Platerus golden practice of physick: fully and plainly discovering, I. All the kinds. II. The several causes of every disease. III. Their most proper cures, in respect to the kinds, and several causes, from whence they come. After a new, easie, and plain method; of knowing, foretelling, preventing, and curing, all diseases incident to the body of man. Full of proper observations and remedies: both of ancient and modern physitians. In three books, and five tomes, or parts. Being the fruits of one and thirty years travel: and fifty years practice of physick. By Felix Plater, chief physitian and professor in ordinary at Basil. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts. Nich. Culpeper, gent. student in physick, and astrology.

CHAP. I. Of the Voiding or Excre∣tion of Parts.

The Kinds,

THe Voiding or Excretion of the Parts of Mans Body, by which they are taken from the Body, is twofold, first when the parts fashioning the Infant, or the Infant it self is cast forth; or when the Original parts that consti∣tute the body, fall off.

When the Infant is put forth of the womb, * 1.1 it is called Partus or bringing forth and this is either Natural, as when the Child, being ripe (the time being expired of travel) is brought forth. And this be∣ing Natural, is not reckoned among the Diseases that di∣sturb Mankind. But seeing this Action by reason of Sin is painful and must be looked after, we shall here speak of it, that we may know how it differs from that which is pre∣ternatural, and how it ought to be ordered.

The Birth is preternatural, when it is untimely, * 1.2 or before the time ordained, which is commonly the tenth month, al∣though some hold the birth of the seventh month to the Legitimate. Abortion is when the Child is not come to its full Ripeness and Growth, is sent forth sooner then it ought to be, either dead, or in desperate con∣dition; somtimes it is so little, in a Lump, no bigger then a Grape, that you cannot distinguish the Arms, Legs, or Head, such we have seen often, after some weeks concepti∣on sent forth; and that we might perceive the Limbs, we divided them with an Instrument; and we perceived two black points like Eyes in the Head, and a little Spot upon the right side shewing the Liver, the body being all over white besides. We have seen at other times a Child of a fingers length, having all the Members plain to be seen for the distinction of sex also, with Nails, and we made a sce∣leton thereof, by cutting an Anatomy; as we did by others that were larger. Also I knew a woman, that after she had brought forth a Child naturally at the time, within a few dayes after was delivered of another a span long.

I observed also that a famous Merchants Wife which was delivered with little pain, of a Child a hand long, af∣ter she had with hard Travail brought forth, another dead Child in the eighth month; and which is more wonder∣ful in the year 1655. A Contrey-man came to me for Counsel, concerning his wife lying of a lusty Child which she brought forth three weeks after she had miscarried of another that was dead.

If there be three or four at a Birth which is rare, * 1.3 yet is it not preternatural (when they are compleat,) either at one time or at divers; some talk of an infinite Num∣ber, which could not come to a just proportion, and that may be counted Abortion.

Children so delivered although unripe and little, yet are somtimes whol and of good Complexion; otherwhiles lean, and consumed, if they have been long dead in the womb, and they come out slowly, and somtimes corrupted and sticking; somtimes we perceive the signs of Diseases in them. As we discovered a Child that was but half the time in the womb by the Swelling of the Legs, bigness of the Belly, and aboundance of water there, and in the great Veins to have the Dropsie in the womb.

But if a compleat Child should die through the difficul∣ty of bringing forth, it must be referred to the defect of bringing forth: also if it remain in the womb after it is so dead, as we knew a woman that kept a Child that died so, twenty weeks after the time of Delivery, she died also, and after we took it out rotten and stinking.

If a woman bring forth a monstrous or ill shapen Child, except it be by Abortion or it be dead, this is not to be re∣ferred to a preternatural Birth, but to evil conformation or Deformity from the Birth: as we shewed in Deformity.

The taking away of parts from the bo∣dy, * 1.4 although it may be a Disease in num∣ber diminished, or if they come piece meal, in magnitude diminished, where we made mention of them, yet they may be reserred hither.

As if the Eye be thrust out of its place, or if any humor as the watery, Crystal, or glassie Humor of the Eye should flow forth, or if part of the Brain should come forth at the Nose, the Teeth pull'd out of the Mouth, the tongue cut off, the Lungs be spit up, the Guts fall out, as in the Haeretick Arrius, by a divine Judgement rather then by a Natural Cause. Or, which is usual, when from a wound any part of the Brain, Lungs, Liver, or Spleen comes forth, as we said in the Hurt of those parts.

The Causes.

The Causes of the Excretion or Voiding of an Infant, or of any parts that constitute the body, is the solution of Contiguity, or things near or of Continuity, as shall be shewed.

Natural Birth when the Child comes ripe and quick into the world, * 1.5 is when the child 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so grown that the Mother can no longer con∣tain it, but it must have have more Air for life, and more nourishment, and if it should grow bigger, it could not get out of those strait Passages. Therefore provi∣dent Nature, ariseth and moveth it by the expulsive Facul∣ty, separating the Veins and Arteries, by which the bed of the Infant or Secundine was joyned to the womb, without any hurt, even as the stalks of ripe Fruit fall easily from the tree, driveth down the I••••••ant by the help of the Mother, and so brings it forth, not without pain, labor, sweat, and bleeding, by reason of the opening of the Veins in the Womb and Secundine more or less in all Women.

In a preternatural Birth, * 1.6 when the Child is sent forth unripe, by Natur's force, dividing the Connexion of the Vessels, there are somtimes less acci∣dents then in a Natural, if the Child be small. But if there be this Separation of Vessels by a greater force, and solution of continuity, and tearing, which stirrs up Nature to the work, there are greater acci∣dents, as Pains and Bleeding.

There are divers Causes of the di∣viding of the Vessels, * 1.7 and spurring of Nature to the work which procure Abortion, if the Child be shaken by violent Motion of the Body, so that the Vessels by which it hangs to the womb are divided. Nature especially when near the time, will send it forth, so it may be driven down by leaping, as Hippocrates speaks of the tyre-maker, that cast away her Child voluntarily, also it may come by other violent motions, especially of the lower parts, by riding, running, or other violent Mo∣tion.

It may come also with pressing of the Belly, by some ex∣ternal Injuries, or with strong tying of the Muscles of the Belly, or from couging, vomiting, neesing, crying, scowr∣ing, by which also in a Natural Birth, the Delivery is helped.

As the Excrements of the belly, so the Child also may be driven down in a Convulsion made by the compression of the Muscles, and a violent motion of the body. As we saw one that without Sense aborted in the fit of a Convul∣sion: and wondered when she came to her self what had been done to her Belly.

Also Nature stirred up by Passions of the Mind, through the vehement Agitation of the Spirits, will cause Aborti∣on; as by Fear, Anger, and other Passions hath been ordi∣narily seen, especially if they swound, for then the Child is deprived for that time of vital Spirits, with the Mother from whom it receives them.

When Nature is stirred up by things taken or applied, * 1.8 it voided divers things, and so also the Child, as by the use of purging Medicines, which force Nature violently, so that not on∣ly the Excrements, but the Child also is voided. Also by the use of those things mentioned in the want of Terms and bringing forth, either taken in, or applied to the womb by opening the Passages, and provoking the womb, by a Propriety to provoke Terms, or driving down the Child, Abortion may be caused.

The expulsive Faculty is compelled somtimes by humors that burden the womb, to void not onely them, but the Child also, especially by blood, which if it be too plenti∣ful for the nourishing of the Child, and not consumed by it, about the Veins of the Womb, it burdeneth Nature, which labours to throw it out, and sometimes the Terms comming upon a Woman with Child, the Child is also sent forth with them. Therefore when women with child have their Terms, they are in danger to miscarry. Or if the Terms be provoked by opening a Vein in the Foot, the same may happen, and therefore women with Child must not be let Blood in the Foot. Also the Terms will sooner be provoked, if the blood be thin, cholerick or foul, and unfit to nourish the Child.

When the womb is moistned with water, so that it is too loose to hold the Child, that it is the chief cause of Abor∣tion, as some say. And if it were so, it must needs be without it, and moisten the Orifice of the Neck of the womb, which is close shut in women with Child, because it cannot be in the womb, whose cavity is filled with the Child; and if it could be there, it could not so loosen it; nor can it do it when in the Neck of the womb, because it cannot remain there, and there must be a greater cause of Abortion then that.

The chief Abortion is from a dead Child, * 1.9 because then Nature labours to void it, as being burdensom, the causes of dead Children are divers.

As external force to the belly being great, as a Stroak or Contusion.

Want of Nourishment by which it decaies and at length dieth, this is not easie, for while the Mother liveth, the Veins can scarce be so empty, that there is nothing for the Child. Moreover, though the Mothers blood be impure and foul, the Child will have the best of it, hence it is that we have observed, that women in Ptysicks and Hecticks, have gone their time and brought well. But it may hap∣pen, that if a woman with Child have her Terms violently and long, the Veins of the womb, and all other parts will be so exhausted, that the Child must want Nourishment. And this is so, if for the Causes aforesaid, the Child being alive, the Vessels are separated from them of the womb. And then it can live no longer, not only because it wants Blood, but because it wants vital Spirits, by reason of the Separation of the Arteries, and cannot take breath.

The Mothers by certain signs do know that the Child in the womb, hath a Disease and is sick, and like to die, but those are not easily determined till Birth, nor then, except there be visible manifestation, as I said of the Dropsie. But without doubt Children in the womb have some Diseases, as a hot Distemper must needs be in the Child, when the Mother hath a Feaver, which is in all Parts, and also in the Child. Or when the woman hath another Disease, she may communicate it to the Child, or she being full of evill Humors, may conveigh them into the Child with the blood, and so it may be cacochymical or of evil Juyce, or she may give it the Pox, or Plague, and this is not without a great cause, because the Child takes the best, and most agreable to it, and though the Mother be sick the Child may be sound. As Children that sucked their Mothers of the Plague have been by us observed to escape it when o∣thers have died. Yet I knew a Child born of the mother when she had the small Pox to be full of the same. Also it is thought that things taken by the mother or applied to her womb may bring a malignant quality destructive to the child; as many Medicines which do kill children, and are Poyson.

Some Diseases that come from the Seed in conception to the child, appear sooner some, later, and kill him before his Birth, or continue by him after, they are mentioned in Deformity in Diseases original.

There is a Solution of continuity, * 1.10 divers waies in the voiding of parts that constitute the Body, as a wound, when part of the substance of the brain Lungs, Liver, Spleen, is cut off and comes out by the wound, or the teeth or tongue is cut off; they or some of its Humors fall out, which also may come from an Ulcer. Also the Brains may come out at the Nose by a contusion: as we shewed in Wounds of those parts.

The Cure.

A natural and legitimate Birth, when the Child comes ripe forth in due time, he must not be delivered, but well ordered, and if it be difficult, assisted. Concerning which how the Mother and the Midwife should behave them∣selves, we shewed in the defect of Child-birth.

When travail is past, then you must have a care of the Mother and child, * 1.11 for the Mother you must mitigate her pain, and provoke her Flux after Labour, and strengthen her thus. Let her be raised up gently in her bed that she faint not, and give her broath, and wine, and good Scents to refresh her, and let her be moderate in eating and sleeping, and keep

her out of the Air till she grows strong, and her womb be brought to its former Condition, which will be sooner if her Belly be rouled gently down.

As for the Child, let him be washed in hot water from his filth, and wiped with Feathers, and anointed with cream or butter, or Oyl of sweet Almonds, then roul him, and lay him in a Cradle, and rock him to sleep, and to learn him to suck, hold him to the breast: it is best to try that as soon as he is washed, for comming thirsty out of the bath, he will presently lay hold on the Teate and suck.

After Abortion or Miscarriage, there is no other order to be observed then after travail. And you must after take heed that it cometh not again, which it is probable it will if she hath been formerly subject to it. And this is done by things given and applied before conception, and when she is with Child.

Before the woman hath conceived, which she may be certain of, * 1.12 if she hath not used a man since her Abortion: you must consider diligently, if there be any secret cause in her body, by reason where∣of though she do conceive, and the child be formed (for if the Seed conceived presently flow forth, it is not a true but fase Conception, and the cause of bar∣renness: as we shewed) yet she doth not keep it. And this is done by observing her constitution, whether she be Plethorick or Cachymick, of much or evil blood, and as the Humor aboundeth, you must cleanse the body by blee∣ding, purging, sweating, and good Diet. Or if she have a Disease or Fault in the womb, which may cause this, you must study to amend it. But if there be no Humors ap∣pearing that can be thought prejudicial, you must streng∣then the womb, that the child hereafter may stay, by Me∣dicines mentioned in Sterility, external, and especially baths which they say are best, and therefore they sit in hot baths often.

After the woman hath conceived; which she knoweth by certain signs, * 1.13 then you must take care that she may go out her time, and that the child may be lusty. But if you perceive it to be dead, you must not do so, and if you be certain thereof, you must use things that provoke Abortion, for either the child or Se∣cundine remaining, will be the Death of the Mother.

There are divers things good to retain and keep up the child, after you have removed all causes that may hurt it, or remove it.

Sometimes it is good to let blood, if we perceive that a∣bortion came from blood abounding about the womb the former time, by reason of Plethora, in regard she had her Terms in the time of her being great: and if we see they begin to flow again as they did, you may let blood in the Arm not the Foot, because that will move the terms: nor is litting blood to be feared, as the Ancients thought, when people with Child are full of blood, for I never knew any miscarry thereby, though it hath been done twice or thrice; and have seen divers wounded, and that have lost much blood, and yet the child hath not been the worse, yet is it not to be done rashly, but a little must be taken at once, and more the next month, and the third time if need require.

Also you must not be rash in purging women with child, that are apt to miscarry, except the body be too much bound, and then administer Clysters, of some opening, gentle Medicine; or if the body be very foul, then you may give some stronger Purge, and that will do no hurt but good; for many women by chance, not knowing they were with child have taken Purges, and had a great loose∣ness, and the Child not the worse, neither did they mis∣carry.

There are things that prevent Abortion by altering, which have an astringent Quality, to fix the Vessels by which the Child is tyed to the womb; and these add strength to the womb, and vigor to the child, and this they do by a Propriety known by Experience.

Some things are given often, especially when they are nigh the time. These Pouders are best taken in Wine, or the Yolk of an Egg, or with Sugar of Roses, or made into Lozenges, with Sugar dissolved in Rose or Plantane-wa∣ter.

Take Red Coral in pouder two drams, I vory one dram and an half, Mastick, or Frankincense half a dram.

Or, Take the dry Grains of Cuchynele one dram, Pearls or precious Stones half a dram, with a little Leaf Gold make a Pouder: It is given by it self, if the woman supposeth her Child not well, or mixed with the former, or with Marga∣riton frigidum.

Another, Take Roots of Bistort, or Tormentil two drams, Date stones one dram and an half, Plantane seed one dram, wa∣ter-cresse seed a little parched half a dram, Amber two scruples make a Pouder.

Or, Take the Runnet of an Hare dryed two drams, Cray∣fish parched one dram, burnt Ivory two scruples, Coriander seed prepared half a dram, Red Sanders one scruple: make a Pou∣der, this may be given alone, or with the other: and if the Matrix of an Hare be dryed and poudered it is better, o∣thers add the Pizle of a Bull, or of a Dear.

You may make of these this Mixture. Take Conserve of Roses one ounce and an half, Citron peels, and Quinces can∣died, each one ounce; Conserve of Sage flowers, or of Mints which strengthen the Womb, six drams, of candied Myrobalans, Pulp of Dates, each half an ounce; of one or two of the Pou∣ders aforesaid two drams, and with Syrup of Citrons make an Electuary.

Dates their Stones taken out, and they filled with the Pouder of Cuchyneile, and eaten before and after Sleep, are said to prevent Abortion.

The Water called the Childrens Balsom, made of many things steeped in Sack, and distilled Waters, is good to be taken every day to prevent Abortion.

Outwardly Oyntments and Plaisters, applied to the Womb, before and behind about the Reins are also good. And they are used when we are certain of Conception, at first a little and then more often, especially if any signs of Abortion appear.

The Oyntment. Take Oyl of Roses, Myrtles, Mastick or Quinces four ounces, Juyce of Sloes, Bdellium dissolved in Vi∣negar of Roses, or red Wine half an ounce, Liquid Storax two drams, Wax as much as will make an Oyntment. You may add Oyl of Mints half an ounce, which is good against all Fluxes, and proper against Abortion.

Make other Oyntments of these Pouders. Take Fran∣kincense, Mastick, each two drams; Sanguis Dracouis one dram, Bole, or sealed Earth half an ounce, of all the Sanders one dram, Spike half a dram, mix them with the Oyl or Oynt∣ments mentioned; or with Wax make an Oyntment.

Or this: Take Snakeweed, or Tormentil roots, Cypress-nuts, Acorn cupps or Gall, each half an ounce, Myrtle leaves, red Roses, Pomegranate flowers, each two drams; Myrtle seeds, Sumach, or Berberries, Coriander seed prepared, each one dram; Water-cresse seeds, or Cummin seeds steeped in Vinegar half ae dram, of all the Sonders, Roots of Galangal, each half a dram; Gum Arabick, or Dragach one dram: make a Pouder, mix it into an Oyntment as the former.

Another proper Pouder for an Oyntment. Take Red Coral two drams, I vory one dram and an half, Goats or Harts Horn, Runnet of a Kid or Hare, each one dram, make a Pou∣der. You may add the Pouder of a Turtle baked, mix them as the former.

Oyntments are made more Compound of the Pouders aforesaid mixed with Oyls &c.

Cerots alsd and Emplasters, may be made of the same either simple or more compound, to be spread upon Lea∣ther, and laid on at night, and at other times, with more Wax, and Rosm to make them stick.

The usual Oyntments are that of the Conutes and the Emplaster against Ruptures.

Or we may use that Application which we mentioned to stop the Courses, like an Oyntment or Plaister: it be∣gins

thus. Take Roots of Snakeweed, or Tormentil &c.

Some commend Amulets, or things to hang about the Neck, as Eagle Stones which hath a Stone within that rat∣tleth, if it be tyed to the left Arm, bare, or tyed first in Calfes skin, which is thought to provoke the Birth, if ty∣ed to the Foot, and to hinder it if to the Arm, or under the Breasts.

Others commend the Jasper or Lapis Lazuli, to be hanged about the Neck, or Mallows, Pellitory, Tormen∣til with the Roots.

The course of Life which a Woman must use to prevent Miscarriage, consists in temperate Air, let her beware of Heat and Baths, let her eat meat of good Juyce temperate, let her drink small red wine and water; let her take heed of sharp or hot things, pot Herbs, or Spices, or bitter things which hurt the Child: from things of strong Scent, as Saffron and the like, which move the courses or provoke Abortion, as we shewed in the Causes. Let her take heed of Passion of Mind and violent Exercise. Let her either rest or walk gently. Let her not often use man. Let her Body be kept from costiveness. And let her abstain from all things that may breed Diseases in the Child, as convul∣sions, and let her keep a good Diet.

If the parts that constitute the Body that be sent forth are noble it is deadly, * 1.14 as the Brain, Lungs Liver, Spleen, when o∣therwise it hinders the Functions, and when these parts are quite gone, these cannot be renewed, therefore we use no other Cure, but to the solution of continuity, as the wound, contusion or ulcer: as we shewed in the Functions Hurt, of those Parts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Natural Birth, but not without Pain.
• * 1.2

  Abortion or Miscarriage.
• * 1.3

  Supersaetation or too many at a time.
• * 1.4

  The taking off of parts that constitute the Body.
• * 1.5

  The separation of the Vessels of the Child which were joyned to the Vessels of the Womb, is the Cause of Natural Birth.
• * 1.6

  The separation of Vessels before the Child is ripe is the Cause of Abortion
• * 1.7

  The Separation of the Vessels by the violent Motion of Body or Mind is the Cause of Abor∣tion.
• * 1.8

  Abortion caused by stirring up of Nature.
• * 1.9

  Separation of ves∣sels by a dead child is the Cause of A∣bortion.
• * 1.10

  A Wound or an Ulcer is the Cause of taking away a part that constituts the Body.
• * 1.11

  The Gournment of the Mother and Child after Labor.
• * 1.12

  The preventing of Abortion before Concep∣tion.
• * 1.13

  To prevent A∣bortion after Conception.
• * 1.14

  The Cure of Parts taken from the body.