If it comes from want of blood shee must be high fed, if from evil humors purged, if from thickness of blood, it must be attenuated or made thin, if from hurt of Breasts or Nipples, they must be cured as we shewed else∣where.
For this we must use things that by a propriety cause Milk, or make the blood so thin by heat that it wil pass into the Breasts.
Milk, Eggs, Udders of beasts, and brains are good not only for their nourishment, but for the property in them to increase milk.
Also such Fruits as have a milky juyce, as Almonds, Pine-Nuts, and the like, eaten or drunk in Emul∣sions.
The Germans use a Broath of Eggs, Wine, Butter, and Sugar.
Also Rise-milk.
Broath of Coleworts, Mallows, Rocket, Dill, Fen∣nel, Parsley, is good: and though Lettice is said to in∣crease milk, we cannot believe it, because it extin∣guisheth seed:
Onions boyled or roasted are also good.
And the root of purple-flowr'd Goats-beard boyld in Broath,
As Barly and Pease broath.
The best Wine nourisheth, and warmeth, and is good for Nurses.
These Decoctions also. Take Barley one pugil, Fen∣nel and Parsley each one handful; boyl them, and add Sugar.
Or thus. Take Eryngus roots, half an ounce, Mallows, Polygala, Fennel, Parsley, Dill, Rocket, Basil, Mints, each one handful; Barley, Pease, each a pugil; Line-seed two drams, boyl them, drink it with Sugar every morn∣ing.
Of juyces thus. Take juyce of Sowthistle and of Goats∣beard, each half an ounce; give it with white Wine and Sugar.
The Decoction of Earth-worms in Flesh broath with Fennel and Barley is good, but let not the Nurse know what she taketh.
Dry things are less profitable, yet some seeds are commended whose herbs are better.
As, Take Annise seed two drams, Fennel seed one dram, Rocket and Nigella seed, each half a dram; make a Pouder, give two drams with any fit Decoction.
Or, Take Pouder of Earthworms three ounces, Sugar half an ounce, Annise seed one dram, Ginger and Cinnamon each half a dram; make a Pouder, give a spoonful with some Decoction.
Or, Take Crystal in fine pouder, me dram, or Coral.
That which comes from the Alpes called Lac lunae, given one dram is accounted good.
Divers things are applied to the Breasts, for the draw∣ing of Milk unto them.
As hot Fomentations which enlarge the Veins.
And bruised Mints.
Or make this Plaster. Take Parsley, Fennel and green Mints, each one handful; boyl and stamp them, add Barley meal one pugil, Storax two drams, Nigella seed one dram, Oyl of Lillies two ounces, make a Cataplasm.
Some use Sinapisms and Dropaxes, made of Mu∣stard or stinking Gums, to attract Milk, but they are too violent and inflame.
Friction of the Breast is better.
And Cupping-Glasses to the Arm-holes upon the great Veins which bring the milk to the Breasts, and look blew, are good.
Also to let them be often sucked or milked.
Also if Nipples be wanting, there may be an Instru∣ment made of hollow Glass, for the Child to suck.