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.

Of the suppression of the Flowers.

THe suppression of the Flowers is the reten∣tion of the menstrual blood, either by rea∣son of the narrowness of the vessels, or through some corruption of the blood. The signes are evident from the relation of the woman; yet if they are loath to confesse, it may be discern∣ed by this; For in virgins the suppressed blood wanders up and down the veins, and be∣gets obstructions, changing the colour of the body, and causing Fevers. In women, because the blood is carried down to the womb, where it begets many diseases; it is distinguished from retention after conception, because wo∣men with child find no alteration of affections of the minde, and retain the native colour of their bodies; and in the third moneth they

shal perceive the motion and situation of the Infant; and lastly, the mouth of the Womb is closed up.

The causes of this distemper are the nar∣rowness of the veins, and the vitiousness of the blood. The cure of this must be hastened, be∣cause this suppression if it stay long begets many more diseases, as Fevers, Dropsies, Vo∣miting of blood, and the like; the cure is hard if it be of any continuance, and if it stay be∣yond the sixt moneth, it is almost incurable; especially if it happen through any perversion of the neck of the womb; for then the Woman is troubled with often swooning, and vomiting of blood, and a paine seizes the parts of the Belly, the back, and the back-bone, which is at∣tended with a Fever, and the excrements of the Belly and bladder are suppressed; a weari∣ness possesses the whole body, because of the diffusion of the retained blood through the whole body, and especially the hips and thighs, because of the sympathy of those parts with the veins of the womb. In the first place, the letting of blood is commended; for the blood which every moneth staies in the body, & sticks in the veins, is to be provoked downward to the womb; and therefore a vein is to be opened in the heel, for so the plenty of blood is dimi∣nished, and the motion of the blood is made toward the womb; if necessity requires that it should be done more then once, one day a vein must be opened in one thigh, and another day

in the other; and that which is opened for e∣vacuation must be first opened, y^t which is ope∣ned in the hamm or heel, must be done after purgation, 3 or 4 or five dayes before the time that the accustomed evacuations of the Woman ought to come down. Cupping-glasses also are to be applyed first to the more remote pla∣ces, as to the thighs; and then to the neerer parts, as to the hips, ligatures or bindings and frictions, at the time of the coming down of the flowers, after purgation of the whole Body, are not to be omitted. In the second place the matter is to be prepared, for which purpose, in bodies troubled with flegme, the decoction of Guaiacum, with Cretan Dittany, doth much avail without provoking sweat. In the third place evacuation is to be made at several times. A∣mong evacuating Medecines are commended Agaric, Aloes, with the juice of Sabina, and these pil••; Take Aloes Succotrine three drams; the best myrrh one scruple, extract of Calamus Aromaticus, Carduus Benedictus, Saffron, of each three drams; roots of Gentian and Dittany, of each five grains; make them up with syrup of Laurel berries, taking the quantity of one scru∣ple at evening before supper. In the fourth-place, by an obstructing the humour by those things which provoke the flowers; of which these are most to be commended, the decocti∣on of Rosemary with flowers of Cheiri, Peny-royal water twice distilled, and mingled with Cinamom water; Extract of Zedoar, Angelica,

and Castor, and the earth which is found in i∣ron mines prepared in the same manner as steel, spirit of Tartar, the fat of an Eele, Colubrina with the distilled water of Savine: and in the fift place, by the discussion of the dreggs and relicks that remaine by sudorificks, or things that provoke sweat, with a potion made of a Chalybeat decoction, with spirit of Tartar, &c.

The differences of this disease arise, partly from the obstruction of the veins of the womb, caused by a cold and thick blood, and thick slimy humors mixed with the blood, and co∣ming either from some hot distemper of the womb, which dissipates the sharp and subtile hu∣mors, and leaves behinde the gross and earthy parts; or from the cold constitution of the li∣ver and spleen; especially if at the time of the menstrual flux (at what time the flux of blood is more violent) those subtile humors happen to be dissipated, & then at the time of the month∣ly purgation the party affected feeleth a great pain in the loyns, and parts adjoyning; and if any thing come down, it is slimy whitish and blackish: the whole Body is possessed with a numness, the colour pale, a slow pulse, and raw urines. The cure is the same with the former, great care being taken of a gross and ill dyet.

There is another difference of this disease when it happens by compression, which arises from external causes, as the Northern wind, and long standing in cold water, which may be knwn from the relation of the sick person.

The blood in this case is to be drawn to the lower parts by Frictions and Baths; or from internal causes, as fatnes, or swelling of the womb, or of the lower parts; in which case Medecines must be applyed that asswage the swelling. There is another difference which is in the hardness of the skin, which happens ei∣ther from the first nativity, and then the disease is not easily taken away; or long after from some cold & dry distemper: concerning which look the former Chapters.

Another difference there is, when there hap∣pens a closing up of the skin, which is caused after cicatrising of an Ulcer, or by reason of some skin or membrane growing to the ves∣sels of the womb: or by reason of frequent a∣bortion; after which these veins to which the secundines adhere, do grow together so close that they cannot be afterwards opened.

Another difference of this disease there is, when it happens through want of blood, which is not generated either by reason of ex∣ternal causes, as famine, over much evacuation, issues, and such like; or through internal cau∣ses, as a frigid constitution of the principall parts, old age, and fevers; or when it is con∣verted to other uses, as before full growth to the nourishment of the body: in women with child, to the nourishment of the birth: in those that give suck, to the increase of milk: and in fat people, to the augmentation of the fat: or when it is consumed either by exter∣nall

causes, as overmuch exercise, affrights, terrors, sadnesse, bathes, overmuch sweating, which do consume the serous quality of the blood: or through internall causes, as are hot and dry diseases, or over great evacuations in other parts of the body. Sometimes another difference of this disease proceeds from the drynesse of the blood, which happens to wo∣men who in the winter time do too much heat their lower parts, by putting coals under their coats. For the cure thereof you must use refri∣gerating and moistning medecines.