The midwives book, or, The whole art of midwifry discovered.: Directing childbearing women how to behave themselves in their conception, breeding, bearing, and nursing of children in six books, viz. ... / By Mrs. Jane Sharp practitioner in the art of midwifry above thirty years.

BOOK. V.

CHAP. I.

How women after Child-birth must be governed.

THere is great differences in Wo∣mens constitutions and edu∣cation; you may kill one with that which will preserve the o∣ther; tender women that are bred delicately must not be governed after the same manner that hardy Country women must, for one is commonly weak stomach'd, but the other is strong, if you should give the weak woman presently after delivery strong broth, or Eggs, or milk, it will cast her into a Feaver, but the other that is strong will bear it, but tender women must be tenderly fed, and nothing gi∣ven them that is of hard digestion nor yet

what they have no mind to, provided that what she desires be not offensive; but for the first week she lies in, let her have boil'd and not roast, Jellies, and Juice of Veal, or Ca∣pon, but no mutton Broth for that may make her Feaverish, let her drink barley water, or boyl one dram of Cinnamon in a pint of wa∣ter, dissolving two ounces of fine Sugar in it, if she will drink wine, mingle twice as much water or two third parts with it, but let it be white wine in the morning, and Claret in the after-noon; she may sometimes drink Al∣mond-milk, but beware of crudities.

Some women when they lie in are still sleeping, some cannot sleep; if she cannot sleep let her drink barley water well boyled not straining it at all, but let her forbear it after the first week, lest it nourish too much, and stop the Liver.

Baths for Child-bed Women.

For the first week let her Womb and Pri∣vities be bathed with a decoction of Chervil, a good handful boiled in a good quantity of water, adding to it after it is boiled one ounce of Honey of Roses, this will draw away the purgations, and cleanse and heal the parts; and it will take away all inflammations.

For the second week boil Province Roses, put in Bays, Wine, and water, and with this decoction bath her secrets.

Keep her not too hot, for that weakens na∣ture, and dissolves her strength, nor too cold, for cold getting in will cause torments, hurt the Nerves, and make the womb swell▪ Let her diet be hot, and eat but little at once; some Nurses perswade them to eat apace because they have lost much blood, but they are sim∣ple that say so, for the blood voided doth not weaken but unburden nature, for if it had not come away, long diseases, or death would have succeeded; some say Oat-meal Candles are good for them, but oat-meal makes people troubled with the green sickness by its bind∣ing quality, boyling will never make a bind∣ing thing to purge ill humours as they say it doth Child-bed Women, but purging things by boyling may sometimes be made to bind.

Let her for three daies keep the room dark, for her eyes are weak and light offends them; let all great noises be forborn, and all un∣quietness, remembering to be praising God for her safe delivery.

First then, so soon as she is laid, give her a draught of white wine burnt, with a dram of Sperma••cety melted in it.

Vervain is an herb that fortifies the womb, it is fit to gather in May and June; you may dry it in the Sun, and keep it to boil with her meat, and drinks; you shall profit more in two daies with it than in two weeks without it.

If the woman be Feaverish, boil Plantane leaves and roots with it, and if she be not, yet they will do well together, for the heat of the one is tempered by the coldness of the other. But if her purgations stop, for Plantane take Mother of tyme.

If her purgations be clotted, and smell fil∣thily, or the after-burden be not quite come a∣way, boyl Featherfew, Mugwort, Penni∣royal, Mother of time in white wine sweet∣ened with Sugar, let her drink that; new laid eggs and Sugar Penides are best for her to eat often of moderately, and boyl Cinnamon in all her meats and drinks. Let her talk little, nor stir much, especially if she be weak, for six or seven dayes after she is delivered; is a de∣coction of Mallows with a little red Sugar is a good Glister if she be too costive Crato pre∣scribes Coleworts, and Chrysippus makes them to be a universal remedy for all diseases, but they are too windy for women in Child-bed.

After the first week if she be near clean of

her purgations, she may use Comfry and knot-grass in broths to close the womb that hath been so much opened, you may use a little purging with them. Therefore put in some Po••ypody, of the Oak that is best, leaves and roots both being bruised, the quantities are al∣most at your discretion.

Sometimes pains encrease after delivery, Hippocrates saith, women are most subject to them after the birth of their first child; some Physicians think it is by reason of the thinness and sharpness, others from the thickness and sliminess of the blood, but if you use the for∣mer directions these pains may be prevented. What I said of Vervain before is a good reme∣dy, or else boil an egg soft, and mingle the yelk with a spoonful of water of Cinnamon and let her drink it; also a fume of the pow∣der of bay-berries cast on a chafing dish of coals received at her secrets is a great help. And for present ease boyl an equal quantity of tar and barrows grease together; when it boyls put in a little pidgeons dung to it, spread it on a linnen cloth and lay it hot to her reins: she may drink half a dram of Bay-berries in pow∣der in a quarter of a pint of Muskadel; you may see by this that cold and wind cause these pains.

For Excoriation of the Privities.

Annoint them with Oyl of sweet Almonds, or Oyl of St. John's-wort, which is bet∣ter.

Against the Piles or Hemorrhoids.

Take Polypody bruised and boyl it with your drinks or meats.

Let her be let blood in the Saphena vein.

Cut a great hole in an onion, fill the hole with Oyl, roast it and stamp it and lay it warm to the Fundament.

Also take snails without or with shells, I mean either kind, and bruise them with some Oyl, warm it and lay it to the place; Sows or wood-lice called Hog-lice so bruised with Oyl are as effectual.

The Menstrual blood stopt.

We read Levit. 12. that a woman deliver∣ed of a Boy, must continue in her purifica∣tion thirty three dayes, and for a girl sixty six days. Hippocrates de Natura pueri, saith, a woman must continue purging her blood forth

so long as the child was forming in the womb that is thirty dayes for a Male and forty two dayes for a Female. Hippocrates rules may be calculated chiefly for his own Country of Greece, and the Levitical Law most concerns the seed of Abraham; but this is to be observed though not so precisely to a day by all women after delivery, for women that give their own children suck, have their purgations not so long as those that do not. It is not good for a woman presently to suckle her child because those unclean purgations cannot make good milk, the first milk is naught, for even the first Milk of a Cow is salt and brackish and will turn to curds and whey.

You shall know if a woman be well clean∣sed by her health, for if she be not, she can∣not be well and lusty. I shewed you before what herbs will bring her purgations down. She may if she please take every morning two or three spoonfuls of Briony water to be had at the Apothecaries; or a dram of the pow∣der of Gentian roots every morning in a cup of Wine; the roots of Birth-wort are as good, or take twelve Peony seeds powdered in a little Carduus posset drink to sweat, and if it cures not do it again three hours after.

Against the too great running down of the Menstrual blood.

This disease seldom troubles women after delivery, if it should, Comfrey, and Knot∣grass are good remedies; or else take Shep∣herds-pouch boyled in drink and powdered, or bramble leaves, a dram of either every morn∣ing in a little wine, or a decoction made of the same.

Women when they ly in use to be cost;ive because they keep their bed, and some foolish Nurses are so bold as to purge them with Sena before nature be setled, whereby many sad ac∣cidents have followed, but neither loosning broths, nor Prune broths, nor bak'd Apples are then good, but rather gentle Glisters and suppositories taken twice a week will prevent mischief and make the breasts abound with good milk.

CHAP. II.

Of looseness of the Womb.

THis may proceed from sundry causes, as when great fluxes of humours take the ligaments and relax them; falls or great bur∣dens carried in the womb will unloosen them; or chiefly when women travel before their time, they overstrein themselves because the passage is then shut, but unskilful Mid∣wives often make it so, when they thrust in their hand to pull forth the Secundine, they tear part of the womb a way with it, for the Secundine is fastened to its bottom; sometimes they cause the woman to cast out the Secundine by strong vomit, or by holding Bay salt in her mouth. All causes, except those that come from strong defluxions which must first be removed, will be cured by the same reme∣dies.

Take Nuts of Cypress, and Galls, and flow∣ers of Pomegranates, and Roch Allum two ounces of each, Province Roses four ounces, Scarlet, Grains, Rinds of Pomegranates, and Cassia Rinds of each three ounces, waters of Myrtles, of Sloes, an ounce and half, Smiths water & wine of each 4 ounces and a half, then

boil two little bags, each a quarter of a yard long, in the said waters in a new pot, then hold the womans head and Reins low, and apply these bags first one and then the other upon the os pubis, and chafe her often. Let her take in the morning a little Mastick in an egg or some Plantan seed; but if the disease be long confirmed, then make a Pessary half round and half oval of a thick Cork with a great hole in the middle for her Terms and ill vapours to come out by, tye a pack threed to the end of it to pull it out by, cover it over with white wax that it may not be offensive, dip it in sallet Oyl to make it go in, it must be strait that it may not quickly fall out, when she doth her need let her hold it with her hand, take it not away till her purgations be over; the thickness of the Cork makes the Matrix mount higher; if she be in Child-bed, the Midwife or Nurse must not suffer the wo∣man to strain, but must keep her with her hand or finger to keep back the Matrix, lay∣ing her head low and her Reins high with a pillow under her hips.

Women that are troubled with this disease must not lace themselves too strait for that thrusts down the womb, makes the woman gor-bellied, makes her carry her Child upon her hips, hinders it from lying as it should in

the womb, and though the womans wast may be made slender by it, her belly is as great and ill favoured. But somtimes there happens a relaxation of the skin that covers the right gut, when the head of the child, when the woman begins to travel, falls downward and draws it low; lacing Childing women too hard is a frequent cause of it also, for this makes so much wind fly to those parts, that some are deceived and think it is the head of the child, and the women can hardly stand or go; let her then be kept soluble and eat Annis, & Coriander seed to dispell wind, a fume of Sage, Agrimony, Balm, Motherwort, worm∣wood, Rue, Marjoram, a little Time, and Cammomile, pick out the stalks, cut the herbs small, mingled, put them into a maple platter, put hot cinders upon them and ano∣ther handful of herbs upon them, cover the platter close with a cloth, and let her take the fume beneath.

The womb falls out of its place when the ligaments by which it is bound to other parts of the body are by any means relaxed, it is bound with four ligaments, two broad mem∣braces and above, that spring from the Perito∣neum, and two round hollow nervous pro∣ductions below; also it is tied to the great vessels by veins and Arteries, and to the back

by Sinews, but the Bottom of the womb is not tied, the ligaments being onely upon the sides of it; sometimes it falls forward quite out of the Privities, but whether it can ascend and go upward is doubted by some; Physicians say it will if sweet things be held to the nose, if to the secrets it will fall downward; if stinking things be put to them it flyes from them, it may be discerned by their breathing and by some meats the womb greedily accepts. But Galen saith, it is very little that the womb can go upward, it cannot reach the stomach the ligaments are so strong that tye it down, and the falling of it down is onely by reason of moisture that relax the ligaments, but that will not make it ascend; and though it be en∣larged in conception, that is not presently but by degrees, nor are the ligaments always much relaxed in Childbearing; but what is that if it be not, the womb that may some∣times be felt to move above the womans na∣vel as round as a Ball, that round ball is the womans stones together with that blind Vessel Fallopius found out, like to the great end of a Trumpet, and is therefore called Fallopius hi•• Trumpet: the stones they hang, and the body of the Trumpet is like a pipe that is loose and moving, and when they are full swoln with vapours and corrupt seed, they stir to and

fro, and come up to the navel; and Riolanus saith, this Trumpet and the stones make this great round Ball. Whasoever fills them with corrupt seed and venemous windy va∣pours causeth this moving, and from thence suffocation of the womb; when these poyso∣nous vapours are freely carried by the Nerves, veins, and arteries to all the principal parts, the Brain, the Heart, the Liver, and the rest, it is not extream dangerous, yet it may turn to the strangling of the womb if means be not used; such as are good against suffocations of the womb, when they seem to be strangled, but of that afterwards. Sometimes it falls as low as the middle of the thighs, and some∣times near the knees, when the ligaments are loose; it falls by its own weight, when the Terms are stopt, and the Veins and arteries are full that go to the womb; it is drawn on one side, if there be a Mole on one side, the Liver veins too full on the right side, or the spleen on the left, are the cause of it. But how it comes to be loose is questioned, H••ppo∣crates saith, great heat, or cold of the feet or loyns, violent causes external, leaping or dan∣cing may do it, for these moisten and soke the ligaments, if the woman take cold after she is delivered and the Terms flow. Platerus a∣scribes it to the loosening of the fibrous neck

the adjacent parts by the weight of the Ma∣trix falling down, but then the ligatures must be loose or broken; but when a woman is so in a dropsie, it is the salt water that causeth it and that drieth more than it moisteneth. The signs to know it are, that the womb is only fallen down, if there be a little swelling with∣in or without the privities, like a skin stretch∣ed, but if the swelling be like a Goose egg, and a hole at the bottom, there is then a great pain in the Os sacrum, the bottom of the belly, the loyns and secrets to which the womb is tied, because the ligaments are relaxed or broken, but the pain will abate soon and the woman can hardly go, sometimes the vessels breaking blood comes forth, the woman falls into Convulsions and a Feaver, and cannot void her excrements by stool nor Urine; at first it may be easily helpt, but hardly after∣wards, yet it is not mortal, though it be filthy and troublesome, if it come with a Feaver or convulsion it is mortal in women with child, if the ligaments be corroded the danger is the more. The cure is, thrust it up gently before the air change it or it swell and inflame; first administer a gentle Glister to void the excre∣ments, then lay the woman on her back, her head downwards, her legs abroad and thighs lifted up and with your hand thrust it in gent∣ly,

remove the humours with a decocti∣on of Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Cammo∣mile flowers, Bay berries, Linseed, and Fe∣nugreek, and annoint it with Oil of Lillies and Hens-greafe; if it be inflamed, stay a while before you put it up; you may fright it in with a hot Iron presented near it as if you would burn it, sprinkle on it the powder of Mastick, Frankincense, and the like; when it is put up, let her ly stretcht out with her legs, and one leg upon the other for eight or ten dayes, and a Pessary with a Sponge or Cork dipt in astringent wine, with powder of Dra∣gons-blood, Bole, or the ointment called the Caunlesses at the Apothecaries; apply a large cupping glass to the Navel or breasts, or both kidneys; use astringent Plaisters to her back, & fomentations, baths, & injections; if evil humors cause it to fall out, purge them first away be∣cause they sob the ligaments, and then use dry∣ing drinks of Guaicum, China, Forta, use Pes∣saries and ligaments, as for the Rupture to keep it in its place, of which see Francis Rauset; you may use circles or balls in place of Pes∣saries, made of Briony roots cut round, or of Virgins wax, with white Rosin and Turpen∣tine when they are dried, if it gangrene cut it off, or bind it fast that it may fall of it self. Rauset shews when you may ty it or cut

it off without danger: her diet must be dry∣ing and astringent, and astringent red wine to drink. If it encline to either side, apply Cupping Glasses to the other side, and the Midwife may annoint her finger with the oyl of sweet Almonds, and by degrees draw it to its place.

CHAP. III.

Of Feavers after Child-bearing.

THis disease frequently follows when she is not well purged of her burden or the pur∣gations are corrupt that stay behind, about the third or fourth day they will be Feaverish al∣so by the turning of the blood from the womb to the breasts to make milk, but this lasts not long, nor is it any danger: but you may mis∣take a putrid Feaver for a Feaver that comes from the milk; for the humours may be infla∣med from her labour in travel, and corrupt, though they appear not presently to be so, the next day after she is delivered, but from thence you must reckon the beginning of the Feaver; it is probable then that this Feaver comes from some other cause, especially if her purg∣ings

be stopt, it may proceed from ill hu∣mours gathered in her body whilst she went with child, and are only stirred by her labour; if she be not well purged after travel, the blood and ill humours retreat to the Liver by the great veins and cause a putrid Feaver, but if they flow too much the Feaver may come long after. A feaver from milk will come on the fourth day with pains in the shoul∣ders and the back, and the terms may flow well; if she kept an ill diet when she was big with child, the Feaver comes from ill hu∣mours if it come not from milk, if it do it will end about eight or ten dayes after; but if it come from stoppage of purgations, if she have not a loosness it is very dangerous; if black and ill savouring matter purge by the womb it is safe. But if the Feaver come from ill humours and the body be Cacochymical it is worse, for that shews the ill humours are many which nature cannot send forth by the after-purgings, and the woman is weak al∣ready by her travel. Good diet and gentle sweating cure a Milk-Feaver, but there must be purging and many remedies used for the o∣ther, as bleeding in the foot, cupping of the thighs to provoke the after purgations; but if the time of after-purging be over, if she be strong then open a vein in the Arm.

It is dangerous to purge the woman after the seventh day as some do, when she hath a Pleurisie, because of her weakness after tra∣vel, and because purges hinder the after-flux; but you may if the flux of blood cease, if need be, give a gentle purge with Cassia or Manna, sirrup of roses or Sena or Rhubarb. Too cold and sharp things are naught, take heed of cold drink, or too much drink; let her diet by degrees increase from thin to thicker.

If the Feaver came from too much milk or terms stopt, open a vein in her foot, then purge a way the gross humours with sirrup of Maidenhair, Endive of each one ounce, wa∣ters of Succory and Fennel an ounce and half a piece.

Sharp and putrified humours must be pur∣ged away with proper medicaments, as wa∣ter of Succory, and violets, of each two ounces, sirrup of the same of each one ounce; cooling Glisters are good here; if there be need you may purge stronger, but this is not usual. I shall give you one example, take two drams of Rhubarb in powder, Diagridium four grains, let them infuse all night in Succo∣ry and Anniseed water, two ounces and half of each, and one ounce of Borrage flower water, warm them gently in the morning,

and strain them well through a linnen cloth; add to the strained liquor one ounce of sirrup of Succory, Cinnnamon water two spoonfuls, drink it warm.

Then after you have well purged away the ill humours you may gently sweat her to o∣pen the passages of the body and womb, you will find examples of them in the Treatise of the Courses stopt.

CHAP. IV.

Of the looseness of the belly in child-bed Women.

THis may be thought a small matter in re∣spect of other infirmities, yet this is one of the most dangerous distempers and hardest to help in child-bed women, for stop the flux & you will stop her purgations; if you stop it not she will perish by weakness, nothing al∣most is safely given. Physicians are at a stand in such a case, but it is good be wary and moderate in what is done, and it may be helpt God willing. It is not safe to stop it present∣ly, and if it continue it may cause a Tenesmus or a dysentury, if it come from ill diet let her

mend that, and strengthen her stomach out∣wardly if yet it continue, use inward reme∣dies that corroborate the stomach yet hurt not the womb, as Barley water, Honey and sirrup of roses, cleansing Glisters are good and to temper sharp cholerick humours. But the best way is, to observe what loosenes of the belly she is molested with, for if it be that they call Diarrhoea, that will only discharge her body of ill humours, therefore do no∣thing in that case but let her take strengthen∣ing food, for when nature hath eased her self sufficiently she will stay both the loose∣ness of the belly and her purgations from the womb, and so no ill accidents will come; but if the flux be Lienteria that the food comes away with the stools undigested, annoint her belly with Oil of Mastick and of Myrtles, and give her some sirrup of dried Roses, pulp of Tamarinds, or some torrified Rhubarb, to purge the belly and not hurt the womb: But if it rise to a Dysentery called the bloody flux, then so soon as her Terms are purged away, try to stay it.

1. By purging, as take half a dram of bark of yellow Mirobolans, & of rosted Rubarb as much, finely powdered, sirrup of Roses, or of Quin∣ces one ounce, pulp of Cassia or of Tamarinds with Sugar half an ounce, Plantane or Oak∣en

water four ounces, let her drink this at once.

2. Abstersives are good, as of whey, or bar∣ley water, or Glisters of Mallows, Mellilot, Wheat-bran and Oyl of sweet Almonds.

3. Narcoticks to ease great pains, Philoni∣um Romanum two scruples, Rose-water two ounces, Maligo wine one ounce, give it when she goes to sleep, this is excellent.

In this case astringents are to be used but not in the former distempers, here they profit, there they are dangerous.

Of Womens vomiting in Child-Bed.

Women both before they fall in labour, and at the time of their travel, and also after∣wards will sometimes fall to vomiting, and it may proceed from ill diet or raw humors, or from weakness of their stomach, or con∣sent of the womb when the after flux is stopt, and sometimes they will vomit blood, for the blood that is stopped below, runs back to the great veins and liver, and being much and sharp finds a way into the stomach and so comes forth at the mouth. It is ill after child-birth; especially the food being vomited there will be nothing to make milk for the child, and sometimes in hard labour a Vein is

broken and this may cause a dropsie; if ill diet cause vomit, rectifie that; if ill humours, stop it not presently but purge gently; if blood come, pull back by rubbing, or cupping, or bleeding, opening a Vein in the foot, ham, or ankle, and urging the after flux. Sometimes the woman is costive, then give her a supposi∣tory, with Castle sope or Honey, and then stay four or five days till you may give a Glister with Manna or, Cassia. If her Urine run away against her will, bath her parts with a decocti∣on of Betony, Bays, Sage, Rosemary, Ori∣ganum, Stoechas, and Penni-royal; for her vo∣miting, give her three spoonfuls of Cinnamon water, one ounce and half of juice of Quin∣ces, about a spoonful at a time. The leaves of Rosemary dried and brought into powder, and so drank about a scruple or half a dram at a time in a cup of wine will stay vomiting; preserve or Marmalade of Quinces, or Med∣lars eaten, or Pears or sowr Apples do strengthen the stomach, juice of Barberries, or of Pomegranates or sowr Cherries with Mint water.

There are many topical applications to be made to the pit of the stomach, which being laid on and so continued prevail much, as thus; take the crum of the inside of a white loaf, and tost it and steep it in good Maligo Wine,

and strew it lightly over with the powder of Cloves and Nutmegs, or sirrup of Roses, Rhubarb, or pulp of Tamarinds, and astrin∣gents, of Roses, Plantane, Coral, Tormentil, if the Terms flow not at all the belly must be kept loose, but vomiting is so perillous that it ought to be stopt, alwaies provided it be done no sooner than it is needful and with good provisoes.

CHAP. V.

Of Womens diseases in general.

WHosoever rightly considers it will pre∣sently find, that the Female sex are subject to more diseases by odds than the Male kind are, and therefore it is reason that great care should be had for the cure of that sex that is the weaker and most subject to in∣firmities in some respects above the o∣ther.

The Female sex then that it may be more nearly provided for wheresoever it is deficient must be considered under three several consi∣derations, that is, as maids, as wives, as widows, and their several distempers that be∣fall them almost commonly respect either the

womb or their breasts or both, and many of these diseases and distempers are common to all the Female sex, I mean they sometimes happen to them in any of the foresaid three e∣states of life, but Virgins, or Maids diseases that are more peculiar to them, though not essential, because many of them are incident to the rest, the causes may be the same; they are that wich is called the white Feaver, or green Sickness, fits of the Mother, strangling of the Womb, Rage of the Matrix, extreme Me∣lancholly, Falling-sickness, Head-ach, beat∣ing of the arteries in the back and sides, great palpitations of the heart, Hypochondriacal di∣seases from the Spleen, stoppings of the Li∣ver, and ill affections of the stomach by con∣sent from the womb. But that I may make as perfect an enumeration as may be of all disea∣ses incident to our sex, & give you some of the best remedies that are prescribed by the most Authentick authors, or what I my self have proved by long experience.

Know then that there are some diseases that happen about the secrets of women, as when the mouth of the Matrix is too narrow, or too great, when there is a Yard in the womb like a mans Yard, when the secrets are full of Pimples or very rugged, when there are swellings or small excrescenses in

the Womb, or else Warts in the neck of it, or the Piles or Chaps, Ulcers, or Fistulaes, or Cancers, or Gangreens, and Sphacelus, or Mortification: all these and more that may be reduced to these heads, are found in the en∣trance or mouth of the womb.

2. As to the womb it self it is frequently offended with ill distempers, being either too hot or too cold, too dry, or too moist, and of these are many more compounded, as too hot and too dry, too moist and too cold; these are all to be cured by their contraries, cold by heat, moist by driers.

Or the womb is sometimes ill shaped and strange things are found in it, some women have two wombs, and some again have none at all. Again the vessels of the womb some∣times will open preternaturally, and blood run forth in abundance, sometimes the womb swells and grows bigger than it should be: It may be troubled with a Dropsie, with swel∣ling of its veins from too much blood, also it may be inflamed, displaced, broken, and it may fall out of the body.

It may be rotten, or else cancerated, and sometimes womens stones and vessels for ge∣neration are diseased.

Further the womb may be troubled with an itch, it may be weak or painful, or suffer by

sympathy and antipathy from sweet or stink∣ing smells.

Moreover the terms sometimes flow too soon, sometimes too late, they are too ma∣ny or too few, or are quite stopt that they flow not at all. Sometimes they fall by drops, and again sometimes they overflow; sometimes they cause pain, sometimes they are of an e∣vil colour and not according to nature; some∣times they are voided not by the womb but some other way; sometimes strange things are sent forth by the womb, and sometimes they are troubled with flux of seed or the whites.

As for women with child they are subject to miscarry, to hard labour, to disorderly births of their children; sometimes the child is dead in the womb; sometimes alive, but must be taken forth by cutting or the woman cannot be delivered; sometimes she is trou∣bled with false conceptions, with ill forma∣tions of the child, with superfetations, ano∣ther child begot before she is delivered of her first; with monsters or Moles, and many more such like infirmities.

And as for women in child-bed, some∣times the Secundine or after-birth will not fol∣low, their purgations are too few or too ma∣ny, they are in great pains in their belly, their privities are rended by hard delive∣ry

as far as their Fundament, also they are inflamed many times and ulcerated and cannot go to stool but their fundament will fall forth. They have swoonding and epilep∣tick fits, watching and dotings; their whole body swels, especially their belly, legs and feet: they are subject to hot sharp Feavers and acute diseases, to vomiting and costive∣ness, to fluxes, to incontinence of Urine, that they cannot hold their water.

As for their breasts that hold the greatest consent with the womb of all the parts of the body, they are sometimes exceeding great or swelled with milk, or increased in number, more breasts than there should be by nature; sometimes the breasts are inflamed and trou∣ble with an Erisipelas, or hard swellings, or Scirrhus, or full of kernels, or tumors called the Kings evil, or strange things may be bred in the breasts; besides this some breasts are diseased with Ulcers, and Fustulaes or Can∣kers and some have no nipples, or are chopt or Ulcerated, and sometimes women have breasts will breed no milk to suckle the child with.

To speak then particularly to all these dis∣eases that belong to our sex might be thought to be over tedious; however I shall so handle the matter, that I may not troubled the Rea∣der

with impertinences, that I shall apply my self to what is most needful for the know∣ledge and cure of them all; but because many diseases may be refered to the chief in that kind, and the remedies that will cure one may be sufficient to cure the rest, the judicious Reader may, according as he shall have occa∣sion, make a more special application.

For it is in vain for any one to make use of what is written if they have no Judgement in the things they use, in such cases it will be best for them to ask counsel of others first, till they may attain to some farther insight themselves, and then no doubt but when they shall meet with sufficient remedies to cure the greatest distempers, they will be able to make use of the same without farther direction in the cure of those diseases that are lesse; not that I intend to omit any thing that is mate∣rial in the whole, but that I may not trouble the Reader with needless repetitions of the same things, as too many authours doe, which breeds tediousness, and can give little or no sa∣tisfaction at all.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Green-sickness, some call it Leu∣cophlegmatia, or Cachexia, an ill habit or white Feaver.

THough both wives and widows are sometimes troubled with this disease, yet it is more common to maids of ripe years when they are in love and desirous to keep company with a man.

It comes from obstruction of the vessels of the womb, when the humours corrupt the whole mass of blood and over cool it, run∣ning back into the great veins. For so soon as Maids are ripe, their courses begin to flow, Nature sending the menstrual blood from the Liver to the veins about the womb, but those veins and vessels being very narrow, and not yet open, if the blood be stopt, in that it cannot break forth, it will corrupt, and runs back again by the passages of the hollow vein and great Artery, to the Liver, the heart and the Midriff, and stops the whole body, which may be easily known, for their faces will look green and pale, and wan; they have trembling of the heart, pains of the head, short

breathing, the arteries in the back, the neck, and the Temples will beat very thick; and though not alwayes, yet sometimes they will fall into a Feaver by reason of these corrupt humours, but it is alwayes almost attended with disgust and loathing of good nutriment, and longing after hurtful things.

The whole Body especially the Belly, legs, and thighs swelling with abundance of naugh∣ty humours, the Hypocondriacal parts are ex∣tended by reason of the menstrual blood run∣ing back to the greater vessels, and they are much given to vomit; but all these signs are not found in all persons alike, but they are common to most, and in some you shall find all these meet. The cause is the Terms stopt, and from thence ill humours abound, for when the natural channel is stopt, the blood must needs return to the great vessels whence it came and choak them up, and so spoil the making of blood, nothing but raw and cor∣rupt humors are bred which can never turn to good nutriment, or be ever perfectly joyn∣ed to the parts of the body; the blood is flegmatick slimy stuff, and sometimes it is bred from corrupt meats and drink that maids will long after as well as Childing wo∣men; they will be alwayes eating Oatmeal, scrapings of the wall, earth, or ashes, or

chalk, and will drink Vinegar: they are strang∣ly affected with an inordinate desire to eat what is not fit for food, whereupon their na∣tural heat is choaked, and their blood turns to water, their body grows loose and spon∣gy, and they grow lazy, and idle, and will hardly stir; their pulse beats little and faint, as the vapours fly to several parts so they are ill affected by them; the heart faints, the head is dried and pained, and the animal acti∣ons are hurt when melancholy is mixed with the humours in too great proportion.

Sometimes this white Feaver turns to a Dropsie, or the liver grows hard like a stone that it can make no blood; some fall dead suddenly when the heart is choaked by ill va∣pours and humours flying to it; if the sto∣mach be affected the danger is the greater, but if onely the womb be out of frame the remedy is much more easy.

The best time of the year to cure Maids and those that are sick of the green sickness is the spring, and the way of cure is, to heat the cold humours, and make the thick gross blood thin, and this cannot be all performed by one work, to draw away and to correct the whole mass of humours at once; where∣fore you must purge gently and often, ming∣ling things that heat and attenuate, as well

as purgatives to carry the ill humours forth.

But first it will be good to give a Glister, and next to open a Vein in the foot or an∣cle.

Moreover your physick must vary accord∣ing to the parts of the body that are most stopt, and where the humors float.

If they lye above the stomach and mesen∣tery, then vomit, if you find the Person fit∣ted for vomit; likewise the Spleen, or liver, or womb must be respected in their several kinds with Physick accordingly; and to save you the labour of much reading, and me of writing too often of the same thing, under several heads, you may find what is to be done almost in all respects, where I write of the stopping of the Terms, and by this rule I wish the Reader to apply the rest when he stands in need, which he can never well do, as I said, till he have some judgement in it, and then it will become familiar to him.

But in this Disease principally for the cure respect the Liver, the Spleen, and the Me∣sentery, or Midriff, for these are certainly ob∣structed and must be opened; and above all be sure to keep a sparing diet and of a thin substance.

Secondly, Let blood in the arm first, though the courses be stopt, and after that in the foot.

If the disease be of long standing, you shall do well to give a gentle Purge.

First of all to purge the humours; as

Take powdered Rhubarb two drams, Chi∣cory and Anniseed-water three ounces apiece; Infuse the Rhubarb all night, then let them boyl one walm onely, and then strain it forth, and in the strained liquor, dissolve sirrup of Damask Roses one ounce and a half, Diacassia half an ounce, Cinnamon-water half an ounce, five grains of Diagridium, let her drink it in the morning.

Next after this use opening decoction of Succory and Madder, and Liquorish roots of each half an handful, Anniseeds and Fennel seeds two drams a piece, a handful of Harts-tongue Leaves, Borrage Flowers and pale Roses of each half a handful, one ounce of the roots of Sassafras, stoned Rasins one ounce and a half, and half a dram of Cinnamon.

Boyl all these in Fountain water to a third part onely wasted, and then sweeten it with sirrup of Lemmons, she may drink it when she pleaseth.

An Electuary made of the rob or pulp of Elder-berries boyl'd to a just substance four

ounces with one ounce of bay berries dried and powdered, two Nutmegs, and one dram of burnt-hartshorn, half a scruple of Amber, and four scruples of species Diarrhoda, mingled all with sirrup of Succory one ounce and half, is excellent.

And finally, it will not be from the pur∣pose, but very useful, to anoint the womb and Liver with such Oyntments, as will o∣pen their obstructions, made with Oyl of Spike, and bitter Almonds, of each two ounces; and juyces of Rue and Mugwort half as much, and Vinegar a fourth part; waste the watery part of these by boiling: then add Spikenard, Camels Hay, Roots of Asarum, of each one dram; Cypress half a dram, Wax, sufficient to make an Unguent.

To provoke the Termes.

And that is effected with one ounce of the Five opening Roots, and with Madder, Ele∣campane, Orris Roots, Eryngo, dried Ci∣tron Pills, and Sarfa, of each half an ounce; Germander, Mugwort, Agrimony, of each a handful; two small handfuls of Savin, an ounce of wilde Saffron seeds, two ounces of Senna; Agarick and Mechoachan, of each half an ounce; two Pugils of Stoechas Flowers;

of Galingal, Anniseeds, and Fennel, of each two drams: Boil all this to a Pint and half, sweeten it for your Pallat, and add to it a spoonful of Cinnamon water.

Quercetans Pills of Tartar, and Gum Amo∣niacum are commended; Take of each half a dram, Spike a scruple, three drops of Cinna∣mon, Extract of wormwood half a scruple; take a scruple, or twenty grain weight in pills an hour before Meat: Conserve of Marigold Flowers is very good. Some, after good preparatives, use Steel powder to much ef∣fect; giving first a vomit, if need require. This Medicament is good for all stoppings; but, if the Liver be stopt, let the Steel be fine∣ly powdered. Take prepared steel two ounces, Agarick, Species Diacrocuma, and Darrhodon of each a dram; two drams of Carthamus seed; Cloves one dram, Carrot seed, and red Dock Roots of each one dram and a half.

If the woman vomit, stop it not: but I approve not so well of steel taken in sub∣stance, as by infusion, I am sure it must needs be the safest way. Take steel (in powder) three ounces; three pints of white wine, and half an ounce of Cinnamon, let all stand in the sun eight dayes, stopt close in a Glass; and every day stir them well: the Dose is

six or eight ounces for twenty daies together, four hours before dinner.

Steel is best used in the Spring and in the Fall: but alwaies you must purge the body, and exercise both before and after the use of it; and you must change the form of your Medi∣caments, or the Patient will loath, and grow weary of it: Sweating and bathing are good. Either Baths (by Nature, or Art) made with Mugwort, Calamints, Niss, Danewort, Rose∣mary, Sage, Bays, Elecampane, Mercury, Briony Roots, Ivy: When the Obstructions are opened, and the body purged, you shall see all the former symptomes flie a way: But let the diet be meats of good digestion, and good nourishment; The air must be tem∣perately hot; all crude raw things must be a∣voided: as green fruit, Lettice, Milk, watry Fish: Wine is good drink: Sage and Cin∣namon are good Sawce: put Fennel seed in∣to your bread, and let it be well leavened: Sleep moderately: Marriage is a Soveraign Cure for those that cannot abstain. Maids must not be suffered to eat Oatmeal, or a∣shes, or such ill trumpery, though they de∣sire them never so much; for they will breed and increase the disease: but Child-bearing women, if they cannot be perswaded, must have what they long for, or they will mis∣carry.

Exercise, I say, is alwayes good to keep maids from this disease, and to cure it when it is come: For idleness causeth crudi∣ties; but motion makes heat, and helps to di∣stribute the Nutriment through the body: Yet moderation must be used; for it will weaken faint people if it be too much.

First, therefore onely rub and chafe the body, then by degrees, keep them from sleep∣ing too much; then increasing the labour, af∣ter that the body hath been well cleansed by purging.

Hippocrates commends marriage, as the chiefest remedy for Virgins sick of this disease, if they once conceive, that is their cure: or as saith Johannes Langius, for this disease never comes till they are fit for Copulation, and then commonly it hasteneth; and it is cu∣red by opening of Obstructions, and heating the womb; which nothing can so soon, and well perform, as the Venereal acts, to make the courses come down; but yet it is very dange∣rous, when these people are grown weak with this disease, and their bodies are full of corrupt humours; therefore they must purge them away before they marry: for I have known some that have been so far from being cured, that they died by it; perhaps sooner than they would have done otherwise: It

may be good sometimes, when the disease is new, and the blood plentiful, to open a vein, when the courses are stopt; and are not chang∣ed into some corrupt humour, you may then b••eed freely; this was the right judgment of Hippocrates: but when the passages are stopt, and the whole body is chilled with raw slimy humours, there is no time to bleed then; for that will augment the disease.

And because we are now upon this remedy of marriage, for the cure of this infirmity; though I touch'd it before, I shall a little fur∣ther discusse the matter: Whether all maids have that sign of their Maiden-head, which by Moses's Law (Deut. 22..) was so much to be taken notice of, and Physicians call Hymen, which signifies a Membrane, some do abso∣lutely deny, that there is any such Membrane, or skin; and maintain also, that if any maid have it, it is only the closeness of the womb, a disease in the Organ, and not common to all: And some of the best Anatomists main∣tain the contrary; affirming that there is a skin in all, or should be, that is wrinkled with Caruncles, like Myrtle-berries, or a rose half blown: and this makes the difference between maids and wives: but it is broken at the first encounter with man, and it makes a great alteration; it is painful, and bleeds when it

is broken: but what it is, is not certainly known. Some think it is a nervous Membrane interwoven with small veins, that bleed, at the first opening of the Matrix by copulation: Some think they are four Caruncles fastened together with small Membranes: Some ob∣serve a Circle that is fleshy about the Nimphe, with little dark veins; so that the skin is ra∣ther fleshy than nervous. Doubtless there is a main difference between Virgins and Wives, as to this very thing, though Anatomists agree not about it; because, though all have it, yet there may be causes whereby it may be bro∣ken before marriage, as I instanced formerly: and sometimes it is broken by the Mid∣wives.

Leo Africanus writes that the African cu∣stome was, whilest the wedding dinner was preparing, to shut the married Pair in∣to a room by themselves, and there was some old woman appointed to stand at the Door to take the bloody sheet from the Bride∣groom, to shew it to the Guests; and if no blood appeared, the Bride was sent home to her friends with disgrace, and the Guests dis∣missed without their dinner. But the sign of bleeding perhaps is not so generally sure; it is not so much ••n maids that are elderly, as when they are very young; bleeding is an undoubt∣ed

token of Virginity: But young wenches (that are lascivious) may lose this, by unchast actions, though they never knew man; which is not much inferior, if not worse than the act it self.

Amongst those signs of Maidenhead preser∣ved, is the straightness of the privy passage; which differs according to several ages, Ha∣bit of body, and such like circumstances: But it can be no infallible sign, because un∣chast women will (by astringent medica∣ments) so contract the parts, that they will seem to be maids again; as she did, who be∣ing married, used a bath of Comfrey roots.

Some judge (but falsely) that if a maid have milk in her breasts, she hath lost her Maidenhead: There can be no milk, say they, till she hath conceived with child. Maids want both the cause, and the end, for which nature sends milk; namely to provide food for the child to be born: If a maids courses stop, they corrupt, and turn not to milk. The Breasts have a natural quality to make milk; but they do it not, unless convenient matter be sent to make it of; and that is not done, but for the foresaid end.

Hippocrates, Galen, & there followers say, that maids may have milk in their brests: True it is, that it is a certain sign of a living child in

the womb, when there is milk in the Breasts; and of a mole or false conception, when there is no milk: But that milk that maids sometimes have in their breasts, is only a wa∣try humour, when their courses are stopt, and cannot get forth of the womb; then the Breasts by their faculty make whey, but can∣not make milk, without there be first carnal copulation: it is white as milk is; but not so white, nor so thick: neither comes it to the breasts by the same veins that that blood that makes Milk comes into them by; for this breeds in the veins of maids from the super∣fluous nutriment of their breasts. But to en∣large a little more concerning that distinction of Maids from Wives, by the straitness of the Orifice of the womb: There are three disea∣ses in this part of the secrets; either the mouth is too strait, or too wide, or sometimes there hangs forth the Yard of a woman. The Pri∣vity is too strait when there is not room for the Fore-man to enter; Such persons seldom child, and are delivered with great danger and difficulty: and if this come from ill con∣formation, that nature hath made them so, it will be hard to cure them by any thing but copulation, and bringing forth of Children, to enlarge the place: yet sometimes this strait∣ness comes from the use of astringent Medi∣caments,

when whores desire to appear to be maids; sometimes the passage is so close shut up on the outside, that nothing can come forth but water and the courses, and some∣times neither of them; because they are at∣tracted not bored nor pierced by nature. This disease is threefold; it is either in the mouth, neck, or middle body of the womb; it is ne∣ver good for copulation, conception, or for the courses to be voided by: I remember I saw a woman that had the Orifice of the ma∣trix so little, that nothing but the Urine and her courses could pass through; yet she con∣ceived with child, no man can suppose how she received the mans seed, but by attraction of the Matrix: the midwives (when she was to be delivered) discovered the difficulty; and a Chirurgeon made the Orifice wider, and she was by that means happily brought a bed of a Son: The cleft may be also close stopt, by reason of some wound or Ulcer cured in that part. I saw a woman which by the French disease, had been much eaten off, yet when it was healed, it grew close together, that there was no passage left, but for her Urine to come forth by: either proud flesh, in foul diseases, or else some membrane, by evil conformation may stop the passage: if it be in the mouth of the secrets, it is visible, but if in the neck it

lieth concealed; Unless it be when the cour∣ses are flowing, or Copulation is used, it is not painful: and maids are supposed to be with child; for the belly tumifies, and the body is discoloured. The terms cannot well come forth of the neck, or the Veins of the womb, if there be an Ulcer or inflammation, you may know almost whence it came; but if a mem∣brane stop it, the place is white: if the flesh be red, and you touch it, the touch will dis∣cover it; for a membrane is harder than the Flesh: the hazards are great for childing wo∣men.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Straitness of the womb.

SOmetimes there are superfluous Excre∣scences, that fill up the Privites, and are like a tail: I spoke something before of a Clitoris; but these are not that: for a Clitoris, if it be rubbed, increases pleasure in copula∣tion; but these fleshy excrescensces are pain∣ful to be touched, and hinder copulation: you may safely cut them off, if you can come at them, because they are redundant.

There are a kind of wings in a womans se∣crets, much like to the comb of a cock for colour and shape; it swells like a Yard some∣times (in lust it is full of spirits) and is hard and Nervous at the top of it; sometimes it is no less than the Yard of a man, and some wo∣men by it have been suspected to be men; it proceeds from much nutriment, and frequent handling of the part that is loose. To cure it you must first discuss, and dry it with easie astringents; then you may go on to Cau∣sticks, that are not dangerous; as burnt Allum, or Egyptiac: if these cure it not, then you may at last cut it off; or tie it with a horse hair, or piece of Silk, till it fall off; but cut it not at first for fear of pain and inflammati∣on: The way to cut it off is taught by Aetius, to cut it neatly between both the wings, cau∣sing as little pain as possible may be; and af∣ter that, foment the place with an astringent Decoction of wine with Pomegranate Flow∣ers, Cypress nuts, Bay Berries, Roses and Myrtles.

Some call this disease Tentigro, when the Clitoris grows bigger by odds than it should be; it is a nervous piece of flesh, which is lapt in by the lips of the Privitie, and it ri∣seth in the act of Copulation; it hangs below the Privy parts, outwardly, like a Gooses

Neck in bigness; and it comes from a great Flux of humours to the part, being loose, and often handled: The way to cure it, is to purge superfluous humours forth, and to draw blood, and use a spare diet, and very cooling, and to discuss with the leaves of Mastich tree, or of the Olive: You may take away the ex∣crescence by Sope, being boiled with Roman Vitriol; and last of all, add a little Opium, make some Troches, and sprinkle the pow∣der upon the superfluous part; and after that cut it off, or cure it by ligature as I said be∣fore.

There is another fleshy substance, that sometimes fills up the privy parts, coming from the mouth of the womb, and hangs of∣tentimes out, like a Tail; it may be easier ta∣ken a way than the former, by the same means of cutting or binding with a thread, or silk dipt in sublimate water.

There are many other infirmities that stop up the secrets of the womb, of which I shall briefly speak; but the straitness of the neck of the womb it self is not so usual, as too much wideness is; you may know when it is too strait, by the stopping of the Courses, and a weighty pain bearing down: It proceeds partly from ill conformation by nature, and partly from Diseases; sometimes it is so shut up

outwardly, that neither the courses can come forth, nor the mans Yard enter in; that it is not possible for her to be with child: if the straitness be in the inward Orifice, the courses run back again for want of passage, and hin∣der conception. It may happen when the caule lieth to that, and presseth upon the neck of the womb; the stone in the bladder, or swelling in the straight Gut, may cause it also; if the parts cling together naturally, either soft red flesh, or a white hard skin causes this straitness as I said: But the straitness of the womb it self, and its vessels are sometimes natural by ill conformation; and such women will miscarry in the fourth or fifth month, be∣cause the womb that naturally stretcheth, as the child grows in bigness, & will after the wo∣man is delivered, shrink as small as it was be∣fore, in some women will not be extended. But if the straitness be in the vessels or neck of the womb, Conception is hindered, be∣cause the terms cannot flow; gross humours, especially when the womb is cold and weak, stop the mouths of the veins and arteries.

Inflammations; or Swellings, or Scars, or Schirrhus, or the like, may be the causes; some∣times thick Flegm abounds, if there were a wound or the after-burden were forcibly pulled out.

If the terms be stopt, from an old obstructi∣on of grown humors, the cure is hard; a Schir∣rhus, or humour that shuts up the vessels, can∣not be cured; what is to be cured, must first be done by general evacuations of purging and bleeding; then use means to provoke the terms: if the straitness come from diseases, first cure them.

Sometimes the Secrets of women are full of pushes, and scurf, with itching and pain, wheals rising in the neck of the womb: They are of two sorts; some are gentle, but most commonly they are venemous, and come from the foul disease, and will impart it unto men: They proceed from burnt, sharp, cholerick, malignant humours, hard to be cured; Sirrup of Fumitory is very good in such cases: it is also profitable to wash the parts with wine and Salt-Peter.

Draw blood, if it abound, first in the arm then in the ancle: but first if be the di∣sease, drink the decoction of Sarsa and Gua∣icum for it: Avoid sharp sowr meats; it is good to purge with Confectio Hamech, or Fumi∣tory Pills. You may see the cause of this great itching, and scurf, if you search with Specu∣lum Matricis, an instrument Chirurgeons use. Sometimes Tubercles grow in the neck of the womb, with heat and pain; you may see

them them, for they are a kind of swelling wrinkles, like the wrinkles you see when you close your Fist, but they are much larger; and when they swell they make these Tubercles: they are usual in the secrets, or Fundament, and come from the same malignant causes with the former; and some are more enfla∣med, and painful, than others are: The swel∣lings are hard, proceeding from thick burnt humours; Powder of egg-shels burnt is good to strew upon them to dry them up, if they be new, and there be no inflammation; but if they be old and dry, they must first be soften∣ed. These wrinkled skins, when they are many, resemble a bunch of Grapes: Cure the Pox first, for usually that is the cause, and then they will vanish of themselves.

If Medicaments prevail not, some old au∣thors bid us to use an actual Cautery, and to burn them away. Likewise Warts in the se∣crets are bred by a gross dreggy ill humour, and is of kind with the forementioned; Na∣ture sends it forth to the outward skin, and there it becomes Warts: if they be hard or blew, and painful, you may know what they are, the Pox is in them, and hard to be got out, and they lie where medicines can scarce be applied to them to remain: if you apply sharp Topicals, use a defensative of

Bole and Vinegar, that you hurt not the parts; and so you may touch them with Aqua for∣tis, or Spirit of Vitriol, or of Brimstone. There are several sorts of these Excrescences; there are those that are called Myrmeciae, leave an Ulcer; if you cut them off Thymi, & Clavi will grow again, but Acrocordanes leave no root, if they be once cut away.

The powder of Mulberries is good to cure Warts and swellings upon the privities of men; and I recommend it to women in the same cases: Sometimes women have the piles of the womb, like those in the Funda∣ment; they proceed from gross blood, that staies about the ends of these veins, in the neck of the womb. Women that are thus troubled, look pale, and are very faint and weary: this may come from too long flow∣ing of the courses, and grow thick, and can∣not get forth; they are painful, and bleed disorderly; you may see them, by the help of Speculum Matricis, and touch them: The cure is by revulsion of the humour, by letting blood in the arm or heel; and by gentle applications if the pains be great: if nature open them and they bleed moderately, you may give way to nature; but if they run violently, o∣pen a vein in the arm two or three times: Purge with Rhubarb, Tamarinds, and Miro∣bolans

mingled: and use Topicals to stay the blood. The blind Piles bleed not at all: they are cured by letting young women bleed free∣ly; and by softening the parts with emolli∣ent Fomentations, to open the veins, and to dispel the humour, made with mallows, Marshmallows, Cammomile, Melilot, Ma••∣lius, Linseed, Fenugreek: Anoint where the pain is, with butter, Populeon and Opium; if the pain be gone, and they bleed not, use Driers, of Bole, Ceruss, Allum, burnt Lead, wash'd; if the veins swell with blood rub them with Fig leaves, or with Horse Leeches ap∣plied draw blood from them.

This disease of the Piles of the womb dif∣fers from the flowing of the courses, because this is with great pain; and moreover the courses run from the veins of the womb, and the neck of it; but the Piles are caused when the blood runs too much to the veins that force the secrets, and either stops there, or comes forth sometimes by them: but some say they differ from the courses, namely, by their great pain; but that they make the bo∣dy lean, if they last long, and the blood comes not forth so orderly, nor at certain periods, and set times, as the courses use to do: Some∣times the womb hath Ulcers bred there, some are cleaner, and some again are sordid

and malignant, all hard to be cured. They proceed generally from a virulent Gonor∣rhoea, or the Pox; but they may rise from inflammation, by abundance of sharp corro∣ding humors, from abortion, or hard labour, or sharp medicines, or when the after-birth is pulled out by force, and rends the womb.

The pain of Ulcers is biting, and increased by sharp injections of Wine or Honey and Water: All Ulcers are hard to heal there, because of the sensibility, and moistness of the part: and a light Excoriation, or raw∣ness, will not easily be healed; but eating Ulcers never are cured there almost but by Death. Ulcers by Venery, if they be cured, you must first cure the Pox.

All Ulcers in the secrets of Wombs may be cured, if they be not Cankered: and the way to cure them is by Purging and bleeding, to cleanse and carry away, and divert the ill Humours and moisture from the Womb: if there be great pain, abait that with Mucilage of Fleabane, and whites of Eggs; or, an Emul∣sion of Poppey Seeds. Warm Injections into the Womb will help forward the Cure, made of Barley, Lentils, Beanes, Lupines, of each one Ounce; and two drams of Orris Roots; and of Horehound, Wormwood, and a little Centry, of each half a handful, boil all in

Whey, strain it, and put some Honey of Ro∣ses, or Hydromel to it. Turpentine washed and with Liquorish swallowed is good: Drink Sheeps milk sweetened with Sugar. Fumes made with Frankincence, Myrrh, Mastich, Storax Calamita, Juniper Gum, received by a Tunnel do good; if there be a jealousie of the Pox, add a little Cinnabar; but Pessariers with Opium must not be held in above half an hour, for it will hurt the Nervous part of the womb: a scruple of the Pills of Bdellium, taken thrice a week, may be profitable: Vul∣nerary Potions drunk, and astringent pow∣ders cast upon the Ulcers must not be neg∣lected.

Sometimes there are long Ulcers in the neck of the womb, like to those that eat the skin, and are seen upon some mens hands and feet in Winter; sometimes they are bleeding, and sometimes very dry, and have hard lips; much labour and sharp humours to the parts may cause them: when they are new they are easier cured; use a good moistening diet: if sharp humours cause them, purge them forth; and anoint the Ulcers with Oil of Linseed and Roses, mingle them in a Leaden Mortar with juice of Plantane, and the Yolk of an egg; when they are hard anoint them with deers Marrow, Turpentine, wax, and oil of

Lillies; when they are malignant they are cu∣red, as Fistulaes are; if they itch, or cause pain, make an unguent of Populeum and Diapompho∣lix, of either one ounce; Camphire & Sugar of Lead of each a scruple: when there is a great itching of the womb it is somewhat like the rage of it, then eat Sallets of cooling herbs, Purslain and Lettice, with a few Spearmints, & oil and vinegar, or take conserve of Mints, and of Water-Lilly-Flowers, of each an ounce, Lettice candied six drams, Agnus Castus seeds one dram and a half, Coral one dram, Rue feeds half a dram, Camphire a scruple, with sirrup of Purslain, make an Electuary; an∣noint the Reins and secrets with Galen's cold ointment, with a little Camphire.

As for the womb, it is soon ulcerated, because the parts are soft, and easily corroded, and hard to be healed: and these ulcers are of ma∣ny kinds; hollow, crooked or strait; if the sharp humors be retained, it makes furrows and divides the parts; which growing hard with a callous cannot join again; thus it degenerates into a Fistula; it may be with∣out pain, with hard Lips, and an ill matter may be pressed forth of it: sometimes it cor∣rodes the bladder, and then the water passeth forth by the Fistula, and sometimes to the Fundament, and the Dung is voided by it:

An old Fistula is harder to cure than a new; and a crooked than a streight. General reme∣dies, and a good Diet may do much; and so leave the rest to nature to evacuate the excre∣ments: but use a palliative cure by often Sweating, and purging twice a year; and by Injections and Corroboratives, laying on a Plaister of Diapalma: After general meanes, if it be not past hopes, Vulnerary Decoctions may help, made with Centaury, Bettony, Agrimony, Ladies mantle, and roots of male Fern. Topicks are useful, first dilating the Orifice with Gentian Roots, or with a Sponge; then make soft the Callous with Tur∣pentine, wax, Deers Marrow, and Oyl of Lillies; then consume the Callous, which may be effected: For a new narrow Fistula use black Hellebore, Egyptiac, or Vigo's powder, carried to it with a Pencil, or Aqua Falopii; or take Rose, and Plantane water, of each six ounces, put to it Sublimate half a scruple, set it on the Embers in a Glass; but if the Fistula be toward the womb, beware of violent means: if it be foul, and a hard Callous with∣all, a Potential Caustick may do good, but a Horrion is best; all these are safe in the out∣ward part of the Neck of the womb, but in the inward there is greater danger.

A Cancer in the womb is seldome seen, nor

can it be ever cured: but that which is in the Neck of the womb I shall instance in; which is either with an Ulcer, or without an Ul∣cer.

First, It comes without an Ulcer; but when long Applications are used to them, hard schirrhus Tumours, which spring from burnt black humours, and Terms, that flow to those parts, chang to an Ulcerated Can∣cer.

Secondly, It may be in the part not Ulcera∣ted a long time, and not be known, because it is without pain; but at length there will be a pain felt in the Loins, and bottom of the belly: the swelling looks blew, and loath∣some; when it becomes Ulcerated it is worse, and a thin black stinking matter comes from it. If much blood flow from it, that is dan∣gerous; there will be a soft Feaver, red cheeks and loathing, by reason of the vapours that rise from it: Mild Remedies are not felt, and strong meanes make it worse; it growes harder daily: keep it from being Ulcerated, and you may live long with it. Prepare and Purge Melancholy, from whence it proceeds: Use no sharp biting applications at first, but onely Diapompholyx, or juice of night shade, Plantane, or Purslane. Give every day three or four Grains of a Powder made of Oriental

Bezoar stone, Saphyrs and Emeralds, of each one dram, in waters of Scabius, or Carduus; take also juice of Nightshade six ounces, burnt Lead washt, and Tutty, of each two drams, Camphire half a dram, put Cray-fish pow∣der to them, and stir them well in a leaden Mortar.

An Injection made with a Decoction of Cray-fish is held to be very good; and, make a Cataplasm, and a Fomentation with milk, Saffron, water Lillies, Mallowes, Marsh∣mallowes, Coriander, Dill, and Fleabane seed. Arsenick and Antimony may be good in some remote parts, but are dangerous here.

There was a Noble woman who had a Cancer Ulcerated upon her Face, and sought for help from all Countries; at last a Bar∣ber cut a Chicken in the midst, and often ap∣plyed that, and it drew forth the Ulciome, and the Lady was cured.

The womb is very soon corrupted by the many ill humours that flow thither, and it will quickly Gangreen, and the parts morti∣fie, the natural heat being extinguished; by reason of some preceding Ulcer, the neck of the womb will feel an unusual heat, and a Feaver runs through the body; the part is discoloured, and neither beats nor feels any

thing; prick it, or cut it, it stinks: The Party that hath it faints and decayes, where∣fore strengthen the heart with cordials, and the principal parts, least the Spirits be infect∣ed; cut off the dead flesh: stop the corrupti∣on by scrarifying it, if you can come at it, then wash the part with a decoction of worm∣wood, and Lupines, and Egyptiac; apply Epithems to the heart: it is worse when it goes to the womb, than when it comes outward. Some have had their womb fall out and yet re∣covered, as to life, w^ch was before endangered.

The Neck of the womb is onely subject to Ulcers: yet sometimes the substance of the womb hath been Ulcerated, and rotted away. A dead child in the womb may cause an Ulcer; but all these Ulcers and Rottenness are to be dealt withal as I have shewed before: Some∣times there may be a Rupture of the womb; I never saw but one, and that was exceeding rare, it happens so seldome.

The womb is so fenced by the adjacent parts, that it is seldom wounded, unless the Chirurgeon chance to do it, in cutting the Child forth of the womb. There is more pain in the neck of the womb, than in the bottom of it: but this cutting may be cured by In∣jections and Glisters for the womb, made with Decoctions of round Birthwort, Cypress

Nuts, boiled in Steel water, and Astringent Wine, and a little Honyed water, and Agri∣mony, Mugwort, Plantane, Roses, Camels Hay, Horehound; If the pain be great use An∣odynes, or Pessaries, made with a wax candle dipt in Vulnerary Oyntments; as, take Turpentine, Goose Grease, wax and Butter, of each a dram; Bulls Grease, Deers Mar∣row, Honey, Oyl of Roses, of each two drams.

I have refer'd all the foresaid Diseases to a natural, or Accidental straitness of the mouth, or neck, or Middle of the womb; all of them being a hinderance to Copulation, and mak∣ing compression upon the parts.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the Largeness of the womb.

THe opposite to straitness of the womb is the largeness of the Orifice; and some∣times more Cuts than nature makes; which may proceed from Copulation, or bearing of Children.

By the largeness of the Orifice women are often barren, and sometimes the womb falls

out, as Hippocrates saith: Nor do men desire to keep company with such women.

The cure after Child-birth is with Astrin∣gent Fomentations, and Bathes of Allum wa∣ter; binding things of Bole, Dragons blood, Comfrey Roots, Pomegranat Flowers, Ma∣stick, Allum, Galls, of each half a dram; powder all, and make a Pessary to thrust into the Orifice, dipt in this Mixture, made fit with steel'd water.

Hard Labour doth sometimes cleave the Privy parts as low as the Fundament; where∣by the rent is made so wide, that it goeth from one to the other hole; a long piece of Allum (put into the cleft) may do good to help it: but if there be many passages in the secret parts, it comes from an error in na∣ture, there being a passage open from the womb to the straight gut.

There are some diseases whereby Physicians are much deceived, thinking the cause to lye in the womb when it doth not; for womens stones, and Vessels of procreation, may be sorely distempered, and their womb be no wayes affected with it.

Gasper Bauhin, and John Scenkius, tell us of a Maid whose belly was swoln, as though she had been with child; but when she died, she desired to be opened, to let the World

know her innocency, and it did so appear; for her stones were swelled as big as a white penny Loafe, they were blew, and spungy, and full of water.

The womb is sometimes subject to great paines, besides what proceed from the former Diseases, for there is that which is called the Cholick of the womb; it is usual to women with child, as the Inflammation of the womb is, it binds the belly and stops the veins; all women are subject to it, either from sharp humours, or from clotted blood, that sticks to the hollow of the womb; Drinking of cold drink may cause it: sometimes it comes from retention, and corruption of the seed, that is cured as fits of the Mother; If it come from ill humours that lye there, purge them forth; if from windy vapours, that rise from the heat of ill humours, these must be discussed; give a Glister of Maligo wine, and Nut oyl, of each three ounces, Aquavitae one ounce, oyl of Juniper and Rue distiled, of each two drams, apply it warm: lay on a plaister to the Navel, of Tacamahac, and Gum Caranna.

CHAP. IX.

Of the Termes.

THe Monthly courses of women are called Termes; in Latin Menstrua: quasi Mon∣strua, for it is a Monstrous thing, that no creature but a women hath them; or else Menstrua because they should flow every Moneth: and they are named Flowers be∣cause Fruit follows; and so would theirs if they came down orderly: they are then a sign that such people are capable of Children; it preserves health to have them naturally, but if they be stopt there must be danger; when the woman is conceived, then they stop: they begin commonly at fourteen years old, and stop at fifty, or in some at sixty years old; they are of no ill quality naturally, but are onely superfluous moisture and blood the Female sex abounds withal; for when they stop, the Child in the womb is supplied by them. The Termes run longer two or three dayes with some women than with others, for they differ as women do, according to plenty, or less plenty of good diet, and labour, or idle∣ness, or the like,

Hippocrates saith, They should bleed in all

but two pints at most, or a pint and a half, the colour of the blood and substance differs, according to divers tempers; it should not be too thick nor too thin, without any ill scent, and of a red or reddish colour: and the veins of the womb are the passages, which are double from the Spermatick and Hypogastrick dou∣ble branch on both sides, to send forth super∣fluous menstrual blood from all parts of the body; some say this blood is venomous, and will poison plants it falls upon, discolour a fair looking glass by the breath of her that hath her courses, and comes but near to breath upon the Glass; that Ivory will be obscured by it: It hath strong qualities indeed, when it is mixed with ill humours. But were the blood venomous it self, it could not remain a full month in the womans body, and not hurt her; nor yet the Infant, after concep∣rion, for then it flows not forth, but serves for the childs nutriment.

We read of a child but five years old, that had her monthly purgations: and John Fer∣nelius writes of one that was but eight years old that had them; but certainly it must be a sign of a lascivious disposition, and of a short life.

Some womens courses stop not only by conception, but from other causes, that have

come again very well seven or eight months after; but if the terms fail, there is either want of blood, or the blood is stopt: but some refer the causes of stopping the courses to four heads, viz.

• 1. Corruption of the blood.
• 2. The Womb ill disposed.
• 3. An ill habit of the body.
• 4. An ill Custome of the faculties of the Body.

1. If the Womb be diseased, as it is subject; to many, the Terms will increase or diminish wherefore the womb must be first healed.

2. If the blood be corrupt, it will be too thick, or too thin, by reason of ill humours and ill diet.

3. If the body be ill disposed, it sends not blood as it should do: some laborious Coun∣try Women become so hot and dry like Men, that they have hardly any courses at all; as the Indian women have none: but they are bar∣ren, if they abound with no more blood than will nourish their body: Blood is wanting either because it is not made, or not disper∣sed where it should, but turned to other uses: Old age, cold constitutions, diseased bodies, will not make blood; also often bleeding of

the great vessels, and much loss of blood, or from Issues to make diversions, the womb is not supplied with it. Nature spends the blood in Nurses that give suck for an other end; and fat women wear it on their backs: sadness and fear not only wast, but cool and corrupt the blood.

4. The weakness of the woman hinders the courses; and so long as she continues weak, she will have no••.

But all these things must be judged of by the relation of the party, whether the whole body be diseased, or the defect be in the womb or vessels, or the mouth of the womb turned aside: If the cause be from heat that her courses are stopt, her Pulses are swift and strong, she is very thirsty, and her head a∣keth, and such like signs of heat: If from cold, the woman is drowsie and sleepy, her Pulse beats slow, and she is not thirsty, the Veins are ill coloured; if the woman be fat or lean that will discover the inward cause of it.

The usual cause of obstruction of the cour∣ses is thick slimy humours; or from thick gross melancholly blood proceeding from a cold distemper of the Spleen and Liver, by drinking cold Water, or eating gross Food.

The Roman women drank snow water, and that was the reason (said Galen) that they had few or no courses; but in such cases they could not be very fruitful: It will seem strange, that some women are so hot of constitution, that they have conceived, yet never had their courses at all.

Courses stopt in maids, are not the same as they are in women, for the effects are very different; Maids, they pr••••••ntly fall into the Green sickness by it, the blood going to and fro all the body over, and is corrupted: but in women, it runs to the womb com∣monly, and causes them to vomit, and to loath their meat, or to desire unnatural things: You shall know a woman with child, when her courses are stopt, from a maid that hath hers stopt; for the one looks wan and pale, the other lively and well: the one is sad, the other merry: the womans pains daily de∣crease, and the others increase. This ob∣struction causeth not only barrenness, but strange distempers, Suffocations, Swellings, Imposthumes, Coffing, Dropsies, difficulty of breathings, urine supprest, Costiveness, Heaviness, Megrims, Vertigoes, Head ach, and many more fearful distempers.

Hippocrates tells us, that when the terms are long stopt, the Womb is diseased, with hu∣mours,

imposthumes, ulcers, barrenness, Leu∣cophlegmacy, vomiting of blood, heart-ach and head-ach, if the symptomes be great there is danger of death.

The best way to move the courses in weak women is to forbear Physick, and to feed them high with nourishing meats and drinks; this is where the Woman is lean, her Liver weak, and blood is wanting: but if blood abound, then give a gentle purge, or Glister: then o∣pen a vein to draw down the blood to the womb; open a vein in the foot, or ancle, one day, one leg, and another day the other, four or five daies before the time the cour∣ses should come down: use Frictions and bind∣ing of the parts below, but Issues, and open∣ing of the Emrods do hurt, and draw from the womb: you may first loosen the belly with Hiera Picra, or Pills de tribus. For Phleg∣matick bodies use the Decoction of Guaicum, or Sarsa and Sassafras, and Dittany fifteen drops, without sweating: purge with Aga∣rick, Mechoachan, Turbith, and Scamony; or drink wine of their infusions: if the sto∣mach be foul, give a vomit, lest it get into the Reins.

Things that provoke the terms are hot and thin: take sirrup of Mugwort, and of the Fierwort of each one ounce and a half; Ox∣imel

simple, one ounce; Water of Mother∣wort and Mugwort, of each two ounces; Pennyroyal and Nip, of each one ounce, sweeten it with a spoonful or two of Cinna∣mon water, make a Julip to drink at thrice. Pessaries are not fit for maids, but Fumes may be used; if she be no maid bruise Mercury, with Centaury Flowers put in a bag for a pes∣sary; begin with the mildest remedies: if it be from a humour provoke not the Terms, but cure the swelling. Some say that the blood going to other parts cause the Terms to stop; but that is contrary, for the blood goes to other parts because the Terms are stopt.

Authors agree not what veins must be o∣pened to move the Terms; Galen thinks the Ancle Vein, and most men conclude the same because it opens obstructions, and brings down the blood; open the ancle twice or thrice rather than the arm once: but in other diseases of the womb it is best to open a vein in the arm; as when the Terms are too many, or drop, or the womb, is inflamed.

The Saphaena is opened by putting the foot into warm water, few terms flowing, if the blood be but little there is no harm: Diseases grow when they are stopt by thick blood, as the Cancer, Schirrhus, and Erisipelas; when the time is near, then use the stronger

remedies, the weaker having made a way for them. Tender natures (as maids) must have but gentle remedies; as Aloes one dram and a half, Agarick and Rhubarb of each one dram; Myrrh, Gum Ammoniack dissolved in Vinegar, Gentian Root, Asarum, of each half a dram; Cinnamon, Mastich, Spikenard, of each one scruple; five grains of Saffron, make a mass of the fine powder, with sirrup of Mugwort, the Dose is one dram.

To urge the terms in strong Country peo∣ple, take pills Aureae and Aggregativae, of each two drams; pill Felid and Hiera, of each four scruples, at the Apothecaries, Diagrid one scru∣ple, Trochischi Alhandal half a scruple, with a hot pestle mix them well in a Mortar; adding sirrup of Damask Roses, one dram, oil of An∣niseed olympical half a scruple; dissolve Gum Dragant in Cinnamon water and make your pills, and let the woman take two scruples e∣very morning, before the time of their terms, at least three or four drops.

Ointments and Plaisters are good also, and pessaries made of Aromatical things, and sweet smells, and Fumes; as take Benzoin, Storax Calamita, Bdellium, Myrrh, what you please; mingle them, and strew some on a pan of Coles; the woman so placed, that she may receive the Fume by a Tunnel, broad at the

lower end, to keep the smoke in: but lest these Fumes cause the head-ach, keep the Fumes down with clothes about the woman, that they come not to her head: But do none of these things to women with child, for that will be Murder: give your remedy a little before the Full Moon, or between the New and the full, for then blood increaseth: but never in the Wane of the Moon, for it doth no good: Sometimes, but seldome the courses stop with Fulness; such must, saith Riolanus, be let blood in the arm, but with great care.

CAHP. X.

Of the overflowing of the Courses, or immoderate flux thereof.

THis distemper is contrary to the former, and Women are often subject to it; and it brings many diseases, great weakness, loss of appetite, ill digestion, dropsies, consump∣tions, pains in the back and stomach: Their ordinary continuance should be two or three daies, or four or five daies in large People;

but if they stay longer it is not good; or if they come oftener than once a month, I mean the Moons Month, passing through the twelve Signs, that is twenty seven daies and odd minutes.

The causes may be falls, or blows, or strains, or hard labour, over-heating the bo∣dy, which makes the blood thin; or from weakness of the retentive faculty, and too much strength of the expulsive faculty; or from crude raw blood and weakness, or too much moisture: and this is the cause that some women have their terms by drops, and it lasts long, and there is pain, and the se∣crets are alwaies wet; if this be not remedied it may cause Ulcers and inflammations: if the blood be superfluous open the arm, not the ancle vein; if it be Cacochymical correct it; if too thin and sharp, correct and amend it, by coolers and thickeners; and strengthen the wombs retentive faculty by astringents, and convenient driers.

Many think that the overflowing of the Terms and Issues in women are the same di∣seases, but that is not so (as Galen shews) for by superfluous Flux of the courses only blood is voided, but in too great a measure: But women continual Issues send forth not only blood, at certain periods, but various

humours, that cause the disease.

The Terms exceed when they flow in too great abundance in a short time or continue longer than is needful; the one resembles vio∣lent rain, the other flow rain, but lasts long: If too much blood be the cause of this superflui∣ty, the blood will be whitish and pale; if chol∣ler, the terms will be yellow: if melanchol∣ly, they will be dark coloured, black or blew: it weakeneth all the body, and the Liver and Bowels; dip a clout in the blood, and dry it in the shade, and then the colour of the blood will shew the humour that offendeth, and ac∣cordingly prepare your remedies: Sometimes it causeth swounding, paleness, the whites or the dropsie: If fulness be the cause, abate blood, opening the Liver vein of the right arm; repel, cool, bind, bleed little, but often; use cuppings to the back and breast against the Li∣ver, below the paps, to draw the blood back; but scarifie not under the breasts: upon the Salvatella, bind and rub the arms and shoul∣ders. Waters of Plantane, Purslain, Shep∣herds Purse, Sorrel, sirrup of Pomegranates or dried Roses, will cool and thicken the blood; and so will Bole or Sealed Earth, sirrup of Pop∣peys, Philonium, Laudanum are good. If it proceed from choller, purge with sirrup of Roses, of Rhubarb, or with Senna, or Man∣na:

if watry blood be the cause, the Reins and Liver are out of temper, sweat with Chi∣na, and strengthen those parts.

Do not force veins, but use astringents; take the juice of ass dung, sirrup of Myrtles, of each half an ounce, with an ounce of Plan∣tane water, let the woman drink it and not know what she takes, lest it offend her; or give every day a dram of the powder of Mul∣berry tree roots. When you use cold astrin∣gents temper them so, that you stop not the Veins; use no Pessaries, except the Veins of the neck of the womb be open. Cold and binding fomentations are better than baths, for baths make the humours to flow more: wash the legs and hips in cold water. If choller persist, Rhubarb powder in conserve of Roses is very good. The principal causes of this overflowing are but four; viz.

• 1. Some of the Vessels broken, or much dilated.
• 2. Violent Purgation.
• 3. Corroding humours.
• 4. Hard travel in Childbed, or the Mid∣wives unkind handling.

First, if the Vessels be broken, the blood gusheth forth in heaps; if flowing of humors

they come with much pain, though the quan∣tity be small.

Secondly, All Physicians almost wish to stop the Courses first that are too many, before you strengthen the woman: But I think it more reasonable to strengthen nature first, and nature will help her self with less means; but strengthen the womb, and annoint the reins and back with oils of roses, Myrtles, Quinces; do this every night, lay a piece of white bays then next your reins, upon the bare skin, and keep it there constantly; in∣ject the juice of Plantane into the Matrix, it seldome fails: You may drink of the decocti∣ons of Sage, Bistort, Tormentil, Knotgrass, Sannicle, Ladies-mantle, Golden Rod, Loos-strife, Meadow Sweet, Archangel, Solomons Seal, Purslane, Shepherds Purse, red Beets, Bark, and Cups of Oak and Acorns: But I commend this medicine; take of Comfry leaves or roots, of either a handful, and of Clowns all-heal the same, bruise them and boil them well in Ale, drink a good draught when you please, and it will help you, though the mouths of the Vessels be open. Too much blood is lost in the overflowing of the courses when the faculty is hurt by it, otherwise the quantity cannot be defined. The immediate causes are the opening of the Vessels; but the

mediate cause is the blood offending in quan∣tity or quality: Vessels are opened three or four wayes by Anastomosis, when the mouthes lye open, by reason of a moist distemper, or use of Aloes or hot and moist bathes; or from Diapedesis, when the blood sweats through the Coats, this is not often; or from Diaeresis, when the sharpness of the blood eates the Ves∣sels in sunder; if a Vein be broken, Coral; Bole, Myrtles, Comfrey, are good to bind; or a Poultis with astringent powders, and the White of an Egg.

Thirdly, If a vessel be Corroded, a dram of the roots of Dropwort in a new Egg will glutinate: Sleep long, use little Exercise, nor Venery; but eat little: if it come from Ple∣thory, use thin Nutriment, beware of hot things, alwayes purge the humour that of∣fends; vomits are good to stay, and turn the course of the humours: Take Conserve of Roses two ounces, of water Lillies one ounce, prepared Pearls and burnt Harts-horn, of each half an ounce, Bole Armoniac, and Terra Lemnia, of each half a scruple, make an Electuary with sirrup of Plantane, this is cooling, thickning and binding: or, in case of great necessity take a Bolus made with old conserve of Roses, half anounce, Philonium, or Requies Nicolai two scruples, or but a scru∣ple

of each; let them drink Red Wine, or quench steel in their drink, or bloil Plantane Seeds, Leaves and Roots in their drink.

CHAP. XI.

Of the whites, or Womens Disease, from corruption of humors.

WHen the body grows Cacochymical, womens Courses stop, or run very slowly, and sometimes they abound; some∣times all humours run thither to a general vent, and the whole body is purged by it: but the womb is not affected, it is a filthy dis∣orderly Evacuation, either before or after Terms, or when they are wholly stopt, the colour of the matter is blew, or green, or reddish, few maids have this Disease, women with child may: it is not the running of the Reins, for that is in less quantity, whiter and thicker; nor from nightly Pollutions, which come onely in sleep: The cause is some ex∣crementitious humor, sometimes like watry blood; a cold and moist womb breeds this Disease: or, when ill humors are gathered

in the whole body, or Liver, Spleen or sto∣mach, they are sometimes thus voided; na∣ture, that useth to send forth good blood by the Veins, casts forth these ill humours by them; they are of divers colours, and stink: If it be from a Phlegmatick humor, the Liga∣ments of womb grow loose, and the womb falls out in time; they make thick veins, and they are discoloured in their Faces, short breathed: if the humor be not bred in the womb, it comes from a Cacochymy of the whole body; if it comes from the whole, it is more in quantity; if onely from the womb it is but little: Many have had this Disease long, and found no great hurt, but if it be not timely looked to, it will do mischief; causing Consumptions, Faintings, and Con∣vulsions, when the matter is sent to the nerves and brain: You must not stop it suddenly, for so it will find a way to the nobler parts. Bleeding is naught in this case: general Eva∣cuations, are good; and after particulars, ac∣cording to the part diseased: The whites, and over-flowing of the Terms, I say, are a disease; and although it resemble the Gonor∣rhaea, it is not the same; it is also like the matter that flows from an Ulcer of the womb, but it is not that neither.

The running of the Reins in Men & women

is not the same disease with this; the running of the Reins is peculiar to unchast women: but this flux of whites may proceed from too much cold, or too much heat, and hath many differences, as will appear by the colour of the matter sent forth; the colour shews the pec∣cant humor; it is necessary for the cure to search whether it be a Gonorrhaea or invo∣luntary flux of seed, which both women and Men are subject to, and the remedies are the same, as the causes are in both. Women commonly call the whites the running of the Reins; but the running of the Reins comes most commonly by unlawful Venery, or ex∣cess in that Act: but the proper cause of the whites is too much superfluity of Excrement; but where those Excrements are bred, is doubted: Some say these corrupt humours are daily bred in the principal parts; others say they come onely from the womb, and seed Vessels; others say from the Reins onely, and the womb is unaffected: But Galen plain∣ly shews that the whole body is affected, that dischargeth it self by the womb, and there∣fore weak and flegmatick women are most subject to have the whites.

To cure it, first observe a strict Diet; cleanse the whole body by purging; letting blood, Sweating, and Diureticks: in very

moist bodies prepare the humours three or four dayes before purging; or take Cassia new drawn one ounce, powder of Rhubarb one dram, with sirrup of water Lillies or Violets, take it in the morning, dissolve it if you please in Posset drink, and about two hours after take some broth: You may take every day a dram of Trochisci de Carabe in Plantane wa∣ter; or give every second or third day a dram of the filings of Ivory in Plantane water, a ve∣ry laudable remedy. To sweat also is very laudable in this case; take Barley water three ounces, strong wine two ounces, drink it warm, and lie and sweat. Conserve of Ro∣ses and Marmalade are excellent for this di∣sease: drink the decoction of Comfrey Roots, with Sugar to sweeten it, take three or four ounces at a draught. Whites of eggs well beaten with red Rose water, and made with Cotton, or Linnen into a Pessary, and put into the Matrix, with a string tied to it to pull it out again, is commended.

Diureticks are not good till the body be well purged, and then they will help to drive the ill humour forth by Urine: Lest the womb be hurt with ill humours, inject a decoction of Barley, Honey of Roses, and Whey with sirrup of dried Roses. Take red Saunders two drams and a half, yellow Saunders one dram

and a halfe, red Roses three drams, fine Bole a quarter of an ounce, burnt Ivory one dram, Camphire half a dram, white wax one ounce, oil of Roses three ounces, make an ointment: This is not only good to anoint the secrets, but also to cool the inflammation of the kid∣neys, stomach, liver and other parts.

If the Whites flow from abundance of su∣perfluous humours, you may evacuate much through the skin, by often rubbing of the bo∣dy; but first rub easily, and by degrees rub har∣der.

Of these fluxes there are three sorts, White, Red and Yellow; and there are three kinds of Archangel, or dead nettles to cure them.

First, The White Flowers helps the Whites.

Secondly, The Red are to cure the Reds.

Thirdly, And the Yellow flux is cured by the Yellow.

Half a dram of Myrrh taken every morn∣ing is commended, or a scruple of the Pills of Amber at night, often taken; they will not work till the day following.

Many strange things are oftentimes voided by the Womb, as Stones and Gravel: And Peter Diversas relates, that a Nun voided a rugged Stone as large as a Ducks Egg, and

it gave her some ease; but there followed a foule flux of the Womb that killed her.

Garcias Lopius saw a Woman that voided many Ascarides, or small Worms by the Womb.

When stinking humors are cast forth this way it is not properly the Running of the reins, for both sexes have sometimes the running of the reins; and most commonly it comes from a foul course, whereas the whites come from a corruption of humours: if it run white, and little; and thick, it is a true flux of seed; if it last, and be not cured, it brings a wasting of body and barrenness: if this flux grow from fulness of Seed, the buds of willow steept in wine will cure it: if it proceed from a weak retention, give half a scruple of Castor, and use astringents to the reins and belly; or a bath of willow leaves, Myrtles, Quinces, each two handfuls; red Roses, Rosemary each a handful, Cypress Nuts three ounces; let her sit up to the Navel, apply bags of the same to the Loins and Privities, and anoint the said parts with oil of Mastich and Myrtles.

CHAP. XII.

Of the Swelling and Puffing up of the Body, especially the Belly and the Feet of Women after Delivery.

THe Swellings of these parts in Childbed women come either from a depraved di∣et, used whilest they were with child, or else drinking immoderately after delivery; or it may be they abound with more blood than the child could retain, or her purgations discharge; wherefore it grows crude, being superfluous, and makes the parts swell so much that a man would think she were with child again: but it commonly ceaseth if the woman be once largely purged, either by the womb or the belly. Hysterical, or Mother fomenta∣tions are sufficient oftentimes to cure it; or take a Sheeps skin of a Sheep new killed, and wet it with sharp Wine, and lay it on.

If in travel they keep ill diet, the humours turn to Wind, and they fall down to the legs, and make them swell: take heed of drink; and when the purgations are over, use things that expel wind: take worm wood, Betony, Southernwood, Origanum, Cammomile

Flowers, Calamint, Annis-seed, Rue, Car∣roway seeds, boil them, and make a fomenta∣tion for the feet.

If too much drinking be the cause, let her abstain from that; Medicaments that heat and resolve, and are good for Dropsies, are very good in this distemper: the infusion of Rhu∣barb is much commended, especially if the hu∣mour proceed from ill habit and course of life. Hippocrates prescribes a Goats or Sheeps Liver made into powder and taken with wine of the infusion of Elecampane; also Treacle taken with Fumitory and Fennel waters: and to abate the swelling of the Feet, make a decoction of Rose stalks and Cammomile Flowers, excellent to bath them in: and for her belly swelled, lay on a Plaister of Bay berries, or of Melilot; or take Bay berries and Juniper berries, of each one handful, Goats Dung four ounces, Cammomile Flowers powdered half a handful, Cummin seed two drams, pour spirit of wine upon them as you bruise them in a Mortar, make a Plaister with a little oil of Spike added, and lay it over the womans belly.

For the swellings of the Bellies of maids, if it come not by a masculine blow, take Dittany root, and Cubebs, bruise them, and Cum∣min seeds, and Cow Dung, and lay it to their

bellies as hot as can be endured. Women af∣ter Delivery, are also subject to have their Wombs inflamed, when the birth is very great, and their labour hard, and the mouth of their Womb narrow, so that great violence stretcheth it wider than they can suffer; and sometimes there is great loss of blood, and the womb is torn by putting forth of the child; it must be cured by such things as ease pains, as Baths and Fomentations; and such soften∣ing things as are proper for the belly: This following Anodyne is very effectual; take Flowers of Mallows, Marshmallows, Vervain, and Rue of each a handful, Self heal, Agrimony, Cammomile Flowers, Melilot tops, red Roses, of each a handful; cut them very small, sew them up in fine linnen bags, boil them in Goats milk, or equal parts of Plantane water and Wine, press them well between two Trenchers, and make applica∣tion of one after the other hot to the place af∣fected; but first anoint the part with Poplar ointments, or with oil of Roses: after this cleanse all the secret parts with a spunge dipt in water of Oaken Leaves, Self Heal, and of Plantane made luke warm, and injections put up with a Syring, are effectual also, of Mel Passarum, and Plantane water mingled, and cast in warm; or take Galls, Lentils, Flow∣ers

of Pomegranates, Seeds of Kneeholm, Saunders and Roses, of each a like quantity; boil all in water, and strain it, and with a Syring inject the decoction, and it will cleanse the Womb. When the Mother is cleansed it will be proper to make the flesh incarnate, if it be corroded; as take Centaury six ounces, Orris, Comfrey Roots, Agrimony, of each three handfuls, Gum Tragant, Sarcocolla, Dragons Blood, Frankincence, Hypocistis, Mummy, of each a dram, boil all in a suffici∣ent quantity of water to the consumption of half; then put to it Iron refuse prepared one ounce and a quarter, boil it a while longer, and bath the part with it.

If the womb be too hard, and she feel pain between the Navel and the Matrix, then take Ducks grease, Deers, or Ox marrow, Neats Foot oil, Yolks of eggs, Bdellium, of each a like proportion; two drams of Saffron, dis∣solve all in wine, and mix oil of Lillies with them, and dip a tent of Linnen or Cotten in this, and thrust it up into the place; use this often, for this will ease it and take away the pain.

And if the womb be foul with Ulcers, or the like, take half an ounce of Oxymel of Squils, sirrup of Vinegar and Bizantine of each three quarters of an ounce, Agrimony and

Lovage Waters of each one ounce, water of Cichory two ounces, let her drink this every morning early, and sleep upon it, and fast four hour after it; the Urine will in a weeks time, or somewhat longer, become clean, and well cleansed, and the party cured.

Womens bellies use to be mightily stretched in Child-bearing, in so much that they will be plaighted, and full of wrinkles ever after, that were plain and smooth before, growing lank when they are delivered; but if it be but four months past it may be helped by laying a linnen cloth over the belly dipt in oils of sweet Almonds, Lillies, Jessamine; and if the bel∣ly be already wrinkled, then take Goats and Sheeps Suet, and oil of sweet Almonds, of each one ounce, Sperma Ceti two drams, and with a little wax make an ointment: when the Flux is past you may lay on the Cataplasie of Aetius, or anoint with oils of Mastich and of Roses.

CHAP. XIII.

Of Cold, Moist, Hot, Dry, and of all the several Distempers of the Womb.

THe wombs of Women should be alwaies kept temperate, that they exceed not in a∣ny preternatural quality; if they do, the mans Seed will be like corn sowed upon sand, and will prove unfruitful, if the womb be too hot, or cold, or moist, or dry.

Those that have hot wombs have but few courses, and those are either yellow, or black, or burnt, and fiery, that come disorderly; and such persons will fall into Hypochondriacal Melancholly, and rage of the womb; if this be from their birth, it will be hard to cure: yet it may, by good Diet, and proper means be much mended by Medicaments, that cool and asswage Choler; but take heed you do not cool too fast, and stop the courses: you may safely use conserve of Succory, Violets, Wa∣ter Lillies, Borage of each one Ounce, Conserve of Roses half an ounce, Diamar∣gariton Frigidum, and Diatrion Santalon, of each half a dram, with sirrup of Lem∣mons or Oranges, or juice of Citrons; take a Nutmeg in quantity at once, twice or thrice in a day: and anoint the back and loins with

Poplar Unguent, or oyl of water Lillies, Roses, Venus Navel wort. Let her wear thin cloaths and use the cold Air; let her avoid hot and salt meats, Wine, and strong drink; eat Lettice, and Endive, and cooling herbs, that she may sleep well.

The contrary to this is a cold womb; and these are not fruitful, they are too cold to nourish the seed of Man: it is from the birth in some, but in others by accident; from cold Air, cold Diet and Medicaments, or from too much idleness: the signs are quite con∣trary to the former, for the other are extreme desirous of Venery; and, these abhor it, and take no pleasure in it: they have few or no hairs about their Secrets; and their seed is watry and Slimy, their wombs are windy, and they are subject to Gonorrhaeas, and the Whites: The Cure is long, and hard to be done; but, they must use such things as warm the womb, with drinking good wine, and sometimes Cordial Waters, and good warm nourishing Meats, and of easie digestion; with Anniseed, Fennel seed, and Time: And Fumigations are good, of Myrrh, Frankin∣cence, Mastick, Bay berries, of each a dram; Labdanum two drams, Storax and Cloves of each a dram, Gum Arabick and wine, make Troches; put one or two upon a Pan of coles,

and let her receive the Fume at the Matrix.

Then take Labdanum two ounces, Fran∣kincence, Mastick, Liquid Storax, of each half an ounce, oyl of Cloves and of Nutmegs of each half a scruple, oyl of Lillies and Rue of each one ounce, Wax sufficient, make a Plaister, and lay it over the Region of the womb. But if the womb be moist (and this is commonly joyned with a cold distem∣per) it drowns the seed, like as if a Man should sow Corn in a quagmire. The causes are almost the same as of cold; for it is I∣dleness that is the cause in most women that are troubled with it, and such women have abundance of Courses, but they are thin and waterish, and the whites also; their Secrets are alwayes wet: they cannot retain the mans seed, but it slips out again. This must be cured as the cold distemper, by a heating and drying Diet, and Medicaments, Baths, Injections, Fomentations, wherein Brimstone is mingled; but take heed of Astringents, for they will make the Disease worse, by stopping the ill humours in.

The fourth is a dry Distemper of the womb, this is natural to some, but to most it comes when they are old, and past childing, when the womb grows hard; if it be from any o∣ther drying causes, such women will be bar∣ren

before they be old: It may proceed from diseases, as Feavers, Inflammations, Ob∣structions, when the blood goes not to the Matrix to moisten it; so that if they void a∣ny blood, it comes from the Veins in the neck of the womb, and not from the bottom; they have but few courses, little seed, they are of a lean, dry Constitution; their lower Lip is of a blackish red, and commonly chapt: This Distemper, if it be long, is seldom cu∣red; moistning things must do it, as Borage, Bugloss, Almonds, Dates, Figs, Raisins: Moistning and nourishing Diet is good, and to forbear salt and dry meats; avoid anger, sad∣ness, fasting, and use to sleep long, and la∣bour but little: rub the parts with oyl of sweet Almonds, Lillies, Linseed, sweet Butter, Jesamine, Hens or Ducks Grease.

Besides these four, there are compound dis∣tempers, as cold and moist wombs, and hot and dry; but I presume I need not in parti∣cular speak of them, because I have given sufficient remedies in the several qualitis al∣ready, which will be easie to apply: I con∣fess a compound distemper is harder to be cured than a simple; therefore I shall add one or two remedies more.

First, If then the Womb be cold and moist, cure this with surrup of Mugwort, Bettony,

Mints, or Hyssop; then purge the cold hu∣mor with Agarick, Mechoachan, Turbith and Sena: Sudorificks of Guaicum, Sarfa, and China are very good.

Secondly, If the womb be subject to a hot and dry distemper, you must put away cho∣ler from the Liver, and from the whole bo∣dy: those things that will do it are Manna, and Tamarinds, sirrup of Roses, Rhubarb, Senna, Cassia, and the like, which are ve∣ry safe, gentle, and effectual Remedies.