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 Womb being out of temper.

THe intemperance of the womb is when it hath lost its natural temper, and is affe∣cted with a preternatural intemperancy arising both from inward and outward causes. The one of these is hot, and is known by the wo∣mans pronenesse to Venery, by the small Flux of the monethly courses, by their adustnesse, sharpness, inordinate and difficult flux. (Hence in processe of time they are very hypochon∣driack) by early growing of the hairs about the privities, by rednesse of the face, and dry∣ness of the lips, and frequent pains of the head, and abundance of cholerick humors in the body; it ariseth either at first from the birth, which causes women to be Virago's, and to be barren; or after their nativity, from out∣ward causes, as the use of hot things, over∣much Venery, and such medicines as bring the heat and blood to the womb. The cure con∣sists in a contrary diet, and cooling medicines, both internal and external, which are to be applied to the back and sides; which must be very moderate, that the heat which is necessa∣ry for conception may not be weakened, and the cold and membranous substance of the womb come to any harm; or lest the vessels which serve for the carrying away of the cour∣ses

should be thickned, and the nerves of the back and sides be any waies mischieved.

The next way of cure is performed by eva∣cuating medicines, namely Rheubarb and so∣lutive syrup of Roses, Manna also profits much; the flower of Vitriol of Venus and Mars taken from three grains to six, and put in any proper syrup, purges the womb.

There is another intemperancy which comes of cold, which is known by a lesser pronenesse to Venery, and little pleasure taken in it, a setling in the courses, with a slimy and phlegmy matter mixed, and an inordinate flowing of them by reason of the plenty of hu∣mors collected in the womb, which causes ob∣structions by reason of abundance of windy vapours in the womb, crudity and watrinesse of the seed, which causes it to flow without a∣ny pleasure, a pale colour in the face: it arises from causes contrary to the former; it is cu∣red by contrary diet, by hot medicines applied to the womb, among which the roots of Birthwort, Clove-Gilliflowers, Angelica, and Eringos, are very much commended. The leaves also of Mercury, Baulm, Dittany, Peny∣royall, Sage, Rosemary, Mugwort, flowers of Centaurie, Marigolds, Sage, Rosemary, Borage; and sundry spices, as Nutmegs, Cubebs, Saf∣fron and Cinamom. These kinde of com∣pounds are also very usefull, as oyle of Mace, oyle of Amber, oyle of Myrrhe, and of Ci∣namom.

There is another intemperancie of the womb, which comes of moisture, and is joyned most commonly with the cold intemperancie: it is known by the plenty of the courses, and by thinnesse and watrinesse of them, as also the moistnesse of the privities by reason of the moistnesse of the excrements, no pleasure in the act of venery, and pronenesse to abortion by reason of the growth of the birth. It hath the same original with the frigid intemperancie, and happens most commonly to women who are lazy and sedentary: it is cured with the same medecines as the former; onely this may be added, that a fume may be made of the shavings of Ivory: and the decoction of Sage being received into those parts before supper is very much commended. Baths of Sulphur do also profit much.

There is another distemper of the womb which is dry, which is discerned by the want of seed, and the defect of the courses, by slow∣nesse to venery, drinesse of the mouth of the womb, by a blackish colour of the lower lip, which is alwayes chapt. It sometimes arises from the very nativity, which causes a dry and lean constitution of body; sometimes through age, and then women cease to bring children; sometimes from inflammations, and such like diseases; sometimes from a defect of blood which ought to moisten the parts; which hap∣pens either through a narrownesse and obstru∣ction of the veins, or else because it being

voided out at the neck of the womb cannot pierce to the bottom. The cure of this is per∣formed first by a contrary diet, where you must also avoid much labour, watching, hunger, and sadnesse. Secondly, by the use of moistning things, amongst which are most commended Borage, Bugloss, Mercury, Mallows, Violets. Among outward means, Bathes of sweet water, and unctions with oyle of sweet Almonds, oyle of white Lillies, Hens-grease, and the mar∣rows of Calves legs. The cure is the more hard, if the driness have been of any long con∣tinuance.

There is another which is a compound di∣stemper, which is most often cold and moist, which is discerned by comparing the signes of the simple distemperatures together. It arises from flegmie humors: The cure is performed by preparing the matter with hot things, by e∣vacuation of the matter with such Medecines as are most proper to purge flegme: as also by a particular pargation of the Womb it self; to which purpose pessaries do very much conduce; as also sulphury and drying baths; as also the use of sudorificks, or things that provoke sweat may be very profitable, as the decoctions of Lignum sanctum, China, Sarsaparilla, and ma∣stick wood.