The practice of physick in seventeen several books wherein is plainly set forth the nature, cause, differences, and several sorts of signs : together with the cure of all diseases in the body of man / by Nicholas Culpeper ... Abdiah Cole ... and William Rowland ; being chiefly a translation of the works of that learned and renowned doctor, Lazarus Riverius ...

Chap. 23. Of Gripings after Child-bearing.

GRipings do so frequently betide Women in Child-bed, that very few Women are free from them. But they are not wont to seek to the Physitian for these Pains, because within two or three daies they go away. But if they happen more sharp, and of longer durance than ordinary, they are forced to send for the Physitian, who before he prescribe any thing, must consider the Causes.

The chief Causes of Gripings and Pains after Child-birth, are the plenty of Blood, its thickness, sharpness, and narrowness of the Vessels. For the Veins of the VVomb, having for nine months forborn their usual evacuation of blood, and the blood being gathered in great quantity, and by its

retention becoming thick and sharp; while it goes through the narrow passages, it causeth pains, which return by fits, as often as the womb endeavors a new expulsion of blood; which being over, they cease till such time as other blood doth seek its way forth.

Somtimes these gripings are caused by Winds, or by Cold received into the Womb, but not so often.

These Pains are differenced from others which are wont to afflict the Belly, by their continuance, and by the distances of holding up, which they observe according to distant fits of the bloods issuing forth: and the women themselves can easily distinguish these pains from all others.

Thick blood is known by clottering, but the thin blood by its tenuity, fresh color, or yel∣lowish.

If the Pain spring from wind, it is more wandring, being somtime in one part of the Belly, and somtimes in another; neither doth it observe the distances in which the Blood issues. If cold Air have entred the Womb, it may be known by a relation of what hath been acted about the sick woman.

These pains are not dangerous, but for the most part exceeding troublesom: therefore must be removed or mitigated as soon as may be.

The Cure of these Gripings ought to be directed to these ends; viz. That the Vessels of the VVomb be made wider, the Blood thinner, and its sharpness mitigated. All which may be accom∣plished by these following Medicaments.

And first of all, let the Patients Belly be gently swathed that her womb may settle, and not be mo∣ved this way and that way, as often falls out after Child-birth, by reason of the sudden eva∣cuation.

Then give her three ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds new drawn, with an ounce and an half of Sy∣rup of Violets, and two ounces of Hippocras.

Let Clysters be cast in of Milk and Sugar, with the Yolks of Eggs.

Or they may be made of a Decoction of Chamomel flowers, and Mugwort in Pullet Broth, ad∣ding Oyl of Lillies, and the Yolks of Egs.

Anoint her Belly with Carminating or Wind-expelling, and opening Oyls, as Oyl of Dill, Rue, Jasmine, or with this following, which being of great efficacy, ought to be made in time convenient, and kept in the Apothecaries Shop for such occasions.

Take Roots of round Birthwort, Orice, and Peony, of each one ounce: Cypress Roots half an ounce: dried Leaves of Mugwort, Feaverfew, Origanum, Calaminth, Penyroyal, Dictam∣nus Cretensis, Wormwood, Savin, Rue, Bettony, and Sage, of each one handful: Flowers of Rosemary, Stoechados, Lavender, Chamomel, Dill, St. Johns wort, and Elder, of each half a handful: Bay-berries, and Juniper berries, of each half an ounce: Seeds of Cummin, Rue, Piony, Carrots, and Agnus Castus, of each three drams: Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, of each two drams: Storax, and Mirrh, of each one ounce. Let all being beaten and cut, be stee∣ped in six pints of old Oyl, adding a little white Wine. And put them in an Earthen Vessel close stopped, the space of a week; and then boyl them over hot Embers the space of four o•• five hours; then let the Oyl be strained out, and reserved for use. If the foresaid Oyl be wansing upon occasion, let the foresaid simples boyl in equal portions of Oyl and white Wine, till the white Wine be consu∣med; then let the Oyl be strained out.

Also a Fomentation may be made of the Decoction of Mugwort, Bawm, Bay-leaves, Calaminth, Carrot seed, Cummin, and Caraway Seeds, Flowers of Cheiri and Chamomel in Water, white Wine or Milk. Or the following Cataplasm may be applied.

Take three or four Onions well boyled in Water; beat them in a Morter, and put thereto Seeds of Line and Cummin beaten, of each one handful: As much Chamomel flowers: Barley Meal as much as shall suffice to make all into a Pultiss. And if need be, add a little of the Water wherein the Onions were boyled. Spread it upon a Cloth, and apply it warm to her Navel.

It is likewise profitable to apply the Skin of a weather newly flead off while it is warm, to her Belly. For this kind of warmth is very neer of kin to our Natural heat, concocts and mitigates the cause of the pain; also it hinders the Skin of the Belly from gathering into wrinkles.

These following Medicines may be given inwardly:

Take Carrot Seeds poudered one dram: white Wine three ounces: Mix them. Give it warm twice a day. Or,

Take Nutmeg, Annis seed, Cinnamon, of each one scruple: mix them into a Pouder to be taken in white Wine; or give one scruple of Oyl of Nutmegs in Broth. Or,

Take Date and Peach Kernels, of each half a dram: Nutmegs four scruples: Pouder of Diamargaritum Calidum two drams: Annis seed one dram: Cinnamon two scruples: Saffron ten grains: Sugar the weight of all the rest. Make all into a most fine Pouder, whereof give two drams in Wine twice or thrice a day, if the pains are much.

Forestus gave a Decoction of Chamomel flowers in Beer, or a Decoction of Mugwort and Cha∣momel in Puller Broth with good ••ucce••s.

It's good presently after the is brought to bed, to give her the Broth of an old Cock, three daies together ear••y in a morning while she is fasting, with a little Cinnamon and Saffron.

The following Pouder taked presently after the delivery of a woman, doth wonderfully preserve her from Gripings; insomuch that it is thought, If it be given a woman after her first Childing, she wil never after in her following Lyings-In, be troubled with these Gripes.

Take the greater Comfry Root dried one dram: Peach Kernels and Nutmeg, of each two scru∣ples: Amber half a dram: Amber-greece half a scruple. Make all into a Pouder; of which let her take one dram in white Wine, or if she be Feaverish, in Broth.

For her ordinary Drink, let her use a Decoction of Mugwort with Cinnamon.

If the Gripings be caused by Chollerick and sharp humors, they are cured much after the same man∣ner that the Chollick is cured, when it proceeds from Choller. As for Example:

Take Syrup of Vio••••ts and Borrage, of each one ounce: Mucilage of Quince seeds drawn out with Violet Water, half an ounce: Water of Borrage and Scorzonera, of each three ounces. Mix all, make thereof a Julep for two Doses. Or,

Take Oyl of sweet Almonds two ounces: Syrup of Violets an ounce: Borrage Water half an ounce. Mix all for a draught.

External Medicines must likewise be used, such as are laxative and emollient, which do likewise by one and the same labor, ease pain.

Oftentimes, after they are brought to bed, women are pained in their Groyn, by reason of their wombs being gathered together like a ball in their Groyn. It is cured by applying to their Navel a Plaister of Galbanum and Anafoetida, in the midst whereof, some grains of Musk must be put.