De morbis fœmineis, the womans counsellour: or, The feminine physitian.: Modestly treating of such occult accidents, and secret diseases, as are incident to that sex, which their too much modesty, too often to their sorrow, causes them to conceal from others, for a remedy whereof, they are here taught to be their own helpers; especially in these particulars: of barrenness and abortion: of natural, and unnatural births: of the suppression of the termes, the immoderate flux thereof, and other infirmities. Dicereque puduit, scribere jussit. With a brief appendix, touching the kindes, causes, and cures of dropsies, and tympanies of all sorts. / Translated out of Massarius de morbis mulier. By R.T. philomathēs.

Chap. VIII. Of natural Conceptions.

HAving thus far treated of the di∣seases, accidents and infirmities incident to the Menstrue, and genera∣tive parts of Women; we proceed to discourse of those things which per∣tain to the Conception and Birth of man; in which thing the conservation and continuance of all mankind con∣sists.

That to the generation of every man there is a necessity of a distinction of both sexes Male and Female; and al∣so of Conjunction of them both, we have already declared.

But in what manner this admirable operation of nature is effected, and brought to perfection, Galen declareth; who saith, That in time of Copulation of the Male and Female, the Seed of the Male, is attracted into the Womb of the Female, and is extended, and dilated through all the parts thereof; and is there, by the natural heat, and

moisture of the Womb, Coagulated into a massy substance, before any of the Members be formed, and after∣wards nature, as with an instrument forms and fashions the Veins, Arte∣ries, Bones and other Members bran∣ching them all over the body, & then safely wrappeth them all up together in a Coat, preserving them to the time of the perfect Birth, if no mischance, or accident intervene to the hinderance thereof; which must be diligently en∣deavoured to prevent. And to further the Conception for the procreation sake of mankind, take these directions.

A Confection, to cause fruitfulnesse in Man or Woman.

Take Rapes, Ivory shaven, Ashkeys, Sesely, Behen red and white, of each one dram; Cinamon, Doronicum, Mace Cloves; Galingale, long Pepper, Rosemary flowers, Balsom wood, Blatiis Byzantiae Marjoram gentle, Penny-royal, of each two scruples; Balm, Buglas, Citron pieces, of each one scruple, Spica Indiae, Amber, Pearles, of each half scruple; Sugar a

pound: decoct the Sugar in Malmsey, and the other things; and make them into a Confection, use of it a little at a time.

A Powder for the same, to be strewed on meat.

Take Nurmegs, Cubebbes, Ginger, of each half a dram; long Pepper, Mastick, Cinamon, red Behen; white Behen, of each a Scruple: mix them all together, and make them into fine powder, and strew of it a little upon the parties meat.

Another Confection for the same.

Take Honey; three ounces: Linseed, Grains, Ivory shaven, of each one ounce: Borrage three ounces; Sugar, 24 ounces: Musk, Amber, of each half a scruple: Cinamon, two grains: Cloves, Mace, of each one graine; clarifie the Honey, then incorporate the other things with it, to make a Confection thereof, and take of it as you please.

A Porionto further Conception in a Woman.

Take Wormwood, Mugwort, of each a handful. Boyl them together in a quart of Goats milk, till almost half be wasted, and let the Woman drink thereof first and last, every morning and evening a good draught.

A Bath for the same.

Take Penyroyal, Mugwort, Rue, of each a handful: Put them into a Bag, and boyl them in Rain-water, a suffi∣cient quantity to make a Bath, boyl it well, & bathe therein twice a day, and renew the Bath every third day, use this for a good space.

You must understand, as I said be∣fore that without the mutual con∣juction of male and female, the natural reception and coagulation of both their Seeds in the Field of gene∣ration the Womb, there can be no natural conception, and so conse∣quently no birth; so that if the impe∣diment

lie in either of the Vessels re∣ceiving, or instruments giving, then these Medicines prescribed, do not work their effect till the obstructive causes be removed, and of them you shall be sufficiently directed, in the subsequent Chapter of barrenness, and the causes thereof; but if the Womb be clean, and the Masculine Instru∣ment proportioned thereunto, so that the defect lie in some debility of nature, let both parties make use of this Confection following; and take of it in the mornings fasting, and they shall seldom fail of their desires.

But take notice by the way, I do not prescribe this to Maids, nor Batche∣lors, they have no use for it.

A Confection to further fruitfulness in Men, and Conception in Women.

Take a Bores Stones, Stags Pissel sha∣ven small, I ounce, (Bulls Pissel, if you cannot get the other, will do as well) Sparrows Brains, 50. or 60. yellow Rape, Eringo Root, and Satyrion con∣fected,

Ivory shaven, of each 3 Oun∣ces and a half; Cynamon, Dates, In∣dy, Nut Kernels, of each 2 Ounces; Long Pepper, Ginger, Rosemary Flow∣ers, of each half an Ounce; Seseli 1 dram, Nettle-seed, Cloves, Safron, Mace, Galingale, Cypress Roots, Nut∣megs, Cassia wood, Cucubes, Doro∣nicum, Field Mints, Peny Royal, Spi∣ca Indiae, Musk, Amber of each one dram. Make all these into a Confecti∣on, with 4 pounds & an half of white Sugar, refined in Mint-water, and take of it as before is directed; and if you cannot easily get all the things, yet re∣fuse not the Medicine, but make it with as many as you can come by.

Notes

• Gal. 1. sem. 4.