'',«%«;• ...» > ~ -. S ^;- -■4,v.ov'; W-* >■•■ :V"«.»Lk '*&£' y*" ^ . -.7 -'C r^ci r-- 1 v. v - * '"# -C /^ JVr 1...^ ,/^ v INTRODUCTION. if one of the meaneft capacity were afked, what was the wonder of the world ? I think the moft proper anfwer would be Man *, he being the little world, to whom all things are fubordinate ; agreeing in the ge- nius with fenfitive things, all beiDg animals, but differ- ing in the fpecies : for man alone is endowed withrea- fon. And therefore the Deity, at man's creation, as the infpired pennman tells us, faid, " Let us make man in our own image, after our own likenefs." As if the Lord had faid, Let us make man in our image, that he may be, as a creature^ like us ; and the fame in his like- nefs, may be our image. Some of the fathers do dif- tinguifh, as if by the image the Lord doth plant the reaibnable powers of the foul, reafon, will and memory; and by likenefs, the qualities of the mind, charitv, juf- tice, patience, &c. But Mofes confounded this distinc- tion, if you compare thefe texts of fcripture, Gen. i. 17 and v. 1. Colos. x. Eph. v. 14. And the apoftle,where he faith, " He was created, after the image of God. in knowledge, and the fame in righteoufnefs and holinefs." The Greeks reprefent him as one turning his eyes upwards, toward him whole image and fuperfcriptioa he bears. See hoiu the heaven's high Architetl Hath frafh'd him in this wife, Tofl'and, to go,to look eretl, With body, face and eyes. And Cicero fays, like Mofes, All creatures were made to rot on the earth except man, to whom was given an upright frame, to contemplate his Maker, and behold the manfion prepared for him above. Now, to the end that fo noble and glorious a crea- ture might not quite perifh, it pleafed the Creator to give unto woman the field of generation, for the re- ception of human feed ; whereby the natural and vegit- ab!e foul, which lies potentially in the feed, may by the plaftick power, be reduced into act ; that man, who is INTRODUCTION. a mortal creature, by leaving his offspring behind him, may become, immortal, and furvive in his pofterity. And becaufe this field of generation, the womb, is the place where this excellent creature is formed, and in fo wonderful a manner, that the royal Pfalmift, having meditated thereon, cries out as one in extacy, " I am fearfully and wonderfully made r" It will be heceffary to treat largely thereon in this book, which is divided into two parts, i The hrit part treats of the manner and parts ofgerh- eration in both fexes : for from the mutual defire they have to each other, which nature has implanted in them to that end, that delight which they take in the act of copulation, does the whole race of mankind proceed j and a particular account of what things are previous to that act, and alfo what are confequential of it; and hovr each member concerned it is adapted and fitted to that work for which nature has defigned it.^ .^ The fecond part of this Treatife is wholly defigned , for the female fex, and treats not only of the diftem- pers of the womb, and the various caufes, but alfo gives you proper remidies for them. For fuch is the igno- i ranee of moft women, that when by any diftemper thofe- » parts are afflicted, they neither know from whence it proceeds nor how to apply a remedy ; and fuch is their modefty alfo, that they are unwilling to ask, that they may be informed : and for the help of fuch is this defigned.. j. ..f. ' fm >. ■.......■■...... 1......y.i'M ..■■.--.-.- ARISTOTLE'S MASTER-PIECE, PART FIRST. CH*ftP. I. Of marriage, atid at what age young men and virgins are capable \of it: and ivhj they fo much dflre it.—Alfo hqw long men and women are capable of having children. There are very few, except fome profeft debauches, but what will readily agree, that marriage is honorable to all, being ordained by heaven, and without which, no man or woman can be in a capacity honeftly to yieHd obedience to the firft law of creation, " Increafe and multiply." And fince it is natural in yoeng people^o defire thefe mutual embraces, proper to the marriage bed, it behoves parents to look after their children, and when they find them inclined to marry, net to reftrain their affections, which inftead of allaying them, makos them the more impetuous, but rather provide fuch fuit- able matches for them, as may make their lives com- fortable, left the croffing of their inclinations fhoald precipate them to commit thofe follies that may brinj? anindelible ftain upon their families. The inclination of maids to marriage, may be known by many fymptoms : For when they arrive at puberty, which is about the 14th or 15th year of their age, then their natural purgations begin to flow and the.blood, which is no longer taken to augment their bodies, a- bounding, ftirs up their minds to ver.ery, Exterrral caufes alfo may excite them tojit ; for their fpirits be- ing brifk and inflamed, when they arrive at this age,-if" they eat hard f~.it things and fpices, the body becomes more and more heated, whereby the defire to veneral embraces is very great, and fometimes almoft infup- oortabtet And the ufe of this fo much defined enjoy- A2 meat. Being denied to virgins, many times is followed? by difmal confequences, as a green wefel colour, fhort breathing, trembling of the heart, &c. But when they are married, and their veneral defires fatisfied by the enjoyment of their hufbands, thofe diftempers vanifh, and they become more gay and lively than before. Al- fo their eagar flaring at men, and affecting their com- pany, fhews that nature pufhes them upon coition ; and their parents neglecting to get them hufbands, they break through modefty to fatisfy themfelves in unlaw- ful embraces. It is the fame with brifk widows, who cannot be fatisfied without the benevolence their hufi- bands ufed to give-them. At the age of 14, the menfes in virgins begin to flow,, when they are capable of conceiving, and continue generally to 44, when they ceafe bearing, unlefs their bodies are ftrong and healthful, which fometimes ena- bles to bear at 55. But many times the \nenfes pro- ceed from fome violence offered to nature, or fome morbific matter, which often proves fatal to the-party. Therefore thofe men defirous of ififue, muft marry a woman within the age aforefaid, or blame themfelves if they meet with difappointment : though if an old man not worn out with difeafes and incominency, marry •'. a- brifk, lively lafs, there is hopes of his having children. to; 70, nay, fometimes till 80. Hippocrates holds, that a youth at 15, or between that and 17, having much vital ftrength is capable of getting children ; and alfo, that the force of procreat- ing matter, increafes till 45. 50 and 55, and then be- gins to flag, the feed by degrees becoming unfruitful, the naturil fpirit being extinguifhed, and the humours dried up. Thus in general, tho' it often falls out other- wife. Nay it is reported by a credible author, that in Svveeden, a man was married at 100 to a bride of 30' years, anod proper to the woman only, the Similitude, fay they, muft needs contht iu the force and virtue of the male or ! em lie ; in that it proves Hi*:.' the one or other, according to the quantity afforded 22 by either: But that the difference of the Sex is not refer- ee! to the feed, but to the menftrual blood,which is prop- er to the woman, is apparent : For were that force al- together retained in the feed, the male feed being of the hottelt quality, male children would abound, and few of the female be propagated •; Wherefore the fex is at- tributed to the temperament of the active qualities, which cqnfift in heat and cold, and the nature of the matter under them ; that is, the flowing of the inen- ftrous blood : but now the feed, fay they, affords both force te procreate and form the child, and matter for its generation ; and in the menftruous blood there is both matter and force ; for as the Seed moft helps the material principle, fo alio does the menStrual blood the potential feed ; which is, fays Galen, blood well con- cocted by the veffels that contain it. So that blood is not only the matter of generating the child, but alfo feed, it being impofiidle that menStrual blood hath both principles. The ancients alfo fay, The feed is the Stronger ef- ficient, the matter of it being very little in quantity,but the potential quality of it is very Strong ; wherefore if theie principles of generation, according to which the fcx is made, were only in the menftrual blood, then would the childreu be moftly females ; as, were the ef- ficient ft re in the feed, they would be all males : but fince both have operation in menftrual blood, matter predominates in quantity, and in the feed force and vir- tue. .And therefore Galen thinks the child receives its lex rather from the mother than from thfe father, for though his feed contributes a little to the mate- rial principle, yet it is more weakly. But for likenefs it is referred rat her to the father than to the mother. Yet the woman's feed receiving from the menStrual blood, for the fpace of nine months, over-powers the man's, as to that particular ! for the menftrual vbleod flowing in veflels, rather cheriihes the one than the other; from which it is p-mi the woman affords both matter to make, and force and virtue to perfect the 23 conception ; tho' the female's feed be fit nutriment for the male's by reafon of the thinnefs of it, being more adapted to make up conception thereby. But with all imaginable deference to the wifdont of our fathers, give me leave to fay, that their igno* ranee in the anatomy of man's body, hath led them in- to the paths of error, and run th#m into great miftakes y for their hypothefis of the formation of the embryo, being wholly falfe,.their opinion in this cafe muft be fo likewife. I Shall therefore conclude this chapter by obferving, that altho' a Strong imagination of the mother may of- ten determine the fex, yet the main agent in this cafe, is the plaftic or formative principle, which is the ef- ficient, in giving form to the child, which gives it this or that fex, according to thofe laws and rules given to us by the wife Creator of all things.- Of Jllonftfrs,8i monflrous birth: & thefeveralreafonsthereof. liY the ancients, monfters are afcribod to'depraved conceptions, and are faid to be excuriio.is of nature* which are vicious one of thefe four ways ;" either in figure, magnitude, Situation or number. I proceed to the cauie of their generation, which is either divine or natural. The divine caufe proceeds from God's permifiive Avill, fufivring parents to bring forth abominations for their filthy and corrupt affect- ions, which are let loofe unto wickedntls, like brute beafts that-have no understanding. Wherefore it was enacted among the.av.cient Romans, that thofe who were deformed, fh uld not he admitted into religious' houfe-s. And St. Jerome was grieved in his time,, to fee the deformed and lame offered up to God in relig- ions houfes, And Keeker m.iiii by way of inference, excludeth all that are ill-Shaped fr.omthis F:efbyterian function in the'ehurch. And that which is of more force than all, God himfelf commanded Mo.es not to receive fuch to offer facriiice among his people; and' B2 24 he renders the reafon, Lev. xxii. 23. «« Left he pollute my Sanctuaries." Becaufe the outward deformity of the body, is often a Sign of the pollutions of the heart, as a curie laid upon the child for the incontinency of the parents. Yet it is not always fo, let us therefore duly examine, and fearch out the natural caufe of their generation ; which is either in the matter, or in the agent, in the feed, or in the womb. * The matter may be in default two ways, by defect,or by excefs : by defect, when the child hath but one arm j but excefs, when it hath three hands, or two heads. Some monfters are begot by women unnatur- ally lying with beafts, as in the year 1603, there was a monfter begotten by a woman generating with a dog v which monfter, from the navel upwards, had the per- fect relemblence of its mother ; but from its naval downwards, it refembled a dog, as you may fee by the fv1 lowing figure. The agent or womb, may be in fault three ways : I Si, in the formative faculty, which may be too Strong &r too weak, by which is procured a deprav cd figure* 25 2dly, In the inftrument or place of conception ; the evil conformation or difpofition whereof, wiil caufe a monltrous birth. 3dly, In the imaginative power, at the time of conception ; which is of fuch a force, that it ftamps the character of the thing imagined on the child. And I have heard of a woman, who, at the time of conception, beholding the picture of a blacka- more, conceived and brought forth an Ethiopian. I will not trouble you with more human testimonies, but conclude with a Stronger warrant. We read, Gen. Xxx. 31, how Jacob having agreed with Laban, to have all the fpotted Sheep for keeping his fSpck, to aug- ment his wages, took hazel rods, and pealed white Streaks on them, and laid them before the fheep when they came to chink, and coupled together three, whilft they beheld the rods, conceived and brought forth fpotted young. Another monfter reprefenting an hairy child : It was covered with hair like a beaft. That which rendered it more frightful was, that its naval was in the place where his nofe Should ftand, and his eyes placed where his mouth Should have been, and its mouth was in the chin It was of the male kind, and was born in Franc-; iyx the year 1597. 2d There was a monfter of this kind born at Nazara, in fhe year 1530. It had four arms and Sour legs, as you he here. Heavn, in our firflformation did provide TniQ arms and legs ; but what we have befide Renders us monftrotis'nnJ u:ifJ--apen too, j^-or have we any -work for them to do. Two arms\ two legs, are all thai we can ufe, And te have msre there's no wife man will chufe. Likcwife, in th^ time" cfi ler-ry III. there was a wo- man delivered of a. child, having two heads and four arms, and the bodies were joined at the backfide : the Heads were fo placed, that they looked contrary ways; each had two diftinct arms anil hands; they would' both laugh, both fpeak ar.d both cry, and bj h.ungry to- gether : Sometimes the one would fpeak, and other would keeo filence, and Sometimes borh fpeak together.' Thev lived feverrd years, but one outlived the- other 3 yea;?, carrying the dead one, for there was no parting 27 them, till the other fainted with the burden, and more with the ftink of the crcafe. The imagination alio works on the child after con- ception, for which we have a pregnant inftance. A worthy gentlewoman in fuftolk, being with child, pailing by a butcher killing his meat, a drop of blood Sprung on her face ; whereupon She faid, her child would have a blemifh on its fa-e ; and at the birth, it was found marked with a red fpot. And it is certain, that monftrous births often happen by means of undue copulation : For fome there are, who having been Ion^ abfe^t fro- 1 each other, and having an eager defire for e .joyment, confider not us they ought, to do as their circumftances require. Ami if it hapjei. that they cone together,when the woman's menfes .-.re flowirg and proceed to the act of copula- tion, i^e hfue <~~:- i'u-Ji coou'.ation does often prove monftrous, as ajuft punishment for doing what n-.ituie forbids. And therefore »' 'Mgh men Sliould be eve: o C i^er, yet women knowing i:.eir ^wn condit'un, Sh^'ikh* a* Such thn-.-s deny them. And though f,uch colj4*» eons rlo not always produce monftrous births, yet the' children then begotten, a-e generally heavy, dull and fi-nggiSh, and defective hi their underftanding, wanting the vivacity and livetincf* which thiUlren got in prop- er ieafons, are endued with. By the following rigu^e you may ft\\ that though" fome of the members may be wanting, yet they are fy-pphed by ^t^.er members. It remains tnat 1 now m..ke fo.vie c>. |mry,. whether" thofe that are born monfters have realisable fouls, and are capable of reSurrection. And here both ;i vines and phyficians are generally of opinion, that thofe who. ac- cording to the order of generati'i, deduced from our firft parents, proceed by natural''means fr -m eirher fex, though their outward lh ape nay oj deformed and mo;i- ftrous, have notwithfta-.dmg a ivaf»'ia!ne foul, and con- fequently their b'l.lies are ca.,..hle of a reiiirrectin : but thofe monfters tut ..re not bago.ten by meiij but are the pro '-irt v. vonu . v* inmaiu ft luft, in copulatm/ with -lib."---£rtr -ires, :. •"■ -erih like the brn.e beafts, by wnom. tney v/e,.e bt^ueaj not iuving a reasonable ^foul, or anv breath of the Almighty infufed !nt« fhewu And the fame is alio true of imperfect ond abortive births. *The opinion of the lea> tit d concerning children conceived and born within feven months ,• with a,guir.e>iis on the Jub- jecly to pro-vent fnfpicicn vj incontinenc\, and bitter contefls on *hat account. i'o which arc. addedy rules to knsw the difpf.tion of Axaiis bou\ by the genital parts. hhir-y bitter quarrels happen between men and their wives, upon the man's fuppofition that his child comes too \ >«m andof confequertce that he is not tne father; whereas it is through want of understand- ing the fecrets of nature, which brings the man into -that error ; and which if kno" n, might have cured him of his Siifpicit n and jealoufy. To ie-.iiove wi-ich, I Shall endeavor to prove, that it is pofnble, and has been irequ ntly known, that chil- dre i have been born at Seven moi.ths. Cafes of this naiure have nrule work for the lawyers, who have left it to the phyficians to judge, by viewing the child,w he- .rlier it be a ctnld in feven, eight or nine months. Paul the ceii: fellor has this paf'age in the llKh book of pleadings, \\/.. " It is now a received truth, that a * perfect child may be born in the fevenrh month, by the authority of the learned Hypocrates ; and therefore we muft believe that a child born at the end of the Seventh month, in lawful matrimony, may be lawfully begot- ten." Galen is of opinion, that there is no certain time fet for he.'.ri.ig of children ; anel that from Pliny's autho- rity, wii.j makes mention of a woman that went thirr teen months ".vith child ; but as t j what concerns the feven.ii month, a learned author fays, " I know fiveral marrud people in Holland, that had twins born in the Seventh month, who lived to old age, haying lufiy bo- dies and \ vely minds. Wherefore their opinion is ab- furd, who affert, that a cl ;kl at feven .'Months cannot be perfect and long lived * and that it cannot in all part 3f be" perfect till the 9m month." Thereupon this authw' ■ proceeds to tell a paSTage from his own knowledge, viz. " Of late there happened a great difturbance among us, which ended not without bloodshed ; and was occafi- oned'bya virgin, whofe chaftity had been violated, de- fcending of a noble family of unfpotted fame. Sever- al charged the fact to the judge, who was^ircfident of a city in Flanders, who ftifly denied it, faying he was rea- dy to give nis oath that he never had any carnal copu- i lation with her : and further argued, that he venly be- lieved that it was a child born in feven months him- felf being rmriy miles diftant from the mother of it, When it was conceived. Whereupon the judges de- creed, that the child Should be viewed by. able phyfici- ans and experienced women, mid that taey Should make their report They having made diligent enquiry, all of them, with one mind, concluded the child, was born - *ituin the fpace of feven months, and that it was, car- ried in the womb but 27 weeks and odd days ; but if fhe Should have gone full nine months the child's parts ' \ and limbs would have been more firm and Strong, and the Structure of the body more compact, for the fkm was very loofe, and the breaft bone that defends the < heart, and the griftle that lay over the ftomach, lay ' higher than naturally they lhould be ; not plain, but ] crooked and Sharp riged, or pointed like thofe of a young chicken, hatched in the beginning of fpring.— And being a fema'e infant, it wanted nails upon the joints of the fingers ; upon which, from the maf- culous, cartilaginous matter of the Skin, nails that are very fmooth to come, and by degrees harden, fhe had in Stead of nails a thin Skin, or film. A> for her toes, there was no Sign of nails upon them, warning tne heat which was expanded to the fingers, from the near- nefs of the heart. All this being confidered,and above all, one gentlewoman of quality that affifted, affirming that the had been the mother of nineteeen children, & that divers of them had been born and lived at Seven monthsi they, without favor to a.iy party, made their SI report, that the Infant was a child of feven months, tho* within the feventh month. For in fuch cafes, the re- volution of the moon ought to be obferved, which per- fects itfelf in four weeks, or fomewhat lefs than 28 days ; in which fpace of the revolution, the blood, being agi- tated by the force of the moon, the courfes of the wo- man flow from them, which being fpent, and the mat- rix being cleanfed from the menftrous blood, which happens on the 4th day ; then if a man on the 7th day lie t;':\a his wife, the copulation is moft natural, and the* is the conception beft ; and a child thus begotten may be born in the 7th month, and prove very healthy. So that upon this report, the fuppofed father was pro- nounced innocent, upon proof that he was one hundred miles diftant all that month in which the child was be- gotten : h • ? ?■$ for the mother, She Strongly denied that fiV aev the father, being forced in the dark ; and f th- ' f;ar and furpriSe was left in ignorance." As far virion, it ought not to be ufed, unlefs the parties Dt in health, left it turn to the difadvantage of the children fo begotten, creating in them, through the abundance of ill humours, divers languishing difeafes ; wherefore health is no way better to be difcerned than by the genitels of the man. For which reafon mid- wives, and other Skillful women, were formerly wont- to fee the tefticles of children, thereby to conjecture their temperature and ftate of body ; and young men may know thereby the Signs orfymptoms of death ; for if the cafes of the tefticles be loofe and feeble, and the cods fall down, it denotes that the vital fpirits, which are the props of life, are fallen ; but if the fecret parts be wrinkled and raifed up* it is a Sign all is well ; but that the event may exactly anfwer the prediction, it is neceSTary to confider what part of the. body the difcafe poSTeiTeth ; for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted, as the head or ftomach, then it will not fo well appear by the members, which are unconcerned with Such grievances *, bat the lower part of the body exact- 62 iy fynapathizing with them, their livelinefs on the con* trary makes it apparent; for nature's force, and the fpirits that have their intercourfe, firft manifeft them- felves therein, which occasions midwives to feel the children, to know in what part the grief is refiding, and whether life or death be protended thereby the fymptoms being Strongly communicated by the veSTels, that have their intercourfe with the principle feat of life. Of the green-ficknefs in virgins, with its caufes,fgns, and cures. The green-Sicknefs is fo common a diftemper in virgins* efpecially thofe of a phlegmatic complexion, that it is eafily difcerned, Shewing itfelf by difcolouring the face, making it look green, pale, and of a dufty colour; proceeding from raw and indigefted hu- mours ; nor doth it only appear to the eye, but fen- fibly afflicts the perfon with difficulty of breathing^ pains in the head, palpitations of the heart, with unu- iual beatings and fmall throbbings of the arteries in the temples, neck and back, which often cafts them into fevers, when the humour is over vicious ; alfo tlje dis- tention of the hypocondican part, by reafon of the in- ordinate effluction qf the menftruous blood to the great- er vetllis ; and from the abundance of humours, the whole body is troubled with fwellings, or at leaft the thighs, legs and ancles, all above the heels; there is al- fo a great wearinefs of body. The Galenical pbryficians affirm, that this diftemper proceeds from the womb ; occasioned by the grofs, vi- cious and rude humours arifing from Several inward caufes ; but there are alfo outward caufes, which have a Share in the production of it; as taking cold in the feet, drinking water, intemperance of diet, eating things contrary to nature, viz. raw or burnt flefh, aShes, coals, old Shoes, chalk, wax, nut-Shells, mortar,lime, oat-meal, tobacco-pipes, &o which occafion both a fupprefficn of the menfes and obstructions through the whole body, therefore the firft thing neceffary is matrimonal con* 33 junction, as fuch copulation as may prove fatisfa&ory to'her that is afflicted ; for then the menfes will begin to flow, according to their natural and due courfe, and the humours being difperfed, will foon wafte themfelves, and then no more matter being admitted to increaie them, they will vanifh, and a good temperament of bo- dy will return ; but in cafe this beft remedy cannot be had foon enough, then* blood her in the ancles; and if (he be about the age of Sixteen, you may likewife do it in the arm, but let her bleed but Sparingly, efpecially if the blood be good. If the difeafe be of any contin- uance, then it is to be eradicated by purging, prepara- tion of the humor firft considered, which may be done by the virgin's drinking the decoct of Guiacum, with dittany of Creete •, but the beft purge in this cafe ought to be made of aloes, agrie, fenna, rhubarb ; and for ftrengthening the bowels, and opening obstructions, chalybear medicines are chiefly to be ufed. The diet inuft be moderate, and Sharp things by all means avoid- ed. For finding the humours, take prepared fteel, be- zoar ftone, the root of fcotzonera, oyl of chryftal in fmall wine, and let the diet be moderate, but in no wife let vinegar be ufed therewith. In obferving this the humors will be dilated and difperft, whereby the com- plexion will return, and the body be lively and full of vigor., Virginity, 'what it is, in what it confifls, and how vitiated'.g together with the opinion of the learned about *he muta- tion of the fex in the womby during the opperation of no* tut e tn framing the body. There are many ignorant people who boaft of their Skill m the knowledge of virginity, and Some virgins have undergone hard cenfures through their ig- norant determinations ; I therefore thought it highly neceffary to clear this point, that the towering imagina- tions of conceited ignorance may be brought down,and the fair fex may.be freed from the calumnies and de- tractions of ignorance and &nvy % and fo their honors may continue as unfpotted, as they have kept their perfons uncontamined, and free of defilement. Virginity in a Strict fenfe, does Signify the prime,the chief, the beft of any thing ; which makes men fo de- firous of marrying virgins, imagining fome fecret plea- fure to be enjoyed in their embraces, more than in thofe of widows ; though not many years ago, a very great perfon was of another mind, and, to ufe his own ex- pressions, « That the getting of a maidenhead was fuch a piece of drudgery, as was more proper for a porter than a prince." But this was only his opinion, for moft men, I am fure, have other fentiments. But to our purpofe. The curious enquirers into nature's fecrets have ob- ferved, that in young maids in the Sinu Pudoris, or in that place which is called the neck oS the womb, is that ponduous production, vulgarly called the Hymen, but more rightly the clauftrum virginale ; and in French Butten de rofe, or rofe bud ; becaufe it refembles the bud of a rofe expanded, of a conve gilly flower. From hence is derived the word deflower. And hence tak- ing away virginity is called deflowering a virgin. Moft " being of opinion that the virginity is altogether loft when this duplication is fractured and diflipated by vio- lence ; and when it is found perfect and entire, no penetration has been : and it is the opinion of fome learned phyficians that there is not either Hymen or fkin expanded,containing blood in it,which divers think in the firft copulation flows from the fractured expanfe. Now this Clauftrum or Virginale, or flower, is com- pofed of four carbuncles or little buds like myrtle ber- ries, which in virgins are full and plump, but in wo- men flag, and hang loofe ; and thefe are placed in the four angles of the Sinus Pudoris, joined together by little membranes and ligatures like fibres, each of them Situate in the tefticles or fpaces between each carbuncle, with which, in a manner, they are proportionably dif- tended ; which membrances being once delacerated,de- note devirgination ; and many inquisitive and yet i&- 35 norant perfbns finding their wives defective herein, the firft night of their marriage, have thereupon fufpected their chaftity. Now to undeceive fuch, I do affirm, that Such fractures happen divers accidental ways, as well as by Copulation with men, viz. violent Strainings, coughing, fneezing, Stopping of urin, and violent mo- tions of the veffels, forcibly Sending down the humours which prefixing for paffage, break the ligatures or mem- brane ; fo that the fracture of that which is commonly taken for.their maiden-head,is no abfolute Sign of dif- honeSty ; though certain it is, that it is broke in copu- lation rather than by any other means. I have heard,that at an aSSze held at Rutland,ayoung man was tried for a rape, in forcing a virgin ; when af- ter divers queftions being afked, and-the maid fwearing positively to the matter, naming the time, place and manner of the action ; it was, upon mature delibera- tion refolved, that She Should be fearched by a Skilful furgeon and two midwives, who were to make their re- port upon oath ; which, after due examination, they: accordingly did, affirming that the membranes were entire, and not delacerated ; and that it was their opin- ion, for that reafon, that her body had not been pene- trated. Which fo far wrought with the jury, that the prifoner was acquitted ; and the maid afterwards con- feffed, fhe fvvore againft him out of revenge, he having promifed to marry her, and afterwards declined It. And this much Shall fuffice to be fpoken concerning virginity. I Shall now proceed to fomething of nature's opera* tion, in mutation of Sexes in the womb. This pqint is of much necefiity, by reafon of the dif- ferent opinions of men relating to it; therefore before any thi.ig positively can ba aiTeiied, it will be proper to recite vvnat has been delivered, as well in the negative as affirmative. And firft, Severus Plinus, who argues for the negative, writes thus : The genital parts of both fe.v s are fo unlike each other in fubftance, comp^i> C2- tion, Situation, figure, action and ufe, that nothing fe more unlike, and by how much more all parts of the body, the breafts excepted, which in women Swell more, becaufe nature ordained them for fuckling the infant, have exact refemblance ; fo much more do the genital parts of one fex compared with the other differ; and if their figure be thus different, much more their ufe. The veneral appetite alfo proceeds from differ- ent caufes; for in man it proceeds from a defirt of emiffion, and in woman from a defire of reception : in women alfo, the chief of thofe parts are concave, and apt to receive, but in men they are more pours. Thefe things being considered, I cannot but wonder, fays he, how any one can imagine, that the genital members of the female births Should be changed into thofe that be- long to males, fince by thofe parts only the distinction of Sexes is made ; nor can I well impute the reafon of this vulgar error to any thing, but the miftake ofunex- pert midvvives, who have been deceived by the evil conformation of the parts, which in fome male births may have happened to have fome fmall potrufions, not to have been difcerned ; as appears by the example of a child chriftened at Paris, by the name of Joan, as a girl, who afterwards proved a boy ; and, on the con- trary, the over-far extenficn of the Clytoris in female births, may have occasioned the like miftakes. Thus far Pliny proceeds in the negative : and yet notwith- standing what he .hath faid, there are divers learned phy- ficians that have afferted the affirmative, of which nura- berGalen is .one. A man,faith he,is different from a wo- man in nothing elfe but having his genital members without his body, whereas a woman hath them within. A id tiiis is certain, that if nature having formed a male, fhould convert him into a female, fhe hath no other talk to perform, but to turn his genital members inward; and fo to turn a woman into a man by the contrary operation. But this is to be underftood of the child when it is in the womb, and not perfectly formed. For oftentimes nature Lath mndj: a female child, and it hath &7 ft remained in the womb cf the mother for a month cf two, and after plenty of heat encreafing in the genital members, they have iffued forth, and the child has oe- coinea male, yet retaining Some certain geftures unbe- fitting the maiculine fex,as female actions, a Shrill voice, and a more effeminate temper than ordinary ; contra- rywife, nature having often made a male, and cold hu- mours flowing to it, the genitals have been inverted, yet ftill retaining a mafculine air, both in voice and gef- tures. Now though both thefe opinions are fupported by feveral reafons, yet I efteem the latter more agree- ably to truth, for there is not that vaft difference'be- tween the genitals of the two fexes, as Pliny would have us believe there is, for the woman has in a man- ner the fame members with the man, though they ap- pear not outward, but are inverted for the conveniency of generation : the chief difference being that the one is folid, and the other porus, and that the principal rea- fon for changing fexes is, and muft be attributed to heat or could, fuddenly or Slowly contracted, which op- crates according to its greater or leffer force. Directions and cautions for midwives : and firfl, how a midwife ought to be qualified. A midwife that would acquit herfelf well "-in her employment, ought by no means to enter upon it rafhly or unadvifedly, but with all imaginable cau- tion, considering that She is accountable for all the mif- chief that befals through her wilful ignorance or neg- lect. Therefore let none take upon the office bai»ely upon pretence of maturity of years and child bearing, for in fuch, for the moft part, there are divers things wanting, that ought to be obferved, which is the occa- sion of fo many yomen and children being loft. Now for a midwife, in relation to her perfon, thefe things ought to be obferved, viz. She muft neither be too old nor too young, neither very fat nor weakened by leannefs, but in a good habit of body ; not fubject to dill\urc3; fear, nor fudien frights; her body well Shaped^- sr» anfl neat in her attire : her hands fmooth and Small, he* nails paired Short, not Suffering any rings to be upon her fingurs during the time She is doing her office, nor any thing that may obstruct. And to thefe ought to be ad- ded activity and a convenient Strength, with much cau- tion and diligence, not fubject to dro w fin els^ nor apt to be impatient. As for her manners, She ought to be courteous, affa- ble, fober, chafte, and not fubject to paffion, bountiful and compaSIionate 10 the poor, and not covetous when fhe attends upon the rich. Her temper chearful and pleafant, that fhe may the better comfort her patient in the dolorous labors : nor muft She at any time make too much hafte, though her bufinefs Should require her in another cafe, left fhe thereby endanger the mother of the child. She ought alfo to be wary, prudent and cunning ; but above all, the fear of God ought to have the afcendant in her foul, which will give her both knowledge and difcretion. Further directions for midwives, teaching them what they ought to do and what to avoid. Since the office of a midwife has fo great an influ- ence on the well or ill doing of women and chil- dren, in the firft place let her be dilligent to acquire whatever knowledge may be advantageous to her prac- tice, never thinking herfelf fo perfect, but that fhe may add to her knowledge by ftudy and experience ; yet never let her make any experiment at her patient's coft, nor apply any experiments in that cafe, unleSs She has tried them, or knows they will do no harm, practising. neither upon poor nor rich, but fpeaking freely what fhe knows ; and by no means prescribing fuch medi- cines as will caufe abortion, though defired ; which is a high degree of wickednefs, and may be termed mur- der. If She be fent for to them She knows not, let her be very cautious ere fhe goes, left by laying an infec- tious woman fhe endanger the fpoiling of others*- 39 fn laying of women, if the birth happen to be large and difficult, She muft riot Seem to be concerned, but muft cheer up the woman, and do what fhe can to make her labor eaiy She nmii never think of any thing but doing well, caufing all things to be in readinefs that are proper for the work, and the ftrengthing of the woman, and re- ceiving of the child ; and above all, let her take care to keep the woman quiet when her throws are coming on, left She endanger her own life and the child's. She muft alfo take care She be not too hafty in her bufinefs, but wait God's leifure for the birth ! left, thro' fear, if thingsdhould not go well, it Should make her in- capable of giving that affiftance which the labouring woman Stands in need of ; for when we are moft at a lofs, then there is moft need of prudence to fet things right. And now,becaufe fhe can never be a skilful midwife, that knows nothing but what is to be feen outwardly ; I Shall not think it amifs^ but on the contrary highly neceSTary, with modefty, to defcribe the generative parts "of women, as they have been anatomifed by the learned, and Shew the ufe of fuch veffels as contribute to generation. Of the genitals of women, external and internal to the vef- fels of the womb. If it were not for public benefit, efpecially of the oractitioners and profeffors of the art of midwifery, l would forbear to treat of the fecrets of nature, becaufe they may be turned by fome lacivious and lewd perfons into redicule ; but they being absolutely neceSTary to be known, in order to public good, I will not omit them. Thofe parts that offer themfelves to view at the bottom of the belly, are Fiffura-magna, or the'great chink, with its Labia or lips, the Mons Veneris, and the hair ; thefe are called by the general name Puden- da, from fhamefacednefs, becaufe when they are bare, they bring Shame upon a wqman. The FiiXura-rnag,. 40 na reaches from the lower part of the os pubis, to within an inch of the anus, but if is leSfer and clofer in maids than in thofe that have born children; and has two lips, which toward the pubis grow tbicher and more full; and meeting upon the middle of the os pubis, makes that rifing hill that is called Mons Veneris, or the hill of Venus. The next things that offer, are the Nympha and CLytoris ; the former of which is of a membrany and flamy fubftance, fpungy, Soft and partly flefhy, of a red colour, in the Shape of wings, two in number, though from their rife they are joined in an accute angle, producing there a flefhy fubftance, which clothe the Clytoris ; and fometimes they fpread fo far, that incif- ion is required to make way for the man's instrument of generca.ion. ^ The clytoris is a fubftance in the upper p.irt of the divifion where the two wings concur, and is the feat of general pleafure, being like a yard in fituation, fub- ftance, compofition, and erection ; growing fometimes tfut of the body two inches, but that never happens un- lefs through extreme luft, or extraordinary accidents. This Clytoris confifts of two fpongy and skinny bodies, containing a distinct organ, from the Os Pubis, the head of it being covered with a-tender skin, having a hole or paSfage like the Penis, or Yard of a man, tho' not quite through, in which, and the bignefs, it only differs from it. The next things are the flefhy knobs, and the great neck of the womb ; and thefe knobs are behind the wings, being four in number, and refemble myrtle ber- ries, being placed quadrangular one againft the other; and in this place is inferted to the orifice of the blad- der, which opens itfe'f into the fiffures, to evacuate the urine ; for fecuring of which from cold, or the like in- conveniency, one of thefe knobs is placed before it, and (huts up the paffage. The lips of the womb, that next appear/being fepa- rated, difcloie the neck thereof; and in tiiemfelves,and 41 the hymen, but more properly the Clauftrum Virgin*- ale, which I have before difcourfed. By tiie neck of the womb is to be underftood the channel that is between the aforefaid knobs and the inner bone of the womb, which receives the Penis like a Sheath ; and that it may the better be dilated from the pleafure of procreation, thefubftance of it is Sinewy, and a little fpongy, and in this concavity arediverfe folds, it obicular plaits, made by tunicles wrinkled like an expanded rofe. In virgins they plainly appear, but .in women that have often uf- ed copulation they are extinguished ; fo that the inner fide of the womb's neck it appears Smooth, hyt in old women it appears more hard and gnfly. But though this channel be at times withered and crooked, finking down; yet in the time of copulation, labor, or the monthly purgation, it is erected and emended, which overtenfion occafion the pains of child birth. The Hymen, or Clauftrum Virginale, is that which clofes the neck of the womb, being, as I have fore-cit- ed in the chapter, relating to virginity, broken in nrft copulating, its ufe being rather to Stay the untimely courfes in virgins, than to any other end ; and com- monly when broken in copulation, or by any other accident, a fmall quantity of blood flows from it, attend- ed with fome little pain. From whence fome oblerve, that between the duplicity of the^two tunicles, which constitute the neck of the womb ; there are many veins and arteries running along and arifing from the veffels on both fides of the thigh, and fo pafling into the neck of the womb, being very large ; and the reafon thereof is, that the neck of the bladder requires to be filled with abundance of fpirits, thereby to be dilated for its better taking hold of the Penis there being great heat requir- ed in fuch motions, which becomes more intent by the * acts of friction, and confumes a considerable quantity of moifture, in the fupply of which iarge veffels are al* together neceSTary. Another caufe of the longnefs of thefe veffels is, by reafon the meufes make their way through them^whioh 42 often occasion Women wirh child to continue their purgation ; for though the womb ne Shut up. yet the neck in the palTage of the womb through which thefe veSfels pafs are open: in this cafe there is further to be obierved, that as foon as you penetrate the puden- dum, there appear too little pits or hofes, wherein is contained an humour, which being expunged in time of copulation, greatly deiights the woman. A defcription of the womb's fabric, the preparing veffels and tefticles in woman. As alfo of the difference and ejaculatory veffels. In the lower part of the hypogaftum, where the lips are wideft and broadeSt, they being greater and broad- er thereabout than thofe of men, for which reaSbn they have likewife broader buttocks than men ; the womb is joined to its neck, and is placed between the bladder and Strait gut, which keeps it from fwaying or rovvling, yet gives it liberty to Stretch and dilate itfelf again to contract, nature in that cafe difpofing it. Its figure is in a manner round, and not unlike a goard, leffening a little and growing more acute towards one end, being knit together by its proper ligaments ; its neck likewise is joined by its own fubftance and certain membranes that faften unto the Os Sacrem, and the Share-bone. As to its largenefs, that very much differs in women, ef-. pecially the difference is great between thofe who have borne children, and thofe that have borne none: in fub- ftance it is fo thick that it exceeds thimble breadth, which after copulation is lb far from decreafing that it augments to a greater porportion ; and the more to Strengthen it, it is interwoven with fibres overthwart, which are Strait and winding ; and its proper veffels are veins, arteries, and nerves ; and among thofe there are two larger from the hypoftratic, which touch both the bottom and the neck, the mouth of thefe veins pierc- ing as far as the inward concavity. ' The womb hath two arteries on both fides the fper- matic veffels and the hyppftratic, which will accom- 43 pany the veins ; and befides there are many little nerves, that are knit and twined in the form of a net, which are alfo extended thoughout, even from the bot- tom of the pudenda themfelves, being placed chiefly for fenfe and pleafure, moving in fympathy between the head and the womb. Now it is to be further noted, that by reafon of the two ligaments on each fide the womb, from the fhare bone, piercing through the peritoneum, and joined to the bone itfelf; the womb is movable upon Sundry occafions, often falling low or rifing high. As to the neck of the womb it is of an exquifite feeling, fo that if it be at any tune out of order, being troubled at any time with a Ichirrofity, over fatnefs, moifture,or re- laxation, the, womb is fubjedted thereby to barrennefs; in thole that are with child there frequently Stays a glu- tinous entrance to facilitate the birth *; for at the time of delivery, the mouth of the womb is opened to fuch a widnefs as is conformable to the bignefs of the child, fuffc-ring an equal dilation from the bottom to the top. As the preparatory or fpermatic veSTels in women, they confift of two veins and two arteries, not differing from thofe of men, but only of their largenefs and man- ner of infertion : for the number of veins and atteries is the fame as in men, the right vein iSTuing from the trunk of the hallow vein defcending : and on the fide of them are two arteries, which grow from the aorta. As the length and breadth of thefe veSfels, they are narrower and Shorter in women than in men ; only ob- serve they are more wreathed and comforted than in men, as Shrinking together by reaSon of their fhortn%fs, that they may by their loofnefs be better Stretched out when occafion requires it ; and thofe veSTels in women are carried with an indirect courfe through the lcSTer guts, the tefticles, but are in midway divided into two branches, the greater goes to the (tones, constituting a various or winding body, and wonderfully inoSculating ; the lefler branch ending in the womb, in the infide of D 44 which it,difperfeth itfelf, and efpecially at the higher part of the bottom of the womb for its nourishment, & that part of the courTes may purge through the veSTels ; and feeing the Tefticles of women are feated hear the womb, for that caufe thefe veffels fall not from the pe- ritoneum, neither make they much paffage, as in men, nor extending themfelves in the fhare-boije. The Stones in women commonly called Tefticles, perform not the fame action as in men, they are alfo different in their location, bignefs, temperature, fub- ftance, form, and covering. As for the place of their feat, it is in the hallownefs of the abdomen ; neither are they pendulous, but reft upon the mufcles of the loins, fo that they may, by contradting the greater heat, be more iruitful, their office being to contain the ova, or ■ eggs, one of which being impregnated by the man's feed engenders man, yet they differ from thofe of men in ^figure, by reafon of their flatnefs at'each end, not being fo round or ov?d. The external fuperfices being likevvife more unequal, appearing like the compofition of a great many knobs and kernals mixed together. There is a dif- ference alfo in their fubftance, they being much more foft and pliable, loofe and not So well compacted. Their bigneis and temperament are likevvife different, for they are much' colder and leffer than thofe in men. As for their covering or inclofure, it differs extreme- ly : for as men's are wrapped in. clivers tunicles, by reafon they are extremely pendulous, and fubject to divers injuries, unlefs fo fenced by nature ; fo wo- men's ftnnes being internal, and lefs fubject to casual- ty, are covered with one tunicle or membrane, which though it clofely cleave to them, yet they are like-wife half covered with the peritoneum. * Tiie ejaculatory veffels arc two obfcurepafiages, one on each fide, nothing differing from the Spermatic veins i, fubftance. They rife on orie psrt from the bottom of the womb, not reaching from the other ex- tremity, either to the Stones, or to any other part, but' Shut up and imp.ulabie, adhering to the womb, as th* 45 Colon does to the blind gut, and winding half V/ay about^ though the tefticles are remote to them, and touch them not, yet they are tied to them by certain mem- branes, refembiing the wing of a bat, through which certain veins and arteries paiiing through the end of the tefticles, may be turned here to have their pafiages proceeding from the corner of the womb to the tefti- cles, and are accounted proper ligaments, by which the tefticles and womb are united and Strongly knit togeth- er : and thefe ligaments inAvomen are the cremafters in men ; of which I Shall Speak more largely, when I Come to defcribe the mafculiue parts conducing to ge- neration. A defer iption of the ufe and aclion of fever ol parts of PPo* men appointed in generation. The externals, commonly called the Pudenda, are t defigned to cover the great orifice, and that are to ' receive the Penis or Yard, in the at of coition, and . give paSTage to the birth and urin. The ufe of tiie wings and knobs like myrtle-berries, are for the fecn- ( rity of the internal parts, fbauting the orifice and neck oft he bladder, and by their Swelling up, caufe titula- | tion and delight in thofe parts, and alfo to obstruct the | involuntary paSTage of the urine. The action of the Clytoris in women is like that of a Penis in man, viz. the erection ; and its outer end * is like the gland of the Penis, and has the fame name. i And as the glans of man is the feat of the greateft plea- | fure in conception, So is this in women. i The action and ufe of the neck of the womb is equal , with that of the Penis, viz. erection, occasioned divers ; ways. Firft, in copulation, it is erected and made I Strait for the paSTage of the Penis in the womb. Se- f condly, whilst the paSTage is repleted with fpirit and vital blood it becomes more Strait for embracing the Penis :^and as for the conveniency of erection, it is two-fold, firft, becaufe if the neck of the womb was I not erected, the yard could have no convenient-paSTage 46 ft) the womb ; fbcondly, it hinders any hurt or dam* > age that might enfue through the violent concuSfion of the yard the time of copulation. As for the veins that pafs through the neck of the womb, their ufe is to replenish it with blood and fpirit, that Still as the moisture conSumes by the htat contracted in copulation, it may by thefe veSTels be re- newed ; but their chief bufinefs is to convey nutriment to the womb. The womb has many properties attributed to it. As firft, Retention of the foecundated egg, and this is properly called conception. Secondly, to cheriSh and nouriih it till nature has framed the child, and brought it to perfection, and then it Strongly operates in Send- ing forth the birth, when the time of its remaining there is expired, dilating itfelf in a wonderful manner, and fo aptly removed from the fenfes, that nothing of injury can proceed from thence, retaining itfelf a pow- er and llrength to operate and caft forth the birih, un- lefs by accident it be rendered deficient ; and then to Strengthen and enable it, remedies muft be applied by fkilful hands, directions fo\ applying of which Shall be given in the fecond part. The ufe of the preparing veffel is this, the arteries convey the blood of the tefticles : part whereof is put in the nourishment of them, iiid the production of thofe little bladders (in all things refembiing eggs) through which the vafs preparetia run, and are oblit- erated in them ; and as for the veins, their office is to bnng back what blood remains from the ufe aforc-faid. The veSTels of this kind, are much Shorter in women than in men, by reafon of their nearnefs to the Stones which defects are yet made good by the many intricate windings to which thole veSTels are fubject. For in the middle way they divide themfelves into two branch- es, though different in magnitude, for one being great- er than the other, pafTes to the Stones. The Stones in women are very ufeful,for where they are defective, generation work is at an end. For al- 47 though thefe bladders which are on their outward iu- perfice^, contain nothing of feed, as the followers of Galen and Hypocrates did erroneously imagine, yet they contain feveral eggs, generally twenty in each tefticle ; oue of which being impregnated by the fpir- itueus part of the man's feed in the act of coition, de- fcends through the oviducts in the womb, and fromi hence in procefs of time becomes a living child. Of the Organs of Generation in Man. Having given you a defcription of the "organs of generation in women,.with the anatomy of the fabric cf the womb ; I Shall now [to complete the firft part of this treatife] defcribe the organs of generation in man, and how they are fitted to the ufe for which nature de'iigned them. . Tae instrument of generation in than (commonly called the Yard : and in Lattin, Penis a Pudendo, be- caufe it hangs without the belly) is an organical part, wiiich con Silts of skin, tendons, veins, arteries, Sinews and great iiga nents : and is long and round, and on the upper tide flattiSh, feated under the Os Pubis, and ordained by nature, partly by evacuation of urine, and partly for conveying the feed into the ^matrix. For ivaidiead it is full of fmall pores, through which the feed pafTes into it, through the Veficula Seminalis, and alfo the neck of the Veficula tJrinalis, which pours out the Urine When they make water ; befides the corn non parts, viz. the two nervous bodiesr the Sep- tum, the Urethera, the ghns, four mufcles and the vef- fel. Fne nervous bodies (lb cade J) are furrounded with a thick white previous membrane, but their inmoft fubftance h fpungy, confifting chiefly of veins, arteries, and nervous fibres interwoven together like a net. A.id when me nerves are rilled with an animalifpirits, & the arteries with hor and fpirituous blood, \.hen the Perns is aiftended and becomes erect. Bat 'dien ,'-e influx of deal lph-us ce.u'cs, then the blood and re* 48 maining fpirits are abforbed by the veins, and fo the Penis fpirits are limber and flaggy. Below thefe nerv- ous bodies is the v. rethera, and whenever the nervous bodies fwell, it Swells alio. The mufcles of the Penis are four, too Shorter, arifing from the Coxendix, and ferving its erection, and for that reafon are called Erec- tores. Two larger proceeding from the Spincter of the Anus, and ferve to dilate the Urethera ejaculation of feed, and are called dilatantes, or winding. At the end of the Penis is the glands, covered with a very thin membrane by means of which and its nervous fubftance, u becomes moSt exquitely fenfible, and is the. principal feat of pleafure in copulation. The out- most Covering of the glands is called Proeputium or perputando, from being cut off, it being that which the Jews cut off in circumcifion, and it is tied by the lower parts of it to the glans of the foetus. The Penis alio ltocked with veins, arteries and nerves. The telliculi or ftones fo called, becaufe testifying one to be a man elaborate the blood brought to them by the lpermatic arteries into feed. They have coats of two Sorts, proper and common ; the common are two, and inveft both the teftes. The cutermoft of the common coaft confift of the cuticula, or true Skin j and is called the Scrotum, hanging out of the abdomen like a purfe, the innermost is the membrane carnofa. The proper coats are alfo two, the outer called Clio- trodes or Virglnales, the inner Albugidia. Into the Outer is inferted the Cremafter. To the tipper part of the Teftes- is fixed Epidimedes, or Pollata, from whence arile the Eafadifferentia or ejaculatorh, which. when ,hey come near the neck of the bladder, depofit the feed into the veficulae feminales, thefe veficulae fe- minales are two, each like, a bunch of grapes, and emit the Seed into the urethe a, in the act of copulation. Near them are the noftratae, about the bignefs of a Walnut, and join to the neck of"the bladder. Authors- io not agree about the ufe of them, but moft are of •nuvjepj that they afford an oily, floppy, and fat hu-» 4f? mor, to befmear the Urethera, whereby to defend the~ iame from acrimony of the Seed and urine. But the veSTels which convey the blood to the teftes, out of which the Seed is made, are artei iae fpermaticae, and are alfo two. The veins which carry out the remain- ing blood are two, and have the name of Venae Sperv^ maticae. A word of advice to both fe^ts ; being feveral directions; refpecling the act of copulation. Since nature has implanted in every creature a- mutual defire of copulation, for the increafe and propagation of its kind; and more efpecially in man, the lord of the creation, and mafter-piece of nature, that fo noble a piece of divine vvorkmanfhip might not periSh, fomething ought to be laid concerning that, it being the foundation of all that we have hitherto been treating of, Since without copulation there can be no generation. Seeing therefore fo much depends" upon it, I thought it neceSTary, before I conclude the* firft part, to give fuch directions to both fexes, for the performing of that act, as may appear efficacious to the end for which nature defigned it. But it will be done* with that caution, as not to oSTend the chafteft ear, nor put the fair, fex to the trouble of a bluSh in reading- it. Firft therefore, when a married couple, from a de- fire of having children, are about to make ufe of thofe' means that nature ordained to that purpofe, it would' be very proper to cherifh the body with generous rest- oratives, that fo it may be briSk and vigorous ; and if their imaginations were charmed with Sweet and me- lodious airs, and cares and thoughts of bufinefs drown- ed in a. glafs-of racy wine, that their fpirits may*be> raifed to the higheft pitch of ardour and joy, it would not be amifs. For any thing of fadnefs5 trouble and, forrow, are enemies to the delights of Venus. And if at any fuch time of coition, there Should be concep- tion, it would have a malevolent effect upon children. But though generous restoratives may be ufe4" xOjr 59 invigorating nature, yet all excefs is to be carefully a- 1 voided. ;a-r it will ailay the brrlknels of the fp'iritip and render chem duli and languid,and alio hinder di^eition, and So muft needs be an enemy to copulation. For it is food moderate.y taken, that is well digeiied, creates good fpirits, and enables a man with vigour and activi- ty to perform the didtates of nature. It is alfo highly neceSTary, that in their mutual embraces, they meet each other with an equal ardour. For if the fpirits flagon either part, they will fall Short of what nature requires, and the women either mils of conception, or the children prove weak in their bodies, or defective in their, underttanding. And tiertf>re I do ad vile them, before they begin their conjugal embraces, to invigorate their mutual defires, and make their flames burn with a fierce ardour, by thofe endearing 'ways that love can better teach than I can write. And when they have done what nature requires, a man mult have a care he does not part too foon from the embraces of his wife, left fome Sudden interpofmg c.ild Should ftrike into the womb, and 'occafion a mif- carria^e, and thereby deprive them of the fruit of their labour. *» And when after fome convenient time, the man hath withdraw himfelf, let the woman gently betake her- felf to reft, with all imaginable ferenity and compofure Of mind, from all anxious and dilturbing thoughts, or aey oiher kind of perturbation whatfoever. And let' her as mucti as She can, forbear turning herfelf from that the on which She firft repoSed A' .d by all means ,let her avoid coughing and fneezing, which by its vio- lent conculfion of the body, is a great enemy to con* ception, if it happens foon after the act of coition. The End of the Firft Part.- & PRIVATE LOOKING GLASS FOR THE FEMALE SEX. PART THE SECOND. Treating offeveral Maladies incident to the womb, with proper remedies for the cure of each. —s=> J) n JOOMMM W3V00 <=s~— Of the Womb in general. Although in the Firft Part I have fpoken Some- thing of the fabric of the womb, yet being in the Sec- ond Part to treat more particularly thereof, -and of the various distempers and maladies it is fubjected to ; I Shall not think it tautology to give you by way of in- struction, a general defcription both of its fituation and extent, but rather think that it can by no means be omitted, efpecially, fince in it I am to fpeak of the quality of the menftruous blood. Firft, Touching the womb. By the Grecians it is called Ivletfa, the mother. Adelphos faith Prifcian,be- caufe it makes us all brothers. It is placed inthe hypog?.ftnim,or lower part of the body, in the cavity called Pelvis, having the Strait gut on one fide, to keep it from the other fide of the back- bone, and the bladder on the other fide to defend it from blows. The form or figure of u is like a verile member, only thus excepted, the manhood is outward, and womanh ;od inward. 11 is diviJe I into the neck and the body. The neck confifts of a hard flefhy fubftance, much like a cartilage, at the end thereof tftere is a membrane traverfly placed, »KC?t : ,« -' ■ *n~f »*3 *,>,.,* t "' '* **3- '-"'■♦J* WK4 J* si called hymen or engion, near unto the neck there is a prominant pinnacie, which is called of Mori tan us, the door of the womb, becaufe it preferveth the matrix from cold and dult. By the Grecia.s it is called cly- toris, by the Luins, preputurn mulebre, becaufe the Jewifh women did abufe thofe parts to their own mutu- al lulls, as St. Paul fpeaks, Rom. i. 26. The body of the wo nb is that whereii the child is conceived. And this is not altqgother round, but di- lates itfelf into two angles, the outward part of it is ner- vous and full of Sinews, which are the caufe of its mo- tion, but inwardly it is flefhy. It is fabuloufly report- ed, «hat in the cavity of the womb there are feven di- vided cells, or receptacles for human feed. But thofe that have feen anatomies, do know there are but two. And likewite that thefe two are not divided by a par- tition, but only by a line,, or future running through the midft of it. In the right fide of the cavity, by rea- fon of the heat of the liver, males are conceived. In the left Side, by the coldnefs of the fpleen, females are begotten. And this do moft of our moderns hold for an infal- lible truth, yet Hypocrates holds it but in the general. For in whom, faith he, the fpermatic veSTels on the right fide come from the rein", and the fpermatic vef- fei.onthe left fide from the hollow vein, in them, males are conceived in the left Side and females in the right. Well therefore may I conclude with the fay- ing of Empedocles. Such fometimes is the power of the feed, that a male may be conceived in the left file, as well as in the right, hi the bottom of the cavity, the; e are little holes called the cotiledones, which are the ends of certain vei^s and arteries, f rvmg in breed- ing wo nen to convey the fubftance to the child, which i is received by the umbilical veins ; and others to car- ry the couries into the -natrix. Na>v touching the mei-ftruals, they are defined to be a noxithiy ilux of excrcmcntitious and unprofitable* | biood. S3 In which we are to note, that the matter, flowing forth is excrementitious. Which is to be underftood of the Scruples or redundance of it. For it is an ex- crement in quality, its quantity being pure and uncor- rupt, like unto the blood in the veins. And thai the menftruous blood is pure and fubtile of itfelf, all in one quality with that m the veins, is proved two ways. Firft, from the final caule of the blood, which is, the propagation and confervation of mankind, that man might be conceived, and being begotten, he might be comforted and preferved both in tne womb and out of the womb. And all will grant it for a truth, that a child while it is in the ir a.nx, is nourished with the ble* id. And it is true, that being out of the wcmb, it is frill nourilhed with tiie fame, for the mi'lk is nothing but the menftruous blood n.a.ie white in the breaft. **nd 1 am Sure woman's muk is not thought .to be venomou-o, but of a nutritive quuiiy, anfwerable to the tender nature of the ii.ft.nt. Second- ly, it is proved to be true from the generation of it, it being the Superfluity of the laft aliment of the flefhy parts. It maybe objected, if the blood be not of a hurtful quality, how can it caufe fuch venomous. efiYcts ? As if the fame fails upon trees and herbs, it mrketh the one barren and mortineth the other. Averues writes, that if a man accompany with any menftrus woman, if fhe conceive fhe Shall bring forth a leeer. I anfwer, This malignity is contracted in the womb ; for that wanting native heat to digeft this Superfluity, Sends it to the matrix Where Seating itfelf, until the mouth of the womb be dilated : it becomes corrupt and veno- mous, which may eafily be, conlidermg the heat and moifture of the place. This blood therefore being out of its veffels, it offends in quality. In this ferife let us understand Pliny, Cornelius Florus, and the reft cf that torrent. But if frigidity bathe caufe why women c >n- not digeft all their laft nourishments, and cojfteqiK ntiy that they have thefe purgations, it remains to give a 54 qjeafon why they are of fo cold a constitution more than man which is this. The natural end of man and woman's being, is to propogate. And this injunction was impofed upon them by God, at their firft creafton, and again after the deiuge. Now, in the adt of conception there muft be an agent and patient, tor if the. be both every way of one conttiiUtion, they cannot propoxate : man there- fore is hot and dry, woman cold and moift, he is the agent, fhe is> the p-.nieiu, or v^eaks-r \effel, that She Should be fubjedt to the oSliee of the man. It is ne- celfary the woman Should be of a cold constitution, becaufe in her is required a redundancy of nature for the infant he^ediig on her ; for otherwifc, if there were not a k;:"ok,, of nourilhm?nt for the child, than is^ convenu-.il for the mother, then would the in- fant detradt and weaken the principal parts of the mo- ther, and like unto the viper, the generation of the in- fant would be the deitrudtion of the parent. The monthly purgations coninue from the 15th year to the 46th or 50di. Yet often there happens a fuppreffion, which is either natural or morbifical, they are naturally fuppreft in breeding women, and fuch as fuck. The morbificai fuppreffiun falls now into our method to be Spoken of. Of the retention of the Courfes. The fupprellion of the terms is an interception of that acouftomary evacuation of blood, which every month Should come from the matrix, proceeding from the inltrument or matter vitiated. The part af- fedted is the womb, and that of itfelf or by confent. Caufe.] The caufe of this fuppreSTion is either ex- ternal or internal. The external caufe may be heat or drynpfs of the air, immoderate watching, great la- bor vehement motion, &c. whereby the matter is fo confumed, that the body is exhausted, that there is not a Surplus remaining to be expelled, as is recorded of the Amazons, who being adtive, and always in mction,had 65 their fluctious- very little, or not at all. Or it may be caufed by cold, which is moft frequent, making the blood vicious and grofs, condensing and binding up the paffages that it cannot flow forth. Of the overflowing of the Courfes. The learned fay, that by comparing contraries, truth is made manifeft. Having therefore fpoken of the fuppreffion of terms, order requires now that it Should infift on the overflowing of them ; an effect no lefs dangerous than the former, and this im- moderate flux of the mouth is defined to be a fanguin- ious excriment proceeding from the womb, exceeding both in quantity and time. Firft, It is faid to be San- guineus, the matter of the flux being only blood,where- in it did'ers from that which is commonly culled the falfe courfes or whites ; of which I Shall fpeak hereaf- ter. Secondly it is ftid to proceed from the womb, for there are two ways by which the blood flows forth, the or* is by the internal veins in the' body of the womb, and this is properly called the monthly Ilux; the other is by thofe veins which are terminated in the neck of the matrix : and this is called of Aetius, the hemorrhoids Of the womb. Laftly, it is faid to exceed both in quantity and time. In ^quantity, faith IIvpo- crates, when they flow about eighteen ounces ; in time when they flow about three days ; but we take this for a certain character of their inordinate flowing, when the faculties of .the body thereby are weakened. In bodies abounding with grofs humours, this immoder- ate flux fometimes unburuens r.ature of her load, and ought not to be Staid without the counfel of a phviician. Caufe.] The caufe cf ttiis affair, is internal or ex- ternal. The internal cauie is threefold : In the mat- ter instrument or faculty, the matter which is the blood, may be vicious two ways. Firft, by the heat of constitution, climate, or ie-ifon, hcaang the blocd,. \vhere.>y the pafttges are d:!aeJ,. a" 1 the faculty weak- ened, that it cannot retain tie b.^ou. bccine'liy, by alls, blows, violent motion, breaking of the vtinoj c 4p jf rj.^s, 57 fyrup of flachus, of each half an ounce. Water ofca lamint, mugwort, betony, hySTbp, ot each one ounce ; make a juiep, if the pain continues, take this purgation. Take fpec. bierae, one dram, diacarholicon half an ounce ; fyrup of rofes, laxative one ounce ; with the decodtion of mugwort, and the four cordial flowers make a potion. If it comes through the wtuknefs of the faculty, let that be corroborated. If through the groffnefs and fharpnefs of the blood, let the q.ulity of it be altered, as I have Shewn in the foregoing chapter. Laftly, if the excreffient of the guts be retained, provoke them by glylter of the decoctions of cammomiie, be- touy feverfew, mallows, lintfeed, juaiper-berries, com- mon feed, annileed, melilot, adding thereto of diaca- tholicon, half an ounce ; klera piera, two drams; ho- ney, oil, of eacn one ounce ; fait-nitre, a dram and a half. The patient mult abstain irom fait-, Sharp and whidy meats. OftBefufe Courfes, or Wkiist. From the womb proceeds not only menftnt" a-, blood, but accidentally many other excremen s, which by the ancients are comprehended under the ti- tle of rob us gunakios ; which is a distillation of .„ va- riety of corrupt humours throngh the womb, flowing from the whole body, or part of the fame, keeping neither courfe nor colour, but varying in both. Caufe.] The caufe is either promifcuoufly in the whole body, by a cacochimia, or weaknefs of the fame, or in fome of the parts ; as in the liver, which, by the inability of the fanguificative faculty, caufethagen- - eration of corrupt blood ; and then the nutter is red- difh : fometimes the gall being SluggiSh in its office, not drawing away thole c.holerick Superfluities ingen- dered in the liver ; and the matter is yellowish. Some- times in the fpleen, not de delating and cleaniing the blood of the dregs and excrementifitms parts. And . then the matter flowing forth is blacki/h ; it may alfo come from the cattarhs in the head, or from any other putriiisd or corrupted member : but if the matter of the 58 flir^Je white, the caufe is either in the ftomach o* ^Knns. In the ftomach by a phlegmatical and crude matter there contracted and variated, through^grief, melancholy, and other diftempers ; for otherwiie, if the matter were only petnical, crude, flegm, and no ways corrupt, being taken into the liver, it might be converted into blood ; for ftegm in the ventricle is called nourishment half digefted: but being cor- rupt, though fent into the liver, yet it cannot be turn- ed into nutriment; for the fecond decoction cannot correct that which the firft hath corrupted ; and there- in-e the liver fends it to the womb, which can neith- er digeft nor repel it, and fo it is voided out with the fame colour it had in the ventricle. The caufe alfo may be in the reins, being overheated ; where- by the fpermatical matter, by reafon of its tlftinefs flows forth. The external caules may be moiftnefs of the air, eating of corrupt meats, anger, grief, floth- fulnefs, immoderate Sleeping, coftivenefs in the body. The figns are exturbation of the body, fhortnefsand Stinking of the breath, loathing of meat, pain in the head, fwelling of the eyes and feet, and melancholy, humidity flows from the womb, of divers colours, as red, black, green, yellow, and white. It differs from the flowing and overflowing of the courfes, in that it keeps no certain period, and is of many colors, all •which do generate from blood. Of tlefuffocation f the Mother. This effedt, which, if Simply considered, is noth- ing but the caufe of an tftect, is called in Eng- lish, the fuftocation of the mother, not becaufe the womb is Strangled, but for that it caufeth the womb to be choaked. It is a retraction of the womb towards the midriff and Stomach, which preSTeth and cruftieth up the fame, that the instrumental caufe of refpiration, the midriff is fuffucated ; and cc nfenting with the brain, earning the animating facu'ty, the efficient .aufe cf refpiration alfo to be intercepted, where the 59 Hooy being refrigerated, and the adtion depraved, ffie falls to the ground as one being dead. In thel'e hyfterical paflions fome continue longer, fome Shorter. Rabbi Mofes writes of fome, who lay in the paroxyim of the fit for two days. Rufus makes mention of one, who continued in .the fame pafiion three days and three nights ; and at the three days end She revived. That we may learn by other men's harms to beware, I will tell you an exampb : Paroe- tus writeth of a woman in Spain, who fuddenly fell in- to an uterine fuffocation, a»'d appeared to men's judg- ment as dead; her friends wondering at this her hid- den change, Sor their better fatisfadtion, fent for a furgeon to have her diSTected ; who beginning to niake an incifion, the woman began to move, and with great clamour returned to herfelf again, to the hprror and admiration of all the Spectators. To the end that you m.»y diftrnguiSh the living from the dead, the ancients prefcribe three experiments; The firft is to lay a ligh feather to the mouth, and by its motion you may judge whether the patient be liv- ing or dead. The iecond is, to place a glafs of water on the breaft, and if you perceive it to move, it be- tokeneth life. The third is, to hold a pure looking. glafs to the mouth and nofe ; and if the glafs appears thick, with a little dew upon it, it betokeneth life, and thefe three experiments are good, yet with this caution, that you ought not to depend tipon them too much ; for though the feather and the water do not move, and the glafs continue pure and clear, yet it is not a neceSTary confequence that She isdeftkute of life. For the motion of the lungs, by which the refpiration is made, may be taken away that She cannot breathe, yet the internal tranfpiration of the heat may -.-main ; which is not manifeft by the motion of the breaft or lungs, but lie occult in the heart and inward arteries : examples whereof we have in the fly and fwallow, which in the cold winter, to occular afpedt Seem dead, inanimate, and breathe not at all; yet they live by the £2 60 t; a aspiration of that heat which is referved in the heart and inward arteries ; therefore when the Summer ap- proacheth, the internal heat being revocated to the ouN ward parts, they are then revived out of their Sleepy extacy. Thofe women therefore who fcem to die fuddenly, and upon no evident caufe, let them not be committ- ed unto the earth until the end of three days, left the living be buried for the dead. < Of defending or failing of the Mother. The falling down of the womb is a relaxation of the ligatures, whereby the matrix is carried back- ward, and in Some hangs out in the bignefs of an egg ; of this there are two kinds distinguished by the descend- ing and precipitation. The delcending of the womb is, when it Sinks down to the entrance of the privities. and appears to the eye either not at all, or very little. The precipitation is, when the womb like a purfe is turned infide outward, and hangs betwixt the thighs in the bignefs of a cuppmg giro's. Caufe,] The caufe is external or internal ; the ex> ternal caufe is difficult child birth, violent pulling a- v/ay of the fecundine, raShneSs and inexperience in drawing away the child, vioYnt coughing, fneezing, falta, blows, and carrying heavy burdens. The inter- nal caufe in general is over much humidity flowing in- to thefe parts, hindering the operations of the womb, whereby the ligaments by which the womb is fupport-* tid is relaxed. The crude in particular ia referred" to be in the reten- tion of the i'eed, or in the fuppreffion of the monthly courles. Signs.] Tiie arfe gut, and bladder, oftentimes are fo cntifhed, that the pa-Tage of both the excrements are hindred ; if the urine flows forth white and thick, and the midiift »s u.olefted, the ion.a are grieved, and privities pained, and the wnmb ii:a:s down to the pri- _ vate parts ; or elie comes clean out. "\ iV^aouieks.] Xhisfiefpoflci'iitr-an old woman, 6>1 is cured with great difficulty ; becaufe it weakens fha? faculties of _the wonib, and therefore though it be re- duced into its proper place, yet upon every little ill- nefs or indifpofition it is lubjedt to return ; and fo it alfo is with the younger fort, if the difeafe be inveter- ate. If it be cauSed' by a putrifaction in the' nerves, ic is- incurable. Cure.J The womb being naturally placed between, the Strait gut and the bladder, and now fallen down, ought not to be put up again, until the faculty both of the gut and the bladder be ftined up ; nature being unloaded of her burden, let the woman be laid on her back in fuch fort,, that her legs may be higher than her head ; let her feet be drawn up to her hinder parts, with her knees Spread abroad : then mollify the fwell- ing with oil of lillits and fweet almonds, or with .the decoction of mallows, beets, fenugreek, and lir'feed.:.- when the inflammation is diffipated, let the midwife anoint her hand with oil of maftick, and reduce he womb into its place. The matrix being up, the htu> ation of the patient muft be changed, let her legs be put out at ltngfh, and laid together ; fix cupping g'aSt- es to-her breafts and navel; boil mugwort, leve; lew:, red rofes and comfrey in red wine ; make fttffuuiiga- tions for the matrix, and mrve Sweet odours to her Hole ; and at her corning.out of tie bath, give her of fyrup of feverfew one ounce, with a dram of mhhri- daie. Take laudani, maftic, of each -.hree drams.make a plaifter of it for the navel ; then make peifanes of affufoetida, faffron, comfrey, and'maftic, adding there-! to a little caftor.. The Practice of Parius in this cafe, was to make thena only of cork, h\hgure like a little egg, covering them over with wax and maftic diSTolved U>gether,faft> ening it to a thread, and fo put it into, the womb. The prefent danger being now taken away, and the matrix feated in the natural abode, the remote cavfe muft be removed • if the body be plethoric, open a vein; prepare wi-h lyrup of betony, calammt, hySTop and feverfew. Purge with jil. bierae, agaric, p> de 62 tolccin. If the ftomach be oppreft with crudities, un- burden it by vomiting, Sudorifical decqctions of lig- num fandtum, and SaiSatras taken twenty days together ; dry up the Superfluous moifture, and confequently S'up- preSs the caufe of the difeaie. Let the air be hot and dry, your diet hot and atte- nuating ; abftain from dancing, leaping, lqueezing, and from all motion both of body and mind, eat S'par- ingly, drink not much, Sleep moderately. Of the Infiamaiiou of the Womb. The phlegom, or inflammation of the matrix, is an humour poffeifing the whole womb, accompanied with unnatural heat, by obstruction and gathering together of corrupt biood. Caufe.] The caufe of this effect is fuppreffion of the tnenfes, repletion of tl\e whole body, immoderate ufe of Venus, too often handling the genitals difficult child-birth, vehement agitation of the body, falls, b.'ows ; to which alfo may be added, the ufe of Sharp peflaries, whereby, not feldom the womb is inflamed, cupping glaifes alio faftened to the pubis and hypo- g.n'trium, draw the humours from the womb. Of the S chirr/fity or hatdnefs of the Womb. Of pelegmon negledted or not perfedtly cured, is generated a fchirtus of the matrix : vshich is a hard unnatural Swelling, inSenfibly hindering the operations of the womb, and dil'pofing the whole body to floth- fulnefs. Caufe.] One caufe of this difeafe may be afcribed to want of judgment in the phyfician : as many empi- ricks administering to ah inSlamation of the womb, do- overmuch refrigerate ond ainrige the humour, that it can neither pais forward or backward ; hence the matter being condenled, degenerates into a lapidious hard Siibffance. Otiier caufes may be inppreffion of the menftruous retention of the lochia, commonly call- ed the after-purgiii', eating of corrupt meats, as in the diforumate longing called pica, to which breeding wo- men are fo often fubject. It may proceed alio froaa obstructions, and ulcers in the matrix, or from evil ef- fects in the liver and Spleen. Of the Dropfy of the I Tomb. The uterine dropfy is an unnatural fwelling, ele- vated by the gathering together of wind or ticgna in the cavity, membranes or Substance of the womb, by reafon of the debility of the native heat and aliment received, and lo it turns into an excrement. The caufes are overmuch col.i or-n.oiftnefs of the melt and livar, immoderate drinking, eating of crude meals : all which caulinga repletion, do 1 dfocate the natural heat. It may be caufed like wife by the over- flowing of the courfes, or any other immo :erate eva- cuation. To thefe may be added abortives,phlegmons and fchirrofities of the womb. Of Mol.i andfatfe-Concepliji:s. •This difcaSe is called by the Greeks, Mole: and the caufe of this denomination is taken from the load or heavy weight of it, it bei.ig a mole, or great lump of hard flefh burdening the womb. It is delim-d 10 be an inarticulate place of flefh, with- out form, begotten in tiie matrix, as if it were a true conception. In which definite n we are to note two things. Firft in jjaat a mo'e is faid to be inarticulate, and without form : it dilfers frm monfters, which are both formate and articulate. Secondly, it is faid to be as it were a true conception, which puts a difference between a true conception and a mole ; which differ- ence holds good three ways : 1ft, in the genius, in that a mole cannot be Said to be an animal, 'idly, In the Species, becaufe it hath no human figure, and bears not the character of a man. 3dly, In the individuum, for it hath no affmity with the parent, either in the whole body or any particular part of the fame. Caufe.] ■■* bout the caufe of this effect, amongft learned authors I find variety of judgments. Some are of opinion, That if the woman's feed goes int.* 64 , the womb, and not the man's, thereby is the mole pro- duced. Others there be tha: affirm, it is engendered of the menftruous blood. Bnt if thefe two were grant- ■ed, then m lids by having their courfes, or through nodttirnal pollutions, mig'i: be fubjet to the fame, never yet any were. Tiie cvift? of this flefhy mole, proceeds both from the mm and from the woman; fro.n cortv.pt and barren feed in man, and from the .menftruous blood in the wo.iun, both emitted togeth- er in the civity of the womb, w,ie-e nature fining herfelf weak, yet desiring ro maintain the per etu.i-y of her fpecies, labours to bring fordi a vicio"- concep- tion, rather than none and ; * inftjad of a living crea- ture, generates a lump of fk*ih. Oftht Signs ' f" onjeftlon. Ignorance makes wo nerf" beep r.c murderers of the fruit of their own bodies, many havh.g conceiv- ed, and thereupon finding t lenifdves on-, of or ler, and not knowing rightly toe caufe, do either run to the ;hop of their own conceit, and t ike what they think fit, or elfe (as the cirtom i-,) they fen i to fhcj physician for a cure ; and he not perceiving the caufe, of their grief, feeling that no certain judgment can be given by the urine, prescribes what he thinks beft, per- haps fome ftron^diuretic or cathartic potion, whereby the conception is deitroyed. Wherefore Hippocrates fays. Tnere is a neceffity that women Should be in- Strudted in the knowledge of conception, that the pa- rent as well as the child might be faved from danger. I will therefore give you fome inftrudtions, by which every one miy kn a .r whether Hit' be with child or not. The Signs of conception iiiail be taken from the wo- man, from the urine, from the infant, and from ex- periment. ' Signs taken from the woman are thefe : The firft day after the conception She feels a light quivering or chillnefs running through the H'hole body ; a tickling in the womb, a little pain in the lower parts of the belly. Ten or twelve days after the head is affected 65 with giddinefs, the eyes with dimnefs of fight; the» follow red pimples in the face, with a blue circle about the eyes, the breafts fwell and grow hard with Some pain and pricking in them, the beily Soon finketh, and rifeth again by degrees, with a hardu'efs about the na- vel.. The nipples of the breaft grow red, the heart ' beats inordinately, the xiatural appetite is dejedted ; yet fhe hath a longing defire after Strange meats ; the neck of the womb is retracted, that it can hardiy be felt with the finger being put up ; and this is an infallible Sign. She is Suddenly merry, and as foon melancholy ; the monthly courfes are Stayed, without any evident caufe, the excrements of the guts are unaccuftomedly retain- ed by the womb prefling the great guts, and her defire to Venus is abated. The fureft Sign is taken from the infant, which be- gins to move in the wombthe third or fourth month ; and that not in the manner of a male, from one fide to another, rufhing like a Stone, but fo foftly as*may be perceived by applying the hand hot upon the belly. Signs taken from the urine.] The beft writers do affirm, that the urine of a woman whith child is white, and hath little miles, like thofe in the fun-beams, af- > cendingand defcending in it, a cloud Swimming aloft, [ of an opal colour, the Sediments being divided by Shak- ing of the urine, appears like carded wool. In the mid- dle of her time the urine turncth yellow, next red and Lilly black, with a red cloud. Signs taken from experience] At night, going to bed, let her drink water and honey ; afterwards if fhe felf a bc-ting pain in her helly, and about her navel fne halh concviv-cd. Or let her take the juice of car- din*;, and if fhe vc-miteth it up, it is a Sign of conception ■( , Caft a clean needle into a woman's urine, put it in a baion, let it hand .dl night, and in the morning if it be coloured with re.! Spot's, 11.e hath conceived, but if black or rufty, She hath not. Signs taken from the fex to Shew whether it be male O'- female.] Being with child of a male, the right breaft fweili firft, the right eye is more lively than the left, 66 her face well coloured, becaufe fuch as the blooo! is the colour ; and the mail is conceived, but if they be white, a tenn-'e. Put the woman's urine which is with child into a giafs bottle, let it Stand clofe Stopped three days, then Strain it through a fine cloth, and you lhall fi id little hving-crcatuies. It they be red, it is a male, if white, it is a female. To conclude, the moft certain fign to give credit unto is the motion of the infant ; for the male moves in the third month, and the female in the fourth. Of Untimely Births. When the fruit of the womb comes forth before the feventh month, (that is, before it comes of matury) it is faid to be abortive, and in effect the children prove abortive (I mean not to live) if it be born in the eighth month. And why children born in the feventh or ninth month, may live, and not in the eighth month may feem Strange, yet it is true. The caufe thereof,by fome is afcrined unto the planet under which the child is born. For every month from the conception to the birth, is governed by its proper planet. And in the eighth month Saturn doth predominate;whiai\ is cold and dry ; and coldnefs being an utter enemy to life, deftroys the nature of the child. Hippocrates gives a better reafon, viz. The infant being every way. perfect and compleat in the feventh month, defircs more air and nutriment than it had before ; and becaufe it can- not obtain thefe, it labours for a paiTage to go out ; and if its fpirits become weak and Saint, and have not ftrength nnlicient to break the membranes and come forth, as is decreed by nature, that it Should continue iri the womb till the nimh month, and in that time its wearied fpirits might again be Strengthened and refresh- ed ; out if it returns to Strive agalnft the eighth morn.i, and be born it cannot hve, bet auSe tiie dav of its birth •> either paft or to come. For in 'the eighth month (faitti Aveu) ne is weak and infirm ; and there- fore then be; .g call into the cold air, his ;phiis cannot be fupparLed, 67 Cure.] Untimely births' may be Caufed by cold, for as it maketh the fruit of, the tree to wither and to fall down before it be ripe, fo doth it nip the fruit of the womb before it comes to full perfection, and makes it to be abortive ; fometimes by humidity, weakening the faculty that the fruit cannot be restrained till the due time. By drynefs or emptinefs, deSrauding the child of its nourishment. By one of thefe alcine fluxes, by phlebotomy, and other evacuations ; by inflammation of the womb, and other fharp difeafes. Sometimes it is caufed by joy, laughter, anger, and efpecially fear ; for in that the heat forfakes the womb, and runs to the heart for help there, and fo the cold ftrikes in the ma- trix, whereby the ligaments are relaxed, and fo abortion follows; wherefore Plato, in his time, commanded that the wofnan Should Shun all temptations of immod- erate joy and pleafure, and likewife avoid all occafions of fear and grief. Abortion alfo may be caufed by the corruption of the air, by filthy odours, and efpecially by the fmell of a fnuffof a candle ; alfo by falls,blo\vs, violent exercife, leaping, dancing, &c. Signs.] Signs of future abortion are extenuation of the breasts, with a flux of watery milk, pain in the womb, heavinefs in the head, unufual wearinefs in the hips and thighs, flowing of the courfes. Signs fore- telling the fruit to be dead in the womb, are hollow- nefs in the eyes, pain in the head, anguifh, horrors, palenefs of the face and lips, gnawing of the Stomach, no motion of the infant, ^coldnefs and loofenefs of the mouth of the womb, and thicknefs of the belly, as a- bove is fallen down, watry and bloody excrements come from the matrix. DireF:ions fr Breeding [l~.ir.en. The prevention of untimely births confift in taking away the fore-mentioned caufes, which muft be ef- fected before and after the Conception. Before conception, if the body be over hot, cold,dry or m'oiSt, correct it with the contraries ; if cacochimi- F 68 cal, purge it : if plethorical, open the liver vein : if toe grols, extenuate it : Alt difeafes of the womb mult be removed, as I have Shewed. After conception let the air be temperate, Sleep not over much, avoid watching, exerciSe of body, paSTions of the mind, loud clamours and filthy fmells ; fweet odours alio are to be rejected cf thofe that are hysteri- ca!. Abftain from all tilings which provoke either the nine or the courfes, alfo from fait, Sharp and windy j meats ; a moderate diet Should be obferved. Directions to be obferved by Women at the time of their - falling in Labour, in order to their fafe dt livery with directions for Midwives. Having given neceftarv directions for child-bearing women, how to govern themfelves, during the time or -'a- their pregnancy, i Shall add what is neceSTary for them i to obi'erve, in order to their delivery. The time of birth drawing rear, be fure let the wo- man lend for a Skilful midwife, and that rather too foon than u» laie ; and againlt which time, let her prepare a pailet, bed, or couch, and place it near the fire, that the midwife and her ..fftftants may pais round, and help on -every Side, as occafion requires, having a change of linen ready, and a fmall Stool to rett her Sect againlt, She having more force when they are bowed, than when they are othe-rwile. Having thus provided, when the woman teals her - pain come, and the weather not cold, let her walk a- bout the room, refting heriielf by turns untn the bed, and io expedt the coining down of her water, wb'ch is one of the outward membranes, and Slows thence v. hen it is broke by the Struggling of the child, there being no direct time fixed for the efflux, though generally it flows not abefve two hours before the birth : morion will likevvife caufe the womb to open and dilate itfelf, When being long in bed will be imeaiy. Yet if She he very weak, fhe «*..y take fome gende cordial to retrcllj heaftif, if her pain permit. If her travail be tedious, fhe may revive her fpirits with takm.g chicken or motion broth, or. She may take* a jiorehed egg, but muft take heed of eating to excels, As for the poftures women are delivered hi, they are many Some laying in their hefts, ibme Sitting in u chair,Supported and held by oil.era, or rofting upon the bed or chair ; fome again upon their knees, being Supported upon their arms'; but the moft fafe and com- n tedious wuy is 'in bed, and the midwife ought mind the following rules. Let her lay the woman upon he- buck, her head a little raifed by the help ef a pillow. having the like help to Support her reins and btUtoeln-, and that her rump may lay high, for if She lies low ihe cantfot be well delivered. Then let her keep her knees and thighs as far diftant as She can, her legs bowed to- gether to her buttocks, the foals cf i^r feet and heels being fixed upon a little log of tin: be a tor that purpcie, thu She may Strain the Stronger ; and in cafe her b..cl: be verv weak, a Swathing band muft he caft under it, the band being four times double, aal about two inrli- es broad ; and this muft be held by two perfons, who with Steady hand and equal motion, muft raife her r.o at thr* time her p>uns happen ; and if they be not ex.dt in their motion, it is better to let ft alone. And at the fame time, let two women hold her Shoulders, that She may then Strain out the birth with more advantage : a-nd then to facilitate it, let a woman Siroak or prefsthe upper part of her belly gently and by degrees. Nor muft the woman herfelf be faint he irted, hut of go<. d courage, forcing herfelf by Straining and holding her breath. In Ca're of Eztremity, ivh.it cr.f.t to be obfrvrd ) efpecially ■ tj Ifomen. who, in their ti Livad, are at.; tided with a flux ofb.oid, Cunvu'ft.ns, and jits of the ivi-d. If the woman's 1 ibcur" h- a