The doctresse: a plain and easie method, of curing those diseases which are peculiar to women. Whereunto are annexed physicall paradoxes, or a new discovery of the æconomy of nature in mans body. / Written by R.B. &c.

To the Reader.

HAving continuall ex∣perience in a more particular manner in those diseases which are pe∣culiar to women, by reason of my constant and daily employ∣ment, which is, to be assistant to those that have hard and dif∣ficult labours; I conceive my selfe in some capacity to become yet more serviceable unto the female sex, by divulging that part of my practise in the cure

of womens diseases which I have observed to have been most suc∣cesfull.

Herein I am so farr from making collections out of Au∣thours, that I have on purpose for brevities sake omitted all those things in my own practise which I know to be familiar unto most Physitians: and have divulged onely such as I find by experience to be proficuous, and have not been hitherto publi∣shed.

This, Courteous Reader, I thought good to premise; and

withall to advertise thee of my intent herein, which is to in∣forme the ignorant, and to give some hints to the learned: that so I may doe reall service to the female sex. Wherein you may also take notice that I am somewhat indulgent to their modesty in avoiding all obsce∣nity, as also to their capacity in writing in our mother tongue.

Hereunto I have annexed that which you find in the title page, viz. Physicall para∣doxes &c. The first, of wo∣mens diseases is plain and ob∣vious

to all. And this latter is not obscure: yet I would ad∣vise the Courteous Reader, to read it twice over; first cur∣sorily, that thou maist have a generall conceit of the thing I do intend: and then with some observation, that thou maist so digest it as to make it thine owne. It gives me so much sa∣tisfaction as I am not able to expresse: in that it makes clear unto me all those Physicall Notions, which before upon other hypotheses were more con∣fused in mine understanding.

And I cannot but hope that it will do the like to any one else who shall read and digest it.

There is not any thing to my knowledge, upon this account, difficult in Physick: but all things may hereby be so clearly demonstrated from sensible ex∣perience how they worke gene∣rally upon mans body, and how each particular hath also its pri∣vate operation: that I cannot but admire how it could be pos∣sible that it should lie hidden so many ages, yet I am not igno∣rant that now at the last it will

find amongst some but slender entertainment, especially a∣mongst those which dislike all things but their owne. How∣ever Courteous Reader, I here present it unto thee, supposing thou wilt be in thy censure nei∣ther uncandid nor disingenious, so hoping it will give thee some satisfaction I rest

Thine to use Rich: Bunworth.

From the sugar loafe in Duck-lane London. May. 1656