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 puffing up of the Womb.

THe puffing up of the Womb is a windy swelling of that part, occasioned from a cold, flegmie, and flatulent matter, which is increased through the defect of natural heat in the Womb: This is called the windy mole, it giving hopes of a conception. The signes of this are a distention of the womb not far from the midriff, which is now increased, now di∣minished; sometimes extending it self to the navel, sometimes to the loyns, and Diaphrag∣ma. It differs from the Dropsie, partly because the swelling is not so great, and the party affe∣cted is not much troubled with thirst, by the increasing and diminishing of the tumor; and by the upper parts, not being so lean.

It is distinguished from the Dropsie of the womb by the fore-apprehension of the causes that beget those windy vapours, by the sound and less ponderosity, as also by a feeling of an extensive and pricking pain in the womb,

and parts adjoyning. It is also distinguished from an inflation of the intestines, because here is no great pain, neither is the Patient hard bound, yet the Flowers are suppressed, and the feet and hollow of the eyes do swel, and the colour of the body is changed, the woman draws her breath short, and is sad, and when she awakes is fain to lift up her head to take breath. It differs from a mole, because there is not that heaviness and ponderosity in the womb; besides, the woman doth not feel the burden of her womb tumble from one side to the other: It is distinguished from conception, by the sound, and by the increasing and de∣creasing of the swelling, and by the deadness of the motion, not like that of a dead infant: For if the Midriffe be violently compressed, the winde being then compelled to the part adjoyning, there is a kinde of palpitating mo∣tion perceived through all the Midriff.

The matter of this distemper is generated either in the womb it self, or by reason of the suppression of the courses, or by the intercepti∣on of due purgation after delivery. Many times it comes through the veins and seminal vessels. Now the weaknesse of the heat proceeds some∣times from the external aire, sometimes from hard delivery, from the suppression of the cour∣ses, from abortion, &c. The cure is performed after the same way that other cures are reme∣died: among those things that purge, Species Hierae, and Diaphaenicon, with Castor, are most

commended; for Fumes, Nutmeg is counted the best; for potions, Nutmegs bruised and boi∣led with the roots of Mather, and drunk in six ounces of wine, and two drams of sugar. Some∣times this winde gets into the cavity of the womb, and then the neck and orifice of the womb is closed, so that nothing can go forth, when the woman is moved, or when the Mid∣riffe is pressed down with her hand, and then a kinde of noyse and sound is perceived. Some∣times the winde gets into the tunicles of the womb, and then the mouth of the womb may be open; by reason of the shutting up of the windy vapours in a narrow place, there goes a noyse forth, and the pain grows greater, and extends farther. This is more hard and difficult to be cured then that which is in the concavity of the womb.