Chypus as he slept presently after he was returned from attentively beholding Bulls fighting together. Some of those spots be cureable, others not; as those that are great, and those that are on the lips, nostrils, and eye-lids. But those that are like unto warts, because they are partakers of a certain malign quality and melancholick matter, which may be irritated by endea∣vouring to cure them, are not to be medled with at all, for being troubled and angered, they soon turn into a Cancer (which they call Noli me taugere). Those that are curable are small, and in such parts as they may be dealt withall without danger. Therefore they must be pierced through by the roots with a needle and a thread, and so being lifted up by the ends of the thread, they most be cut away, and the wound that remaineth must be cured according to the general method of wounds.

There are some that suppose the red spots that are raised up into little knobs and bunches, may be washed away and consumed by rubbing and annointing them often with menstrual blood, or the blood of the secundine or after-birth. Those that are hairy and somewhat raised up like unto a Want o•• Mouse, must be pierced through the roots in three or four places, and strait∣ly bound, so that at length being destitute of life and nutriment, they may fall away: after they are faln away, the ulcer that remaineth must be cured as other ulcers are. If thereby any super∣fluous flesh remain, it must be taken away by applying Aegyptiacum, or the powder of Mercu∣ry, and such like: but if it be doubted that it commeth from the root of the tumor that may hap∣ly remain, it must be burned away by the root with oyl of vitriol or aqua fortis.

There is also another kinde or sort of spots, of a livid or violet-colour, comming especially in the face about the lips, with a soft, slack, lax, thin, and unpainful tumor, and the veins as if they were varicous round about it. This kinde of tumor groweth greater when it ariseth on children that are wayward and crying, and in men of riper years that are cholerick and angry, and then it will be of a diverse colour, like unto a lapper or flap of flesh that hangeth over the Turky-cocks bill. When they have done crying, or ceased their anger, the tumor wil return to his own natural colour again. But you must not attempt to cure it in people that are of these conditions.

CHAP. XVIII. How to pull away the secundine or after-birth.

I Suppose that they are called secundines, because they do give the woman that is with ch••lde the second time, as it were a second birth: for if there be several children in the womb at once, and of different sexes, they then have every one their several secundines, which thing is very necessary to be known by all Midwives. For they do many times remain behinde in the womb when the childe is born, either by reason of the weakness of the woman in travail, which by contending and labo••ing for the birth of the childe, hath spent all her strength: or else by a tumor rising suddenly in the neck of the womb, by reason of the long and difficult birth, and the cold air unadvisedly permitted to strike into the orifice of the womb. For so the liberties of the waies or passages are stopped and made more narrow, so that nothing can come forth: or else be∣cause they are doubled and folded in the womb, and the waters gon out from them with the in∣fant, so that they remain as it were in a d••ie place: or else because they yet stick in the womb by the knots of the veins and arteries, which commonly happeneth in those that are delivered before their time. For even as apples which are not ripe, cannot be pulled from the tree but by violence: but when they are ripe, they will fall off of their own accord: so the secundine before the natu∣ral time of the birth can hardly be pulled away but by violence; but at the prefixed natural time of the birth it may easily be drawn away.

Many and grievous accidents follow the staying of the secundine; as suffocation of the womb, often swounding, by reason that gross v••po••s arise from the putrefaction unto the midriff, heart and brain, therefore they must be pulled away with speed from the womb, gently handling the navel, if it may be so possibly done But if it cannot be done so, the woman must be placed as she was wont when that the childe will not come forth naturally, but must be drawn forth by art. Therefore the midwife having her hand annointed with oil, must put it gently into the womb, and finding out the navel-string, must follow it until it come unto the secundine, and if it do as yet cleave to the womb by the Cotyledons, she must shake and move it gently up and down, that so when it is shaken and loosed, she may draw it out gently; but if it should be drawn with vio∣lence, it were to be feared lest that the womb should also follow: for by violent attraction some of the vessels, and also some of the nervous ligaments, whereby the womb is fastned on each s••de may be rent, whereof followeth corruption of blood shed out of the vessels, and thence commeth inflammation an abscess or a mortal gangrene. Neither is there less danger of a convulsion by rea∣son of the breaking of the nervous bodies, neither is there any less danger of the falling down of the womb. If that there be any knots or clods of blood remaining together with the secundine, the Midwife must draw them out one by one, so that not any may be left behinde.

Some women have voided their secundine, when it could not be drawn forth by any means, long after the birth of the childe, by the neck of their womb, piece-meal, rotten and corrupted, with many grievous and painful accidents. Also it shall be very requisite to provoke the indeavor of the expulsive faculty by sternutatories, atomatick fomentations of the neck of the womb, by mollifying injections: and contrariwise, by applying such things to the nostrils as yield a rank sa∣vor or smell, with a potion made of mug-wort and bay-berries taken in hony and wire mixed together, or with half a dram of the powder of savin, or with the hair of a womans head, burnt and beaten to powder, and given to drinke; and to conclude, with all things that provoke the terms or courses.

CHAP. XIX. Whht things must be given to the infant by the mouth, before he be permitted to suck the teat or dug.

IT will be very profitable to rub all the inner side of the childes mouth and palat gently with treacle and hony, or the oil of sweet almonds extracted with fire, and if you can, to cause it to swallow some of those things: for thereby much flegmatick moisture will be drawn from the mouth, and also wil be moved or provoked to be vomited up from the stomach; for if these excremental humors shall be mixed with the milk that is sucked, they would corrupt it, and then the vapors that arise from the corrupted milk unto the brain would infer most perni∣cious accidents. And you may know that there are many excremental things in the stomach and guts of children by this, because that so soon as they come into the world, and often before they suck milk or take any other thing, they void downwards many excrements diversly colored, as yellow, green, and black. Therefore many, that they may speedily evacuate the matter that cau∣seth the fretting of the guts, do not only minister those things fore-named, but also some laxative syrup, as that that is made of damask-Roses. But before the infant be put to suck the mother, it is fitting to press some milk out of her brest into its mouth, that so the fibres of the stomach may by little and little accustome themselves to draw in the milk.

CHAP. XX. That mothers ought to nurse or give surk unto their own children.

THat all mothers would nurse their own children were greatly to be wished: for the Mothers milke is far more familiar nourishment for the infant then that of any Nurse: for it is nothing else but the same blood made white in the duggs, wherewith before it was nourished in the womb. For the mother ought not to give the childe suck for the space of a few daies after the birth, but first to expect the perfect expurgation and avoiding of the excre∣mental humors. And in the mean time let her cause her breasts to be sucked of another, or many other children, or of some wholsome or sober maid, whereby the milk may be drawn by little and little unto her breasts, and also by little and little purified.

For a certain space after the birth, the milke will be troub••ed, and the humors of the body mo∣ved: so that by long staying in the duggs, it wil seem to degenerate from its natural goodness as the grossness of it is somewhat congealed, the manifest heat in touching, and the yellow colour thereof testifieth evidently. Therefore it is necessary that others should come in place thereof when it is sucked out, wherewith the infant may be nourished. But if the mother or the Nurse-chance to take any disease, as a Fever, Scouring, or any such like, let her give the childe to ano∣ther to give it suck, lest that the childe chance to take the Nurses diseases. And moreover, mothers ought to nurse their own children, because for the most part they are far more vigilant and care∣ful in bringing up and attend••ng their children then hired and mercenary Nurses, which do not so much regard the infant, as the gain they shall have by the keeping of it, for the most part. Those that do not nurse their own children, cannot rightly be termed mothers: for they do not absolutely performe the duty of a mother unto the childe, as Marcus Aurelius the Roman Emperor was wont to say. For it is a certain unnatural, imperfect and half kinde of mothers dutie, to bear a childe, and presently to abandon or put it away as if it were forsaken: to nourish and feed a thing in their womb (which they neither know not see) with their own blood, and then not to nourish it when they see it in the world a live, a creature or reasonable soul, now requireing the help and sustentation of the mother.

CHAP. XXI. Of the choice of Nurses.

MAny husbands take such pity on their tender wives, that they provide Nurses for their children, that unto the pains that they have sustained in bearing them, they may not also add the trouble of nursing them: wherefore such a Nurse must be chosen which hath had two or three children. For the duggs which have been already sucked and accustomed to be filled, have the veines and arteries more large and capable to receive the more milk. In the choice of a Nurse there is ten things to be considered very diligently, as her age, the habit of her body her behaviour, the condition of her milke, the form not only of her duggs or breasts, but also of her teats or nipples the time of her childe birth, the sex of her last infant or childe, that she be nor with childe, that she be sound and and in perfect health. As concerning her age; she ought not to be under twenty five years, not above thirty five: the time that is between is the time of strength, more temperate, and more wholsome and healthy, and less abounding with ex∣cremental humors. And because her body doth not then grow or increase, she must of necessity have the more abundance of blood. After thi••ty five years in many the menstrual fluxes do cease, and therefore it is to be supposed that they have the less nut••iment for children.

The Nurse must also be of good habit, or square or wel-set body, her breast broad, her colour lively, not fat, nor lean, but well made, her flesh not soft and tender, but thick, and hard or strong, whereby she may be the more able to endure watching and takeing of pains about the childe; she must not have a red or freckled face, but brown or somewhat shadowed, or mixed with redness: for truly such women ar•• more hot then those that are red in the face, by reason whereof they must needs concoct and turn their meat the better into blood. For according to the judgment of Sextus Cheronensis, as blackish or brown ground is more fertil then the white: even so a b••own wo∣man hath more store of milk. You must look wel on her head, lest she should have the scu••f••e or running sores; see that her teeth be not foul or rotten, not her breath stinking, nor no ulcer nor sore about her body, and that she be not born of gouty or leprous Parents.

She ought to be qui••k and diligent in keeping the childe neat and clean, chaste, sober, merry, alwayes laughing and smiling on her Infant, often singing unto it, and speaking distinctly and plain∣ly, for she is the only Mistress to teach the childe to speak. Let her be well-manner'd, because the manners of the nurse are participated unto the Infant together with the milke. For the whelpes of dogs, if they do suck Wolves or Lionesses, will become more fierce and cruel then o∣therwise they would. Contrariwise, the Lions whelps wil leave their savageness and fierceness, if that they be brought up and nourished with the milke of any Bitch, or other tame beast. If a Goat give a Lamb suck, the same Lambs-wool will be more hard then others; contrariwise, if a sheep give a Kid suck, the same Kids hair will be more soft then another Kids-hair. She ought to be sober, and the rather for this cause, because many Nurses being overladen with wine and ban∣queting, often set their children unto their breasts to suck, and then fall asleep, and so suddenly strangle or choak them.

She must abstain from copulation: for copulation troubleth and moveth the humors and the blood, and therefore the milke it self, and it diminisheth the quantity of milk, because it provo∣keth the menstrual flux, and causeth the milke to have a certain strong and virulent quality, such as we may perceive to breath from them that are incensed with the fervent lust and desire of Venery. And moreover, because that thereby they may happen to be with chide, whereof en∣sueth discommodity both to her own childe that is within her body, and also to the Nurse-childe: to the Nurse-childe, because that the milk that it sucketh will be worse and more depraved then otherwise it would be, by reason that the more laudable blood after the conception remaineth about the womb, for the nutriment and increasing of the infant in the womb; and the more im∣pure blood goeth into the dugs, which breedeth impure or uncleane milk: but to the conceived childe▪ because it will cause it to have scarcity of food; for, so much as the sucking-childe sucketh, so much the childe conceived in the womb wanteth.

Also she ought to have a broad breast, and her dugs indifferently big, not slack or hanging, but of a middle consistence, between soft and hard; for such dugs will concoct the blood into milk the better, because that in firm flesh the heat is more strong and compact. You may by touching trie whether the flesh be solid and firm, as also by the dispersing of the veines, easily to be seen by reason of their swelling and blewness, through the dugs, as it were into many streames or little rivulets; for in flesh that is loose and slack, they lie hidden. Those dugs that are of a competent big∣ness, receive or contain no more milk then is sufficient to novrish the infant. In those dugs that are great and hard, the milke is as it were suffocated, stopped or bound in, so that the childe in in sucking can scarce draw it out, and moreover, if the dugs be hard, the childe putting his mouth to the breast, may strike his nose against it, and so hurt it, whereby he may eirher refuse to suck, or if he doth proceed to suck, by continual sucking, and placeing of his nose on the hard breast, it may become flat, and the nostrils turned upwards, to his great deformity, when he shall come to age. If the teats or nipples of the dugs do stand somewhat low or depressed inwards on the tops of the dugs, the childe can hardly take them between its lips, therefore his sucking will be very laborious. If the nipples or teats be very big, they will so fill all his mouth, that he cannot well use his tongue in sucking or in swallowing the milke.

We may judg of or know the nature and condition of milk, by the quantity, quality, colour, savor and taste; when the quantity of the milk is so little, that it wil not suffice to nourish the in∣fant, it cannot be good and laudable; for it a••gueth some distemperature either of the whole bo∣dy, or at least of the dugs, especially a hot and dry distemperature. But when it superaboundeth, and is more then the infant can spend it exhausteth the juice of the nurses body; and when it cannot all be drawn out by the infant, it clutte••eth, and congealeth or corrupteth in the dugs. Yet I would rather wish it to abound, then to be defective, for the superabounding quantity may be pressed out before the childe be set to the breast.

That milk that is of a mean consistence between thick and thin, is esteemed to be the best, For it betokeneth the strength and vigor of the faculty that ingendreth it in the breasts. There∣fore if one drop of the milk be laid on the nail of ones thumb, being first made very clean and fair, if the thumb be not moved, and it run off the nail, it signifieth that it is watery milk: but if it s••••ck to the nail, although the end of the thumb be bowed downwards, it sheweth that it is too gross and thick: but if it remain on the nail so long as you hold it upright, and fall from it when you hold it a little aside or downwards by little, and little▪ it sheweth it is very good milk. And that which is exquisitely white, is best of all. For the milk is no other thing then blood made white.

Therefore, if it be of any other colour, it argueth a default in the blood: so that if it be brown, it betokeneth melancholick blood; if it be yellow, it signifieth cholerick blood; if it be wan and pale, it betokeneth phlegmatick blood; if it be somewhat red, it argueth the weakness of the faculty that engendreth the milk. It ought to be sweet, fragrant, and pleasant in smell; for if it strike into the nostrils with a certain sharpness, as for the most part the milke of women that have red hair and little freckles on their faces doth, it prognosticates a hot and cholerick nature: if with a certain sowerness, it portendeth a cold and melancholick nature. In taste it ought to be sweet, and as it were sugered; for the bitter, saltish, sharp, and stiptick, is nought. And here I cannot but admire the providence of nature, which hath caused the blood wherewith the childe should be nourished to be turned into milk: which unless it were so, who is he that would not turn his face from, and abhor so grievous and terrible a spectacle of the childes mouth so imbrued and besmeared with blood? what mother or Nurse would not be amazed at every moment with the fear of the blood so often shed out, or sucked by the infant for his nourishment? Moreover, we should want two helps of sustentation, that is to say, Butter and Cheese.

Neither ought the childe to be permitted to suck within five or six daies after it is born, both for the reason before alledged, and also because he hath need of so much time to rest quiet, and ease himself after the pains he hath sustained in his birth: in the mean season the mother must have her breasts drawn by some maid that drinketh no wine, or else she may suck or draw them her self with an artificiall instrument which I will describe hereafter.

That Nurse that hath born a man childe, is to be preferred before another, because her milk is the better concocted, the heat of the male-childe doubling the mothers heat. And moreover, the women that are great with childe of a male-childe, are better colored, and in better strength, and better able to do any thing all the time of their greatness, which proveth the same: and moreover the blood is more laudable, and the milk better. Furthermore, it behoveth the Nurse to be brought on bed, or to travail at her just and prefixed or natural time: for when the childe is born before his time of some inward cause, it argueth that there is some default lurking and hidden in the body and humors thereof.

CHAP. XXII. What diet the Nurse ought to use, and in what situation she ought to place the infant in the Cradle.

BOth in eating, drinking, sleeping, watching, exercising and resting, the Nurses diet must be divers, according as the nature of the childe both in habit and temperature shall be: as for example, if the childe be altogether of a more hot blood, the Nurse both in feeding and ordering herself ought to follow a cooling diet. In general let her eat meats of good juice, mo∣derate in quantity and quality, let her live in a pure and clear air, let her abstain from all spi∣ces, and all salted and spiced meats, and all sharp things, wine, especially that which is not allay∣ed or mixed with water, and carnal copulation with a man; let her avoid all perturbations of the minde, but anger especially; let her use moderate exercise, unless it be the exercise of her armes and upper parts, rather then the leggs and lower parts, whereby the greater attraction of the blood, that must be turned into milk, may be made towards the dugs. Let her place her childe so in the Cradle that his head may be higher then all the body, that so the excremental humors may be the better sent from the brain unto the passages that are beneath it. Let her swathe it so as the neck and all the back-bone may be strait and equal. As long as the childe sucketh, and is not fed with stronger meat, it is better to lay him alway on his back, then any other way, for the back is as it were the keel in a ship, the ground-work and foundation of all the whole body, whereon the infant may safely and easily rest. But if he lie o•• the side, it were danger left that the bones of the ribs being soft and tender, not strong enough, and united with stack bands, should bow under the weight of the rest, and so wax crooked, whereby the infant might become crook-backed. But when he beginneth to breed teeth, and to be fed with more strong meat, and also the bones and connexions of them begin to wax more firm and hard, he must be laved one while on this side, another while on that, and now and then also on his back. And the more he grow∣eth, the more let him be accustomed to lye on his sides; and as he lyeth in the Cradle, let him be turned unto that place whereat the light commeth in, lest that otherwise he may be come pur-blinde, for the eye of its own nature is bright and light-some, and therefore alwayes desireth the light, and abhorreth darkness; for all things are most delighted with their like, and shun their contraries. Therefore unless the light comes directly into the childes face, he turneth himself every way being very sorrowful, and striveth to turn his head and eyes that he may have the light; and that often turning and rowling of his eyes at length groweth into a custome that cannot be left: and so it commeth to pass that the infant doth either become pur-blinde, if he set his eyes stedfastly on one thing, or else his eyes do become trembling, alwayes turning and unstable, if he cast his eyes on many things that are round about him: which is the reason that Nurses, being taught by experience, cause over the head of the childe lying in the Cadle, an arch or vault of Wickers covered with cloth to be made, thereby to restrain, direct, and establish the uncertain and wandering motions of the childes eyes.

If the Nurse be squint-eyed, she cannot look upon the childe but side-wayes, whereof it com∣eth to pass that the childe being moist, tender, flexible, and prone to any thing with his body, and

so likewise with his eye, by a long and daily custom unto his Nurses sight, doth soon take the like custom to look after that sort also, which afterwards he cannot leave or alter. For those evill things that we learn in our youth, do stick firmly by us; but the good qualities are easily chan∣ged into wo••se. In the eyes of those that are squint-eyed, those two muscles which do draw the eyes to the greater or lesser corner, are chiefly or more frequently moved. Therefore either of these being confirmed in their turning aside by long use, as the exercise of their proper office in∣creaseth the strength, soon overcomes the contrary or withstanding muscles, called the Antago∣nists, and brings them into their subjection, so that, will they, ••ill they, they bring the eye un∣to this o•• that ••orner as they hit. So children become left-handed, when they permit their right hand to languish with idleness and sluggishness, and strengthen their left hand with continual use and motion to do every action therewithal, and so bring by the exercise thereof more nutriment unto that part. But if men (as some affirm) being of ripe years, and in their full growth, by daily society and company of those that are lame and halt do also halt, not minding so to do, but it commeth against their wills, and when they think nothing thereof, why should not the like happen in children, whose soft and tender substance is as flexible and pliant as wax unto e∣very impression? Moreover, children, as they become lame and crook-backt, so do they also be∣come squint-eyed by the hereditary default of their parents.

CHAP. XXIII. How to make pap for Children.

PAp is a most meet food or meat for children; because they require moist nourishment, and it must be an••werable in thickness to the milk, that so it may not be difficult to be concocted or digested. For pap hath these three conditions, ••o that it be made with wheaten flower, and that not crude, but boiled: let it be put into a new earthen pot or pipkin, and so ••et into an oven at the time when bread is set thereinto to be baked; and let it remain there untill the bread be baked and drawn out: for when it is so baked, it is less clammy and crude. Those that mix the meal crude with the milk, are constrained to abide one of these discommo∣dities or other, either to give the meal gross and clammy unto the childe, if that the pap be on∣ly first boiled over the fire in a pipkin or skellet, so long as shall be necessary for the milk; hence come obstructions in the mesaraick veins, and in the small veins of the liver, fretting and worms in the guts, and the stone in the reins. Or else they give the child the milk, dispoyled of its but∣terish and whayish portion, and the te••restrial, and chees-like, or curd-like remaining, if the pap be boiled so long as is necessary for the meal: for the milk requireth not so great, neither can it suffer so long boiling as the meal. Those that do use crude meal, and have no hurt by it, are greatly bound to nature for so great a benefit. But Galen willeth children to be nourished only with the Nurses milk, so long as the Nurse hath enough to nourish and feed it. And truly there are many children that are contented with milk only, and will receive no pap untill they are three months old. If the child at any time be costive, and cannot void the excrements, let him have a cataplasm made with one dram of Aloes, of white and black Hellebore, of each fifteen grains, being all incorporated in as much of an Ox gall as is sufficient, and extended or spread on Cotton like unto a pultis, as broad as the palm of ones hand, and so apply it upon the navel warm: Moreover, this cataplasm hath also virtue to kill the worms in the belly. Many times children have fretting of the guts, that maketh them to cry, which commeth of erudity. This must be cured by applying unto the belly sweaty or moist wooll, macerated in oil of Camomil.

If when the childe's teeth begin to grow, he chance to bite the nipple of the Nurse's breast, there will be an ulcer very contumacious and hard to be cured; because that the sucking of the childe, and the rubbing of the clothes do keep it alwaies raw; it must be cured with fomenting it with Alum-water, and then presently after the fomentation putting thereupon a cover of lead, made like unto a hat, as they are here described, with many holes in the top, whereat both the milk, and also the sanious matter that commeth from the ulcers may go out; for lead it self will cure ulcers.

[illustration]

The figure of leaden Nipples to be put upon the Nipple or Teat of the Nurse, when it is ulcerated.

Children may be caused to cease their crying four manner of waies, that is to say, by giving them the teat, by rocking them in a cradle, by singing unto them, and by changing the clothes and swathes wherein they are wrapped. They must not be rocked too violently in the cradle, lest that the milk that is sucked should be corrupted by the too violent motion, by reason whereof they must not be handled violently any other way, and not altogether prohibited, or not suffe∣red to cry. For by crying the breast and lungs are dilated, and made bigger and wider; the natu∣ral parts the stronger, and the brain, nostrills, the eyes and mouth are purged, by the tears and filth that come from the eyes and nostrils. But they must not be permitted to cry long or fiercely, for fear of breaking the production of the Peritenaeum, and thereby causing the falling down of the guts into the cod, which rupture is called of the Greeks Enterocele; or of the caul, which the Greeks call Epiplocele.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the weaning of Children.

MAny are weaned in the eighteenth month, some in the twentieth; but all, or the most part, in the second year: for then their teeth appear, by whose presence nature see∣meth to require some harder meat then milk or pap, wherewith children are delight∣ed, and will feed more earnestly thereon. But there is no certain time of weaning of children. For the teeth of some will appear sooner, and some later; for they are prepared of nature for no other purpose then to chaw the meat. If children be weaned before their teeth appear, and be fed with meat that is somewhat hard and solid, according to the judgment of Avicen, they are incident to many diseases comming through crudity; because the stomach is yet but weak, and wanteth that preparation of the meats which is made in the mouth by chawing; which men of ripe years cannot want without offence: when the child is two years old, and the teeth appear, if the child more vehemently desire harder meats, and doth feed on them with pleasure and good success, he may be safely weaned; for it cannot be supposed that he hath this appetite of hard meats in vain, by the instinct of nature. Yet he may not be weaned without such an appetite, if all other things be correspondent, that is to say his teeth and age; for those things that are eaten without an appetite, cannot profit. But if the childe be weak, sickly, or feeble, he ought not to be weaned. And when the meet time of weaning commeth, the Nurse must now and then use him to the tear, whereby he may leave it by little and little, and then let the teat be anointed or rubbed with bitter things, as with Aloes, water of the infusion of Colocynthus, or Worm-wood, o•• with Mustard, or Soot steeped in water, or such like. Children that are scabby in their heads, and over all their bodies, and which void much phlegm at their mouth and nostrils, and many excrements downwards, are like to be strong and sound of body; for so they are purged of ex∣cremental humors: contrariwise, those that are clean and fair of body, gather the matter of many diseases in their bodies, which in process of time will break forth and appear. Certainly, by the sudden falling of such matters into the back-bone, many become crook-backt.

CHAP. XXV. By what sign•• it may be known whether the childe in the womb be dead or alive.

IF neither the Chirurgians hand, nor the mother can perceive the infant to move, if the wa∣ters bestowed out, and the secundine come forth, you may certainly affirm that the infant is dead in the womb, for this is the most infallible sign of all others: for because the childe in the womb doth breath but by the artery of the navel, and the breath is received by the Cotely∣don

of the arteries of the womb, it must of necessity come to pass that when the secundine is se∣parated from the infant, no air nor breath can come unto it. Wherefore so often as the secun∣dine is excluded before the child, you may take it for a certain token of the death thereof: when the childe is dead, it will be more heavy to the mother then it was before when it was alive, be∣cause it is now no more sustained by the spirits and faculties wherewith before it was governed and ruled, for so we see dead men co be heavier then those that are alive, and men that are weak through hunger and famin to be heavier then when they are well refreshed, and also when the mother enclines her body any way, the infant falleth that way also even as it were a stone. The mo∣ther is also vexed with sharp pain from the privities even to the navel, with a perpetual desire of making water, and going to stool, because that nature is wholly busied in the expulsion or avoi∣dance of that which is dead: for that which is alive will expell the dead so far as it can from it self, because the one is altogether different from the other; but likeness, if any thing, conjoins and unites things together: the genitals are cold in touching, and the mother complaineth that shee feeleth a coldness in her womb, by reason that the heat of the infant is extinguished, where∣with before her heat was doubled: many filthy excrements come from her, and also the mothers breath stinketh, she swoundeth often, all which for the most part happen within three daies af∣ter the death of the childe: for the infants body will sooner corrupt in the mothers womb then it would in the open air, because that, according to the judgment of Galen, all hot and moist things, being in like manner enclosed in a hot and moist place, especially if by reason of the thickness or straitness of the place they cannot receive the air, will speedily corrupt. Now by the rising up of such vapors from the dead unto the brain and heart, such accidents may soon fol∣low, her face will be clean altered, seeming livid and ghastly, her dugs fall and hang loose and lank, and her belly will be more hard and swollen then it was before. In all bodies so putrify∣ing, the natural heat vanisheth away, and in place thereof succeedeth a preternatural, by the work∣ing whereof the putrified and dissolved humors are stirred up into vapors, and converted into winde, and those vapors, because they possess and fill more space and room (for Naturalists say that of one part of water ten parts of air are made) do so puff up the putrified body into a greater bigness. You may note the same thing in bodies that are gangrenate, for they cast forth many sharp vapors, yet nevertheless they are swollen and puffed up.

Now so soon as the Chirurgian shall know that the childe is dead by all these fore-named signs, he shall with all diligence endeavor to save the mother so speedily as he can, and if the Physici∣ans cannot prevail with potions, baths, fumigations, sternutatories, vomits, and liniments ap∣pointed to expel the infant, let him prepare himself to the work following, but first let him con∣sider the strength of the woman, for if he perceive that she be weak and feeble by the smalness of her pulse, by her small, seldom and cold breathing, and by the altered and death-like color in her face, by her cold sweats, and by the coldness of the extreme parts, let him abstain from the work, and only affirm that she will die shortly; contrariwise, if her strength be yet good, let him with all confidence and industry deliver her on this wise from the danger of death.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the Chirurgical extractions of the childe from the womb either dead or alive.

THerefore first of all the air of the chamber must be made temperate, and reduced unto a certain mediocrity, so that it may neither be too hot nor too cold. Then she must be aptly placed, that is to say, overthwart the bed-side, with her buttocks somewhat high, having a hard stuffed pillow or boulster under them, so that she may be in a mean figure of situation, neither sitting altogether upright, nor altogether lying along on her back; for so she may rest quietly, and draw her breath with ease, neither shall the ligaments of the womb be ex∣tended so as they would if she lay upright on her back, her heels must be drawn up close to her buttocks, and there bound with broad and soft linnen rowlers. The rowler must first come about her neck, and then cross-wise over her shoulders, and so to the feet, and there it must cross again, and so be rowled about the legs, thighs, and then it must be brought up to the neck again, and there made fast, so that she may not be able to move, her self, even as one should be tied when he is to be cut of the stone. But that she may not be wearied, or lest that her body should yeeld or sink down as the Chirurgian draweth the body of the infant from her, and so hinder the work, let him cause her feet to be set against the side of the bed, and then let some of the strong standers by hold her fast by the legs and shoulders. Then that the air may not enter into the womb, and that the work may be done with the more decency, her privy parts and thighs must be covered with a warm double linnen cloth. Then must the Chirurgian, having his nails closely pared, and his rings (if he wear any) drawn off his fingers, and his arms naked, bare, and well annointed with oil, gent∣ly draw the slaps of the neck of the womb asunder, and then let him put his hand gently into the mouth of the womb, having first made it gentle and slippery with much oil; and when his hand is in, let him finde out the form and situation of the childe, whether it be one or two, or whether it be a Mole or not. And when he findeth that he commeth naturally with his head toward the mouth or orifice of the womb, he must lift him up gently, and so turn him that his feet may come forwards, and when he hath brought his feet forwards, he must draw one of them gently out at the neck of the womb, and then he must bind it with some broad and soft or silken band a little above

the heel with an indifferent flick knot, and when he hath so bound it, he must put it up again into the womb, then he must put his hand in again, and finde out the other foot, and draw it also out of the womb, and when it is out of the womb, let him draw out the other again whereunto he had before tied the one end of the band, and when he hath them both out, let him joyn them both close toge∣ther, and so by little and little let him draw all the whole body from the womb. Also other women or Midwives may help the endeavor of the Chirurgian, by pressing the patients belly with their hands downwards as the infant goeth out: and the woman her self by holding her breath, and closeing her mouth and nostrils, and by driving her breath downwards with great violence, may very much help the expul••ion. I wish him to put back the foot into the womb again after he hath tied it, because if that he should permit it to remain in the neck of the womb, it would hinder the entrance of his hand when he putteth it in to draw out the other. But if there be two children in the womb at once, let the Chirurgian take heed lest that he take not of either of them a leg: for by drawing them so, he shall profit nothing at all, and yet exceedingly hurt the woman. There∣fore that he may not be so deceived, when he hath drawn out one foot and tied it, and put it up a∣gain, let him with his hand follow the band wherewithall the foot is tied, and so go unto the foot, & then to the groin of the childe, and then from thence he may soon finde out the other foot of the same childe: for if it should happen otherwise, he might draw the legs and the thighs out: but it would come no further, neither is it meet that he should come out with his armes along by his sides, or be drawn out on that sort, but one of his armes must be stretched out above his head, and the other down by his side; for otherwise the orifice of the womb when it were delivered of such a gross trunk, as it would be when his body should be drawn out with his arms along by his sides, would so shrink and draw it self when the body should come unto the neck, only by the ac∣cord of nature requiring union, that it would strangle and kill the infant so that it cannot be drawn therehence unless it be with a hook put under, or fastned under his chin, in his mouth, or in the hollowness of his eye. But if the infant lieth as if he would come with his hands forwards, or if his hands be forth already, so that it may seem he may be drawn forth easily that way, yet it must not be so done; for so his head would double backwards over his shoulders, to the great danger of his mother. Once I was called unto the birth of an infant, whom the Midwives had assaied to draw out by the arm, so that the arm had been so long forth that it was gangrenate, whereby the childe died; I told them presently that his arm must be put in again, and he must be turned other∣wise. But when it could not be put back by reason of the great swelling thereof, and also of the mothers genitals, I determined to cut it off with an incision knife, cutting the muscles as near as I could to the shoulder, yet drawing the flesh upwards, that when I had taken oft ••he bone with a pair of cutting pincers, it might come down again to cover the shivered end of the bone, lest other∣wise when it were thrust in again into the womb, it might hurt the mother. Which being done, I turned him with his feet forwards, and drew him out as is before said. But if the tumor either natu∣rally or by some accident, that is to say, by putrefaction, which may perchance come, be so great that he cannot be turned according to the Surgeons intention, nor be drawn out according as he lieth, the tumor must be diminished, and then he must be drawn out as is afore-said, and that must be done at once. As for example, if the dead infant appear at the orifice of the womb, which out Midwives call the Garland, when it gapeth, is open and dilated, but yet his head being more great and puffed up with winde so that it cannot come forth, as caused to be so through that disease which the Greeks call Mucrophisocephalos, the Surgeon must fasten a hook under his chin, or in his mouth, or else in the hole of his eye, or else, which is better and more expedient, in the hinder par of his head. For when the scull is so opened, there will be a passage whereat the winde may pass out, and so when the tumor falleth and decreaseth, let him draw the infant out by little and little; but not rashly, lest he should break that whereon he hath taken hold: the figure of those hooks is thus.

[illustration]

The forme of Hooks for drawing out the infant that is dead in the womb.

But if the breast be troubled with like fault, the hooks must be fastned about the chanel-bone: if there be a Dropsie or Tympany in the belly, the hooks must be fastned either in the short ribs, that is to say, in the muscles that are between the ribs, or especially, if the disease do also de∣scend into the feet, about the bones that are above the groin; or else putting the crooked knife here pictured into the womb with his left hand, let him make incision in the childs belly, and so get out all his entrails by the incision: for when he is so bowelled, all the water that caused the Dropsie will out. But the Surgeon must do none of all these things but when the childe is dead, and the woman that travelleth in such danger that she cannot handsomly be holpen.

But if by any means it happeneth, that all the infants members be cut away by little and lit∣tle, and that the head only remaineth behind in the womb, which I have sometimes against my will, and with great sorrow seen; then the left hand, being annointed with oil of Lillies, or fresh Butter, must be put into the womb, wherewith the Surgeon must find out the mouth, put∣ting his finger into it; then with his right hand he must put up the hook (according to the di∣rection of the left hand) gently, and by little and little, and so fasten it in the mouth, eie, or un∣der the chin; and when he hath firmly fixed or fastened it, he must therewith draw out the head by little and little, for fear of loosning or breaking the part whereon he hath hold. In stead of this Hook, you may use the Instruments that are here described, which therefore I have taken out of the Surgery of Frances Dalechamps; for they are so made, that they may easily take hold of a spherical and round body with the branches, as with fingers.

[illustration]

Gryphon's Talons, that is to say, Instruments made to draw cut the head of a dead infant that is separated in the womb from the rest of the body.

But it is not very easie to take hold on the head when it remaineth alone in the womb, by rea∣son of the roundness thereof, for it will slip and slide up and down, unless the belly be pressed down, and on both sides, thereby to hold it unto the instrument, that it may with more facili∣ty take hold thereon.

CHAP. XXVII. What must be done unto the woman in travail presently after her deliverance.

THere is nothing so great an enemy to a woman in travail, especially to her whose childe is drawn away by violence, as cold: wherefore with all care and diligence she must be kept and defended from cold. For after the birth, her body being void and empty, doth easily receive the air that will enter into every thing that is empty, and hence she waxeth cold, her womb is distended and puffed up, and the orifice, or the vessels thereof are shut and closed, whereof commeth suppression of the after-birth, or other after-purgations. And thereof commeth many grievous accidents, as hysterical suffocation, painful fretting of the guts, fevers, and other mortall disease.

What woman soever will avoid that discommodity, let her hold her legs or thighs across▪ for in so doing, those parts that were separated will be joined and close together again. Let her bel∣ly be also bound or rowled with a ligature of an indifferent bredth and length, which may keep the cold air from the womb, and also press the blood out that is contained in all the substance thereof. Then give her some Capon-broth or Caudle, with Saffron, or with the powder called Pul∣vis ducis, or else bread toasted and dipped in wine wherein spice is brewed, for to restore her strenght and to keep a way the fretting of the guts. When the secundine is drawn out, and is yet hot from the womb, it must be laid warm unto the region of the womb, especially in the winter, but in the

Summer the hot skin of a weather newly killed must be laied unto the whole belly, and unto the region of the loins. But then the curtains must be kept drawn, and all the windows and doors of the chamber must be kept shut with all diligence, that no cold air may come unto the woman that travaileth, but that she may lie and take her rest quietly. The Weathers skin must be taken away after that it hath lien five or six hours, and then all the region of her belly must be annoin∣ted with the ointment following,

℞. spermatis Ceti, ℥ii olei amygdal dulcium & hypericon. an. ℥ i ss sevi hircini, ℥i. olei myrtillor. ℥i. cerae novae quantum sufficit; make thereof an ointment, wherewith ••et her be annointed twice in the day: let a pli sier of Galbanum be applied to the navel, in the midst whereof put some few grains of Civer or Musk, so that the smell of the plaister may not strike up into her nostrils. Then let this medicine following be applied, commonly called Tela Gualterin. ℞. cerae novae, ℥ iv. sper∣••atis Ceti, ℥ i ss. terebinth Ʋenetae in aqua rosacea lotae, ℥ ii. clei amygdal. dulcium & hypericonic. an. ℥i. slei mastich. & myrtini an. ℥ ss. axungiae cervi, ℥i ss. melt them altogether, and when they are melted, take it from the fi••e, and then dip a linnen cloth therein, as big as may serve to fit the region of the belly, whereunto it is to be applied. These remedies will keep the external region of the belly from wrinkling.

But of all other, the medicine following excelleth. ℞. limacum r••b lb. i. florum anthos quart. iV. let them be cut all in small pieces, and put into an earthen pot well nea••ed with lead, and close stopped, then let it be set in the dung of horses for the space of forty daies, and then be pressed or strained, and let the liquor that is straired out be kept in a glass well covered, and set in the Sun for the space of three or four daies, and therewith annoint the belly of the woman that lieth in childe-bed. If she be greatly tormented with throws, let the powder following be given unto her. ℞ anisi conditi ʒiii. nucis moschat. cornu cervi ust. an ʒi. ss. nucleorum dactillor. ʒiii. ligni aloes & cinnamoni, an. ʒii. make thereof a most subtill powder, let her take ʒi. thereof at once with white wine warm. Or, ℞. rad consolidae major. ʒ i ss. nucleorum persicorum, nucis mos∣••hat. au•• ℈ii. carab. ℈ss. ambrae graecae gra. iv. make thereof a powder, let her take one dram thereof at a time with white wine, or if she have a fever, with the broth of a C••pon. Let there be hot bags applied to the genitals, belly and reins; these bags must be made of millet and oats fryed in a frying-pan with a little white wine.

But if through the violence of the extraction the genital parts be torn, as antient writers affirm it hath come to pass, so that the two holes, as the two holes of the privy-parts and of the funda∣ment have been torn into one, then that which is rent must be stitched up, and the wound cured according to a••t. Which is a most unfortunate chance for the mother af erwards, for when she shall travail again, she cannot have her genital parts to extend and draw themselves in again by reason of the s••ar. So that then it will be needful that the Chirurgian shall again open the place that was cicatrized, for otherwise she shall never be delivered, although she strive and contend ne∣ver so much. I have done the like cure in two women that dwelt in Paris.

CHAP. XXVIII. What cure must be used to the Dugs and Teats of those that are brought to bed.

IF great store and abundance of milk be in the breast, and the woman be not willing to nurse her own childe, they must be annointed with the unguent following, to repel the milk, and cause it to be expelled through the womb. ℞. olei. ros. myrtini an. ℥ iii. aceti rosat. ℥ i. in∣corporate them together, and therewith annointing besprinkle them with the powder of Myr∣tils, and then apply the plaister following. ℞. pulv. mastichini, nucis moschat. an. ʒii. nucis cupres∣si ʒiii. balaust myrtil. an. ʒ i ss. Irees-florent. ℥ ss. olei myrtini ℥ iii. terebinth. Ʋenetae ℥ii. cerae nov••e quantum sufficit, make thereof a soft plaister.

The leavs of brook-lime, cresses and box boiled together in urine and vinegar, are thought a present remedy for this purpose, that is to say, to draw the milk from the breasts. And others take the clay that falleth down into the bottom of the trough wherein the grindestone, whereon swords are grownd, turneth, and mix it with oil of roses, and apply it warm unto the dugs, which in short space, as it is thought, will asswage the pain, stay the inflammation, and drive the milk out of the dugs. The decoction of ground-Ivy, Peruwinkle, Sage, red Roses, and Roach Alum being prepared in oxycrate, and used in the form of a fomentation, is thought to perform the like effect: the like virtue have the lees of red wine, applied to the dugs with vinegar, or the di∣stilled water of unripe Pine-apples applied to the breasts with linnen cloaths wet therein, or hem∣lock beaten and applied with the young and tender leavs of a gourd.

This medicine following is approved by use: Take the leaves of Sage, Smallage, Rue, and Chervil, and cut or chop them very small, and incorporate them in vinegar and oil of Roses, and so apply it warm to the breast, and renew it thrice a day. In the mean time let Cupping-glasses be applied to the inner-side of the thigh and groin, and also above the navel; For this is very ef∣fectual to draw the milk out of the breasts into the womb by the veins whereby the womb com∣municateth with the breasts. Moreover, they may let children or little whelps suck their breasts, whereby they may draw out the milk that is fixed fast in their dugs in stead whereof we have in∣vented this instrument of glass, wherewith, when the broader orifice is fastned or placed on the breast or dug, and the pipe turned upwards-towards her mouth, she may suck her own breasts her self.

[illustration]

The form of a little glass, which being put on the nipple, the woman may suck her own breasts.

Instead of this instrument, a viol of glass being first made warm, and the mouth thereof ap∣plied to the nipple or teat, by reason of the heat and wideness thereof will draw the milk forth into the bottom thereof, as it were by a certain sucking. The after-purgations being first evacu∣ated, which is done for the most part within twenty dales after the birth, if the woman be not in danger of a fever, nor have any other accident, let her enter into a bath, made of marjerom, mint, sage, rosemary, mugwort, agrimony, penniroyal, the flowrs of camomil, melilote, dill, being boiled in most pure and clear running water, All the day following let another such like bath be prepared, whereunto let these things following be added. ℞. farin. fabarum & aven. an. lb iii. farin. orobi, lupinor. & gland. an. lb i. aluminis r••ch. ℥iv. salis com. lb ii. gallarum, nucum cu∣pressi••. an ℥iii. rosar. rub. m. vi. caryophyl. nucum moschat. an. ʒiii. boil them all in common water, then sew them all in a clean linnen cloth, as is were in a bag, and cast them therein into the bath wherein Iron red hot hath been extinguished, and let the woman that hath lately travailed sit down therein so long as she pleaseth, and when she commeth out, let her be laid warm in bed and let her take some preserved Orange-pill, or bread toasted and dipped in Hippocras, or in wine brewed with spices, and then let her sweat, if the sweat will come forth of its own accord.

On the next day let astringent fomentations be applied to the genitals on this wise prepared. ℞. gallar. nucum cupressi, corticum granat. an. ℥i. rosar. rub. m. i. thymi, majotan. an. m. ss. alaminis rochae, salis com. an. ʒii. boil them all together in red wine, and make thereof a decoction for a fomentation, for the fore-named use. The distilled liquor following is very excellent and effec∣tual to confirm and to draw in the dugs, or any other loose parts. ℞. caryophil. nucis moschat. nu∣cum cupressi an. ℥iss. mastich. ℥ii. alumin. rech. ℥iss. glandium & corticis querni. an. lb ss. rosar. rubr. m. i. cort. granat. ℥ii. terrae sigillat. ℥i. cornn cervi usti ℥ ss. myrtillor. sanguinis dracon. an. ℥i. boli a∣mini. ℥ii. ireos florent. ℥i. sumach. berber. Hippuris, an. m. ss. conquassentur omnia, & macerentur spa∣tio duorum dierum in lb. F. aquae rosarum lb.ii. prunorum syvestr. mespilerum, pomorum quernorum, & lb. ss. aquae fabrorum, aceti denique fortiss. ℥iv. afterward distill it over a gentle fire, and keep the di∣stilled liquor for your use, wherewith let the parts be fomented twice in a day. And after the fo∣mentation, let wollen cloaths or stupes of linnen cloth be dipped in the liquor, and then pressed out and laid to the place. When all these things are done and past, the woman may again keep company with her husband.

CHAP. XXIX. What the causes of difficult and painful travail in childe-birth are.

THe fault dependeth sometimes on the mother, and sometimes on the infant or child with∣in the womb. On the mother, if she be more fat, if she be given to gormanoize or great eating, if she be too lean or young, as Savanarola thinketh her to be, that is great with childe at nine years of age, or unexpert, or more old, or weaker then she should be either by nature or by some accident: as by diseases that she hath had a little before the time of childe-birth, or with a great flux of blood. But those that fall in travail before the full and prefix∣ed time are very difficult to deliver, because the fruit is yet unripe, and not ready or easie to be delivered. If the neck or orifice of the womb be narrow, either from the first conformation, or af∣terwards by some chance as by an ulcer cicatrized: or more hard and callous, by reason that it hath been torn before at the birth of some other childe, and so cicatrized again, so that if the cicatri∣zed place be not cut even in the moment of the deliverance, both the childe and the mother will be in danger of death; also the rude handling of the midwife may hinder the free deliverance of the childe. Oftentimes women are letted in travail by shamefac'tness, by reason of the presence of some man, or hate to some woman there present.

If the secundine be pulled away sooner then it is necessary, it may cause a great flux of blood to fill the womb, so that then it cannot perform his exclusive faculty, no otherwise then the blad∣der when it is distended by reason of over-abundance of water that is therein, cannot cast it forth, so that there is a stoppage of the urine. But the womb is much rather hindred, or the faculty of childe-birth is stopped or delayed, if together with the stopping of the secundine, there be either a Mole or some other body contrary to nature in the womb. In the secundines of two women whom I delivered of two children that were dead in their bodies, I found a great quantity of sird

like unto that which is found about the banks of rivers, so that the gravel or sand that was in each secundine was a full pound in weight.

Also the infant may be the occasion of difficult childe-birth, as, if too big, if it come over∣thwart, if it come with its face upwards, and its buttocks forwards, if it come with its feet and hands both forwards at once, it it be dead and swoun by reason of corruption, if it be monstrous, if it have two bodies or two heads, if it be manifold or seven-fold, as Allucrasis affirmeth he hath seen, if there be a mole annexed thereto, if it be very weak, if when the waters are stowed out, it doth not move nor stir, or offer its self to come forth. Yet notwithstanding, it happeneth sometimes that the fault is neither in the mother nor the childe, but in the air, which being cold, doth so binde, congeal and make stiff the genital parts, that they cannot be relaxed: or, being contrariwise too hot, it weakneth the woman that is in travail, by reason that it wasteth the spirits, wherein all the strength consisteth: or in the ignorant or unexpert midwife, who cannot artificially rule and govern the endeavors of the woman in travail.

The birth is wont to be easie, if it be in the due and prefixed natural time, if the childe offer himself lustily to come forth with his head forwards presently after the waters are come forth, and the mother in like manner lu••ty and strong: those which are wont to be troubled with very difficult childe-birth, ought a little before the time of the birth, to go into an half-tub filled with the decoction of mollifying roots and seeds, to have their genitals, womb and neck thereof to be annointed with much oyl, and the in testines that are full and loaded must be underburthened of the excrements, and then the expulsive faculty provoked with a sharp glyster, and the tumors and swelling of the birth concurring therewith, the more easie exclusion may be made. But I like it rather better, that the woman in travail should be placed in a chair that hath the back thereof leaning back-wards, then in her bed, but the chair must have a hole in the bottom, whereby the bones that must be dilated in the birth, may have more freedome to close themselves again.

CHAP. XXX The cause of Abortion or untimely birth.

ABortion or untimely birth is one thing, and effluxion another. They call Abbortion the sudden exclusion of the childe already formed and alive, before the perfect maturity thereof. But that is called effluxion, which is the falling down of seeds mixed together and coagulated but for the space of a few dayes; only in the formes of membrane or tunicles, congealed blood and of an unshapen or deformed piece of flesh; the Midwives of our country call it a false branch or bud. This effluxion is the cause of great pain and most bitter and cruel torment to the woman: leaving behinde it weakness of body far greater then if the childe were born at the due time. The causes of abortion or untimely birth, whereof the childe as called an abortive, are many, as a greatscouring, a strangury joined with heat and inflammation, sharp fiet∣ting of the guts, a great and continual cough, exceeding vomiting, vehement Labour in running, leaping, and dancing, and by a great fall from an high, carrying of a great burthen, riding on a trotting-horse, or in a Coach, by vehement, often and ardent copulation with men, or by a great blow or stroke on the belly. For all these and such like vehement and inordinate motions dissolve the ligaments of the womb, and so cause abortion and untimely birth.

Also whatsoever presseth or girdeth in the mothers belly, and therewith also the womb that is within it, as are those Ivory or Whale-bone buskes, which women wear on their bodies, thereby to keep down their belsies; by these and such like things the childe is letted or hindred from growing to his full strength, so that by expression, or as it were by compulsion, he is often forced to come forth before the legitimate and lawful time. Thundering, the noise of the shooting of great Ordnance, the sound, and vehement noise of the ringing of Bells constrain women to fall in travel before their time, especially women that are young, whose bodies are soft, slack and tender, then those that be of riper years. Long and great fasting, a great flux of blood, especially when the infant is grown somewhat great: but if it be but two moneths old, the danger is not so great, bacause then he needeth not so great quantity of nourishment; also a long disease of the mother, which consumeth the blood, causeth the childe to come forth being destitute of store of nourish∣ment before the fit time. Moreover, fulness, by reason of the eating great store or meats, often maketh or causeth untimely birth; because it depraveth the strength, and presseth down the childe; as likewise the use of meats that are of an evil juice, which they lust or long for. But baths because they relax the ligaments of the womb, and hot houses, for that the fervent and choaking air is received into the body, provoke the infait to strive to go forth to take the cold air, and so cause abortion.

What women soever, being indifferently well in their bodies, travail in the second or third moneth without any manifest cause, those have the Cotylidones of their womb full of filth and matter, and cannot hold up the infant, by reason of the weight thereof, but are broken; Moreover sudden or continual petrurbations of the minde, whether they be through anger or fear, may cause women to travail before their time, and are accounted to the causes of abortions, for that they cause great and vehement trouble in the body. Those women that are like to travail before their time, their dugs will wax little: therefore when a woman is a great with childe, if her dugs suddenly was small and slender it is a sign that she will travail before her time; the cause of such shrinking of the dags is, that the matter of the milke is drawn back into the womb, by reason that the infant

wanteth nourishment to nourish and succor it withall. Which scarcity the infant not long abi∣ding, striveth to go forth to seek that abroad which he cannot have within; for among the causes which do make the infant to come out of the womb, those are most usually named with Hippocra∣tes, the necessity of a more large nutriment and air.

Therefore if a woman that is with childe have one of her dugs small, if she have two children, she is like to travail of one of them before the full and perfect time: so that if the right dug be small, it is a man-childe, but if it be the left dug, it is a female. Women are in far more pain when they bring forth their children before the time, then if it were at the full and due time; because that whatsoever is contrary to nature, is troublesome, painfull, and also oftentimes dangerous. If there be any error committed at the first time of childe-birth, it is commonly seen that it happeneth alwaies after at each time of childe-birth. Therefore, to finde out the causes of that error, you must take the counscel of some Physician, and after his counscel endeavor to amend the same. Truly this plaister following being applyed to the reines doth confirm the womb, and stay the infant there••n. ℞ ladani ʒii. galang. ℥i. nucis moschat. nucis cupressi, boli armeni, terrae figil. sanguin. dracon. balaust. an. ʒ ss. acatia, psidiorum, hyp••cistid. an. ℥i. mastich. myrrhae, an. ʒii. gummi arabic. ʒi. tereb••nthi Venet. ʒii. picis naval. ℥i. ss, cerae quantum sufficit, fiat emplast. secundum artem. spread it for your use upon leather. If the part begin to itch, let the plaister be taken away and in stead thereof use unguent. rosat. or refrig. Galen. or this that followeth. ℞. ••lei myrtini, mastich. cy∣d••nior. an. ℥i. hypo. boli armen. sang. dracon. acatiae, an. ʒi. sant. citrini, ℥ ss. cerae quant. suf. make thereof an ointment according unto art. There are women that bear the childe in their womb ten or eleven whole moneths, and such children have their conformation of much quantity of seed: wherefore they will be more big, great and strong, and therefore they require more time to come to their perfection and maturity; for those fruits that are great will not be so soon ripe as those that are small. But children that are small and little of body, do often come to their perfection and ma∣turity in seven or nine moneths: if all other things are correspondent in greatness and bigness of body, it happeneth for the most part that the woman with childe is not delivered before the ninth moneth be done, or at the leastwise in the same moneth. But a male childe will be commonly born at the beginn••ng or a little before the begining of the same moneth, by reason of his engraf∣ted heat which causeth maturity and ripeness. Furthermore, the infant is sooner come to matu∣rity and perfection in a hot woman then in a cold, for it is the property of heat to ripen.

CHAP. XXXI. How to preserve the infant in the womb, when the mother is dead.

IF all the signes of death appear in the woman that lieth in travel, and cannot be delivered, there must then be a Surgeon ready and at hand, which may open her body so soon as she is dead, whereby the infant may be preserved in safety; neither can it be supposed sufficient if the mothers mouth and privie parts be held open; for the infant being inclosed in his mothers womb, and compassed with the membranes, cannot take his breath but by contractions and di∣latations of the artery of the navel. But when the mother is dead, the lungs do not execute their office & function: therefore they cannot gather in the air that compasseth the body by the mouth or aspera arteria into their own substance, or into the arteries that are dispersed throughout the body thereof, by reason whereof it cannot send it unto the heart by the veiny artery which is call∣ed arteria venalis: for if the heart want air, there cannot be any in the great artery which is called arteria aorta, whose function it is to draw it from the heart; as also by reason thereof it is wanting in the arteries of the womb, which are as it were the little conduits of the great artery, whereinto the air that is brought from the heart is derived, and floweth in unto these little ones of all the body, and likewise of the womb. Wherefore it must of necessity follow that the air is wanting to the cotyledons of the secundines, to the artery of the infants navel, the iliack arteries also, and therefore unto his heart, and so unto his body: for the air being drawn by the mothers lungs, is accustomed to come to the infant by this continuation of passages. Therefore because death ma∣keth all the motions of the mothers body to cease, it is far better to open her body so soon as she is dead, beginning the incision at the cartilage, Xiphoides, or blade, and making it in a form se∣micircular, cutting the skin, muscles and peritonaeum, not touching the guts: then the womb being lifted up, must first be cut, lest that otherwise he infant might perchance be touched or hurt with the knife.

You shall oftentimes finde the childe unmoveable, as though he were dead; but not because he is dead indeed, but by reason that he, being destitute of the accesse of the spirits by the death of the mother, hath contracted a great weakness: yet you may know whether he be dead indeed or not, by handling the artery of the navel; for it will beat and pant if he be alive, otherwise not; but if there be any life yet remaining in him, shortly after he hath taken in the air, and is recre∣ated with the access thereof he will move all his members, and also all his whole body. In so great a weakness or debility of the strength of the childe, by cutting the navel string, it must rather be laid close to the region of the belly thereof, that thereby the heat (if there be any jot remai∣ning) may be stirred up again. But I cannot sufficiently marvel at the insolency of those that affirm that they have seen women whose bellies and womb have been more then once cut, and the infant taken out, when it could no otherwise be gotten forth, and yet notwithstanding

alive; which thing there is no man can perswade me can be done without the death of the mo∣ther, by reason of the necessary greatness of the wound that must be made in the muscles of the belly, and substance of the womb; for the womb of a woman that is great with childe, by reason that it swelleth, and is distended with much blood, must needs yield a gread flux of blood, which of necessity must be mortal. And to conclude, when that the wound or incision of the womb is cicatrized, it will not pe••mit or suffer the womb to be dilated or extended to receive or bear a new birth. For these and such like other causes, this kinde of cure, as desperate and dangerous, is not (in mine opinion) to be used.

CHAP. XXXII. Of superfetation.

SUperfetation is when a woman doth bear two or more children at one time in her womb▪ and they be enclosed each in his several secundine: but those that are included in the same secundine, are supposed to be conceived at one and the same time of copulation, by reason of the great and copious abundance of seed, and these have no number of daies be∣tween their conception and birth, but all at once. For as presently after meat the stomach which is naturally of a good temper, is contracted or drawn together about the meat, to com∣prehend it on every side, though small in quantity, as it were by both hands, so that it cannot rowl neither unto this or that side; so the womb is drawn together into the conception about the seeds, assoon as they are brought into the capacity thereof, and is so drawn in unto it on eve∣ry side, that it may come together into one body, not permitting any portion thereof to go in∣to any other region or side, so that by one time of copulation the seed that is mixed together, cannot engender more children then one, which are divided by their secundines. And more∣over, because there are no such cells in the wombs of women, as are supposed, or rather known to be in the wombs of beasts, which therefore b••ing forth many at one con••eption or birth. But now if any part of the womans womb doth not apply and adjoin it self closely to the concep∣tion of the seed already received, lest any thing should be given by nature for no purpose, it must of necessity follow that it must be filled with air, which will alter and corrupt the seeds; therefore the generation of more then one infant at a time, having every one his several secun∣dine, is on this wise. If a woman conceive by copulation with a man as this day, and if that for a few daies after the conception, the orifice of the womb be not exactly shut, but rather gape a little, and if she do then use copulation again, so that at both these times of copulation there may be an effusion or perfect mixture of the fertile seed in the womb, there will follow a new conception or superfetation. For superfetation is no other then a certa n second conception, when the woman already with childe, again useth copulation with a man, and so conceiveth a∣gain▪ according to the judgment of Hippocrates. But there may be many causes alledged why the womb which did join and close doth open and unloose it self again. For there be some that suppose the womb to be open at certain times after the conception, that there may be an issue out for certain excremental matters that are contained therein, and therefore that the woman that hath so conceiued already, and shall then use copulation with a man again, shall also con∣ceive again.

Others say that the womb of it self, and of its own nature is very desirous of seed or copula∣tion, or else being heated or inflamed with the pleasant motion of the man moving her thereto, doth at length unclose it self to receive the mans seed: for likewise it happeneth many times that the orifice of the stomach being shut after eating, is presently unloosed again, when other de∣licate meats are offered to be eaten: even so may the womb unclose it self again at certain sea∣sons, whereof come manifold issues, whose time of birth and also of conception are different. For as Pliny wri••eth, when there hath been a little space between two conceptions, they are both hastened, as it appeared in Hercules and his brother Iphicles; and in her which having two children at a birth, brough forth one like unto her husband, and and another like unto the adul∣terer. And also in the Procomesian slave or bond-woman, who, by copulation on the same day, brought one forth like unto her master, and another like unto his steward: and in another who brought forth one at the due time of childe-birth, and another at five moneths end. And again in another, who b••inging forth her burthen on the seventh month, brought forth two more in the moneths following. But this is a most manifest argument of superfetation, that as many children as are in the womb (unless they be twins of the same sex) so many secundines are there, as I have often seen my self. And it is very likely that if they were conceived in the same mo∣ment of time, that they should all be included in one secundine. But when a woman hath more children then two at one burden, it seemeth to be a monstrous thing, because that nature hath gi∣ven her but two breasts. Although we shall hereafter reherse many examples of more nume∣rous births.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the tumor called Mola, or a Mole growing in the womb of Women.

OF the Greek word Myle, which signifieth a Myll-stone, this tumor called Mola hath its name: for it is like unto a Mill-stone both in the round or circular figure, and also in hard consistence, for the which self same reason the whirl-bone of the knee is called of the Latins Mola, and of the Greeks Myle. But the tumor called Mola, whereof we here intreat, is nothing else but a certain false conception of deformed flesh, round and hard, conceived in the womb as it were rude and unperfect, not distinguished into the members, comming by corrupt, weak, and diseased seed, of the immoderate flux of the termes, as it is defined by Hippocrates This is inclosed in no secundine, but as it were in its own skin.

There are some that think the Mola to be engendred of the concourse or mixture of the wo••, mans seed and menstrual blood, without the communication of the mans seed. But the opinion of Galen is, that never any man saw a woman conceive either a Mola, or any other such thing without a copulation of man, as a Hen layeth eggs without a cock: for the only cause and ori∣ginal of that motion is in the mans seed, and the mans seed doth only minister matter for the generation thereof. Of the same opinion is Avicen, who thinketh the Mola, to be made by the confluction of the mans seed that is unfertile, with the womans; when as it, because unfruit∣ful, only puffs up or makes the womans seed to swell as leaven into a greater bigness, but not into any perfect shape or forme. Which is also the opinion of Fernelius, by the decrees of Hippocrates and Avicen: for the immoderate fluxes of the courses are conducing to the generation of the Mola, which overwhelming the mans seed, being now unfruitfull and weak, doth constrain it to de∣sist from its interprise of conformation already begun, as vanquished or wholly overcome: for the generation of the Mola commeth not of a simple heat working upon a clammy and gross hu∣mor, as wormes are generated; but of both the seeds, by the efficacy of a certain spirit, after a sort prolifical, as may be understood by the membranes wherein the Mola is inclosed, by the li∣gaments whereby many times it is fastened or bound to the true conception or childe, engen∣dered or begotten by superfoetation; and finally, by the increase, and great and sluggish weight. If all men were not perswaded that the conflux of a mans seed must of necessity concur to the generation of the Mola, it would be no small cloak or cover to women to avoid the shame and re∣proach of their light behaviour.

CHAP. XXXIV. How to discern a true conception from a false conception or Mola,

WHen the Mola is inclosed in the womb, the same things appear as in the true and law∣ful conception. But the more proper signes of the Mola are these: there is a certain pricking pain, which at the beginning troubleth the belly as if it were the cholick; the belly will swell sooner then it woul if it were the true issue, and will be distended with great har••ness, and is more difficult and troublesome to carry, because it is contrary to nature, and void of soule or life. Presently after the conception the duggs swell and puff up, but shortly they fall and become lank and lax; for nature sendeth milk thither in vain, because there is no issue in the womb that may spend the same. The Mola will move before the third moneth, although it be obscurely, but the true conception will not: but this motion of the Mola is not of the intel∣lectual soul, but of the faculty of the womb, and of the spirit of the seed dispersed through the substance of the Mola; for it is nourished and increaseth after the manner of plants, but not by reason of a soul or spi••i•• sent from above, as the infant doth. Moreover, that motion that the infant hath in its due and appointed time, differeth much from the motion of the Mola; for the childe is moved to the right side, to the left side, and to every side gently, but the Mola, by rea∣son of its heaviness, is fixed, and rowleth in manner of a stone, carried by the weight thereof un∣to what side soever the woman declineth her self. The woman that hath a Mola in her womb, doth daily wax leaner and leaner in all her members, but especially in her leggs, although not∣withstanding towards night they will swel, so that she will be very slow or heavy in going, the natural heat forsaking the parts remote from the heart by little and little: and moreover, her belly swells, by reason that the menstrual matter resteth about those places, and is not consumed in the nourishment of the Mola; she is swolln as if she had the dropsie, but that it is harder, and doth not rise again when it is pressed with the fingers. The navel doth not stand out as it will do when the true issue is contained in the womb, neither do the courses flow as they do som∣times in the true conception; but sometimes great fluxes happen, which ease the weight of the belly. In many when the Mola doth cleave not very fast, it falleth away within three or four moneths, being not as yet come unto its just bigness; and many times it cleaveth to the sides of the womb and Cotyledons very firmly, so that some women carry it in their wombs five or six years, and some as long as they live.

The wife of Cuiliam R••g••r Pewterer, dwelling in St. Victors street, bore a Mola in her womb sev••nteen years, who being of the age of fifty years, died; and I having opened her found the body of her womb to be almost loosed, and not tied or bound by its accustomed ligatures, but as it were hanging only by the neck, and furthermore cleaving to the Kall adjoyning to it, having but only one testicle, and that on the right side, and that somewhat broader and looser then usual:

the horns were not to be seen except it were on that side, the vessels were on the neck only, and there very manifest and puffed up, it was as big as a mans head. When I had taken it out of her body, I brought it home unto my house, that at my leasure I might find out what was contained in it so long; therefore on a certain day, calling together the chief Physicians of Paris, as Massilaeus, Alexis, Vig••r de S. Pont. Feure, Br••v••t, Violais, Grealmus, R••vin, Marescotius, Milotus, Hautin, Riolan, Lusson; and Surgeons, as Brun, Ceinter••l, Guillemeau; all these being present, I opened the womb, and I found it in all the body thereof, and in the proper tunicle, so schirrhous, and so hard, that I could hardly cut or make a knife to enter it: the body thereof was three fingers thick. In the midst of the capacity thereof I found a lump of flesh as big as both my fists, like unto a Cows ud∣der, cleaving to the sides of the womb, but in a certain place, of a very thick, unequal and cloddish substance, with many bodies therein, even as are commonly found in Wens and Gristles, dispersed through it as if it were bones. The judgment of all that were present was, that this great tumor at the first was a Mola, which in process of time degenerated into a schirrous body, together with the proper substance of the womb. Moreover, in the middle of the neck of the womb, we found a tumor as big as a Turkies egg, of substance hard, cartilaginous and bony, filling all the whole neck, but especially the inward orifice of the womb, which the common people of France do call the Garland, so that by that passage nothing could go out, or enter into the womb: all that tumor weighed nine pounds and two ounces, which I, by reason of the novelty of the thing, keep in my closet, and here I have described it.

[illustration]

The external form and description of the fore-named womb.

• A. Sheweth the body of the womb.
• B. The testicle.
• C. The neck of the womb, wherein that little tumor was contained.
• D. Sheweth the end of the neck of the womb that was plucked in sunder, and also the vessels where∣by it drew the nutriment unto it.
• E. Sheweth the band.
• FFF. The vessels dispersed thorow the womb.

[illustration]

The description of the womb being open, and shewing the Mola contained therein.

• A. A. Shew the external and su∣perficial part of the womb.
• B.B.B.B. Shew the thickness of the body, or proper substance of the womb.
• C. Sheweth the Mola.
• D. D. Shew that concavity where∣in the Mola was contained, or inclosed in the womb.

As long as the woman carryed this Mola in her womb, she felt most sharp pain in her belly; the region of her belly was marvellous hard, distended and large, as if it were a woman that had many children at once in her womb; so that many Physicians, when the time of childe-birth was past, supposed that swelling of the belly to come of the Dropsie, and assayed to cure it as they would the Dropsie; but for all the medicines they could use, the belly became never the lesser. Often∣times the urine was stopped for the space of three dayes, and then the making of urine was very painful unto her, and many times also her excrements were stopped for the space of a week, by reason that the guts were pressed by the weight of the Mola. At certain seasons, as every third moneth, there came exceeding great fluxes; the matter thereof could not be carryed through the capacity of the womb, as we said before, because it was exactly shut and stopped, but through the vessels by which Virgins, and also certain other women great with child ev••c••ate their menstrual matter. If the Mola be expelled or cast out in the first or second moneth, as many times it so happe∣neth, it is called of women an unprofitable or false conception. Sometimes there are found in one womb two or three moles separated one from another, and sometimes bound or tyed to the sound and perfect infant: As it happened in the wife of V••ll••riola the Physician, which was delivered of a Mola which she had carryed in her womb twelve moneths, annexed with a child of four months old, which had deprived the Infant of its room and nutriment. For it is alwayes to be certainly supposed, that the Mola, as a cruel beast, by its society, and keeping from its nutriment and place, kils the infant that is joyned unto it.

I remember once I opened the body of a dead woman, which had a Mola in her womb, as big as a Goose-egg, which when nature had assayed by many vain endeavors to cast out, remained not∣withstanding, and at length putrified, and therewith infected the whole womb, whereof she died. There be some which judging themselves great with childe, do about the ninth or tenth moneth expel no other thing but sounding blasts of winde; whereby the womb suddenly falling down, and waxing more slender, they are said in a mockery to have been delivered of a fart. To conclude, whatso••ver resembles being with childe, if it be not excluded at the due and lawful time of child-birth by its own accord, or by the strength of nature, then must it be expelled by art.

CHAP. XXXV. What cure must be used to the Mola.

ALL things that provoke the flowers and secundines, and exclude the Infant, being dead, are to be prescribed, given inwardly, put up, and applyed outwardly, as Trochisces of myrrha, hermodactyls, and such like, first having fomentations that are relaxing and mol∣lifying alwayes applyed to the places. You must use these medicines, and phlebotomy, diet and baths then and so long as it shall seem necessary to the Physician that is present. But if it happens that the Mola is separated or loosed from the womb, and nature cannot expel it when it ••s so loosed, let the Chirurgian place the woman in that situation that we said she was put in, when the child was to be drawn from her. Then opening her genital parts, let him take hold on it by put∣ting an instrument into it, which by reason of the likeness thereof is called a Gryphons Talon; for it cannot be taken hold on otherwise, by reason of the roundness thereof; for it hath no place whereon it be may be taken hold of: therefore when one taketh hold on it with his hand, it cannot be holden fast by reason of the slipperiness thereof, but will run and slip back into the hollowness of the womb, like unto a bowl or ball; but it may be more easily taken hold on with the Gryphons Talon, if the belly be pressed on both sides that it may remain still while the Gry∣phons Talon takes hold on it; for when it hath taken good hold on it, it may be easily drawn out. When the Mola is drawn out, the same cure must be used to the woman, as is used to a woman after that she is delivered of child.

[illustration]

The figure of an Instrument called a Gryphons Talon, to draw ••ut the Mola when it is loose in the womb.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Tumers or swellings happening to the Pancreas or sweet-breads, and the whole M••sentery.

THe tumors of other places and parts in the belly ought diligently to be distinguished from the mola, and other tumors of the womb. For when the tumors arise in the glandula called Pancreas, and in all the whole Mesenterium, many unskilful Chirurgians take them for molas or scirrhous tumors of the womb, and so go erroneously about to cure them, as shall ap∣pear by these histories following.

Isabel Rolans the wife of John Bony dwelling in Paris in the street Moncey near to St. Gervise his Church, being threescore year of age, departed this life in the year of our Lord 1578. on the twenty second day of October: and her body being opened in the presence of Doctor Milot the Physitian, he, when the Mesentery was taken out of the body, caused it to be carryed home to his house, that at his leasure he might find out the cause of this mortal disease, which was al∣waies suspected to be in the Mesenterie. Therefore on a time calling Varadeus, Brove, Chappel, Ma∣riscatius, Arragonius, Baillutius, Riburtias, and Riolan, all Doctors of Physick, and me and Pine∣us Chirurgians, to his house to see the same: Where we found all the Mesenterie and the Pancre∣as in the Mesenterie swoln and puffed up with a marvellous and almost incredible tumor, so that it weighed ten pound and a half, altogether scirrhous on the outside, cleaving on the hinder part only to the vertebras of the loins; but on the fore-part to the Peritonaeum, being also scirrhous and wholly cartilaginous. Moreover, there were infinite other abscesses in the same Mesentery, every one closed in his several cist, some filled with a hony-like, some filled with a tallow-like, some with an alougineous, and some with a waterish liquor or humor, whereof some also were like unto pap; and to conclude, look how many abscesses there were, so many kinds or differen∣ces of matters there were. It was then eight years since that tumor began to grow by little and little without feeling and pain unto such a greatness, because that the Mesentery it self was with∣out pain in a manner. For the woman her self could do all the faculties of nature almost as well as if she had been sound and whole, except that two months before she died, she was constrai∣ned to keep her bed, because she had a continual fever, which endured so long as she lived, and also because that the Mesentery, being as it were separated or torn from its roots or seat, did rowl up and down in the belly, not without the feeling of grievous pain: for, as we said before, it did stick but only to the vertebras of the loins and Perit••naeum, and nothing at all to the guts and other parts whereunto it is as it were naturally knit or joined.

Therefore because the weight and heaviness thereof depressed the bladder, it caused a great difficulty in her making of water, and also because it rested on the guts, it made it very painful for her to go to stool, so that the excrements would not come down except she took a sharp glyster to cause them: and as concerning glysters, they could not be put up high enough by rea∣son of the greatness of the tumor which enclosed and shut the way; and suppositories did no good at all. It was also very difficult for her to take breath, by reason that the midriff or diaphragma was compressed with the tumor. There were some that did suspect it to be a mola, others thought that it came by reason of the dropsie. Assuredly this disease caused the dropsie to ensue; neither was the cause thereof obscure; for the function of the Liver was frustrated by reason that the con∣coction or the alteration of the Chylus was intercepted by occasion of the tumor: and m••reove••, the Liver it self had a proper disease; for it was hard and scirrhous, and had many abscesses both within and without it, and all over it. The milt was scarce free from putrefaction, the guts and Kill were somewhat blew and spotted, and to be brief, there was nothing found in the low∣er belly.

There is the like history to be read, written by Philip Ingrassias, in his book of tumors, of a certain Moor that was hanged for theft; for (saith he) when his body was publickly dissected, in the Mesenterium were found seventy scrophulous tumors, and so many abscesses were contain∣e•• or enclosed in their several cists or skins, and sticking to the external tunicle, especially of the greater guts: the matter contained in them was divers▪ for it was hard, knotty, clammy, glutinous, liquid and waterish; but the entrails, especially the Liver and the Milt, were found free from all manner of a tainture, because (as the same Author alledgeth,) nature being strong had sent all the evill juice and the corruption of the entrails into the Mesenterie: and verily this Moor, so long as he lived, was in good and perfect health. Without doubt the corruption of su∣perflous humors for the most part is so great (as is noted by Fernelius) that it cannot be received in the receptacles that nature hath appointed for it; therefore then no small portion thereof fal∣leth into the parts adjoyning, and especially into the Mesentery and Pancreas, which are as it were the sink of the whole body. In those bodies which through continual and daily gluttony abound with choler, melancholy and phlegm, if it be not purged in time, nature being strong and lusty, doth depel and drive it down into the Pancreas and the Mesentery, which are as places of no great ••epute, and that especially out of the Liver and Milt by those veins or branches of the ••••••a p••rta which end or go not into the guts, but are terminated in the Mesentery and Pancreas. In these places diverse humors are heaped together, which in process of time turn into a loose and so••t tumor, and then if they grow bigger, into a stiff, hard and very scirrhous tumor. Where∣of Fernelius affirmeth that in those places he hath found the causes of choler, melancholy, fluxes, cy••enteries, cachexia's, atrophia's, consumptions, tedious and uncertain fevers, and lastly of ma∣ny

hidden diseases, by the ••••king whereof some have received their health, that have been thought past cure. Moreover Ingrassias affirmeth out of Julius Pollux that Scrophulas may be engendred in the Mesenterie, which nothing differs from the mind and opinion of Galen, who saith that Scrophulas are nothing else but indurate and scirrhous kernels. But the Mesenterium with his glanduls being great and many, making the Pancreas, doth establish, strengthen and confirm the divisions of the vessels. Also the scirrhus of the proper substance of the womb is to be distin∣guished from the mola: for in the bodies of some women that I have opened, I have found the womb annoyed with a scirrhous tumor as big as a mans head, in the curing whereof Physicians nothing prevailed, because they supposed it to be a mola contained in the capacity of the womb, and not a scirrhous tumor in the body thereof.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of the cause of barrenness in men.

THere are many causes of barrenness in men, that is to say, the too hot, cold, dry or moist distemper of the seed, the more liquid and flexible consistence thereof, so that it can∣not stay in the womb, but will presently flow out again: for such is the seed of old men and striplings, and of such as use the act of generation too often and immoderately: for thereby the seed becommeth crude and waterish, because it doth not remain his due and lawful time in the testicles, wherein it should be perfectly wrought and concocted, but is evacuated by wanton copulation. Furthermore, that the seed may be fertile, it must of necessity be copious in quanti∣ty, but in quality well concocted, moderately thick, clammy, and puffed with abundance of spi∣rits; both these conditions are wanting in the seed of them that use copulation too often: and moreover, because the wives of those men never gather a just quantity of seed laudable both in quality and consistence in their testicles, whereby it commeth to pass that they are the less pro∣voked or delighted with Venereous actions, and perform the act with less alacrity, so that they yeeld themselves less prone to conception. Therefore let those that would be parents of many children use a mediocrity in the use of Venery.

The woman may perceive that the mans seed hath some distemperature in it, if when she hath received it into her womb, she feeleth it sharp, hot or cold, if the man be more quick or slow in the act. Many become barren after they have been cut for the stone, and likewise when they have had a wound behind the ears, whereby certain branches of the jugular veins and arteries have been cut, that are there, so that after those vessels have been cicatrized, there followed an in∣terception of the seminal matter downwards, and also of the community which ought of necessi∣ty to be between the brain and the testicles, so that when the conduits or passages are stopped, the stones or testicles cannot any more receive, neither matter nor lively spirits from the brain in so great quantity as it was wont, whereof it must of necessity follow, that the seed must be lesser in quantity, and weaker in quality.

Those that have their testicles cut off, or else compressed or contused by violence, cannot be∣get children, because that either they want that help the testicles should minister in the act of generation, or else because the passage of the seminal matter is intercepted or stopped with a Cal∣lus: by reason whereof they cannot yield forth seed, but a certain clammy humor contained in the glanduls called prostatae (yet with some feeling of delight).

Moreover the de••ects or imperfections of the yard may cause barrenness: as, if it be too short, or if it be so unreasonable great, that it renteth the privy parts of the woman, and so causeth a flux of blood; for then it is so painful to the woman, that she cannot void her seed, for that can∣not be excluded without pleasure and delight; also if the shortness of the ligature ligament that is under the yard doth make it to be crooked, and violate the stiff straightness thereof, so that it cannot be put directly or straightly into the womans privy parts. There be some that have not the orifice of the conduit of the yard rightly in the end thereof, but a little higher, so that they cannot ejaculate or cast out their seed into the womb.

Also the paritcular palsie of the yard is numbred amongst the causes of barrenness; and you may prove whether the palsie be in the yard by dipping the genitals in cold water: for except they do draw themselves together or shrink up after it, it is a token of the palsie; for members that have the palsie, by the touching of cold water, do not shrink up, but remain in their accustomed laxity and looseness: but in this case the genitals are endued with small sense; the seed commeth out without pleasure or stiffness of the yard; the stones in touching are cold; and to conclude, those that have their bodies daily waxing lean through a consumption, or that are vexed with an evill h••bit or disposition, or with the obstruction of some of the entrals, are barren and unfertil, and likewise those in whom some noble part necessary to life and generation exceedeth the bounds of nature with some great distemperature; and lastly, those who by any means have their genital parts deformed.

Here I omit those that are withholden from the act of generation by inchantment, magick, witching and inchanted knots, bands and ligatures; for those causes belong not to Physick, neither may they be taken away by the remedies of our Art. The Doctors of the Canon laws have made mention of those magick bands which may have power in them, in the particular title De frigidis, maleficiatis, impoteatibus & incantatis▪ also St. August▪ hath made mention of them. Tract. 7. in Joan.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of the barrenness or unfruitfulness of Women.

A Woman may become barren or unfruitful through the obstruction of the passage of the seed, or throng straitness and narrowness of the neck of the womb comming either through the default of the formative faculty, or else afterwards by some mischance, as by an abscess, scirrhus, warts, chaps, or by an ulcer, which being cicatrized, doth make the way more narrow, so that the yard cannot have free passage thereinto: Moreover, the membrane called Hymen, when it groweth in the midst or in the bottom of the neck of the womb, hinders the re∣ceiving of the mans seed. Also if the womb be over-slippery, or more loose, or over wide, it ma∣keth the woman to be barren; so doth the suppression of the menstrual fluxes, or the too immo∣derate flowing of the courses or whites: which commeth by the default of the womb, or some entrail, or of the whole body, which consumeth the menstrual matter, and carrieth the seed away with it.

The cold and moist distemperature of the womb, extinguishes and suffocates the man's seed, and maketh it that it will not stay or cleave unto the womb, and stay till it be concocted: but the more hot and dry both corrupt for want of nourishment: for the seeds that are sown either in a marish or sandy ground cannot prosper well: also a mola contained in the womb, the falling down of the womb, the leanness of the womans body, ill humors bred by eating crude and raw fruits, or great, or overmuch, whereof obstructions and crudities follow which hinder her fruit∣fulness. Furthermore, by the use of stupefactive things, the seminal matter is congealed and re∣strained, and though it flow and be cast out, yet it is deprived of the prolifick power, and of the lively heat and spirits, the orifices or cotyledones of the ve ns and arteries are stopped, and so the passage for the menstrual matter into the womb, is stopped. When the K••ll is so far that it gir∣deth in the womb narrowly, it hindereth the fruitfulness of the woman, because it will not permit the mans seed to enter into the womb. Moreover the fat and fleshy habit of the man or woman hinder generation. For it hindreth them that they cannot join their genital parts together: and by how much the more blood goeth into fat, by so much the less is remaining to be turned in∣to seed and menstrual blood, which two are the originals and principals of generation. Those women that are speckled in the face, somewhat lean, and pale, because they have their genitals moistened with a saltish, sharp and tickling humor, are more given to Venery then those that are red and fat. Finally, Hippocrates sets down four causes only why women are barren and unfruit∣ful. The first is, because they cannot receive the mans seed by reason of the fault of the neck of the womb; the second, because when it is received into the womb, they cannot conceive it: the third is, because they cannot nourish it; the fourth, because they are not able to carry or bear it untill the due and lawful time of birth. These things are necessary to generation; the object, will, faculty, concourse of the seeds, and the remaining or abiding thereof in the womb, untill the due and appointed natural time.

CHAP. XXXIX. The signs of a distempered Womb.

THat woman is thought to have her womb too hot, whose co••••ses come forth sparingly and with pain, and exulcerate by reason of their heat, the superfluous matter of the blood being dissolved or turned into winde by the power of the heat; whereupon that menstrual blood that floweth forth is more gross and black. For it is the propriety of heat; by digesting the thinner substance, to thicken the rest, and by adustion to make it more black. Fur∣thermore, she that hath her genitals itching with the desire of copulation, will soon exclude the seed in copulation, and she shall feel it more sharp as it goeth through the passages. That woman hath too cold a womb whose flowers are either stopped, or flow sparingly, and those pale and not well colored.

Those that have less desire of copulation, have less delight therein, and their seed is more li∣quid and waterish, and not staining a linnen cloth by sticking thereunto, and it is sparingly and slowly cast forth. That womb is too moist that floweth continually with many liquid excrements, which therefore will not hold the seed, but presently after copulation suffereth it to fall out; which will easily cause abortion. The signs of too dry a womb appear in rhe little quantity of the courses, in the profusion of a small quantity of seed, by the desire of copulation, whereby it may be made slippery by the moisture of the seed, by the fissures in the neck thereof, by the chaps and itching, for all things for want of moisture will soon chap, even like unto the ground, which in the summer by reason of great drought or driness, will chap and chink this way and that way, and on the contrary with moisture it will close and join together again as it were with glew.

A woman is thought to have all opportunities unto conception when her courses or flowers do cease, for then the womb is void of excremental filth, and because it is yet open, it will the more easily receive the mans seed, and when it hath received it, it will better retain it in the wrinkles of the cotylidones yet gaping as it wese in rough and unequal places. Yet a woman will easily conceive a little before the time that the flowers ought to flow: because that the

menstrual matter falling at first like dew into the womb, is very meet and fit to nourish the seed, and not to drive it out again, or to suffocate it.

Those which use copulation when their courses fall down abundantly, will very hardly or seldome conceive; and if they do conceive, the childe wil be weak and diseased, and especially if the womans blood that flows out be un••ound; but if the blood be good and laudable, the childe will be subject to all plethorick diseases. The••e are some women in whom presently after the flux of the termes, the orifice of the womb will be closed, so that they must of necessity use copula∣tion with a man when their menstrual flux floweth, if at least they would conceive at all. A woman may bear children from the age of fourteen untill forty or fiftie; which time whosoever doth exceed, will bear untill threescore years, because the menstrual fluxes are kept, the prolifical faculty is also preserved: therefore many women have brought forth children at that age; but after that time no woman can bear, as Aristotle writeth.

Yet Plinie saith that Cornelia (who was of the house of the Scipioes) being in the sixtie second yeer of her age, bare Velusius Saturnius, who was Consul; Valescus de Tarenta also affirmeth, that he saw a woman that bare a childe on the sixtie second year of her age, having born before on the sixtieth and sixty first year. Therefore it is to be supposed that by reason of the variety of the air, region, diet and temperament, the menstrual flux and procreative faculty ceaseth in some sooner, in some later; which variety taketh place also in men. For in them although the seed be genitable for the most part in the second seventh year, yet truly it is unfruitful untill the third se∣venth year. And whereas most men beget children untill they be threescore years old, which time if they pass, they beget till seventie: yet there are some known that have begot child••en untill the eightieth year. Moreover, Plinie writeth that Masinissa the King begot a son when he was fourscore and six years of age, and also Cato the Censor after that he was fourscore.

CHAP. XL. Of the falling down, or perversion, or turning of the womb.

THe womb is said to fall down and be perverted, when it is moved out of its proper and natural place; as when the bands and ligatures thereof being loosed and relaxed, it fall∣eth down unto one side or other, or into its own neck, or else passeth further, so that it comes out at the neck, and a great portion thereof appears without the privie parts. Therefore what things soever resolve, relax, or burst the ligaments or bands whereby the womb is tied, are supposed to be the causes of this accident. It sometimes happens by vehement labor or travail in childe-birth, when the womb with violence excluding the issue and the secundines, also follows and falls down, turning the inner side thereof outward. And sometimes the foolish rashness of the Midwife, when she draweth away the womb with the infant, or with the secundine cleaving fast thereunto, and so drawing it down and turning the inner side outward. Furthermore, a heavie bear∣ing of the womb, the bearing of the carriage of a great burthen, holding or stretching of the hands or body upwards in the time of greatness with childe, a fall, contusion, shaking, or jogging by riding, either in a Waggon or Coach, or on horse back, or leaping or dancing, the falling down of a more large and abundant humor, great griping, a strong and continual cough, a Tenesmus, or often desire to go to stool, yet not voiding any thing, neesing, a manifold and great birth, difficult bearing of the womb, an astmatical and orthopnoical-difficulty of breathing, whatsoever doth weightily press down the Diaphragma or Midriff, or the muscles of the Epigastrium, the taking of cold air in the time of travail with childe, o•• in the flowing of the menstrual flux, sitting on a cold marble-stone, or any other such like cold things are thought oftentimes to be the occasion of these accidents, because they may bring the womb out of its place.

It falls down in many (saith Aristotle) by reason of the desire of copulation that they have, either by reason of the lustiness of their youth, or else because they have abstained a long time from it.

You may know that the womb is fallen down by the pain of those parts where hence it is fallen, that is to say by the entrails, loines, os sacrum, and by a tractable tumor at the neck of the womb, and often with a visible hanging out, of diverse greatness, according to the quantity that is fallen down. It is seen sometimes like unto a piece of red flesh, hanging out at the neck of the womb, of the bigness and form of a Goose-egg; if the woman stand upright, she feeleth the weight to lie on her privie parts; but if she sit or lie, then she perceiveth it on her back, or go to the stool, the strait gut called intestinum rectum will be pressed or loaden as if it were with a burthen; if she lie on her belly, then her urine will be stopped, so that she shall fear to use copulation with a man.

When the womb is newly relaxed in a young woman, it may be soon cured, but if it hath been long down in an old woman, it is not to be helped. If the palsie of the ligaments thereof have occasioned the falling, it scarce admits of cure; bur if it falls down by means of putrefaction, it cannot possibly be cured. If a great quantity thereof hang out between the thighs, it can hard∣ly be cured; but it is corrupted by taking the air, and by the falling down of the urine, and filth, and by the motions of the thighs in going it is ulcerated, and so putrifies.

I remember that once I cured a young woman who had her womb hanging out at her privie parts as big as an egg, and I did so well performe and perfect the cure thereof, that afterwards she conceived, and bare children many times, and her womb never fell down.

CHAP. XLI. The cure of the falling down of the womb.

BY this word, falling down of the womb, we understand every motion of the womb out of its place or seat: therefore if the womb ascend upwards, we must use the same medicines as in strangulation of the womb. If it be turned towards either side, it must be restored and drawn back to its right place, by applying and using cupping-glasses. But if it descend and fall down into its own neck, but yet not in great quantity, the woman must be placed so that her buttocks may be very high, and her legs across; then cupping-glasses must be applied to her navel and Hy∣p••gastrium, and when the womb is brought into its place, injections that binde and drie strongly must be injected into the neck of the womb, stinking fumigations must be used unto the privie parts, and sweet things used to the mouth and nose. But if the womb hang down in great quan∣titie between the thighs, it must be cured by placing the woman after another sort, and by using other kinde of medicines. First of all she must be so layed on her back, her buttocks and thighs so lifted up, and her legs so drawn back as when the childe or secundine are to be taken or drawn from her; then the neck of the womb, and whatsoever hangeth out thereat, must be an∣nointed with oyl of lillies, fresh butter, capons grease, and such like, then it must be thrust gently with the fingers up into its place, the sick or pained woman in the mean time helping or furthering the endeavour by drawing in of her breath as if she did sup, drawing up as it were that which is fallen down.

After that the womb is restored unto its place, whatsoever is filled with the ointment must be wiped with a soft and clean cloth, lest that by the slipperiness thereof the womb should fall down again; the genitals must be fomented with an astringent decoction, made with pomegeanate pills, cypress nuts, gals, roach allom, horse-tail, sumach, berberies, boiled in the water wherein Smiths quench their irons; of those materials make a powder, wherewith let those places be sprinkled: let a Pessary of a competent bigness be put in at the neck of the womb, but let it be eight or nine fingers in length, according to the proportion of the grieved patients body. Let them be made either with latin, or of cork covered with wax, of an oval form, having a thread at one end whereby they may be drawn back again as need requires.

[illustration]

The formes of oval Pessaries.

• A. sheweth the body of the Pessarie.
• B. sheweth the thread where∣with it must be tied to the thigh.

When all this is done, let the sick woman keep her self quiet in her bed, with her buttocks ly∣ing very high, and her legs across, for the space of eight or ten dayes: in the mean while the ap∣plication of cupping-glasses will staye the womb in the right place and seat after it is restored thereunto: but if she hath taken any hurt by cold air, let the privie parts be fomented with a discussing and heating fomentation, or this wise. ℞. fol. alth. salv. lavend. rosmar. artemis. flor. cha∣moem. melilot. an. m ss. sem. anis. foenugr. an. ℥i. let them be all well boiled in water and wine, and make thereof a decoction for your use. Give her also glysters, that when the guts are emptied of the excrements, the womb may the better be received in the void and empty capacity of the belly: for this reason the bladder is also to be emptied, for otherwise it were dangerous lest that the womb lying between them, both being full, should be kept down, and cannot be put up into its own proper place by reason thereof. Also vomiting is supposed to be a singular remedy to draw up the womb that is fallen down: furthermore also it purgeth out the phlegm which did moisten and relax the ligaments of the womb; for as the womb in time of copulation at the be∣ginning of the conception is moved downwards to meet the seed, so the stomach, even of its own accord, is lifted upwards when it is provoked by the injurie of any thing that is contrary unto it, to cast it out with greater violence; but when it is so raised up, it draws up together there∣with

the peritonaeum, the womb, and also the body or parts annexed unto it. If it cannot be resto∣stored unto its place by these prescribed remedies, and that it be ulcerated and so putrified that it cannot be restored unto his place again, we are commanded by the precepts of art to cut it away, and then to cure the womb according to art; but first it should be tied, and as much as is necessary must be cut off, and the rest ••eared with a cautery. There are some women that have had almost all their womb cut off, without any danger of their life, as Paulus testifieth.

John Langius Physician to the Count Palatine, writeth that Carpus the Chirurgian took out the womb of a woman of Bononia, he being present, and yet the woman lived and was very wel after it. Antonius Benevenius Physician of Florence, writeth that he called by Ʋgolius the Physi∣cian to the cure of a woman whose womb was corrupted and fell away from her by pieces, and yet she lived ten years after it.

There was a certain woman, being found of body, of good repute, and above the age of thirtie years, in whom, shortly after she had been married the second time, which was in Anno 1571. having no childe by her first husband, the lawful signs of a right conception did appear: yet in process of time there arose about the lower part of her privities the sense or feeling of a weight or heaviness, being so troublesome unto her by reason that it was painful, and also for that it stop∣ped her urine, that she was constrained to disclose her mischance to Christopher Mombey a Surgeon her neighbour dwelling in the Suburbs of S. Germ••ns; who having seen the tumor or smelling in her groin, asswaged the pain with mollifying, and anodyne fomentations and cataplasms; but pre∣sently after he had done this, he found on the inner side of her lip of the orifice of the neck of the womb, an impostume rotten and running, as if it had been out of an abscess newly broken, with sa••ious matter, somewhat red, yellow, and pale, running a long time. Yet for all this the feeling of the heaviness or weight was nothing diminished, but did rather increase daily, so that from the year of our Lord 1573. she could not turn her self being in her bed on this or that side, unless she laid her hand on her belly to bear and ease herself of the weight, and also she said when she turned herself, she seemd to feel a thing like unto a bowle or rowle in her belly unto the s••de whereunto she turned her self, neither could she go to stoole, or avoid her excrements standing or sitting, unless she lift up that weight with her hands towards her stomach or midriff: when she was about to go, she could scarce set forwards her feet, as if there had something hanged between her thighs, that did hinder her going. At certain seasons that rotten apostume would open or unclose of it self, and flow and run with its wonted sanious matter, but then she was grievously vexed with pain of the head, and all her members, swouning, loathing, vomiting, and almost choaking, so that by the perswasion of a foolish woman she was induced and contented to take Antimonium; the working and the strength thereof was so great and violent, that after many vo∣mits, with many frettings of the guts and waterie dejections of stools, she thought her fundament fell down; but being certified by a woman that was a familiar friend of hers, unto whom she shewed her self, that there was nothing fallen down at or from her fundament, but it was from her womb, she called in the year of our Lord 1575. Surgeons as my self, Jaemes Guillemeau, and Antonie Vieux, that we might help her in extremity.

When we had diligently and with good consideration weighed the whole estate of her disease, we agreed with one consent, that that which was fallen down should be cut away, because that by the black colour, stinking, and other such signs, it gave a testimony of a putrefied and corrup∣ted thing. Therefore for two daies we drew out the body by little and little, and piece-meal, which seemed unto the Physicians that we had called, as Alexius, Gaudinus, Feureus, and Violane∣us, and also to our selves, to be the body of the womb, wich thing we proved to be so, because one of the testicles came out whole, and also a thick membrane or skin being the relick of the Mola, which being suppurated, and the abscess broken, came out by little and little in matter; after that all this body was so drawn away, the sick woman began to wax better, & better yet notwith∣standing for the space of nine daies before it was taken away, she voided nothing by siege, and her urine also was stopped for the space of four daies.

After this all things became as they were before, and she lived in good health three moneths after, and then died of a Pluerisie that came on her very suddenly, and I haveing opened her body, observing and marking every thing very diligently, could not finde the womb at all, but in stead thereof there was a certain hard and callous body, which Nature, who is never idle, had framed in stead thereof, to supply the want thereof, or to fill the hollowness of the bellie.

CHAP. XLII. Of the tunicle or membrane called Hymen.

IN some virgins or in maidens the orifice of the neck of the womb there is found a certain tunicle or membrane called of antient writers Hymen, which prohibiteth the copulation of a man, and causeth a woman to be barren; this tunicle is supposed by many, and they not of the common sort only, but also learned physicians, to be, as it were, the enclosure of the virginity or maiden-head. But I could never finde it in any, seeking of all ages from three to twelve of all that I had under my hands in the Hospital of Paris.

Yet once I saw in a virgin of seventeen years, whom her mother had contracted to a man, and she knew nevertheless there was something in her privie parts that hindred her from bearing of

children, who desired me to see her; and I found a very thin nervous membrane a little be∣neath the nymphaea, near unto the orifice of the neck of the womb; in the midst there was a very little hole whereout the terms might flow; I seeing the thickness thereof, cut it in sunder with my scissars, and told her mother what she should do afterwards: and truly she married shortly af∣ter and bore children. Realdus Columbus is of my opinion, and saith that this is seen very seldome; for these are his words: under the nymphaea in many, but not in all virgins there is another membrane, which when it is present (which is but seldome) it stoppeth, so that the yard cannot be put into the orifice of the womb, for it is very thick; above towards the bladder, it hath an hole by which the courses flow out. And he also addeth, that he observed it in two young virgins, and in one el∣der maid.

Avicen writes, that in virgins in the neck of the womb there are tunicles composed of veins and ligaments very little, rising from each part of the neck thereof, which at the first time of copulation are wont to be broken, and the blood run out. Almansor w••iteth, that in virgins, the pas∣sage of the neck of the womb is very wrinkled, or narrow and strait, and those wrinkles to be wo∣ven or stayed together with many little veins and arteries, which are broken at the first time of co∣pulation.

These are the judgments of Physicians of this membrane: Midwives will certainly affirm that they know a virgin from one that is defloured, by the breach or soundness of that membrane. But by their report too credulous judges are soon brought to commit an error. For that Mid∣wives can speak nothing certainly of this membrane, may be proved by this, because that one saith that the situation thereof is in the very entrance of the privie parts, others say it is in the midst of the neck of the womb, and others say it is within at the inner orifice thereof, and some are of an opinion that they say or suppose that it cannot be seen or perceived before the first birth. But truly of a thing so rare, and which is contrary to nature, the••e cannot be any thing spoken for certainty. Therefore the blood that commeth out at the first time of copulation, comes not alwaies by the breaking of that membrane, but by the breaking and violating of renting of the little veins which are woven and bespread all over the superficial and inward parts of the womb and neck thereof, descending into the wrinkles, which in those that have not yet used the act of generation, are closed as if they were glewed together: although that those maids that are at their due time of marriage, feel no pain nor no flux of blood, especially if the mans yard be answerable to the neck of the womb: whereby it appears evidently how greatly the inhabitants of Fez, the Metropolitan citie of Mauritania, are deceived: for Leo the African w••iteth, that it is the custome amongst them, that so soon as the married man and his spouse are returned home to their house from the church where they have been married, they presently shut themselves into a chamber, and make fast the door, while the marriage dinner is preparing: in the mean while some old or grave matron standeth waiting before the chamber door, to receive a bloody linnen cloth the new married husband is to deliver her there, which when she hath received, she brings it into the midst of all the company of guests, as a fresh spoil and testimony of the married wives virginity, and then for joy thereof they all fall to banquetting solemnly. But if through evil for∣tune it happeneth that in this time of copulation the spouse bleedeth not in the privie parts, she is restored again unto her parents, which is a very great reproach unto them, and all the guests depart home sad, heavie, and without dinner.

Moreover, there are some, that having learned the most filthie and infamous arts of baudery, pro∣stitute common harlots, make gain thereof, makeing men that are naughtily given to beleive that they are pure virgins, making them to think that the act of generation is very painful and grievous unto them, as if they had never used it before, although they are very expert therein in∣deed; for they do cause the neck of the womb to be so wrinkled and shrunk together, so that the sides thereof shall even almost close or meet together; then they put thereinto the bladders of fishes, or galls of beasts filled full of blood, and so deceive the ignorant and young letcher by the defraud and deceit of their evil arts, and in time of copulation they mix sighs with groanes, and woman like cryings and crocodiles tears, that they may seem to be virgins, and never to have dealt with man before.

CHAP. XLIII. A memorable history of the membrane called Hymen.

JOhn Wierus writeth that there was a Maid at Camburge, who in the midst of the neck of the womb, had a thick and strong membrane growing overthwart, so that when the monethly terms should come out, it would not permit them, so that there∣by the menstrual matter was stopped and flowed back again, which caused a great tu∣mor and distention in the belly, with great torment, as if she had been in travail with childe: the midwives being called, and having seen and considered all that had been done, and did appear, did all with one voice affirm, that she sustained the pains of childe-birth, al∣though that the maid her self denied that she ever dealt with man. Therefore then this foresaid Author was called, who, when the Midwives were void of counsel, might help this wretch∣ed maid, having already had her urine stopped now three whole weeks, and perplexed with great watchings, loss of appetite, and loathing: and when he had seen the grieved place,

and marked the orifice of the neck of the womb, he saw it stopped with a thick membrane; he knew also that that sudden breaking out of blood into the womb and the vessels thereof, and the passage for those matters that was stopped, was the cause of her grievous and tormenting pain. And there∣fore he called a Chyrurgeon presently, and willed him to divide the membrane that was in the midst, that did stop the flux of blood; which being done, there came forth as much black con∣gealed and putrified blood as weighed some eight pounds. In three dayes after she was well and void of all disease and pain. I have thought it good to set down this example here, because it is worthy to be noted, and profitable to be imitated, as the like occasion shall happen.

CHAP. XLIV. Of the strangulation of the Womb.

THe strangulation of the womb, or that which cometh from the womb, is an interception or stopping of the liberty in breathing or taking winde, because that the womb, swollen or puffed up by reason of the access of gross vapours and humors that are contained therein, and also snatched as it were by a convulsive motion, by reason that the vessels and liga∣ments distended with fullness, are so carried upwards against the midriff and parts of the breast, that it maketh the breath to be short, and often as it a thing lay upon the breast and pres∣sed it.

Moreover, the womb swelleth, because there is contained or inclosed in it a certain substance, caused by the defluxion either of the seed or flowers, or of the womb or whites, or of some other humor, tumor, abscess, rotten apostume, or some ill juyce, putrifying or getting, or ingendring an ill quality, and resolved into gross vapours. These, as they affect sundry or divers places, infer divers and sundry accidents, as rumbling and noise in the belly; if it be in the guts, desire to vomit, after (with seldom vomiting) cometh weariness and loathing of meat, if it trouble the stomach. Choaking with strangulation, if it assail the breast and throat; swooning, if it vex the heart; madness, or else that which is contrary thereto, sound sleep or drowsiness, if it grieve the brain: all which oftentimes prove as malign as the biting of a mad dog, or equal the stinging or bitings of venemous beasts.

It hath been observed, that more greivous symptoms have proceeded from the corruption of the seed, then of the menstrual blood. For by how much every thing is more perfect and noble, while it is contained within the bounds of the integrity of its own nature, by so much it is the more grievous and perillous, when by corruption it hath once transgressed the laws thereof. But this kinde of accident doth very seldom grieve those women which have their menstrual flux well and orderly, and do use copulation familiarly; but very often those women that have not their menstrual flux as they should, and do want, and are destitute of husbands, especially if they be great eaters, and lead a solitary life. When the vessels and ligaments of the womb are swollen and distended as we said before, so much as is added to their latitude or breadth, so much is want∣ing in their length: and therefore it happeneth that the womb, being removed out of its seat, doth one while fall to the right side towards the liver, sometimes to the left towards the milt, some∣times upwards unto the midriff and stomach, sometimes downwards, and so forwards unto the blad∣der, whereof cometh an Ischury and strangury; or backwards, whereof cometh oppression of the straight gut, and suppression of the excrements, and the Tenesmus.

But although we acknowledge the womb to decline to those parts which we named, yet it is not by accident only, as when it is drawn by the proper and common ligaments and bands, when they are contracted or made shorter, being distended with fulness, but also of it self, as when it is forced or provoked through the grief of something contrary to nature that is contained therein: it wan∣dreth sometimes unto one side, and sometimes unto another part with a plain and evident natural motion, like unto the stomach which embraceth any thing that is gentle and milde, but avoideth any thing that is offensive and hurtfull; yet we deny that so great accidents may be stirred up by the falling of it alone unto this or that side; for then it might happen, that women that are great with childe, whose wombs are so distended by reason that the childe is great, that it doth press the midriff, might be troubled with a strangulation like unto this; but much rather by a venemous humor breathing out a malign and gross vapor, not only by the veins and arteries, but also by the pores that are invisible, which pollutes the faculties of the parts which it toucheth with its vene∣mous malignity and infection, and intercepts the functions thereof. Neither doth the variety of the parts receiving only, but also of the matter received, cause variety of accidents.

For some accidents come by suppression of the terms, others come by corruption of the seed; but if the matter be cold, it brinketh a drowsiness, being lifted up unto the brain, whereby the woman sinketh down as if she were astonished, and lieth without motion and sense or feeling, and the beating of the arteries, and the breathing are so small, that sometimes it is thought they are not at all, but that the woman is altogether dead. If it be more gross, it inferreth a convulsion; if it partipate of the nature of a gross melancholick humor, it bringeth such heaviness, fear and sor∣rowfulness, that the party that is vexed therewith shall think that she shall die presently, and cannot be brought out of her minde by any means or reason: if of a cholerick humor, it cau∣seth the madness called furor uterinus, and such a pratling that they speak all things that are to be concealed; and a giddiness of the head, by reason that the animal spirit is suddenly shaken by

the admixtion of a putrified vapour and hot spirit: but nothing is more admirable, then that this disease taketh the patient sometimes with laughing, and sometimes with weeping; for some at the first will weep and then laugh in the same disease and state thereof.

But it exceedeth all admiration which Hollerius writeth, usually happened to two of the daugh∣ters of the Provost of Roven. For they were held with long laughter for an hour or two before the fit, which neither for fear, admonition, nor for any other means they could hold; and their parents chid them, and asked them wherefore they did so, they answered, that they were not able to stay their laughter. The ascention of the womb is diligently to be distinguished from the strangulation thereof; for the accidents of the ascention and of the strangulation are not one, but the woman is only oppressed with a certain pain of the heart, difficulty of breathing, or swouning, but yet without fear, without raving or idle talking, or any other greater accident.

Therefore oftentimes contrary causes inferr the ascention: that is, overmuch driness of the womb, labouring through the defect of moisture, whereby it is forced after too violent and im∣moderate evacuations of the flowers, and in childe-bed, and such like, and laborious and painfull travel in childbed, through which occasion it waxeth hot, contrary to nature, and withereth and turneth it self with a certain violence unto the parts adjoyning, that is to say, unto the liver, sto∣mach and midriff: if haply it may draw some moisture there-hence unto it. I omit that the womb may be brought unto its place upwards by often smelling to aromatick things, yet in the mean while it inferrs not the strangulation that we described before.

CHAP. XLV. The signs of imminent strangulation of the Womb.

BEfore that these fore-named accidents come, the woman thinks that a certain painfull thing ariseth from her womb unto the orifice of the stomach and heart, and she thinketh her self to be oppressed and choaked, she complaineth her self to be in great pain, and that a certain lump or heavy thing climbs up from the lower parts unto her throat, and stoppeth her, winde, her heart burneth and panteth. And in many the womb and vessels of the womb so swell, that they cannot stand upright on their legs, but are constrained to lie down flat on their bellies, that they may be the less grieved with the pain, and to press that down strongly with their hands, that seemeth to arise upwards, although that not the womb it self, but the vapor ascendeth from the womb, as we said before: but when the fit is at hand, their faces are pale on a sudden, their understanding is darkned, they become slow and weak in the leggs, with unableness to stand. Hereof cometh sound sleep, foolish talking, interception of the senses and breath as if they were dead, loss of speech, the contraction of their legs, and the like.

CHAP. XLVI. How to know whether the woman be dead in the strangulation of the womb, or not.

I Have thought it meet (because many women, not only in ancient times, but in our own and our fathers memory have been so taken with this kind of symptom, that they have been sup∣posed and laid out for dead, although truly they were alive:) to set down the signs in such a case which do argue life and death. Therefore first of all it may be proved, whether she be alive or dead, by laying or holding a clear and smooth looking-glass before her mouth and no∣strils. For, if she breath, although it be never so obscurely, the thin vapor that cometh out, will stain or make the glass duskie. Also a fine downish feather taken from under the wing of any bird, or else a fine flock being held before the mouth, will by the trembling or shaking motion thereof, shew that there is some breath, and therefore life remaining in the body. But you may prove most certainly whether there be any spark of life remaining in the body, by blowing some sneesing powders of pellitory of Spain, and Elebore into the nostrils. But though there no breath ap∣pear, yet must you not judge the woman for dead, for the small vital heat, by which, being drawn into the heart, she yet liveth, is contented with transpiration only, and requires not much attracti∣on, which is performed by the contraction and dilatation of the breast and lungs unto the preser∣vation of it self. For so flies, gnats, pismires and such like, because they are of a cold tempera∣ment, live unmoveably inclosed in the caves of the earth, no token of breathing appearing in them, because there is a little heat left in them, which may be conserved by the office of the arte∣ries and heart, that is to say, by perspiration, without the motion of the breast, because the greatest use of respiration is, that the inward heat may be preserved by refrigeration and ventilation. Those that do not mark this, fall into that error which almost cost the life of him who in our time first gave life to Anatomical administration, that was almost decayed and neglected.

For he being called in Spain to open the body of a noble woman which was supposed dead through strangulation of the womb, behold, at the second impression of the incision-knife, she be∣gan suddenly to come to her self, and by the moving of her members and body, which was sup∣posed to be altogether dead, and with crying, to shew manifest signs that there was some life re∣maining in her. Which thing struck such an admiration and horror into the hearts of all her friends that were present, that they accounted the Physic••an, being before of a good fame and report, as

infamous, odious and detestable, so that it wanted but little but that they would have scratched out his eyes presently: wherefore he thought there was no better way for him, if he would live safe, then to forsake the Country. But neither could he so also avoid the horrible prick and inward wound of his conscience (from whose judgment no offendor can be absolved) for his inconside∣rate dealing; but within few dayes after being consumed with sorrow, he died, to the great loss of the Common-wealth, and the art of Physick.

CHAP. XLVII. How to know whether the strangulation of the wombe comes of the suppression of the Flowers, or the corruption of the seed.

THere are two chief causes especially, as most frequently happening, of the strangulation of the womb: but when it proceedeth from the corruption of the seed, all the accidents are more grievous and violent: difficulty of breathing goes before, and shortly after comes deprivation thereof; the whole habit of the body seemeth more cold then a stone: the woman is a widow, or else hath great store or abundance of seed, and hath been used to the com∣pany of a man, by the absence whereof she was before wont to be pained with heaviness of the head, to loath her meat, and to be troubled with sadness and fear, but chiefly with melancholy. Moreover, when she hath satisfied, and every way fulfilled her lust, and then presently on a sudden begins to contain her self; It is very likely that she is suffocated by the suppression of the flowers, which formerly had them well and sufficiently, which formerly had been fed with hot, moist, and many meats, therefore engendring much blood, which sitteth much, which is grieved with some weight and swelling in the region of the belly, with pain in the stomach, and a desire to vomit, and with such other accidents as come by the suppression of the flowers. Those who are freed from the fit of the suffocation of the womb, either by nature or by art, in a short time their colour cometh into their faces by little and little, and the whole body beginneth to wax strong, and the teeth, that were set and closed fast together, begin (the jaws being loosed) to open and unclose again, and lastly, some moisture floweth from the secret parts with a certain tickling pleasure; but in some women, as in those especially in whom the neck of the womb is tickled with the Midwives finger, instead of that moisture comes thick and gross seed, which moisture or seed when it is fallen, the womb being before as it were raging, is restored unto its own proper nature and place, and by little and little all symptoms vanish away. Men by the suppression of their seed have not the like symptoms as women have, because mans seed is not so cold and moist, but far more perfect and better digested, and therefore more meet to resist putrefaction, and whiles it is brought or drawn together by little and little, it is dissipated by great and violent exercise.

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

SEeing 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. ℞. 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, 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. 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. 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, 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, 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, & 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.

Let 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.

CHAP. XLIX. Of Womens Monethly Flux or Courses.

USually they call the flux of blood that issueth from the secret parts of women, Monthly Flowers or Courses, because it happeneth to them every month so long as they are in health. There be some which call them terms, because they return at their usual time. Many of the French men call it Sepmains, because in such as sit much, and are given to plentifull feeding, it endureth almost for the space of seven dayes. Some call them purgations, because that by this flux all a womans body is purged of superfluous humors. There be some also that call those fluxes, the Flowers, because that as in plants the flower buddeth out before the fruits; so in wo∣men kinde th••s fl••x goeth before the issue, or the conception thereof.

For the courses flow not before a woman be able to conceive; for how should the seed being cast into the womb have his nourishment and increase, and how should the childe have his nourish∣ment when it is formed of the seed, it this necessary humor were wanting in the womb? yet it may be some women may conceive without the flux of the courses: but that is in such as have so much or the ••••mor gathered together, as is wont to remain in those which are purged, although it be not so great a quantity that it may flow out, as it is recorded by Aristotle. But as it is in some very great, and in some very little, so it is in some seldom, and in some very often.

There are some that are purged twice, and some thrice in a moneth, but it is altogether in those who have a great liver, large veins, and are filled and fed with many and greatly nourishing meats, which sit idlely at home all day, which having slept all night, do notwithstanding lie in bed sleep∣ing a great part of the day also, which live in a hot, moist, rainy and southerly air, which use warm baths of sweet waters and gentle frictions, which use and are greatly delighted with carnal copu∣lation: in these and such like women, the courses flow more frequently and abundantly.

But contrariwise, those that have small and obscure veins, and those that have their bodies more furnished and big either with flesh or with fat, are more seldom purged, and also more sparingly, because that the s••perfluous quantity of blood useth to go into the habit of the body. Also tender, delicate and fair women are less purged than those that are brown, and endued with a more com∣pact flesh, because that by the rarity of their bodies, they suffer a greater wasting or dissipation of their substance by transpiration. Moreover, they are not so greatly purged with this kind of purgation, which have some other solemn or accustomed evacuation in any other place of their body, as by the nose or hemorrhoids.

And as concerning their age, old women are purged when the Moon is old, and young women when the Moon is new, as it is thought. I think the cause thereof is, for that the Moon ruleth moist bodies; for by the variable motion thereof the Sea floweth and ebbeth; and bones, marrow and plants abound with their genital humor.

Therefore young people which have much blood, and more fluxible, and their bodies more fluxible, are soon moved unto a flux, although it be even in the first quarter of the Moons rising or increasing: but the humors of old women, because they wax stiff as it were with cold, and are not so abundant, and have more dense bodies and straighter vessels, are not so apt to a flux, nor do they so easily flow, except it be in the full of the Moon, or else in the decrease; that is to say, because the blood that is gathered in the full of the Moon falls from the body even of its own weight, for that by reason of the decreasing or wane of the Moon, this time of the moneth is more cold and moist.

CHAP. L. The causes of the Monethly Flux or Courses.

BEcause a woman is more cold, and therefore hath the digestive faculty more weak, it cometh to pass, that she requireth and desireth more meat or food than she can digest or con∣coct: And because that superfluous humour that remaineth is not digested by exercise, nor by the efficacy of strong and lively heat, therefore by the providence or benefit of nature,

it floweth out by the veins of the womb, by the power of the expulsive faculty, at its own certain and prefixed season or time. But then especially it beginneth to flow, and a certain rude portion of blood to be expelled, being hurtful and malign otherwise in no quality, when nature hath laid her principal foundations of the increase of the body, so that in greatness of the body, she hath come as it were in a manner to the highest top, that is to say, from the thirteenth to the fiftieth year of her age.

Moreover, the childe cannot be formed in the womb, nor have his nutriment or encrease with∣out this flux: therefore this is another finall cause of the monethly flux. Many are perswaded that women do far more abound with blood than men, considering how great an abundance of blood they cast forth of their secret parts every month, from the thirteenth to the fiftieth year of their age: how much women great with child, of whom also many are menstrual, yeeld unto the nutriment and encrease of the childe in their wombs, and how much Physicians take from women that are with childe by opening of a vein, which otherwise would be delivered before their natural and prefixed time; how great a quantity thereof they avoid in the birth of their children, and for ten or twelve daies after, and how great a quantity of milk they spend for the nou∣rishment of the child when they give suck, which milk is none other thing than blood made white by the power of the kernels that are in the dugs, which doth suffice to nourish the child, be he great or little; yet notwithstanding many nurses in the mean while are menstrual: and as that may be true so certainly this is true, that one dram (that I may so speak) of a mans blood, is of more efficacy to nourish and encrease, than two pounds of womans blood, because it is far more perfect, more concocted, wrought, and better replenished with abundance of spirits: whereby it commeth to pass that a man endued with a more strong heat, doth more easily convert what meat soever he ea∣teth unto the nourishment and substance of his body; and if that any superfluity remains he doth easily digest and scatter it by insensible transpiration. But a woman being more cold than a man, because she taketh more than she can concoct, doth gather together more humors, which because she cannot disperse, by reason of the unperfectness and weakness of her heat, it is necessary that she should suffer, and have her monthly purgation, especially when she groweth unto some bigness: but there is no such need in a man.

CHAP. LI. The causes of the suppression of the courses or menstrual flux.

THe courses are suppressed or stopped by many causes, as by sharp, vehement, and long diseases, by fear, sorrow, hunger, immoderate labors, watchings, fluxes of the belly, great bleeding, haemorrhoids, fluxes of blood at the mouth, and evacuations in any other part of the body whatsoever, often opening of a vein, great sweats, ulcers flowing much and long, scabbiness of the whole skin, immoderate grosness and clamminess of the blood, and by eating of raw fruits, and drinking of cold water, by sluggishness and thickness of the vessels, and also the obstruction of them by the defaults and diseases of the womb, by distemperature, an ab∣scess, an ulcer, by the obstruction of the inner orifice thereof, by the growing of a Callus, carun∣cle, cicatrize of a wound or ulcer, or membrane growing there, by injecting of astringent things into the neck of the womb, which place many women endeavor foolishly to make narrow: I speak nothing of age, greatness with childe, and nursing of children, because these causes are not besides nature, neither do they require the help of the Physitian.

Many women, when their flowers or terms be stopped, degenerate after a manner into a cer∣tain manly nature, whence they are called Viragines, that is to say, stout, or manly women; therefore their voice is more loud and big, like unto a mans, and they become bearded.

In the City Abdera (saith Hippocrates) Phaethusa the wife of Pytheas at the first did bear chil∣dren and was fruitful, but when her husband was exiled, her flowers were stopped for a long time: but when these things happened, her body became manlike and rough, and had a beard, and her voice was great and shrill. The very same thing happened to Namysia the wife of Gorgippus in Thasus. Those virgins that from the beginning have not their monthly flux, and yet nevertheless enjoy their perfect health, they must necessarily be hot and dry, or rather of a manly heat and driness, that they may so disperse and dissipate by transpiration, as men do, the excrements that are gathered; but verily all such are barren.

CHAP. LII. What accidents follow the suppression or stopping of the monthly flux or flowers.

WHen the flowers or monthly flux are stopped, diseases affect the womb, and from thence pass into all the whole body. For thereof commeth suffocation of the womb, head∣ach, swouning, beating of the heart, and swelling of the breasts and secret parts, in∣flammation of the womb, an abscess, ulcer, cancer, a feaver, nauseousness, vomitings, difficult and slow concoction, the dropsie, strangury, the full womb pressing upon the orifice of the bladder, black and bloody urine, by reason that portion of the blood sweateth out into the bladder. In many women the stopped matter of the monthly flux is excluded by vomiting, urine, and the haemor∣rhoids,

in some it groweth into varices. In my wife, when she wss a maid, the menstrual matter was excluded and purged by the nostrils. The wife of Peter Feure of Casteaudun, was purged of her menstrual matter by the dugs every month, and in such abundance, that scarce three or four cloaths were able to drie it and suck it up.

In those that have not the flux monthly to evacuate this plenitude by some part or place of the body, there often follows difficulty of breathing, melancholy, madness, the gout, an ill dispositi∣on of the whole body, dissolution of the strength of the whole body, want of appetite, a con∣sumption, the falling sickness, an apoplexie.

Those whose blood is laudable, yet not so abundant, do receive no other discommodity by the suppression of the flowers, unless it be that the womb burns or itche••h with the desire of co∣pulation, by reason that the womb is distended with hot and i••ching blood, especially if they lead a sedentary life. Those women that have been accustomed to bear children, are not so grie∣ved and evill at ease when their flowers are stopped by any chance contrary to nature, as those women which did never conceive, because they have been used to be filled; and the vessels by reason of their customary repletion and distention, are more large and capacious: when the cour∣ses flow, the appetite is partly dejected, for that nature, being then wholly applied to expulsi∣on, cannot throughly concoct or digest; the face waxeth pale and without its lively color, because that the heat with the spirits, go from without inwards, so to help and aid the expulsive faculty.

CHAP. LIII. Of provoking the flowers or courses.

THe suppression of the flowers is a plethorick disease, and therefore must be cured by e∣vacuation, which must be done by opening the vein called Saphena, which is at the an∣kle, but first let the basilike vein of the arm be opened, especially if the body be ple∣thorick, lest that there should a greater attraction be made into the womb, and by such attraction or flowing in, there should come a greater obstruction. When the veins of the womb are disten∣ded with so great a swelling that they may be seen, it will be very profitable to apply hors-lee∣ches to the neck thereof: pessaries for women may be used; but fumigations of aromatick things are more meet for maids, because they are bashful and shamefac'd. Unguents, liniments, em∣plasters, cataplasms, that serve for that matter, are to be prescribed and applied to the secret parts; ligatures and frictions of the thighs and legs are not to be omitted, fomentations and ster∣nutatories are to be used, and cupping glasses are to be applied to the groins; walking, dancing, riding, often and wanton copulation with her husband, and such like exercises, provoke the flow∣ers. Of plants, the flowers of St. John's-Wurt, the roots of fennel, and asparagus, bruscus or butchers-broom, or parsly, brook-lime, basil, balm, betony, garlick, onions, crista marina, cost-mary, the rinde or bark of cassia fistula, calamint, origanum, penniroyal, mugwort, thyme, hyssop, sage, marjorum, rosemary, horehound, rue, savin, spurge, saffron, agarick, the flowers of elder, bay-berries, the berries of Ivy, scammony. Cantharides, pyrethrum or pellitory of Spain, euphorbi∣um. The aromatick things are amomum, cinnamon, squinanth, nutmegs, calamus aromaticus, cy∣perus, ginger, cloves, galingal, pepper, cubibes, amber, musk, spiknard, and such like; of all which let fomentations, fumigations, baths, broaths, boles, potions, pils, syrups, apozemes, and opiates be made as the Physicians shall think good.

The apozeme that followeth is proved to be very effectual. ℞. fol. & flor. dictam. an. p. ii. pim∣pinel. m ss. omnium capillar. an. p.i. artemis. thymi, marjor. origan. an. m. ss. rad. rub. major. petros••∣lin. faenicul. an. ℥. i. ss. rad. paeon. bistort. an. ʒ ss. cicerum rub. sem. paeon. faenicul. an. ʒ ss. make there∣of a decoction in a sufficient quantity of water, adding thereto cinnamon ʒ. ii. in one pint of the decoction dissolve (after it is strained) of the syrup of mugwort, and of hyssop, an. ℥ ii. diarrh••d. abbat, ʒi. let it be strained through a bag, with ʒ. ii. of the kernels of Dates, and let her take ℥.iiii, in the morning.

Let pessaries be made with galbanum, ammoniacum, and such like mollifying things, beaten into a mass in a mortar with a hot pestel, and made into the form of a pessary, and then let them be mixed with oil of Jasmine, euphorbium, an ox-gall, the juice of mugwurt, and other such like, wherein there is power to provoke the flowers, as with scammony in powder: let them be as big as ones thumb, six fingers long, and rowled in lawn, or some such like thin linnen cloth; of the same things nodula's may be made. Also pessaries may be prepared with hony boiled, adding thereto convenient powders, as of scammony, pellitory, and such like. Neither ought these to stay long in the neck of the womb, least they should exulcerate, and they must be pulled back by a thred that must be put through them, and then the orifice of the womb must be fomented with white wine of the decoction of penniroyal or mother-wort.

But it is to be noted, that if the suppression of the flowers happeneth through the default of the stopped orifice of the womb, or by inflammation, these maladies must first be cured before we come unto those things that of their proper strength and virtue provoke the flowers: as for ex∣ample, if such things be made and given when the womb is inflamed, the blood being drawn into the grieved place, and the humors sharpned, and the body of the womb heated, the inflammation will be increased. So if there be any superfluous flesh, if there be any Callus of a wound or ulcer, or if there be any membrane shutting the orifice of the womb and so stopping the flux of the flow∣ers they must first be consumed and taken away before any of those things be administred. But

the opportunity of taking and applying of things, must be taken from the time wherein the sick woman was wont to be purged before the stopping, or if she never had the flowers, in the decrease of the Moon; for so we shall have custom, nature, and the external efficient cause to help art. When these medicines are used, the women are not to be put into baths or hot houses, as many do, except the malady proceed from the density of the vessels, and the grosness and clamminess of the blood. For sweats hinder the menstrual flux, by diverting and turning the matter another way.

CHAP. LIV. The signs of the approaching of the menstrual flux.

WHen the monthly flux first approacheth, the dugs itch and become more swoln and hard then they were wont; the woman is more desirous of copulation, by reason of the ebullition of the provoked blood, and the acrimony of the blood that remaineth; her voice becommeth bigger, her secret parts itch, burn, swell, and wax red. If they stay long, she hath pain in her loins and head, nauseousness and vomiting troubleth the stomach: notwith∣standing, if those matters which flow together in the womb, either of their own nature, or by cor∣ruption, be cold, they loath the act of generation, by reason that the womb waxeth feeble through sluggishness and watery humors filling the same, and it floweth by the secret parts very softly. Those maids that are marriageable, although they have the menstrual flux very well, yet they are troubled with headach, nauseousness, and often vomiting, want of appetite, longing, an ill habit of body, difficulty of breathing, trembling of the heart, swouning, melancholy, fearful dreams, watching with sadness and heaviness, because that the genital parts burning and itching, they imagine the act of generation, whereby it commeth to pass that the seminal matter, either remaining in the testi∣cles in great abundance, or else poured into the hollowness of the womb, by the tickling of the genitals, is corrupted, and acquireth a venemous quality, and causeth such like accidents as hap∣pen's in the suffocation of the womb.

Maids that live in the country are not so troubled with those diseases, because there is no such lying in wait for their maiden-heads, and also they live sparingly and hardly, and spend their time in continual labor. You may see many maids so full of juice, that it runneth in great abundance, as if they were not menstrual, into their dugs, and is there converted into milk, which they have in as great quantity as nurses, as we read it recorded by Hippocrates. If a woman which is neither great with childe, nor hath born children, hath milk, she wants the menstrual fluxes; whereby you may understand that that conclusion is not good which affirmeth that a woman which hath milk in her breasts, either to be delivered of childe, or to be great with childe; for Cardanus wri∣teth that he knew one Antony Buzus at Genua, who being thirty years of age, had so much milk in his breasts as was sufficient to nurse a childe; for the breeding and efficient cause of milk pro∣ceeds not only from the engrafted faculty of the glandulous substance, but much rather from the action of the mans seed, for proof whereof you may see many men that have very much milk in their breasts, and many women that almost have no milk, unless they receive mans seed. Also women that are strong and lusty like unto men, which the Latines call Viragines, that is to say, whose seed commeth unto a manly nature, when the flowers are stopped, concoct the blood, and therefore when it wanteth passage forth, by the likeness of the substance it is drawn into the dugs, and becommeth perfect milk: those that have the flowers plentifully and continually for the space of four or five daies, are better purged and with more happy success then those that have them for a longer time.

CHAP. LV. What accidents follow immoderate fluxes of the flowers or courses.

IF the menstrual flux floweth immoderately, there also follow many accidents; for the con∣coction is frustrated, the appetite overthrown, then follows coldness throughout all the bo∣dy, exolution of all the faculties, an ill habit of all the body, leanness, the dropsie, an hectick fever, convulsion, swouning, and often sudden death: if any have them too exceeding immode∣rately, the blood is sharp and burning, and also stinking, the sick woman is also troubled with a continual fever, and her tongue will be dry, ulcers arise in the gums and all the whole mouth. In women the flowers do flow by the veins and arteries which rise out of the spermatick vessels, and end in the bottom and sides of the womb, but in virgins and in women great with child, whose children are sound and healthful, by the branches of the hypogastrick vein and artery, which are spred and dispersed over the neck of the womb. The cause of this immoderate flux is in the quan∣tity or quality of the blood; in both the fault is unreasonable copulation, especially with a man that hath a yard of a monstrous greatness, and the dissolution of the retentive faculty of the vessels: oftentimes also the flowers flow immoderately by reason of a painful and a difficult birth of the childe or the after-birth, being pulled by violence from the cotyledons of the womb, or by rea∣son that the veins and arteries of the neck of the womb are torn by the comming forth of the in∣fant with great travel, and many times by the use of sharp medicines, and exulcerating pessaries. Oft-times also nature avoids all the juice of the whole body critically by the womb after a great

disease, which flux is not rashly or suddenly to be stopped. That menstrual blood that floweth from the womb, is more gross, black, and clotty, but that which commeth from the neck of the womb is more clear, liquid and red.

CHAP. LVI. Of stopping the immoderate flowing of the flowers or courses.

YOu must make choce of such meats and drinks as have power to incrassate the blood; for as the flowers are provoked with meats that are hot, and of subtil parts, so they are stopped by such meats as are cooling, thickning, a stringent, and sliptick, as are barly-waters, sodden rice, the extreme parts of beasts, as of oxen, calves, sheep, either fried or sodden with sorrel, purslain, plantain, shepherd's-purse, sumach, the buds of brambles, berberries, and such like. It is supposed that a Harts-horn burned, washed, and taken in astringent water, will stop all immoderate fluxes; likewise sanguis draconis, terra sigillata, bolus armenus, lapis haematites, coral bea∣ten into most subtil powder, and drunk in steeled water; also pap made with milk, wherein steel hath oftentimes been quenched, and the flowr of wheat, barly, beans, or rice, is very effectual for the same. Quinces, cervices, medlars, cornelian-berries, or cherries may likewise be eaten at the second course. Julips are to be used of steeled waters, with the syrup of dry roses, pomegranats, sorrel, myrtles, quinces, or old conserves of red roses, but wine is to be avoided: but if the strength be so extenuated, that they require it, you must chuse gross and astringent wine tempered with steeled water; exercises are to be shunned, especially Venerous exercises, anger is to be avoided, a cold air is to be chosen, which (if it be not so naturally) must be made so by sprinkling cold things on the ground, especially if the summer or heat be then in his full strength; sound sleeping stayes all evacuations, except sweating. The opening of a vein in the arm, cupping-glasses fastened on the breasts, bands, and painful frictions of the upper parts are greatly commended in this malady.

But if you perceive that the cause of this accident lieth in a cholerick ill juice mixed with the blood, the body must be purged with medicines that purge choler and water, as Rubarb, Myroba∣lanes, Tamarinds, Sebestens, and the purging syrup of Roses.

CHAP. LVII. Of local medicines to be used against the immoderate flowing of the Courses.

ALso unguents are made to stay the immoderate flux of the terms, and likewise injections and pessaries. This or such like may be the form of an unguent. ℞. ol. mastich. & myrt. an. ʒii. nucum cupres. olibani, myrtil. an. ʒii. succi rosar. rubr. ℥i. pulv. mastichin. ℥ii. boli armen. ter∣rae sigillat. an ʒ ss. cerae quantum sufficit, fiat unguentum. An injection may be thus made. ℞. aq. plantag. rosar. rubr. bursae pastor. centinodii, an. lb ss corticis querni, nucum cupressi•• gallar. non maturar. an. ʒ ii. berberis, sumach balaust. alumin. roch. an. ʒi. make thereof a decoction, and inject it in a syringe blunt-pointed into the womb, lest if it should be sharp, it might hurt the sides of the neck of the womb; also Snails beaten with their shells, and applied to the navel, are very profitable. Quinces roasted under the coales, and incorporated with the powder of Myrtles, and Bole-Armenick▪ and put into the neck of the womb, are marvellous effectual for this matter. The form of a pessarie may be thus. ℞. gallar. immaturar. combust. & in aceto extinctar. ʒii. ammo. ʒ ss. sang. draco••. pulv. rad. symphyt. sumach. mastich. fucci acaciae, cornu cerust. colophon, myrrhae, scoriae ferri, an. ʒi. caphur. ℈ii. mix them, and incorporate them all together with the juice of knot-grass, syngreen, night-shade, hen-bane, water-lillies, plantain, of each as much as is sufficient, and make thereof a pessary.

Cooling things, as Oxycrate, unguentum rosatum, and such like, are with great profit used to the region of the loins, thighs, and genital parts: but if this immoderate flux do come by erosion, so that the matter thereof continually exulcerateth the neck of the womb, let the place be annoin∣ted with the milk of a shee-Ass, with barly-water, or binding and astringent mucelages, as of Psi∣lium, Quinces, Gum Tragacanth, Arabick, and such like.

CHAP. LVIII. Of Womens Flux••s, or the Whites.

BEsides the fore-named Flux, which by the law of nature happeneth to women monthly, there is also another called a Womans Flux, because it is only proper and peculiar to them: this sometimes wearieth the woman with a long and continual distillation from the womb, or through the womb, comming from the whole body without pain, no otherwise then when the whole superfluous filth of the body is purged by the reins or urine; sometimes it retur∣neth at uncertain seasons, and sometimes with pain and exulcerating the places of the womb: it differeth from the menstrual Flux, because that this for the space of a few daies, as it shall seem convenient to nature, casteth forth laudable blood; but this Womans Flux yeeldeth impure ill juice, somtimes sanious, sometimes serous and livid, otherwhiles white and thick, like unto barly-cream, proceeding from flegmatick blood: this last kind thereof is most frequent. Therefore we see wo∣men

that are phlegmatick, and of a soft and loose habit of body, to be often troubled with this di∣sease; and therefore they will say among themselves that they have the whites. And as the matter is divers, so it will stain their smocks with a different color. Truly, if it be perfectly red and sanguine, it is to be thought it commeth by erosion, or the exsolution of the substance of the vessels of the womb, or of the neck thereof: therefore it commeth very seldome of blood, and not at all except the woman be either great with childe, or cease to be menstrual for some other cause; for then in stead of the monthly flux there floweth a certain whayish excrement, which staineth her cloaths with the color of water wherein flesh is washed.

Also it very seldome proceeds of a melancholick humor, and then for the most part it causeth a cancer in the womb. But often-times the purulent and bloody matter of an ulcer lying hidden in the womb, deceiveth the unskilful Chirurgian or Physician: but it is not so hard to know these di∣seases one from the other; for the matter that floweth from an ulcer, because (as it is said) it is pu∣rulent, it is also lesser, grosser, stinking, and more white. But those that have ulcers in those places, especially in the neck of the womb, cannot have copulation with a man without pain.

CHAP. LIX. Of the causes of the Whites.

SOmetimes the cause of the Whites consisteth in the proper weakness of the womb, or else in the uncleanness thereof; and sometimes by the default of the principal parts. For if the brain or the stomach be cooled, or the liver stopped or schirrous, many crudities are engen∣dred, which if they run, or fall down into the womb that is weak by nature, they cause the flux of the womb, or Whites: but if this Flux be moderate, and not sharp, it keepeth the body from ma∣lign diseases; otherwise it useth to infer a consumption, leanness, paleness, and an oedematus swel∣ling of the legs, the falling down of the womb, the dejection of the appetite and all the faculties, and continual sadness and sorrowfulness; from which it is very hard to perswade the sick woman, because that her minde and heart will be almost broken, by reason of the shame that she taketh, because such filth floweth continually; it hindereth conception, because it either corrupteth, or driveth out the seed when it is conceived. Often-times, if it stoppeth for a few months, the mat∣ter that stayeth there causeth an abscess about the wound in the body or neck thereof; and by the breaking of the abscess there followeth rotten and cancerous ulcers, sometimes in the womb, some∣times in the groin, and often in the hips.

This disease is hard to be cured, not only by reason of it self, as because all the whole filth and superfluous excrements of a womans body floweth down into the womb, as it were into a sinke; because it is naturally weak, hath an inferior situation, many vessels ending therein; and last of all, because the courses are wont to come through it; as also by reason of the sick woman, who often∣times had rather die then to have that place seen the disease known, or permit local medicines to be applied thereto: for so saith Montanus, that on a time he was called to a noble woman of Ita∣ly, who was troubled with this disease, unto whom he gave counsel to have cleansing decoctions injected into her womb, which when she heard, she fell into a swound, and desired her husband never thereafter to use his counsel in any thing.

CHAP. LX. The cure of the Whites.

IF the matter that floweth out in this disease be of a red color, it differeth from the natural monthly flux in this only, because it keeps no order or certain time in its returning. There∣fore phlebotomy and other remedies which we have spoken of, as requisite for the menstru∣al flux, when it floweth immoderately, is here necessary to be used. But if it be white, or doth testifie or argue the ill juice of this or that humor by any other colour, a purgation must be prescri∣bed of such things as are proper to the humor that offends: for it is not good to stop such a flux suddenly; for it is necessary, that so the body should be purged of such filth or abundance of hu∣mors: for they that do hasten to stop it, cause the dropsie by reason that this sink of humors is turned back into the liver; or else a cancer in the womb, because it is stayed there; or a fever, or other diseases, according to the condition of the part that receiveth it. Therefore we must not come to local detersives, desiccatives, restrictives, unless we have first used universal remedies ac∣cording to art. Alum-baths, baths of brimstone, and of bitumen, or iron, are convenient for the whites that come of a phlegmatick humor; instead whereof baths may be made of the decoction of herbs that are hot, dry, and indued with an aromatick power, with alom and pebbles, or flint∣stones red hot thrown into the same. Let this be the form of a cleansing decoction and injection. ℞. fol. absynth. agrimon. centinod. burs-past. an. m. ss. boil them together, and make thereof a decoction, in which dissolve mellis rosar. ℥.ii aloes, myrrhae, salis uitri, an. ʒi. make thereof an injection▪ the woman being so placed on a pillow under her buttocks that the neck of the womb being more high, may be wide open: when the injection is received, let the woman set her legs across, and draw them up to her buttocks, and so she may keep that which is injected. They that endeavor to dry and binde more strongly, add the juice of acatia, green galls, the findes of pomegranats, roch-alome,

Romane vitriol, and they boil them in Smiths water and red-wine; pessaries may be made of the like faculty.

If the matter that commeth forth be of an ill color or smell, it is like that there is a rotten ul∣cer; therefore we ought to inject those things that have power to correct the putrefaction: among which Aegyptiacum, dissolved in lie or red wine, excelleth. There are women which when they are troubled with a virulent Gonorrhaea, or an involuntary flux of the seed, cloaking the fault with an honest name, do untruly say that they have the whites, because that in both these diseases a great abundance of filth is avoided. But the Chyrurgian may easily perceive that malady by the rotten∣ness of the matter that floweth out, and he shall perswade himself that it will not be cured with∣out salivation or fluxing at the mouth, and sweats. In the mean while let him put in an instrument made like unto a pessary, and cause the sick woman to hold it there: this instrument must have ma∣ny holes in the upper end, through which the purulent matter may pass, which by staying or stop∣ping might get a sharpness; as also that so the womb may breath the more freely, and may be kept more temperate and cool by receiving the air, by the benefit of a springe whereby this instrument, being made like unto a pessary, is opened and shut.

[illustration]

The form of an Instrument made like unto a Pessary, whereby the womb may be ventilated.

• A. Sheweth the end of the Instru∣ment, which must have many h••les therein.
• B. Sheweth the body of the In∣strument.
• C. Sheweth the plate whereby the mouth of the Instrument is opened, and shut, as wide and as close as you will, for to receive the air more freely.
• D. Sheweth the springe.
• EE. Shew the laces and bands to tie about the patients body, that so the Instrument may be staied and kept fast in his place.

CHAP. LXI. Of the Hoemorrhoids and Warts of the neck of the womb.

LIke as in the fundament, so in the neck of the womb, there are Hoemorrhoides, and as it were varicous veins, often-times flowing with much blood, or with a red and stinking whayish humor. Some of these, by reason of their redness and great inequality as it were of knobs, are like unripe Mulberries, and are called vulgarly venae morales, that is to say, the veins or hoemor∣rh••ids like unto Mulberries; others are like unto Grapes, and therefore are named uvales; other some are like unto warts, and therefore are called venae verucales: some appear and shew them∣selves with a great tumor, others are little, & in the bottom of the neck of the womb; others are in the side or edg thereof. Acrochordon is a kinde of wart with a callous bunch or knot, having a thin or slender root, and a greater head, like unto the knot of a rope, hanging by a small thred; it is called of the Arabians, veruca botoralis.

There is also another kind of wart, which because of its great roughness and inequality, is called Thymus, as resembling the flower of Thyme. All such diseases are exasperated and made more grievous by any exercise, especially by Venerous acts: many times they have a certain ma∣lignity, and an hidden virulency joined with them, by occasion whereof they are aggravated even by touching only; because they have their matter of a raging humor: therefore to these we may not rightly use a true, but only the palliative cure, as they term it: the Latines call them only fi∣cus, but the French men name them with an adjunct, Saint Fiacrius figs.

CHAP. LXII. Of the cure of the Warts that are in the neck of the womb.

THe warts that grow in the neck of the womb, if they be not malignant, are to be tied with a thred, and so cut off. Those that lie hid more deep in the womb, may be seen and cured by opening the matrix with a dilater made for the purpose.

[illustration]

Divers Specula matricis, or Dilaters for the inspection of the Matrix.

[illustration]

Another form of a Dilater, or Speculum matricis, whereof the declaration followeth.

• A. Sheweth the screw, which shutteth and openeth the dilater of the Matrix.
• BB. Shew the arms or branches of the instrument, which ought to be eight or nine fingers long.

But these Dilaters of the matrix ought to be of a bigness correspondent to the patients bodie▪ let them be put into the matrix, when the woman is placed as we have said, when the childe is to be drawn out of her bodie. That instrument is most meet to tie the warts, which we have de∣scribed in the relaxation of the palate or Ʋvula: let them be tied harder and harder every day until they fall away. Therefore for the curing of warts there are three chief scopes, as bands, sections, cauteries; and lest they grow up again, let oil of vitriol be dropped on the place, or aqua fortis, o•• some of the ••ee whereof potential cauteries are made. This water following is most effectu∣al to consume and waste warts. ℞. aq. plantag. ℥vi. virid. aeris, ʒii, alum. roch. ʒ iii. sal. com. ℥ss. vit. rom. & sublim. an. ʒ ss. beat them all together, and boil them; let one or two drops of this water be dropped on the grieved place, not touching any place else; but if there be an ulcer, it must be cured as I have shewed before. A certain man, studious of physick, of late affirmed to me, that Ox-dung tempered with the leaves or powder of Savine, would wast the warts of the womb, if it were applied thereto warm; which, whether it be true or not, let Experience, the mistress of things, be judge. Verily, Cantharides put into unguents will do it, and (as it is likely) more effectually; for they will consume the callousness which groweth between the toes or fin∣gers. I have proved by experience, that the warts that grow on the hands, may be cured by

applying of purslain beaten or stampt in its own juice. The leaves and flowers of Marigolds do certainly perform the self-same thing.

CHAP. LXIII. Of Chaps, and th••se wrinkled and hard excrescences, which the Greeks call Condylomata.

CHaps or Fissures, are cleft and very long little Ulcers, with pain very sharp and burning, by reason of the biting of an acrid, salt and drie humor, making so great a con∣traction, and often-times narrowness in the fundament and the neck of the womb, that scarcely the top of ones finger may be put into the orifice thereof, like unto pieces of leather or parchment, which are wrinkled and parched by holding of them to the fire. They rise some∣times in the mouth, so that the patient can neither speak, eat, nor open his mouth, so that the Surgeon is constrained to cut it. In the cure thereof, all sharp things are to be avoided, and those which mollifie are to be used, and the grieved place or part is to be moistened with fomentati∣ons, liniments, cataplasms, emplasters; and if the maladie be in the womb, a dilater of the ma∣trix or pessarie must be put thereinto very often, so to widen that which is over hard, and too much drawn together or narrow, and then the cleft little ulcers must be cicatrized. Condylomata are certain wrinkled and hard bunches, and as it were excrescences of the flesh, rising especially in the wrinkled edge, of the fundament and neck of the womb. Cooling and relaxing medicines ought to be used against this disease, such as are oil of eggs, and oil of lin-seed; take o•• each of them two ounces, beat them together a long time in a leaden morter, and therewith annoint the grieved part; but if there be an inflammation, put thereto a little Camphir.

CHAP. LXIV. Of the itching of the womb.

IN women, especially such as are old, there often-times commeth an itching in the neck of the womb, which doth so trouble them with pain, and a desire to scratch, that it taketh away their sleep. Not long since a woman asked my counsel, that was so troubled with this kinde of maladie, that she was constrained to extinguish or stay the itching burning of her secret parts by sprinkling cinders of fire, and rubbing them hard on the place. I counselled her to take Aegypt▪ dissolved in sea-water or lee, and inject it in her secret parts with a syringe, and to wet stupes of flax in the same medicine, and put them up into the womb, and so she was cured. Many times this itch commeth in the fundament or testicles of aged men, by reason of the gathering together or conflux of salt phlegm, which when it falleth into the eyes, it causeth the patient to have much ado to refrain scratching: when this matter hath dispersed into the whole habit of the bodie, it causeth a burning or itching scab, which must be cured by a cooling and moistning diet, by phle∣botomie and purging of the salt humor, by baths and horns applied, with sca••ification and an∣nointing of the whole bodie with the unction following. ℞. axung. porcin. recent. lbi ss. sap. nig. vel gallici, salis nitri, assat. tartar. staphysag. an. ℥ ss. sulph. viv. ℥ i. argent. viv. ℥ii. acet. ros. quart. i. incorporate them all together, and make thereof a liniment according to art, and use it as is said before; unguentum enulatum cum Mercurio is thought to have great force, not without desert, to asswage the itch and the drie scab, Some use this that followeth. ℞. alum spum. nitr. sulph. viv. an. ʒ vi. staphys. ℥i. let them all be dissolved in vinegar of Roses, adding thereto butyr. recent. q. s. make thereof a liniment for the fore-named use.

CHAP. LXV. Of the relaxation of the great Gut, or Intestine, which happeneth to women.

MAny women that have had great travel and strains in childe-birth, have the great in∣testine (called of the Latines crassum intestinum) or Gut, relaxed and slipped down; which kinde of affect happeneth much to children, by reason of a phlegmatick humor moistening the sphincter-muscle of the fundament, and the two others called Levatores. For the cure thereof, first of all the Gut called rectum intestinum, or the strait Gut, is to be fomented with a decoction of heating and resolving herbs, as of Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Tyme, and such like; and then of astringent things, as of Roses, Myrtils, the rindes of Pomegranats, Cypress-nuts, Galls, with a little Alum, then it must be sprinkled with the powder of things that are a∣stringent without biting; and last of all, it is to be restored, and gently put into its place. That is supposed to be an effectual and singular remedy for this purpose, which is made of twelve red Snails put into a pot with ℥ ss. of Alum, and as much of Salt, and shaken up and down a long time, for so at length when they are dead there will remain an humor, which must be put upon Cotton, and applyed to the Gut that is fallen down. By the same cause (that is to say, of painful childe-birth in some women) there ariseth a great swelling in the navel; for when the Peritonaeum is re∣laxed or broken, sometimes the Kall, and sometimes the Guts flip out: many times flatulencies come thither: the cause, as I now shewed, is over great straining or stretching of the belly, by a great

burthen carried in the womb, and great travel in childe-birth: if the falln-down Guts make that tumor, pain joined together with that tumor doth vex the patient; and if it be pressed, you may hear the noise of the Guts going back again: if it be the Kall, then the tumor is soft, and almost without pain; neither can you hear any noise by compression: if it be winde, the tumor is loose and soft, yet it is such as will yield to the pressing of the finger with some sound, and will soon return again: if the tumor be great, it cannot be cured, unless the peritonaeum be cut, as it is said in the cure of ruptures. In the Church-porches of Paris, I have seen Beggar-women, who by the falling down of the Guts, have had such tumors as big as a bowl, who notwithstanding could go, and do all other things as if they had been sound, and in perfect health: I think it was, because the faeces or excrements, by reason of the greatness of the tumor, and the bigness or wideness of the intestines, had a free passage in and out.

CHAP. LXVI. Of the relaxation of the navel in children.

OFten-times in children newly born, the navel swelleth as big an egg, because it hath not been well cut or bound, or because the whayish humors are flowed thither, or because that part hath ex••ended it self too much by crying, by reason of the pains of the fret∣ting of the childes guts, many times the childe bringeth that tumor joined with an abscess with him from his mothers womb: but let not the Chirurgian assay to open that abscess, for if it be opened, the guts come out through the incision, as I have seen in many, and especially in a childe of my Lord Martigues; for when Peter of the Rock, the Chirurgian, opened an abscess that was in it, the bowels ran out at the incision, and the infant died; and it wanted but little that the Gentleman of my Lords retinue that were there, had strangled the Chirurgian. Therefore when Iohn Gromontius the Carver desired me, and requested me o•• late that I would do the like in his son, I refused to do it, because it was in danger of its life by it alreadie, and in three daies after the ab∣scess broke, and the bowels gushed out, and the childe died.

CHAP. LXVII. Of the pain that chiildren have in breeding of teeth.

CHildren are greatly vexed with their teeth, which cause great pain when they begin to ••reak, as it were, out of their shell or sheath, and begin to come forth, the gums being broken, which for the most part happeneth about the seventh month of the childes age. This pain commeth with itching and scratching of the gums, an inflammation, flux of the belly, whereof many times commeth a fever, falling of the hair, a convulsion, at length death. The cause of the pain is the solution of the continuity of the gums by the comming forth of the teeth. The signes of that pain is an unaccustomed burning, or heat of the childes mouth, which may be perceived by the nurse that giveth it suck, a swelling of the gumbs and cheeks, and the childes being more way-ward and crying then it was wont, and it will put its fingers to its mouth, and it will ••ub them on its gums as though it were about to scratch, and it slavereth much. That the Physiaian may remedy this, he must cure the nurse as if she had the fever, and she must not suffer the childe to suck so often, but make him cool and moist when he thirsteth by giving him at certain times syrupus Alexandrinus, syrup, de limonibus, or the syrup of pomgranats with boyled water: yet the childe must not hold those things that are actually cold long in his mouth, for such by binding the gums, do in some sort stay the teeth that are newly comming forth; but things that lenifie and mollifie are rather to be used, that is to say, such things as do by little and little relax the loose flesh of the gums, and also asswage the pain. Therefore the Nurse shall often∣times rub the childes gums with her fingers annointed or besmeared with oil of sweet almonds, fresh-butter, honie, sugar, mucilage of the seeds of psilium, or of the seeds of marsh-mallows extracted in the water of Pellitorie of the wall. Some think that the brain of a hare, or of a sucking pig roasted or sodden, through a secret property, are effectual for the same: and on the out∣side shall be applyed a cataplasm of barlie-meal, milk, oil of roses, and the yelks of eggs. Also a stick of liquorice shaven and bruised and annointed with honie, or any of the forenamed syrups, and of∣ten rubbed in the mouth or on the gums, is likewise profitable: so is also any toy for the childe to play withall, wherein a wolves tooth is set, for this by scratching doth asswage the painfull itching, & raryfie the gums, and in some weareth them that the teeth appear the sooner. But manie times it happeneth that all these and such like medicines profit nothing at all, by reason of the contuma∣cy of the gums, by hardness or the weakness of the childes nature; therefore in such a case, before the fore named mortal accidents come, I would perswade the Chirurgian to open ••he gums in such places as the teeth bunch out with a little swelling, with a knife or lancet, so breaking and o∣pening a way for them, notwithstanding that a little flux of blood will follow by the tention of the gums: of which kinde of remedy I have with prosperous and happy success made tryal in some of mine own children, in the presence of Feureus, Altinus, and Cortinus, Doctors of Physick, and Cuillemeau the Kings Chirurgian, which is much better and more safe then to do as some nurses do, who taught only by the instinct of nature, with their nails and scratching, break and tear, or rent the childrens gums. The Duke of Neves had a son of eight moneths old▪

which died of late, and when we, with the Physicians that were present, diligently sought for the cause of his death, we could impute it unto nothing else, then to the contumacious hardness of the gums, which was greater then was convenient for a childe of that age; for therefore the teeth could not break forth, not make a passage for themselves to come forth: of which our judgment this was the trial, that when we cut his gums with a knife, we found all his teeth appea∣ring as it were in an arraie, redie to come forth, which if it had been done when he lived, doubt∣less he might have been preserved.

The end of the twentie fourth Book.

Notes

• The distincti∣on of male and female.
• The cause of this distincti∣on.
• What seed is.
• The conditions of good seed.
• Seed falleth from all the parts of the body.
• Wherefore many diseases are heredetary. How seed is to be understood to fa••l from the whole body.
• What moveth a man to copu∣lation.
• The cause of folding of the spermatick ves∣sels.
• W••mens te∣sticles more imperfect.
• Why many men▪ and wo∣men abhor ve∣nerous copu∣lation.
• Why the str n∣gury ensueth immoderate copulation.
• What things necessary unto generation.
• Why a male, and why a fe∣male is engen∣dred.
• Why men chil∣dren are soo∣ner formed in the womb 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then wom••n
• The seed is that in power from whence each thing cometh or floweth. Why the chil∣dren are most commonly like unto their Fa∣thers.
• When chil∣dren should be gotten.
• Why often∣times the childe resembleth the Grandfather.
• Why some∣times those that are diseased do get sound children.
• Why the sense of Venereo us acts is given to brute beasts.
• Why of brute beasts the males rageing with lust, fol∣low after the females. Wherefore a woman when she is with childe, desireth copulation.
• How women may be mo∣ved to Venery & conception.
• The meeting of the seeds most necessary for generation.
• Spots or specks in the faces of those that are with child.
• Why many women being great with childe refuse laudable meats, and de∣sire those that are illaudable and contrary to nature. The suppressed terms divided into three parts.
• Hip. 1. de morb. mul.
• Aph. 41. sect. 5.
• Why the fe∣male seed is nutriment for the male seed.
• A compendi∣ous way to un∣derstand hu∣mane con∣ception.
• Lib. de. nat. puer.
• What the C••ty∣ledones are.
• The vein ne∣ver joyneth it selfe with the artery.
• Hippocrates calleth all the membranes that compass the infa t in the womb, ac∣cording to the judgment of Galen in his book de usu p••rtium by the name of the secandines.
• An old opini∣on confuted.
• To what use the knots of the childes navel in the womb serve.
• The childe in the womb ta∣keth his nutri∣ment by his navel, not by his mouth.
• How the childe breath∣eth.
• The three bladders.
• When the seed is called an embryon.
• Why the liver is called Pa∣renchyma.
• Why the grea∣ter portion of seed goeth in∣to generation of the head and brain.
• Why the head is placed on the top of the body.
• Exod. 20 qu ••2.
• The me••a in the womb li∣veth not as the childe.
• The li••e goeth not into the mass of seed that doth en∣gender the childe, before the body of the childe and each part thereof hath his perfect proportrien and ••••rm. Why the life or soul doth not presently execute all his offices.
• 1. Co••c. 12.
• What the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or life is.
• The life is in all the whole body, and in every portion thereof.

  The life or soul is simple and ind••••si∣ble.

  Divers names, and the reason of divers ••••mes th••t are given to hu∣mane forms.
• Three kindes of living bo∣dies. The superiours soul containeth in it self all the powers of the inferiour.
• What the com∣mon sense. The function of the common sense is dou∣ble.
• what cause the internal sense is called the common sense. The common sense under∣standeth or knoweth those things that are simple only.
• What imagina∣tion is.
• What Reason is.
• The functions of Reason.
• What memory is.
• Wisdome the daughter of memory and experience.
• What an ex∣crement is.
• The excre∣ment of the first concocti∣on.
• The excrement of the second concoction is triple.
• The excrement of the third concoction is triple.
• The use of the navel-st••ing.
• The signs of speedy and ea∣sie deliverance.
• Children born without a pas∣sage in their fundament.
• Aph. 24. sect. 5▪
• Aph. 47. sect. 5.
• Why the infant is born some∣times with his head forwards.
• In the time childe-birth the bones of Ilium and Os sacrum are drawn and ex∣tended one from another.
• An Italian fa∣ble.
• The situation of the infant in the womb is diverse.
• Mankinde hath no cer••tin time to bring∣ing forth young.
• Why the childe is scarce alive in the eighth moneth.
• Lib. 4. de hist. anim. cap. 7.
• The natural and easie child-birth.
• How the wo∣men that tra∣velleth in childe-birth must be placed in her bed.
• An unction to supply the de∣fect of the wa∣ters that are flowed out too long before the birth. A powder to cause speedy deliverance in childe-birth.
• Aph. 35 & 43. sect. 5. c.
• A potion cau∣sing speedy de∣liverance.
• What a woman in travail must take presently after her deli∣verance.
• The cause of the after∣throws.
• Why the secun∣dine or after-birth must be taken away presently after the birth of the childe. The binding of the childes navel-string after the birth.
• The defaults that are com∣monly in chil∣dren newly born.
• The defaults of conformation must be spee∣dily amended.
• Remedies for the Cancer in a childes mouth.
• An old fable of King Chy∣pus.
• Which uncure∣able. Which and how they are cureable.
• Why it is cal∣led the secun∣dine.
• The causes of the st••ying of the secundines.
• Accidents ••hat follow the staying of the secundines. The manner of drawing out the secun∣dines that re∣main after the birth.
• The cause of the fal ing down of the womb.
• The accidents that come of the vio••ent pul••ing of the womb, toge∣ther with the secundine.
• To draw fleam from the childes mouth.
• Milk soon cor∣rupted in a flegmatick stomach.
• The mothers milk is most familiar for the childe.
• The disease of the Nurse is participated unto the childe
• Gel. lib. 12. ca.
• The best age of a Nurse.
• The best habit of body in a Nurse.
• Lib. de. i••f n••tr.
• Of what beha∣v••or the Nurse must be.
• Why the Nurse must abstain from copulati∣on.
• What dugs a Nurse ought to have.
• What is to be observed in the milk.
• The laudable consistence of milk.
• Why the milk oug••t to be very white.
• Why a woman that hath red hair, or fre∣cles on her face cannot be a good Nurse.
• What that Nurse that hath born a man-childe is to be p eferred before another.
• Why she can∣not be a good Nurse who••e childe was born befo••e the time▪
• Anger ••reatly hu teth the Nurse. The exercise of the arms is best for the Nurse. How the childe should be pla∣ced in the Crad••e.
• Why an arch of wickers must be made over the childes head lying in the Cradle. Why a squint-eyed Nurse causeth the childe to be squint eyed.
• How children become left-handed.
• Three lauda∣ble conditions of pap.

  How the meal must be prepa∣red to make the pap with∣all.

  Why the meal wherewith the pap must be made, must first be boiled or baked.
• Lib. 1 de sanit. ••ut••d.
• A cataplasm to re••ax the childes belly.
• For the fret∣ting of the guts in chil∣dren.
• For the ulcers o•• the nipples or tears.
• What mode∣rate crying worketh in the infant. What immo∣derate crying causeth.
• When childre•• must be wea∣ned.
• Why children must not be weaned be∣fore their teeth appear. How children, must be wea∣ned.
• What children are strong and sound of body.
• An often cause of sudden crookedness.
• A most certain sign of the child dead in the womb.
• When the child is dead in the womb he is more heavy then he was before being alive.
• That which is alive wi••l not suffer that which is dead.
• Lib. de tumorib.
• Why the belly of a woman will be more big when the childe is dead within her then it was before when it was alive.
• The signs of a woman that is weak.
• After what sort the wo∣man in travail must be placed when the child being dead in her womb must be drawn out.
• How she must be bound.
• How the Chi∣rurgian ought to prepare himself and his patient to the drawing out of the child from the womb. How the in∣fant that is dead in the womb must be turned, bound and drawn out.
• A caution to a∣v••id strangling of the infant in drawing out the body.
• Why the child must not be drawn out with his hands forwards. An history.
• To diminish the winde wherewith the infant being dead in the womb. swel∣leth and is puf∣fed up that he cannot be got∣ten out of the womb.
• How the head of the infant if it remain in the womb se∣parated from the body, may be drawn out.
• Why the head being alone in the womb, is more d fficult to be out.
• Cold an ene∣my to women in travail.
• What acci∣dents follow the taking of cold in a wo∣man that is delivered of childe.
• Secundines must be laid to the region of the womb whilst they be warm.
• Unguents for the woman in travail that the region of the belly may not be wrinkled. The medicine called Tela Gualterina.
• A powder for the s••etting of the guts.
• What must be done when the groin is to••n in childe-birth
• To drive the milk down∣ward.
• By what rea∣son, and which way cupping-glasses being fastned on the groin or above the navel, do draw milk out of the breast.
• A stringent so mentations for the privy parts
• A distilled li∣quor for to draw together the dugs that are loose and slack.
• The causes of the difficult childe-birth that are in the woman that travaileth.
• The passions of the minde binder the birth.
• The causes of d fficult child-birth th••t are, in the infant.
• The ex••ernal causes of diffi∣cult childe-birth.
• Which is an easie birth. What causeth easiness of child-birth.
• What Aborti∣on is.
• What Effluxi∣on is.
• Women are in more pain by reason of th effluxion then at the true birth. The causes of Abortion.
• Girding of the belly may cause untimely birth.
• How bathes and hot houses cause untimely birth.
• Hip apb. 53. & 37. sect 5. Hip. aph. 45. sect. 5.
• Hip. aph. 38. sect. 5.
• Women are in more pain at the untimely birth then at the due time of birth.

  The error of the first childe-birth conti∣nues after∣wards.

  A plaster stay∣ing the infant in the womb.
• What children are ten or ele∣ven moneths in the womb.
• A male will be born soon∣ner then a fe∣male.
• Why it is not sufficient to preserve life in the childe to hold open the mouth and pri∣vie parts of the mother so soon as she is dead, and the childe alive in her body.
• How the bel∣lie of the wo∣man that dieth in travel must be cut open to save the childe.
• How it may be known whether the infant be a∣••ive or not.
• What superfe∣tation is.
• A womans womb is not distinguished into diverse cells.
• The reason of superfetation.
• Lib. de super∣s••tatiembus. Why the wombt after the conception of the seed, doth many times after∣wards open.
• Lib. 7. cap. 1••.
• The reason of the name.
• What a Mola is.
• Lib. de steril.
• Cap 7 lib 4. de usu part.
• How the Mola is engendered.
• The signes of a mola inclo∣sed in the womb.
• By what fa∣cultie the womb mo∣veth.
• How the mo∣tion of the Mola differeth from the motion of the infant in the womb.
• The mola doth turn to each side of the womb▪ a•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on o•• the body is.
• A history.
• The descripti∣on of a Mola carried seven∣teen yeers in the womb.
• A vain or un∣profitable con∣ception.
• The Mola kills the in∣fant in the womb, when it is fastened unto it.
• Those things that provoke the flowrs for∣cib y, do also consume or waste the Mola.
• The Chirurgi∣•••• ••x••••ction of the Mola.
• An history.
• Apostumes of divers •• ind•• in the Mesente∣rium.
• The accidents that come when the Me∣senterium is se∣parated from the bodies ad∣joining.
• The dropsie comming of a tumor of th•• Mesenterium.
• Tom. 1. tra. ••. cap. 1.
• Lib 6. part mor. cap 7. The Mesenteri∣um is the ••in•• or the body.
• The Scrophu∣laes in the Mesenterium.
• A scirrhus of the womb.
• How the seed in unfertil.
• How the cut∣ting of the veines behinde the ears ma∣keth men bar∣ren.
• The defa••lts of the yard.
• The sign of the palsie in the yard.
• Magick bands and enchanted knots.
• The cause why the neck of the womb is nar∣row.
• The mem∣brane called Hymen.
• The cause of the flux of women.
• Aph. 36. sect. 5. Gal. lib. 14. de usu par. cap. 9. Arist. in prob. sect. dester. quae. 3. & 4.
• The signs of a hot womb.
• The signs of a cold womb▪
• The signs of a moist womb.
• The signs of a dry w••mb.
• A meet time for conception.
• Arist. l. 7. de hist. anim c. 2. &c. 5.
• Lib. 7. ca. 14. Lib. 6. cap 12.
• Lib. 7 de hist. a∣nim. c. 1. &, ••. 6.
• Lib. 7. cap 14.
• What is the falling down of the womb.
• The causes.
• A••ist. Lib. 7. de histor. anim. cap. 2.
• The signes.
• The prog∣nost••ca••ions.
• An historie.
• Remedies for the ascention of the womb.
• For the falling down of the womb, proper∣ly so called.
• A discussing and hearing fomentation.
• How vomiting is profitable to the falling down of the womb.
• The cutting away of the womb when it is putrified. Lib. 6.
• Epist. 39. lib. 2. Epist. m••d.
• Trac. de mi••and▪ mo••b. caus.
• An history.
• Antimoniam taken in a po∣tion do••h cause the womb to fall down.
• The signs of the substance of the womb drawn out.
• Whether there be a mem∣brane called Hymen.
• An history
• Lib. 11 cap. 16
• Lib. 3. se••t 2••. tract. 1. cap. 1.
• The trifles of midwives ab••ut the membrane cal∣led Hymen.
• What virgins at the fi••st time of copula••ion do not bleed as their privy parts. Lib. 3.
• The filthy de∣ceit of bands and harlots.
• Lib. de prost. damon cap. 3••.
• What is the strangulation of the womb.
• Why the womb swelleth.
• The accidents that come of the strangling of the womb.
• Why the strangulation that cometh of the corrup∣tion of the seed, is more dangerous then that that comes of the corruption of the blood.
• The cause of the divers turn∣ings of the womb into di∣vers parts of the body.
• The womb is not so greatly moved by an accident, but by it self.
• Whereof come such divers ac∣cidents of strangulation of the womb.
• The cause of sleepiness in the strangula∣tion of the womb.
• The cause of drowsie mad∣ness.
• A history.
• The ascention of the womb is to be distin∣guish••d from the strangula∣tion.
• The womb it self doth not so well make the ascention as the vapor thereof.
• Women living taken for dead.
• How women that have the suffocation of the womb, live only by tran∣spiration with∣out breathing.
• How flies, gnats and pis∣mires do live all the winter without brea∣thing.
• A history.
• The signs of suffocation of the womb comming of corrupt seed.
• The signs when it comes of the suppres∣sion of the flowers.
• The signs of one recovering of or from the suffocation of the womb.
• Why the sup∣pression of the seed is not pe∣rilous or dead∣ly to men.
• The pulling of the hairs of the lower parts are profitable both for this malady and for the cause of the same.
• A Pessary.
• 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.
• Avicen's secret for suffocation of the womb.
• Castoreum drunken. Expressions in∣to the womb.
• The matter of pess••ries.
• A glyster scat∣tering gross vapors.
• A quick, cer∣tain, & a plea∣sant remedy for the suff••cation of the womb.
• Tickling of the neck of the womb.
• The reason of the names of the moneth••y flux of women.
• What women d conceive, this flux not appea••••g at all.
• What wome•• have this m••n∣strual flux of∣ten, abundant∣ly, and for a lo ger space then others.
• What women h••ve this fl••x m••re 〈◊〉〈◊〉, le••, and a far more short time then others.
• Why young women are purged in the new of the Moon.
• Why old wo∣men are purged in the wane of the Moon.
• The material cause of the Monethtly flux.
• When the monthly flux begins to flow.
• The final cause.
• A woman ex∣ceeds a man in quantity of blood.
• A man excee∣deth a women in the quality of his blood.
• A man is more hot than a wo∣man, and there∣fore not men∣strual.
• The foolish endeavor of making the ••rifice of the womb narrow is ••••warded with the dis∣commodity of stopping of the flowers. What women are called Vi∣ragines. Lib. 6. epidem. sect. 7. The women that are called viragines are barren.
• Why the stran∣gury, or bloo∣diness of the urine follow∣eth the sup∣pression of the flowers.
• Histories of such as were purged of their menstrual flux by the nose and dugs.
• To what wo∣men the sup∣pression of the months is most grievous.
• Why the vein called Basilica in the arm must be ope∣ned be••ore the vein ••aphena in the foot. Hors-leeches to be aplied to the neck of the womb.
• Plants that provoke the flowers.
• Sweet things.
• An apozeme to provoke the flowers.
• What causes of the stopping of the flowers must be cured before the di∣sease it self.
• The fittest time to pro∣voke the flow∣ers. Why hot hou∣ses do hurt those in whom the flowers are to be pro∣voked.
• What women do love, and what women do loath the act of genera∣tion when the months are stopped. With what ac∣cidents those that are mar∣riageable and are not marri∣ed, are trou∣bled. The cause of so many acci∣dents.
• Aph. 36 sect. 5.
• Lib. 2. de subt.
• The efficient cause of the milk is to be noted.
• By what p••res the flowers do flow in a wo∣man and in a maid.

  The causes of an unreasona∣ble flux of blood.
• The critic••l flux of the flowers. The signs of blood flowing from the womb or neck of the womb.
• The instituti∣on or order of life.
• Purging.
• An unguent.
• An astringent injection.
• A stringent pessaries.
• The reason of the name.
• The differen∣ces.
• What women are apt to this flux.
• Womens fl••x commeth ve••y seldom of blood.
• By what signs an ulcer in the womb may be known from the white flowers.
• How a wo∣mans flux is who e••••me. How it caus∣eth diseases.
• How it le••te••h the concep••ion.
• Why it is hard to be cured.
• An history.
• If the flux of a woman be red, wherein it d ffereth from the menstrual flux.
• A womans flux is not sud∣denly to be stopped.
• What baths are profitable.
• An astringent injection.
• The signs of a putrified ulcer. in the womb.
• The v••rulent Gonorrhaea is like unto the flux of women.
• The differen∣ces of the Hae∣morrhoids of the neck of the womb.
• What an Acro∣cho••don is.
• What a Thy∣mus it.
• S. Fiacrius figs.
• What warts of the womb must be bound and so cut off.
• Three scopes of the cure of warts in the womb. An effectual water to con∣sume warts.
• Unguents to consume warts.
• What Chaps are.
• The cure.
• What Condylo∣mata are.
• The cure.
• What the itch of the womb.
• A historie.
• The cause of the itch.
• The virtue of unguent. enulat.
• The cause▪
• The cure.
• An effectual remedy.
• The diff••ren∣ces and signs.
• An historie.
• An abscess not to be opened.
• An historie.
• The time of breeding of the teeth.
• The cause of the pain in breeding teeth. The signs.
• The cure.
• What power scratching of the gums hath to asswage the pain of them.
• An historie.