The womans doctour, or, An exact and distinct explanation of all such diseases as are peculiar to that sex with choise and experimentall remedies against the same : being safe in the composition, pleasant in the use, effectuall in the operation, cheap in the price
Fonteyn, Nicolaas.

The Womans
DOCTOUR.

OR,
An exact and distinct
Explanation of all such Diseases
as are peculiar to that Sex.

With Choise and Experimentall
Remedies against the same.

Being

Safe in the Composition,
Pleasant in the Ʋse,
Effectuall in the Operation,
Cheap in the Price.
Faithfully Translated out of the
Works of that learned Philosopher,
And Eminent Physitian
NICHOLAS FONTANUS.

LONDON,
Printed for John Blague and Samuel Howes,
and are to be sold at their shop in
Popes Head-Alley. 1652.


THE FIRST BOOK OF Womens Diseases.
The Proem by the Author.
IT is acknowledged by
the most able Physiti∣ans,
that it requires
great diligeuce, and
Judgement to contrive
an exact Partition, or
Explanation of Womens Diseases,
and to oblige the World with a right
Method, and Meanes to cure them:
because sometimes a part is diseased
by consent, and sometimes primari∣ly,


by it selfe, or without any com∣munication
of distemper either with,
or without matter, from any other
part. The Ancients, whose studious
endeavours conspired the subduing
of these Diseases, have left behinde
them most honourable testimonies
of their labours, in favour of that
Sex. Modern men also have been
stirred up to their defence, as Mercu∣rialis,
and Mercatus, the former in∣deed
with sufficient elegance, but
the latter with so much tediousness,
and confusion; that you may sooner
finde your Patient dead, then a re∣medy
in his writings for her reco∣very;
to correct this inconvenience,
Rodericus a Castro engaged his pen
in their quarrell, but with no great
successe, for if my Judgement be
any thing considerable, his writings
are more learned, then usefull.
When I had noted these deficien∣cies,
I thought with my selfe, that if
I culled out the choicest Medicines


(omitting the superfluous) and di∣gested
them into a little worke by
themselves, it might prove an un∣dertaking
worthy of a generall ac∣ceptation;
This was the birth, and
growth of my designe, warrant∣able
enough, as I conceive, if not
praise worthy, and if I flatter not
my selfe in an opinion of my own
paines, I have proceeded with so
much perspicuity, and tender cir∣cumspection,
as will make the event
answerable.



AN INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS.
The first Chapter.
OF the consent of the Dis∣eases of the Matrix, with the other Parts.
The second Chapter.
Of the suppression, or stay∣ing of the Courses.
The third Chapter.
Of the immoderate running of the Courses.
The fourth Chapter.
Of the coming away of the Courses by

Drops, the vehement Symptomes there∣of, and of the Whites.
The fifth Chapter.
Of the Complication of the Courses, with other Diseases.
The sixth Chapter.
Of hard swellings in the Breasts.
The second Book.
The first Chapter.
Of the Mother.
The second Chapter.
Of the Epilepsy in the Matrix, And the severall kindes thereof.
The third Chapter.
Of Melancholy proceeding from the Ma∣trix.
The fourth Chapter.
Of a cold Distemper, and windy humours in the Matrix.
The fifth Chapter.
Of a hard swelling in the Matrix.
The sixth Chapter.
Of the Dropsey in the Matrix.

The seventh Chapter.
Of the falling down of the Matrix.
The eighth Chapter.
Of an Itch, Chaps, and an Inflammation in the Matrix.
The ninth Chapter.
Of a Cancer, and an Ʋlcer in the Matrix.
The tenth Chapter.
Of Wormes, and the Stone in the Matrix, and of the Piles.
The third Book.
The first Chapter.
OF Barrennesse, both Absolute and Respective.
The second Chapter.
Of a Mola, or shapeless lump of Flesh.
The third Chapter.
Of Womens longings.
The fourth Chapter.
Of a bad stomach, proceeding from vo∣miting.
The fifth Chapter.
Of a Pain in the belly, the Passion of the

Heart, and of sounding Fits.
The sixth Chapter.
Of a Cough in great bellied Women.
The seventh Chapter.
Of the swelling of womens legs, when they are with Childe.
The eighth Chapter.
Of Costiveness in Women with Childe.
The ninth Chapter.
Of the bloud which commeth away from the Matrix of a woman with Childe.
The tenth Chapter.
Of the water which cometh away from the Matrix of a woman with Childe.
The eleventh Chapter.
Of acute Diseases, which happen to women with Childe.
The fourth Book.
The first Chapter.
OF a Naturall •irth, and of Abor∣tivenesse.
The second Chapter.
Of a hard Labour.

The third Chapter.
Of the After-Birth.
The fourth Chapter.
Of the Dead Childe.
The fifth Chapter.
Of the Paines, and the suppression of the Courses, after the woman is delivered.
The sixth Chapter.
Of the immoderate flowing of the Courses, after the woman is delivered.
The seventh Chapter.
Of the Diseases which commonly befall a woman, after her delivery.
The eighth Chapter.
Of an inflammation in the Matrix af∣ter her delivery.
The ninth Chapter.
Of too little, and too much milke.
The tenth Chapter.
Of sore Breasts.
The eleventh Chapter.
Of wrinckles remaining in the Matrix after a womans delivery, and of the meanes to contract the Matrix.
FINIS.

Page  1
Womens DISEASES.
The first Chapter.
Of the consent between the Diseases of the Matrix, and those of the other parts.
WOMEN were made to stay at
home, and to looke after
Houshold employments, and
because such business is ac∣companied
with much ease,
without any vehement stir∣rings
of the body, therefore
hath provident Nature assigned them their
monethly Courses, that by the benefit of
those evacuations, the feculent and corrupt
bloud might be purified, which otherwise,
Page  2

as being the purest part of the bloud, would
turne to ranke poyson, should it remaine
in the body and putrifie; like the seed eja∣culated
out of its proper vessells. Hippo∣crates
had a perfect understanding of these
things, as may appeare by those words, in
his booke de locis in homine, where he saith,
that the Matrix is the cause of all those dis∣eases
which happen to women; and it is
no strange thing which he speaketh; for
the Matrix hath a Sympathie with all the
parts of the body; as with the Braine by
the Nerves and Membranes of the parts
about the spine, from whence sometimes
ariseth the paines, in the fore part, and the
hinder part of the head, with Heart also,
both by the Spermatick, and the Epigastrick
arteries, or those that lie about the Abdo∣men
at the bottome of the bellie, from hence
cometh the paine of the heart, fainting,
and swounding fits, the passion of the Heart,
anxietie of minde, dissolution of the spi∣rits,
insomuch as you cannot discerne,
whither a woman breaths or not, or that she hath
any pulse; it hath likewise a consent
with the breasts; and from hence pro∣ceed
those swellings, that hardness, and
those terrible Cancers that afflict those
tender parts, that a humour doth flow
Page  3

upwards, from the Matrix to the Breasts,
and downwards again, from the Breasts to
the Matrix, is the unanimous assertion of
Galen, Hippocrates, Laurentius, Duretus, and
others; moreover it hath a sympathie with
the Liver; and thus the sanguification is per∣verted,
and the body inclines to a Dropsie,
and with the stomach and the Kidneys also,
as those paines which great bellied women
doe feele, and the torments which some
Virgins undergoe, when they have their
Courses, sufficiently witnesse. And lastly,
Hippocrates hath taught us, that this consent
holdeth with the bladder, and the straight
gut; for, saith he, when that part is in∣flamed,
then the urine commeth away by
drops, and the Patient hath frequent de∣sires,
and solicitations to goe to stoole, but
but without any performance.

Womens diseases are divided into foure
Classes, whereof the first containeth the dis∣eases
that are common to all women: the
second comprehendeth such as are peculiar
to Widowes, and Virgins; The third spe∣cifieth
those Affects that concern barren
women, and such as are fruitfull; And the
fourth treateth of such diseases, as befall
Women with Childe, and Nurses; of all
which we shall now speak, one after ano∣ther,
in their order.

Page  4

Those diseases that are common, both
to widowes and wives, both to barren wo∣men,
and women that are fruitfull, as also
to your Maids, and Virgins, proceed
from the retention, or stoppage of their
Courses, as the most universall, and most
usuall cause; when these come from them,
in a due and regular manner, their bodies
are preserved from most terrible diseases;
but otherwise, they are immediately sub∣ject
to the falling Sickness, the Palsie, the
Consumption, the Whites, the Mother,
Melancholy, Burning Fevers, the Dropsey
inward inflammations of all the principall
parts, the suppression of the urine, naus∣eating,
vomiting, loathing of meat, yex∣ing,
and a continuall paine in the Head,
arising from ill vapours, communicated
from the Matrix to the Braine.

Wives are more healthfull then Widowes,
or Virgins, because they are refreshed with
the mans seed, and ejaculate their own, which
being excluded, the cause of the evill is
taken away. This is evident from the
words of Hippocrates, who adviseth young
Maids to marrie, when they are thus trou∣bled;
that women have stones and seed,
no true Anatomist will denie; the wo∣mans
seed, I confess, in regard of the small
Page  5

quantity of heat, is more imperfect then
the seed of the mans, yet is it most abso∣lute
in it selfe, and fit for Generation. An∣other
cause also may be added, besides
that which is alledged from Hippocrates,
namely, that married women by lying
with their husbands, doe loosen the pas∣sages
of the seed, and so the Courses come
down more easily thorow them; Now in
Virgins it falls out otherwise, because
the bloud is stopped by the constipation
and obstruction of the veines, and being
stopped putrifies, from which putrifaction
grosse vapours doe arise, and from thence
heavinesse of minde, and dulnesse of spirit,
a benummednesse of the parts, timorous∣nesse,
and an aptness to be frighted, with
a sudden propensitie to fall into fits of the
Mother, by reason of much bloud, oppres∣sing
and burthening the heart, also con∣tinuall
anxiety, sadness, aud want of
sleep, with idle talking, and an alienation
of the minde, but that which most com∣monly
afflicts them, is a difficulty, and
paine to fetch their breath, for the chest
by a continuall dialatation and compressi∣on,
draweth the bloud from the Matrix to
it selfe, in a large proportion, and some∣times
produceth asthmaticall effects. But
Page  6

what shall we say concerning Widowes,
who lye fallow, and live sequestred from
these Venereous Conjunctions? we must con∣clude,
that if they be young, of a black
complexion, and hairie, and are likewise
somewhat discoloured in their cheeks, that
they have a spirit of salacity, and feele
within themselves a frequent titillation,
their seed being hot and prurient, doth ir∣ritate
and inflame them to Venery, neither
is this concupiscence allaid and qualified,
but by provoking the ejaculation of the
seed, as Galen propounds the advice in the
example of a widow, who was afflicted
with intolerable symptomes, till the abun∣dance
of the spermatick humour was di∣minished
by the hand of a skilfull Midwife,
and a convenient oyntment, which pas∣sage
will also furnish us with this argument,
that the use of Venery is exceeding whol∣some,
if the woman will confine her selfe
to the •awes of moderation, so that she
feele no wearisomnesse, nor weaknesse in
her body, after those pleasing conflicts.

Most certaine it is, that barren women
are more tormented with sicknesse, then
those that are fruitfull, because, they who
have children, live in a more healthfull
condition, by reason of the opening of the
Page  7

veines, and the comming away of the
superfluous bloud; which being of an
earthy, and feculent substance, must needs
introduce prodigious symptomes in the
bodies of other women, who have no seaso∣nable
meanes to vent and purge it out, and
daily experience doth witnesse it to the pri∣vate
consideration of such women, that
very many obstructions breed in their Li∣vers,
Mesenteries, and Matrices. That wo∣men
in Child bed also, and such as nurse
their owne children, are subject to most bit∣ter,
and vehement affects, Galen doth dai∣ly
teach us by an undeniable reason; for
whereas the childe in the wombe is nou∣rished
by the sweetest, fattest, and most ela∣borate
part of the menstruous Bloud, in its
own nature filthy, and dreggish, when the
woman is delivered, that bloud is forci∣bly
evacuated by a criticall kinde of moti∣on,
and violent ebullition, whereupon the spi∣rits
are exhausted, and the feeble creature is
precipitated into mortall infirmities, as
fainting fits, incredible torments, and fre∣quent
soundings.

Many times also, besides that perticular
fulnesse of the womb through the swelling,
and strutting of the veines; such women
all the time that they be great with childe,
Page  8

are oppressed with an abundance of ill hu∣mours,
contracted, and heaped up toge∣ther
by a bad diet, after which the upper
parts of their bodies are many times most
wofully inflamed.

After the same manner also Nurses are
tormented with sore breasts, painfull
swellings, Ulcers, and Cancers, and the
like cruell diseases, by reason that the
Menstruum floweth in an unmeasurable
quantitie to the breasts, and there settles.
But now, by the permission of Heaven, we
shall set down a particular Explanation of
these Diseases.

CHAP. II.
The suppression of the Courses.
THe suppression of the Courses, is an in∣terception,
or stoppage of that usuall
evacuation of bloud, which is wont to flow
from the Matrix every month.

There is a twofold cause hereof; one
inward, the other outward; the in∣ward
cause is also manifold; for some∣times
it is one kinde of distemper, sometimes
another; and sometimes againe, a hu∣mour
is the cause thereof, the distemper is
Page  9

either hot, or cold, and concerning the for∣mer,
this is controverted among the Do∣ctors,
how a hot distemper can stay the
Courses: for if we will credit the b•st Au∣thors,
or submit our judgements to the ge∣nerall
Vote of Philosophy; it is the pro∣perty
of heat to open, to rarifie, to make
thin, and to dilate: as on the contrary, it
is the property of cold to obstruct, to thick∣en,
to binde, and to condensate, the an∣swer
is easie and obvious; wherefore we say
that heat properly doth not stay the Courses,
but onely by accident, as namely by atte∣nuation,
dissipating, and consuming the
thinner parts of the Menstruum, for any hu∣mour
is reasonably conceived to become
more drie and thick, when the thinner part
thereof is wasted away; and againe, the
thicker and dryer it is, it must needs be so
much the more unapt to be expelled: and
this is the reason that sturdie women in the
Country, who are accustomed to labour,
and take much paines, and such Virgins,
as are of a hot constitution, have very little,
or no evacuation this way, because the M•n∣struum
is wasted, and vanisheth by their con∣tinuall
exercise, and paines taking. Second∣ly,
when the moisture is consumed away,
the vessels are so much the more narrow
Page  10

and bound up, so that there is almost no
passage left for the exclusion of the Courses.

A cold Distemper stayeth the Courses, because
it weakneth and cooleth the parts, breeds
bad humors and obstructions, straightens the
passages, obstructs the conduits, infirmes, and
overcooleth the Matrix, and so retaines, sup∣presseth,
and stoppeth the Courses.

Swellings, Imposthnmes, scars, and the
like, are all reducible to the inward causes;
but the most usuall inward cause is a slow,
tough and slimy humour, which glewing
up, as it were, the vessells of the Matrix, and
thickning the bloud, retaineth the Menstru∣um,
according to the opinion of Galen, de∣livered
in severall places of his works.

The outward Causes are all those things,
which any way increase a cold juice in the
body, as a cold and moist Ayre, gluttony,
crudities, cold Baths, and an unseasonable use
of them, meats that yield a grosse nourish∣ment,
and are hard to digest, and such as con∣stipate
the humours, and thicken the bloud;
in which number are thick and sweet wines,
pulse of all sorts, white meats made with
milke, hard fish, and salt flesh, pothearbs, Vine∣ger,
Olives, Rice, and the like; also an unseaso∣nable
use of Venery, a disorderly motion of
the body, presently after meates, cold drink,
Page  11

ale, and other Pourtents, or liquors which
breed slow, and thick juices.

You may know when the Menstruum is, or
will soon be suppressed by the relation of
the sick woman, who commonly will make
these discoveries; that she hath no stomack
to her meat, that for a long time together
she hath felt a heavinesse over all her body,
with a paine in her back, her privities, and
her Matrix: besides, you your self may discern
agreenish paleness in her face; Sometimes she
is troubled with loud belchings, and cruell
paines in her belly; but frequently with the
head-ach, especially in the forepart of her
head, and when the bloud is stopped, & putri∣fies
in her body, presently there ariseth a Fe∣ver,
by reason of that Sympathy, Communion, or
consent between the Matrix & the other parts.

Many, and irreparable are the inconve∣niences,
and evills, which happen by this
stoppage of the Courses, if we may beleeve
the great Hippocrates, who in one of his
Aphorismes saith, if the Menstruum comes
away without moderation, diseases fol∣low;
but if it comes not away at all, yet
then diseases happen also from the Matrix:
but if it comes away in a due, and naturall
manner, it preserves the woman from all
gowtie torments, from paines in her joints,
Page  12

from the Pleurisie, and all other inflamma∣tions
in her sides, from the Apoplexy, from
the difficulty to fetch her breath, and from
loosing her voyce; Women that have not
their Courses, must seeke for remedies with
speed and prudence; let them betake them∣selves
to a temperate and moyst Ayre, for if
the Ayre be too hot, it wasteth the bloud,
and drawes it upwards from the Matrix; it
likewise exhausts the Spirits, and is thought
to be a weakner of the body: on the con∣trary,
when the Ayre is too cold, it com∣pels
the bloud to retire, it weakens the
Matrix, breeds grosse and thick humours,
and locks up the passages, so that the Men∣struum
cannot descend, the most conveni∣ent
drinke in this case is small Rhenish
wine, if there be a Fever, or, which will be
lesse dangerous, small beere boiled with a lit∣tle
Cinamon, Anise, Maydenhaire, or Birthwort.

Her diet should be such as will bee soon
concocted, and easily distributed to all the
parts; boiled meats are more wholesome
for her then rosted, because these dry up the
bloud, but they soften the body, and keep
it moist: let her also choose to feed upon
tame creatures rather then wilde, because
these are more hot and dry, but those are
more moist and temperate; boyle them
Page  13

with red fitches, for the broth that is thus
made doth most powerfully bring down
the Courses. What meats must be avoided
hath been said above; but above all things,
let her refraine the use of sowre things,
because, as Hippocrates hath warned us, they
bring paine to the Matrix; it will be good
to rub the lower parts of her legs very
often, and to tie straight ligatures about
them, till they make her complaine of much
paine.

Having thus prescribed her Diet, the next
designe must be to evacuate the Cause; this
may be done severall wayes, but especially
by letting bloud, and sometimes by purg∣ing
her body; the Physitians have long
contended, but very foolishly, which vein
should be cut: but we omitting the frivou∣lous
alterations on both sides, conclude
with Galen, that when the Courses are stop't,
if the strength of the woman will beare it,
and the nature of the Disease require it, the
vein in the Ankle must alwayes be opened;
not in the Arme as Aetius commands; who
also is backt in that opinion by Gradus,
Mercurialis, and Amatus Lusitanus, who was
taught by Ruffus to open a vein in a wo∣mans
arme, to advance the cure; but I can∣not
approve of that course, because recti∣tude
Page  14

must ever be observed. Galen in his
book de Curandi ratione per sang. miss. chapt.
11. instead of opening a vein, useth Scari∣fication
to the domesticall part, as having
the greatest resemblance with Phlebotomy,
and if these things doe not overcome the
Disease, apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoids,
to take away the accumulation of melancholy
bloud; for they suck out the feculent, and
dreggish humours, impacted in the Matrix,
by reason that those parts are so neere the
one to the other.

Zacutus Lusitanus applieth them to the
inner part of the Matrix, and boasteth him∣selfe
the Author of this kinde of remedy;
but whether it be consonant to reason, I
leave to considering persons to judge.

There is no doubt but the application
of Leeches may be usefull, because the hu∣mour
is slow, thick and earthy: but in
regard that no part is evacuated, till the
whole body be first purged, therefore I shall
advise you to give her this Purge follow∣ing,
which will worke very gently.

Take

three drams of Sena.
Three scruples of Agarick.
A dram of Annise-seeds.
Macerate them together, in a suffici∣ent
quantity of Penniroyall water, for the
Page  15

space of a night, to three ounces, in the
morning allow them one or two bublings,
and to the liquor which you presse out, add

Foure drams of Diaphenicon.
Mingle them, and give it her to drinke.

Or of the Electuary make a Bolus.

When the body is purged, and a vein
hath been opened, let your Judgement
keep company with Galens directions, and
prepare the thick humour with this Decocti∣on
following.

Take

Smallage, Fennell, and Sparagus roots, of each halfe an ounce, the leaves of Hy∣sope, Pennyroyall, and Birthwort, of each a handfull.
Two drams of Carrotts seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Bar∣ley
water, to a quart; to the strained li∣quor
add Syr. de 5 radicibus, and Syr. lu∣pulorum,
of each an ounce, mingle them, and
make an Apozem. Or

Take

the roots of Acorns, and Elecampane, of each two drams.
The leaves of Pennyroyall,
Motherwort,
Balme,
Betony, of each a handfull.
Two ounces of white Agarick.
An ounce and a halfe of Anise seeds.
Page  16

Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Fu∣mitary
water to a pint: to the liquor
which you presse out, add

Syrupe of Motherwort,
Syrupe of Maydenhaire, of each an ounce.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

Note that Agarick hath respect unto the
nervous parts, and that the Syrup of the
five roots with vinegar doth hurt the
Nerves, because all sharp things are hurt∣full
to the Matrix, according to Hippocra∣tes,
whose Judgement winneth reverence
with the best Physitians.

Fomentations must be applyed to the small
guts, to the privie parts, and you must
make them of opening simples, and such as
will cut into, and make thin the grosse and
thick humours.

Baths and halfetubs prepared of the like
simples will be very usefull; and the best
liniments you can choose are made of oyle
of Lillies, castor, dill, and capers, and the most
profitable oyntments are unguent. Agrippe,
and de Althea, with gums.

After you have gone thus far, you must
evacuate the bloud, and provoke urine:
to which purposes prescribe this Decoction
following.

Take

the roots of Butchers broome.
Page  17
Sparagus,
Smallage,
Fennill, of each an ounce.
The roots of Aristolochy the round.
Birthwort of each two drams.
The leaves of Penniroyall,
Snakeweed,
Motherwort, of each a handfull.
Foure drams of Sena.
Two ounces of white agarick.
Foure ounces of Hermodactyls.
An ounce and a halfe of Epithymum.
Anise and fennill seeds, of each an ounce.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water, to a pint and a halfe, to the strained
liquor being hard prest, add two ounces
of the best honey, mingle them, and make an
Apozem.

Every other morning let her drink foure
ounces of this fasting, and in the meane
time strengthen her belly, and her Matrix,
with fomentations that are good to expell
winde: you may make them of the Sim∣ples
aforesaid, with the powders Dianis,
Diacumin, Diagalang. and the like.

You must provoke the Menstruum with
Pessaries, made of the juyce of Mercury, Cu∣cumbers,
Restharrow, unsalted butter, Hogs∣grease,
the gall of an Oxe, Sagapenum, Am∣moniacum,
Page  18

Castor, Assa-fetida, and the like.
Perfumes made with spices bring down the
Courses, if the streame or vapour of them
be conveighed into the Matrix; or you
may appoint little Trochishs to be made with
rue, aristolochy, Castor, assa fetida, Sagapenum,
and turpentine, which being cast upon hot
burning coles they will smoke, and that
smoke will speedily bring down her Courses,
if it be received up thorow a tunnell.

You must make an issue in her leg, that
the Matrix may exhale, and the thick hu∣mours
may be purged out.

Such Compositions as have steele in
them will be most effectuall, for it is ma∣nifest
by experience, that steele is good to
cut into, and make thin the thick and slow
humours, to open obstructions, to bring
down the Courses, to provoke urine, and
to free the vessels from all matter that stop
them: and all these things it performes by
manfest qualities inherent in it, and not
by the ponderosity, or heavinesse thereof,
as some have conjectured.

Severall Authors have devised severall
preparations of it; but we alwayes used to
prepare it after this manner following.

Take a pound of Steele filed into a most
fine dust, wash it in Pennyroyall water distil∣led,
Page  19

till the water look pure and cleare,
then put it into a glasse Viol, pouring up∣on
it a sufficient quantity of Vinegar, made
with Penniroyall: set it in the Sun thirty
dayes, stirring it about every seventh day,
afterwards dry it, weare it to a most subtle
powder in a Marble morter, sift it, and keep
it for your use; the Dose, or quantity here∣of
to be taken, is a dram with wormewood
wine, or Rhenish wine, or with Hydro∣mel.

Note, that we advisedly make use of the
vinegar aforenamed, because the use and
vertue of Steele is to unlock obstructions;
and Vinegar hath a faculty to penetrate,
make thin, and cut asunder the thickest hu∣mours,
and therefore by the help there∣of
the Steele is with the more expedition
transmitted to the remotest parts of the
body.

Yet if the patient be troubled with a hot
distemper in her Liver, stomack, or spleen,
or if you discerne any weaknesse in her in∣ward
parts, then prepare the steele with Rose∣water,
or whey of Goats milke.

When she hath taken the steele, let her
walke an houre after it; for exercise opens
the pores, and thereby the Medicine is the
more easily distributed: when she hath ob∣served
Page  20

this injunction, let her lie down
till she begin to sweat, or if she finde in her
selfe a disposednesse, let her sleep: after∣wards
give her to eat, but her meat should
rather be rosted, then boyl'd, and for her
drink, allow her small wine, or wine pre∣pared
with steele.

I doe not judge it meet to determine
any time for the continuance of these
Rules, and precepts, onely in generall,
I hold it convenient to use them, till the Pa∣tient
be more apt, and disposed for exer∣cise,
till she can walke without any lazy
complaint of wearinesse, till her lips be∣gin
to look of a more lively colour, till
no obstruction be perceiveable by the touch,
and in a word, till the urine, which was
thin, pale, and discoloured, appeare red∣dishlike
unto the urine of a healthfull wo∣man.

The Spring time is the most convenient
to undertake this Cure; for then the hu∣mours
are most apt to flow, which in the
Winter are congealed, and impacted in the
severall parts; and in the Summer time it
will not be altogether so proper to begin
the Cure, for then thorough the immode∣rate
heat of the season, the humours doe
daily threaten to precipitate the sick woman
into a fever.

Page  21

If the woman be weake in her body, let
her refraine from exercise, and rest her selfe
upon her bed, and after the space of a full
houre, let her body be diligently rubbed,
till it looke red, that the faculties of the
steele may be actuated, and assisted in their
operation; for Galen in his book de Puero
Epileptico and the fourth Chapter saith, that
the rubbing of the body supplies the want
of exercise, because it attenuateth and cut∣eth
the humours, unlocks the obstructions,
quickens, and kindles the naturall heat,
and dissolves the peccant matter.

Many mingle steele prepared with Con∣serves,
and Syrups; Some make Lozenges
thereof, and so doe we also; especially
when the Patient refuseth Wine, or Con∣serves,
and the like: for in some cases we
must allow pardon to the queazinesse of the
sick, and humour the Palate with a safe
indulgence.

The powders Diarhod. Abbat, Dialacca,
and Diacucurma, are very good to open the
passages which are stop't, and therefore you
may prudently mingle them among the in∣gredients
for the Lozenges aforesaid.

Here perhaps you will start this questi∣on;
if heat provokes to stoole, and brings
down the urine, if it attenuates, cuts in∣to
Page  22

to the humours, and open the obstructions;
why doe Physitians unanimously com∣mand
the staying of a loosenesse, or an
Issue of bloud, in what part of the body
soever it happen, and to that intent pre∣scribe
water, or wine, or beer, wherein
steele hath been quenched, thereby to make
it more binding, and more apt to stay any
flux? I answer, that steele is indued with
those qualities I readily grant; but the
Method which is observed in the use of
steele doth cleerely demonstrate a diversity
of faculties to be in it: wherefore if your
aime and intention be to open the obstru∣ctions,
drinke the wine when the steele
hath been once, twice, or thrice quenched
in it; but if you desire it should binde,
then prescribe it to be taken after the sixth,
or seventh quenching; for the first water
or wine openeth, because in that lieth
the fiery quality; but the other bindeth,
because in that consists the earthy part:
neither shall you need to wonder, that se∣verall
and contrary qualities should lie
concealed in one, and the same minerall,
mettall, or simple, seeing that by daily
experience we have a demonstrative certain∣ty
of the truth thereof; for thus Aloes
hath an Emplastick and an opening quali∣ty:
Page  23

thus Rubarb both binds and purgeth.

Now you must note that these Simples
are called hot and cold, as they have hot
or cold parts predominant in them: thus
we conclude endive to be cold, because the
parts thereof are more moist then bitter,
and we say Rubarb is hot, because it hath a
•itrous, fiery, purging quality predomi∣•ant
in it, above the earthy, binding, and
cold parts.

Christopherus a Vega, a man otherwise ve∣•y
learned, seemes to my understanding to
•orsake the offers of reason, in saying that
••eele is unprofitable, because he never saw
any woman, who had not her Courses, or
who was troubled with obstructions, cured
by the meanes of this Remedy; but truly,
•f it doth not sometimes totally subdue the
will, yet the fault must not therefore con∣•equently
be charged upon the Medicine,
because the Matrix is sometimes vitiated
by an habituall distemper, or else the ob∣•ructions
thereof are so many, or so stub∣•orne,
that sometimes they destroy the sick
woman; and if it doe not fall out so, yet
•s it an undeniable truth which the Poet
•ells us,

Non est in Medico semper relevetur ut Aeger,
Interdum docta plus valet arte malum.
Page  24
That is,

The Doctour cannot still successefull be,
Sometimes the evill gets the victory.
CHAP. III.
The immoderate flowing of the Courses.
THis disease is contrary to the former;
for as in that the Menstruum is too long
retained, so in this they run too long.

There is also this difference between
them: the one proceedeth from a hot dis∣temper,
the other from a cold one.

This we now treat on, is produced by a
twofold cause, the one inward, and the
other outward.

The inward Cause is a hot distemper o•
the Liver, whereby the bloud growes hot,
thin, boyling in the vessells, and opening
them, so that the Menstruum is purged out,
before the usuall and due time.

The outward Cause is that which heat∣eth
and inflames the bloud, and withall
makes it thin, as vehement and sturdy ex∣ercises,
pensivenesse, and immoderate cares
of the minde, excessive anger, and thoughts
busied upon revenge: a custome of eating
Page  25

meats that are hot in their quality, name∣ly,
such as are full of pepper, and salt, bib∣ing
of wine, and strong drinks, too much
bathing of the body, long watchings, sit∣ing
in the Sun overmuch, or by the fire
side, &c.

You may easily make your selfe acquaint∣ed
with the signes by conversing with, and
questioning the sick woman, besides, you
may of yonr selfe observe, that the Patient
is much weakned, in regard that the parts
are deprived of the purest portion, and
the most laudable substance of the bloud,
by which the life of a Creature is pro∣longed;
women thus affected are very sad,
and melancholy, by reason that the bloud
faileth, which otherwise containes a spi∣rit
in it, that makes them cheerefull and
lively, they grow leane and feeble, scarce
able to stand upon their legs, they are apt
to Nauseate, and forsake their meat, they
are bound in their bodies, and grow puft,
and swel'd up; they are troubled with
weaknesse in their stomacks, they cannot
digest their meat, their eye-lids sink in∣wards,
the calfes of their legs swell, and
their outward parts look pale, and disco∣loured:
yea, by degrees the whole radicall
moisture, and inborne preservative de∣cayeth,
Page  26

and the Patient perisheth.

Wherefore make no delay, but immedi∣ately
oppose all your helps of Art to the
subduing of the Disease; let her be lodged
in an ayre that is cold and dry, and let her
not be exposed to any ayre by night: strew
coole hearbs about her chamber, and let
her avoid the ayre which is hot, because
it rarifies the bloud, makes it thin and
waterish, and also inflames, and over∣heats
it.

She must forbear the use of hot meats,
as Leeks, Onyons, Watercresses, Origanum,
and the like; let her likewise refraine from
feeding upon spiced meats, and such as
breed a thin juyce; Rice boyled with sheeps∣feet
is good for her: and so are rosted Quinces,
Medlars, and Services.

Three houres after Supper, let her take
fine flower, or pure Bisket dissolved in Plan∣tane,
or Rosewater, and sweetned with
Sugar.

Give her no wine, unlesse it be sowre, and
binding red wine; but it will be more
profitable to give her water, wherein gum
tragacanth hath been boiled, and perfumed
with Mastick, beere in which steele hath
been infused will be profitable for her,
about the third, or fourth day, for this drink
Page  27

hath a binding faculty without heating.

But the opening of a vein twice, or thrice
in a day, obtaines the preheminence from
all other remedies, according to the judg∣ment
of Galen, because it drawes back the
humour more forcibly to the upper parts
when it is often repeated, then when it is
done all at once; heare him in his own
words. Quantò majorem in numerum particu∣lares
auxeris detractiones, tantò efficaciorem
revulsionem efficies, that is, the oftner you
open a vein, taking away a small quantity
of bloud at a time, so much more effectu∣all
will the Revulsion be; for when the
bloud is allured to the contrary part by
these frequent iterations; Nature is accu∣stomed
to summon the bloud to the upper
parts; and thus that ordinary saying among
the Doctors may properly be understood,
that one flux cureth another.

Hippocrates commendeth a large Cuppin∣glass
applied to the breasts; and very deserv∣edly,
because there is a great consent and
Simpathy between the veins of the Matrix,
and those of the Breasts.

Moreover, you must prescribe such things
as are of tried, and known vertue, to thicken
the bloud, syrup of Poppy, Quinces, dried
Roses, Myrtles, and the like.

Page  28

We usually prescribe this Draught fol∣lowing
for the sick, and we must add this
to its commendation, that it seldome fail∣eth
in its operation.

Two scruples of boiled Rubarb.
A scruple of Citron myrobalans.
Halfe an ounce of syrup of Quinces.
Two ounces, and a halfe of Plantane water.
Mingle them, and let her drink it.

Divers Authors, as Rondeletius, Hollerius,
Amatus Lusitanus, and others condemn the
boiling of Rubarb; and the reason is this,
as things say they, become more milde,
and weake in their operations, when they
have past the fire; so those things which are
gentle, become more vehement, having ac∣quired
a new kinde of faculty by the force
of the fire: this I grant most willingly, but
in the meane time they purge lesse, and
binde more, which we desire, and as for
any corrupt quality, which the power of
the fire may have contributed to it, that is
easily washt away by the help of Plantane
water, or the juice of Quinces, if you de∣mand
whither this humour should be pre∣pared?
I answer, evacuate it without any
delay, for you must not expect, or wait
the concoction thereof.

Page  29

Binding Glysters will be very usefull; you
may make them after this manner.

Take

foure drams of the roots of Conso∣lida major.
The leaves of plantane and horsetayle, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of red Roses.
Two drams of shaled Pease.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of plan∣tane
water, to nine ounces; to the strained
liquor add

a dram of the Trochischs de Ca∣rabe, two ounces of syrup of Roses made with dried Roses.
The whites of two Eggs.
Mingle them, and make a glyster. Or

Take

foure drams of the greater Comphrey roots.
The leaves of knotgrasss, and plantane, of each a handfull.
As many red Roses as your thumb, and two fingers can take up.
Sumach and Quince seeds, of each two drams.
Three drams of barley parched, and beaten to a grosse powder.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
plantane water to nine ounces.

To the strained liquor add

two ounces of syrup of Myrtles.
Page  30
A dram of terra sigillata.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

After these glysters are injected, anoint the
Matrix with astringent oyntments;

Take

as many plantane leaves as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice.
Red Roses.
Mulberry leaves.
Oake leaves, of each halfe the quantity aforesaid.
A dram of Sumach seeds.
Boile them gently in foure pints of oyle
of Quinces.

Straine and presse the liquor hard, and
then put in

True Bolearmanick,
Trochischs de Carabe, of each a dram.
With a sufficient quantity of white wax,
make a soft oyntment, according to art, or

Take

two ounces of unguentum Comitisse.
Oyle of myrtles, and oyle of quinces, of each two drams.
Mingle them, and make a liniment.

You must likewise bath the Matrix with
fomentations made after this manner.

Take

the leaves of plantane,
Knotgrasse,
Oake leaves.
Page  31
Red Roses, of each a handfull.
The seeds of plantane, Sumach.
Quinces, of each three drams.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of red
wine, or water wherein steele hath been
quenched to three pints: use the strained
liquor as was said above.

That which remaines after the straining
may be kept for a Poultis, unto which you
may add oyle of quinces, and unguentum Co∣mitisse,
of each two ounces, and mingling
them together, you have an excellent
Poultis.

But if the disease yield not to these Re∣medies,
you may exhibit half a dram of new
Treacle, or Philonium Persicum, or a scruple
of the masse of Pils de Cynoglossa; if the Pa∣tient
incline to a Consumption, give her
Cowes milk prepared rightly with steele,
to drink in a morning fasting; if the evill
still persevere, and you suspect the heat of
the Liver to be the Cause of the disease, make
an issue in her leg, that the Liver may ex∣hale
at that vent, and the other bowells
may evaporate, or else let her goe into a
Bath, the waters whereof run from an iron
Mine; for these naturally binde and thicken.

Page  32
CHAP. IV.
Of the coming away of the Courses by Drops, of the vehement Symptomes thereof, and of the Whites.
AS the urine irritates the expulsive fa∣culty,
so many times doth the Men∣struum,
for as that, when it is too hot, doth
prick, burn, and is frequently pist out,
so the Menstruum being vehemently hot, doth
cause an itch, and an irritation, and pro∣duceth
a Disease, which the Doctours call
Stillicidium Ʋterinum, which we may en∣glish,
to be a coming away of the Courses by
drops.

The Disease proceeds from the same Causes,
as doth the immoderate flowing of the
Courses: therefore the same Remedies will
be also proper to overcome them; yet in
this present cure you need not prescribe so
many Remedies, nor so often.

When any notable Symptomes accom∣panie
this Disease, as a vehement burning,
torments in the Matrix, a paine about the
secret parts, it is called the Stillicide, or
Dropping of the Matrix, from a sharp hu∣mour,
Page  33

arising through the hot distemper of
the Liver, and the Kidneys; and whereas it
takes beginning from a hot distemper, from
whence sharpe, hot, and fiery humours
are generated, your Method must be first
to root out the Cause, and then to cure
the distemper; wherefore her body must
be cooled, her bloud must be thickned, and
the Flux must be drawn back to the upper
parts; this is done by a coole Ayre, by gi∣ving
her whey to drinke, wherein steele
hath been often quenched; and lastly, you
may prescribe for her the cold thickning
Dyet, which we have set down above.

You may let her bloud in both armes,
and appoint the opening of the veine cal∣led
Salvatella; Leeches must be applied to
the Hemorrhoids, that the adust and melan∣cholly
bloud may be drawn out. Purge her
often with Rubarb and Cassia, Syrupe of Vio∣lets,
Citron Myrobalaus, Manna, Tamarinds, Dia∣prun.
simpl. and the like Simples which gently
bring away choler. Cooling and thickning
Juleps will be very necessary, which you
may make after this manner.

Take

twelve ounces of plantane water.
Foure ounces of Rose water.
Two ounces of Syrupe of the juice of Quinces.
Page  34

Mingle them, and make a Julep, or

Take

the waters of Plantane,
Purselane, of each eight ounces,
Syrup of Poppy,
Syrupe of r•stharrow, of each an ounce and a half.
Mingle them, and make a Julep.

If the chiefest fault lie in the Kidneys,

Take

ten ounces of Bean water distilled.
The waters of Plantane.
Mallowes, of each two ounces.
Syrupe of Myrtles.
Syrupe of Poppy, of each an ounce.
A scruple and a halfe of Lapis Prunelle.
Mingle them, and make a Julep.

But note, if the Patient have a hot Li∣ver,
and a cold stomack, it will be conve∣nient
to lessen the quantity of the distilled
mallow water, or to prescribe an equall
part of Rose water, the vertue whereof
strengthens the inward parts.

Baths made with binding Simples, are
highly profitable in this Disease; for they
doe not onely attemper the sharpnesse of the
humours, but they drive the humours to
the outward parts, and so defend and for∣tifie
the Matrix from that annoyance,
which they threatned unto it, and in a
while the Flux is stayed.

Page  35
Whey, although it be Diureticall, and
•rovoke urine, yet when steele is quenched
〈◊〉 it, it is wonderfull wholsome for her:
•s Hippocrates affirmeth concerning the Son
•f Erotelaus, lying sick of a bloudy Flux, for
•hen he had drunk whey, in which red hot
•nts were quenched, his evacuations were
•ore moderate, although they were bloudy,
•nd in a short time they ended; here is to
•e noted, that whey although upon a slight
•onsideration, it may seeme to be Diureti∣••ll,
and so to provoke rather then to stay
•he flux, yet if steele be frequently quenched
〈◊〉 it, till the thin and fiery parts thereof
•e wasted away, it stayeth the Flux.

If these Remedies prevaile not to per∣••ct
the Cure, I shall counsell you to make
•n Issue upon the knee, for this being kept
•pen, the corrupt humours are evacuated,
•ithout any decay of the spirits, which
•therwise doe many times produce grie∣••ous
and vehement Symptomes; we have
•poken of the coming away of the Menstru∣•m
by Drops, with the terrible Symptome
which accompanies it, namely, a vehement
•nd insupportable paine, but because this
•aine proceeds from divers causes, the Cure
•ust be also diversified.

Women therefore which are of a cold
Page  36

Constitution, especially if they be young,
prone to Venery, Black, and Hairy, must be
purged, that the Cause may be taken away,
and therefore their bodies must be first pre∣pared
before you can hope to appease the
paine.

You may evacuate the humour with Di∣aphenicon,
Benedicta laxativa, or with Pills
of Hiera: and you may prepare the humour
with smallage, and fennill roots, with agri∣mony
and Motherwort leaves, boiled in wa∣ter
wherein steele hath been quenched with
Rhodomel.

The paine must be appeased with unguent.
Populeum, unto which you may add a few
graines of opium; or else you may apply
fomentations to the head.

A vein also must be opened, as we have
shewed you above.

If a woman or Virgin have the whites,
which come away of a thick and fattish
substance, you must proceede as in the for∣mer
Cure; but you must be exceeding cau∣tious
how you let bloud, for such bodies
are full of raw humours, by reason where∣of
the spirits are much exhausted, and her
body is weake and infirme, according to
the Judgement of Galen, in his book de San∣guin.
missione. chap. 11. wherefore in such
Page  37

cases, I counsell the Patient to goe to the
Spaw waters, or some other of the like Na∣ture;
for they purge away the thick hu∣mour
both by siege and by urine, but espe∣cially
the melancholy juice, which is the
cause of this disease.

A Decoction of China and Salzapavilla can∣not
be improper, nor Leeches applied to
the Hemorrhoids. Note that the Caul of a
Ram or Weather newly killed, must be laid
to the affected part, being first anointed
with oyle of Castor; for as the skull of a
man is good against the Falling Sicknesse, and
the Lungs of a Fox against the stoppage of
the pipes, by a specificall vertue, or hid∣den
similitude, so is this good for the sto∣mack,
and the Loynes.

The Whites are defined to be a lasting di∣stillation
from the Matrix, however it be
affected; for Nature indevoureth to expell
that superfluous, moist, and excrementi∣tious
bloud thorough the Matrix, and even
at the same time disburtheneth the body
from this unprofitable and offensive hu∣mour.

This evill is reckoned among the Symp∣tomes
of those things, which are immode∣rately
expelled out of the body, the Causes
whereof are divers; for sometimes a pre∣dominancy
Page  38

of choler, sometimes a phlegma∣tick
juice; many times melancholy, and ve∣ry
often bloud is evacuated; this is easily
known, because a snottie kinde of humour
drops, and distills continually from the
Matrix, which if it be red, it proceeds from
bloud; if white, from phlegme, if yellow,
it takes beginning from choler.

The sick woman complaines of a general
weaknesse over all the parts of the body,
her legs and eyelids are swelled, she cannot
digest her meat, her stomack failes her, she
is lazie, and loves no exercise, and cares
not to stir up and down; so that at length
her strength decayeth, and her spirits faile,
through the abundance of bloud which
hath come from her: wherefore this disease
calls for early help, least it degenerate, as
not seldome it doth, into a Dropsey, or a
Consumption, or the like terrible Diseases.

If the body therefore abound with much
bloud, let a veine be opened in the arme,
to draw back the course of the humour,
which is hastening from all parts of the
body to the Matrix. Thus we read that Ga∣len
cured the wife of Boetius, unto whom
other Physitians had preposterously pre∣scribed
Medicines without opening a
veine.

Page  39

Afterwards you must prepare the phleg∣matick
humour with a decoction of worme∣wood,
unto which add Syr. of Roses, or Syr.
•de artemisia, the cholerick humour must be
prepared with a decoction of endive, sorrell,
unto which may be added Oxysaccarum, or
Syrup. de succo Cichorii; if it be a Melancho∣ly
humour, prepare it with a decoction
of Fumitary, Buglos, unto which add Syr.
of Fumitary, and Syr. Lupuli.

Then expell the humour with some gen∣tle
purge; if it be phlegmatick,

Take

three scruples of white agarick Tro∣•chischt.
Two scruples of the root of Mechoacha.
A dram of Annise seeds.
Macerate them the space of a night, in a
sufficient quantitie of fennill water; in the
morning to two ounces and a halfe of the
liquor which you presse out, add

Three drams of Diacarthamum.
Halfe an ounce of Diacnicum.
Mingle them together for a Potion.

If Cholerick humours abound in the body.

Take

two drams and a halfe of the best Rubarb.
Citron myrobalans.
Cinamon, of each a scruple.
Macerate them a whole night in a suffici∣ent
Page  40

quantity of endive water, presse them
with all your might, and add

An ounce and a halfe of Syrupe of roses laxative.
Mingle them, and give it her to drinke in
the morning.

If Melancholy humours be predominant.

Take

two drams and a halfe of Sena.
A dram of Annise seeds.
Macerate them over night, in a sufficient
quantity of fumitary water, in the morn∣ing
presse out the liquor, and add

To two ounces and a halfe of the liquor
strained and prest,

Two drams of Confectio Hamech.
Halfe an ounce of Syrup of fumitary.
Mingle them for a Potion.

If the Disease yield not to these Medi∣cines,
expell the humour by an Epicrasis,
that is, by some Decoction, that by degrees
will digest, open, and evacuate the humour,
and also mightily provoke urine; this
Apozem following hath all these vertues.

Take

the roots of Parsly,
Fennell,
Buglos,
Polypody of the Oake, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of Maidenhaire.
Agrimony,
Page  41
Motherwort, of each a handfull.
Six drams of Sena.
Two drams of rubarb.
One dram of agarick.
As much Epithymum as you can graspe between your thumb and two fingers.
Two drams of Annise seed.
Macerate them together a whole night,
in two pints of barley water, upon hot em∣bers,
in the morning allow them one or two
gentle bublings, and when you have strained
them, add

Syrupe of fumitary.
Syrupe of roses laxative, of each an ounce.
Mingle them for an Apozem.

Every other morning let her have foure
ounces of it fasting.

If all these things prove ineffectuall, in∣fuse
a whole night six graines of Antimony
in wine, and let her drinke it, if her body
be strong enough to abide the conflict of
the medicine: for besides that, it draws back
the humours from the Matrix, by provoking
to Vomit, it likewise purgeth away by
stool that tenacious, phlegmatick, and thick
humour which is the cause of the Disease.

Wormewood beere is not unwholsome for
her, or instead thereof, prescribe to her,
beer wherein China roots have been infused,
Page  42

for this disperseth the humour to the skin,
and dries up the superfluous moisture; for
the same purpose, we advise, with Galen, that
a Bath of hot sand be prepared; that after
the use thereof the body be well rubbed,
and anointed with honey heated by the fire;
then, as we prescribed above, make an Is∣sue
in her knee.

CHAP. V.
Of the Complication of the Menstruum, with other Diseases.
THe Complication of the Menstruum with
other Diseases is hard to be known,
and not easie to be cured; for if any woman
be sick of any Disease, and if her Courses
be supprest, or appeare not, the Physitians
are at a stand, what is most fit, during
this Judication, to be done, for it we fol∣low
the motions of Nature, who worketh
rightly, and open a vein in the ankle, this
will not cure the Disease, which is rooted
in the upper parts.

And if you draw bloud from the arme,
you pervert the course and order of Na∣ture,
to the great disadvantage of the sick
Page  43

woman. But you will say, in such a case
as this, what is to be done? I shall tell you
in few words.

The Disease is either vehement, or mo∣derate,
and of long continuance; if the
Courses appeare, or come down, in a disease
of long continuance, you may defer the
opening of a vein till a more convenient
season, be it either a vein in the arme, or
in the ankle, which you intended to cut,
for you can doe no hurt by omitting, or
at least suspending this remedy.

But if the Disease be acute, and require a
speedy evacuation; you must observe whi∣ther
the Menstruum be answerable to the
plentie of bloud which abounds in the bo∣dy;
if her Courses come down, according
to the prescription of Hippocrates, you must
not be busie, but leave the whole matter
to Nature; of the same opinion is Galen
also, for, saith he, if at that time when you
are letting bloud, it should so fall out,
that her Courses come down, or that she
should on a suddeu have the Piles, you must
desist from phlebotomy, and commit the
whole businesse to Nature, if you are satis∣fied
that the Menstruum commeth away in
a sufficient quantity; but otherwise take
from her so much bloud, as may make
Page  44

good the deficiency of her Courses.

But if a burning Fever be upon her, if
she have not her Courses according to cu∣stome,
and to the satisfaction of her own
desires, then this defect must be supplied
with medicines, by opening a veine in her
ankle, applying Cuppinglasses with scarifi∣cation
to the calfes of her legs, or Leeches
to the Hemorrhoids, to take away the super∣fluity
of the bloud.

One thing must be considered, namely, if a
woman after her delivery have a burning Fe∣ver
upon her, her Courses actually flowing,
whither it be lawfull, in regard of the ve∣hemence
of the Fever, to open the upper
veines? Fernelius, Valeriola, Amatus Lusita∣nus,
and divers others of good account, as∣sent
the lawfulnesse and expediency there∣of;
for although some have imagined, that
if the upper veines be opened, the bloud
will ascend to the upper parts; yet if it be
true which they imagine, more profit and
advantage will accrew thereby to the sick
woman, then hurt or danger; for when a
veine in the ankle is cut, although it bring
down the Courses, and supply the defective
motion of Nature, in respect of the part
particularly affected; yet is it not equally
prevalent against a most vehement inflam∣mation,
Page  45

nor altogether so profitable in a
most acute disease; because the bloud must
be drawn out from some vessell, that is
nearer to the part affected, that the con∣junctive
cause may be taken away, and al∣though
by cutting a vein in the ankle, we
can draw the whole masse of bloud out of
the body, yet the bloud is not so fitly ta∣ken
from one part, as from another; for
in a Quinsey, or a Pleurisey, 'tis more com∣modious
to open the Basilick veine to tem∣per
the heat, then any other veine in the
whole body.

CHAP. VI.
Of hard swellings in the Breasts.
THe Breasts are naturally thin, spongy,
or fungous, and loose; for this rea∣son
they are apt to entertaine any crude,
and melancholy humours, flowing to them
either from the Matrix, or from any other
parts; these, if they are not rightly, and
duly expelled, they breed painefull, yea
malignant and cankerd Ʋlcers: wherefore
you must addresse your selfe to the Cure,
without any truce or delay; and this con∣sists
Page  46

in three things; in prescribing a Diet,
in the manuall operations of Surgery, and
in outward and inward Medicines.

Let her therefore make choise of a pu•e
ayre, let her drink be small beer boiled
with annise and snakeweed; let her meat be
of good concoction, and easie distributi∣on,
as Mutton broth, Cock broth, and rosted
Chickens; let her avoid meats that thicken
the bloud, as milke, cheese, bacon, fish, and
the like; open a veine, if she have not her
Courses, in her ankle, or cut the Basilick
veine twice or thrice, to ease the Liver, the
Spleen, and the Kidneys, as the multitude of
bloud shall require it.

Note that the humour must be prepared,
and attempted with this Apozem.

Take

the roots of Succhory,
Polipody, of each an ounce.
The barke of the root of the Caper, and Tamarisk tree, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of Buglos,
Fumitary,
Balme, of each a handfull.
Two drams of Fennill seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of
barley water to two pints, and to the strain∣ed
liquor add

Syrupe of Borage,
Page  47
Syrupe of fumitary, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Ten graines of Spirit of Vitriol.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

Because the humour is thick and dreggish,
you must purge her body severall times, till
it be perfectly cleansed, this may be done
with this decoction following.

Take

an ounce of Polypody of the oake.
The leaves Fumitary,
Hops,
Borage,
Endive, of each a handfull.
Epithymum,
Century the less, of each halfe a handfull.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Bar∣ley
water, to two pints, and in the strained
liquor infuse a whole night,

An ounce of Sena.
Foure drams of Rubarb.
Agarick Troch.
Creame of Tartar, of each two drams.
Epithymum, and
The flowers of borage, buglos, and rosema∣ry, of each as many as you can grasp be∣tween your thumb and two fingers at twice.
Two drams of annise seeds.
In the morning give it one or two bub∣lings,
Page  48

straine and presse it, and to the li∣quor,
add

Syrupe of violets.
Syrupe of fumitary, of each an ounce.
Make an Apozem, or

Take

the leaves of buglos,
Fumitary, of each a handfull.
Balme,
Germander, of each halfe a handfull.
As much Epithymum, as you can containe between your thumb and two fingers.
Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of
whey, to a pint, and a halfe, infuse for a
night in the strained liquor

Six drams of Sena.
Two drams of white Agarick.
A dram and a half of annise seeds.
In the morning presse out the liquor
hard, and add

Syrupe of Violets,
Syrupe of fumitary, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Mingle them for an Apozem.

Confectio Hamech and Diacricu will be
highly profitable; so also are Pils de Lapid.
Lazuli.

Sometimes you may prescribe glysters, to
temper the melancholy humour; as for ex∣ample.

Page  49
Take

the leaves of Mallowes,
Marishmallowes,
Violets, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of bran.
Two drams of fennill seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of
barley water to nine ounces: in the strained
liquor put in

Confectio Hamech,
Diacatholicon, of each an ounce.
An ounce and a halfe of oyle of violets.
Mingle them, and make a glyster, or

Take

half an ounce of Polypody roots.
The leaves of buglos,
Fumitary,
Violets, of each a handfull.
Foure ounces of sena.
As much Epithymum as you can take up, between your thumb and two fingers.
Two drams of fennill seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of
Cock broth to nine ounces, to the strained
liquor add

Diaprun. Laxativum,
Confectio Hamech, of each an ounce.
Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets.
A dram of Sal gemme.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

Leeches applied to the Fundament may
much promote the Cure.

Page  50

The event may likewise gratifie your
triall, if you prescribe Cordials, Treacle, Mi∣thridate,
Lozenges of Pearle, Alkermes, and the
like: which with their coldnesse, drynesse,
and cordiall vertue, retaine the spirits, cor∣rect
the bloud, even when it is putrifying,
and preserve the bowells in their due Sym∣metry,
and naturall constitution; Note,
that you may not forget to wash her
legs, with a decoction of Hops, Violets,
Fumitary, Roses, Mallowes, and Vine leaves.

If by the advantage of time it prove a
cankerd, and a creeping Ʋlcer, you must
not vex, and discompose the Patient with
many, or strong Medicines, but you must
institute a palliative Cure; for Galen
boasteth that he thus cured a woman,
who had a Cancer in her breast, for when
the thinner part was brought away, it
became thicker, more full of putrefacti∣on,
and subject to exulcerate; for it is
undenyable, as the same Author affirmeth,
that the vehemence of the remedies inflame
the humor, and set it on fire, by that acrimo∣nius
quality, which is naturally in them.

Almost all Authors agree that Issues are
convenient, for they supply the stead of
Purges, and Phlebotomy, as Guido a good writer
witnesseth in his book de Cauteriis.

The end of the first Book of Womens Diseases.
Page  51
THE SECOND BOOK, Written by NICHOLAS FONTANUS: OF Womens Diseases.
The first Chapter.
OF the Mother.
THat Disease which we com∣monly
call the Mother, the
Physitians terme the Strangu∣lation,
or Suffocation of the
Matrix, and sometimes the
Ascent of the Matrix. Ga∣••n
took it to be a drawing back of the Ma∣••ix,
to the upper parts. Hereupon some of
Page  52

the Ancients conceived the Matrix, to be
some stragling Creature, wandring too
and fro thorough severall parts, to which
phantasticall conceit, Fernelius, Eugenius,
and Laurentius, contributed a credulous
Assent; for though a woman be dead, yet
can you not with an ordinary strength
remove the Matrix from the naturall place;
neither is that reason, which Fernelius al∣ledgeth,
of any moment, who saith, that
in these diseases he hath toucht it upwards,
seeing that this is not the true Matrix, but
a grosse, windie swelling, of a roundish
figure, and somewhat resembling the Ma∣trix;
you will say the Matrix doth remove,
and slip from its proper place; I grant it,
for by reason of the moisture, wherewith
those parts abound, the Matrix is loosened,
and exceedingly stretched: and this is the
truth of the whole matter.

The Cause of this Disease is twofold:
the Retention of the Seed, and the Men∣struum,
which are the materiall cause: and
a cold and moist distemper of the Matrix,
breeding phlegmatick and thick juices, which
is the efficient cause; for when the Seed
is retained, and the Menstruum hath not
the customary, and usuall vent, they bur∣then
the Matrix, and choak, and extinguish
Page  53

the heat thereof: then upon the diminish∣ing
of the naturall heat, windy humours
are bred, especially in the Matrix, which
by nature is a cold, nervous, and bloud∣lesse
part; after the same manner, if the
seed be kept too long, it disturbeth the
Function of the spiritous parts, and the
Midriffe, it oppresseth the heart, causeth
fainting and sounding fits, bindeth as it
were, and girteth about the parts, and
seemes in such a manner to stop the breath,
that the sick woman is in danger to be
strangled: her puls is sometimes weake,
various, and obscure: she hath inward
discontents and anxieties, and is most com∣monly
invaded by, at least very subject
unto Convulsion fits: she lies, as if she were
astonished and void of sense: and from her
belly you may heare rumbling, and mur∣muring
noises; she breatheth so weakly, that
it is scarce discernable, and indeed she is so
sad an object, that the by-standers may ea∣sily
mistake her to be dead. The drowsie and
sleepy disease called Carus differs from this,
because they who are affected with it, have
the use of their breath free, without any
molestation: and it differs from a Cata∣lepsy
(another drowsie disease, casting the
sick into a profound and dead sleep) be∣cause
Page  45

they who are taken with that, lie
without any motion, but they who have
the mother, are tormented with Convulsion
fits, their legs and their hands are stretched
and wrythed into unusuall figures, and
strange postures; and by this it is distinguish∣ed
from an Apoplexy, unto which it is ex∣ceeding
like.

Galen wondreth how these women can
live, who are troubled with these cruell
fits of the Mother, without any puls, or
breathing, in as much as it is impossible for
one that liveth not to breath, or for one
that breatheth not, to live; for so long as
we live, so long we breath. To this I answer,
that although these women live without
respiration, yet doe they not live with∣out
transpiration; for this being perform∣ed
thorough the pores of the skin, by the
motion of the arteries, conserves the sym∣metry
of the vitall heat; for then that
small heat retiring to the heart, as to a
Castle, may bepreserved by this benefit of
transpiration alone.

Now to procure an assurance, whither
the woman be living or dead, hold a fea∣ther,
or a looking-glasse•to her mouth, if
the former stir, or the latter be spotted,
it is an undoubted signe that she liveth.

Page  55

This is a most acute Disease, and soone
dispatcheth the sick woman, especially if it
took beginning from some very contagious,
and poisonous vapours; lecherous wo∣men,
and lusty widowes that are prone,
and apt to Venery, are most subject to it:
but married women that injoy the com∣pany
of their husbands, and such as are
with childe, are seldome invaded by it.

You must apply your Remedies in the
fit, and after the fit: in the fit, the humour
must be drawn back with rubbing the parts,
tying painfull Ligatures about them, and
•upplying Cuppinglasses, with scariffication to
the calfes of her legs: have such Glysters in
readinesse, as will take away the paine, dis∣solve,
draw back, and purge out the thick
humours: you may compound them by
these formes following.

Take

halfe an ounce of Elecampane roots.
The leaves of rue, penniroyall, Motherwort, and pellitory of the wall, of each a hand∣•ull.
Three drams of sena.
Bran, Camomile flowers, and the tops of Dill, of each halfe a handfull.
Bastard Saffron, and Annise seeds, of each •wo drams.
Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of
Page  56
birthwort water to nine ounces, to the
strained liquor being squeezed, and prest
very hard, add

Diaphenicon, and benedicta laxativa, of each an ounce.
Oyle of dill, and oyle of rue, of each s•• drams.
Halfe an ounce of butter.
A dram and a halfe of salt.
Mingle them, and make a Glyster.

Carminative medicines must be laid upo•
the whole inward region, as fomentation•
made of the leaves of Rue, Motherwort, Pen∣niroyall,
the flowers of Melilot, and Cam•∣mile,
or unguent. de Althea, with the oyle
of Camomile, Dill, and Rue; for this loosen∣eth
the passages by opening the pores, an•
expelling the winde; pessaries may be pu•
up, made with Civet, Musk, and Amber
but you must affront her nose with stin•∣ing
odours, as the steame of brimstone, t••
smoke ascending from old shoes burn••Partridge feathers, sagapenum galbanum,
ass∣•fetida, and the like, cast into the fire; be∣cause
the Matrix doth, as it were abhor, re∣treat,
and flie from these things, wherea•
sweet things doe allure to them.

But some curious braine may here de∣mand,
why sweet things held to the nos•
Page  57

doe breed the fits of the Mother, and on the
contrary, stinking things appease those
fits? I answer; sweet things applyed to
the Matrix, in regard that they are hot,
doe expell the winde, cut into the slow and
tenacious phlegm, and afterwards purge it
out: but stinking things applied to the
Nose, consume the ascending vapours
with their heat; but you may still demand,
if hot stinking things be good to break the
winde, why may they not be laid to the
Matrix, as well as sweet things? I answer?
the Matrix embraceth, and meeteth sweet
odours and perfumes, but unsavory and
stinking sents it abhors, and flies from; for
'tis • most certaine truth, that every crea∣ture,
even by naturall instinct, shunneth in∣conveniences,
and affecteth things conve∣nient.

If the evill still increase, and if the Vir∣gin
be of a good habit, fleshie, and for a
long time hath not had her Courses, or for
too long a time hath had them: the safest
course, although upon the approach of the
Fit, will be to open a veine in the ankle,
without delay, especially, if any excre∣tion
of bloud appear, either at the nose, or
at the mouth; for as Hippocrates hath ex∣cellently
taught us; as the coming down
Page  58

of the Courses, is a present Remedie for
those who vomit bloud; so in a body that
is plethorick, by reason that the Menstruum
hath been long suppressed; you may help
a woman who vomits bloud, if you cut one
of her lower veines; the same opinion is
favoured by Galen in his Commentry, saying,
in this case we ought to endeavour an
evacuation, namely, such an one as is cor∣respondent
to nature, when she is obedient
to her own lawes.

After the Phlebotomy, if her body •e
strong, and the Disease continue, apply
Cuppinglasses, with scarification to her thighes,
Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, and with ite∣rated
Glysters, and medicines given again
and again into the body, purge out the
Melancholy juices.

Many, who are more rash then learned,
more bold, then skilfull, because of the
cold and the winde, which are the causes
of this Disease, at the beginning will un∣advisedly
be offering wine to the sick, which
being odoriferous, is apt to allure the Matrix
to the upper parts; therefore I counsell
all those that value the health of their
friends, to forbeare this temerity: yet if she
faint, and her spirits be so far spent, that
she swounds, or is ready to swound, in such
Page  59

an exigence you may allow her wine, yet
in a small quantity.

When the Fit is over, let her live sober∣ly,
and feed upon hot meats. that yield a
thin, and subtle nourishment, and be very
carefull to preserve her self, least she fall into
a Relaps; hearbs, and roots, and such
thinge as thicken the bloud, or are hard to
digest, must be no part of her diet, Worme∣wood
beer may be allowed her, or in her
beer mingle Cinamon water, or boile Annise
seeds, or China roots in it.

The humour must be prepared with cut∣ting
Syrups, as Rhodomell, Syrupe of
Wormewood, Syrupe of Mint, or Syrupe of
the five roots.

You may prescribe the Purge of Mecho∣•aca,
Hiera Picra, pills of agarick, of Hiera,
with Confectio Hamech, or Sena.

You must open a veine in the ankl• again,
and because this thick and stubborne hu∣mour
will not obey a single evacution,
you must also purge her body againe with
agarick, hellebore, Pills of Mastick, or of
Rubarb.

Steele taken in powder, or mingled
among the other medicines, will much ad∣vance
the Cure; so will an Issue, and an
artificiall Bath made with Sulphur, or a de∣coction
Page  60

of Salsa parilla, Guaiacum, and
China.

Lastly, if the Disease take beginning from
the seed, because in Physick, no peculiar, or
elective purging medicine is consecrated
to it, you must lessen her diet, enjoyne her
an abstinence from hot wine, and let her
continually weare plates of lead upon her
back; for it is most certaine, that these doe
diminish the seed; if the Patient for twelve
mornings together upon an empty stomack,
drink three ounces of a decoction of ag∣nus
castus seeds, boiled with six graines of
Camphire.

CHAP. II.
Of the Epilepsy in the Matrix, And the severall kindes thereof.
PHysitians reckon up a twofold Epilepsy
in the Matrix; one by Consent, the
other by Propriety; the Cause of this is a
thick, viscous, and slow humour, obstruct∣ing
the hollow parts of the Nerves: the
cause of that is a cold distemper of the Ma∣trix,
and a contagious vapour assaulting,
and shaking the Braine, and the nervou•
Page  61

parts: for when the animall faculty strives
to expell that humour, or vapour from it
selfe, the hollow parts of the Nerves are
crusht together, and the passages are stopt,
and thus there happens a constipation, or
an obstruction, the insides of the Nerves
being, as it were straightned, bound, and
closed up together.

That there is such a Disease, as an Epi∣l•psy
by Consent, we are warranted by Ga∣len
to beleeve, who in his book de• Locis,
propounds the example of a boy, who be∣ing
lame in his legs, fell afterwards into an
Epilepsy, and after the same manner Vir∣gins,
who are troubled with obstructions,
winde, or a malignant vapour in their
Matrices, doe frequently fall into the Fal∣ling
Sicknesse.

This is easily known; for imminent win∣die
humours, and rumblings in her belly
doe presage it, her stomack swells, her
mind is confused, her eyes are dim, and when
she is ready to fall into a fit of the Epilepsie,
or Falling Sicknesse, she may perceive a ting∣ling
noyse in her eares, a giddinesse, cir∣cumagitation,
or turning round in her
head: she is sad in her minde, disquieted in
her body, troubled with the passion of the
heart, and not seldome with sounding
Page  62

fits; 'tis a sad spectacle to behold her in
this condition, from which if she be not
seasonably delivered, she is very likely to
fall into an Apoplexy; this we have learn't
from Galen, who in his third book de Locis,
and 5. chapt. saith, Epilepticks doe often
degenerate into a melancholy madnesse, and
so on the contrary; for this melancholy
mood turnes to the Falling Sicknesse, when
the humour invades either the body, or the
minde; or if that darke vapour becloud
the minde, inducing a dimnesse, or gloomi∣nesse
in the thoughts, with sadnesse, de∣spaire,
and deep melancholy; if the spirits,
which are bright and cleare in their own
nature, be obscured with the foggy com∣merce
of black vapours, the very presence
of them dismayeth, terrifies, and discom∣poseth
the minde: or if a confluence of those
vapours assault the body, that is, the
braine and the nerves, they produce the Fal∣ling
Sicknesse.

This requires a twofold cure: one in
the Fit, the other after the Fit. In the Fit
you must quicken and excite the animall fa∣culty,
and force back those poisonous va∣pours,
that are stealing from the Matrix
to invade the upper •parts: then the winde
must be expelled, the wayes kept open, and
Page  63

the thick humour must be got out of the
body, by rubbing the parts, by tying
straight ligatures about her legs, by fomenta∣tions,
and baths, made with the leaves of
penniroyall, motherwort, thy•ne, nip, camomile,
salt, vinegar, and water; softning Glysters
are so usefull, that you must not forget to
inject them; you may make them thus.

Take

the leaves of motherwort,
Penniroyall,
Birthwort, of each a handfull.
Rosemary▪
Mint, of each a handfull.
Two drams of fennill seed•.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of wa∣ter,
to nine ounces, straine and presse out the
liquor, and then add

Hiera picra Galeni,
Diap•enicon, of each an ounce.
A dram of sal gemme.
Mingle them, and make a glyster, or

Take

the roots of Elecampane,
Restharrow, of each foure drams.
The leaves of Marjoram,
Motherwort,
Birthwort, of each a handfull.
The tops of Dill,
Camomile Flowers, of each halfe a hand∣full.
Page  64
Two drams of Annise seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
Barley water, to nine ounces, to the liquor
which you presse out, add

An ounce and a halfe of Diaphenicon.
Mass. pill. fetida•.
De heira cum Agarico, of each two scru∣ples.
Oyle of Dill,
Camamile,
Butter, of each halfe an ounce.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

If necessitie urge you, and the strength of
the Patient will beare it, you may prescribe
a sharper glyster, to draw the humours from
the farthest distant parts, and to imitate the
nature and effects of a Purge; be this for an
example to you.

Take

half an ounce of Polypody roots.
Two drams of Mechoaca.
The leaves of Sage,
Rosemary,
Betony, of each a handfull.
Halfe an ounce of bastard Saffron seeds.
Two drams of Agarick.
As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb, and two fingers.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
honied water to ten ounces, straine, and
Page  65

pre••e out the liquor, and add

An ounce of Hiera Logodii.
A dram of the Masse of Pills of Cochia.
Ten graines of Troch. Alhandal.
Half a dram of sal gemme.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

For this being a most acute Disease, re∣quires
the utmost tryalls of art, that it
may not degenerate (as it is very prone to
doe) into a true Apoplexy.

To the Matrix (to make a sudden di∣spatch
of the Cure) apply Carminitive fo∣mentations,
and bath the privie parts, to
break, and expell the winde.

After the use of the Fomentation, apply
oyle of Castor, oyle of wormewood, and in∣•ect
odoriferous Pessaries of musk, amber, Ci∣vet,
made up with gallia Moschat, and a
piece of Cotton, according to the secret
rules of Art; to the nose you must hold
stinking things, as sagapenum, galbanum, assa
fetida, Castor, rue, and the like.

When the Fit is approaching, Hippo•rates
adviseth to open a veine in the Ankle, and
this advice is magnified, and aplauded by
Galen in his book de Rigore Chapt. 8. nei∣ther
may you forget to apply Leeches to
the Hemorrhoids, or the calfes of her legs;
for they will suck out the feculent and
Page  66

dreggish humour, that is impacted in the
Matrix.

Cordialls must be administred, as Treacle,
Mithridate, Alkermes, Confection de Hyacyn∣tha,
and the like: or if you please com∣pound
them after this manner.

Take

the hoofe of an Elk.
The wood of Misletoe of the Oake, of each two drams.
The skull of a man newly dead of some violent death.
Harts•orne, of each two drams.
Pearle prepared,
Burnt Ivory,
Mastick, of each a dram and a half.
The powder of Rosemary,
Stechas,
Sage, of each a scruple.
The species Diacastor.
Diaccumin. of each a scruple.
With a sufficient quantitie of honey, of
roses, and Syrupe of Stechas, make a mix∣ture.

If the Disease become againe indigested
and crude, prescribe another Purge, of
Aloes, Hiera Picra, Benedicta Laxativa, or
Turbith; but that the ignorant may not be
rashly precipitated into some erroneous
composition, we shall limit him to this
prescription.

Page  67
Take

two scruples of the masse of Pills de Hiera cum agarico.
Ten graines of pill. faetidae.
Troch. Alhandal,
Diagrydium, of each five graines.
With a sufficient quantity of Syrupe of
Stechas make nine Pills.

Sometimes the retention of the Seed is
the Cause of these Symptomes, which if
they be so vehement, that the former reme∣dies
cannot tame them, proceed as fol∣loweth.

Take

Storax in powder,
Aloes in powder,
White agarick, of each two drams.
The juice of the hearb Mercury,
The juice of the wild Cucumber, of each three drams.
A sufficient quantity of Turpentine.
With a piece of Cotton make a pessary, ac∣cording
to art, put it up, and move it up
and down, till the superfluous seed be eja∣culated.

If the •ick woman have many Fits in a
day, certaine it is, that the disease is fixt,
and rooted in the Head: wherefore in
such cases I have known no better remedy,
then an actuall cauterizing in the hinder
part of the head, from whence as from an
Page  68

Issue, that virulent and luxuriant humour
which is the cause of this most dangerous
disease, may at last have a vent.

In the intermission of the Fits, you mus•
open a vein in her Ankle; this is not my
counsell onely, but Galen enjoynes the same
remedy; for in his book de Cur. ration. pe•
sang. missionem, he saith; if you will pre∣vent
the Falling Sicknesse, cut the Scyrhen•
that is the veine in the Ankle; afterward
he commands the preparation of that cold
and thick humour, which may be effected by
this Apozem following.

Take

the roots of fennill,
Small Aristolochy,
Elecampane, of each foure drams.
The roots of Dittany,
Piony, of each two drams.
The leaves of Nip,
Penniroyall,
Calamint,
Sage, of each a handfull,
The flowers of Stechas,
Rosemary, of each as much as you ca• graspe between your thumb, and two fin∣gers at twice.
A dram of annise seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water, wherein steele hath been in•used, to
two pints.

Page  69

To the strained liquor add

An ounce and a half of Syrupe of Stechas.
An ounce of oxymell Scilliticum.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

After you have prepared the humour,
purge the body with this composition fol∣lowing.

Take

two drams and a halfe of Sena.
Three scruples of white agarick.
A dram of annise seeds.
A scruple of Ginger,
Macerate them for a night in a sufficient
quantity of parsley water; in the morning
give them one or two bublings, and to the
liquor which you presse out (I meane
three ounces of it)

Add two scruples of Mass. Pill. Fe•id.

Mingle them for a Potion▪ or

You may prescribe some other mixture
to purge phlegm; and more valiantly to
break and expell winde; or make ready
this plaister following, to be applied to her
Navell, and her secret parts.

Take

three ounces of bistort ro•ts▪
Lign. Aloes.
Sautali moschatelin.
N•tmegs.
Barbar•es.
Dill, of each two drams.
Page  70
Cinamon,
Cloves,
Scevanth,
Ca•amile flowers, of each a dram.
Male frankincense, or Olibanum,
Mastick,
Trochischs de Gallia Moschata,
Storax calimata,
Red •torax, or each a scruple.
Seven graines and a halfe of musk.
Three ounces and a halfe of yellow wax.
An ounce and an halfe of •urpentine.
A pound of pure ladanum.
Nine ounces of ship Pitch.
Mingle them, and according to Art make
a Plaister.

If the contumacity of the •vill be such, as
not to yield to all these remedies, make Is∣sues
in the legs, and if those also prove in∣effectuall,
my last recourse is to a decocti∣on
of Gua•acum wood, wherewith the learn∣ed
Jachinus, as he av•rreth in his Commen∣taries
upon Almansor, hath cured many of
this Disease.

Page  71
CHAP. III.
Of Melancholy proceeding from the Ma∣trix.
THis hath one and the same Cause with
the Epilepsy, namely the retention of
the Seed, and the suppression of the Men∣struum,
which being earthy, and not ob∣taining
a vent, they putrifie, beget vapours,
which doe not onely assault the braine, but
they oppresse the heart also, and the Mid∣riffe;
for when a gloomy and black vapour
ascends to the braine, the principall parts,
and their instruments are depraved, and
the animall spirit, which is the chiefest in∣stument
of the soule, and in its own nature
cleare and perspicuous, is rendred darke,
and obscure.

The true signes of this disease are sad∣nesse,
fearfulnesse, anxiety of minde, and seve∣rall
figures or postures of unquietnesse ap∣pearing
in the body.

They despaire, they doate, they talke
idely, especially at that time when they
expect their Courses; in these you may ob∣serve
a depraved motion of the principall
Page  72

Members, because the temperament of the
braine is perverted by that cold and dry
humour; moreover they are unwilling to
dye, they cannot sleep, they have no sto∣mack
to their meat, and being taken with
a strange loathing of aliment, their bodies
waste and consume; sometimes they ima∣gine
that they undergoe the torments of
damned soules in Hell; they weep with∣out
any cause, they groan, they lament,
anon againe they laugh, desire to goe in∣to
some by co•ne•s, and according to
the inward discompo•ure of their mi•des,
they turne, vary, and alter their gestures,
and countenances into severall figures:
sometimes they have a conceit that they are
talking with Angels, sometimes they mur∣mur,
sometimes they sing; certainly there
is not a more strange and wonderfull dis∣ease,
for in severall persons it bewrayeth
a thousand, severall, ridiculous, and antick
behaviours.

He sees the difficulty of this Cure, both
in regard of the Symptomes, and the stub∣bornesse
of the disease, who understands it
to be a cold and dry affect (for there is no
doubt, but the braine labours under a
cold, and dry distemper) and how much
drienesse resisteth the best medicines, is not
Page  73

unknown to Philosophers; for as it is of a
dull, and sluggish action, so are there many
resistances: and from thence comes the dan∣ger,
because it easily degenerates into ••ve∣ing,
and raging madnesse, or into the Fal∣ling
Sicknesse, or into an Apoplexy, and it is
held incur•ble, if the braine be primarily
affected, because in continuance of time,
it takes so deep a root, that no Magazine
of Remedies, no stratagems of Art can re∣move
it.

Wherefore you must be very carefull,
when you undertake the Cure; as for her
Diet, let it incline to hot and moist, assigne
her a gently breathing ayre; boile her drink
with the roo•s of buglos, angelica, and snake∣weed▪
with the leaves of hops, buglos, balme,
and fumi•ary; allow her white Wine that is
small, and well sented, let her be indul∣gent
to her sleeps, avoiding cares, pensive∣nesse,
and troublesome thoughts; if her
body be costive, make it, and keep it solu∣ble.
Venery is wholsome for melancholy per∣sons,
provided that it be acted seasonably,
and with moderation. Hippocrates placed
the whole hope of the Cure in the evacua∣tion
of that excrement, commanding, as
we have said above, such Virgins to
marry.

Page  74

To facilitate the Revulsion, and the evacu∣ation
of the humour, loosen the belly
with moistning Suppositories, and Glysters,
observe their composition.

Take

two scruples of the species Hiera pi•ra.
Ten graines of Troch. Alhandal.
Halfe a dram of common Salt.
With a sufficient quantity of honey boil∣ed
to a due thicknesse, make a Suppository, or

Take

a scruple and a halfe of Hiera Picra in the species.
Trochishs of agarick.
Troch. Alhandall, of each a scruple.
Halfe a dram of Sal gemme.
With a sufficient quantity of honey, ac∣cording
to art make a Suppository.

Take

the roots of Elecampane,
Polypody, of each foure drams.
The leaves of mallowes,
Violets,
Balme,
Pellitory on the wall.
Mercury, of each a handfull.
Ten good prunes.
Five drams of Sena.
As much Epithymum as your thumb, and two fingers can grasp.
Two drams of annise seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
Page  75
fu••tary water to nine ounces, when you
have strained and prest out the liquor, add,

Diaprun. Laxat.
Diaphenicon, of each an ounce.
An ounce and a halfe of oyle of Violets.
A d•am of Sal gemme.
Mingle them, and make a glyster. Or,

Take

the leaves of Buglos.
Borage,
Balme, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of Violets.
Foure drams of Sena.
Halfe an ounce of the roots of black Hellebore.
As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.
A dram of fennill seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
broth, made of a sheepshead and guts, sound∣ly
wash't before you put them into the pot,
and to ten ounces of the liquor which you
press out, add

An ounce of Diaprun. Laxat.
Halfe an ounce of Confectio Hamech.
An ounce and a halfe of oyle of Violets.
Two drams of common salt.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

But if the Disease arise from a suppression
of the Courses, thinke upon that Oracle of
Page  76
Hippocrates, and obey his words as a sacred
Law, when he saith, the true way to pro∣voke
them, is by drawing bloud from the
ankle; provided that there be no reason to
oppose this injunction; having so done,
and laying Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, the
use whereof is exceeding profitable in this
disease; if the body be full, and the disease
be found to be common to the whole bo∣dy,
open the Basilick veine on the right
side: from whence, if an earthy and black
bloud flow away, Galen adviseth you to
take out a large quantity.

If the Patient be young, leane, black and
hairy, adventure upon deep scarifications
made in her back, and fasten great Cuppin∣glasses
to her arteries.

These universall administrations being
premised, and the humour being rightly
prepared, it will be convenient to pre∣scribe
a Purge to cleanse her body from
melancholy: to this purpose

Take

three drams of Sena.
A dram of the roots of black Hellebore.
Two scruples of agarick Trochisht.
Halfe a dram of fennill seeds.
Macerate them in a sufficient quantitie
of fumitary water for a night, and when in
the morning you have prest out the liquor,
Page  77

take three ounces of it, and add

Three drams of Diacatholicon.
Two drams of Confectio Hamech.
Halfe an ounce of Syrup of Violets,
Mingle them, and make a Potion.

She must not take any Pills, for they are
too great driers, both in respect of their
forme, and also in regard of the ingredients
whereof they are compounded.

But by all meanes, let her have somewhat
to dispose her to sleep; as this, or the like
emulsion.

Take

the seeds of Gourds,
Melons,
Citruls,
Cucumbers of each an ounce.
Six sweet Almonds blanched.
Two drams of white Poppy seeds.
With ten ounces of a decoction of Lettuce,
and Poppy heads, and an ounce of Syrupe
of Poppy, make an Emulsion, to be taken
about nine a clock at night, and at two
a clock in the morning.

Embrochations also may be prepared for
the head; you may make them of a decocti∣on
of poppy heads, barley, roses, violets, wa∣terlilles,
nightshade, lettuce, coriander, and
mandrake roots.

Anoynt her nose and her Temples with
this oyntment following.

Page  78
Take

halfe an ounce of unguent. Populeum.
Two drams of unguent. rosarum.
Half a dram of Opium, d••solved in vine∣gar of roses.
Mingle them for the use aforesaid.

Let her have cooling Lotions, to bath the
palmes of her hands, and the soles of her
feet; if the cruelty of the disease be such,
as to deprive her of all sleep, prescribe
this draught following; yet suspend the
use thereof till you have tried other meanes,
to procure rest for the sick Creature.

Take

a scruple of Philonium Romanum.
Three ounces of Lettuce water.
Mingle them, and let her drink it when
she goeth to bed, or

Take

Philonium Persicum,
Requies Nicholai, of each a scruple.
Two ounces of a decoction of poppy.
Mingle them for a Draught.

Sometimes we use to exhibit two or
three graines of laudanum opiatum: yet for∣bear
this remedy, unlesse an urgent occa∣sion
prompt you to it:

Baths are most wholsome, if they be made
of the decoction before prescribed; or else
you may follow this example.

Take

two ounces of Barley,
The leaves of Violets,
Page  79
Vine leaves,
Lettuce,
Willow leaves.
Mallowes, of each two handfulls.
The leaves of red roses, water lillies, of each a handfull.
Boile them altogether, in a sufficient
quantity of broth made with a sheeps-head,
and let her bath her selfe in the strained
liquor.

A Bath prepared of oyles, and sweet wa∣ters
is very effectuall; so also is a Bath of
Asses milke; for these things temper the
earthy humour, mitigate the acrimony
thereof, correct the drynesse, and parched∣nesse
of the skin, render the bloud more
apt to descend, provoke sleep, qualifie the
furious motions of the spirits, and nou∣rish
and fatten such bodies as are dryed up,
and consumed. You must also comfort
the heart with Cordialls, and to the same
purose

Take

the waters of Borage,
Balme, of each six ounces.
Syrupe of the juice of Borage.
Syrupe Regis saboris, of each an ounce.
Two drams of Cinamon water.
Mingle them, and make a Julep, or

Take

Conserve of •he flowers of Violets,
Page  80
Borage,
Oringes, of each an ounce.
Confectio Alkermes,
Confectio de Hyacyntha, of each a dram and a halfe.
Species Diamargarit. frigid.
Species Diambrae, of each a dram.
With a sufficient quantitie of Syrupe de
pomis Regis saboris, adding two leaves of
gold, make a mixture, or

Take

the species Letificant. Galeni,
The species Diambra, of each halfe a dram.
Pearle prepared.
Bezoar stone, of each a scruple.
Two ounces of Sugar dissolved in Rose∣water.
Make them into Lozenges according to
Art.

If these remedies get not the victory, we
counsell you to make deep issues upon the
knee; and if the disease be inveterate, pre∣scribe
an extract of black Hellebore, and
apply Causticks to the region of the spleen,
by the force and strength whereof, the black
and cloudy humour, which sticks so close
to the bowell, may by degrees be brought
away.

Page  81
CHAP. IV.
Of a cold Distemper, or a swelling in the Matrix.
THe Matrix is sometimes swelled, either
because the Courses are stopped, or else
in regard of a continuall suppeditation of
cold aliment, which generates a cold di∣stemper
in those parts: which because it
cannot be simple, or solitary, therefore it
presently consociates it selfe with moisture,
and from thence arise thick, slow, and clou∣dy
windes, in the very cavernes, or hollow
parts of the Matrix, tormenting the woman
with unspeakable paines.

The signes are a swelling below the Navell,
neare the privie parts, slow windes, with
rumbling, and murmuring of the guts, for∣saking
of meat, sadnesse, slothfulnesse, hea∣vinesse
in the head, and about her secret
parts.

This is a grievous disease, because many
•imes it turnes to a Dropsey in the Matrix:
for, in regard that those windie humours
are bread, and increased by the diminu•i∣•n
of the naturall heat, as Galen hath ob∣served
Page  82

in his book de Sumptom. Causis, it
comes to passe, that the feeble heat, now ge∣nerating
winde, proceeding from a cold
distemper in the Matrix, doth so weaken it,
that instead of winde, water, or a waterish
humour is produced.

This disease is cured by an extreame
thin, and drying diet: wherefore let the
ayre incline to hot and dry: but if the
place be such as doth not naturally afford
such an ayre, prepare it by art, sprinkling
aromaticall things about her chamber, as sage,
nip, betony, rosemary, stechas, thyme, origanum,
and lavender.

Let her choise be of those dishes, which
will be of good nourishment to the body,
easie to digest, and soon distributed to all
the parts, as thrushes, young sparrowes, par∣tridges,
pheasants, and pigeons: she may not
eat the flesh, of goats, Kids, hares, cowes,
sheep, nor Deer: meats made with milke
are unwholsome for her: so are roots, sal∣lads,
and pothearbs: new laid egs, raisi•s, and
figs may be allowed her: but command a
forbearace of chesnuts and almonds; for they
are thick and windy; let her eat the whitest
bread baked with annise, or fennill seeds,
or a little honey; course barley bread, and
the like, is not good for her, but nothing is
Page  83

more unwholsome for her then fruit; you
may grant her the use of some few hearbs,
as sparagus, parsley, alexanders, water pepper,
•orage, and buglos.

For her d•inke, give her Fountaine water,
wherein annise seeds, or cinanon, or china
roots, or the like have been boiled; but
the most wholsome drink for her is worme∣wood
beer.

If she drink wine, let it be sparkling and
pleasant, claret wine mingled with water,
other artificiall drinks, as cider, perry, me∣theglin,
steepona, Nectarella, Medea, and the
like are hurtfull for her.

The humour must be prepared with Rho∣domel,
Syrupe of wormewood, Syrupe of mint,
and the like.

Her body must be purged by fits, for the
crude, thick, and windie humour, will not
be got out with one medicine; this is
taught us by our great Master Hippocrates,
who in his fourth book de Acutis, saith,
whosoever indeavours at the beginning of a
disease to dissolve, or take away an inflam∣mation
by a purging medicine, he will
finde himselfe much mistaken; for whilest
the part is intensively inflamed, and the
affect yet crude, and unconcocted, the phy∣sick
gets no victory, hath no laudable ope∣ration
Page  84

at all: but rather it brings away
such things, as would have made resistance
against the disease, and so by this rashnesse,
the body is weakned, and the disease gets
strength: which when it hath once over∣come
the body, becomes uncurable: there∣fore
whensoever you undertake to purge a
body, you must not onely make the hu∣mours
fluid, but you must also stay till they
are concocted, especially in chronicall, and
long-lasting diseases; this may be done by
the help of this Apozem following.

Take

the roots of fennill,
Elecampane, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of penniroyall,
Wormewood,
Hops,
Motherwort, of each a handfull.
As many Camamile flowers, as you can take up, between your thumb and two fin∣gers at twice.
Two drams of agarick Trochischated.
Half an ounce of Mechoca roots.
The seeds of fennill,
Annise, of each two drams.
Boile them according to art, in a suffi∣cient
quantitie of barley water, to two
pints; when you have prest out the liquor
with all your strength, add▪

Page  85
Two ounces of Diac•ycum.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, or

Take

the roots of Polipody.
Angelica.
Hermodactyls.
Of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of Hops▪
Motherwort,
Fumitary,
Balme,
Betony, of each a handfull.
Six drams of sena.
Agarick Trochischated.
The roots of Mechoaca, of each two drams.
Halfe an ounce of Bastard Saffron, seeds.
Epithymum,
Camomile, of each as much as you can take up between your thumb and two fin∣gers.
Two drams of fennill seeds.
Boile them according to art, in a suffici∣ent
quantity of Cock broth, to two pints,
presse out the liquor with your utmost
strength, and add

Two ounces of Syrupe of the juice of fu∣mitary.
An ounce of Diacnycum.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

Page  86

Let her every day drink three ounces of it.

For nothing cleanseth the Matrix from
tenacious, and 〈◊〉 humours, so effectu∣ally
as Agarick; or which is a surer, and
more infallible remedy against the Mother;
if we may credit Galen▪ and Mesur. Monar∣dus,
Costa, Clusius, Lobel, and Weckerus, ascribe
the same vertues to Mechoaca, which is hot,
and dry.

Turpentine, although Galen in his booke
de sanitate tuenda▪ saith, that it serves onely
to loosen the belly, yet it purgeth, and
cleanseth all the bowells, as the Liver, the
Spleen, the Kidneys, the Lungs, and the Ma∣trix,
from those tough and slimy humours,
which are strongly impacted in them.

There are severall wayes to prepare it:
sometimes it is most easily taken with the
yelk of an Egg, sometimes in powder, and
sometimes being reduced into an oyle, the
admirable efficacy hereof freequent experi∣ence
doth more and more discover to me;
so that I have often adventured to give it
(and with blessed success) in many dis∣eases,
both of the Chest, the Kidneys, and
the bladder; for this cleanseth the stomack
from thick, and tough humours, from
which part floweth the whole streame of
phlegmatick humours, it wonderfully warm∣eth
Page  87

the Matrix, wipeth away the clammy
filth which sticks about the walls of it, ex∣pelleth
winde, provokes the Courses, and
brings down urine.

You may make an excellent Fomentation
after this manner.

Take

the leaves of Motherwort,
Penniroyall,
Birthwort,
Rue, of each a handfull and a halfe.
Rosemary,
Sage,
Betony, of each a handfull.
The flowers, of •amomile,
Stechas, of each halfe a handfull.
The tops of Dill,
Wormewood, Of each as much as you can take up be∣tween your thumb and two fingers.
Boile them in white wine to foure pints;
use the strained liquor for a Fomentation,
and with sponges dipt in it, bath all about
the bottome of her belly, her groiny and her
privie parts.

After the Fomentation, apply this admi∣rable
oyntment.

Take

oyle of laurel,
Wormewood, of each an ounce, and a half.
Oyle of Castor,
Page  88
Earthwormes, of each an ounce.
In these oyles boyle gently

The powder of aromaticum rosatum,
Wormewood,
Sage,
Lignum aloes, of each a dram and a halfe.
A dram of red Corall.
Straine, and presse out the unctious sub∣stance,
and add

Three drams of yellow wax.
Mingle them, and make an oyntment.

If you augment the severall doses of the
aforesaid hearbs prescribed, for the Fomen∣tation,
you may make a halfe Tub: or you
may lay on the plaister pro Matrice ('tis sold
in the shops) aromatized with Diarrhodon
Abbat. and Diamoschus dulcis, or instead there∣of
apply the plaister Tachamacha, or Catanua▪
Antidotes may not be omitted, as Treacle,
and Mithridate. Excellent Lozenges may be
made for her of sugar, with the species Diamos∣chus,
Diagalanga, Diacinnamomum, or Diacumi∣num,
or if you please, prescribe this mix∣tue
following.

Take

the roots of Elecampane candied,
Ginger candied, of each an ounce.
Conserve of the Flowers, of Sage,
Rosemary,
Orenges, of each six drams.
Page  89
Halfe an ounce of conserve of borage.
The species aromaticum rosatum,
Diamoschus, of each a dram, and a halfe.
With a sufficient quantity of Syrupe of
Wormewood, mingle them for your use.

If these medicin•s doe not overcome the
disease, let her use minerall, sulphureous baths,
or the like.

Zacutus Lusitanus saith, if you take the
durt in the bottome of one of these baths,
and lay it upon the Matrix, it is as divine a
medicine against the cold affects of the Ma∣trix;
but in these words of his, I conceave
there is more of ostentation, then of truth.

If the evill yet persevere, we used in the
next place to prescribe sweating remedies,
of guaiacum, china and sassaphraz roots
to be administred, as we have already
shewed in the foregoing cures; and after∣wards
we make issues that the Matrix may
exhale.

Now let us consider what must be de∣termined
in this case concerning Phlebotomy;
some will say that in a bad habit of the
body, in a Dropsey, in the trembling palsie,
and the like, where there is a deficiencie of
naturall heat, no man will adventure to
let bloud: seeing that when the bloud
is diminished, the heat is also lessened, and
Page  90

the crude humours become so much the
more crude: this was Avicens feare, as is
manifest by these words of his: beware
least you precipitate your Patient into one
of these extreams, either into an ebullition
of chollerick, or an indigested abundance of
cold humours; this we confesse to be true;
yet not so, but that sometimes (all other•
administrations being rightly and duely
premised) with Galen we may take away
bloud by fits, then exhibit Mellicratum▪
Then againe open a vein, either the sam•
day, or the day following, as the dispositi∣on
of the matter shall dictate to your rea∣son;
we leave much also to nature her selfe,
who many times concocts the thick hu∣mours;
the veine in the ankle must be open∣ed,
if women are thus affected; but when
men are troubled with these windy hu∣mours,
the Basilick vein is the most proper
to be opened.

CHAP. V.
A Schirrhus in the Matrix.
ASchirrhus in the Matrix is a hard, and
stony swelling, bread of earthie hu∣mours,
Page  91

and of a thick and melancholy bloud
retained in the body.

This is either produced by a cold di∣stemper
in the Matrix, or else it proceeds
from a weaknesse in the upper parts from
whence thick humours doe arise.

This disease is very easie to be known,
because in those who languish under it▪ the
Matrix appeareth hard in the circumference,
like unto some great bowle, or a round
Spheare.

It differs from a swelling which is caused
by winde; because in this winde is heard
within, which yieldeth to the touch, and is
moved from place to place: but a Schirrus
is a hard unmoveable swelling, of a black
colour, and sometimes of a palish, wa•
colour, if any phlegmatick humour be
mixed with it.

It differs from an inflammation in the
Matrix, because in this there is a burning
Fever conjoyned, and other signes which
manifest an inward fiery Disposition.

This is a Chronicall Disease, continuing
many times beyond the space of a yeare;
for the Matrix, not being numbred among
the more noble parts, doth better endure
these molestations; it is also a contumaci∣ous
affect, despising ordinarie remedies, and
Page  92

if you oppose such as are vehement, it de∣generates
into a Cancer.

After this sometimes followes a Dropsey
in the Matrix, which when it is much hard∣ned,
becomes void of sense, incurable,
drawing the neighbouring parts into con∣sent
with it, and so weakning them, that
many times the Creature peri•heth for lack
of warmth and cherishing heat.

She must forbeare all those things, that
yield a thick juice, and what these things
be we have already in good part told you;
for her drink, allow her a mixture of wine
and water, in which tamarisk roots, or the
barke of the Caper tree have been boiled.

The first regions of the body must be gent∣ly
cleansed, and then that humour which
nourisheth the swelling, must be rooted out
with some peculiar and elective medicine; if
it proceed from a suppression of the Courses,
or Hemorrhoids, open a veine in her ankle,
or open the hemorrhoidall veines with leeches:
but if it arise from some fault in the Liver,
or the Spleen, cut the basalick veine.

Having thus shewed your selfe carefull of
the whole body, you must in the next
place be solicitous of the affected part; first
by applying such things as will gently
mollifie it, as the fat of a hen, the marrow
Page  93

of a deare, or of a calfe, with ammoniack, Sto∣rax,
or bdellium: or with discutient fomen∣tations
after this manner.

Take

an ounce of the roots of Polypody of the Oake.
The barke of the root of the Caper tree.
The barke of the tamarisk tree, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of warmewood,
Sage,
Savine,
Penniroyall, of each two handfulls.
Balme,
Motherwort,
Hops, of each a handfull.
The seeds of broome,
Fennill, of each halfe an ounce.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water wherein steele hath been quenched,
to six pints and bath the affected part with
the strained liquor; This oyntment fol∣lowing
hath a like efficacy.

Take

unguent. Agrippe.
Ʋnguent. Martiatum, of each an ounce.
Halfe an ounce of unguent. de althea.
Oyle of wormewood,
Capers,
Dill, of each three drams.
Mingle them, and make an Oyntment.

Page  94

Plaisters also are very profitable.

Take

Diachylon cum gummis,
Emplastrum de meliloto, of each an ounce.
Mingle them for the use aforesaid, or

You may make ready this plaister fol∣lowing.

Take

ammoniack,
Sagapenum, of each an ounce.
Opoponex,
Bdellium, of each halfe an ounce.
Dissolve them in strong wine vinegar,
thicken them to the forme of a hard oynt∣ment,
and then add

The powder of ireos.
Ceterach,
Auripiguentum, of each a dram.
With oyle of Capers make a masse of plai∣stering
stuffe, and spread it upon a piece of
leather, cut into a convenient forme.

If these medicines availe not, prescribe
sweating drinks for her, made with Guai∣acum,
China, and Salsa parilla; for as Fallo∣pius,
an Author of good account, saith, Salsa
parilla hath a soveraine faculty to dissolve a
skirrhus, or any hard knotty swelling.

Sulphureous Baths are also most excellent
in their operations.

Some commend a poultis made of Goats
du•g; for this draweth away the winde,
Page  95

strengthens, and mollifies the part afflicted,
and consumes the thick matter, whereof
the schirrus is bred. I usully made it after
this manner.

Take

three ounces of Goats dung.
Meale of Lupines,
Fitches, or Vetches, of each two ounces.
An ounce of Bran.
Half an ounce of Sulphur in powder.
With the sharpest and strongest vinegar,
wherein steele hath been ten times infused,
make a Poultis.

Steele is commended by all Authors, it
mollifies and opens the Matrix; quickens
the naturall heat of the upper parts, and
brings down the Courses, the stoppage where∣of
is the undoubted cause of this disease;
this, as hath already been declared at large,
is taken many wayes, either in water, or
in the forme of a Bolus, or in Lozenges, or
in powder, or in some conserve, as it shall
seeme good to the Physitian, and most ac∣ceptable
to the sick womans palate.

Issues will be profitable; for whatsoever
slimy, or clammy humour doth daily fall
downe, more and more from the upper
parts into the Matrix, findes a passage out
of the body againe, so long as these are
kept open.

Page  96
CHAP. VI.
Of the Dropsey in the Matrix.
VVE affirme with Galen, that an uni∣versall
Drosey can by no meanes
be generated without the fault of the Liver,
seeing that the first instrument of sanguifica∣tion
is the author of the bloud, which if it
faile in its action, 'tis no wonder if water
and winde be generated in the body, instead
of laudable and pure bloud.

But we confesse with Hippocrates, that a
particular Dropsey may be produced with∣out
any fault in the Liver; thus there is a
Dropsey of the Chest, in the Foot, the Finger,
the Arme, the Matrix, which we our selves
have often seen; the Cause thereof is a
waterish swelling, rising in the hollow parts
of the Matrix, partly by reason of the sup∣pressed
Menstruum, and partly by some vio∣lent
labour, or some vehement Abortive∣nesse,
or by some cold distemper, and winde
in the Matrix.

The swelling is discernable by the touch:
and if you lay your fingers upon her Ma∣trix,
the print of them remaines: if the Pa∣tient
Page  97

turne her selfe from one side to ano∣•her,
the waterish humour immediately
•alls down on that •ide; within you may
•erceive a rumbling noise of waters, her
Courses are stopped; she falsly surmiseth
•hat she is with Childe: the breasts grow
•ank, and there is no appearance of milke.

She feeles some difficulty to fetch her
•reath; she is troubled with passions of the
minde, she is tormented with thirst, com∣plaines
of heat in all the parts of the body,
is apt to nauseate, subject to a paine in her
heart, and all other things molest her, that
usually accompany a true Dropsey, and
that in regard of a salt and waterish phlegme,
•etained in the hollow parts of the Matrix,
and communicated thorough the common
wayes to the upper provinces of the body.

It differs from an inflammation in the
Matrix; because this is consociated with a
Fever, continually burning all the parts
of the body: but in a Dropsey of the Ma∣trix,
the heat is more gentle and temperate;
all things are lockt up in the Matrix, that
is, nothing worth the mentioning comes
from thence in an inflammation: but in a
Dropsey a waterish, slimy and stinking ex∣crement
floweth away.

This is a Chronicall Disease, and doth not
Page  98

quickly either destroy, or take leave of the
Patient.

It differs also from the windinesse which
swells the Matrix, for in that the swelling
is not so great, the flesh is not so pale and
shining, neither is there so much winde,
and it is easily differenced from a Schirrus,
for in this you may feele a great hardnesse,
but in the Dropsey, the flesh is soft and
lanke.

The Dropsey in the Matrix is a direfull
disease, whereby the upper parts being viti∣ated,
sometimes the whole body is drawn
into consent, and then the naturall heat
of the Matrix is diminished, and indeed the
oeconomy of this part onely is not disturbed,
but the universall strength of the influent
heat is by degrees extinguisht.

Wherefore you must begin the Cure with∣out
any procrastination, or carelesse de∣layes,
by a heating and drying diet; the
forme, quantity, quality, and manner
whereof, we have set down already at large,
in the Chapter of a swelling in the Ma∣trix.

Allow her pure wine for her drinke;
that is sincere wine; or else wormewood
wine; or if it seeme pleasant to her, boile
china roots, with Annise seeds, Cinamon, and
Page  99
Agrimony in water, for her to drink; or al∣ter
her beer with China, or wormewood, or
Century.

All moist things must be avoided: and
the ayre must be artificially heated, unlesse
you can settle her in an ayre, which is na∣turally
hot.

Among the universall remedies you
must omit Phlebotomy, for this exhausts the
hot substance, and weakens the naturall
heat, cooleth the body, extinguisheth the
inborne preservative; yet this rule is not
so strict, or so generall, but that sometimes
it may be lawfull, yea necessary to cut a
veine, when her Courses, are supprest, or
when the Piles are stopt: yea, if she be
young, and in the flower of her youth, it
may be requisite to let her bloud in the
spring of the yeare, especially if the con∣stitution
of the weather be agreeable, and
the constitution of her body temperate,
and sanguine, but otherwise never, or at least
very sparingly, and that in the Ankle.

Purge the first regions of her body with
Diasenua, Mechoaca, or Diaphenicon, the thick,
viscous, and waterish humours, neverthelesse
being first prepared, specially with such reme∣dies
as we have commended unto you above,
and although the waterish humours may
Page  100

be purged out, without staying for their
concoction, because water neither concocts,
nor waxeth thick, according to Galen, in
his book de purgand. Med. Facult. yet to
expell the winde, and to open the obstructi∣ons,
wherewith the upper parts are infe∣sted,
I praise those things which are good
to break winde, to unlock the passages,
and to purge out the humours; this is com∣modiously
performed with wormewood, agri∣mony,
fennill, Maidenhaire, the juice of the
Florentine Flowerdeluce, Sena, the roots of
Parsly, Fe•nill, Sparagus, Butchersbroom, and
Alexander, boiled after this manner.

Take

the last named five roots, of each half anounce.
Three drams of danewort roots.
The leaves of wormewood,
Water agrimony,
Maidenhaire, of each a handfull.
Six drams of Sena.
An onnce of the juice of Ireos roots.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
Barley water, to two pints, unto the strain∣ed
liquor clarified with the white of an
Egg, add

Two ounces, of Syrupe Byzant. simpl.
An ounce of Syrupe of wormewood.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

Page  101

When the humor is prepared, exhibit pills
de Hiera cum agarico to the quantity of a
dram. Antimony warily administred, is a
divine medicine, and so are the Trochischs
Alhandal; for these irresistably bring away
those thick and clammy humours, which
stick so fast to the Matrix; afterwards the
Matrix must be strengthned, and the windy
humours must be expelled, with Lozenges
made according to this manner.

Take

the Electuary Diacinnamomum,
Diagalanga,
Dialacea, of each halfe a dram.
Two ounces of sugar dissolved in Cina∣mon-water.
According to Art, make them into Lo∣zenges,
or

Take

an ounce of old Treacle.
Two drams of aromaticum rosatum.
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
wormewood make a mixture.

The Oyntments, Plaisters, and Poultisses,
which are mentioned above, must be apply∣ed
to the secret parts: issues also and sca∣rifications
will be convenient, as we have
already taught; Pessaries likewise may bee
made after this forme following.

Take

Troch. Alhandal,
Troch. de agarico,
Page  102
The best Aloes of each two drams.
A dram of Elaterium, which is the juice of the wilde Cucumber inspissated.
The yolke of an Egg,
Unsalted Butter,
The juice of Mercury, of each three drams.
With a sufficient quantity of wax, a piece
of Cotton, and a piece of taffata make a pes∣sary.

This being administred, apply the Fomen∣tation
following to her privie parts.

Take

danewort roots newly gathered.
The roots of the Florentine Flowerdeluce,
The roots Cucumer. asicrin. of each six drams.
The flowers of Camomile,
Melilot, of each two handfulls.
A handfull of the tops of Dill,
Juniper berries,
Laurell berries, of each halfe an ounce.
Boile them in a suff•icient quantity of
wormewood water distilled, to foure pints,
to the strained liquor add

Oyle of Lillies,
Laurell berries, of each three ounces.
Use it as was said above.

Page  103
CHAP. VII.
Of the falling down of the Matrix.
THe Matrix sometimes falleth down up∣on
the lower parts, and this disease
the Physitians call the Descent of the Ma∣trix;
this is resembled to a pare, or a goose∣egg,
as it is small or great; as there are
many Causes of this disease, namely a hard
labour, and a frequent bringing forth of
children, miscarrying, a bringing away
of the dead child, some fall from on high,
hard riding, or immoderate dancing, yet
there is one, in my judgement, more com∣mon
then any of the rest, namely too much
moisture in that part, whereby the Matrix
becomes soft, and loose; 'tis needlesse to
set down any signes whereby to know this
disease: for of it selfe it is conspicuous.

Yet in the meane time you must not let
passe any opportunity of help, because it
is accompanied with a diuturnall Fever,
many times with Co•••ulsion Fits, and a
trembling of the parts.

Wherefore if the disease pro••ed from an
excesse of moisture, prescribe a drying di••;
Page  104

and open the basalick veine for Revulsion
sake.

A purge must by no meanes be granted
her, for 'tis exceeding hurtfull, because it
precipitates the humours to the part affect∣ed,
and there breeds an inflammation; but
a Vomit is very proper in this case; because
by drawing the humours to some other
part, it doth derive them from the Matrix.

When you have done these things, labour
to settle the Matrix in its former place,
and to this purpose the woman must be laid
upon her bed, with her legs stretched out,
then the Matrix must be gently bathed
with mollifying fomentations, afterwards to
the end it may not fall down againe, rub
the parts well, tye ligatures upon her armes:
yea, apply stinking things to her Matrix,
as assa saetida, galbanum, Castor, and stinking
pisse: but to the nose hold sweet things, as
musk, civet, and amber.

When you have thus done, dry up the
moisture, digest the slimy humour, and ex∣pell
the winde with this Fomentation.

Take

half an ounce of tormentill.
The leaves of wormewood,
Mint,
Sage,
•enniroyall, of each two handfulls.
Page  105
The flowers of Camomile,
Red roses, of each a handfull.
Burnt alum,
Live Sulphur, of each three drams.
Boile them in sowre red wine to three
pints, and with the strained liquor bath her
secret parts.

After the fomentation, lay on this plaister.

Take

two ounces of Emplastrum pro ma∣trice.
Pitch,
Gummi laranne, of each a dram.
Two drams of the Trochischs de Gallia Moschata.
The powder of red roses,
Red Corall,
Acornes, of each a dram and a halfe.
With a sufficient quantity of wax make
a Masse and spread it upon a piece of lea∣ther
cut into a convenient forme.

If it cannot be reduced to its naturall
site and position, by the dexterity of the
hand, but begins to mortifie by the incle∣mency
of the ayre, cut it off, and after∣wards
fasten it by actuall Cauterizing, onely
be carefull of some ligaments, and feare
not the incision, because it is none of those
principall parts, without which we can
live no longer, but it is a part intended by
Page  106

Nature for Conception onely and genera∣tion.
Avicen reports of some women, who
lived eighteen yeares without a Matrix;
and the possibility hereof we affirme to be
true upon our owne experience.

CHAP. VIII.
Of an Itch, Clefts, Chaps, and an Inflam∣mation in the Matrix.
AN Inflammation in the Matrix is a
preternaturall swelling, arising from
a hot bloud, or from the suppression of
the Menstruum, in the hollow parts thereof.

The Causes of this swelling are either in∣ward
or outward; the inward Causes are
a great plenitude or fulnesse of the whole
body, begot by a hot distemper of the Li∣ver
and the veines.

By the vehemence of this distemper, the
bloud it selfe is compelled in a large pro∣portion
to the Matrix: and thus the re∣tained
bloud, being no wayes able to get
out, either putrifies, or else without pu∣trifying,
produceth an inflammation:
sometimes also an Ʋlcer in the Matrix, or
clefts, or chaps, or the Piles, doe most spee∣dily
Page  107

draw the bloud unto them by reason
of the paine and heat.

The outward Causes are a fall, a blow,
a stroke, a hard labour, immoderate coition,
and the like, which weakning the Matrix,
the bloud flowes unto it, and settles there
without resistance; after this inflammation
in the Matrix, there followes an acute Fever,
bred of the putrifaction of the bloud,
which Fever, Galen saith, must be numbred
among the continuall Fevers.

She complaines of a great paine in her
head, by reason of vapours ascending from
her Matrix: also her eyes ake, and her neck
is drawn to one side, her stomack is affe∣cted
by consent with nauseating, vomit∣ing,
and a griping paine; and from hence
many times proceeds a paine in her back,
and idle talking; the excrements are sup∣pressed
by the compression of the straight
gut, and from hence comes a difficulty to
make water, or a pissing by drops.

Every one knoweth how dangerous, and
mortall this disease is, by reason of the
consent, which it hath with the parts afore∣said:
wherefore you must presently ad∣dresse
your selfe to the Cure; first prescri∣bing
a thin and cold Diet, which Hippo∣crates
enjoynes to be observed in all Fevers,
Page  108

and inflammations, and afterwards open∣ing
a veine.

Many Physitians have been puzled to
finde out Galens meaning, who first com∣mands
the Basilick veine to be cut; Second∣ly,
the Saphena, or veine in the ankle, but
the reason is obvious; for whereas in the
beginning of the disease the body is full,
he prescribed the opening of the basilick
veine to expedite the Revulsion: otherwise
he had drawn the humours by a precipi∣tate
motion, to the part affected, and so
superinduced an inflammation.

When this is done, he proceeds to lessen
the predominancy of the bloud, by cutting
a veine in the ankle, and not without sound
reason: for by the proximity, or nearnesse
of that part, the labouring parts are soonest
disburthened.

A Purge is in this case inconvenient, by
reason of the inflammation of the part, and
the drawing faculty of the purging simples.
Glysters may be profitable, both to bring
away the antecedent cause, and also to free
the afflicted part from the peccant matter;
Make them by this example.

Take

the leaves of Violets,
Mallowes,
Beet, of each a handfull.
Page  109
The flowers of dwarfelder,
Violets, of each a handfull.
Roses,
Prunes, ten in number.
The seeds of Melons,
Cucumbers,
Citrons,
Gourds, of each two drams.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
whole barley water, to nine ounces, to the
strained liquor, add

Two ounces of Electuarium lenitivum.
Oyle of Roses,
Oyle of Violets, of each an ounce.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

To appease the paine, you may mingle
Topicall remedies with the Anodynall, and
apply them.

Take

the leaves of Mallowes,
Violets, of each a handfull.
Boile them to softnesse, then set them in∣to
an oven, and dry them, beat them to
powder, sift them, and to the sifted matter
add

The whites of two eggs beaten together.
The meale of marish mallowes,
Unsalted butter,
Oyle of Violets, of each an ounce.
Two drams of Opium dissolved in wine vinegar.
Page  110

Mingle them, and make a Poultis, or

Take

foure ounces of the crums of white bread.
The whites of two egs.
Oyntment of Roses,
Oyntment of Poplars, of each an ounce.
Two scruples of Saffron.
Mingle them, and make a Poultis.

This Inflammation will either be dis∣solved,
or hasten to suppuration; you may
guesse by the vehemence of the fever, when
it will dissolve; for seeing that the great∣nesse
of the fever doth accompany the great∣nesse
of the inflammation; if the fever re∣mit,
which depends upon the inflammati∣on,
'tis a certaine signe, that the inflamma∣tion
shortly will be dissolved; but if after
the universall administrations, the fever
still continue vehement, it is a true signe
of suppuration, and the rather if the paine
be increased, according to that Oracle of
Hippocrates, whilest Matter or Corruption
is ripening, the paines and the Fevers are
more importunate then when it is full ripe.

The proper signe of suppuration is a most
vehement paine upon the privie parts; and
therefore to humour the evill, and to hasten
the suppuration, prescribe this Poultis
following.

Page  111

Take

the heads of white Lillies.
The roots of marish mallowes, of each two ounces.
The leaves of mallowes,
Marish mallowes, of each a handfull.
Bran,
Camomile flowers, of each half a handfull.
Twelve fat figs.
Bo•le them all to softnesse, pulp them
thorough a haire sieve, and add to the pulp

Two ounces of the meale of line seed.
Unsalted butter,
The oyle of sweet almonds, of each halfe an ounce.
Hogsgrease,
The fat of a hen, of each half an ounce.
A dram of Saffron.
Mingle them, and make a Cataplasme.

A Fomentation made of these things, and
with sponges applied to the secret parts,
are of knowne vertue; but then note, that
when you use it, it must be hot or luke∣warme;
for the Matrix being a part full of
Nerves is easily offended with cold things.

When there is an itching in the Matrix,
by reason of an influx of some cholerick,
and biting humour, usually there follow
chinks, chaps, and clefts, all which require
one and the same manner of cure, with an
inflammation.

Page  112

If the Itching continue long, give her
whey, or an infusion of Ruharb to drink,
lay cooling Epithems upon her Liver, and
then wash her Matrix with this Injection.

Take

a dram of Trochisch. All. Rhasis.
Mallow water.
Breast milk of each three ounces.
Mingle them together for an injection.

From hence, if there be occasion proceed
to issues.

CHAP. IX.
Of a Cancer, and an Ʋlcer in the Matrix.
A Cancer is an uneven, blewish swelling
with paine, and filthy to behold, this
is twofold, either with, or without an Ʋl∣cer;
the one hath sordid lips, from whence
issueth a black corruption, unsavory and
stinking; but the other, namely, that with∣out
an Ʋlcer, is called almost by all Anti∣quity
a hidden Ʋlcer.

The cause of this is the menstruous bloud
detained in great abundance, and afterwards
dried, and burnt up to adustion: sometimes
it is produced by a dry humour falling
down from the upper parts upon the Ma∣trix,
Page  113

from whence that accumulation of∣•ordid,
and blackish bloud floweth away.

You may discerne the signes by a paine
about the groine, the abdomen, the bottome
of the belly, and in the loines of her back:
it is a stubborne disease: both in respect of
the incommodiousnesse of the place, which
is the sinke of all the humours, and also in
regard of her frequent desire, and indea∣vour
to make water, which render the me∣dicines
so moist, that they cannot stick to
the part; moreover light remedies it con∣temnes,
and vehement medicines make it
worse: wherefore Hippocrates in one of his
Aphorismes most wisely adviseth us, not to
cure a hidden Cancer; because they who
are cured quickly perish, they who are not
cured live so much the longer; and we say
the same of a Cancer, which is exulcerated,
the paines whereof are greater, and doe
more torment the woman, when the Cure
of the Ʋlcer is attempted.

We must therefore content our selves with
a palliative Cure, that the Patient may live
the longer (for in the midst of misery life
is sweet) this may be done by appointing
a good Diet, and forbidding the use of Me∣lancholy
meats.

Upon the approach of the Spring, and
Page  114

about the end of Autumne, let her bleed
from the basilick veine; but if she have not
her Courses open a veine in the ankle.

Prescribe such simples as are good to
purge Melancholy, as Sena, Hellebore, myro∣balans,
epithymum, and annise seeds; Some
of these must be infused a whole night in
whey, and so strained and dranke, but ex∣hibit
not stronger Physick, because the hu∣mour
is so apt to be outragious.

Locall remedies which are moderately
cold and binding, may be applyed to the
privie parts, as roses, myrrhe, the juice of un∣ripe
grapes mingled with rosewater, breast∣milke,
and the white of an egg, or

Take

Cerus wash't,
Tutia, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Burnt Lead,
Frankincense, of each two drams.
With foure ounces of oleum Omphacinum stirred much, and long in a marble morter, and
Three drams of white wax,
make an oynt∣ment, or
Take

foure ounces of Litarge of silver wash't in the juice of Pomegranets, and for two whole dayes worne to dust in a marble morter.
Frankincense,
Page  115
Burnt Lead,
Auripigment, of each two drams.
Hogsgrease,
The grease that is gathered from sheeps wool,
New butter, of each halfe an ounce.
Foure ounces of oyle of roses.
Foure drams of wax.
According to the rules of Art make an
oyntment.

If any filthy matter, or bloudy corrup∣tion
run from the Ʋlcer, beat the shells of
Crab fishes to ashes (having first dried them
in an oven) and strow the ashes upon the
Ʋlcer, aud anoynt it twice a day with
oyle.

If the paine increase, and grow insuffer∣able,
inject this decoction into her Matrix
with a Syringe.

Take

an ounce of the sperme of Frogs.
The leaves of mallowes.
Marish mallowes,
Violets,
Mercury, of each a handfull.
Coriander seeds,
Poppy seeds, of each two drams.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
whole barley water, to eighteen ounces; to
••ree ounces of the strained liquor add

Page  116
Syrup of the juice of Pomegranets,
Hony of roses strained, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Mingle them together, and make an in∣jection
for six times, to be injected twice
every day.

Purge her body once a moneth with this
Medicine following.

Take

three drams of Sena.
A dram of Agarick Trochischated.
Halfe a dram of black hellebore.
A dram of annise seeds.
Macerate them a whole night in a suffici∣ent
quantity of fumitary water, to three
ounces; in the morning set them upon the
fire, and after one or two bublings, add
to the liquor which your presse out,

halfe an ounce of Syrup of the juice of fumitary.
Two drams of Confectio Hamech.
Mingle them for a draught.

If her body be sufficiently strong, open
a veine, yet be sparing of her bloud; the
Surgeons worke, which may be profitable,
when the breasts, or the other parts are in∣fested
with a Cancer, must in this case be
omitted: first, because he cannot have a full
view of it, and secondly, being irritated
by his administrations, it would cast the
Patient into Convulsion Fits, in regard of
Page  117

the consent which it hath with the braine,
which by this meanes would presently
perish.

Ʋlcers happen in the Matrix severall
wayes, either upon the coming down of
the whites, proceeding from an acrimonious
and sharp humour, or else from clefts and
chaps, which are not easily curable, be∣cause
of the humour which insinuating it
selfe, corrodes, and exulcerates the part.

The signes of an Ʋlcer in the Matrix are,
a pricking paine▪ about the privie parts,
fluxes of a virulent and corrupt humour, a
gentle Fever, idle talking, and sometimes
sounding Fits.

These Ʋlcers are very hard to cure, part∣ly
because of the distance of the place, the
virulency and malignity of them, and partly
also, because it is so full of Nerves, that
they hinder the coalescence, and healing
of it.

The most proper and convenient diet which
in this case you can prescribe, is that which
is moderate and temperate: let her surren∣der
her whole desires to sleepe, not fearing
any excesse; hot meats must be avoided,
and exercise must be forborne; but above
all things, let her refuse her husband in his
loving offers of Benevolence; for by heat
Page  118

and motion the humours melt, and falling
down upon the Matrix, they exasperate
the Vlcers.

When you let bloud open the black vein;
a Vomit may be given with security, and
safety, but the event of a Purge is doubt∣full:
yet if you prescribe one, let it be ve∣ry
gentle for the reasons aforesaid.

Locall remedies are very proper and pro∣fitable:
so are Baths, and the Injections
which we have already commended to you;
provided, that you add a dram and a half
of the Trochisch. alb. Rhasis, with two
ounces of Hydromel, and the whey of Goats
milke.

If you can gather from the confession of
the sick woman, that these Vlcers owe their
beginning to the French Pox, having first
made triall of all these remedies aforesaid,
as well universall, as particular, prescribe
compositions which receive Mercury, the
severall formes whereof, if God permit,
when we describe the Cure of the French
Pox, we shall set down at large.

Page  119
CHAP. X.
Of Wormes, the Stone in the Matrix, and the Hemorrhoids.
THat wormes breed in all the parts of
our bodies is a truth not to be denyed.
The Cause of these wormes is a viscous▪
phlegmatick, raw▪ and cold humour, stick∣ing
by its clamminesse to the very Matrix,
or to the neck thereof; and by degrees pu∣trifying.

The signes of them are a dew, or moisture
upon the lips of the Matrix; slendernesse▪
troublesome sleeps, an itching in the belly,
and a slow Fever.

This is a disease full of molestation; i•
regard of the Fever, and the want of sleep▪
which waste and consume the sick Crea∣ture.

To facilitate the Cure; a dry regiment is
necessary; mea•• that yield a thick, cold,
•nd moist juice must be avoided▪ her been
•hould be boiled with r•barbe, pur selane,
or sorrell, and you may purge her body with
•ills of mastick, or de Hiera, cum 〈◊〉, or

Take

an ounce of grasse roots.
Page  120
The leaves of plantane.
Tansie, of each a handfull.
Two drams of citron seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
balme water to a pint, in the strained liquor
infuse for the space of a night

Three drams of the choisest Rubarb,
A dram and a halfe of agarick Troch.
Coralline,
Hartshorne prepared, of each a dram.
In the moring set them upon a gentle fire,
allow them one or two bublings, straine
them, and presse out the liquor, and then add

Foure ounces of Di••ni•u.
Mingle them for an Apozem.

Every other day let her drinke three
ounces of it.

You may make your injections after this
manner.

Take

halfe an ounce of Di•tany roots.
The leaves of Tansie,
Calamint, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of Century the lesse.
Two drams of citron seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of ho∣nied
water to nine ounces, add

An ounce and a halfe of Syrup of Worme∣wood.
Two drams of aloes in powder.
Page  121
Meale of Lupines.
Rubarb in powder, of each a dram.
Mingle them, and make an Injection to
serve three times, or

Take

the roots of Costmary,
Aristolochy, the long, of each two drams,
Coloquintida,
Aloes,
The gall of an Ox, of each three drams.
Two drams of hartshorne prepared.
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of worm∣wood
water to nine ounces, every morning
inject three ounces of the strained liquor.

Or make a plaister of the things afore∣said,
according to art, and lay it to the
privie parts.

The same administrations will serve
against the stone in the Matrix; provided
that you are sure, that that is the Materi∣all
and efficient Cause; that is a thick,
slow and viscous humour, the other, name∣ly
the efficient, is an immoderate heat.

Stones many times also are generated of
a corruption, or matter congealed in the
Matrix, and grown dry; the Cause is two∣fold;
one inward, the other outward;
the inward hath already been declared;
the outward is a thick, cold, and waterish
meat, suppeditating matter to the Concre∣tion
Page  122

of the stone: as milke, fish, pulse, and other
grosse aliments, as cheese and muddy ale.

The Stone in the Matrix is known by the
paine in the part, and if you presse down
the Matrix the paine is exasperated.

The woman conceives not, her Courses
come down immoderately, and if she put
her finger up her fundament, she may feele
the Stone. Use your utmost speed and di∣ligence
to cure it; for whereas the Matrix
is as the sinke, or common shore, into
which Nature empties out all the grosse and
superfluous bloud, it may be feared that
that corrupt matter will turne to a Stone,
which in continuance of time growes
sometimes to such a bignesse (as we of our
own knowledge can testifie) that it fills the
whole capacity of the Matrix, and totally
suppresseth the Courses, breeding Vlcers full
of corruption and purulency.

The Cure consists in a good regiment,
in the preparation of the humours, and in
the evacuation and expurgation of them,
to prepare the humours, give her this Apo∣zem
following.

Take

the roots of parsly.
Eryngos,
Fennill,
Alexander, of each halfe an ounce.
Page  123
The leaves of Germander,
Violets, of each a handfull.
White Maidenhaire,
Century the lesse, of each halfe a handfull.
The seeds of grummell,
Nettles, of each two drams.
Six drams of raisins pickt and stoned.
Foure drams of licoras,
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
barley water, to two pints, to the strained
liquor add

Syrupe of the five roots.
Syrup of Lemons, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.

When she hath drunk the Apozem, make
ready this Potion.

Take

the roots of Polypody,
Marish mallowes,
The leaves of Violets,
Mallowes, of each a handfull.
The leaves of Sena,
Bastard saffron seeds, of each halfe an ounce.
Agarick Trochischated,
Mechoacha, of each two drams.
Macerate them a whole night in a suffici∣ent
quantity of Rhenish wine to eight ounces,
and boyle them gently in the morning,
straine and presse out the liquor with a
Page  124

strong hand, and add to it

Halfe an ounce of Electuary Diacar•hamum.
Mingle them together, and make a Poti∣on
for two doses to be taken every other
day.

We have already furnisht you with Fo∣mentations,
Poultisses, Oyntments, Plaisters,
and halfe tubs to bath in, which are very
serviceable in this cure; but above all
things inject these glysters following very
often, throughout the whole progresse of
the Cure.

Take

nine ounces of some emollient de∣coction.
Diacatholicon,
Benedicta Laxativa, of each an ounce.
Oyle of Dill.
Oyle of bitter Almonds, of each six drams.
A dram of Sal gemme.
Mingle them, and make your glyster, or

Take

the roots of restharrow,
Marish mallowes, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of mallowes.
Violets,
Pellitory of the wall,
Mercury, of each a handfull.
The tops of Dill,
Camomile flowers, of each half a handfull.
Line seed.
Page  125
Fenugreek, of each three drams.
Two drams of nettle seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water to nine ounces, to the strained liquor
add

Diaphenicon.
Benedicta laxativa, of each an ounce.
Oyle of Lillies,
Unsalted butter, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Mingle them and make a glyster.

When these things are done, let the Mid∣wife
put her finger up into the Patients
Fundament, and artificially presse downe
the belly upon the bones, that joyne neer
the privie parts, that the place where the
stone lies, may be raised up: this being dry∣ed,
put in a hooked instrument, and draw
it out, as we have sometimes seen it done,
but afterwards let issues made in her bo∣dy
be kept open.


Page  127
THE THIRD BOOK, OF Barrennesse, and such Diseases, as befall Women with Childe.
The first Chapter.
OF Barrennesse, both Absolute and Re∣spective.
PRovident Nature that she might
contrive the continuation of
Mankinde for a long time, if
not in the Individuall, yet at
least in the Species, hath im∣printed
in those parts dedicated to genera∣tion,
a vehement, continuall, and inex∣pressible
Page  128

appetite to propagation: and thus
by a due commixture of the womans bloud
with the seed of the man, she formeth and
fashioneth a Creature in the Matrix, which
at a certaine, and appointed time, she sends
forth into the world compleat, and perfect
in its Conformation.

Wherefore in my Judgement, Concep∣tion
is nothing else then a receiving of the
mans seed in the Matrix, being exquisitely
and proportionably intermingled, aptly
retained, and fully perfected, and therefore
by the rule of Contraries, we may affi•me
Barrennesse to be a Depravation, or defect
of these operations.

Barrennesse is either naturall, and ac∣quired
from the first Elements of the Con∣formation,
or introduced by sicknesse; or
lastly Respective, namely in reference to
the Man, or the Woman, the first is incu∣rable;
for no Physitian can correct those
errours, which Nature commits in the my∣sterious
purpose of our generation; one
of these errours is the straightnesse of those
passages which lead to the Matrix, being
sometimes so narrow that they hinder the
right transmission of the seed into the
vessells of Generation, or if it be injected,
yet is it received with so much paine and
Page  129

labour, that the Matrix doth neither concoct
nor perfect it, another errour is the wide∣nesse
of those parts, into which although
the seed be duely ejaculated, yet it present∣ly
slips out againe, because the capacity
of the Matrix is too wide; the crookednesse
of the vessells also may be another impedi∣ment;
for we may many times meet with
jesting errours, as I may call them, in the
workmanships of Nature; thus in one bo∣dy
a double Matrix hath been seen, in an∣other
two hearts, in a third, the Spleen
placed where the Liver should stand, and ma∣ny
other such like recreations of Nature,
as Realdus Columbus hath discoursed of them
at large in his Anatomy.

The second kinde of barrennesse is that
which is contracted by some disease; for
whereas the seed is a certaine spirituall
substance, generated of the purest part of
the bloud, it is necessary that it should be
concocted in a temperate wombe; but if
the Matrix be too hot, it consumes the seed,
as a little water thrown into a fire, is pre∣sently
dryed up, and on the contrary, if
it bee too moist and cold, the actions that
are ordained for conception are weakned,
and disabled, because cold is unprofitable,
and uselesse for any function: it shuts up
Page  130

the mouthes of the veines in the Matrix:
it renders a woman averse from, and indi∣sposed
to the pleasure of the Lawfull sheets;
for a waterish seed cooles the Testicles, and
makes them unapt to elaborate the seed, and
make it fit to unite and mix with the mans
seed; unto these impediments Hippocrates
hath also added another which in his Apho∣risms
he calls a thick Matrix.

From all which it is manifest, that the
temperate Matrix is most fruitfull, namely
that which obtaines a mediocrity, ap∣proaching
to no excesse, either of an active
or passive quality; by the universall Con∣stitution
of the whole body, you may best
discerne the temperature of the wombe,
which is most fit for conception; for such
women are fresh coloured, and of a rosie
complexion, gentle of behaviour, affable
in their cariage, merry and pleasant in
their conversation, not dull and drowsie,
and full of pensivenesse.

The third cause of barrennesse proceeds
neither from the Nativity of the Patient,
nor from any sicknes, but relates to the man,
as for example; one and the same woman
may have had Children by a former hus∣band,
and yet no children by a second hus∣band,
not because she is now barren, or un∣fruitfull,
Page  131

but she is so called because of her
husband, by whom she hath now no chil∣dren,
the case is likewise the same on the
mans part, respectively to the woman; but
perhaps you will demand a reason hereof,
I answer; because the proportion and tem∣perature
of both the seeds, which ought
to concur to generation, are contrary the
one to the other; for the seed both of the
man and the woman, if it be prolificall
and fruitfull, will be of a white, and shine∣ing
colour, not thin and waterish, but of
a thick, and compacted substance, in sent
like unto the flowers of the Dwarfelder
tree, and being put into water, it will
sinke to the bottome; but that which is
unfit for generation will swim upon the
•op of the water, and is in all respects con∣•rary
to the former; the man ought to be
of a strong constitution, well set, full of
•uscles, and neither too slender, nor too
•hick; for those that are slender, are usual∣•y
too weak to get childreu, at least such
as are healthfull, strong, and lively, and
those who are to grosse, are commonly of
a cold temper, have a thin and slippery
seed, and are more desirous of Venery, then
able to performe it.

Barren men are commonly beardless, slow
Page  132

in imagination, and dull in practise, be∣cause
their seed is cold, and containes not
any spirit to tickle, and warme their
Phantasies, but they sit like images, and
are sad, and insociable; on the contrary,
hairy men, that have Testicles of an indiffe∣rent
size, and a well concocted seed, are
cheerefull, affable, ever frequenting the
young company of Maids, and Virgins, be∣ing
excited by the flagrancy of their eyes
to Venereous dalliances, and lustfull specu∣lations.

After the same manner we must give
judgement concerning women, which be∣sides
the signes aforesaide, if they be bald,
and harelesse in the privie parts, they are
suspected to be barren; but if they be rough,
and full of haire, it is a signe that they are
fruitfull; the wiser sort of Physitians
know, that much haire is an undeniable ar∣gument
of much heat, and of the strength
of that heat, which driveth out those fu∣liginous
humours, whereof those haires
are generated.

Those women that have black haire, are
more apt for Venery, then any other com∣plexion,
because they are hotter, and have
their Courses in a more plentifull manner:
which Courses, how conducible they are to
Page  133

make her fruitfull, is manifest to any ordi∣nary
capacity, because the menstruous blood
is one of the Principles of our generation.

Other sorts of barren women must be re∣ferred
to this Catalogue, as those that
are luxuriant, and the whorish crew; the
former, because by frequent coition their
bodies become empty of seed, and if any
at that time be ejaculated, it is not fit for
generation, because Nature is not allowed
time enough to elaborate and concoct it▪
and the latter sort conceive not, partly
by reason that many, and various seeds are
mingled together, and partly also by rea∣son
of their frequent cohabitation with
men, whereby the neck of the Matrix is
made so slippery, that it cannot retaine
the mans seed.

It will not be impertinent to enquire at
what time women begin to have their
Courses? I answer, that for the most part,
they begin when the Virgin is twelve years
of age, and end when she hath attained to
forty five: and in all that intercourse of
time women are held capable of children;
but if any Auhors will affirme that women
may conceive, before and after those fore∣named
periods of time; we also affirme,
that this is not ordinary, but very rare;
Page  134
〈1 line〉
and 〈◊〉 de menstru• sanguine,
in the chapter de ita & 〈◊〉 Conceptione ad∣miranda,
and he will straight demand,
whither a woman can conceive without
the Menstruum? I answer negatively: for
when either Principle of Generation is
defective, there can be no conception; if
you still obtrude upon me, that many
women have conceived without the Men∣struum,
I grant it to be true; if you speak
of the outward Menstruum, namely that,
which we call their monethly Courses:
but if you meane it of the inward, that is
of that, which runneth out of the vessells
into the Matrix for conception sake, you
are deceived; for no woman can conceive
without this inward menstruum; you will
ask againe peradventure, can a woman
conceive without pleasure? and whither it
be absolutely necessary that the seeds should
be intermingled, and that the man and
the woman should both spend at one, and
the same point of time? to the first I an∣swer,
that they enjoy an unspeakable
pleasure, although that conduceth little
or nothing to conception; and to the se∣cond
I affirme, that it is not necessary
that they both spend at one time, although
Page  135

I confesse that may facilitate, and much
help conception, but that it is sufficient,
if the seed be received into the Matrix, and
rightly concocted; for there is in the wo∣mans
seed, such an earnest, covetous, and
greedie desire, to embrace, and be united
with the seed of the man, that although
the man spend after the woman, yet she
sucks it in, and the conception is never∣t••less•
perfect.

Thus we have declared unto you (with
all possible observation of modest expressi∣ons)
the Causes of barrennesse in gene∣rarall;
and the signes of such men and wo∣m••
that are un•ruitfull, by which 〈◊〉
you may discerne the particular constitu∣tion
of either sex.

It would be needlesse to set down any
prognostick signes, because from a true
consideration of the precedent notes, you
may raise an unerring determination, whi∣ther
the fault be in the man, or the wo∣man.

Let us now advance to the cure; we
have said that there is a threefold kinde of
barrennesse, Naturall, Respe•tive, and that
which is contracted by force disease;
that which comes from the Nativity of
the Patient is incurable; but that which
Page  136

is comparative in relation to the woman,
or the man, may have help from artifici∣all
administrations; for if the man or the
woman be unfruitfull through an excesse
of the first qualities, that intemperance
must be corrected; how to bring this to
passe, now heare and understand; if any
man thoroughly knoweth how to cure
that barrennesse, which comes by sick∣nesse,
the same man will be able to particu∣larize
every cause that introduceth un∣fruitfulnesse.

Now this barrennesse that happens by
reason of some disease, must be cured by
a distinct observation of the cause, where∣upon
it hath dependance; if it proceed
from an Ʋlcer, that Ʋlcer must be cured;
if it arise from frequent coition, the in∣continent
person must curb her, or his
appetite; if the Ayre be a suspected cause,
remove to another place; if any poyson
hath got into the body, by the power and
malignity whereof, the spirit which is in
the seed is weakned, and dulled, you must
prescribe remedies of Bezar stone, and ap∣ply
such medicines to the privities, as have
a faculty to resist poyson.

If the party be bewitched, as it often
comes to passe, even by the malicious art
Page  137

of the Devill, or his instruments, besides
the ordinary help•, you must indeavour
to subdue the evill with other meanes, as
the learned Fernelius hath taught us in his
booke de abditis rerum causis; for some
diseases and remedies exceed the limits and
boundaries of Nature.

If slendernesse be the cause of unfruit∣fullnesse;
you must nourish and fatten the
body with meats that yeild good juyce,
and with moistning baths: and you must
be carefull to avoid evacuations, and all
other things, which weaken the strength,
and exhaust the spirits.

If fatnesse hinder fruitfulnesse; the body
must be extenuated, made lean, dried, and
rub'd, and all other meanes must be used
to dissolve and evacuate the thick juyc•s;
the Patient must accustome her selfe to
much exercise, refraine from anger, and
all passions of the minde, and content her
selfe with little spleen; for these things
introduce leannesse, bring down the bo∣dy,
and take away all grossenesse, and
corpulency; for the same purpose also
you may frequent the Bath, and hot houses,
for sweating doth much extenuate a fat
body. If the Affect be produced by an ex∣cesse
of the first foure qualities, as we have
Page  138

already intimated, that hot distemper must
be corrected by a various administration
of remedies, in contrariety to that ex∣cesse;
first with a cold, and moist ayre, for
in such cases, a hot ayre weakens our
strength, and drawes 〈◊〉 the naturall heat
to the circumference, inflames, dissolves,
and enervates the faculties of the Matrix,
and because a hot distemper cannot long
continue s•mple, and uncompounded, but
in a short space associ•••s to it selfe a dry
distemper, therefore the aliments must be
moyst to resist the increase of that
drought, which is not cured without much
trouble and difficulty, if it be once intro∣duced
into the Matrix, which by Nature
i• a dry and nervous part; wherefore let
her drinke be potentially moist, as small
beer, or a decoction of burley, but enjoyn
her an abstinence from wine, and all such
meat• as are spiced with cinamon, and
Ginger.

Let her meat be of easie concoction and
distribution, potentially cold, and moist,
that is, cold and moist in their qualities,
and operation, though they be actually
hot when she eats them, it would be su∣perfluous
to name them, having already
sufficiently spoken of them in the prece∣dent
Page  139

Chapter of a hot di•••per in the
〈◊〉, and an inflammation in the Matrix.

It will be convenient to draw bloud
from the basilick vein, in the right arme,
and if the hot distemper be thecause, that
the Patient hath not her Courses, cut a
veine in her ankle.

Moreover you may prepare 〈◊〉, and
moistning Juleps after this manner.

Take

Syrup of Violets and 〈◊◊〉, of each two ounces.
Twelve ounces of Endive water.
Six drops of Spirit of vitrioll, mingle them, or
Take Syrup of borage, and Syrupe of pur selane, of each an ounce and a halfe.
A decoction of 〈◊〉, with cucumber, ci∣tru•,
gourd, and melon seeds, of each a dram
and a halfe, take a pint and a halfe of the
decoction mingled with the Syrups, and let
her drink it at three doses.

〈◊〉 a Purge 〈◊〉 to evacuate choler.

Take

three drams of 〈◊◊〉.
A scruple and a halfe of citron seeds.
〈◊◊〉 a night in a sufficient
quantity of a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉
two ounces and a 〈◊〉, in the 〈◊〉
straine and presse them, and to the liquor
Page  140

add three drams of the Electuary Diaprun∣laxative.
Halfe an ounce of Syrupe of Vio∣lets
by infusion, mingle them, and give it
in the morning.

Whey of it selfe is exceeding wholsome,
or else you may thus compound it for your
Patient.

Take

an ounce of borage roots.
Two handfulls of sorrell leaves with the roots.
Endive and borage leaves, of each a handfull.
Six drams of tamarinds.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of
whey to a quart, and in the strained liquor
infuse for a whole night

Halfe an ounce of choise rubarb.
Two scruples of Cinamon.
In the morning let them bubble a little
over a gentle fire, and when you have prest
them hard, add

Three ounces of Syrupe of roses laxative.
Mingle them together for an Apozem.

Which is of most excellent vertue to cor∣rect
the heat, and distemper of all the
veynes, and principall parts; this Bath al∣so
will be very effectuall to coole the body.

Take

foure handfulls of vine leaves.
The leaves of mallowes, violets, and en∣dive,
Page  141
of each two handfulls.
A handfull and a halfe of bran.
A handfull of salt.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of
water to eight quarts, let her hold her
feet in the strained water, two or three
houres together.

You may likewise prepare fomentations
of the hearbs aforesaid, and bath the pri∣vities,
the Liver and the Reynes of the back;
and afterwards you may make use of this
oyntment.

Take

two ounces of unguent. infrigidan∣tis Galeni.
An ounce of Cerat. Sautal•n.
Oyle of roses, and oyle of violets, of each halfe an ounce.
Two drams of the powder of red corall.
Halfe an ounce of vinegar of roses.
With a sufficient quantity of white wax,
make an oyntment according to Art.

Take the liquor which is distilled out of
Cockles, Snailes, or Frogs, mingle it with
Saccharum perlutum, and give it her to drink,
as a most effectuall remedy against this
Disease.

A decoction of young Chickens boiled
with prunes, and borage leaves, and taken
every morning upon an empty stomack,
Page  142

doth refresh the body▪ strengthen the spi∣rits,
moisten the Matrix, cleanseth away
the foulnesse that groweth in those parts,
and very powerfully resists the causes of
〈◊〉.

When unfruitfulnesse proceedeth from 〈◊〉
cold distemper, you must observe a con∣trary
method of cure, as for example.

The ayre must incline to hot and dry,
the 〈◊〉 must be also
〈◊〉 hot and dry: and because this cold distemper is
perpetually consociated with moisture,
whereby cloudy and grosse vapours get
into the Matrix, which is cold and ner∣vous,
therefore it will be requiste to cor∣rect
this coldnesse, to take away the moi∣sture,
and to consume, and dissipate those
windy vapours; from 〈◊〉 you may ga∣ther,
that this is a very frequent cause of
barrennesse; and 〈◊〉; and so
likewise are flatulent and windy humours;
for they extreamely swell the Matrix, so
that the se•d cannot be perfectly 〈◊〉
neither can the child be held fast by the
〈◊〉.

When you attempt the Cure, abstaine
from Phlebotomy, unlesse it be preparative
onely, to di•burthen the oppressed vessells;
when the Patient is in the spring of her
Page  143

yeares, and at the Spring of the yeare, least
by taking away the bloud, the spirits
should be wasted, the humours should be∣come
more cold, and indigested, which
otherwise, were not the bloud prodigally
•et out, might be seasonably •••octed, and
this you may observe with the learned
Fer••liu•, to prescribe a Purge, before you
open a veine in crude bodies, that the first
region may be cleansed; if any man shall
rashly proceed to a contrary course,
doubtlesse with great disadvantange to the
Patient, he shall pervert the right order of
Nature: for when as he hath emptied the
veines by Ph•ebotomy, he will fill them again
with that filthy accumulation of corrupt
humours, which they suck in with gree∣dinesse
from the first places, and so he shall
not lessen, but double the disease; the
Purge may be made as followeth.

Take

a dram and a halfe of the whitest agarick.
Two drams of bastard Saffron seeds.
A struple of Ginger.
Halfe a dram of An•••eeds.
Macerate them a whole night in a suffi∣cient
quantity of marjor•m water• to three
ounces; in the morning presse them hard,
and add

Page  144
Diaphenicon and Diaenicum, of each halfe an ounce.
Mingle them, and let her drink it in the
morning.

If her body be not sufficiently open, give
the same potion every third day, or else
prescribe this Glyster following.

Take

nine ounces of a mollifying deco∣ction made with marjoram and groundpine, or germander, of each a handfull.
Diacarthamum and Diaphenicon, of each an ounce.
An ounce and a halfe of honey of roses strained.
Mingle them, and make a Glyster.

When you have thoroughly purged the
body, and taken away the cause, the parts
must be strengthned, and the distemper
must be corrected with these pills.

Take

a dram of right lign. aloes beaten to powder.
Two scruples of aloes rosat.
Musk and amber, of each a scruple.
With a sufficient quantity of alkermes,
make thirty five pills.

Let her swallow five of them, or fewer,
every morning; they are exceedingly pro∣vocative,
and withall they strengthen the
braine, the heart, the liver, and the Matrix;
Page  145

when the man and the woman intend con∣junction,
let him anoint his yard with
oyle of mastick, and wormewood mingled
with a few graines of musk and civet; and
let the woman also anoynt her privie parts
therewith, as well within as without; for
by this meanes there is raised a mutuall
inclination to Venery, and the seed is re∣ceived
with a greater pleasure, and is
more duely retained and elaborated; rea∣son
it selfe will convince us, that sweat∣ing
remedies made of ebony, and Salsapa∣•illa
will mightily help, and prepare the
Matrix; for they expell the windy hu∣mours,
strengthen the Matrix, and dissi∣pate
the fuliginous and grosse vapours;
naturall Baths are excellent for the same
purposes, and so are Treacle, Mithridate,
Alkermes, Aromaticum rosatum, Diarrhodon
Abbatis, Diamargarit. calidum, and Diacin∣namomum;
and lastly if you desire any sa∣tisfaction
from our opinion concerning
Issues, we answer, that they evacuate those
cold and thick juyces which daily flow un∣to,
and settle in the Matrix, and therefore,
as we said almost every where, we affirme
the use of them to be very expedient, and
conducible.

Page  146
CHAP. II.
Of the shapeless lump of Flesh called a Mola.
A Mola is an unprofitable and shapelesse
lump of flesh, bred in the Matrix of
the menstruous bloud, as the Materiall cau••
thereof, according to the opinion of Ga∣len,
in sundry places of his works.

He saith of the menstruous bloud, that 〈◊〉
such as is very thick and much hard••
in the Matrix; but note, tha• he doth no•
here exclude the seed of the man, for eve∣ry
Physitian knowes that a M•la proceed
from a mixture of the menstruum, and a
corrupted seed; which indeed doth some∣what
indeavour Conception, but cannot
perfect it: neither is there any cause of
wonder that such a lump of deformity
should be fashioned in the wombe, seeing
that severall kindes of monsters are bred
there, according to, the variety of the hu∣mour,
which floweth into the Matrix; he
that would acquaint himselfe with the
knowledge of these things, may read
Page  147
Skenkius his Observatns, and the won∣derfull
stories related by Marcellus 〈◊〉;
if also he would search into, and examine
the true cause of these things, let him read
Laurentius his book of Anatomy.

But why doth this breed in the Matrix
onely of a woman, and not in some other
part? I answer, because, although the
bloud may congeal•, and become clotted
in the other parts of the body, yet it
happ••s so more frequently in the Matrix
of a woman, then in any other part of
•er body, because the Matrix i• as the
common shoore of the body, where most
of the excrements are exonerated.

But why doth a Mola breed in women
onely? I answer, because women onely
•ave an abundance of this monstruum, more
•hen other Creatures, and that their bo∣•ies
are full of grosse, thick, and tenaci∣•us
humours, by reason that for the most
•art they use a moist diet, and abandon
•hemselves to a reproveable, and disor∣••erly
course of life. This Mola is of se∣•erall
kindes; for sometimes it is waterish,
•ometimes windy and humorall, and
•ometimes againe 'tis ••innie and bloudy;
•his last in the most ordinary, and all Phy∣•itians
have granted it, this is that which
Page  148

is most usually presented to our obser∣vation;
and lastly, this is that which so
often hath deceived women, who boasted
themselves to be with childe, and were
not, and their Physitians also who told
them they were with child, when they
were not.

Wherefore to avoid these common cou∣zenages,
let us be circumspect in the
knowledge, and right understanding of
the signes which are a swelling, with a
drawing back of the Hypochondriacall parts,
the women grow leane, are full of paine,
and very apt to long; the belly is bur∣thened,
her back aketh, her breasts swell,
and her Courses are stopped, and that at
the beginning of her conception: but af∣terwards
in processe of time, she seemes to
have the Dropsey, her belly is so immode∣rately
swelled; but you may know this
from a Dropsey; for in that the belly
sounds like a Drum: the woman feeles
within a kinde of fluctuation, or waving
motion, and if a finger be laid hard upon
her belly, the print of it remaines.

A Mola is distinguished from a perfect
conception, by three most certain signes,
that is, by the motion, by the milk, and
by the time that a woman beareth her
Page  149

childe; in the motion, because there is a
great difference between the motion of a
childe, and the motion or stirring of a
Mola, because the childe kicks, and turn∣eth
about to all the parts of the bottome
of the belly, but a Mola moveth like a
Globe, now on the right side, and anon
on the left; this also, if you presse down
the womans belly with a gentle hand, re∣moveth
from the place, and returnes not
suddenly into it againe; and from the
milke you may gather a never-failing signe,
because the breasts swell all the time a
woman is with childe; but in the other
it happeneth otherwise; the time likewise
affords a never-failing signe; for if the
swelling of the belly continue beyond the
eleventh moneth (which is the most con∣stant
and certaine period of a womans
Reckoning) and no signes of a Dropsie at
that time appeare, you may warrant your
owne confidence that she hath a Mola, but
no childe in her belly.

This is a most dangerous disease; for
many times a woman carries it in her
wombe, the space of two or three yeares,
and sometimes longer, insomuch that the
naturall heat is suffocated therewith,
moreover, in the expulsion of it, there is
Page  150

no small danger, for many times it grow∣eth
to such a bignesse, that it comes not
away without extreame hazard of the wo∣mans
life: for a great Issue of bloud en∣sueth,
whereby the spirits being spent
and exhausted, she waxeth feeble, wan and
pale, and many times perisheth in the ve∣ry
act of expelling it.

This evill hath a twofold manner of
Cure; one Preservative, to prevent the Ge∣neration
or breeding of the Mola, and the
other curative, to destroy and bring it away,
when it is bred; and this last is also two∣fold;
for the first designe must be to ex∣clude
it; and the second to save the wo∣man
in the very act of excluding it.

The Preservation consists in a due ob∣servation
of these things following; the
ayre she lives in must be hot and dry,
and the place healthfull, being scituate
towards the East: let her keep a good
diet, feeding upon meats that yield a whol∣some
nourishment to the body, and such
as are soone concocted, and distributed to
all the parts: let her choice also be ra∣ther
of hot, then cold meats, avoiding
such as are fat, salt, and hardned with
smoak, fish which breed thick, windy,
and viscous juyces, are unwholsome for
Page  151

her; she cannot desire a more wholesome
drink then Wormewood. wine, or excellent
generous French wine: her belly must be
kept open and soluble; exercise must be
used, and sleep refrained: angry chidings
and cares of the minde must be moderated,
and all such things forborne, as dry the
bloud, and diminish the naturall heat.

In the next place prepare the thick, and
grosse humours with Rhodomel, Syrupe of
wormewood, Syrupe of mint, and the like,
mingled with some convenient water, af∣terwards
prescribe this Purge.

Take

three drams of Sena,
A scruple of Agarick Trochischt.
A dram of the root Mechoaca.
A dram and a halfe of anniseeds.
Boile them a short space in a sufficient
quantity of pure water to three ounces:
then straine and presse them, and the
•maining liquor add three drams of Dia∣•henicon.
Mingle them, and let her drink
it in the morning early.

If her Courses be stopped, cut a veine in
her ankle; Leeches also may be applyed
to the Hemorrhoids, but with caution and
warinesse, least thereby you more and
more weaken such women, whose bodies
•re full of raw and indigested humours,
Page  152

afterwards you must purge her body again,
with a scruple of extract. Catholic. and as
much of mass. pillul. faetidar and lastly, pre∣scribe
an Apozem, or Decoction to cut a•un∣der,
and evacuare the grosse and tough
humours, to provoke urine, to open the
obstructions of the Matrix, and to bring
down the Courses: all which vertues meet
together in this Composition following.

Take

the roots of smallage,
Eryngos,
And Fennill, of each halfe an ounce.
The ba•ke of the root of the Caper,
And Tamarisk tree, of each two dram•.
The leaves of penniroyall, and birthwort, of each a handfull.
Germander, Maidenhaire, Balm, of each halfe a handfull.
Ten drams of S•na.
Three drams of agarick trochischt.
A dram and a halfe, or two drams of Epythymum.
Boile them all according to art, in a suf∣ficient
quantity of water, wherein stee•
hath b•en infused to a quart: when yo•
have strain•d, and with a strong hand pre•
out the liquor, add

Three ounees of •yrup of roses.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, o•

Page  153

Take

the roots of Butchers broome,
Aparagus,
Polypody of the oak,
And fennill, of each halfe an ounce.
The leaves of Penniroyall,
And motherwort, of each a handfull.
A dram and a halfe of annise seeds.
The flowers of Violets, Rosemary, and Borage, of each as many as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.
An ounce of raisins of the Sun.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of
•arley water to a quart. In the strained li∣quor
infuse for a night

Ten ounces of Sena.
Three drams of the whitest agarick.
Two drams of the best rubarb.
A dram of Epithymum.
In the morning let them buble once,
or twice, and then to the liquor which
•ou presse out, add

Syr. Byzantin.
And Syr. de eupatorio, of each an ounce.
Mingle them and make an Apozem.

Of this, or of the former let her take
•wice in a day the quantity of three ounces
or a week together, once in the morn∣ing,
and the second time at foure a clock
〈◊〉 the afternoon.

Page  154

Excellent Lozenges may be made of the
species Diamosch. and Diacinnamomum, or you•
may compound them with Treacle, Mi∣thridate,
and Bezoar stone.

When the Mola hath obtained some
growth, if it be waterish, it must be brought
away with such simples, as have a facul∣ty
to purge out waterish humours; or if
it be windy, you must prescribe such me∣dicines,
as are of a known, and approved
vertue to strengthen the Matrix, and to
expell winde; and Carminative glysters in
such cases will be very convenient; so al∣so
will plaisters and fomentations applyed
to her privie parts: but that which is
humorall, skinny and bloudy may be
overcome with the same remedies as are
set down at the beginning, against the
stoppage of the Courses.

When Nature indeavours to expell this
unprofitable burthen, and an issue of
bloud ensueth thereupon, with fainting
and swounding fits, then you must be di∣ligent
to strengthen the Patient with
broths made of the flesh of Capons, and
Partridges, and with such things as will
stay the bloud, and refresh the exhausted
spirits; such as are Chalybeated wine, Su∣gar
of Pearle, Corall, &c.

Page  155

You will object that wine cannot be
seasonable, because by the heat thereof it
makes the bloud thin, and makes it more
apt to flow away in greater measure by
opening the passages, rather then it can
any way help to stay it. I answer, it is
not guilty of this mischiefe, if it hath a
reddish Tincture; for if good Claret wine
be chalybeated, as hath bin said, besides
that it nourisheth the body, it is also a
binder; for it comforteth the spirits,
and refresheth the whole body, which ver∣tues
must needs be profitable for, and wel∣come
unto a Creature, who is hourely
subject to faint and swound, and although
it might provoke the bloud to flow, yet
a greater good must be preferred before a
small inconvenience, and therefore give
her wine to refresh her spirits, which will
be more to her advantage, then the issue
of bloud can be to her prejudice, for she
may perish suddenly in one of those sits,
but the flux of bloud may be restrained by
degrees.

Note that foure things require an absti∣nence
from wine. First, an inflammation
of the bowells. Secondly, a vehement
paine in the head. Thirdly, a Phrensie.
And fourthly, a burning Fever in a crude
Page  156

disease; and of this opinion was Galen, as
appeares in his first book ad Glauconem, and
the 14. chapter. Moreover the Patient should
be refreshed with the choicest meats, and
then the Mola should be disposed to come
forth by softning and loos•ning fomenta∣tions,
made of a decoction of marishmallowes,
mallowes, motherwort, Mercury, Birthwort,
Sage, Hyssope, Calamint, the seeds of line,
marishmallowes, fenugreek, camomile, melilot,
and rosemary; in this you may dip a clout,
and bath her privie parts.

But if the bloud come not away, rub
her legs, and apply drie Cuppinglasses to
the calfes of her legs, and binde most pain∣full
ligatures about them; and in a word
make tryall of all such remedies, as will
draw down Nature, the humours, and the
Mola to the lower parts.

CHAP. III.
Of Womens Longings.
WOmen are sometimes so extrava∣gant
and preposterous in their ap∣petite,
that they refuse wholsome meat,
and long after coales, chalke, a piece of
Page  157

an old wall, starch, earth, and the like
trash, which they devoure as ravenously, as
a hungry Plowman will winde downe a
good bag-pudding.

Now perhaps you may also long to
know the cause hereof, which is no other
then the menstruous bloud, especially if it
be retained about the middle of their time,
and grow corrupt; for the child in the
wombe is nourished with the sweetest
part of the bloud, and the other part re∣maining
which is vitious, filthy, and
dreggish, noisome exhalations, especially
in the middle moneths arise from it, and
in such a manner contaminate all the up∣per
partts, that the worst things are ve∣hemently
desired, and the most wholsome
refused; the signes are apparent from the
depravation and irregular temper of their
stomack.

This Disease is hard to cure; yet not
so much in respect of the disease it selfe,
as of the subject wherein it is generated,
which is a woman with childe; now we
know that such women must be warily,
and religiously dealt withall, and unlesse
it be in extreame necessity, their bodies
ought not to be purged. By this una∣voidable
abstinence the disease is increased,
Page  156
〈1 page duplicate〉
Page  157
〈1 page duplicate〉
Page  158

and the bad humour, being long retained
in the body, becomes daily more and more
corrupt, by the tetrous exhalations which
ascend up from the pollutions of the
Matrix: therefore having first appointed a
strengthning, and drying dyet, you must
indeavour to rid away that humour, with
Syrup of roses solutive, and afterwards
when the body is cleansed, and free from
the humour you may prescribe a gentle
Purge of Rubarb, which hath both a purg∣ing
and a strengthning faculty; for if we
may adventure our beliefe to the asserti∣ons
of the best Physitians, Rubarb may be
safely given to old men, infants, and
women with childe; and Fallopius in his
booke of purging Simples, and in the
chapter where he speaketh of Rubarb, saith,
it dries up all superfluous moisture con∣tained
in the vessells of the Matrix, it is
a gentle cleanser, it strengthneth the Heart,
and the stomack by its astringent faculty,
neither need you to entertaine the vaine
feares of some, who suspect that the bit∣ternesse
thereof may destroy the childe,
for the taste of it is not horrible to na∣ture,
and besides the bitternesse quickly
vanisheth.

There remaines another doubt to be an∣swered;
Page  159

namely, whether it be more pro∣per
and advantagious to prescribe an in∣fusion
of Rubarb, or to give it in the sub∣stance?
I answer, that it purgeth most
in the substance, or body of it, expelling
the humours by siege, which it doth not
in an infusion, at least not so powerfully,
because then it evacuates onely by the
purgative vertue which is in it, and of the
same opinion is the Author before named.

CHAP. IV.
Of a bad stomach, proceeding from Vo∣miting.
IT is a known truth, that most dange∣rous,
direfull, and pernicious Symp∣tomes
invade women with childe, from
which also forsaking of meat, and Vo∣miting
doe afterwards follow, all which
things proceed from those noysome and
foggy exhalations, which are distributed
into the severall parts, from the corrup∣tion
of the bloud; for whereas there is a
sympathy, and consent between the sto∣mack
and the Matrix, when any poyso∣nous,
or malignant vapour ascendeth from
Page  160

the latter, it immediately invades, and
overcomes the stomack, which being weak∣ned
in the conflict, or indeavour to re∣sist,
and keep out those vapours, the fun∣ctions
of it are depraved, it refuseth all
comfort or nourishment, or if at any time
it admit any, 'tis no sooner swallowed,
but vomited up againe; these are the
signes of this disease, and to cure it, pro∣ceed
according to the Method following.
In the first place prescribe a cleansing po∣tion.

Take

three drams of Elecampane roots
The leaves of wormewood, and
Century the lesse, of each halfe a hand∣full.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
whole barley water to a pint, and a halfe,
to the strained liquor add three ounces of
honey of roses strained, mingle them for a
Potion; against the next morning prepare
this purge following.

Take

three drams of rubarb.
Two scruples of agarick Trochischt.
A dram of annise seeds.
Macerate them a whole night in a suffi∣cient
quantity of mint water, to two
ounces and a halfe; in the morning presse
them hard with all your strength, and add
Page  161

three drams of the Electuary Diaphenicon;
if she cannot take down a Pu•ge, let her
swallow these Pills following.

Take a dram of the mass. of Pills de Hi∣era
cum agarico.

Make nine pills, and guild them.

The next day following, give her this
strengthning mixture, which doth not
purge at all, and eve•y morning let her
eat the quantity of a Nutmeg.

Take

Elecampane roots candied,
Marmalade of Quinces, of each an ounce.
Halfe an ounce of Conserve of red Roses.
Foure scruples of aromat. rosat. in powder.
Two scruples of mastick in powder.
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
mint make a Confection.

After the use of these things, make this
plaister following, and lay it to her sto∣mack.

Take

lignum aloes,
Yellow Sanders,
And the round Cyperus, of each two drams.
Galangale, mace, cloves,
And calam. aromat. of each a dram.
Common wormewood, roman wormewood,
Spikenard, dried mint,
Page  162
Of each as much as you can take up be∣tween your thumb and two fingers.
Mastick,
Storax calamitu.
Red Corall, of each two scruples.
Amber,
Musk, of each a scruple.
Pure ladanum,
Turpentine, of each an ounce.
Foure ounces of white wax.
Make a Masse; whereof let him take a
sufficient quantity, and spread it upon lea∣ther,
and lay it to her stomack.

Bisket steeped in muskadine is excellent
good for her: because it refresheth the
spirits, and mightily strengthneth the sto∣mack.

CHAP. V.
Of a Pain in the Belly, the Passion of the Heart, and of sounding Fits.
VVOmen with Childe doe often feele
a pain in their bellies, and this also
proceeds from winde, and the malignant
vapours aforesaid: neither are the swound∣ing
Fits, or the Passion of the heart pro∣duced
Page  163

by any other causes, because the
heart when it is shaken with this fuligi∣nous,
and grosse spirit, doth frequently
stretch, and contract it selfe, and endea∣vouring
to expell the evill which annoyes
it, it falls into an inordinate and strange
motion, like unto trembling.

Under these diseases the woman lan∣guisheth,
is full of feares and frights, prone
to despaire, subject to faint, can obtaine
no sleep, but wasteth away daily, and
waxeth leane and meager.

To take away her paine, you may ad∣minister
such remedies, as will expell the
winde, and strengthen the bowell; of
which sort you may furnish your selfe
with plenty above, in the chapter of a cold
distemper, and windy humours in the
Matrix•

You may likewise anoynt the stomack
with this oyntment following.

Take

an ounce of unguent. Altheae.
Oyle of wormewood,
Oyle of Camomile,
And oyle of rue, of each three drams.
The powder of lignum aloes,
Mastick,
Wormewood,
And both sorts of Corall, of each a dram.
Page  164
Halfe a dram of aromat. rosat. in powder.
Six drops of oyle of annise seeds.
With a sufficient quantity of yellow
wax, according to art make an oyntment.

This, or the like fomentation may like∣wise
be very usefull.

Take

halfe a dram of elecampane roots.
Two drams of lignum aloes.
The leaves of Rue,
Motherwort,
Sage,
Wormewood,
Mint, of each a handfull.
Mastick,
Cloves, of each two drams.
Boile these Simples in a sufficient quan∣tity
of water to three pints, and prescribe
the strained liquor for a fomentation.

After the use of the fomentation, clap to
the stomack the caul of a sheep newly kil∣led.
In Spaine the greatest persons, and
those the wisest also, take hot bread from
the oven, afterwards they soake it in
Muskadine, and having sprinkled upon
it the powders of red and white corall,
and aromat. rosatum, they lay it to the
heart: others instead thereof use Treacle,
Alkermes, and Confect. Hiachytorum, to all
which may be added, if the evill yield not
Page  165

to the remedies aforesaid, a little bag to
be worne upon the left pap, and made
after this manner following.

Take

two drams of lignum aloes.
Bezoar stone,
Muske,
Red corall, of each a dram.
Red and yellow Sanders, of each two scuples.
The Specie Diamosch.
And Diambr. of each a scruple and a half.
With a piece of red taffata and cotton make
a quilted bombast for the use aforesaid.

Mingle cordialls with her drinke; and
cordiall conserves, as for example.

Take

two ounces of conserve of red roses.
Two drams of alkermes.
Macerate them a night in two pints of
plantane water, and red wine, in the morn∣ing
straine it thorough Hippocrates his sleeve,
that is a woollen bag, and give her now
and then the quantity of a small wine
glasse.

If these remedies overcome not the dis∣ease,
apply an exceeding great Cuppinglasse
to the heart; by the force whereof the win∣dy
vapour will evaporate; for although
Glysters doe draw back the humour from
the affected part, yet in reference to great
Page  166

bellied women you ought to suspect the
event of them, because they raise too great
a disturbance by provoking nature down∣wards,
and many times cause abortive∣nesse;
yet if the paine be insupportable,
then inject carminative glysters, and omit all
bitter ingredients, as Hiera, benedicta Laxa∣tiva,
or Scammoniata; but to prevent all
errour, prescribe this following.

Take

a handfull of mallow leaves.
The flowers of melilot,
The tops of Dill, of each halfe a handfull.
Two drams of fennill seeds.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
barley water to nine pints, to the strained
liquor add

two ounces of Syrup of roses Laxative.
An ounce of red Sugar.
Mingle them, and make a glyster. Or

Take

the flowers of melilot.
And mallowes, of each a handfull.
Annise and Fennill seeds, Of each two drams.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of
broth, made with an old Cock to nine
ounces, to the inward liquor add

Calabrian Manna.
And red Roses, of each an ounce and a halfe.
Page  167
An ounce of oyle of rue.
Mingle them, and make a glyster.

It might doe much good, if you gave her
a draught of balme water in the morning,
in which water you may steep lignum aloes
the space of a night, and afterwards put
to the strained liquor a sufficient quantity
of Syrup of mint; for this expells the
winde, cleanseth away the phlegme, and
powerfully strenghthens the stomack.

You must frequently and laboriously rub
her lower parts, tye ligatures about them,
and apply Cuppinglasses to them, if there be
no imaginable cause to feare abortivenesse,
but if there be the least suspicion of that,
omit all such applications as may procure
a revulsion of the bloud, nay, let me give
you this caution absolutely to fo•beare
them, unlesse she be taken with desperate
trembling and fainting fits, or swounding,
in the spring time too, when her spirits re∣quire
them.

You must cause her Basilick veine to be
opened, if she be young, fleshy, and strong, for
this Remedy, besides that it letteth out the
thick, dreggish, and black blood, it refresh∣eth
the childe also, and the heart is sweetly,
easily, and safely delivered from that bur∣thensome
humour, which did oppresse and
almost overwhelme it.

Page  168
CHAP. VI.
Of a Cough in Women with Childe.
MOst certaine it is, that great-bellied
Women, by reason of their being
with childe, have not sometimes a free vent
for their crude and indigested aliments, ei∣ther
by Stoole, or by Urine, or by any
other Emunctories of the body; these be∣ing
unduly kept in the body putrifie, wax
hot, and communicate noysome fumes,
and vapours to the spiritous parts, which
by their clamminesse, thicknesse and
sharpnesse, together with the bad quality
that is in them, gripe, and twitch the Wo∣man,
and force her to cough.

Some perhaps may demand, why doth
this Coughing happen in the last months?
the answer is obvious; namely, because in
those moneths a greater plenty of excre∣ments
are lodged in the body, then were ac∣cumulated
at the first.

The cause of the Cough, according to
Hippocrates, is a viscous, thick, and tough
humour, impacted in the Pipes of the Lungs;
which humour sometimes also, thorough
Page  169

that consent which is between the Matrix,
and the Chest, invadeth that part, and
raiseth a Coughing: and these are set down
as the true signes of this evill.

As for the Prognosticks, you must know
that a Cough befalling a woman with
childe is a bad Symptome: seeing that by
the least stretching, and shrinking the Co∣tyledons
or vessells of the wombe, are many
times loosned, yea sometimes burst asun∣der,
and from thence comes abortivenesse.

The Cure is perfected with sweet wine,
mild beere, and the frequent use of a Ptisan.
sharp, sowre, and cold things must be avoid∣ed;
meats also must be forborne which
breed a thick nourishment, and are hard
to digest; vehement evacuations likewise
are not good; wherefore having given or∣der
for the observation of a good Diet, pre∣scribe
some gentle, lenifying medici•es to
provoke her to spit, as manna, Syrup of
roses laxative, Diacnicu, and the like.

These things being administred, proceed
to Electuaries, and expectorating medicines,
and especially to this Apozem following.

Take

an ounce of cleansed Barley.
The roots of Aristolochy,
Licoras scraped, of each two drams.
The leaves of Asarabacca.
Page  170
Nettles,
White Maidenhaire, of each a handfull.
Two drams of raisins pickt.
The flesh of Dates.
Fat Figs, of each three drams.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of
water, to two pints, and to the strained li∣quor,
add

Two ounces of Diacodium.
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, or

You may prescribe Lozenges after this
manner.

Take

a dram of the species Diatragacanth. frigid.
Diaireos,
Poppy seeds, of each a scruple.
Two ounces and a halfe of Sugar dissolved in rose water,
according to art make them into Lozenges.
Then prescribe this Conserve.

Take

Conserve of red Roses,
Elecampane candied, of each an ounce.
Conserve of Violet flowers,
Rosemary flowers, of each halfe an ounce.
Two drams of meale of beanes.
A dram of Diaireos.
Ten graines of Sulphur.
With Syrup of Coltsfoot make a Conserve.

Meale of beanes, according to Galen, doth
Page  171

cleanse and mundifie the Chest, digests
and crude spittle contained in the pipes,
and makes it easie to be excerned; bean∣flower
water is exceeding good for the
Lungs, especially if she drinke it with Sy∣rupe
of Maydenhaire, or Oxymel Scilliticum;
the same faculties hath the distilled waters
of red Poppies.

The yolke of an egg taken in the morn∣ing
with Sugar, and the oyle of sweet Al∣monds
is a most incomparable remedy, and
hath done good to thousands.

Anoynt her Breast with this Oyntment,
which is good to prepare the crude, and
thick matter which stops her pipes.

Take

an ounce of the oyntment of marish mallowes.
The axungia of a hen
Of a Duck, of each halfe an ounce.
Oyle of sweet Almonds,
Oyle of Violets, of each two drams.
Ten graines of Saffron.
Mingle them, and according to art make
an oyntment; heat it when you use it,
and anoynt the whole region of her Chest
therewith.

Page  172
CHAP. VII.
Of the swelling of the Legs in Women with Childe.
FRom the same cause, namely from abun∣dance
of phlegme, and c•ude humours,
especially in the last moneths, proceed the
swelling of the legs, face, and eye-browes,
and when I have told you that the flesh of
the whole body groweth soft, and that she
looketh white and wan in the face, I have
discovered unto your consideration the
signes of this disease.

Women in this condition cannot be re∣stored
to perfect health till she be delivered:
yet may we not delay our helps, least a
worse evill happen unto her; for whereas
the legs and feet are outward parts, and
at a great distance from the fountaine of
heat, they are quickly affected with cold,
and mortified through the abundance of
crude humours, which many times settle in
them.

You may securely, speedily, and gently ac∣complish
the cure by strengthning and dis∣•olving
remedies.

Page  173

In the first place therefore provide a bath
with chalybeated water, Saltpeter, Sulphur,
Wormewood, Stechaz, Rosemary, and Camo∣mile:
in this liquor let her wash her lips,
her thighes, her legs, and her feet, and
when she washeth them, let her also rub
them soundly.

If her flesh grow very soft and lank, so
that you feare a mortification, apply this
Poultis following, which will exceedingly
comfort her.

Take

two handfulls of Wormewood,
Meale of Vetches,
Meale of beanes,
Meale of barley of each an ounce and a halfe.
An ounce of Bran.
With a sufficient quantity of oxymel, and
a brine made with lemon pills, according
to art make your Poultis.

If the coldnesse of the part be such, that
you feare a gangreen, there is nothing
will more certainly prevent it then Scarifi∣cation:
for by this meanes the part is ven∣tilated,
and preserved from putrifaction.

Strengthning remedies must sometimes
be exhibited to expell the winde, yet you
must administer them with a good diet,
consisting of drying, and corroborating
Page  174

things, as Treacle, Mithridate, and other
drying confections and powders, Diacinna∣monium,
aromaticum rosatum, Diarrhodon Abba,
tis, unto which we may well adjoyne a de∣coction
of China and Salsaparilla with a lit∣tle
stick of cinamon, and a few annise seeds.

Note that these remedies may properly be
accommodated to the cure of the disease,
called the Ʋterine Flux, which happens
sometimes to women when they are ready
to lye down, by reason that there is an
excessive abundance of humour in their bo∣dies,
or else because the childe in their bel∣lies
is very large and great.

CHAP. VIII.
Of Costiveness in Women with Childe.
THe inner part of the humour being
spent upon the nourishment of the
childe in the womans belly, the dregs
grow hard, and when Nature striveth to
cast them out by a strong and vehement in∣deavour,
the Matrix suffers a compression,
by which compression the childe is offend∣ed,
the Cotyledons are loosened, and many
times the woman miscarrieth, and the child
proves abortive.

Page  175

The belly must be sollicited, but not
with glysters, because they hurt the childe,
especially if it be grown to some bignesse,
but with Suppositaries made with hogsgrease,
and five or •xgraines of Diagry•ium; for
these will irritate.

Her meat should be of a moistening and
mollifying quality, as mallow, and borage
leaves eaten with butter and Sugar; fat pot∣tage
also is good for her, in which, if she
complaine of no torments, you may boyle
polypoda, sena and prunes.

Manna above all other things is in pre∣sent
case to be preferred: and next to it we
commend Syrup of roses laxative, and Sy∣rupe
of Violets made with a frequently ite∣rated
infusion.

Sometimes you may prescribe this Julep.

Take

the waters of borage,
Fumitary, of each eight ounces.
Three ounces of Syrup of Violets.
Mingle them, and make a Julep.

Forbeare the use of sharp medicines, for
they worke with an unnecessary vehemence,
and not seldome cause Abortivenesse.

Unto this disease we adjoyne a loosenes,
which hapneth, when women are of a
cold constitution, and full of crudities,
or when they have a weake belly: Some∣times
Page  176

also it happens by their inordinate
Longings, when they wish for a greater va∣riety
of dishes then they are able to con∣coct;
for then many times what they have
so greedily devoured passeth down into the
guts without digestion, and causeth a loos∣nesse
through the weaknesse of the retentive
facultie.

We have learnt from Hippocrates to ac∣cou•t
this among the dangerous diseases;
for in the fifth brok of his Aphorismes he
hath these words: If a woman with childe
be troubled with a great loosnesse, 'tis to
be feared that she will miscarry, and note
well the reason hereof: for when she is thus
afflicted, the good and the bad goe away
together, the childe is defrauded of its due
nourishment, and so perisheth.

You must presently strive to stay the loos∣nesse
with binding and thickning meats,
as quinces, rubarb, beer wherein steele hath
been often infused; or else you may pre∣scribe
this Potion following.

Take

a handfull of plantane leaves.
The seeds of flux wort.
The seeds of Sumach, of each a dram.
Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of red
wine, to a pint and a halfe, to the strained
liquor add

Page  177
Srrupe of Comphrey.
Syrupe of Quinces, of each an ounce.
Make a Potion.

Boile, or steep annise seeds in her drinkes
and apply the same fomentations, oyntments,
and plaisters, as we have already commend∣ed
unto against Vomiting.

But if the excrements be slimy, putrified,
and stinke, you must not neglect the use of
Rubarb gently rosted, and of myrobalans
slightly rosted; for these doe not onely
purge, but they binde withall, and strengthen
the parts. Sometimes you may exhibit
Philonium Persicum, Requiem Nicholai, or Pill.
de Cynoglossa, but with a sober caution;
the quantity is a scruple, or at the most
but two scruples, and that when the other
things have proved unsuccessefull, and also
when the strength of the Patient will al∣low
the taking of them.

CHAP. IX.
Of the flowing away of Bloud from the Matrices of women with Childe.
ALthough we made mention of this dis∣ease
in the first booke, where we treated
Page  178

of the immoderate flowing of the Courses;
yet we conceive it may be worth our la∣bour,
and the Readers thanks to add a few
things, which in the Chapter aforesaid, were
purposely omitted by us.

Bloud then floweth immoderately from
the Matrix, either when the lips thereof are
unlockt, or when the vessells are open, or
lastly, by transcolation.

The inward cause of these symptomes
is an extreame heat, or thinnesse in the
bloud; which either eats asunder the ves∣sells,
or rarefies the tunicles thereof; the
outward causes are all those things which
have a power to make thin, to heat, to open,
to rarefie, and to subtilize the bloud; as
immoderate cares of the minde, long watch∣ings,
a continuall use of hot meats, as
dishes pepperd and spiced: also drinking
too much wine; yet you may exhibit a
glasse of Claret wine in a moderate quantity,
to refresh her spirits, provided that no
Fever be suspected, and that her Matrix be
not inflamed.

The signes of this evill are manifest; for
the spirits are deficient, the heat is dimi∣nished,
the face groweth pale, the feet swell,
the strength decayes, the meat is forsaken,
and no sleep can be obtained.

Page  179

The danger of this Flux is unknown, I
suppose, to few women; for seeing that
our naturall heat hath its chiefe, and sole
perseverance in the bloud, the losse of
that bloud in an immoderate quantity,
must needs exhaust the spirits, weaken the
body, and at length when the naturall heat
is almost extinguisht, and the sanguificati∣on
is depraved, there will undoubtedly su∣pervene
either a Dropsey, or a Consumption.

When you begin the Cure, keep the Pa∣tient
in a darke roome, and let the ayre be
cold and dry; or if naturally it be not so,
make it so by art; her meat should be po∣tentially
cold, thick, and binding: as
the flesh of Partridges, and sheeps-feet, or
sheeps-heads, or broths made of them; pease
beanes, quinces, Services, and the like, are
not unwholsome for her, and for her
drinke, let it bee beere, or water wherein
steele hath often been quenched.

Let her bloud immediately to divert the
humour, but in what part, there is indeed
a great controversie among the Physitians
about it; but to promote the Revulsion of
the humour, if the Patient be strong
enough, we tye ligatures about her legs,
and boldly open a vein in her arme; or if
she be very strong, we apply •uppinglasses
Page  180

wi•h scarification to her shoulders.

When the veine is opened, give her thick∣ning
Syrups, as Syrup of poppies, Myrtles,
quinces, or Syrupe of restharrow; Juleps al∣so
made with the disti•led waters of plan∣tane
and roses, and mixt with the Syrups
aforesaid, will be convenient for her, or
you may mingle Conserve of roses, or Con∣serve
of acacia with Bolearmenick, and the
Trochisch. de Carabe, which will be an ex∣cellent
mixture to thicken, and stay the
bloud; but however forget not to prescribe
this Purge.

Take

two scruples of Rubarb gently boyled.
Ten grains of the myrabolans called chebule.
Syrup of dried roses, or
Syrupe of sowre Pomegranets, halfe an ounce.
Three ounces of plantane water, or a de∣coction of tormentill root•.
Mingle them, and make a Potion.

Procure some sleepe for her with Opiates,
as Athenasia, Requies, Nicholai, Philonium
Persicum, new Treacle, or Philonium Roma∣num;
yea with pills de Cynoglossa, or foure
or five graines of Opium: all these things
doe wonderfully thicken the bloud,
straighten the passages, fatten the body,
Page  181

concoct the bloud, provoke sleep, and
therefore are very proper for women thus
affected. Note that the Opium restraines,
and stops all superfluous evacuations, sweat
excepted, which it provokes; besides, by
inviting sleepe it refresheth the body; for
by sleep the aliment is soonest concocted,
the naturall heat retiring to the inward
parts, whereas when the Patient waketh,
the heat is distributed and diffused all over
the outward parts.

Lay this plaister which followes the
oyntment to the reines of her back, and
with the oyntment anoynt her privie
parts, and the region of her Kidnies.

Take

the powder of Cyprus Nuts.
The roots of Comphrey,
Bistort, of each two drams.
Red Sanders,
Red Corall,
Bolearmenick,
Mastick, of each a dram.
With foure ounces of Ʋnguentum Comitis∣sae
make an oyntment.

After the oyntment apply this Plaister,
as was said above.

Take a pound of loom, and beat it to pow∣der,
with ten drams of gum-arabick tosted
by the fire, and the whites of foure Egs,
Page  182

incorporate them, and make a plaister.

CHAP. X.
Of water flowing away from the Ma∣trices of women with Childe.
MOst certaine it is, that Women with
Childe by reason of their depraved
appetites, and continuall intemperance in
their diet, abound with crude and uncon∣cocted
juices, which nature not knowing
how to digest, nor being able to expell
them by her monethly Courses, are accu∣mulated
in a large measure, pollute the bo∣dy,
and introduce a cold distemper, from
whence that water comes, which is the in∣tended
subject of our present discourse;
they who live a sedentary and an idle life,
are very obnoxious to this disease; in such
women this waterish humour comes away
at the Matrix, cold to the touch, slow in
motion, slimy in substance, and white to
the eye, and voide of all manner of sharp∣nesse;
these women look pale, their skin
is lanke or loose, they are lazy, and loath
to use any exercise, they are troubled with
winde, and loud rumblings in their bel∣lies.

Page  183

Account this is a difficult Cure: especially
when it happens in the last moneths, when
we dare not administer convenient reme∣dies,
fearing to destroy, or hurt the childe;
because such kinde of remedies dissolve, and
exhaust the spirits, and when the body is
extreamely weakned, they precipitate the
Patient into a Dropsey, which is scarce cu∣rable;
or else she miscarries by reason
that the retentive faculty is too much weak∣ned
by excesse of moysture.

You must therefore indeavour the cure by
a drying Diet, as Bisket made with annise
seeds, and with flesh meat rather rosted then
boiled; forbid windy meats, salt meats,
such as breed a thick juice, and yield too
much moisture; almonds, chesnuts, pine ker∣nells,
and boyled rise are very wholsome,
all hearbs and fruit, beside quinces and
medlars, are unwholsome.

For her drinke, give her binding red
wine, or wine wherein steele hath been
quenched: for this comforts the spirits; a
decoction of china and Salsaparilla may be
profitable, because it dries up the descend∣ing
moisture, and cleanseth the body from
it, this potion following will doe her much
good.

Take

two drams of Cyprus nuts.
Page  184
The leaves of wormewood,
Mint,
Red roses, of each halfe a handfull.
The seeds of quinces,
Services, of each two drams.
Parcht rise,
Mastick, of each a dram.
Halfe a dram of gum dragon.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water, wherein steele hath been quenched,
to two pints; to the strained liquor add

Syrup of dried roses,
Syrup of the juyce of quinces, of each an ounce.
Halfe an ounce of honey of roses.
Mingle them, and make a Potion.

Let her take three ounces of it early in
the morning; it evacuates the waterish hu∣mour,
and not onely strengthens, but also
bindes the parts, dryeth the Cotyledons, and
retaineth the childe in the Matrix, that it
come not into the world before its due
time; after the Potion, the next day lay
this Plaister to her privie parts.

Take

two drams of Loadstone beaten to powder.
Spikenard,
Mastick.
Red corall, of each a dram.
Page  185
Two ounces of oyle of quinces.
Six drams of white wax.
Mingle them and make a Plaister.

A gentle laxative Decoction cannot be
inconvenient, and therefore we shall here
set down that which hath often purchased
sweet ease to the Patient, and credit to our
selves.

Take

a handfull of plantane leaves.
A pugill of red roses.
Foure drams of rubarb.
Two drams of agarick trochischated.
Mastick,
Spikenard, of each a scruple.
Macerate them together in two pints of
water, wherein steele hath been infused up∣on
hot coales, the space of six houres; af∣terwards
set them upon the fire, and when
they begin to bubble, presse out the liquor
with a strong hand, and add to it.

Two ounces of Syrup of Fumitary.
Mingle them according to Art.

Give her every other morning fasting
three ounces of this decoction; for it gent∣ly
strengthens the parts, diverts the wate∣rish
humour from the Matrix, and with
much benignity evacuates it.

When the woman is almost ready to be
in labour, a wheyish or waterish humour
Page  186

floweth leasurely, and by degrees from the
Matrix, either because of some dilatation
of the Membranes, in which the childe is
enwrapped, or else because those membranes
are burst asunder; and although it de∣scend
leasurely, yet a large quantity comes
from her; if this happen when she is in la∣bour,
suspend all helps of art, for it is
a good omen that she will be safely deli∣vered;
but if it should fall out in the fifth,
sixth, seventh, or eigth moneth, in which
there is, or may be a feare of miscarrying,
then may you properly and securely ad∣administer
those things, which we even
now prescribed.

If you demand from whence that abun∣dance
of waterish humours doth come,
which floweth before she is in Labour? I an∣swer
from the Membrane, or skin called
Ammion, which is fastned to the Childe,
and from the other called Chorion, in which
two skins, the urine of the Childe is so
long reserved, till the fulnesse of time be
accomplished, in which it should be borne;
at which time seeking by instinct of nature,
for a greater proportion of nourishment,
it kicks, and teares these membranes, out of
which when a large plenty of waters have
run, it comes forth into the world.

Page  187
CHAP. XI.
Of Acute Diseases, befalling Women with Childe.
WOmen are preserved both from the
threatnings, and also from the In∣vasions
of those Diseases whereunto they
are subject by a threefold kinde of Reme∣dies:
by Diet, by Phlebotomy, and by Purg∣ing,
or to speake more properly, by being
purged.

But the two latter are the more difficult,
according to the opinion of Galen, who in
this hath the concurrence of Avicens judge∣ment
also; you must know, saith he, that
every disease of repletion, or the malice of
a complexion is not cured by his contra∣ry,
but sometimes by a good regiment of
health; wherefore if it be a slight disease,
it will be cured of its own accord; for
the•e is no kinde of disease so fierce, saith
Galen in his book of Diet, which is not ta∣med
by it; but yet a moderation must be
observed; for they who are neere their
time, and looke every day to be in labour,
want a larger proportion of nourishment,
Page  188

because the childe is big, and should they
be defrauded of this mediocrity, they
would perish by the cruelty of an acute
disease; wherefore here lies all the diffi∣culty
to prescribe a convenient and fit Diet
for such women; for should you allow
them meat and drinke suitable to the con∣dition
of women who are not with childe,
you should destroy the childe: and should
you, out of a regard to the preservation
of the childe, be more liberall and indul∣gent
to their appetites, this condescension
would espouse you to another errour, for
hereby you might cherish the cause of the
disease; let her therefore be fed with meats
that are of easie concoction and distributi∣on,
and prohibit her the use of thick,
sharp, sowre, bitter, and windy meats, that
are hard to digest.

Having prescribed a good Diet, you
must consider whether it be expedient she
should be let bloud. Valesius sets down the
reasons on both sides, and for the Negative
he alleadgeth an Aphorisme in Hippocrates,
running to this sense; if a woman with
childe be let bloud, she miscarries▪ and the
rather, if the childe in her wombe be big;
because the childe is thereby defrauded of
its aliment. Secondly Galen saith, Physiti∣ans
Page  189

ought not to be busie in offering helps,
or strong remedies to women with childe,
nor any exquisite manner of Diet; here
you must understand Phlebotomy say they;
therefore it must from Galens words be con∣cluded
inexpedient. Thirdly, if any eva∣cuation
be a cause of abortivenesse, as a
flux of the belly, or a loosenesse, as Hippo∣crates
in another Aphorisme affirmeth, how
much more will the opening of a veine be
a cause, by meanes whereof the aliment is
taken away from the childe. Fourthly, a
Fever kills the childe, by wasting the spi∣rits,
and drying up the bloud with the ve∣hement
heat thereof; therefore so also will
phlebotomy kill the childe by exhausting the
spirits, and consuming the bloud.

But all these reasons to my understand∣ing
are of no weight, no moment, no va∣lidity,
seeing that it is most certaine, that
the very impregnation, or being with child
doth forbid phlebotomy, in respect of it self,
yet not as one of those principall scopes
which withstand it, but of those which in∣dicate
and advise to a sober and due celebra∣tion
of it; wherefore when a woman sick
of an acute disease must be let bloud, yet
must she bleed lesse then the affect and the
plenitude require, because of that indica∣tion,
Page  190

which is taken from the childe in her
wombe; for her gravidation, or being
with childe ought to be reputed as a Symp∣tome
which wasts the spirits, because her
bringing forth the childe is a kinde of eva∣cuation.

To the second I answer, that Galen in
that place meanes nothing else, but that
Physitians should counsell their Patients to
avoid intemperance, because women with
childe admit not of the least degree beyond
a medioicity.

To the third I answer, that it is not al∣wayes
true that abortivenesse followeth up∣on
any large evacuation; and therefore it
should not onely have beene said, but prov∣ed
by the Interpreters of Hippocrates; for
wee see that it followes not upon hunger, or
emptinesse, unlesse it be diuturnall, nor from
a loosenesse, unlesse it be immoderate, nor
lastly, from phlebotomy, if a veine be opened
in the arme, wherefore, that I may con∣clude,
I conceive Hippocrates did intend on∣ly
to prohibit the cutting of a veine in the
ankle, but not in the arme: for I confesse,
if a veine in the ankle be cut, the bloud
is drawn in abundance to the Matrix, and
so may strangle, or choake the childe, and
cause abortivenesse: the like also doth any
Page  191

vehement and exorbitant Purge.

Wherefore if an inflammation be pre∣sent,
we affirme that a woman with childe
may be let bloud without any danger of
abortion: yet with this condition, that
she be first well nourished with meats of
good concoction and quick distribution,
and that a small quantity onely be taken
away, least the spirits should be empaired
either for the present, or the future. More∣over
I like not the cutting of the Basilick
veine, because it much exhausts the bloud,
and may cheat the childe of his nourish∣ment.
Lastly, I counsell you to apply
strengthning, and nourishing things to the
navell before you cut the veine, as unguen∣tum
Comitissae, or Emplastrum stomachichum,
or fomentations made of wormewood, roses,
mastick, lignum aloes, quince seeds, and Claret
wine: and whilest she is bleeding, let her
hold cold water in her mouth, or cold beer,
that if perhaps she begin to faint, she may
swallow it, and preserve her selfe from
swounding.

But what shall be said concerning Purges,
which consist of hot ingredients, and as
Galen and Averroes contend, disturb and
hurt the childe. I answer, all purging me∣dicines
are not of that quality; wherefore
Page  192

we may safely prescribe manna, sena, tama∣rinds,
rubarb, and cassia, omitting such
simples as have any participation of vehe∣mence;
and we confidently aver, that
Hippocrates must be understood in this sense,
where he saith, women with childe must
be physickt or purged, if the matter be
turgid, in the fourth moneth unto the
seventh; because the childe in the wombe
is likened to the fruit upon a tree, which
as at first they fall down by any slight mo∣tion,
and afterwards stick faster to the tree,
but when they are full ripe fall of their
own accord; so the childe; wherefore if you
will prescribe any physick, follow the dire∣ctions
of Hippocrates, and exhibit it between
the fourth and the seventh moneth, be∣cause
then there is a firme connexion be∣tween
the Membranes, and the Cotyledons.

If you desire exactly to know these middle
moneths? I answer, they are the fifth, the
sixth, and part of the seventh.

If you object the words of Galen, who
saith that a child three months old is
strong, and able to resist the injuries of
physick. I answer, that he reckons the
end of the third to be compleat, not
till the fourth moneth be begun, concerning
which argument the learned may consult
the Epistles of Mainendus.

Page  193
THE FOURTH BOOK, OF VVomens Diseases.
The first Chapter.
OF a Naturall Birth, and of Abortion.
PRovident Nature at all times
hath not a greater care of any
thing, then of the propaga∣tion
of mankinde, and this
although it appeare not so
much in the species, yet it is
cleare and manifest in the individuall, and
thus she hath framed women to a delight in
Venereous conjunctions, that they might
with greedinesse suck in the mans seed, and
Page  194

dispose and cherish it to Generation. So
soone as the woman hath conceived, Na∣ture
hath an especiall care to fashion, aug∣ment,
nourish, adorne, and perfect the
childe, and at a determined time to send
it out into the world, in all respects com∣pleat
and absolute.

This sending forth of the childe is two∣fold;
either naturall, or preternaturall;
the first is when Nature at a time prefixed,
sends out into the Province of the world
a perfect Citizen, with an exact dearticu∣lation
of all the parts, with a little paine,
without any fever, or passions of the minde:
this sometimes comes forth before its time,
with great paine to the woman in her
back and belly, as in the fifth, seventh, or
eighth moneth: or else it stayes beyond the
ordinary date of time.

There are severall opinions among the
Physitians, why a childe that is borne in
the eighth moneth should be weake, and
not healthfull, whereas a childe borne in
the seventh moneth is held to be both
strong, and healthfull. Laurentius in his
book de re Anatom. handles these things
with much elegance, and thither we refer
the Reader, and for our own opinion, we
shall most readily declare it to be this; that I
Page  195

hold it impossible, that the childe should
be able to undergoe two afflictions, the
one immediately following the other;
namely, one in the seventh, and the other
in the eighth moneth, in which it is very
obnoxious to sufferance and danger, and
therefore most commonly perisheth in the
eighth moneth, for it comes to passe that
the childe is doubly, or consequently af∣flicted;
first with that affliction which be∣falls
it in the wombe, and afterwards with
that which happeneth in the birth; but this
befalleth not the childe, which comes forth
in the seventh moneth, because it comes
into the world perfect, strong, and with∣out
the labour of the seventh and eighth
moneth.

Galen describes Abortion to be an imper∣fect
Emission of the Childe, or a violent
Excretion of the Childe.

The Causes hereof are many and vari∣ous;
some inward, some outward; the
outward cause, which for the most part is
subjected to the arbitrement of sense, is a
vehement fever, which kills the childe,
especially if it continue long; for it is de∣structive,
both to the Mother and the
Childe; the fiery heat thereof devoures the
whole substance of the moisture, wastes the
Page  194
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Page  195
〈1 page duplicate〉
Page  196

spirits, consumes the flesh, and so weakens
the body, and destroyes the childe by ex∣hausting
the spirits, and dissipating the
aliment; to this we have already adjoyned
an excessive, or lasting loosenesse, because
as we have said, it looseneth the Cotyledons,
and by the sharpnesse of the humours irri∣tates
the Matrix, shaking, agitating, and
assaulting it, till provoked Nature excern
the Childe: dancing, leaping, loud crying,
long fasting, doe all presage that the wo∣man
will miscarry; so also are the relati∣ons
of some unexpected events, anger, chid∣ing,
thunder, the sudden noise of some
pistoll or musket, a fall, the denyall of
some ardent request, and an innumerable
company of other such things.

The inward are reduced to three Causes
namely, to the weight or heavinesse of the
humour, whereby the suffocated childe is
overwhelmed and perisheth; the second is
the great bulke of the Matrix, by reason
whereof the childe is scarce held fast, but
slides away, and slips out; or the small
and narrow capacity of the Matrix, wherein
it neither groweth to any bignesse, or per∣fection,
but perisheth for want of roome;
the third is a skirrosity or hard swelling,
which is an impediment to the childe, that
Page  197

it cannot lye stretcht out to its full dimen∣sions,
but endures a compression, and dieth.

Galen reckons up those signes which goe
before abortion; the first whereof is an ex∣tenuation
of the nipples, the second a dimi∣nution
of the milke; the third when the
child is not perceived to stir in the belly;
the fourth the slendernesse of the woman;
the fifth, the loosenesse or lanknesse of the
whole belly; the sixth, the depravation of
the appetite: the seventh, which is a true
signe that she is now ready to miscarry, is
a paine in her back, in her privie parts,
and torments all over her belly, with a
thin humour distilling from her Matrix.

This is far more dangerous, then a law∣full
and naturall birth, in regard of the
perturbations and violence which is offered
to nature.

As for the Cure, the woman having alrea∣dy
miscarried, that consists in the point of
preservation, namely, to prevent the su∣pervening
of a Fever, or the Whites; this
may be done by the help of those things
which we have noted above; sleep must be
procured; then the belly and the Matrix
must be strengthned with fomentations, lit∣le
bags, and such like administrations as are
good to expell winde.

Page  198

To prevent obortion, and to preserve
the woman from miscarrying, we approve
(if the danger be threatned from an ex∣treame
fulnesse of humours, the cu••ing
of the Basilick or the middle veine; for this
counsell we have the Authority of Fernelius,
who in his second book de Meth. Med.
saith, unlesse many veines be unlockt
about the mouth, in which the woman
looketh, she will miscarry; for the childe
is overwhelmed, and choak't with too
much bloud; but if it proceed from the
amplitude and large capacity of the Matrix,
apply astringent decoctions; if from the
narrownesse of the part, mollifying medi∣cines
will be most proper, yea, and such as
resolve and consume away hard swellings,
may be convenient for this cure.

CHAP. II.
Of a hard Labour.
VVE call a womans Labour hard,
and difficult for five conditions, or
five reasons: the first whereof is an Antici∣pation
of, or as we use to say, when she
comes before her due time, in the fourth,
Page  199

fifth, or sixth moneth, which because it is
excerned by nature before the naturall time,
it is imperfect, precipitating the woman
into many straights and bitter pangs: the
second is a transversall, or preposterous
Egresse, as when one foot onely, or an
arme appeareth, or when the breech com∣eth
before the head, or when both the feet
joyned together come out first, and after∣wards
the head; the third is, when the
childe which comes forth of the wombe
is mishapen, nature having erred in the
conformation; the fourth is intolerable
paine, fainting, swounding fits, and bit∣ter
torments about the bottome of her
belly, and the secret parts; the fifth is, an
effusion or running out of water many
dayes before the birth: which being run
out, the passages which before were slip∣pery
to assist the emission of the childe, now
remaine hard and dry, and become an im∣pediment
to the birth; this humour is of
no small advantage, nay, it is of admirall
concernment to facilitate the birth, if we
may without procuring envie to the man,
beleeve Galen, who saith in his book de
us• partium; that that humour serves not
onely to moisten the childe, and to make
the wayes slippery, but it likewise subdues
Page  200

the callosity and hardnesse of the matrix,
almost to an incredible dilatation; to
these we may adjoyne the weaknesse of the
mother, and the imbecillity of the expulsive
faculty, as also the strength of the Reten∣tive.

The signes of an illegitimate birth suc∣ceeding,
are vehement, but vaine indea∣vours
and strivings, seeing that the childe
for the reasons aforesaid is hindred from
coming forth.

No man of understanding can deny, but
this must be terrible to behold, and paine∣full
to endure; for if the childe chance to
dye, and lye dead in the Matrix some dayes,
it is most certaine, that it will putrifie, in∣fest
the principall parts with noysome va∣pours,
and poysonous exhalations, weaken
their strength, and bring an unavoided death
upon the woman.

We have often, and with the saddest ap∣prehensions,
beheld, how much diligence
was necessary both to the reliefe of the Mo∣•••,
and the preservation of the childe:
••erefore having provided a skilfull Mid∣wife,
you must lay the woman in a darke
place, least her minde should be distracted
with too much light; all passions of the
minde must be diverted by a pleasant, and
Page  201

cheerefull conversation, and provide such
meat for her as is easie of concoction. Let
her drinke be small beere, or barley water
boiled with Maidenhaire, and cinamon, unto
which add a small quantity of Rhenish
wine; for this brings down the urine, moves
the Courses, and facilitates the birth; boiled
meats are most wholsome for her, as mutton
boiled with Rosemary; chicken broth also is
good for her, and so are the chickens. Binding,
and sharp things must be avoided; gentle,
and moderate exercise is commendable;
and afterwards the Midwife may rub her
legs and her feet.

We have acquainted you with the Con∣ditions
of an ill birth; and now we shall
furnish you with remedies to prevent, or op∣pose
those conditions.

When the childe goeth out in a depraved
figure, the Midwife must gently dilate the
parts with her hand, or with some conve∣nient
instrument; certaine it is that this
happens very often, if a monster be borne,
in regard of the bad conformation of the
body; if a foot, or an arme, or the shou•••ders,
or the buttocks come out first, 〈◊〉
the Midwife by the activity of her hand,
anoynted with oyle of sweet almonds, must
thrust back the childe, and dispose it to a
Page  202

more regular egresse: but if this cannot be
done, the childs life is in danger; and if
the child perish, it must either be expelled
with medicines, or drawn out with an
hooked instrument, as we shall shew you
in the chapter next following.

If vehement Symptomes arise from hence,
all which are wont to proceed from the
weaknesse of the Mother, or else from clot∣ted
bloud destilling from the Ma•rix before
the birth, and that you feare a greater in∣quination
in regard of that putrified bloud,
then comfort the feeble and decayed spirits
of the woman with the Rh•nish wine and
broths aforesaid; when this is done, pro∣voke
the clotted bloud, and feculent hu∣mour
by strong ligatures, by rubbing her
body with a course cloath, and applying
Cuppinglasses to her legs; and if the woman
be fallen into an agony, if she be young,
of a good habit, full of bloud, or of a
sanguine complexion, and if it be also the
Spring time (if those about her have strong
feares that she will dye) open a veine in
her ankle; for thus Nature is disburthened,
and the womb which was opprest with the
weight of the bloud feeles ease, and many
times the woman recover• who was at
deaths doore.

Page  203

To witnesse the truth hereof, we have
an authentick warrant from the writings
of Hippocrates, who in his booke de morbis
mulier. hath these words; if a woman with
childe be a long time restrained, and can∣not
bring forth; if she be likewise in the
vigour of her age, and full of bloud, you
m•st open a veine in her ankles, and draw
away the bloud, respect being had to the
strength of her body. Note that he saith
out of her ankles, that is, at one time from
both ankles, as Cordaeus his Commentatour
hath observed unto us; but yet in our Cli∣mates,
we conceive it sufficient to cut a
veine in the left ankle onely; because our
opinion is, that somewhat must be left to
Nature, who is somewhat wearied, but yet
able to make a further resistance.

After the phlebotomy, curb the malice of
the humours with Bezoar stone, Trea•le,
Mithridate, Alkermes, Hyacyntha, with Lo∣zenges
made of Manus Christi, Diamargariton
frigidum, Aromaticum rosatum, and the like.

If great plenty of waters come away be∣fore
the birth, if the Matrix and the Sca∣bard
thereof remaine dry, if the Cotyledous
be contracted and straightned, so that no
roome is left for the egresse of the childe;
then must it be your indeavour to soften,
Page  204

to moisten, and make wide the passages,
with oyle of sweet almonds, or with a warm
cloath dipped in the oyle, or else fill a blad∣der
full of this oyle, and lay it upon her
privities; or lastly, you may mingle it with
a decoction of onyons, garlick, rue, and birth∣wort.

Half Tubs are in this case very profitable,
being made after this manner following.

Take

the leaves of mallowes,
Marish mallowes, of each foure handfulls.
Motherwort,
Rue,
Birthwort,
Penniroyall, of each three handfulls.
Camomile,
Melilot flowers,
The tops of Dill, of each two handfulls and a halfe.
The seeds of Fenugreek,
Marish mallowes,
Line, of each an ounce and a halfe.
An ounce and a halfe of Laurell berries.
Boyle them all in thirty pints of water,
put them into a tub, and let the woman sit
covered in it, till all things correspond with
her expectations.

You cannot scandalize your judgement
by an errour, if you present her with an
Page  205

opening, dilating, and provoking draught,
as she is seated in the Tub; the forme
whereof may be this.

Take

two scruples of the Trochisch• of Myrrhe.
Ten graines of Borace.
Eight graines of Saffron.
Halfe an ounce of Syrup of Motherwort.
Three ounces of a decoction of madder roots and rosemary.
Mingle them for a draught.

Many commend this oyntment follow∣ing,
which they apply to the privie parts.

Take

unguentum de Althaea,
Ʋnguentum Resumptivum, of each an ounce.
Oyle of white lillies,
Oyle of Dill,
Hensgrease, of each halfe an ounce.
Saffron,
Dittany beaten to powder, of each two drams.
With a sufficient quanty of wax make an
oyntment.

But if nature be culpable in both, name∣ly
in the weaknesse of the Mother, and
the expulsive faculty, and also in the
strength of the retentive; then against one
you must administer corroborating medi∣cines,
as hath already been said, and to
Page  206

rectifie the other fault, you must adhibit
loosening remedies, such namely as are
recited above.

CHAP. III.
Of the Retained Secundine.
GAlen in his book de usu partium hath
rekoned up three membranes, which en∣wrap
the childe in the wombe; the first
whereof is called Ammios, this on every
side is spread over the whole childe, and
receiveth the childs sweat, that it may
swim in it; The second is named Allantoei∣des,
or Intestinalis, or as others name it bet∣ter,
Ʋrinaculum, whose use 〈◊〉, to receive
the urine; the third is called Chorion, our
Midwives call it the Secundine, which is
nothing else but a multitude and connexi∣on
of vessells and membranes, thorough
which as by little springs or rivolets, the
child draweth bloud and ayre; these mem∣branes
are burst when the childe begins to
kick his way out into the world, from
whence that liquor distilleth, as we have
noted above, which makes the passages
slippery; after the nativity of the childe
Page  207

these membranes are excerned, but if they
chance to be retained, they introduce most
outragious Symptomes, and a disease of
number, in the excesse.

The Causes of the retention are diverse,
for many times the Matrix is confirmed af∣ter
the childe is borne; many times the
immoderate passions of the minde make na∣ture
forget her selfe in his duty; sometimes
odoriferous things draw the Matrix up∣wards,
and so nature is disturbed in her
purposes of exclusion; an unseasonable
drinking of cold water is a very frequent
cause of it; and so are grosse meats that
stuffe the body and thicken the bloud.

You may know by the Midwives relation,
that the Secundine is retained, unto whom
(if she be skillfull) you ought at the com∣mand
of Hippocrates yield up your beliefe,
or you may conjecture it; if the woman
be sad in minde, subject to faint and swound,
full of tossing, and unquietnesse, if she feele
a heavinesse in her wombe, or a round
substance, like unto a fixt and immoveable
ball.

This is a most lamentable disease; for if
the Secundine be retained for any considera∣ble
time it putrifies, and communicates poi∣sonous
exhalations to the principall parts,
Page  208

as the heart, the brain, the liver; from whence
arise swounding fits, anxiety of minde,
giddinesse in the head, and direfull tor∣ments.

Wherefore let it be the Midwives care
with all speed to attempt the cure, bring∣ing
down the Secundine with her fingers
besmeared with oyle, and let her hold fast
the umbilicall vessells, till the Secundine
follow; but what if it remaine behinde?
then according to the Oracle of Hippocra∣tes
delivered in the fortieth Aphorisme of his
fifth book; you may exhibit sne•zing me∣dicines
to the nostrills; for these by that
motion compresse the upper parts, and the
expulsive faculty being irritated, out comes
the Secundine.

Take

black pepper,
Mustard seed,
Sagapenum of each a dram and a halfe.
Tobacco,
Castor,
White hellebore, of each a dram.
A scruple of Euphorbium.
Make a fine powder of them, and upon
the point of a knife, or thorow a quill let
her sniffe up a little of it at a time; or you
may prescribe this Potion for two Doses;
it hath often done the Cure.

Page  209

Take

eight ounces of penniroyall water.
An ounce and a halfe of aqua Hysterica.
Two scruples of Castor in powder.
Mingle them for a Potion, to be taken
at twice, or

Take

two scruples of the Trochischs de Ca∣rabre.
A scruple of Borace.
Halfe an ounce of the Syrup of juice of betony.
Three ounces of a decoction of Savine.
Mingle them for a Draught.

Suffumigations are also very profitable to
bring away the Secundine.

Take

Storax,
Benjamin,
Lign. aloes, of each two ounces.
Musk,
Civet, of each a scruple.
Make a pessarie of them, adding Ʋnguen∣tum
Agrippe and the juice of Mercury. Lini∣ments
must not be omitted, made with un∣guentum
de Althaea, de Agrippa, oyle of Al∣monds,
and oyle of Dill; fomentations and
halfe tubs are equally necessary, made of
a decoction of camomile, pellitory of the wall,
Motherwort, Birthwort, Origanum, Sage Sa∣vine,
annise, fennill, and Line seeds, unto
all which may be added oyle of Almonds,
Page  210

and oyle of Dill; Glysters must also be in∣jected,
and with good successe you may
continually rub her hips and her thighes,
tye ligatures about her legs, apply Cuppin∣glasses,
and cut a veine in her ankle.

When the Secundine is ejected or drawn
out, give the woman Cordialls, as Bezoar
stone, Treacle, Confect. de hyacintha, or
Alkermes: all which things are of undoubt∣ed
vertue to restraine the malignity of
the vapours; sometimes a Mole remaineth
in the Matrix after the birth, which by rea∣son
of the congealed bloud, and the fleshi•
substance, whereof it is compounded, is as
difficult to cure, as the retention of the
Secundine: wherefore you must indeavour
to expell that by the help of those reme∣dies,
which we have prescribed above in the
chapter of a Mola, and here also a little
above.

Note the difference betweene the Secun∣dine
and a Mole: this is fixt and unmove∣able,
but that is moveable from one place
to another in a Mole, or when a woman is
troubled with that halfe conception, so cal∣led,
a black and clotted bloud drops from
the Matrix, which upon the retention of the
Secundine appeares not.

Page  211
CHAP. IV.
Of the Dead Childe.
CErtaine it is, that the Childe dyes in
the Mothers wombe for many causes;
the first of these is an inward cause, as a
defect of aliment, or the corruption of it;
the second is a most vehement burning Fe∣ver,
which by the excessive heat thereof
wastes the spirits, and destroyes the natu∣rall
heat; The third cause is an unseaso∣nable
evacuation of bloud at the nose, the
mouth, the Matrix, or by phlebotomy; The
fourth is an exuperance, or an immoderate
predominancy of humours in the body;
The fifth is a great quantity of moysture
loosening the vessells; The fixth is some
vehement medicine. The first outward cause
is some blow; the second a Cough: the
third vociferations, or loud and clamo∣rous
yawlings: the fourth sneezing; the
fifth, sad tydings; the fixth, some horrible
and dreadfull sights.

The Childe may be known to be dead by
a coldnesse about the Mothers navell, and
by a kinde of fixt and immoveable weight
Page  212

in her belly: by a bad taste in her mouth,
and by her stinking breath.

Use your utmost activity and cunning,
to bring away the dead childe, both by in∣ward
administrations, and by outward ap∣plications,
inwardly let her take this
Potion.

Take

a a dram of the Trochishs of myrrhe.
Castor,
Storax,
Borace, of each ten graines.
Foure ounces of a decoction of Savine.
Mingle them for a draught, or

Take

the powder of assa faetida.
Trochishs of myrrhe, of each a scruple.
Troch. Alhandal.
Borace of each ten graines.
Nutmeg,
Saffron, of each five graines.
Two ounces of a decoction of Savine,
Two ounces of muscadine,
Mingle them for a Draught, or

Take

the powder of Euphorbium,
Dittany of Creet, of each a scruple.
Ten graines of borace.
Five graines of Cantharides prepared.
Three ounces of a decoction of Savine.
Mingle them for a Draught.

Glystars and Suppositaries are of great con∣cernment,
Page  213

and thus make you them.

Take

a dram of rest-harrow roots.
The leaves of Savine,
Pennyroyall,
Birthwort,
Motherwort, of each a handfull.
Origanum,
Sage,
Dittany of Creet, of each halfe a handfull.
Fennill seeds,
Nettle seeds,
The pulp of Coloquintida, of each two drams.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water to nine ounces, to the strained li∣quor
add

Two ounces of benedicta laxativa.
Halfe an ounce of hiera picra.
Mingle them, and make a Glyster, or

Take

Troch. Allhandall.
Scammony, of each a scruple.
A dram of common salt.
With a sufficient quantity of white honey
boiled according to Art, make your Sup∣pository.

Outwardly you may apply oyntments
made of oyle of Castor, oyle of Foxes, oyle
of Euphorbium, with unguentum Agrippe, un∣to
which may be added a little coloquintida,
Page  214

powder of dittany, scammony, the gall of an Oxe.

Take

two ounces of Ʋnguentum Agrippae.
Oyle of Castor,
Foxes,
Euphorbium, of each halfe an ounce.
The pulp of coloquintida,
Dittany of Creet,
Scammony, of each two drams.
The gall of an Oxe,
Euphoribium, of each a dram.
Mingle them, and make an oyntment.

Suffumigations may be prepared by this
forme following.

Take

halfe an ounce of live Sulphur.
Opoponax,
Galbanum,
Assa faetida, of each two drams.
The powder of rue.
Savine, of each a dram and a halfe.
The gall of an Oxe,
The juice of an onyon, of each a sufficient quantity.
Make them into Trochischs for your use.

Pessaries must not be forgotten; therefore

Take

three drams of Hiera piera in the species.
A dram and a halfe of myrrhe,
A sufficient quantity of unguentum Agrippae.
With a piece of cotton according to Art,
Make a Pessary. Or

Page  215

Take

Ammoniack,
Assa faetida,
Black •ellebore, of each two drams.
Troch. Alhandall,
Scammony, of each a dram.
The juice of rue,
Soldanella,
The gall of an Oxe, of each halfe a dram.
Two drams of Turpentine.
With wooll and cotton (according to Art)
make a long Pessary.

If these things will not bring away the
childe, and if the Mother be sadly fallen
into an agony, the safest method will be, to
draw out the childe with instruments, if
no contraindications appeare, as a bad
pulse, and a difficulty of breathing, with
anxiety and unchearfulnesse of disposition
in the woman.

CHAP. V.
Of the Torments, and the suppression of the Courses after the Birth.
WOmen in labour must be gently
handled, and carefully lookt unto,
both in respect of the roome where she is
Page  216

laid, and also in regard of the Diet which
is most proper for her in that condition.

As for the place, it must be darke, far
and free from noise, or any other distur∣bance
that way; least she should be offended
by any accidents of feare, or sadnesse, or by
any sudden surprizalls of anger or griese.

The Diet consists in meats of good juice,
and easie concoction, and such as are not
slow in their distribution to the severall
parts, because they thicken the bloud, and
obstruct the passages.

Let her drinke be small beer, cleare, and
well setled from dregs. Barley water in
which birthwort and borage leaves have been
boiled, is incomparably the best drinke you
can device for her: and next to it we pre∣fer
Rhenish wine, conditionally, that the
presence of a Fever doth not forbid it.

The whole hope of preserving the Wo∣man,
yea, of curing the Diseases which
happen after the birth, is placed in the eva∣cuation
of the feculent menstruous bloud, and
therefore 'tis the duty of our skill to pro∣voke,
and urge down that bloud, least
that evill befall her, which Physitians call
Torment.

This is a paine in the whole lower regi∣on
of the belly felt upon the privie parts,
Page  217

neere the small guts; the inward cause
thereof is a multitude of thick menstruous
bloud retained in the body.

The outward cause, is the inclemency of
the outward ayre, in regard of the cold∣nesse,
and the passions of the minde: thick
meats, as creame, custards, and the like, coarse
bread, salt flesh, hard fish, and many other
things which are hard to digest, and not
kindely distributed to all the regions of the
body.

You may most easily discover this affect
by the signes; for the Courses are retained,
at least they come downe not so freely, nor
in such plenty as at other times they were
wont; a wandring and unquiet paine is
perceived beneath the navell, with gurgu∣lations
and rumbling in the guts; the wo∣man
breaks winde, both upwards, and
downwards; and this winde is bread of a
thick and feculent bloud.

This affect must not be despised by neg∣lect;
for the matter making way by degrees
to the affected part, augmenteth the paine,
yea, and introduceth inflammations with a
Fever; wherefore, when you have duely
con•idered the age of the woman, the Cli∣mate
in which she liveth, the time of the
yeare, and the menstruum, you m•st with∣out
Page  218

delay open a veine in the ankle, and
not once onely, but twice or thrice, as it
shall seeme expedient; for by this admini∣stration
the thick and feculent bloud i•
drawn out; rub her legs, till by her com∣plaints
you know she feeles paine, and ap∣ply
Cuppinglasses to the inward part; nei∣ther
may you forget to lay Leeches to the
Fundament, by reason of its neernesse to the
Matrix and the spleen.

A Purge be it strong, or be it gentle, must
be exhibited the first dayes, because the belly
is not sufficiently open, and inclined to
evacuate the menstruum; for should you
afterwards purge her body, it would take
off Nature, and interrupt her in her du∣ty,
as Avicen sheweth in his fourth Fen. and
and first chapter.

Therefore let the bloud be made fluid,
and the passages kept open: and then mi∣tigate
the paines with mollifying fomen∣tations
mixt with Anodynalls.

Take the Caul of a weather newly killed,
and clap it upon the part; for by the actu∣all
and asswaging heat thereof, it takes
away the paine: and the same vertue hath
the bladder of an Oxe, if it be filled halfe
full of this decoction following.

Take

the leaves of mallowes,
Page  219
Violets,
Pellitory of the wall,
Pennyroyall, of each a handfull and a half.
The flowers of Camomile,
The flowers of melilot, of each a hand∣full.
Line seeds,
Fennill seeds, of each halfe an ounce.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
water to three pints, unto which add

Three ounces of oyle of sweet almonds.
Oyle of Dill,
Oyle of poppies, of each an ounce and a halfe; use it as was said above.
Anoynt her belly with this oyntment
following.

Take

unguentum de Alth•ea,
Ʋnguentum Agrippe, of each an ounce.
Oyle of Lillies,
Oyle of camomile, of each two drams.
A dram of Opium dissolved in burnt wine.
Mingle them for a Liniment.

Between the suppression of the Courses,
and the staying of the menstruum, after a wo∣mans
delivery, there is little or no diffe∣rence;
for there is one cause of both, and
that accompanied with the same signes, and
therefore we shall not diversifie the Cure,
but direct the Reader to the second chap∣ter
Page  220

of our first book, where she may fur∣nish
her selfe with convenient remedies.

CHAP. VI.
Of the immoderate coming down of the Courses after the birth.
VVE have sufficiently handled the
Causes of the immoderate flowing
of the Gourses in our first book; we have
also related unto the signes; wherefore
now we shall tell you further from an Apho∣rism
in Hippocrates, that if Fainting and
Convulsion fits befall a woman in Child∣bed,
'tis a bad signe, because they argue a
great weaknesse, after which follow inex∣pressible
tortures, with paine in the Hypo∣chondriacall
parts, by reason of the clotted
bloud, a small, frequent, and swift pulse,
yea, and death it selfe; sometimes the wo∣man
is surprized with dotage, a quinsey,
or a Lethargie; wherefore you must labour
to stop the Courses with all your best pre∣meditation,
and caution: and the most ex∣pedite
meanes you can use, are a thick∣ning,
bindiug, and cold diet, as broth
made with trotters, in which you may also
Page  221

boil•rise, quinces, or pease: but abstaine
from wine; for it opens the parts, thins
the humours, and provokes the Courses, as
on the contrary cold things, bind, thicken,
and stop up.

Rub her hands, and tie Ligatures about
her upper parts; and according to the in∣junction
of Hippocrates, in his Aphorismes,
lay Cuppinglasses to her Breasts.

Finally, if the womans strength will
bear it, there is not a surer remedie then
letting bloud; and you must open the Basi∣lick
vein twice, or thrice.

Thickning things are very necessary,
and of great moment in this cure.

Take

true bolearmenick,
The species Diatragacanth. frig. 1. of each a scruple.
Halfe an ounce of Syrupe of Quinces.
Halfe an ounce of plantane water.
Mingle them for a Draught, or

Take

terra sigillata,
Red corall prepared,
Troch. de carabe, of each a scruple.
Halfe an ounce of Syrup of pomegranets.
Three ounces of a decoction of red rose leaves.
Mingle them for a Draught, or

Take

the leaves of plantane,
Page  222
Knotgrasse, of each a handfull.
Red roses,
Pomegranet flowers, of each half a handfull.
Myrtle seeds,
Sumach seeds, of each two drams.
A dram of the juice of hypocystis.
Boile them to six pints in a sufficient
quantity of water, wherein steele hath been
quenched, give the strained liquor for a fo∣mentation,
or

Take

the powder of Cyprus nuts.
The roots of Tormentill,
Dragons bloud, of each a dram and a half.
A dram of mastick,
Halfe a dram of right bolearmenick.
Two ounces of unguentum Comitissae,
Oyle of mastick,
Oyle of myrtles, of each two drams.
With a sufficient quantity of wax make
an oyntment.

If these get not the victory;

Take a scruple of the masse of pills de
Cynoglossa.

Make five pills, and guild them, or

Take

halfe a dram of new Treacle.
Halfe a scruple of Requies Nicholai.
Two drams of Syrup of poppy.
Three ounces of plantane water.
Mingle them for a Draught.

Page  223

If any fault in the Liver, as sometimes it
hapneth, is the cause of this evill; apply
cooling Epithems unto it, or instead there∣of
you may adhibit Ceratum Santalinum
mixt with the powders of Corall, Roses,
and Camphire.

CHAP. VII.
Cures of such Diseases as usually befall a woman, after she is delivered.
VVE are taught by Hippocrates, that
those Diseases which happen af∣ter
the Birth, are more dangerous and ve∣nomous
then the rest, because they are
produced by a grosse, impure, thick, and
feculent bloud; for the Childe in the
wombe sucketh away the sweetest part of
the bloud for its own nourishment, which
it purifies, and reserves, the melancholy,
and thicker portion thereof being sepa∣rated,
and forsaken, which if the provi∣dence
of Nature doe not duly evacuate,
and purge away, the woman in Childe∣bed
will without all doubt be invaded by
strong and vehement Fevers, by reason of
the boyling and putrifying of the bloud
in the veines of the Matrix, which, ac∣cording
Page  224

to Galen, are very large; in the
first place therefore, let the Patient be care∣fully
attended, and begin the Cure by
opening a veine, by Cuppinglasses applyed
to the calfes of her legs, with Scarificati∣on,
and laying Leeches to the Hemor∣rhoids.

But the Controversie will be what vein
must be cut; for if she bleed from the
arme, you draw the bloud upwards; if
from the ancle, you weaken the body,
and contribute no ease; but if you will
follow my direction, tie strong Ligatures
about her thighes and legs, having first
well rubbed them, and then open the Cu∣bit
veine without any discouragement; for
this cleanseth the very Minerall, sinke,
and puddle of the putrified Humours. Ga∣len
indeed affirmeth, that if a veine be ope∣ned
in any part of the body, it will ex∣haust
and emptie all the Vess•ll4; but not
equally, and in all respects alike: for we
deliver it for an undoubted truth, that the
whole masse of bloud will soonest flow
away, if the Basilick veine be opened,
which is greater then any of the rest; and
of the same Judgement is Fernelius, who
saith; if the menstruum flow away from
women in Childe-bed, thorough the ve∣hemence
Page  225

of a Fever, you must cut the Cu∣bit
veine.

At the beginning you must refraine the
use of purging medicines; for although
you should make choice of such as are most
gentle in their operation, yet they stir the
humours, and doe not expell them from
convenient places. Againe, should you
prescribe strong purges, they would draw
back the menstruum from the Matrix to the
stomack, and disturb Nature, when she is
labouring to expell it; and that this were
no rationall, and well-grounded meanes
of Cure, but rather a rash and preposte∣rous
adventure, any sober judgement will
acknowledge, because the expedition, the
Art, and the Mystery of the whole Cure
consisteth in the provocation of the Men∣struum.

If it be a violent burning Fever, pre∣scribe
such things as will qualifie and tem∣per
the heat of the bloud; but avoide cold
Simples, because they keep in the men∣struum
by binding up the parts; neither
may you be too bold with hot things, for
they inflame the bloud.

These Glysters following will be of ex∣cellent
use for the purpose aforesaid.

Take

nine ounces of some softning De∣coction.
Page  226
An ounce and a halfe of the Electuary called Diacatholicon.
An ounce of hony of roses.
Butter, and oyle of sweet Almonds, of each halfe an ounce.
A dram of salt,
mingle them, and make a Glyster, or
Take

nine ounces of mutton broth well boiled.
The leaves of Motherwort, Violets, and Pellitory of the wall, of each a hand∣full.
Two ounces of honey of roses.
The yolkes of two eggs.
An ounce of oyle of Violets,
mingle them, and make a Glyster.
You may make a Ptisan of Raisins, Bar∣ley,
and Licorish, which will be very profi∣table
for the sick; and of no lesse efficacie
is this Julep following.

Take

Endive and Borage water, of each fix ounces.
Syrup of Betony, and Pomegranets, of each an ounce.
Mingle them together for a Julep, or

Take

twenty graines of Mithridate.
Ten graines of Alkermes without Musk, or Amber.
Three ounces of Buglos water,
Page  227

Mingle them, and let her drinke it at one
draught.

If the Disease yield not to these reme∣dies,
wee judge it expedient to let her
bloud againe, but in the Ankle; if you
suspect that Obstructions occasion the dis∣ease,
as commonly indeed they are to be
suspected, you may observe the same
way of Cure, as is approved in a Fever,
arising from Obstructions, and

Take

halfe an ounce of parsley roots.
The leaves of betony, and carduus Bene∣dictus, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of white Maidenhaire.
The flowers of Borage, Buglos, Violets, or Roses, of each as many as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers at twice.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
Barley water, to a pint and a halfe; in the
strained liquor infuse foure drams of the
choicest Rubarb, the space of a night set∣ting
the vessell upon hot ashes, with foure
scruples of agarick Trochiscated, and a scru∣ple
of cinamon, all put in together.

In the morning boile them a little, and
when you have strongly prest out the li∣quor,
add three ounces of Syrup of roses
laxative, and make an Apozem, or a Deco∣ction.

Page  228

Let her drinke three ounces of this Deco∣ction
every other morning.

Hereupon ensueth a Lask, or Loosenesse
in the belly, but without any paine, acri∣mony,
or griping: and so long as it con∣tinueth
free from any of those had quali∣ties,
you may by no meanes stay it; but
if it last longer with the Fever, the most
prudent course will be to open a veine in
her Ankle, having alwayes a diligent re∣gard
to the strength of her body: for this
evacuation is Symptomaticall (as Physitians
speake) and according to the Prognosti∣cations
of Galen, it is either mortall, or
very difficult to be judged: his words are
these; when any disease beginneth, if any
thing be evacuated, it is not evacuated by
any help or curtesie of Nature; but all
such things happen by chance in regard of
those dispositions, which are in the body
besides nature; for it is impossible that
any thing should be well purged out
when Nature is oppressed (as then she
is with the crudenesse of the humours)
with those causes which did produce the
disease; for that the Crisis and Judgement
upon this disease may be sound and good,
it is requisite that those crudities must
first be concocted, and afterwards duly,
Page  229

purged out; wherefore if the Loosenesse
happen at the beginning, you must neg∣lect
that, and be intentive to cure the Fe∣ver,
yet with an eye to the loosenesse by
letting her bloud; but very sparingly, least
the spirits should be wasted; if the loose∣nesse
continue so long, as to weaken the
body, and bring the sick creature very
low, then stay it, but with caution, and
tender warinesse; but above all things,
avoid the use of such things, as will thicken
the humours, for thus indeed you might
stop the Loosenesse, but then withall you
should stay the menstruum, which inconve∣nience
you ought chiefly to feare.

Your safest way therefore will be to ap∣ply
strengthning Fomentations and Plaisters,
that will moderately binde; and with such
you may furnish your selves above.

It would not be unprofitable to purge
away the cause of the Loosenesse, that so
one Flux might be cured by another, there∣fore

Take

halfe a dram of tosted Rubarb.
Ten graines of that sort of Myrobalans called Chebule.
Halfe an ounce of Syrupe of dried roses.
Three ounces of plantane water.
Mingle them, and make a Potion.

Page  230

Many times this Loosenesse turnes to the
Bloudy-Flux, with cruell paines, want of
sleep, a continuall Fever, and frequent
going to stoole.

This must be helped with Glysters of a
binding, qualifying, and cleansing faculty,
as for example.

Take

the roots of Comphrey, and marsh∣mallowes of each three drams.
A handfull of plantane leaves.
Halfe a handfull of red roses.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity o•barley water to nine ounces; and to the
strained liquor put in

Two ounces of honey of roses strained,
An ounce of red Sugar.
The yolke of an egg.
Mingle them, and make a Glyster. Or

Take

violet leaves, plantane, and pellitory, of the wall, of each a handfull.
Halfe a handfull of red roses.
Halfe an ounce of whole barley.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
broth made with sheeps feet, to nine ounces;
to the strained liquor add

Two ounces of honey of roses strained.
The yolke of an egg.
Mingle them, and make a Glyster.

You must not neglect to open the Basilick
Page  231

veine, and the Salvatella; a veine which
brancheth out of the Cephalick veine, on
the outside of the elbow, for these admi∣nistrations
will be wonderfully helpfull
to cure a flux of bloud, arising from a di∣stemper
in the Liver; those astringent fo∣mentations
also, with the oyntments, and
Epithems, whereof we have spoken at large
in the precedent chapters, will be of sin∣gular
use.

The next Disease, unto which women
are subject after their delivery, is a Liente∣ry,
so called, because the meat passeth tho∣rough
the body, as it was ohewed in the
mouth, without any change or alteration;
this is a most dangerous disease, and there∣fore
all diligence imaginable must con∣spire
to stop it: no lesse terrible, and pe∣rillous
is that other, named by the Do∣ctors
Iliaca Passio, when the guts are so
bound up, or inflamed, or enwrapped
one about another, that whatsoever is
swallowed down, is presently cast up
againe by vomit, this also requires a sea∣sonable
and prudent use of remedies, least
the Patient should pine away, and perish
for want of sustenance: besides, it is so
much the more dangerous, because by
those frequent Vomitings Nature is inter∣rupted,
Page  232

and distracted, and that menstru∣ous
matter is driven upwards, which should
have been purged out from beneath.

But note that these Vomitings pro∣ceed
from severall causes. First from a cer∣taine
contagious vapour, ascending from
the Matrix, and with the noysome odour
thereof, irritating and pricking the sto∣mack,
so that it suddenly parts with all
the aliment that was contained in it.

You must be exceeding industrious with
all convenient speed, to free the woman
from this infirmity; the vapours must be
opposed, and forced downwards, that
so by the discreet helps of art, Nature may
be assisted to expell those faulty, and of∣fensive
humours by the M•trix.

This may be accomplish't by tying Liga∣tures
about the lower parts, and by rub∣bing
of them till she complaines you hurt
her, by putting Pessaries up into the Matrix,
and applying Cuppinglasses to her thighes,
also by holding things of a strong, and un∣pleas•nt
odour to her nose, and by ope∣ning
a vein in her Ankle.

When her body is duely nourished, and
well refresh't, give her this Glyster.

Take

the leaves of violets, pellitory of the wall, and beares-breech, of each a hand∣full
Page  233
Halfe a handfull of red rose leaves.
Two drams of fennill seeds.
Boile them to nine ounces in a sufficient
quantity of a decoction of an old hen, and
to the strained liquor add

Two ounces of honey of roses strained.
An ounce of new butter.
Make a Glyster.

This being given; you must strengthen
the stomack with the stomachicall Plaister
already prescribed, and with these Lo∣zenges.

Take

a dram of aromaticum rosatum in the species.
Red corall and pearl prepared, of each half a dram.
With two ounces and a halfe of white
Sugar dissolved in a sufficient quantity of
•ose water, make little Lozenges according
•o Art, or

Take

old Conserve of red roses.
Roman wormewood.
The Conserve of Quinces, of each an ounce.
Halfe an ounce of the Conserve of Acacia.
A dram and a halfe of aromaticum rosa∣•um in the species.
A dram of the Trochichs de carabe.
Two scruples of red corall prepared.
Page  234

With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
Pomegranets make a mixture.

Sometimes the Vomiting is accompa∣nied
with yexing, and they both proceed
from the same causes, and therefore may
both be cured with the same remedies: but
if it be of long continuance, the most ra∣tionall
and best grounded proceeding, is
to apply a Cuppinglasse to the mouth of the
stomack with a mighty flame.

After all these follow two more, namely
spitting of Bloud, and a Cough: the for∣mer
whereof is cured by cutting a veine
in the Ankle; which kinde of remedy is
approved by Hippocrates, in the thirty two
Aphorisme of his fifth book, saying, a wo∣man
is freed from spitting or vomiting
bloud, if the menstruum breake forth, and
frequent experience justifies this truth; for
divers women, by the omission hereof, as
Galen hath observed in his booke of Let∣ting
Bloud, fell into the Tissick, and other
most lamentable diseases.

But the Cough is twofold, either dry,
or moist; the cause of the former is a cer∣taine,
contagious vapour communicated
to the spiritous parts, provoking the Mid∣riffe,
the Lungs, and the other instruments
of breathing, to expell whatsoever is faul∣tie,
Page  235

and offensive; the cause of the latter is
a crude, and raw humour, ascending
up from the Matrix to the Chest, and stick∣ing
fast unto it.

This is cured by rubbing the parts, and
tying straight Ligatures about them, by
Pessaries, Glysters, Cuppinglasses, opening a
veine in her ankle, by Electuaries, Ptisans,
expectorating Potions to cleanse away
the bad humour, by laying on Emplastrum
Resumptivum Pectorale, or Ʋnguentum de Al∣thaea,
among which you must mingle Cum∣min
seeds and Saffron.

After the same manner Women in Child∣bed
are troubled to fetch their breath, be∣cause
by a mutuall, and frequent stretch∣ing,
and compression of the Chest the va∣pours
are transmitted to the Lungs, and
they who feele themselves molested with
such vapours do seldome escape that Cough
we last mentioned.

Moreover to this Catalogue belongeth
the Pleurisie, which is a most acute, and
therefore a most dangerous disease; this
you may discerne by these signes following,
an acute and burning Fever, a Cough, dif∣ficultie
to fetch breath, a pricking paine,
and a hard pulse.

Open a veine, and you overcome this
Page  236

disease, without any further remedy; but
the question will be, in what part of the bo∣dy?
I answer, if it be a most violent Pleu∣risie,
that torments the sick, if her Courses
come down after a right manner, and yet
the evill abates not, then cut a veine in her
ankle; but if this availe not, so as the Pa∣tients
life is now in danger, then open a
veine in her arme, especially, if she be full
of bloud, that the vitious humour may
be drawn away from the inflamed place,
and seasonably evacuated; this advice of
mine is justified by the approbation of Mer∣curialis
Mercatus, Alphonsus a Castro, Meschius,
Valeriola, and the learned Zacutus Lusitanus;
neither will it be incovenient; if you
interchange this administration of phleboto∣my,
namely, first to draw bloud from the
ankle, then from the arme, then from the
ankle againe, and so keeping turnes, as
need shall require; for thus you will give
ease, both to the part inflamed, and like∣wise
to the Matrix, which is the part man∣dant,
or that from whence the evill is com∣municated
and distributed to the other
regions.

This being carefully performed, your
next designe must be to mitigate, and take
away the paine with fomentations, liniments
Electuaries, and Ptisans.

Page  237

Take

an ounce of the roots of marish mallowes.
The leaves of mallowes, marish mallows, and white Maidenhaire, of each a hand∣full.
Halfe a handfull of the flowers of dwarf∣elder.
Annise and Line seeds, of each halfe an ounce.
Boyle them in water to a quart, and give
her the strained liquor to drinke at severall
times, then

Take

a dram of unguentum de Althaea.
The Axungia of a hen, and new butter, of each halfe an ounce.
Two ounces of oyle of sweet Almonds.
Mingle them, and make an oyntment,
then

Take Syrup of Violets compound, and
Syrup of Maidenhaire, of each an ounce and
a halfe.

Mingle them, and make a mixture to be
licked from the point of a knife.

Afterwards.

Take

two ounces of cleansed barley.
An ounce of raisins pickt, stoned and washt.
Two drams of the best Licoras.
Boile them in raine water to a quart, and
Page  238

give her the strained liquor to drinke.

Note that in all diseases of the Membranes,
the upper part of the throate, and the
Jawes, yea, and in the Falling-Sicknesse, the
Apoplexy, the Palsie, and the Convulsions, you
must begin the Cure by letting bloud, if
plentie of bloud give occasion to the
Disease.

The swelling of the feet is the last of all
those Symptomes, which invade a woman
after her Delivery; and this proceeds from
a disorderly, and negligent Diet, during
the time of her being with Childe; for by
that meanes raw humours are bread in her
body, which after her Delivery settle in
her legs; as being cold parts, full of nerves,
and far distant from the Liver, which is
the fountaine of bloud, in which places
you shall perceive soft kinde of swellings,
which being crusht down, retaine the print
of your fingers.

This must be cured with strengthning ad∣ministrations,
and such medicines as are
good to expell the raw humours, and like∣wise
with such as will moderately binde;
for should you give her strong binders, you
would thereby allure the humours towards
the upper parts; therefore to avoide that
errour, prepare this Bath following.

Page  239
Take

two ounces of marish mallow roots.
The leaves of mallowes,
Mint,
Wormewood,
Sage,
Rosemary, of each two handfulls.
The leaves of red roses and camomile,
Of each a handfull.
An ounce of Laurell Berries.
Saltpeter,
Sulphur, of each half an ounce.
Boile them to eight pints in a sufficient
quantity of water, wherein steele hath been
often quenched, and let her put her feet in∣to
the strained liquor.

Then take the dreggish substance which
remaines, after the straining of the said li∣quor,
and add to it

The meale of Orobus,
And Lupines, of each three ounces.
Foure ounces of Oxymel.
With a sufficient quantity of brine, made
with the juice of Lemmons, reduce them in∣to
the forme of a Poultis, and lay it to the
swelled feet.

But if the humour fall down againe into
the legs, by reason of an habituall distem∣per
in the upper parts, you must either
make an issue upon the knee, or else pro∣voke
Page  240

her to sweat, with a decoction of Sal∣saparilla, and China roots; for by the vertue
of these Simples the humour is made thin,
and more apt for expulsion, aud the lower
parts wax more firme and strong.

CHAP. VIII.
Of an inflammation in the Matrix af∣ter a womans Delivery.
THe Cause of an Inflammation in the
Matrix is a hot and boiling bloud re∣tained
in the vessells, and putrifying.

The signes are a paine in her secret
Parts, a vehement Fever, much heat, swel∣ling,
and a great itching about all the
parts of the Matrix; hereupon the woman
becomes very prone to fainting fits, to
lye as if she were stupified, to talke idely,
and the like, by reason of the consent be∣tween
the Matrix, and the other parts, as
we have already shewed. Lastly, she can nei∣ther
goe to stoole, nor make water, with∣out
great difficulty, because the parts are so
exceedingly swelled.

This is a most terrible disease, as well in
Page  241

regard of the Symptomes, as of the Impo∣sthume,
which, if it be broken, leaves be∣hinde
it an incurable Ʋlcer, from whence
filthy and noysome exhalations are com∣municated
to the principall parts, which
is an unerring signe of Death.

The Cure is Universall, and Particular:
the universall is the opening of a veine in
the ankle, regard being had onely to the
part inflamed, and the motion of nature;
but afterwards, we deny not, but it may
be expedient, and efficacious to draw bloud
from the arme, in respect of the Fever.

The Particular is accomplisht by lenify∣ing
medicines, and by washing the part,
the one is done by a Cataplasm made after
this manner.

Take

two ounces of the crums of white Bread.
The Pap of rosted apples.
The Pulp of cassia newly drawn out, of each an ounce.
Half an ounce of the mucilage of Fleabane seeds.
Ten graines of Saffron.
Make a Cataplasme according to Art.

But if the Inflammation seeme to hasten
to suppuration, which you may perceive
by the Fever, and the vehemence of the paine,
Page  242

then you must discreetly assist Nature, by an
application of suppurating medicines,
but by no meanes adventure to give her a
purge: remedies of the former sort are as
follow.

Take

an ounce of marish mallow roots.
The leaves of mallowes.
And marish mallowes, of each a handfull and a halfe.
Line seed,
Fenugreek, of each halfe an ounce.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of
breast-milke unto softnesse; pulp them tho∣rough
a Sieve, and add to the pulp

Two ounces of Hogs-grease.
An ounce of oyle of roses.
Make your Cataplasm.

When you have overcome the Impo∣sthume,
use this Injection with a Syringe.

Take

six ounces of a decoction made with wole barley, and rose leaves.
An ounce and a halfe of honey of roses strained.
Make an Injection, and wash the ulce∣rated
part very often every day, till the
paine cease, and the Ʋlcer be healed, though
she continue the use thereof for weeks,
months, and yeares.

Page  243
CHAP. IX.
Of too little, and too much Milke.
WAnt of milk ariseth from these three
severall Causes. First, from the fault
of the milk. Secondly, from some impedi∣ment
which hinders the transmission of the
milke to the breasts; or if it be transmit∣ed,
it is not retained. Thirdly, a penury, or
lack of bloud, either for want of necessary
food, or by reason of some immoderate
issue of bloud from the Matrix, or from
some other part.

The Signes of these things are the slen∣dernesse
of the breast, a sharp taste in the
milke, and a bad smell; other signes you
need none, because the disease is manifest
of it selfe; in the meane time you must take
heed, that this corrupt milke doe not
settle in the Breasts, and exulcerate them;
wherefore beginning with the first cause,
you must correct and amend the faults of
the milke by purging out the bad juice:
if phlegme abound, give her hot things, not
onely to purge her, but also to nourish her
Page  244

body; if choler be predominant, prescribe
cooling and moistning things.

But when the Breasts doe neither draw
the bloud nor retaine it, you must be so∣licitous
to strengthen the Breasts by draw∣ing
bloud unto them; to this purpose you
must rub her body, apply fomentations, and
Cataplasmes, that will moderately heat,
and expell, made of marish mallow roots, the
leaves of Violets, mallowes, melilot, fenugreek,
the crum of white breead and the yolks of
Eggs.

Moreover, if the parts want nourish∣ment,
then let her feed upon the choicest
dishes, or at least appoint such things for
her, as are good to increase bloud, and
milke, as eggs, butter, milke boiled with
fennill, parsnips, and the like.

Rock her to sleep, by peaceable and sweet
admonitions, and exercise your wits to
keep her from anger, melancholy, and all
other perturbations of the minde.

It will not be hurtfull, but rather expe∣dient
to allow her the use of good wine,
but then remember to put into it the pow∣der
of earth wormes.

〈◊〉 to this is the immoderate
pl••ty, and superfluitie of the milke, which
you may easily discerne by that which
Page  245

comes away, therefore if you suspect that
the bloud will congeale and grow clot∣ted,
then lessen the abundance of the mike,
with a thin and spare diet; enjoyne her
to be very abstemious and moderate in her
drinke, and if her Courses be stopped, open
a veine in her ankle; but otherwise in
her arme, rub her legs, and use all other
meanes to divert the bloud from the
Breasts; but above all things, let her use
Exercise, which is the best remedie in this
case.

Yet if the bloud be congealed, and if
by the exhalation of the thinner part, the
rest wax thick, then you must administer
attenuating and drying medicines to cut,
make thin, and dissolve the clotted bloud;
of this sort are Emplastrum de muciloginibus,
and emplastrum de Meliloto, among which you
may mingle the juice of Smallage, and
Frankincense.

CHAP. X.
Of the Inflammations of the Breasts.
VVOmens Breasts, those delicate and
tender parts, are not only frequent∣ly
Page  246

afflicted with the congealing of the bloud,
but they are likewise very apt to be in∣flamed,
by reason of a mixt plenty of
bloud and milke, whereby they •well ex∣ceedingly,
looke of a high, red colour,
and are full of paine and sorenesse; This
Inflammation is accompanied with a Fe∣ver,
which the Physitians call Lactaria,
that is by Interpretation, the Fever of
the milke, or the milky Fever; and the
learned Midwives call it Pila, because pre∣sently,
unlesse the Breasts be w•ll chafed
and rubbed, there appeareth to the touch
an exact resemblance of a Ball; This
taketh not beginning from any venomous
humour contained in the Breasts, but is ra∣ther
to be accounted a Symptome, driven
to the Breasts by the motion of Nature,
and the bloud; it is likewise very hardly
distinguishable from a true Fever, in which
all the signes are conspicuous and mani∣fest,
as appeare in this, the swelling in the
Breasts onely being excepted, which is
not some Ball accidently swallowed with
the drinke, as many learned men have
vainely, and irrationally surmised; for
how is it possible, that a Ball should slip
from the stomack thorough those slender
passages of the Messentery, and the Liver,
Page  247

the hollow veine, and the Axillary veines,
to the region of the Breasts; therefore in
my Judgment, it is a phlegmatick matter,
ravelled as it were by the burning heat of
the part into long threads, as it happeneth
to the slow matter contained in the Kidneys,
and the Bladder.

If the Fever and the Inflammation be
urgent, you must immediately command
a veine in her ankle to be opened, if it
happen presently after her delivery: but
if a moneth be overpast, let the Basilick vein
on the same side be opened.

You must prescribe medicines to r•pell
the humour, but be carefull that they be
not extreame cold, least the humour
should retire back to the principall parts;
a Glyster also must be first injected; and
you may afterwards prescribe this Poul∣tis
following, which will mollifie and
dissolve the humour, and be very profi∣table.

Take

an ounce of marish mallow roots.
The leaves of mallowes,
Violets,
Flantane, of each a handfull and a halfe.
Boile them altogether in milke to soft∣nesse,
and pulp them thorough a Sieve,
and to the pulp add

Page  248
Foure ounces of the crum of white Bread.
A scruple of Saffron.
Mingle them, and make a Poultis.

Many times the Breasts and the Nipples
are full of chaps, which exceedingly tor∣ment
and paine a woman: these are caused
by a sharp waterish humour falling down
upon them, and may be cured with mal∣lowes
boiled in breast-milke, or with the
white of an egg, or with Lilly leaves
moistned in oyle, or with Ʋnguentum Pom∣pholygos,
or which will exceed all the
former with oyle of Nutmegs; among
which you may mingle bolearmenick with
Cerus, and some drops of oyle of Lead, or
some other oyle by it self.

Page  249
CHAP. XI.
Of wrinckles remaining in the Matrix after a Womans Delivery, and of the meanes to contract the Matrix.
VVHen a woman is delivered, there
appeare Chaps, or Wrinckles, by
reason of the coming forth of the Childe,
and the flux of the Menstruum: these we
have often cured with gentle, astringent
medicines, having first administred this In∣jection
thorough a Syringe.

Take

halfe an ounce of Comphrey roots.
Two drams of Cyprus nuts.
Pomegranet flowers,
Red roses, of each as many as you can containe between your thumb and two fin∣gers at twice.
Myrtle seeds,
Shumach seeds, of each a dram.
Boile them in a sufficient quantity of red
wine, to sixteen ounces, and reserve the
strained liquor for an Injection; or

Take

a dram of Comphrey roots.
Cyprus nuts, and the seeds of rhois,
Page  250
Of each halfe a dram.
As many red roses as your thumb and two fingers can grasp.
Beat them to a grosse powder, and with
an ounce of unguent. Pompholygos, and a
piece of Cotton, make a Pessary.

With the same medicines, intermingli•n
some other things that are greater binders,
you may help the loosenesse, and wide∣nesse
of the secret parts; which if they be
not seasonably and prudently contracted,
may possibly be a cause that the woman
will have no more Children. Some Mid∣wives
use water wherein steele hath been
infused, which we dislike not, provided
that when you boile the water, you put in a
quantity of Sumach seeds, Medlar seeds,
and red Roses.

FINIS.