Of the relaxations of the Matrix, and the cause.

There are many causes of the relaxation of the Matrix, the one proceeding from great fluxes which fal down upon the ligaments there∣of, causing them to wax loose; Others come to this disease by some falls, others by reason of carring in their womb too great burdens, others by streining themselves in travaile before their time, and because the orifice of the womb is not open; somtimes, and very often; by reason of the midwifes, who putting up their hands into the womb, teare downe they know not what, which is often times apart of the Matrix, to the bottom of which the secondines adhere, draw∣ing down part of the womb. which they take to be the secondines, which is often times brought Page  141 also to a worse condition, when the unskilfull women force her to the remedies, for bringing down the secondines, as holding baysalt in her hand, streining to vomit, and the like. For remedie wherof, all these relaxation of the Matrix, by the same remedies, except those which are occasioned by strong fluxes, for in this case other remedies are not sufficient, being that you are to take away the cause of those defluxions, before you can proceed to the cure of the relaxation. Among the rest I will relate one that hath been found very profitable and experienced, which is this astringent. Take Gall nuts, Cypress nuts, and Pomegranate flowers, Roche Alum, of each two ounces, Province Roses four ounces, Centinode, a good big handfull, the rind of Cassia, the rind of Pome∣granates, Scarlet Graines, of each three ounces, the nature of a whale, one ounce, Myrrh water, rose water, and sloe water an ounce and a half, thick wine, and smiths water, of each foure ounces and a half; then make two little baggs of a quarter of a yard long, causing them to boyle in the foresaid waters, in a new pot, using one after another as you have occasion, leting it lye upon the bone of the Pubes, passing in between the hipps, chafing her often, and holding her head and her reines low, using in the morning, somtimes a little mastick, in an eg, or somtimes plantaine seed: if the disease be not too old, it may be cured by this meanes, but if it be of a long standing, you must make a pessarie halfe Page  142 round, and half oval, of great thick cork, peirced through in the middle, tye a little packthred to the end, then cover it over with white wax, that it may doe no hurt, and to make it more thick, this must be dipped in oyle of Olives to make it enter, and it must be streit that it may not easily fall out, and if it be too little, to have an other bigger, & when the woman goes to do her neces∣sary occasions, she must hold it in, least she should force it out; the hole is made that the vapors of the womb may have a vent, and to give way for her purgations to flow, neither must it be taken away till after the purgations are passed, the thicknes causes the matrix to mount up as long, as it is very thick, for the ligaments being close doe then retire. If they be women that beare children, the midwife ought not to suffer them to force themselves, but as nature constraines her, having her own hand ready after the throw, to put back the Matrix with her finger, and when she is brought to bed, lay her low with her head and with her reines, raising her up, with pillows put under her hipps; and for women that are troubled with this disease, they ought not to lace themselves over hard, for that thrusts down the matrix, and makes the woman pouch bellyed, and hinders the Infant form being well situated in her body, causing her to carrie the child all upon her hipps, and makes her belly as deformed, as her wast is handsome.