eat little, or that which is not nourishing, from the Disease called Pica. Or when they have too many of their courses after Child-bearing, or when they flow in time of giving suck, which they ought not to do; especially violently and beyond their strength. Or when they have immoderate bleeding other waies. Or when they have in time of giving suck an acute disease, which makes them lean, Also when the foulness of the Blood is such that it is brought to the Breasts, for Milk is made of the purest blood which was the Childs food in the womb. Also thickness of the blood as it is the cause of stopping the Courses, hinders increase of the milk wholly, or in part, because it cannot get into the Veins of the Breasts.
Milk also is wanting, when the Veins of the Breasts are stopped by some hard Tumor or other∣wise.
Or when there is no pas∣sage in the Nipples. Or when Nipples are wanting which comes from scratching when young Women have itching Breasts, being marriageable, this causeth Ulcers which either stop the passage or leave a Callus or hardness which doth it.
Also the clifts and pains which Women have from their strong-mouth'd Children when they suck may hinder giving suck while they cease.
The Cure.
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.