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.

CHAP. XV. Of the Action of the Yard.

THe main scope of Nature in the use of the yard, was the injection of seed into the womb of the woman, which injection could not be done, till the seed were first moved; nei∣ther could the seed be moved but by frication of the parts, which could not be done, till it were sheathed in the womb, nor that neither, till the yard were erected.

This distension is caused by repletion; which is caused by the plentie of seed: Secondly, by superfluitie of wind, which if it be too violent, is the cause of priapisme: A Third cause pro∣ceeds from the abundance of urine contained in the bladder. Somtimes the heat of the reines is a cause thereof.