Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XXII. BIRTH of a Living CHILD.

I. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Exaeresis; de∣tractio, evulsio (ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 evello, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ca∣pio) is that which teaches the way and manner of removing, or taking away things hurtful; the chief of which are, 1. The Li∣ving Birth. 2. A Dead Child. 3. The Secundine, or After∣birth. 4. A Mola. 5. The Caesarian Birth. 6. The Stone in the Bladder. 7. Teeth. 8. Bullets, Arrows, Thorns, Bones. 9. Urine stopped: Of all which in their order; and first of the Birth of a Living Child.

II. The time of Travail being come, known by the breaking down of the Water, unusual and strong Pains, and other Signs, the Wo∣man is to be put into a fit po∣sture, some put them to a Stool, (made on purpose, but now of little use) others put them on their Knees; some cause them to lean on Womens Shoulders; some to sit on Womens Laps; and others to lye on a Bed or Pallet.

III. Let her not strive till strong Pains come upon her, then let the Midwife put up her Hand, being first anointed with Oil of Roses, or rather with this. ℞ Oil of Ben, or of Bitter Almonds ℥j. Oil of Savin gut. 30. mix them. Then when the Thro's come strong and quick, and Nature helps forward the Ex∣pulsion, with her Hand, let her draw away the Child.

IV. But if she proves faint and weak, give her some Cordial Julep, as this; ℞ Black Cherry Water ℥iijss. strong Cinnamon Wa∣ter ℥j. Confectio Alkermes ℥ss. Syrup of Citron Peels ʒvj. mix them. Or this: ℞ Black Cherry Water ℥iv. Spirit of Saffron and Angelica, a. ℥ss. Syrup of Citron Peels ʒvj. mix them, of which give now and then a Spoonful, two, or three, as you see need.

V. If the Travail be slow, you may hasten it by giving this: ℞ Aqua Elementaria (the ma∣king of which you will have in the Pharmacopoeia following)

℥iv. Tincture of Saffron ℥j. Tinct. of Castor ℥ss. Juice of Penny-royal ʒiij. mix, and sweeten with double-refined Sugar; of this give her a Spoonful or two of∣ten.

VI. Or in place of the former, you may give this: ℞ Borax ℈ij. Saffron, Salt of Amber, a. ℈ss. mix, being in Pouder, give them in a Glass of White-wine. Or this: ℞ Pouder of the Livers and Galls of Eels ℈j. Borax in fine Pouder, Saffron, a. ℈ss. mix for a Dose, to be given as aforesaid. But before these things be given, you must be sure that the Child is in a right posture.

VII. If the Head offers it self right, with its Face towards the Anus, receive it, if otherwise, endeavour to place it right: then turn your Fingers round a∣bout gently, thereby to make way for the Birth.

VIII. If it comes any other way, endeavour to gain the Feet, and bring it away, which is then more certain than the Head; but be sure the Childs Face is right.

IX. If the Birth be slow, give the aforesaid Medicines, or the Pulvis partum provocans, with a Spoonful of Cinnamon Water, mixt with a little Spirit of Ca∣stor.

X. If the Labour has been long and hard, give Sperma Ceti ʒj. in a draught of Julepum Rosa∣tum, Morning and Night: being in Bed, keep her quiet for a Week.

XI. If she has Gripings, anoint the Lower Parts, and indeed all the Belly, with Oil of Amber, applying warm Flannel very hot over the same, moistned with the said Oil.

XII. If those Gripings be ex∣tream, give the Liquor Vitae Ano∣dynus, (see Our Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, Lib. 4. Cap. 11. Sect. 11.) to a quarter of a Spoon∣ful, in a Glass of Sack.

XIII. I have often used the Oil of Amber, and this Liquor Vitae, in this Case, and in all Af∣ter-pains, with admirable suc∣cess, yea when the hope of Life has been past, which, as a grate∣ful acknowledgment of the Goodness of God, I now here publish.

XIV. The Child being Born, bring away the After-birth, (as we shall hereafter teach) and in this, trust not to the string, but ra∣ther, by it being directed, put up your Hand gently; and lay hold on the Secundine, and bring it away gently; for doubt∣less the Hand may easily go up, where the Body of the Child comes out.

XV. If she goes not to Stool after three days, give a Clyster made of near a Pint of Milk, in which about two Spoonfuls of Sugar is dissolved and strained.

XVI. The Child is to have the Navel-string tied with a double twine-thred, a full Inch from the Belly, some say two: About an Inch from which Ligature it is to be cut off.

XVII. But if the Child be weak, first put the Blood back towards the Belly, then tie it. After the Se∣ction, apply a double Linnen Cloth dipt in Oil of Roses.

XVIII. After which you may

either cleanse the Child with dry Cloths, or wash it with Water warmed, mixt with Red Wine.

XIX. If the Child has Fainting Fits, give it two, three, or four drops of Blood squeezed out of the Navel-String, in a Spoonful of Breast Milk.

XX. Otherwise, let the first thing which is given to the Child, be Magistery, or Pouder of red Coral, gr. x. or Pouder, or Ma∣gistery of Mans Skull, gr. x. or Pulvis Epilepticum Mynsichti gr. x. mixt with as much white Sugar Candy, and so exhibited with a little Breast Milk.

XXI. Authors say, these things prevent the Child for ever having Convulsion Fits, or the Falling∣sickness.

XXII. If the Child has Gripings, give fine Pouder of Aniseeds to ℈i. in some Pap, &c. and increase it till the Child goes well to Stool; it has excellently succeeded in Children, till they have been a quarter or half a Year old.

XXIII. If the Labour has been long and hard, give Irish Slate ad ʒi. or Sperma Ceti ad ℈ij. in a draught of Camomil Posset∣drink, which she may take Morning, Noon and Night: Or this; ℞ Irish Sl•…•…e, Sperma Ceti a. ℈i. Borax, Saffron in Pouder a. ℈ss. mix for a Dose.