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. 2. Of the stoppage of the Terms.

THe Terms are said to be stopped, when in a Woman ripe of Age, which gives not suck, and is not with Child, there is a seldom, smal, or no evacuation of blood by the Womb, which used to be every month.

The cause of this stoppage is either in the Womb, or in its Vessels, or in the blood which comes, or ought to come that way.

Divers Diseases of the Womb may cause this Disease; namely, a cold Distemper, and dry, which thickeneth and bindeth the Body of the Womb; or a hot and dry distemper by drying the part, or burning up the nourishment thereof, from whence come evil humors, which being fastened in the part, hinder the Terms from flowing. Also the Organical Diseases of those parts, as inflamation, or scirrhus, the turning of the inward mouth thereof, or compression from the Tumors of the parts adja∣cent, or the Omentum or Caul growing too thick. The thickness of the Womb it self, Ulcer, or Scars, which they leave, or from the tearing of the Cotyledones, or Mouths of the Vessels, in a great Abortion.

The Vessels of the Womb do often suffer Obstruction, which is the chief cause of stopping of the Terms, and they come from cold and thick Humors: somtimes there is a suppression of those Veins by binding of them, and that is from the parts adjacent being stretched and swoln, as we said in the binding or closing of the Womb.

The blood offending either in quantity, quality, or motion, may be cause of the obstruction of the Courses. It offends in quantity, when it is too much or too little; too much, when it stretcheth out the Veins, so that they cannot contract themselves to expel it; as in the bladder when it is too full of Urine, it cannot contract it self to send it forth; too little, when the Body hath not blood e∣nough to nourish it.

The blood offends in quality, when it is thicker, and more slimy of its own Nature, by reason of the cold distemper of the Liver, and other parts, or from the mixture of thick and flegmatick or me∣lanchollick humors, from whence commonly Obstructions come.

The blood offends in motion, when it passeth other waies, as by the Nose, vomiting, spittle, u∣rine, hemorrhoids, and many other parts. I saw a Maid who had a Sore in her head, which opened every month, and bled plentifully; and we have seen many that have sent forth blood at fixed times by their Lungs; and this evacuation was instead of a Menstrual flux.

The external Causes, are cold and dry Air, Northern winds, often going into cold water, especi∣ally in the time of their flux; too little or two much meat, either too thick and cold, or too astrin∣gent; also hot things, as too much Salt and Spice by drying of the substance of the Liver, and other parts, and by drying up the blood, by which it groweth thick, and fit to stop; violent exercise and watchings, which do consume the blood; long sleep, and idleness, which do weaken the Natural heat, and cause Crudities; too long retaining of Excrements; by usual bleeding at the Nose, He∣morrhoids, Diarrhoea, and other evacuations by vomit, urine, or sweat; and lastly, great passions of the mind, anger, sudden fear, sorrow, jealousie, and the like.

The Knowledge of this is to be taken from the Patients relation; but because it comes either from Natural or Preternatural Causes, we shal lay down some distinguishing signs, left the Physitian be deceived by Women that would dissemble their being with Child, and left he should rashly prescribe Medicines to provoke Terms to Women with Child.

First, If they be with Child, they have commonly their Natural Complexion; but others are pale and ill colored.

Secondly, The Symptomes which Women with Child have at the first, do dayly decrease; but in others stoppage of the Terms, by how much the longer the Terms stop, by so much the more the Symptomes encrease.

Thirdly, In Women with Child, after the third Month, you may perceive the Scituation and Mo∣tion of the Infant, by laying your hand upon the inferior Belly; in others there is a Tumor to be felt,

but it is oedematous or flegmatick, not hard; neither is it proportionable to the Womb.

Fourthly, If a wise Midwife touch the inward Mouth of the Womb, it will not be so close shut as in women with Child, but rather hard, and contracted, and full of pain.

Fiftly, Women with Child are commonly merry, and little disturbed; but when the Terms are otherwise stopped, they are sad and sorrowful.

The Signs of the Causes are these:

The faults of the Womb which use to cause stoppage of the Terms, shal be laid down in the follow∣ing Chapters; but the greatest part of them is found out by touching, seeing, and relation of the Pa∣tients.

The Obstruction and straightness of the Vessels of the Womb are known by pain in the Loyns, and parts adjacent, especially in the time the Terms should flow, and if any thing flow at that time, it is slimy, white, and blackish. Now the Diseases of the adjacent parts, which may shut the mouth of the Womb, or the Veins, will appear by their proper signs.

You may know the abounding of blood in the Veins, by the swelling of the Veins in the Thighs and Arms, especially if the Woman be fleshy and red, and have fed high. You may suppose there is want of blood, if the Woman be fat, if she have had a long Feaver went before, or loathing of meat. The evil quality of the blood is known by the evil habit of the Body, by the distemper of the Liver, and other parts, and especially by the blood it self, if you can see some of it. The preposterous mo∣tion of the blood, when it flows another way, is manifest of it self.

As to the Prognostick. The stoppage of the Terms is very dangerous, and many great diseases come thereof, and some in the Womb it self, as swellings, imposthumes, and Ulcers; others in the whol Body, and divers parts thereof, as Feavers, Obstructions, evil Habits, Loathing, Dropsie, Heart∣ach, Cough, short Breathing, Fainting, sore Eyes, Madness, Melancholly, Headach, Joynt-gout, and the like. Hippocrates, Lib. 1. of Womens Diseases, hath shewed the encrease of Diseases from the stopping of the Terms, in these words. The third month after the stoppage of the Terms, they begin to feel suffocations, or shortness of breath, with horrors, heaviness of the Loyns, and somtimes a Feaver. But if it last long, the Belly grows hard, they piss much, they loath meat, and watch much, they grate their Teeth in sleep; and if they continue longer stopped, the pains will be greater; but in the sixth month, that Disease which was formerly curable, will be then incurable: then she wil be troubled in mind, and faint, vomit flegm, thirsty, the Belly about the Privities will be pained, there will be a Feaver, and the Body bound, and the Urine stopped, the Back will ach, and she will stammer. Afterwards the Leggs, Feet, and Belly will swell, and the Urine be red, bloody, and pain over all the Body, especially the Neck and Back-bone, and Groyns, and so they die of a Dropsie. Thus far Hippocrates. But here is a doubt, because the Author saith, That in the sixt month the Disease is incurable, when Experience teacheth the contrary: and Hippocrates himself, 4. Epid. re∣ports that a Maid who had her Terms stopped for seven Yeers, was restored to health by the return of them. Hippocrates may be reconciled to himself, by saying, That after six months the Disease is incurable, when the Terms are in the Body or Cavity of the Womb, because there they putrefie, and come to suppuration, as in the After-birth, or Blood retained. But this is not to be understood of e∣very Suppuration.

That Stoppage is least dangerous which comes from plenty of good Blood, or fat, bleeding, or o∣ther Evacuations, because those Causes may easily be removed.

That is harder to be cured which comes from heaviness of Humors, Obstruction of Vessels, or straitness, because that stubborn Humor, getting into the innermost passages, cannot be got forth but by long pains and Medicines, which Women are very unwilling to receive.

That stoppage which cometh from the distemper only of the Womb, is worst, because the part being hurt by propriety is hard to be cured by reason of the continual flux of Humors, which the part is disposed to receive, and therefore is called the Jakes of the whol Body.

The Cure of this Disease is divers, according to the variety of the Causes. And first, if it come from too much blood, you must abate the quantity by Phlebotomy in the Arm; for if the lower veins should be first opened, the blood would be drawn more to the Womb, where it would make greater obstruction and distention of Vessels, and break them, or cause Inflamation of the Womb.

After the Plethory, or abundance of blood is taken away, you must draw the blood down by ope∣ning the lower Veins about the time that the Patient used before to be clensed, as also by Frictions, Ligatures, Cupping-glasses, dry, and with Scarrification.

These things done, you must relax and soften the parts of the Womb with Fomentations, and Baths, and moistening Unguents; which if they cannot master the Disease, you may give Hysterical Purges, and such as do properly provoke the Terms, which we shal after descrhibe, cusing the mil∣dest.

If want of Blood be the cause, as after long Feavers, great Evacuations, and Extenuation of the Bo∣dy, you must not provoke them till you have used Restoratives, and blood be renewed, and whatso∣ever

is the cause of extenuation be removed; which things being done, the Terms do commonly flow of themselves; which if they do not, but Nature forgets her office, you must open the inferior Veins, and use the Medicines afore mentioned, so that you take not away too much blood, becaus the strength is little, and lest the Patient fal into a Consumption. But here you must diligently mark, That every extenuation of the body doth not signifie want of blood, but only after great evacuations & consuming Causes; for it comes to pass somtimes, that the Terms stopt in the Veins get an evil quality, which makes the blood unfit to nourish: hence comes leanness, although the Veins be filled with much bad blood, and then large bleeding is very good, as Galen confirms, Comment. 3. in Lib. 6. Epid. I (saith he) cured a Woman that had her Courses stopped eight months, when she was lean by draw∣ing much blood; as also others. But what happened to that famous Woman was remarkable; I opened a Vein when other Physitians feared the success, and were against me, saying that it must hurt her, not only because she was lean, but also because she had no stomach to eat. But these yong Physitians had a more Sophistical way, to observe what happened to the Patients, and to neglect the affects and Causes, which are the ground of Cure. I took (to my best remembrance) the first day, a pint and an half of blood from the woman; the next day one pint; the third, not above half a pint, or eight ounces. Thus Galen. By which it is manifest, That from lean women, of this dis∣ease, you may take a great quantity of blood, although the women of our Age will not en∣dure it.

The stoppage of the Courses comes from a preposterous motion of the blood, when it is sent forth by the Nose, Vomiting, spitting, or Hemorrhoids, and the like: The Cure is by repelling it from those parts, and bringing it to the passage of the Womb. First (while they bleed) you must wash Arms, Head, and Face, with cold Water, and keep them from the use of those parts, especially loud speaking; then you must open a Vein beneath. Two or three daies before they bleed, apply Cupping-glasses to the Thighs and Calves of the Leggs, somtimes dry, somtimes with scarrification; by provoking the Hemorrhoids, by Frictions, Ligatures, Walking, Fomentations, Baths of ope∣ning Herbs, Oyntments, Pessaries, Clysters for the Womb, and the like, which shall be described hereafter. The use of a Natural Bath is principally commended, if it be of brimstone or Bitumen; into which let the Patient go often, long before, and after meat, not above the Wast, and at the same time, let the upper parts be cooled with a Fan, lest by the heat of the Bath, they also wax warm.

If Blood flow from the Hemorrhoids being diverted from the Womb, it is hard to be cured; for if you use Attractions to the lower parts, they will go by stool, and if you use Astringents below, they will repel from the womb by the neerness of parts. Therefore there is no way of Cure but this, That after you have used Attractive things beneath, you apply Topical Medicines to the Womb, which may draw the Humor now in motion, more unto the Womb.

But that Suppression of the Courses is of all other most frequent, which is caused by obstruction of the Veins of the Womb. The Cure whereof, is in a manner the same which hath been propounded in the Case of Pale and discolored Virgins, some things only being added, which do more specifically respect the Womb.

In the first place therefore, All those things may be used in their order one after another, which have been prescribed for the Cure of the Green-sickness. And for the most part it falls out that the Obstructions of the Bowels being opened, the Courses flow of their own accord: whose Eruption may yet be furthered by the use of such things as cause the Humors to work downwards; as opening of the Inferior Veins, about that time when the Courses have been wont to come down; or instead of Blood-letting, Cupping-Glasses fastened unto the Hips and Ankles, both without and with Scarrifi∣cation, frictions of the same parts, and painful bindings.

If the Disease be so rebellious as not to give way to the former Remedies, we must proceed to such as by a proper and specifical vertue, do move the Courses, which are wont to be used under divers forms. And in the first place, most effectual Pouders, and grateful to the Tast, are thus made:

Take Cinnamon and Amber, of each one scruple: Saffron half a scruple. Mix all, and make them into a Pouder, to be taken divers mornings one after another. Or,

Take Pouder of the Roots of Madder, such as Diers use, and Sugar Poudered, of each one ounce. Mix them, divide all into three parts; of which, give one at the time in which the Courses should flow, early in the morning in hot Wine, while the Patient is yet in her bed; wherein let her continue five hours, well covered with cloathes. If her courses shall not flow the next course of the Moon, at the wonted time, give her the second part: If yet they come not, give her the third part at the third return of the time of her Courses. Or,

Take Roots of round Birthwort half a dram: Savin Leaves dried one dram and an half: Dictamnus Cretensis, and Troches of Mirrh, without Assafoetida, because of the strong smell, of each one dram: Elect Cinnamon two drams: white Sugar two ounces. Make all into a most fine Pouder, of which let her take two drams in the morning for certain daies together, with broth of red Vetches, wherein two drams of Cinnamon, and half a dram of Saffron have been boyled.

Most excellent Pills are made after this manner:

Take Troches of Mirrh one dram: Castorium half a scruple. With Juyce of Mugwort make smal Pills.

Among familiar Medicines easily provided, are accounted the flowers of Lavender eaten with Ho∣ney many daies together, or Conserve of Mary-gold flowers, given to the quantity of two drams at a time.

The Blood of a wild Goat, and likewise of a tame one, hath mighty vertue to bring down the stop∣ped Courses according to that preparation and dose propounded in our Cure of the Pleurisie.

In hot Constitutions, Cream of Tartar used many daies together in Broth, or some Melancholly∣driving Decoction, does further the Courses stopped.

But the Pills of Montagnana are mightily praised, being thus compounded:

Take Troches of Mirrh one dram and an half: Parsley seed, Castorium, Cinnamon, of each one scruple: Musk ten grains. With Juyce of Smallage form all (being poudered) into twenty two Pills, gilt with Gold. Let her take two in the morning, or at her entrance into bed, for some daies together. Or,

Take Madder Roots, and round Aristolochia, or Birthwort, of each three drams: Agarick and Cinnamon, of each one dram: Saffron one scruple: With Juyce of Mugwort, make a Mass of Pills; whose dose is one dram.

Old Leven is commended by many, the quantity of a Chesnut, with the same quantity of Sugar, given three daies together. Yet it will do more good, if pouder of the Troches of Mirrh, Dictamnus, or some such like be mixed therewith.

The most usual and profitable Decoctions are made in this manner:

Take Roots of Parsley, and great Madder, of each two ounces: red Vetches four pugils: boyl them to a pint and an half. In the strained Liquor boyl Cinnamon Pouder one dram: Saffron half a dram: Honey as much as shall suffice: mix them. Let her take six ounces warm, in the mor∣nings twice a day, before her Courses break forth, or when they begin to flow, if they flow but spa∣ringly. Or,

Take Roots of Smallage, Asparagus, Fennel, of each one ounce: Feaverfew, Maiden-hair, Nep, Peny-royal, of each one handful: Boyl all to a quart. To four ounces of the straining, ad one ounce of Syrup of Mugwort. Let her drink it hot twice a day as before. Or,

Take Cyperus Roots, Angelica, Valerian, and Madder of the Diers, of each half a dram: Leaves of Mugwort Peny-royal, Savin, of each half a handful: Seeds of Carrots and Seseleos, of each one dram: Dictamnus Cretensis one dram and an half: Choyce Cinnamon four scruples: Saffron one scruple; make a Decoction to four ounces. In the straining add Syrup of Mugwort and Hysop, of each ha••f an ounce: make a Julep for one dose. Let her take it every other day.

Quercetanus in his Pharmacopoeia, doth exceedingly commend two Decoctions: the first of which is thus made:

Take Gromwelseed, Annis seed, Misselto of the Oak, of each three drams: Dictamnus Creten∣sis one dram: Saffron one scruple. Beat what is to be beaten, and steep all in rich white Wine twenty four hours: afterwards let them boyl a little. Of this Decoction give the Patient four ounces.

The other Decoction is thus described:

Take the whol Spleen or Milt of an Ox: cut it in bits, and put it in a capacious Glass, so as it may fill the Glass half full, adding of Cinnamon grosly poudered, one ounce: Cloves half an ounce: Saffron two drams: of the best white Wine as much as shall suffice only to moisten all that is in the Glass. Let the Glass closely stopped, be put into a Balneum Mariae exceeding hot, so that it boyl twenty four hours together, until the Spleen shall be boyled and consumed into little crums, and there remains a great quantity of Broth excellently well boyled, and of a very fragrant smel; of which let the Patient take in the marning four ounces, continuing the same for four or five daies, when her Courses ought to flow.

Distilled Waters ought to be preferred before other Liquors, as being more pleasant to the taste: and because of their subtil thinness of parts, they pierce more easily to the obstructed Vessels of the Womb.

The Preheminence above all the rest, is by Mercatus, Rodericus a Castro, and Sennertus, given to this following:

Take a Loaf almost as sowr as Leaven, indifferently baked, and hot; take away the Crust, and add thereto, of Honey twelve ounces, Pounder of Nettle seeds, Carrot seeds, Amy, Annis and Fennel seeds, of each one dram: Troches of Gallia Moschata, red Mirrh, of each one scruple: Co∣tula foetida, or stinking Fennel, half a dram. Infuse all in three pints of the Decoction below de∣scribed, which is made of red French Beans, and red Vetches, of each half a pugil: Juniper ber∣ries one ounce: Roots of Madder, Butchers Broom, wild Rhadish, Asparagus, Smallage, and

Parsley, of each two ounces: Green Germander one handful: Seeds of Amy, Annis, and Fen∣nel, of each two ounces: Boil all according to Art. Then stil the liquor out in Balneo Mariae; of which give to the Patient two ounces early in the morning. Also there may be added Syrup of Mai∣den-hair, of Opening roots, of Mugwort. Also the Dose may be augmented, the following daies, if the Stomach be not offended.

A Decoction of Guajacum or Sassafras is good in flegmatick bodies, also Dictamnus Creticus may be added; taking the same twelve or fifteen daies without sweating. Jacchinus relates an Experi∣ment thereof, writing upon the ninth of Rhasis, Chap. 66. I boiled (saies he) the Indian wood, and added Dictamnus thereto. By which I procured both her Courses, and Child-bearing to a Woman which had wanted her Courses five years, and had been Barren.

The Chymists commend Tartarum, Vitriolatum, Spirit of Tartar, M••xtura Spirital••s, Salts of Mugwort, Bawm, Celondine roots, and Valerian.

This Treacle-Water following is mervailously effectual to this intent.

Take old Venice-Treacle five ounces, Red Alexandrian, Mirrh two ounces and an half, Elect Cinnamon, Oriental Saffron, of each half a dram; Camphire two drachms. Pour upon them of the best Spirit of Wine, till it stand three singers breadth above the Ingredients, and draw out the Tincture with a gentle heat, whereunto being poured off without straining, add a sixt part of the Spirit of Tartar; The Dose is one spoonful with some appropriate Water, or Wine.

Whilst the aforesaid Remedies are in Use, Clysters frequently injected are exceeding good, be∣cause the Womb does rest upon the straight Gut, or Intestinum Rectum; and they may thus be compounded.

Take roots of Lillies one ounces, of Orice and Valerian, half an ounce of each, of Mercury leaves two handfuls, Mugwort and Savine of each one handful, Chamomel flowers and Lavender, of each one pugil, Seeds of Caraway and Nigella of each one dram; boil al to one pint. In the strai∣ned Liquor dissolve of Hiera simplex, and Benedicta Laxativa, of each half an ounce, Oleum Che••rinum two ounces, Electuarium de Baccis Lauri half an ounce. Mix al into a Cly∣ster,

Yea, And the truth is Purgations repeated at certain convenient seasons will be very good, which may be in divers manners prepared.

And in the first place Galen exceedingly commends the Pils of Hiera, simple and compound; be∣cause over and above their purging of superfluous humors, they have a faculty of opening the narrow passages, and of clensing the Womb. Or,

Take Aloes three drachms: Mass of Cochie pills one drachm, with juice of Savine forme twen∣ty pills; of which give the Patient three before dinner, every third day. Or,

Take Aloes one drachm: Choice Rhubarb one drachm and an half: Diagrydium one scruple: Mirrh and Asarum roots of each half a drachm: Spicknard one scruple. With Syrup of Mug∣wort make a Mass of Pil-Paste. The dose is from two scruples, to a drachm, made into pils. Or,

Take of the Mass of Chochie-pil-paste half a drachm: Mercurius dulcis twenty grains, with Syrup of Roses solutive forme eight pills, or six, Let her swallow them early in the morning.

Also outwardly, the Courses supprest, are wont to be holpen with these Topick Medicaments fol∣lowing, which must be outwardly applied, to widen the passages, make thin the humors, and to rouse and awake the Expulsive faculty.

Take roots of Briony, Lillies, Cyperus, Valerian, Angelica, Asarum, Orice, and of Parsly, of each an ounce Leaves of Mugwort, Baies. Rue, Savine, Time, Rosemary, Penyroyal, Nep, Mal∣lows, Mercury, of each one handful: Flowers of Elder, Cheiri, Chamomel, of each two pugils: Juniper berries two ounces: Boil all in Water and white Wine, with the strainings, let the Pati∣ents belly and the parts about the Privities be fomented with a sponge.

With the same Decoction, the Quantity of Ingredients being augmented, may be made a Bath to ••it in; wherein the Patient may sit up to her Navil, and the boiled Herbs being put into a bag must be applied to her belly. But let her take heed of sweating, which doth stop the Courses.

Take Oyl of Lillies, Dill and Rue, of each one ounce and an half: Generous Wine three ounces: Squinanth, roots of Bindweed, Angelica, the two Birthworts and Savin leaves of each half an ounce. Let them boil till the Wine be consumed. Let them be strained and the Oyl pressed out; wherewith warmed, let the share and parts about the Privities be anointed, after fomentation, or sitting in the Bath.

Moist suffumigations are made of the Vapour of the Decoction for the Fomentation, and for the sitting-Bath, which being moderatly heated, must be covered with a cover that hath a hole in it, where∣unto must be fastened a long pipe, which must reach into the neck of the Womb, through which let her receive the smoake morning and evening, being covered with cloaths▪

A drie Suff••••migation may be thus made.

Take Cloves, Cinnamon, Mace, of each two drachms: Juniper berries half an ounce: Nigella seeds one drachm: Storax two drachms. Make all into a gross pouder, which being laid on Coles, let her receive the smoake into the Womb, after her manner aforesaid. Or,

Take Storax two drachms: Frankinsence one drachm: Benjamin, Alipta Moschata, of each half an ounce: Cloves, Lignum Aloes, Cinnamon of each two scruples: With the Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, extracted with Cinnamon Water, make little Cakes for to burn as afore∣said.

Pessaries may be made after this manner.

Take of leaves of Mercury bruised one handful: Pouder of Hiera picra, and Benedicta Laxati∣va, of each two drachms: Pouder of long Birthwort one drachm: Honey and juyce of Mercury, as much as shall suffice, make all into a Pessary, Or,

Take of Agarick, Mirrh, of each two drachms: Galbanum half a drachm: Saffron one scruple: With clarified Honey make all into a Pessarie, which put into a warm thin rag, and conveigh into the Womb; but let it not abide long there for fear of inflamation.

Pilulae Cochiae minores, brought into the form of a Pessarie, doth excellently move the Courses.

Also injections are wont to be made into the Womb, which are wont to be called Womb-Cly∣sters; for they wash away the filth which cleaves to the sides of the Womb, and they open the inter∣nal Orifices of the Veins. Now they are made of the Decoction of the Fomentation aforesaid, ••lea∣ving out the more sharp things; or with a Decoction of fat Figs, with Mugwort, Penyroyal, and Mercury; or of the juyce of Mercury alone, purified, in which a little Benedicta Laxativa is dis∣solved. For we must by no meanes use more sharp Ingredients for fear of Inflamation. Yea, and after the use of the aforesaid Injections, which ought to be retained but an hour; it will be good to Inject a Decoction of Mallows, Barley, and Violet leaves, or a little Hydromel tempered with Whey of Goats-Milk▪

In an old inveterate Disease, Issues made in the Legs may do very much good. For although Sennertus approves not of them, because they rather derive from the Womb, and teach the humors which were wont to flow unto the Womb, to come rather that way, and hinder their inclinations to the Womb: Yet have they been found to do much good by the frequent experiences of Mercuria∣lis, Varandaeus, and others. For by those Issues the superfluous humors are continually evacua∣ted, and the Course of the humors is guided into the inferior parts. And the derivation of super∣fluous humors from the Womb, is so far from hindring the Flux of Courses to the Womb; that it rather furthers the same, by making the Blood more pure, and more obedient to the command of Na∣ture, which with the Humors aforesaid, is not drawn unto the Issues. And hereunto, that these Hu∣mors, if they be not by these waies evacuated, being retained inthe Veins, they double the Obstructi∣ons, and so do augment the suppression of Courses. Howbeit, We are of opinion, that the men∣strual purgations being restored to their due Course, the Issues ought to be closed up, that Nature may accustome her self to exclude superfluous Humors by the Womb.

In the Use of the Remedies aforesaid, some precepts are to be observed worthy of Note.

First, That we must never use Medicines that move the Courses, but after Universal Purgations; least the Humors being plentifully carried to the Veins of the Womb should increase Obstructions; or being much attenuated, should reach into other parts of the Body, and produce grievous Disea∣ses. As Schenkius relates in his Observations, that a Physitian of Venice gave a Woman that wanted her Courses a certain Apozeme to move them, not having first purged her Body of Flegm; and a little after she had taken her Apozeme, she fell into a Palsey.

Secondly, That in giving such things as bring down the Courses, we must begin with the gentler, proceeding by little and little to such as are stronger.

Thirdly, That Medicaments procuring the Flux of the Courses, must be given in greater quantity than ordinary, because their vertue is abated in their long passage from the Stomach unto the Womb.

Fourthly, That the Medicaments aforesaid, are to be given either in the morning, when the Pati∣ent is fasting, or somtimes at her going into, or coming out of the Bath: For so the Medicine slip∣ping into a warm and opened Body, doth powerfully exercise it's strength; and this it doth yet more effectually, if it be given a little before the inferior Veins be opened.

Fifthly, That Pessaries, and Womb-Clysters, or Injections, are only to be prescribed to married Women, and such as have been carnally imbraced by Men; but to Virgins we must prescribe Na∣scalia (viz. Wool dipped in the Medicament) Fomentations, Baths to sit in, and Suffuma∣gations.

Sixtly, In Cholerick or Melanchollick Constitutions, all hot Medicaments are to be avoided, and only the gentler and milder sort are to be used; and with them temperate Aperitines, or openers, as also moistning and softning Medicaments are to be mixed.