The compleat midwifes practice, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man. Containing perfect rules for midwifes and nurses, as also for women in their conception, bearing, and nursing of children: from the experience not onely of our English, but also the most accomplisht and absolute practicers among the French, Spanish, Italian, and other nations. A work so plain, that the weakest capacity may easily attain the knowledge of the whole art. With instructions of the midwife to the Queen of France (given to her daughter a little before her death) touching the practice of the said art. / Published with the approbation and good liking of sundry the most knowing professors of midwifery now living in the city of London, and other places. Illustrated with severall cuts in brass. By T.C. I.D. M.S. T.B. practitioners.

SECT. II.

CHAP. I. Of the Genitals of Women.

AT the lower part of the belly appears the pubes, or the region of the hair. Under this place are as it were lips of flesh, which in women that are ripe for man, are clad with hair at the upper part, because of the heat and moisture of the place; and this part is that which is most properly cal∣led the privy member, being the exteriour ori∣fice, into which the yard of the man enters. In the middle it hath a cleft, on both sides of which are two fleshy protuberances, beset with hair, being two soft oblong bodies composed of skin and a spungy kind of flesh.

CHAP. II. Of those parts called Mymphs and Clytoris.

THe Nymphae or wings are a membraine or filmy substance, soft and spungy, and part∣ly

fleshy; they are of a ruddy colour, like the comb of a Cock under his throat; they are two in number, though in the beginning they are joyned together by an acute Angle, where they produce a carneous substance, like the preputi∣um which cloaths the Clytoris. Sometimes these wings so far encrease, that there is many times need of incision; a disease common among the Egyptians.

The Clytoris,* 1.1 is a certain substance in the upper part of the great cleft, where the two wings concur. This in women is the seat of ve∣nereal pleasure: It is like the yard in scituation, substance, composition, and erection, and hath something correspondent both to the prepuce, and to the glans in men. Sometimes it grows out to the bigness of the yard, so that it hath been observed, to grow out of the body the breadth of four fingers.

This Clytoris consists of two spungie and si∣newy bodies, having a distinct original, from the bone of the pubes. The head of this is covered with a most tender skin, and hath a hole like the glans, though not quite through, in which, and in the bigness it differs only from the yard.

CHAP. IV. Of the fleshie knobs, and the greater neck of the womb.

PRresently behinde the wings, before we go far inward in the middle of the cleft, there do appear four knobs of flesh, being placed in a quadrangular form one against the other; they are said to resemble Myrtle berries in form. In this place is inserted the orifice of the bladder, which opens it self into the fissure, to cast forth the Urine into the common channel. Now lest any cold air or dust, or any such thing should enter into the bladder after the voiding of the Urine, one of these knobs is seated so, that it shuts the urinary passage. The second is right opposite to the first, the other two collateral. They are round in virgins, but they hang flag∣ing when virginity is lost.

The lipps of the womb being gently separa∣ted, the neck of the womb is to be seen,* 1.2 in which two things are to be observed; the neck it selfe, or the Channel, and the Hymen, which is there placed: by the neck of the womb, is understood the Channel, which is between the said knobs, and the inner bone of the womb; which re∣ceives the yard like a sheath; the substance* 1.3 of it is sinewie, and a little spungie, that it may be dilated; In this concavitie there are certaine folds or orbicular pleights; these are made by

a certain tunicle, so wrinkled, as if a man should fold the skin with his fingers. In virgins they are plaine; in women with often copula∣tion, they are oftentimes worn out, sometimes they are wholy worn out, & the inner side of the neck appeares smooth, as it happens to whores; and women that have often brought forth, or have bin over troubled with their fluxes. In old women it becomes more hard and grisly. Now though this channel be somthing writhed and crooked when it falls and sinkes downe, yet in time of the flowers and copulation, or in time of travel it is erected and extended, and this over-great extension in women that bring forth, is the cause of that great pain in child-bed.

CHAP. V. Of the Hymen.

THe Hymen* 1.4 is a membrane not altogether without blood, neither so tender as the rest, but more ruddie, and scattered up and downe with little veins, & in a circular form; it is placed overthwart, and shuts up the cavity of the neck of the womb. In the middle it hath a little hole, through which the menses are voided. This at the first time of copulation is broken, which causes some pain, and gushing forth of some quantity of blood; which is an evident sign of virginitie; for if the blood do not flow, there is a suspition of a former deflowring.

CHAP. VI. Of the vessels that run through the neck of the womb.

BEtween the Duplicitie of the two tunicles, that constitute the neck of the womb, there are many veines and arteries that run a long; arising from those vessels, that descend on both sides to the thighs, and are inserted into the side of the neck of the womb: the great quantity and bigness of them deserves admira∣tion;* 1.5 for they are much bigger then the nature and openness of the place seems to require.

The cause of this is two fold; first because it being requisite for the neck of the bladder to be fil'd with abundance of spirits, & to be extended and dilated for the better taking hold of the yard; there is required a great heat for these kind of motions, which growing more intense by the act of frication, doth consume a great quantitie of moisture, so that great vessels are requisite, and onely able to make that continual supply that is needfull.

There is another cause of the longness of these vessels, which is this; because that the monthly purgations are poured through those veines; for the flowers must not come onely out of the womb, but out of the neck of the womb also: whence it happens,* 1.6 that women with child do somtimes continue their purgations, because that

though the wombe be shut up, yet the passages in the neck of the womb are open.

* 1.7This is also further to be noted in the neck of the womb, that as soone as ever your sight is entered within the female fissure, there do appeare to the view, two certaine little holes, or pits, where in is contained a serous humor; which being pressed out in the act of copulation, doe not a little add to the pleasure thereof.

This is the humor with which women doe moisten the top of a mans yard; not the seed but a humor proper to the place, voided out by the womb.

CHAP. VII. Of the fabrick of the womb.

TO the neck of the womb, the wombe it self is adjoyned, in the lower part of the Hypo∣gastrion, where the Hips are widest and broa∣dest; which are greater and broader there∣abouts then those of men; which is the reason also that they have broader buttockes then men have.

The womb* 1.8 is placed between the bladder and the straight Gut; being joyned to the bladder and leaning upon the streight Gut; where it lies as between two cushions; this situation of the wombe was fittest, that so it might have libertie to be stretched or contracted, according to the biggness of the fruit contained in it.

The figure* 1.9 of the wombe is round, and not unlike a Gourd that lessens and growes more acute at the one end; the bottome of the womb is knit together by Ligaments of its own, which are peculiar. The neck of the womb is joyned by its own substance, and by certaine membranes to the share bone and the sacred bone.

As to the bigness* 1.10 of it, that varies according to the age, constitution of the body, and use of venerie. For it is much greater in women that have brought forth, then in those that are with child, and after the birth, for the most part it exceeds the bigness of the bladder; but in vir∣gins it is for the most part equal to the blad∣der.

It is of a substance so thick as that it exceeds a thumbs bredth in thickness, which after con∣ception is so far from decreasing, that it increases still to a greater bulk and proportion.

This substance the more to confirme it, is in∣terweaved with all manner of fibres,* 1.11 streight, ob∣lique, and overthwart.

The Vessels of the womb are Veins,* 1.12 Arteries, and Nerves.

There are two little veines which are carried from the spermatick vessels to the bottom of the wombe; and two greater from the Hypo∣gastricks, which go not onely to the bottom, but to the neck. The mouth of these veines pierce as farr as the inward concavitie; in which place the extremities of them are called Aceta∣bula;

which in the time of the flowers, gape and open themselves by reason of the great plenty and stream of bloud, that powres it selfe from thence; and therefore they are at that time most conspicuous; In women with Child, that which is called the Liver of the wombe, is joyned to them, that it might draw blood for the nou∣rishment of the child; at which time these veins doe so swell, but especially in the time of neer deliverie, that they are as bigg as the Emulgent veines, or at least half as thick as the Hollow veines.

It hath two Arteries* 1.13 on both sides, the Sper∣matick, and the Hypogastrick, which every where doe accompany the veines.

The womb hath also divers little Nerves knit together in forme of a net, which are carried not only to the interior part of the bot∣tom of the womb, but also to the neck, and as far as the privities themselves; and that cheif∣ly for sence and pleasure; for which cause there is a great sympathy between the womb and the head.

This is also further to be noted,* 1.14 that the womb in its situation is not fixed and immoveable, but moveable, by reason of two ligaments which hang on both sides, from the share bone, and piercing through the Peritonaeum; are joyned to the bone it self, so that it somtimes happens that through those holes of the Peritonaeum, which give passage to these ligaments being loosned, either the Omentum or Call, or the

Entrailes, doe swell outwardly, and cause the burstness either of the Caule, or of the Guts, and sometimes it happens by reason of the loosnes of those ligaments, that the womb is moved with such a force, that it falls down; and in the act of Copulation is moved up and downe; somtimes it moves upward, that some women doe affirme that it ascends as high as their stomach. Now though the womb be one continued body, yet is it divided into the mouth, and the bottom.

The bottom of the womb is called all that which by still assending stretches it self from the internal orifice to the end; being narrow to∣ward the Mouth, but dilating it self by little and little, till it come at the entrailes.

The mouth of the womb, is that narrowness between the neck and the bottom; it is an ob∣long and transverse Orifice; but where it opens it selfe, orbicular, and round, the Circumference very thick and of an exquisite feeling; and if this mouth be out of order, and be troubled with schirrus, brawn or over-fatness; over-moisture, or relaxation, it is the cause of barrenness. In those that are big with child, there uses to stick to this orifice; a thick viscous glutinous matter, that the parts moistened may be the more easily opened. For in the deliverie, this mouth is opened after a very strange and miraculous manner, so that according to the bigness of the birth, it suffers an equal dilatation, from the bottom of the womb to the privy member.

CHAP. VI. Of the preparing vessels in women.

THe spermatick preparing vessels,* 1.15 are two veins and two arteries, differing not at all from those of men, either in their number, ori∣ginal, action, or use, but only in their bigness and the manner of their insertion. For as to their number, there are so many veins, and so many arteries, as in men. They arise also from the same place as in men, that is to say, the right, from the trunk of the hollow vein descending; the left, from the left Emulgent.

There are two arteries* 1.16 also, on both sides one, which grows from the Aorta; these both bring vital bloud for the work of generation.

As to the Longitude and Latitude of these vessels, they are narrower and shorter in wo∣men, only where they are wrinkled, they are much more wreathed and contorted then in men; for the way being shorter in women then in men, nature required that for stretching out of these vessels, that they should be more wrink∣led and crankled then in men, that the bloud might stay there in greater quantity, for the preparation of the seed.

These vessels* 1.17 in women are carried with an oblique course through the small guts to the stones, being wrapt up in fatter membranes; but in the mid-way they are divided into two

branches whereof the greater branch goes to the stone, constituting the varicous or winding body, and those wonderful inoculations: the lesser branch ends in the womb; in the sides of which it is scattered up and down, and chiefly at the higher part of the bottome of the womb, for nourishment of the womb and of the birth; and that some part of the flowers may be pur∣ged out through those vessels: Now because the stones of women are seated near the womb, for that cause these vessels fall not from the pe∣ritoneum, neither make they such passages as in men, neither reach they to the share bone.

CHAP. VII. Of the Stones in Women.

THe stones of women, although they do perform the same actions, and are for the same use as mens, yet they differ from them in scituation,* 1.18 substance, temperament, figure, mag∣nitude, and in their covering.

They are seated in the hollowness of the Ab∣domen; neither do they hang out as in men, but they rest upon the muscles of the Loynes; and this for that cause that they might be more hot and fruitful; being to elaborate that matter, which with the seed of man engenders man.

In this place arises a question, not trivial;* 1.19 whether the seed of woman be the efficient, or

the material cause of generation? to which it is answered, that though it have a power of act∣ing, yet that it receives the perfection of that power from the seed of man.

The stones of women differ from mens also, as to their figure,* 1.20 because they are not so round and oval as those of men, being in their fore and hinder part more depressed and broad; the ex∣ternal superficies being more unequal, as if a great many knots and kernels were mixed toge∣ther. There is also another difference, as to the subject, because they are softer and moister then those of men, being more loose and ill compacted.

* 1.21Their magnitude and temperament do also make a difference, for the stones of women are much colder and lesser then mens; which is the rea∣son that they beget a more thin and watry seed.

Their coverings also do make a difference, for mens are wrapt up in divers tunicles, because being pendent outward, they were otherwise more subject to external injuries; but the stones of women have but one tunicle, which though it stick very close to them, yet are they also half cloth'd over with the Peritoneum.

CHAP. VIII. Of the deferent or ejaculatory vessels.

THe deferent vessels are two blind passages, on both sides one, nothing differing in sub∣stance from the spermatick veines. They rise in one part from the bottom of the womb, neither doe they reach from their other extremitie, either to the stone or to any other part, but are shut up, and unpassable, adhering to the womb, just as the the blind gut adheres to the Colon; but winding halfe way about the stones, are every waies remote from them, no where touching them, onely are tied to them with cer∣taine membranes, not unlike the winges of Bats, through which certaine veines and arte∣ries, being produced from the stones, doe run; and end in these passages: where they begin, at the bottom of the womb, they are hollow and large, but as they proceed further on, they grow narrower, till near their end they do again obtain a larger bigness; these two passages thus running from the corners of the womb, to the stones, are taken only to be certaine liga∣ments, by which the stones and the womb are strongly knit together; and these ligaments in women, are the same things with the Crema∣steres in men.

CHAP. IX. Of the Actions and Uses of the Genital parts in Women.

IN the privie part are seen, the Pubes, the mountaines of veins, the two lipps, the Orifice, under which the two wings lye hid the little knobs of flesh, resembling myrtle ber∣ries, the passages of the Urin and the Cly∣tories.

As for the pubes and the Mountains of Venus, they serve for this use, that the great Orifice might be the better shut, and to avoyd compres∣sion in copulation; for which cause they are be∣set with haire, and are covered with a hard kind of fat; the great orifice receives the yard, and gives passage to the Urine and the birth. The use of the wings, or knobs of flesh, like Myrtle berries, are for the defence of the internall parts, shutting the orifice of the neck, least cold aire, dust, or any other annoyances, should hurt it, from without; and while they swell up, they cause titillation and desire in those parts. Lastly, the passages of the Urine being shut up by the knobs of flesh resembling myrtle berries, hinders the unvoluntarie passage of the Urine.

CHAP. X. Of the action of the Clytoris.

THe action of the Clytoris is like that of the yard, which is erection; which erection is for the motion and attraction of the seed.

CHAP. XI. Of the action and use of the neck of the womb.

THe action of the neck of the womb, is the same with that of the yard; that is to say, erection, which is occasioned divers ways. First, all this passage is erected and made streight, for the better conveyance of the yard to the womb. Then while the whole passage is erected, it is re∣pleated with spirit and vital bloud, whereby it becomes narrower for the more streight em∣bracing of the yard.

The causes of this erection are, first, because if the womb were not erected, the yard could not have a convenient passage into the womb; secondly, it would hinder convenient affricati∣on, without which the seed could not be drawn forth. Lastly, it hinders any hurt or damage which might be done by the violent force of the yard.

CHAP. XII. Of the uses of the vessels running through the neck of the womb.

FIrst, it is required that there should be a con∣currence of divers veins and arteries, for the nourishment of that part; and though that part it self being full of membranes does not require much nourishment, yet by reason that it is to suffer erection, that could not be done but by bloud and spirits, which are contained in these vessels; besides, although the fubstance of this part be of a cold temperament, being notwith∣standing still heated by the act of copulation, that heat would soon consume a slender nou∣rishment, which nature hath supplied by the concourse of these vessels. Another cause of the plenty of these veins, is nourishment of the birth, and the exclusion of the flowers.

CHAP. XIII. Of the actions of the womb.

THe first use of the womb is to attract the seed, by a familiar sympathy, just as the load-stone draws iron.

The second use is to retain it, which is pro∣perly called conception.

The third is to cherish the seed thus attracted,

to altar it, and change it into the birth, by rai∣sing up that power which before lay sleeping in the seed, and to reduce it from power into act: The fourth action of the womb is to send forth the birth at the time prefixed; the apt time of ex∣pulsion, is when the expulsive faculty begins to be affected with some sence of trouble, that is when the birth afflicts and oppresses the womb with its own weight.

Besides these uses, it hath these moreover to nourish the birth, and to dilate it self, which it doth by the help of veins and arteries, which do fill more and more with matter, as nature requires.

The chiefest action of the womb and most proper to it,* 1.22 is the retention of the seed; with∣out which, nothing of other action could be per∣formed for the generation of man.

CHAP. XIV. Of the utility of the womb.

FIrst, it is the most fit place for copulation, as being in a place furthest removed from the senses, near which it were not fit to be, by reason of the inconveniencies which would ne∣cessarily arise.

It is most fit to receive the birth, as being hollow, in which concavity the birth may in∣crease to its full proportion every way.

It is most fit for the exclusion of the birth,

as being placed downward, whereby the birth might help its self with its own weight; and also by reason of the muscles of the Abdomen, which serve for compression, and do help the endea∣vours of the mother.

CHAP. XV. Of the Utility of the preparing vessels in women.

THe Utilities of these vessels are taken, first, from their original, and from their inser∣tion, the right vein rising from the hollow, and the left from the emulgent, as in men, that the more hot and purer bloud might come from the right vein, for the procreation of males, and the more serous and watry bloud from the E∣mulgent, for the generation of women.

The vessels also in women are shorter then in men, because the way is not so far to the stones; which brevity of the vessels is lengthened out by the many turnings and windings with which those vessels are endued. In the middle way those vessels divide themselves like a fork, the greater part going to the stones, carrying the matter for seed; the lesser is carried to the womb, where it scatters it self all along the sides of it, for the Nutrition of the womb.

As for the Arteries, they afford the bloud which is more full of spirits to perfect the seed.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Utility of the stones.

THe use of the stones in women, is the same as in men; that is to say, to prepare the seed, and to make it fit for procreation. They are seated within, that they should not want a continual heat, to cherish them; for the mat∣ter of the seed being colder in men then in wo∣men, it requires a greater heat, which it would of necessity want, were the stones placed out∣ward, like those of men; and for that cause are they covered only with one tunicle, that the heat of those parts may more easily pass to them. And therefore the stones of women, are softer then those of men, because they should not perfect so substantial a seed; and that the heat of the adjacent parts should not be wholly taken up in the cherishing of them.

Their figure is not exactly round,* 1.23 but depres∣sed, that the little Meanders of the veins disper∣sed through the membrane, from the stones to the deferent vessels, might have more roome to be inserted for the attraction of the seed, out of the whole substance of the stone. The inequality and ruggedness of them makes for the longer stay of the seed in those crooked and winding vessels.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cly∣toris.
• * 1.2

  The neck of the womb.
• * 1.3

  The sub∣stance.
• * 1.4

  The Hy∣men.
• * 1.5

  The cause of the larg∣ness of the vessels.
• * 1.6

  Note.
• * 1.7

  The two holes, or pits, near the lips of the puden∣dum.
• * 1.8

  The womb.
• * 1.9

  The figure.
• * 1.10

  The big∣ness.
• * 1.11

  The fibres.
• * 1.12

  The veins.
• * 1.13

  The Arte∣ries.
• * 1.14

  Note.
• * 1.15

  The ves∣sels.
• * 1.16

  The Arte∣ries.
• * 1.17

  The inser∣tion of the vessels.
• * 1.18

  Their sci∣tuation.
• * 1.19

  A doubt.
• * 1.20

  Their fi¦gure.
• * 1.21

  The big∣ness and temper.
• * 1.22

  The proper actions of the womb.
• * 1.23

  Their fi∣gure.