THE Lady's Physician: BEING A TREATISE OF ALL Uterine DISEASES Incident to WOMEN, Either through the Want of, or Caused by, COPULATION. Wherein all Causes of BARRENNESS are Accounted for, and Certain REMEDIES prescribed. By JOHN SADLER of Norwich, M. D. Orandum est, ut sit Mens sana, in Corpore sane. Juvenal. LONDON: Printed for E. CURLL at the Dial and Bible over against Catherine-street in the Strand, M.DCC.XXIII. Price 1 s. 6 d. TO THE LADIES. BECAUSE I had my Being from a WOMAN, I thought none had more Right to the Grape, than she which planted the Vine. Considering therefore the mani- fold Distempers of Body, which A2 you ii The Epistle you Women are subject unto, through your own Ignorance and Modesty, I could not but do my best, to inform and advise you in the Conservation of your own Health. And when I had spent some Meditations, and consulted with Galen and Hip- pocrates for my Proceeding; amongst all Diseases incident to the Body, I found none more Frequent, none more Perilous than those which arise from the ill affected Womb. For through the evil Quality there- of, the Heart, the Liver, and the Brain are affected, from whence Dedicatory. iii whence the Actions Vital, Na- tural, and Animal are hurt; and the Vertues concoctive, sanguificative, distributive , attractive, expulsive, retentive, with the rest, are all weakened. So that from the Womb comes Convulsions, Epilepsies, A- poplexies, Palsies, Hectick- Feavers, Dropsies, malignant Ulcers; and to be short, there is no Disease so ill but may proceed from the evil Quality of it. How necessary therefore the Knowledge of Uterine Disea- ses is, judge ye? And how A3 many iv The Epistle many of you labour under them, all through your own Ignorance and Modesty, woeful Experi- ence makes it manifest. For when a Woman is afflicted with any Disease of the Womb; First, Through her Ignorance, She knowing not the Cause thereof, being not instructed in the State of her own Body. And Secondly, Through her Modesty, being loth to divalge and publish the same to a Phy- sician to implore his Aid, she conceals her Grief, and so in- creaseth her Sorrow. For Dedicatory. v For the Aid and Benefit of a Woman in this Cause , have I composed this Treatise. Wherein, as in a Glass, she may see herself in Private, and view the Nature, Cause, Signs, Prodnosticks, and Cure, of all Uterine Diseases, But yet no farther, than thereby to be instructed to confer with the Physician for the Cure of her Grief, left by the misap- plying the Remedy, you aug- ment your Disease: I confess if you look unto the Matter, it is old, if unto the Method, new: Part of it being selected out vi The Epistle out of the Greek, Part out of the Latin Authors, and Part out of the Experience of my own Practice, wherein I have fol- lowed the Industry of the Bee, who gathers Honey out of di- vers Flowers to weave into her own Comb. Many Things more might have been added in it, which for Modesty's Sake my Pen hath omitted. I have also stooped to your Ca- pacities, in avoiding hard Words, and Rhetorical Phra- ses, desiring rather to inform your Judgments with the Truth, though a plain Manner, than to Dedicatory. vii to confound your Understand- ings, with a more Rhetorical Discourse. But fearing to be over-tedious, craving Accep- tance for these first Fruits of my Brain, until God endues me with a better Harvest, I rest, The well Wisher of your Health, NORWICH, Septemb. 29. 1636. JOHN SADLER. Ad Procerces Artis Æsculapii. PRÆNOBILEM Medicinæ Artem ignobili proferre vulgo, Opus haud dignum Hodie non immerito existimetur. Vos igitur qui hu- jus Artis illustrissimæ estis Pro- fessores, me forte an subin ulli esse Animicenseatis; qui Artem banc inclitam gregalibus Verbis deco- ravi: Quod ne putetis, Causam inde meam coram vobis Venia ves- tra sic agam. Sciatis vellem, quod ego ego opusculo hoc meo promulgan- do fœmini num solummodo Sex- um instituere decrevi: Vestra proin Lenitudo & Benevolentia (spero) Conamen istud meum (li- cet squalidum) absq; inusto Stig- mate in Lucem prodire patientur. Hocq; confido magis, quippe quod Hippocrates, qui mihi Examplar est, honoratissimus de hoc Sub- jecto nonnulla vulgo exarata dedit. Et de Materia si quæratur, hanc, ingenuè fateor, me ex Authoribus tum antiquis, turn Modernis ex- cerpsisse totam: Circa quam, si Errorem quendam inscius aut in- cautus expromere videar, suppli- citer peto eundem mihi denudatum fieri, & ipsum elimare Conabor serio. At si Codicillus iste meus incultus Judicio vestro (uti spero) inculparus vixerit; Clementia vest- ra me Vinculo Observantiæ vobis devinctum devinctum habebit imperpetuum. Et quod ad Momum attinet, (cui Calumniandi & Male-dicendi pru- rigo semper inbæret) Flocci pendo, quamvis fungus iste Sannis & Sco- matibus, hunc meum exrceat La- borem quem scire vellem, suam de me Sententiam inanem prorsus levemq; ducere. Tumescat ideo Invidia donec disrumpatur Odio: mihi Curæ est bonos non offen- dere & ignorantes informare. Hic Scopus. Hic Saltus. Hic Pes fi- gendus. Imprimatur. Tho. Weeks, R. P. Episcopo Lond. Cap. Domest. John Smethwicke. Anno 1636. Re-printed 1722. Ornato. Ornato atque erudito Juveni Do- mino Johanni Sadlero Medicinæ Doctori, Alexander Reidus, Ia- trokeirourgos, atq; é Sociorum inclyti Collegii Londinensis Medi- ci numero S. P. D. CLARUM tuum Morborum Uterinorum, Speculum non osci- tantur perlegi, ad eorum & Dignationem & Curationem e- laborasti, quodque publici Juris facturum Te mihi significasti. Si de eo quœras, quid sentiam, brevem apertamque Animi mei Sententiam accipe Dignum existimo quod Lucem aspiciat; ad quod Philiatron om- nes Manibus Versent. Non est meo Judi- cio quod Sciolorum Cerulas miniatulas pertimescas. Phrasis in eo Tersa atque a elegans elegans: in eo certant Brevitas & Per- spicuitas, ut de Te Horatianum istud vere pronmciari non possit, Brevis esse labord, Obscurus fio. Methodus clara est, atque Rei Traditi- oni conveniens. Medicamenta quœ profe- runtur selecta sunt & tuta: Ita ut Liber ipse secure maligni Livoris Dentem con- temnere, Quamobrem oro, Autor sibi sim eum publicandi, ut pulchris Ingenii tui felicis Primitiis Gloria tibi accedat, atque ad Gratitudinem exprimendam Populares omnes obligentur. Londini, prid Id. Januar. Anni ab exhibito in Carne Messia supra Millessimum, Sexcentessimum, Tricessimo, Quinto, Ex Musœlo meo TO TO THE AUTHOR. JUst in thy Spring, did the Nine Muses meet, Whom when they ’spy’d, they did conspire to greet; And with fresh Laurel then Parnassus deck’d, That They on Threesome Honour might reflect. The Multitude amaz’d stood in a Round, To see whose Praise Fame's glorious Trump did found; ’Ere long they heard, that, Sadler, ’twas thy Worth, That caus’d that Stir, and brought the Mu- ses forth. Then did Apollo God of Physic’s Art, And the Nine-Muses all consent in Heart. Thy Thy well-deserving Mind, thy Name, thy State, With Learning, Honour, Fame to celebrate. But foggy Sleepers, and those wanton Boys, That spend their golden Time in melting Joys. Th’ impartial Muses daign not to respect, They neglect Learning, and them They neglect. Or send their Satires, to proclaim their Crime, ’Cause craggy Stairs of Honour they don’t climb; But generous Sadler, thou took’st better Way, By making Learning’s pleasant Fruit thy Prey. Thou sough’st by early, late, by constant Pain, By Cost, by Travel that Thou might’st ob- tain. Not the vain glorious Shell of empty Praise, Which, shines a while and suddenly Decays. But the sound Kernel of the honour’d Arts, Which honour Thee for Thy deserved Parts; Divine Hippocrates, Galen, all such, As read this Book, may witness well thus much. ’Mongst Doctors of thy Art, go, take thy Chair, Now thou mayst rest; green Laurel is thy Share. I. S. I THE Lady’s Physician; OR, A TREATISE OF DISEASES, Arising from the WOMB. INTRODUCTION. IF any one, but of a mean Capa- city were asked what were the Wonder of the World? I think that Reason would move him to answer, MAN; he being the Microcosmos, or little World, to whom all Things are sub- B ordinate; 2 The Lady's Physician; Or, ordinate; agreeing in the Genus with things sen- sitive, all being Animal, but differing in the Spe- cies, for Man alone is endued with Reason: Let us make Man in our Image, after our Likeness. CICERO saith. That all Creatures were made like Moles, to root upon the Earth, Man only excepted; to him was given an upright Frame, to behold that Mansion pre- pared for him above. Now to the End that this so noble and glorious a Creature might not quite perish, hath the Almighty given unto Woman the Field of Generation for a Receptacle of Hu- man Seed; whereby that natural and vegeta- ble Soul which lies potentially in the Seed, may, by the Vis Plastica, be produced into Act; that man being Mortal, and leaving his Off-spring behind him, may become, as it were, Immortal, and live in his Posterity. And because this Field of Generation, to wit, the Womb, is the Subject-Matter from whence our ensuing Discourse is drawn, like so many Lines from the Center; that you may the better judge of that which follows, we will, in brief, lay before you the Parts of the Womb, together with the Qualities of the menstruous Blood. First, Touching the Womb: It is placed in the Hypogastrium, or lower Part of the Belly, in the Cavity called Pelvis, having the (a) (a) Columbus Anatom. de Viceribus. lib. II cap. 16. straight A Treatise of Female Diseases. 3 straight Gut on one Side, to keep it from the hardness of the Back-Bone, and the Bladder on the other Side to defend it from Blows. The Form or Figure of it is like a (b) viril Member, only this excepted, the Manhood is outward, and the Womanhood within. It is divided into the Neck and the Body. The Neck consists of a hard fleshy Substance much like a (c) Cartilage; at the End whereof there is a Membrane transversely placed, cal- led Hymen, or Eugion. (d) Near also unto the Neck there is a prominent Panicle, which it called of Montanus, the Door of the Womb, because it preserveth the Matrice from Cold and Dust. Of the Grecians it is called Kleitoris; Of the Latins, Præputium muliebre, because the Jewish Women did abuse this Part to their own mutual Lust, as Saint Paul speaks, The Body of the Womb is that wherein the Child is conceived, and this is not altogether round, but dilates itself into two Angles, which Herophilus comparing to the Horns of a Calf, called them Keráias. The outward Part of it is Nervous, and full of Sinews, which are the Cause of its Motion, but inwardly it is fleshy. (b) Fuchsius institut. medicin. lib. I. sect. 5. s. 13. (c) Weckerus syntax. lib. I. part. I. p. 67. (d) Hæc etiam Membrana Flos Virginitatis vocatur, quia cum adest, Signum est Virginitasis. Ostiolum Uteri de Uterinis affect. p. 9. B2 It 4 Lady's Physician; Or, It is fabulously reported, that in the Cavity of the Womb, there are Seven divided Cells or Receptacles for Human Seed. But those that have seen Anatomies, do know there are but Two, and those not divided by a Partition, but only by a Line or Suture running through the midst of it. In the right Side of the Cavity, by Reason of the heat of the Liver, (a) Males are conceived. In the left Side, by the Coldness of the Spleen, Females are begotten. And (b) this do most of our Moderns hold, for an infallible Truth; yet Hippocra- tes holds it but in the general; for in whom (saith he) the spermatical Vessel of the right Side comes from the Reins, and the spermatical Vessel of the left Side 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 saying of Empedocles. (c) Such sometimes is the power of the Seed, that a Male may be con- ceived in the left Side, as well as in the right. In the Bottom of the Cavity there are lit- tle Holes, called the Cotyledones, which are the Ends of certain Veins and Arteries, ser- ving, in breeding Women, to convey Su- (a) Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 48. (b) Quibus dextrum Vas spermaticum a Renoli, & Sinistrum a Vena cava descendit, iis Mares sinistrâ, dextrâ vero Parte uteri fæminæ gestantur Hipp 6. Epidem. Initio. (c) La interdum Vis est Seminis, ut Utroque sinu Masculos proserat. stenance A Treatise of Female Diseases. 5 stenance to the Child, which is received by the Umbilical Vein; And in others, to carry Courses into the Matrice. (a) Now, touching the Menstruals: They are refined to be a monthly Flux of excre- mentitious and profitable Blood. In which we are to note, (b) that the Mat- ter flowing forth is Excrementitious; which is to be understood of the Superplus or Re- dundancy of it; For it is an Excrement in Quantity, in Quality being pure and incor- rupt, like unto the Blood in the Veins. And that the menstruous Blood, is pure and simply of itself, all one in Quality with that in the Veins, is proved two Ways: (c) First, from the final Cause of this Blood, which is the Propagation and Conservation of Man- kind; that Man might be conceived; and being begotten, he might be comforted and preserved, both in the Womb, and out of the Womb. And all will grant it for a Truth, that the Child, while it is in the Matrice is nourished with this Blood; and it is as true, that being out of the Womb, it is still nourished with the same; for the (d) Milk is nothing but the menstruous Blood made white in the Breasts; and I am sure (a) Aristot. de Generatione animali. lib. I. c. 20. (b) Sanguis menstruus, est benignus non malignus: in Quantitate, non Qualitate peccans. 14. de Usu Partium 8. (c) Causa finalis menstrui est propagatio & Conservatio hu- mænæ speciei, (d) Aristot. de Generatione Animali lib. 4. Cap. &. B3 Woman's 6 The Lady's Physician; Or, Woman’s Milk is not thought to be veno- mous, but of a nutritive Quality, answer- able to the tender Nature of an Infant. Se- condly, It is proved to be pure from the Ge- neration of it, it being the Superfluity of the last Aliment of the fleshy Parts. It may be objected, If the Blood be not of a hurtful Quality, how can it cause such (a) venomous Effects; as if the same fall up- on Trees and Herbs, it maketh the one bar- ren, and mortifies the other. (b) And Averroes writes, That if a Man accompany with a menstruous Woman, if she conceive, she shall bring forth a Leper. (c) I answer, This Malignity is contracted in the Womb; for the Woman wanting native Heat to digest this Superfluity, sends it to the Matrice, where seating itself until the Mouth of the Womb be dilated, it becomes corrupt and venomous, which may easily be, conside- ring the Heat and Moistness of the Place. This Blood therefore being out of its Vessels, offends in Quality: In this sense let us un- derstand Pliny, Fernelius, Florus, and the rest of that Torrent. (d) But if Frigidity be the Cause why Women cannot digest all their last Nourishment, and, consequently, that (a) Fernelius de heminis Procreatione lib. 7. Cap. 7. (b) Aver. z ollect. Cap. 7. (c) Sol. Sanguis menstruus ob di- uturnam in Utero moram. quandam Naturam contrabit. (d) Laudabilis & alimentorius est bic Sanguis, cujus Causa efficiens est Calor Fæminæ mala debilit. they A Treatise of Female Diseases. 7 they have these Purgations: It remains to give a Reason why they are of do cold a Constitution more than Men; which is this: (a) The natural End of Man’s and Wo- man’s Being, is to propagate; and this In- junction was imposed upon them by God at their first Creation, and again after the Deluge: Now in the Act of Conception, there must be an (b) Agent and a Patient, for if they be both every way of one Con- stitution, they (c) cannot propagate; Man therefore is hot and dry; Woman cold and moist: He is the (d) Agent, she the (e) Patient, or weaker Vessel, that she should (f) be subject unto the Office of the Man. It is necessary likewise that Woman should be of a cold Constitution, because, in her, is required a redundancy of Matter for the Infant depending on her; for otherwise, if there were not a Superplus of Nourish- ment for the Child, more than is conve- nient for the Mother, then would the In- fant detract and weaken the principal Parts of the Mother; and like unto the Vipers, the Generation of the Infant would be the Destruction of the Parent. These month- (a) Gen. I. 28. 9. I. (b) Aliquot ut materia, aliquod ut efficiens. (c) Fernelius de Morbis partium & symptom. lib. 6. cap. 7. (d) Est enim Mas, a quo motus Procreatio- nisque Origo manat. (e) Fœmina verò quæ materiam sege- temq; subministrat. (f) Semen effusum in gremium susci- pientdo. ly 8 The Lady's Physician; Or, ly Purgations (a) continue from the 15th Year to the 46th or 50th. Yet often there hap- pens a Suppression, which is either natural or morbifical. They are naturally supprest in breeding Women, and such as give Suck. The morbifical Suppression falls now into our Method to be spoken of. CHAP. I. Of the Suppression of the Courses. THe Suppression of the Terms is an In- terception of that accustomary Eva- cuation of Blood, which every Month should come from the Matrice, proceeding from the Instrument or Matter vitiated. The part affected is the Womb, and that of itself, or by Consent, The Cause of this Suppression is either external or internal. The external Cause, may be Heat or Dryness of the Air, immo- derate Watching, great Labour, vehement Motion, and the like, whereby the Matter is so consumed, and the Body so exhausted, that there is not a Super plus remaining to be expelled; as is recorded of the (b) Ama- zonites, who being Active, and always in (a) Adde decem ternis, mulierum menstrua cernis, ad quin- quaginta durat Purgatio tota. (b) Varandeus lib. I. de morbis muli. Cap. 2. Motion, A Treatise of Female Diseases. 9 Motion, had their Fluxions very little, or not at all. Or it may be caused by Cold, which is most frequent, making the Blood viscous and gross, condensing and binding up the Passages, that it cannot flow forth. The internal Cause is either Instrumen- tal or Material in the Womb, or in the Blood. In the Womb it may be divers Ways; by Apostumes, Tumors, Ulcers, by the, Nar- rowness of the Veins and Passages; or by the (a) Omentum or Kell in fat Bodies, pres- sing the Neck of the Matrice: But then they must have Hernia Zirbalis: For in Man- kind the Kell reacheth not so low. By o- vermuch Cold or Heat, the one vitiating the Action, and the other consuming the Matter. By an evil Composition of the uterine Parts; by the (b) Neck of the Womb being turned aside; and sometimes, though rarely, by a (c) Membrane or Ex- crescence of Flesh growing about the Mouth or Neck of the Womb. The Blood may be in Fault two Ways, in Quantity, or in Quality: In Quantity, when it is so con- sumed, that there is not a Super plus left, as in (d) Viragoes and Viril Women, who through their Heat and Strength of Nature, digest and consume all their last Nourish- (a) Heurnius de morbis mulierum. cap. I. (b) Galen- nus 5. Aphor. 28. (c) Paræus de hominis Generatione. cap. 51, & 43. (d) Erotis de Passionibus mulier. cap. 23. ment 10 The Lady's Physician; Or, ment; as Hippocrates writes of Phaetusa, who (a) being exiled by her Husband Pythea, her Terms were supprest, her Voice changed, and she had a Beard, with a Countenance like a Man. But these I judge rather to be An- thropophagæ, Women-eaters, than Women- breeders, because they consume one of the Principles of Generation, which gives a Be- ing to the World, viz. The menstruous Blood. The Blood likewise may be consu- med, and consequently, the Terms slayed by bleeding of the Nose; by a Flux of the Embroides; by a Dysenteria, commonly cal- led the Bloody Flux, by many other Evacu- ations, and continual and chronical Dis- eases. Secondly, The Matter may be vitious in Quality; as suppose it be Sanguineous, Phlegmatic, Bilious, or Melancholious, e- very one of these, if they offend in Gross- ness, will cause an Obstruction in the Veins. Signs manifesting the Disease, are Pains in the Head, Neck, Back, and Loins, Wea- riness of the whole Body, but especially of the Hips and Legs, by Reason of a Consi- nity which the Matrix hath with these Parts: Trembling of the Heart. Particular Signs are these, if the Suppression proceeds of Cold, she is heavy, sluggish, of a pale Co- lour, and hath a slow Pulse; Venus's Combats (a) Hippoc, Epidem. 6. are A Treatise of Female Diseases. II are neglected, the Urine is crude, watrish, and much in Quantity; the Excrements of the Guts usually are retained. If of Heat, the Signs are contrary to those even now recited. If the Retention be natural and come of Conception; this may be known by drinking of Hydromel (a), that is Water and Honey, after Supper going to Bed, and by the Effect which it worketh; for, after the taking of it, if she feels a bea- ting Pain about the Navel and lower Parts of the Belly, it is a sign she hath conceived, and that the Suppression is natural: If not, that it is vicious, and ought medicinally to be taken away. For the Prognosticks are, that with the evil Quality of the Womb the whole Body stands charged; But especially the Heart, the Liver, and the Brain; and betwixt the Womb and these three princi- pal Parts, there is a singular Consent. First, The Womb communicates to the Heart by the Mediation of those Arteries which come from Aorta; hence the Terms being suppresssed, will ensue Faintings, Swoon- ings, Intermission of Pulse, Cessation of Breath. Secondly, It communicates to the Liver by the Veins derived from the hollow Vein; hence will follow Obstructions, Cachexies, Jaundice, Dropsies, hardness of the Spleen. (a) Hippoc. lib. Apho. 41. Thirdly, 12 The Lady's Physician; Or, Thirdly, It communicates unto the Brain, by the Nerves and Membranes of the Back; hence will arise Epilepsies, Apoplexies, Fren- zies, melancholy Passions, Pain in the after Parts of the Head, Fearfulness, Inability of Speaking. Well therefore may I conclude (a) with Hippocrates. If the Months be suppress, many dangerous Diseases will follow. In the Cure of this, and of all the other following Effects, I will observe this order. The Cure shall be taken from Chirurgical, Pharmaceutical, and Diætetical Means. This Suppression is a plethorick Effect, and must be taken away by Evacuation; and therefore first we will begin with Phle- botomy, i.e. Bleeding. In the midst of the menstrual Period, open the Liver Vein; and for the Reversion of the Humour, two Days before the wonted Eva- cuation, open the Saphena on both Feet. If the Repletion be not great, apply cupping Glasses to the Legs and Thighs. And al- though there be no Hope to remove the Suppression (as in some the Cotyledons are so closed up, that nothing but Copulation will open them) yet it will be convenient, as much as may be, to ease Nature of her Burthen, by opening the Hemorrhoid Veins with a Leech. After Bleeding, let the Humours be (a)Lib. 5. Apho. 57. prepared A Treatise of Female Diseases. 13 prepared and made fluxile with Syrrup of Stæchas, Calamint, Betony, Hysop, Mugwort, Horehound, Fumeter, Maidenhair. Bathe with Camomile, Penny-royal, Savine, Bay-leaves, Ju- niper-berries, Rue, Marjoram, Feverfew, ꝶ. of the Leaves of Nep, Maidenhair, Succory, Beto- ny, ana. m.j, make a Decoction; take thereof ℥ iij. Syrrup of Maidenhair, Mugwort, Succory, ana. ℥s. Misce: After she comes out of the Bath, let her drink it off. Purge with Pil. de Agarico, Elephang. Coch. Fœtid. Galen in this Case commends Pil. de Hiera cum Colo- cyntide; for as they be proper to purge the Humour offending, do also they do open the Passages of the Womb, and strengthen the Faculty by their Aromatical Quality. If the Stomach be overcharged, let her take a Vomit; yet such an one as may work both ways, lest working only upward, it should too much turn back the Humour. ꝶ. Trochisks of Agrick ʒij. infuse them in ℥iij of Oximel, in which dissolve of the Electuary Dia- sarum ℈ is. Benedic. Laxat. ℥s: Take this af- ter the manner of a Purge. After the Humour hath been purged, pro- ceed to more proper and forcible Remedies. ꝶ. Trochisks of Myhre ʒis. Parsley-seed, Castor, Rhinds of Cassia ana ℈i. of the Extract of Mugwort ℈is. Musk gr. x. with the Juice of Smallage make 12 Pills, take 2 eve- ry Morning or after Supper going to Bed. ꝶ. of Cinnamon ℥s. Roots of Smernium, Va- C lerian 14 The Lady's Physician; Or, lerian, Aristolochia, ana ʒii. Roots of As- rum ʒi, Castor, Saffron, ana ℈ii. Spec. Diam- bræ. ʒii. Trochisks of Myhre ℈iiii, Tartari Vitriolati, ℈ii. make all into a Powder; with Mugwort-water and Sugar qs make Lozenges, take ʒi of them every Morning; or mingle ʒi of the Powder with ʒi of Sugar, and take it in white Wine. ꝶ. Of prepared Steel, Spe- cierum bieræ ana 3ii. Borace, Species of Myhre, ana Ei, with the Juice of Savine make 38. take three every other Day immediately before Dinner. ꝶ. Of Castor Ei. wild Carrot seed ℈s. with Syrrup of Mugwort make 4 Pills, take them in the Morning fast- ing, and so for three Days together, be- fore the wonted Time of the Purgati- ons. ꝶ. Of Agarick, Aristolochia, Juice of Horehound, ana ʒv. Rhubarb, Spicknard An- niseed, Galbanum, Assasætida, Smallage- Roots, Gentian, of the three Peppers, Laccæ, ana ʒvi. with Honey make an Electuary; take of it ʒiii for a Dose. In phlegmatical Bodies, nothing better can be given than the Decoction of the Wood Guaiacum, with a little Dictam taken in the Morning fasting, and so for 12 Days together without provo- king of Sweat. Administer to the lower Parts by Suffumi- gation, Pessaries, Unctions, Injections, In- sessions. Make Suffumigations of Cinnamon, Nut- meg, Cloves, Bay-berries, Mugwort, Galba- num, A Treatise of Female Diseases. 15 num, Melanthium, Amber, &c Make Pes- saries of Figgs, and the Leaves of Mercury bruised and rowled up with Lint. If you desire a stronger; make one of Myhre, Bde- lium, Opoponax, Ammoniacum, Galbanum, Sagapenum, Mithridate, Agarick, Colo- quintida &c. Make Injections of the De- coction of Origane, Mugwort, Mercury, Betony and Figgs, pouring the same into the Womb by a Metrenchita. ꝶ. Oyl of sweet and bitter Almonds, Lillies, Capers, Cam- momile ana ℥s. Laudani, Oyl of Myhre, ana ʒii. with Wax make an Unguent; with which let the Places be anointed. Make Insessions of Fængreek, Cammomile, Me- lilote, Dill, Marjoram, Penny-royal, Fever- few, Juniper-berries and Calamint. But if the Suppression comes by a Defect of Mat- ter, then ought not the Courses to be provo- ked, until the Spirits be animated, and the Blood again increased. Or if by proper Affects of the Womb, as Dropsies, Inflama- tions, and the like; then must a particular Cure be used, the which I will not insist up- on here, but treat of them as they lie in Order. If the Retention comes from Repletion or Fulness; let the Air be hot and Dry; use moderate Exercise before Meals; let your Sleep be shorter than ordinary; and your Meat and Drink attenuating. Seeth with your Meat Garden Savory, Thime, O- C2 rigan 16 The Lady's Physician; Or, rigan and (a) Ciche Reason. If of Empti- ness or Defect of Matter; let the Air be moist and moderately hot; Shun Exercise and watchings, let your Meat be nourish- ing, and of a light Digestion; as rear-Eggs, Lamb, Chickens, Almond-Milk, and the like. CHAP. II. Of the overflowing of the Courses. THE Learned say, by comparing of Contraries, Truth is made manifest. Having therefore spoken of the Suppression of the Terms; Order requires now , that I should insist upon the overflowing of them, an Effect no less dangerous than the former. And this immoderate Flux of the Months, is defined to be a sanguineous Excrement proceeding from the Womb, exceeding both in Quantity and Time. First, It is said to be sanguineous, the Matter of the Flux being only Blood; wherein it differs from the false Courses, or Whites; of which I will speak hereafter. Secondly, It is said to proceed from the Womb; for there are two Ways by which the Blood flows forth. The one is by the (a) Cicer. Arietinum. internal A Treatise of Female Diseases. 17 internal Veins in the Body of the Womb; and this is properly called the Monthly Flux. The other is by those Veins which are termi- nated in the Neck of the Matrice, and this is called of Ætius, the Hemorrhoids of the Womb. Lastly, It is said to exceed both in Quantify and Time. In Quantity, faith Hipo- pocrates, (a) when they flow above 18 Ounces. In Time, saith Aristotle, when they flow above three Days. (b) But we take this for a certain Character of their inordinate flowing, when the Faculties of the Body thereby are weak- ned. In Bodies abounding with gross Hu- mours, this immoderate Flux sometimes unburthens Nature of her Load, and ought not to be stayed without the Counsel of a Physician. The Cause of this Effect is internal or ex- ternal. The internal Cause is threefold; in the Matter, Instrument, or Faculty. The Matter, which is the Blood, may be vitious, two ways. First, In Quantity, it being so great, that the Veins are not able to contain it. Secondly, (c) In Quality, it being adult, sharp, watrish or unconcocted. The Instru- ment, viz: the Veins are faulty by the dila- tation of the Orifice; which may be caused two ways: First, By the Heat of the Consti- (a) Hippoc. lib. I. de morbis mul. (b) Aristorelis. Y. T. de Hist, Animal: ca. 3. (c)Hippoc. l. 2. de morbis mu- licrum. C3 tution 18 The Lady's Physician; Or, tution, Climate or Season, heating the Blood whereby the Passages are dilated, and the Faculty weakened that it cannot retain the Blood. Secondly, By Falls, Blows, violent Motion, breaking of a Vein, &c. The external Cause may be calidity of the Air, lifting, carrying of heavy Bur- thens, unnatural Child-Birth, Falls, &c. In this inordinate Flux the Appetite is decayed, the Concoctions depraved, and all the Actions weakened, the Feet are swelled, the Colour of the Face is changed, and a general Feebleness possesseth the whole Bo- dy. If the Flux comes by the breaking of a Vein, the Body is sometimes cold, the Blood flows forth in heaps, and that sudden- ly, with great Pain. If it comes through Heat, the Orifice of the Veins being dilated, then is there little or no Pain, yet the Blood flows faster than it doth in an Erosion, and not so fast as it doth in a Rupture. If by E- rosion or Sharpness of Blood, she feels a great Heat, scalding the Passage; It differs from the other two, in that it flows not so suddenly nor so copiously as they do. If by Weakness of the Womb, she abhorreth the Use of Venus. Lastly, if it proceeds from an evil Quality in the Blood; drop some of it on a Cloth, and when it is dry, (a) you may judge of the Quantity by the Colour. If it (d) Hippoc. lib. I. de morbis mulierum. be A Treatise of Female Diseases. 19 be cholerick, it will be Yellow, if Melan- choly, Black; If phlegmatic, waterish and whitish. If with the Flux be joyned a Convulsion, it is (a) dangerous, because it intimates, the more noble Parts are vitiated; and a Con- vulsion caused by Emptiness is deadly. If it continues long it will be cured with great Difficulty: for it was one of the Miracles which our Saviour Christ (b) wrought to cure this Disease when it had continued 12 Years. To conclude, if the Flux be inordinate (c) many Diseases will ensue; and without Re- medy, the Blood together with the native Heat being consumed, either chacherial, hydropical, or paralytic Diseases will fol- low. The Cure consisteth in three Particulars; First, in repelling and carrying back the Blood. Secondly, In correcting and ta- king away the Flexibility of the Matter. Thirdly, In corroborating the Veins and Faculty for the first; To cause a Regression of the Blood, open a Vein in the Arm, and draw out so much Blood as the Strength of the Patient will permit; and that (d) not to- gether, but at several Times; for hereby the Spirits are the less weakened, and the Retra- ction so much the greater. (a) Hippoc. lib, 5. Aphor. 56. (b) S Matth. 9. 20. (c) Hippoc, l. 5. 57.(d) Non consertim sed per intervalla. Apply 20 The Lady' Physician; Or, Apply cupping Glasses to the (a) Breasts; and also to the (b) Liver, that the Reversion may be the Fountain. To correct the Flexibility of the Matter, cathartical Means moderated with Astricto- ries must be used. If it be caused by Erosion or Sharpness of Blood; consider whether the Erosion be by salt Phlegm, or adust Choller, If by salt Phlegm; prepare with Syrrup of Violets, Wormwood, Roses, Citron-pills, Succory, &c. then take this Purgation following. ꝶ. Myrobolan. Chebul. ℥s. Trochisks of Aga- rick ʒi. with Plantain-Water make a De- coction: Add thereunto syr. rosat. lax. ℥iii. make a Potion. If by adust Choller, prepare the Body with Syrup of Roses, Myrtles, Sorrel, Pur- celain, commixt with Water of Plantain, Knotgrass, and Endive; then purge with this Potion. ꝶ. Rinds of Myrobalans, Rhu- barb, ana ʒi. Cinnamon gr. xv. infuse them one Night in Endive-Water: Add to the straining, Pulp of Tamarind, Cassia, ana ℥s, Syrup of Roses ℥i. make a Potion. If the Blood be watrish and unconcoct, as it is in Hydropical Bodies, and flows forth by Reason of the tenuity and thin- (a) Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 50. (b) Riolanus sect. 4. tract. 2. de morbis Uteri. ness, A Treatise of Female Diseases. 21 ness, the Use of Hydragoga will be profita- ble. Purge with Agarick, Elaterium, and Coloquintida. Sweating is proper in this Case, for by it, the Matter offending is taken away, and the Motion of the Blood is carried to the outward Parts. To procure Sweat, she may take Carduus Water with Mithridate: Or the Decoction of Guajacum, Sassafras, and Sarsa-parilla, the Gum of Guajacum also doth greatly provoke Sweat. Pills of Sarsa- parilla taken every Night going to Bed are worthily commended. If the Blood flows forth from the opening or breaking of a Vein, without any evil Quality in itself, then ought only Corroborative to be apply- ed, which is the last thing to be done in the Cure of this inordinate Flux. ꝶ. Of Bole-armony ℈i.; London Treacle ʒi, old conserve of Roses, ℥s. with Syrrup of Myrtles make an Electuary. Or if the Flux hath continued long, ꝶ. Of Mastick ʒii. Olibani, troch. de carabe ana ʒi. Balausti- orum, Ei. make a Powder; with Syrup of Quinces make it into Pills; take one always before Meals. Rx. Lapidis hæmatitis triti ana ℈ii. specierum triasantali ʒi. troch. de carabe, de scoria ferri, Coral, Frankincense, ana ℈i. fine Bole ℈i. beat these to a fine Powder, and with Sugar and Plantain-Water q.s. make Lozenges. Asses Dung is well appro- ved of whether taken inwardly with Syrrup of Quinces, or applied outwardly with stee- led 22 The Lady's Physician; Or, led Water. Galen by conveying the Juice of it, through a Metrenchita into the Womb 4 Days together, cured this immoderate Flux, which no ways else could be restrain- ed. Going to Bed, let her take ℈is. Philonii Romani in a Wafer, make Suffumigations for the Matrice, of Mastick, Frankincense, burnt Frogs, not forgetting the Hoof of a Mule. ꝶ. Of the Juice of Knotgrass Comfe- ry, Quinces, ana ℥s. Campher, ʒi. dip Silk-Cotton therein, and apply it to the Pla- ces. R. Oyl of Mastick, Myrtles, Quinces, ana ʒs. fine Bole, troch. de Carabe, sanguinis Draconis, ana ʒi. Wax and Vinegar q. s. make an Unguent, apply it both before and behind. ꝶ. Of Plantain, Shepherds-Purse, red Rose Leaves ana M.iii. Of Goats and Asses Dung dried, ana ℥is. acatiæ, Hypocistidos ana ℥is. dried Mint ℥i. Bean-meal ℥iii. Boil all these in Plantain-Water, and make of it two Plaisters; apply one before and the o- ther behind. If the Blood flows from those Veins which are terminated in the Neck of the Matrice, then it is not called the over- flowing of the Terms, but the Hemorrhoids of the Womb; yet the same Cure will serve them both; only the instrumental Cure will a little differ; for in the esterine Hemor- hoids, the Ends of the Veins hang over like little Teats or Pushes which must be taken a- way by (a) Incision, and then the Veins clo- (a) Lege apud Paulum, lib. 6. c. 71. sed A Treatise of Female Diseases. 23 sed up with Aloes, fine Bole, burnt Allom, Troch. de Terra Sigil. Myhre, Mastick, with the Juice of Comfrey, and Knot-grass, laid Plaisterwise thereto. The Air must be cold, and dry: All Mo- tion of the Body is forbidden. Let her Meat be Pheasant, Partridge, Mountain- Birds, Conies, Calves-Feet, &c. And let her Beer be mixt with the Juice of Quinces and Pomegranates. CHAP. III. Of the Weeping of the Womb. THE Weeping of the Womb, is an un- natural Flux of Blood coming from the Womb by Drops, or after the manner of Tears; causing violent Pains in the same; keeping neither Period nor Time. By some it is referred unto the immoderate Evacuati- on of the Courses, yet they are distinguish- ed in the Quantity and Manner of their flowing. In that they flow copiously and freely; In this continually, yet by (a) little and little, and that with great Pain and Diffi- (a) Distinguuntur secundùm magis & minus, & Exeundi mode. culty 24 The Lady's Physician; Or, culty: Wherefore it is likened unto the (b) Strangury. The Cause is the Faculty, Instrument, or Matter. In the Faculty, by being enfee- bled, that it cannot expel the Blood: and the Blood resteth there, makes the Parts of the Womb grow hard, and stretcheth the Ve- ssels, from whence proceeds the (c) Pain in the Womb. In the Instrument, by the Nar- rowness of the Passages. Lastly, It may be in the Matter of the Blood, which may of- fend in too great a Quantity, or in an Evil Quality, it being gross and thick, that it cannot flow forth as it ought to do, but by Drops. The Signs will best appear by the relation of the Patient. Hereupon will ensue Pains in the Head, Stomach, and Back, with Inflammations, Suf- focations, and Excoriations of the Matrice. If the Strength of the Patient will permit, first open a Vein in the Arm, rub the upper parts, and let her Arms be corded, that the force of the Blood may be carried back- ward. Then apply such things as may laxate and mollify the stretching of the Womb, and asswage the sharpness of the Blood; as Ca- taplasmes made of Bran, Line-seed, Fæn- (b) Silvius Comment, de mensibus Mulicrum. (c) Dolor tensivus Uteri, greek, A Treatise of Female Diseases. 25 greck, Melilote, Mallows, Mercury and Atri- plex: If the Blood be viscous and gross, add thereto Mugwort, Calamint, Dictam and Betony: and let her take of Venice Treacle the quantify of a Nutmeg with Syrrup of Mugwort every Morning. Anoint the Pla- ces with Oyl of Lillies, Roses, Lineseed, Sweet Almonds, and Calves Marrow. Make Injections of the Decoction of Mallows, Mercury, Lineseed, Groundsel, Mugwort, Fængreck, with Oyl of sweet Almonds. Sometimes it is caused by a Wind, and then Phlebotomy is to be omitted; and in the stead thereof, ꝶ. Syrup of Feverfew ℥i. Honey of Roses, Syrup of Stæchas, ana ℥s. Water of Calamint, Mugwort, Betony, Hysop, ana ℥i. make a Julep. If the Pain continues, take this Purgation. ꝶ. Specie- rum hieræ ʒi diachatholicon ℥s. Syrup of Ro- ses Laxative ℥i. with the Decoction of Mug- wort and the 4 Cordial Flowers, make a Potion. If it comes through Weakness of the Faculty, let that be corroborated. If through Grossness or Sharpness of the Blood, let the Quality of it be altered as I have in the foregoing Chapter. Lastly, If the Excrements of the Gut be retained, pro- voke them by a Clyster, of the Decoction of Chamomile, Betony, Feverfew, Mal- lows, Linseed, Juniper-Berries, Cummin- seed, Aniseed, Melilote; adding thereto D of 26 The Lady's Physician; Or, of Diacatholicon, ℥s. hieræ picræ ʒii. Honey, Oyl, ana ℥i. Sal niter ʒis. The Patient must abstain from Salt, sharp and windy Meats. CHAP, IV. Of the False Courses or Whites. FRom the Womb proceeds not only the Menstruous Blood, but accidentally many other Excrements, which by the An- cients are comprehended under the Title of Rhous Gunaikaios, which is a Distillation of Va- riety of corrupt Humours through the Womb, flowing from the whole Body, or part of the same keeping neither Course nor Colour, but varying in both. The Cause, is either promiscuously in the whole Body, by a Cachochymia or Weak- ness of the same, or in some of the Parts; as in the Liver, which by the Inability of sanguificative Faculty, causeth a Generation of corrupt Blood; and then the Matter is reddish; sometimes in the Gall, being slug- gish in its Office, not drawing away those cholerick Superfluities which are ingen- der’d in the Liver, and the Matter is Yel- lowish. Sometimes in the Spleen, not defeca- ting A Treatise of Female Diseases. 27 ting and cleansing the Blood of the Dreggs and excrementitious Parts; and then the Mat- ter flowing forth, is Blackish. It may also come from Catarrhs in the Head; or from any other putrify’d or corrupted Member. But if the Matter of the Flux be white, the Cause is either in the Stomach, or Reins, In the Stomach, by a phlegmatically and crude Matter there contracted, and vitiated through (a) Grief, Melancholy, and other Distempers: For otherwise, if the Matter only Pituita, crude Phlegm, and no ways corrupt or vitiated, being taken unto the Liver in might be converted into Blood; for Phlegm in the Ventricle, is call’d (b) Nourishment half digested: (c) But being corrupt though sent unto the Liver, yet it cannot be turned into Nutriment; for the second Concoction cannot correct that the first hath corrupted; and there- fore the Liver sends it to the Womb which can neither digest it nor repel it, and so it D2 is (a) Ex mærore Tristitia & Animi Affectionibus, Vires dejiciutur & vitiatur prima Concoctio: Gal. Arte medi- cinali. (b) Pituita est succus alimentarius, & Sanguis ex di- midio coctus Fernal. de Functionibus & Humoribus lib. 6. cap. 9. (c) Dimidio coctum alimentum; quod in Jecore concoctum Sanguis sit. Fuschius institus. med. lib. 1. Srct. 4 cap. 3. secunda Concoctio non potest corrigere primam Viti- atam. 28 The Lady's Physician; Or, is voided our, still keeping the Colour which it had in the Ventricle. The Cause, al- so may be in the Reins being over-hot whereby the spermatic Matter, by Reason of its thinness, flows forth. The external Cause may be Moistness of the Air, eating of corrupt Meats, Anger, Grief, Slothfulness, immoderate Sleeping, Costiveness of Body. The Signs are extenuation of the Body, Shortness and Stinking of Breath, Loathing of Meat, Pain in the Head, Swelling of the Eyes and Feet; Melancholy Humidity flows from the Womb of divers Colours, as red- dish, Black, Green, Yellow, White: It differs from the flowing and over-flowing of the Courses, in that it keeps no certain Periods, and is of many Colours, all which do degenerate from Blood. If the Flux be flegmatical it will continue long, and be difficult to cure, yet if vomiting or the Flux Diarrhœa happeneth, diverting the Humour, it cures the Disease. If it be cholerick, it is not so permanent, yet more perilous, for it will cause (Rhagadia) Clifts in the Neck of the Womb, and sometimes make an Excoriation in the Matrix. If Melancho- lius, it is most dangerous and contumacious; yet the (a) Flux of the Hemorrhoids admi- nisters Cure. If (a) Hyppoc. 6. Aphor. II. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 29 If the Matter flowing forth be reddish, open a Vein in the Arm; if not, apply Li- gatures to the Arms and Shoulders. (a) Ga- len glories of himself how he cured the Wife of Boetius labouring of this Disease, by rub- bing the upper Parts with Crude Honey. If it be caused by a Distillation from the Brain, take Syrup of Betony, Stæchas, and Marjoram: Purge with pil. coch. sine quibus, de Agarico: Make Nasalia of the Juice of Sage, Hysop, Betony, Nigella, with one Drop of Oyl of Cloves and a little silk Cot- ton. ꝶ. Elect. Dianth. Aromat. Rosat. Diam- bræ, Diamosci dulcis, ana ʒi. Nutmeg ʒs. with Sugar and Betony Water, make Lozenges, to be taken every Morning and Evening. Take Aureæ Alexandrinæ ʒs. at Night going to Bed. If these Things help not, use the Suffumigation, and Pla- ster as they are prescribed, hereafter. If it proceeds from Crudities in the Sto- mach, or from a cold distemper’d Liver, take every Morning of the Decoction of Lignum sanctum. Purge with pil. de Agarico, de Hermodact. de Hieræ Diacolocynthid. fætidæ, Agrigativæ. ꝶ. Elect. aromat. rof. ʒii. Cytron- pills dried, Nutmeg, long Pepper, ana ℈i. diaga- langæ 3i. Santali albi, Ligni Aloes ana ℈s. Sugar ℥vi. with Mint-Water make Lozenges. Take of them before Meals. If with Frigidity of the Liver, there be joined a Repletion of the Sto- D3 mach, (a) Galen, lib. de prænot ad posihum. c. 8. 30 The Lady's Physician; Or, mach, purging by Vomit is commendable: For which take ʒiii. of the Electuary Diasarus. Ga- len allows of diuretical Means; as of Apium, Pe- croselinum, &c. If the Matter of the Flux be cholerick, prepare the Humour with Syrup of Roses, Violets, En- dive, Succory. Purge with Myrobalans, Manna, Rhubarb, Cassia. ꝶ. Of Rhubarb, ʒii. Ani- seed ʒi. Cinnamon ℈is. infuse them in ℥vi of prune Broth. Add to the straining of Manna ℥i; and take it in the Morning according to Art. ꝶ. Specierum Diatrionsantalon, diatragacant frig. diarrhod. abbatis, diacydonit. ana. ʒi. Sugar ℥iiii with Plantain Water make Lozenges. If the Clyster of the Gall be sluggish, and do not stir up the Faculty of the Guts, give hot Clysters of the Decoction of the four mollifying Herbs, with Honey of Roses and Aloes. If the flux be Melancholious, prepare with Syr- up of Maidenhair, Epithimum, Polipodie, Bor- age, Bugloss, Fumiter, Hart's-Tongue, and Syru- pus byzantinus, which must he made without Vinegar: Otherwise, it will rather animate the Disease than Nature; for Melancholy by the Use of Vine- gar is increas'd; and both by Hippocrates, Sil- vius, and Avenzoar, it is disallow’d of, as an Enemy (a) to the Womb, and therefore not to be used inwardly in uterine Diseases. Purgers (a) Hyppoc. lib. 3. de rations victus in morbis acutis. (b) Jacobus Silvius comment. de Mensibæs Mulierum. Avenziar lib. 2 t act. 5. 6. I. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 31 Purges of Melancholy are pilulæ fumariæ, pilulæ Indæ, Pil. de Lapide lazuli, diasena and Confectio bamech. ꝶ. Of stamped Prunes ʒii. Sene 3i. Epithilmum, Polipodie, Fumeter, ana ʒis. sowre Dates ℥i. with Endive-Water make a Deco- ction: Take here of ℥iiii. add unto it confectionis hamech ʒiii. Manna ʒiii. Or ꝶ. pil. Indarum, pil. Fœtidarum, agarici trochiscati ana ℈i. Pills of Rhubarb, ℈s. Lapidis lazuli gr. vi. with Syrrup of Epithimum make Pills, take them once every Week. ꝶ. Elect. lætificantis Galeni ʒiii. Diamargariti calidi ʒi. diamosci dulcis, Conserves of Borrage, Violets, Bugloss, ana ʒs. Citron Pills condited ʒi. Sugar ℥vii. with Rose Water make Lozenges. Lastly, If the Womb be cleansed from the corrupt Matter, and then corroborated: for the purifying thereof, make Injections of the Decoction of Betony, Feverfew, Mugwort, Spicknard, Bistort, Mercu- ry, Sage, adding thereto Sugar, Oyl of sweet Al- monds ana ℥ii. Pessaries also may be made of silk Cotton, modified in the Juice of the forenamed Herbs. To Corroborate the Womb, you may thus pre- pare Trochists. ꝶ. Of Mugwort, Feverfew, Myrrhe, Amber, Mace, Nutmeg, stirax, Ligni aloes, red Roses ana ℥i. with the mucilage of tragacanth, make Trochists: Cast some of them on the Coals, and smother the Womb therewith. Make Fomen- tations for the Womb, of red Wine, in which hath been decoted, Mastick, Fine-bole, Balaustia, and red Roses: Annoint the Matrix with Oyl of Quinces 32 The Lady's Physician; Or, Quinces and Myrtles; and apply thereto Empla- strum pro Matrice; and let her take of Diamos- cum dulce and elect. Aromaticum every Mor- ning. A drying (a) Diet is commended to be best, because in this Effect the Body most commonly a- bounds with flegmatical and crude Humours. For this Cause (b) Hippocrates counsels the Pa- tient to go to Bed supperless. Let her Meat be Par- tridge, Pheasant, Mountain-Birds rather roasted than Boiled. Immoderate Sleep is forbidden, moderate. Exercise is commended. CHAP V. Of the Suffocation of the Mother. THis Affect which simply consider’d is none, but the Cause of an Affect, is called in English the (c) Suffocation of the Mo- ther, not because the Womb is strangled, but for that it causeth the Woman to be chok- ed. It is a Retraction of the Womb, towards the Diaphragm and Stomach, which presseth and crusheth up the same, that the Instru- mental (a) Galen. lib. de victu at tenuante. (b) Hyppoc. l. 2. (c) Ab eo quod mulieres præfocet. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 33 mental Cause of Respiration, the Midriff is suffocated; which consenting with the Brain, causeth the Animal Faculty, the efficient cause of Respiration, also to be intercepted; whereby the Body being refrigerated, and the Actions depray’d, she falls to the Ground as one being dead. In these Hysterical Passions, some continue longer, some shorter. (a) Rabby Moyses writes of some, which lay in the Paroxism of the Fit, two Days. (b) Russius Mention of one, which continued in the same Passion, three Days and three Nights; and at the three Days End she revived, That we may learn by other Mens Harms to beware, I will give you one Example more. (c) Paræus writeth of a Woman in Spain, which suddenly fell into a Uterine Suffocation, and appeared to the Judgment of Man as dead: Her Friends Wondering at this her sudden Change, for their better Satisfaction, sent to the Chirur- geon to have her defected, who beginning to make an Incision, the Woman began to move, and with a great Clamour returned to herself again, to the Horrour and Admiration of all the Spectators. To (a) Rabby Moyses lib. 2. directorii cap. 41. (b) Jacobus Ruffius lib. 6. de morbis Mulierum cap. 8. (c) Ambrosius Paræus lib. de Generatione Hominis Chap. 64. 34 The Lady's Physician; Or, To the End therefore, you may distinguish the Living from the Dead, the Ancients pre- scribe three Experiments. The first, is to lay a light Feather to the Mouth, and by the Motion of it you may judge, whether the Patient be living or dead. The second, is to place a Glass of Water on the Breast, and if you perceive it to move, it betokeneth Life. The third, is to hold a pure looking Glass to the Mouth and Nose; and if the Glass appear thick, with a little Dew upon it, it betokeneth Life. And these three Experiments are good; yet with this Caution, that you ought not to depend on them too much: For, though the Feather and the Water, do not move, and the Glass continue pure and clear, yet it is not a ne- cessary Consequence that she is destitute of Life: For, the Motion of the Lungs, by which the Respiration is made, may be ta- ken away that she cannot Breath, yet the in- ternal Transpiration of the Heat may remain, which is not manifested by the Motion of the Breast, or Lungs, but lies occult in the Heart, and inward Arteries. Examples (a) hereof we may have in the Fly and Swallow, which in the Cold of Winter, to the Ocular Aspect, seem dead, inanimate, and breathe not at all, yet they live by the Transpiration of that Heat which is reserved in the Heart, and (a) Arist. l. I. Historia Animal. I. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 35 and inward Arteries; therefore when the Summer approacheth, the internal Heat being relocated to the outward Parts, they are then again revived out of their sleepy Ecstasy. Those Women therefore that seem to die suddenly, and upon no evident Cause, let them not be committed unto the Earth un- til the End of three Days, lest the living be buried for the Dead. The Part affected, is the Womb; of which there is a Twofold Motion, Natural and Symp- tomatical. The Natural Motion, is when the Womb atrracted the Human-seed, or exclu- ded the Infant or Secundine. The Symp- tomatical Motion, of which we are here to speak, is a convulsive Drawing upward of the Womb. The Cause usually is in the Retention of the Seed, or in the Suppression of the Months, causing a Repletion of corrupt Humours in the Womb; from whence proceeds, a flatu- lent Refrigeration, causing a Convulsion of the Ligaments of the Womb. And as it may come from Humidity or Repletion, be- ing a Convulsion, it may be caused by Empti- ness or (a) Dryness. And Lastly, By Abortion or difficult Child-birth. At (a) Arist. I. de generatione Animal. 36 The Lady's Physician; Or, At the Approaching of the (a) Suffocation there is a Paleness of the Face, Weakness of the Legs, Shortness of Breath, Frigidity of the whole Body, with a working up into the Throat, and then she falls down, as one void both of Sense and Motion. The Mouth of the Womb is closed up, and being touched with the Finger feels hard. The Paroxysm of the Fit once past, she openeth her Eyes, and feeling her Stomach opprest, she offers to vomit. And least that any should be de- ceived in taking one Disease for another, I will shew how it may be distinguish’d from those Diseases which have the nearest Affini- ty with itself. It differs from the Apo- plexy, being it comes without shrieking out also in the Hysterical Passion; the Sense of Feeling is not altogether so destroyed and lost, as it is in the Apoplectical Disease. It differs from the Epilepsie, in that the Eyes are not wrested, neither do any spumy Froth come from the Mouth! and that convulsive Motion which sometimes is joined to the Suffocation, is not so universal as it is in the Epilepsie, only this or that Member is con- vuls’d, and that without any vehement A- gitation. In the Syncope, both Respiration and Pulse is taken away; the Countenance waxeth pale, and he founds a way suddenly, but (a) Galenus de locis affectis cap. 5. A Treatise of female Diseases. 37 but in the Hysterical Passion, commonly there is both Respiration and Pulse, though it cannot well be perceived, her Face looks red, and she hath a fore-warning of her Fit. Yet it is not deni'd but a Syncope may be joined with this Suffocation. Lastly, It is distinguish’d from the Lethargy by the Pulse which in the one is great, in the other lit- tle. If this Disease hath its being from the Cor- ruption of the Seed, it fore-tells (a) more danger than if it proceeded from the Sup- pression of the Courses, because the Seed is concocted, and of a purer Quality, than the menstruous Blood; and the more pure be- ing corrupted, becomes the more foul and filthy; as appears in Eggs the purest Nou- rishment, which vitiated, yield the noisom- est Savour. If it be accompanied with a Syncope, it shews Nature is but weak, and the Spirits are almost exhausted. But if (b) Sneezing follows, it shews that the Heat which was almost extinct, doth now begin to return, and that Nature will subdue the Disease. In the Cure of this Affect, two Things must be observed: First, That during the Time of the Paroxism, Nature be provok’d E to (a) Magninus Mediolanensis, de Regimine sanitatis. cap. de Coitu. (b) Hippoc. lib. 5. Apher. 35l. 38 The Lady's Physician; Or, to expel those malignant Vapours, which bind up the Senses, that she may be recall’d out of that sleepy Extasy. Secondly, That in the Intermission of the Fit, proper Me- dicines be apply’d to take away the Cause. To stir up Nature, fasten cupping Glasses to the Hips and Navel: Apply Ligatures to the Thighs. Rub the extream Parts with Salt, Vinegar and Mustard. Cause loud Cla- mours and Thunderings in her Ears. Apply to the Nose Assa Fætida, Castor and Sagapenum steeped in Vinegar. Provoke her to sneeze by blowing up into her Nose, the Powder of Castor, white Pepper, Pellitory of Spain, and white Hellibore. Hold under her Nose Par- tridge Feathers, Hair and old Shoes burnt, and all other stinking Things: For evil Odours are an Enemy to Nature, hence the Animal Spirits do so contest and strive against them that the natural Heat is thereby restored. The Brain is so oppress sometimes, that we are compell’d to burn the outward Skin of the Head, with hot Oyl, or with a hot Iron. Sharp Clysters and Suppositories are available. ꝶ. Of Sage, Calamint, Horehound, Feverfew, Marjoram., Betony, Hysop, ana m. i. Aniseed, ℥s. Coloquintida, White Hellibore, Salisgemmæ, ana ʒii. Boil these in lib. ii. of Water to the half. Add to the straining Oyl of Castor, ℥ii. Hieræ Picræ 3ii. make a Clyster. Or, Rx. Of Honey oiled, ʒii, Euphorbii ℈s. Coloquintida. gr. iiii. white A Treatise of Female Diseases. 39 white Hellebore, gr. ii. Salt ʒi. make a Suppository. Hippocrates writeth of a Hysterical Woman which could not be freed from the Pa- roxism, but by pouring cold Water on her: Yet this Cure is particular, and ought, says Hippocrates, to be administered, in the midst of Summer when the Sun is in the Tro- pick of Cancer. If it be caused by the Retention and Cor- ruption of the Seed; at the Instant of the Pa- roxism, let the Midwife take Oyl of Lillies, Marjoram and Bays, dissolving in the same, of Civet and Musk ana gr. ii. Let her dip her Finger therein, and put it up into the Neck of the Womb, tickling and rubbing the same. The Fit being over, proceed to the curing, of the Cause. If it ariseth from the Sup- pression of the Months, look the Cure, before mention'd. If from the Retention of the Seed, a good Husband will administer Cure: But those who cannot honestly purchase that Cure, must use such things as will dry up and di- minish the Seed, as Diacyminum, Diacalamin- thes, &c. Amongst Botanicks, the Seed of Agnus Castus is well esteemed of, whether ta- ken inwardly, apply’d outwardly, or re- ceiv’d as a Suffumigation: It was held in great (a) Honour amongst the Athenians, for E2 by (a) Libro de Ortu Sanitatis. cap. II. 40 The Lady's Physician; Or, by it they did remain as pure Vestals, and preserved their Chastity, only by throwing it in the Bed whereon they lay; hence the Name Agnus Castus, is taken from the Effect. Make an Issue on the Inside of each Leg, a Handful Breadth below the Knee. ꝶ. Tro- chisks of Agarick ℈ii. wild Carrot Seed, Ligni Aloes ana ℈s. wash'd Turpentine ʒiii. with Conserve of Anthos, make a Bolus. The Use of Castor, is worthily commended, ʒi. of it be- ing taken in White Wine, or you may make Pills of it with Mithridate, and take them go- ing to Bed. ꝶ. Of white Briony-Root, dryed and cut after the manner of Carrots, ℥i. Put it into a Draught of Wine, placing it by the Fire, and when it is warm, drink it off. Quersitan draweth (a) a Fæcula out of the Root, the Sub- stance of which is to be taken in white Wine or Peony Water. ꝶ. Of Myrrhe, Castor, Assafæti- da, ana ℈i. Saffron, Rue-seed, ana gr. iiii. Make 8 Pills, take every Night 2 at your entrance into Bed. Galen, by bis own, Ex- ample, commends unto us Agarick pulveriz’d, of which he gave frequently, ℈i. in white Wine. ꝶ. Of the Seeds of Rue , Agnus Castus, Anise, Fenell ana ʒs. Lign Aloes, Citron-Pills, dried ana ℈i. Sugar ℥iii. with Feverfew Water make Lozenges. ꝶ. Of Tryphera magna Nic 3i. Mugwort-Water ℥iiii. Take this every other Day (a) Pharm. Dogmat. restituta, cap. 5. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 41 Day for the space of 12 Days. Hang about her Neck little Tablets of Ungulæ Alces. ꝶ. of Bdellium Ammoniacum, ana ℥ii. Agnus Ca- stus, Centory, Cassia-Wood, Feverfew, Marjoram, ana ʒis. Turpentine, q. s. -make two Plaisters, apply one before and the other behind. Lay it to the Navel, at Bed Time, a Head of Garlick bruised, fastening it with a swathing Band. Make a Girdle of Galbanum for the Waste, and also a Plaister for the Belly, placing in one part of it, both Civet and Musk, which must be laid upon the Navel. ꝶ. Pulveris Bene- dict. Trochisks of Agarick, ana ʒii. Mithridate q.s. make a Pessary: It purgeth the Matrice of Wind and Phlegm: Foment the natural, Parts with Sallad Oyl, in which hath been boiled Rue, Feverfew and Chamomil. ꝶ. Of Rose-leaves m. i. Cloves ℈ii. Twist them up in a little Cloth and boil them in Malmsy, the Eighth Part of an Hour; and then apply them close to the Mouth of the Womb, as hot as may be endur’d: Let her be co- ver'd swell, that the Smell passeth not to the Nose. A drying Diet must be observ’d, the mo- derate use of Venus is commended. Let her Bread, be Aniseed Basket; and her Flesh, Meat, rather roasted than boil'd. E3 CHAP 42 The Lady's Physician; Or, CHAP VI. Of the descending or falling down of the Mother. THE Falling down of the Womb, is a Relaxation of the Ligatures, where- by the Matrice is carried backward, and in some, hangs out in the Bigness of an Egg. Of this, there be two kinds distinguish’d of (a) Fernelius by Descensus, and Prolapsus, by a descending and a Precipitation. The descending of the Womb, is when it sinketh 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 Purse, is turned the Inside outward, and hangs betwixt the Thighs in the Bigness of a Cupping glass. The Cause is external, or internal. The external Cause is difficult Child birth, vio- lent pulling away of the Secondine, Rashness and Inexperience in drawing away of the Child, violent Coughing, Sneezing, Falls, Blows, carrying of Heavy Burthens. The internal Cause, in general, is overmuch Hu- midity flowing unto those Parts, hindering the Opera- (a) Fernelius lib. 6. de Partium Morbis. cap. 16. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 43 Operations of the Womb, whereby the Li- gaments, by which the Womb is supported are relax’d. The (a) Cause in particular, is referr’d to be in the Retention of the Seed, or in the Suppression of the Courses. The Arse-Gut and the Bladder are often- times so crush’d, that the Passage of both the Excrements is hinder’d. If the Urine doth flow forth, it is white and thick: The Præ- cordia are molested, the Loyns be grieved, the Privities pained, the Womb sinks down to the Entrance of the private Parts, or else comes clean out. This Grief possessing an old Woman, is cured with great Difficulty, because it wea- kens the Faculties of the Womb, and there- fore, though it be reduc’d into its proper Place, yet upon every Occurrence it is sub- ject to the like Danger it was in before. So is it with the younger Sort, if the Dis- ease be inveterate. If it be caused by Pu- trefaction of the Nerves, it is incurable. The Womb naturally being plac’d be- tween the straight Gut and the Bladder, and now fallen down, ought not to be put up again, until the Faculty both of the Guts and Bladder be stirr’d up. Nature being unloaded of her Burthen, let the Woman be placed on her (b) Back, in (a) Hippoc. 2. Epidem. Arist. 7. de Historia Animali. (b) Hippoc. l. 2. de Morbis Mulierum. 44 The Lady's Physician; Or, in such sort 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 mollifie the Swelling with oyl of Lillies, and sweet Almonds, or with the Decoction of Mallows, Beets, Fæn- greck, and Linseed. When the inflammation is dissipated, let the Midwife anoint her Hand with Oil of Mastick, and reduce the Womb into its Place. The Matrice being put up, the situation of the Patient must be changed. Let her Legs be out at Length, and laid together. Set Cupping-Glasses to the Breasts and Navel. Boil Mugwort, Feverfew, red Roses, and Comfety in red Wine, and foment the Places therewith. Make a Suf- fumigation for the Matrice of Castor, Assa- Fætida, Frankincence and Mastick; ꝶ San- darachæ Olibani, Cipress-Nuts, ana ʒiii. Ma- stick, Stirax, Frankincense, ana ℥i. Fine-bole ʒi. with Oyl of Myrtles and Wax, make two Pla- sters, apply one before, and the other behind. ꝶ Of red Roses, Pomgranate-Pills, Acorn-Cups, Myrtle-berries, ana ℥ii. Medlar Leaves, Sage, Rue, Origin, Comfrey, Wormwood, ana mis. Boil all these in Water, and make an Insessi- on. Move sweet Odours to the Nose: And at the Coming out of the Bath, give her of Syrup of Feverfew, ℥i. with ʒi. of Mi- thridate. ꝶ Ladani, Mastick, ana ℥iii. Gal- bani ℥s. Styracis, ʒii. Make a Plaister for the Navel. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 45 Navel. Make Pessaries of Assafætida, Saffron, Comfery, Mastick, adding thereto a little Castor. The Practice of (a) Paræus, in this Cause, to make them only of Cork, in Figure like a little Egg, covering them over with Wax and Mastick dissolv’d together, fastening to it a Thread, and so to put it up into the Womb. The present Danger being now ta- ken away, and the Matrice seared in its na- tural Abode, the remote Cause must be re- moved. If the Body be plethorick, open a Vein; Prepare with Syrup of Betony, Cala- mint, Hysop and Feverfew. Purge with Pil. de Hiera cum Agarico, Pil. de Colocynthide. If the Stomach be oppressed by Crudities, unbur- then it by vomiting. Sudorifical Decoctions of Lignum-Sanctum and Sassafras taken twenty Days together, drys up the superfluous Moi- sture, and consequently, suppresseth the Cause the Disease. Let the Air be hot and dry, and your Diet hot and attenuating. Abstain from dancing, leaping, sneezing, and from all Motion both of Body and Mind. Eat sparingly, drink not much, sleep moderately. CHAP (a) Paræus de Generatione Hominis, cap. 41. 46 The Lady's Physician; Or, CHAP VII. Of the Inflammation of the Womb. THE Phlegmon or Inflammation of the Ma- trice, is a Tumour possessing the whole Womb or part of it, accompanied with un- natural Heat, by Obstructions and gathering together of corrupt Blood. The Cause of this Affect is Suppression of the Months, Repletion of the whole Body, immoderate Use of Venus, often handling of the Genitals, difficult Child-birth, vehement Agitation of the Body, Falls, Blows; to which also may be added, the use of sharp Pessaries, whereby not seldom the Womb is enflam’d. Cupping-Glasses also fastened to the Pubes and Hypogastrium, draw the Humours to the Womb. The Signs are Aguish Horrors, Pains in the Head and Stomach, vomiting, Coldness of the Knees, Convulsions of the Neck, Doat- ing, Trembling of the Heart; sometimes there is a Dyspæna or Straightness of Breath, by Reason of the Heat which is communica- ted to the Diaphragm. The Breasts sympa- thizing with the Womb, are pain’d and swel- led. Particular Signs. If the Fore-part of the Matrice is inflam’d, the Privities are griev'd A Treatise of Female Diseases. 47 griev’d, the Urine is supprest, or flows forth with Difficulty. If the After-Part; the Lyons and Back suffer, the Excrements are retai- ned. If the right Side, the right Hipp suffers, the right Leg is heavy, slow to Mo- tion, insomuch that sometimes she seems to hault. And so if the left Side of the Womb be inflam’d, the left Hip is pain’d, and the left Leg is weaker than the right. If the Neck of the Womb be affected, the Mid- wife, putting up her Finger, shall feel the Mouth of it retracted and closed up, with a Hardness about it. All Inflammations of the Womb are (a) dangerous, if not deadly; and especially if the total Substance of the Matrice be in- flam'd. Yet less perilous are they if they be in the Neck of the Womb. A Flux of the Belly fore-tells Health if it be natural; for Nature works best by the Use of her own Instruments. In the Cure, First, Let the Humours flow- ing to the Womb be repell’d; for effecting of which, after the Belly hath been loosened by cooling Clysters, Phlebotomy will be need- ful. Open therefore a Vein on the Arm; and if she be not with Child, the Day after, strike the Saphena on both Feet. Fasten Ligatures and Cupping-Glasses to the Arms, rub the upper Parts. Purge (a) Hippoc. l. 2. de morbis Mulierum. 5. Aphor. 43. 48 The Lady's Physician; Or, Purge lightly with Cassia, Rhubarb, Sene, Myrobolanes, &c. ꝶ. Of Sene ʒii. Aniseed ℈i. Myrobolanes ℥s. Barley-Water, s.q. make a Decoction: Dissolve in it Syrup of Succory, with Rhubarb ℥ii. Pulp of Cassia ℥s. Oyl of A- niseed, gut. ii. make a Potion. At the Be- ginning of the Disease, anoint the Privities and Reins, with Oyl of Roses and Quinces. Make Plaisters of Plantain, Linseed, Barley- meal, Melilote, Fœngreck, Whites of Eggs; and if the Pain be vehement, add a little O- pium. Foment the Genitals with the Deco- ction of Poppy-heads, Purselain, Knotgrass and Water-Lillies. Make Injections of Goats-Milk, Rose-Water, clarify’d Whey, with Honey of Ro- ses. In the Declining of the Disease, use In- sessions of Sage, Linseed, Mugwort, Penny-roy- al, Horehound, Fængreck. Anoint the lower Parts of the Belly, with Oyl of Chamomill and Violets. ꝶ. Of Lilly-Roots, Mallow-Roots, ana ℥iiii. Mercury, m. i. Mugwort, Feverfew, ana m. f. Camomill-Flowers, Melilote, ana p.i. Bruise the Herbs and the Roots, and boil them in a sufficient Quantity of Milk: Then add of fresh-Butter, Oyl of Chamomill. Lillies, ana ℥ii. Bean-Meal, f.q. make two Pla- sters, apply one before and the other be- hind. If the Tumour cannot be removed but tends to suppurarion. ꝶ. Of Fængreck, Mal- low Roots, decocted Figs, Linseed, Barley-meal, Doves A Treatise of Female Diseases. 49 Doves Dung, Turpentine ana ʒiii. Deers Suet, ʒs. Opium, Es. with Wax, make a Plaister. ꝶ. Of Bay-Leaves, Sage, Hysop, Cammomil, Mug- wort, with Water make an Insession. ꝶ. Of Worm-Wood, Betony ana ms. White-Wine, Milk, ana lib. s. Boil them until one part be con- sum'd; then take of this Decoction ℥iiii. Honey of Roses, ℥ii. make an Injection. Yet be- ware the Humours be nor brought down unto the Womb. ꝶ. Of roasted Figs, Mercu- ry bruised, ana ʒiii. Turpentine, Ducks-Grease, ana ʒi. Opium gr. ii. with Wax, make a Pes- sary. The Air must be cold: All Motion o£ the Body, especially of the Lower Parts is forbidden, Vigilance is commended, for by Sleep, the Humours are carried inward, whereby the Inflammation is increased, Eat sparingly. Let your Drink be Barley Wa- ter, or clarified Whey; and your Meat, Chi- kens and Chiken-Broth, boiled with Endive, Succory, Sorrel, Bugloss and Mallows. F CHAP 50 The Lady's Physician; Or, CHAP VIII. Of the Schirrosity, or Hardness of the Womb. OF a Phlegm neglected, or not perfect- ly cur’d, is generated a Schirrus (a) of the Matrice, which is a hard unnatural Swel- ling insensible, hindring the Operations of the Womb, and disposing the whole Body to Slothfulness. One Cause of this Disease may be ascri- bed to Want of Judgment in the Physician; as many Empiricks, administering to an In- flammation of the Womb, do over much re- frigerate and astringe the Humour, that it can neither pass forward nor backward; hence the Matter being condens’d, degene- rates, as it were, into lapidious or hard Sub- stance. Other Causes may be Suppression of the Menstruals; Retention of the Lochia commonly call’d the after-Purging; Eating of corrupt Meats, as in the disordinate Long- ing call’d Pica, unto which breeding Wo- men are often subject. It may proceed also from Obstructions and Ulcers in the Ma- trix; or from evil Effects in the Liver and Spleen, If, (a) Galenus lib. 2. Artis curativæ æd Glauconem. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 51 If the Bottom of the Womb be affected, she feels, as it were, a heavy Burthen repre- senting a Mole; yet differing, in that the Breasts are attenuated, and the whole Body waxeth less. If the Neck of the Womb be hardened, no outward Humour will appear; the Mouth of it is retracted, and being touch’d with the Finger feels hard, that she cannot have the Company of a Man with- out great Pain and Pricking. A Schirrus confirm’d, is (a) incurable, and will turn into a Canker or a Dropsy, and ending in a Canker, proves (b) deadly; be- cause the native Heat in those Parts, being almost smother’d, can hardly again be re- stored. Where there is a Repletion, Phlebotomy, by our Master Galen is both commended and Commanded. Wherefore open the Mediana on both Arms, and then the Saphena on both Feet, especially if the Terms be sup- pres’d. Prepare the Humour with Syrrup of Bor- age, Succory, Epithimum, and clarify’d Whey. Then take of these Pills following, according to the Strength of the Patient. ꝶ. Hieræ picræ ʒvi. Black Hellibore, Pollipodie, ana ʒiis. Agarick, Lapidis Lazuli abluti, Salis, 2 5 Indi (a) Riolanus de Morbis Uteri, sect. 4. tract. 2. (b) Hippoc. libro. 6. Aphor. 38. 52 The Lady's Physician; Or, Indi, Coloquintida, ana ʒis. Misce, make Pills. The Body being purged, proceed to molify the Hardness, as followeth. Anoint the Pri- vities and the Neck of the Womb, with Unguentum dialtheæ and Agrippæ. Or, ꝶ. Of Opopanax, Bdellium, Ammoniacum, Myrrhe, ʒii. Saffron, ʒs. Dissolve the Gumms in Oyl of Lilies and sweet Almonds; with Wax and Turpentine make an Unguent. Apply be- low the Navel the Plaister of Melilote and Diachylon Fernelij. Make Insessions of Figs, Mugwort, Mallows, Penny-royal, Althea, Fennel-roots, Melilote, Fængreck, Linseed boiled in Water. Make Injections of Cala- mint, Lineseed, Melilote, and Fængreck, and the four mollifying Herbs, with Oyl of Dill, Camomile, and Lillies, dissolving the same In ʒiii. of the Gumm Bdellium. Cast the stone Pyrites on the Coals, and let her receive the Fume of it into her Womb. Foment the secret Parts with the Decoction of the Leaves and Roots of Danewort. ꝶ. Of the Gumm Galbanum, Opopanax, ana ʒi. Juice of Dane- wort. Mucilage of Fængreck ana ℥s. Calves- marrow, ℥i. Wax q.s. make a Pessary. Or make a Pessary only of Lead, dipping it in the afore-said things, and so put it up. The Air must be temperate, gross, viscu- ous and salt Meats are forbidden; as Pork, Bull-Beef, Fish, old Cheese, &c. CHAP A Treatise of Female Diseases. 53 CHAP IX Of the Dropsy of the Womb. THE Uterine Dropsy is an unnaturall Swelling, elevated by the gathering together of Wind, or Phlegm, in the Cavi- ty, Membranes or Substance of the Womb, by Reason of the Debility of the native Heat, not digesting the Aliment receiv’d, and so it turns into an Excrement. The Causes are overmuch Cold and Moist- ness of the Milt and Liver, immoderate Drinking, Eating of crude Meats; all which causing a Repletion, do suffocate the native Heat. It may be caused likewise by the Overflowing of the Courses, or by any o- ther immoderate Evacuation. To these be added Abortion, Ulcers, Phlegmon, and Schirrosities of the Womb. The Signs of this Affect are these. The lower Parts of the Belly with the Genitals are puffed up and pained, the Feet swell, the natural Colour of the Face decays, the Ap- petite is depraved, and the Heaviness of the whole Body concurs: If she turns herself in the Bed from one side to the other, a Noise like the Flowing of Water is heard. Water sometimes comes from the Matrices. F3 If 54 The Lady's Physician; Or, If the Swelling be caused by Wind, the Belly being hit with the Hand, sounds like a Drum , the Guts rumble, and the Wind breaks through the Neck of the Womb with a murmuring Noise. This Affect may be distinguisg’d from a true Conception many Ways, as will appear by comparing this Chapter with the I 3. It is distinguish'd from the general Dropsy, in that the lower Parts of the Belly are most swell'd. Again, in this the sanguificative Faculty doth not ap- pear so hurt, nor the Urine so pale, nor the Countenance so soon changed; neither are the superior parts so extenuated as in the general Dropsy. This Affect fore-tells the total Ruin of the natural Functions, by that singular Consent the Womb hath with the Liver, and there- fore that a Cachexia or a general Dropsy will follow. In the Cure of this Disease, imitate the Practice of (a) Hippocrates. First, mitigate the Pain, with Fomentations of Melilote, Mercury, Mallows, Line-seed, Chamomil, Althea. Then let the Humour be prepared with Syrup of Stæchas, Hysop, Calamint, Mugwort, de Bisant. With the distill'd Wa- ters or Decoctions of Dodder, Marjoram, Sage, Origan, Sperage, Penny-royal, Be- tony, (a) Hippoc. lib. de Morb. Mulierum. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 55 tony, purge with Sena, Agarick, Rhubarb, Elaterium. ꝶ. Specierum hieræ, Rhubarb, Trochisks of Agarick ana Ei. with the Juice of Ireos make Pills. Or ꝶ. pill. de Rhubarbaro 3s. pill. de Mezereo ℈i. with Mugwort Water make Pills. In Diseases which have their being from Moistness, purge with Pills; and in those Affects which are caused by Empti- ness or Dryness, purge with Potions. Fast- en cupping glass to the Belly with a great Flame, and also to the Navel, especially if the Swelling be flatulent. Make an Issue on the Inside of each Leg, a Handful Breadth below the Knee. ꝶ. Specierum Diambræ, Diamosci dulcis, Diacalamenti, Diacinnamomi. Diacymini troch. de Myrrha ana ʒii. Sugar lb. i. with Betony Water make Lozenges: Take of them two Hours before Meals. Apply to the Bottom of the Belly, as hot as may be endur’d, in a little Bag of Cammomil, Cummin and Melilote, boil’d in Oyl of Rue. Anoint the Belly and secret Parts with Unguentum Agrippæ and Unguentum O- regon, mingling therewith Oyl of Ireos. Co- ver the lower Parts of the Belly with the Plaister of Bay-berries, or with a Cataplasm made of Cummin, Cammomil, Briony- roots, adding thereto Cows and Goats Dung. Our Moderns ascribe a great Vir- tue to Tobacco-Water, distill’d and pour’d into the Womb by a Metrenchyta. ꝶ. Of Baum, 56 The Lady's Physician; Or, Baum, Southernwood, Origan, Wormwood, Ca- lamint Bay-leaves, Marjoram, ana m i. Juni- per-berries ℥iiii. with Water make a Decoction: of this may be made Fomentations, Injecti- ons and Infessions. Make Pessaries of Stirax, Alloes, with the Roots of Dictam, Aristolochia, and Gentian. Instead of this you may use the Pessary before prescribed. Let her take of Electuarium Aromaticum, Diasatyrion, and Eringo Roots, condited every Morning. The Air must be hot and dry: moderate Exercise is allow’d. Much Sleep is forbid- den. She may eat the Flesh of Partridges, Larks, Chickens, Mountain-Birds, Hares, Conies, &c. Let her Drink be thin Wine. CHAP X. Of Barrenness. IN Times past, before (a) Women came to the Marriage Bed, they were first sear- ched by the Midwife; and those only which she allow’d of, as fruitful, were ad- mitted. (a) Hoc suit maximum Opus obstetricum, scire conjun- gere invicem corpora- apta ad conceptione. Nimoleus Ro- cheus de Morbis Mul. cap. 20. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 57 mitted. I hope therefore it will be thought a needless Labour, to shew how ye may prove yourselves, and turn the stony Ground into a fruitful Soil. Barrenness is a Deprivation of Life and Power, which ought to be in the Seed, to procreate and propagate; for which End both Man and Woman made. It is caused by overmuch (a) Heat or Cold, that, drying up the Seed and making it corrupt; this, extinguishing the Life of the Seed, making it watrish and unfit for Gene- ration. It may be caused also by the not flowing or overflowing of the Courses, by Swellings, Ulcers and Inflammations of the Womb; by an (b) Excrescence of Flesh growing about the Mouth of the Matrice: By the Mouth of the Womb being turned unto the Back, or Side; By the Grossness and Fatness of the Body, whereby the Mouth of the Matrice is closed up; by being with the (c) Omentum or Caul, and prests the (d) Matter of the Seed is converted into Fatness. Or if she be of a lean and exhaust Body, to the World she proves Barren, be- cause (a) Hippoc. 6. Epidem. 5. Aphor. 62. (b) Mauricius Cordæusin Hippoc. lib. I. de Mulieri- bus. Comment. 7. (c) Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 46. (d) Arist. 2. de partibus animal. 58 The Lady's Physician; Or, cause though she doth conceive, yet the Fruit (a) of the Womb will wither before it comes to Perfection, for Want of Nourish- ment. (b) Aetius and (c) Sylvius ascribe one main Cause of Barrenness to compell’d Co- pulation; as when Parents enforce their Daughters to have Husbands contrary to their Liking, therein marrying their Bodies but not their Hearts, and where there is a want of (d) Love, there, for the most part, is no Conception; as appears in Women which are (e) deflowered against their Will. Another main Cause of Barrenness, is attri- buted to the want of a convenient modera- ting Quality, which the Woman ought to have with the Man, as, if he be hot, she must be cold; if he be dry, she must be moist; but if they be both dry, or both moist of Constitution, they cannot propagate, (f) and yet simply considered of themselves, they are (a) Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 44. (b) Aetius libro ultimo cap 26. (c) Sylvius libello de Generatione Hominis comment. (d) Coitus coactus, est Coitus inanis. (e) Non concipitur Fætus absque mutua Voluptate. Co- lumbus de Anatom. l. II. cap. 16. Cujusgus complectio- nis excessus, mutua Qualitatium contrariarum repugnantia coerceretur. (f) Sæpe tamen usu venit, ut neuter coeuntium sit ste- rilis sed quia corum inter so sunt abhorrentes natura, nihil idcirco exsese, ex alias vero generare possint. Fernelius de partium Morbis & Symptom. lib. 6 cap. 7. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 59 are not barren; for he or she which before was as the Barren Fig-tree, being now joy- ned with an apt Constitution, becomes as the fruitful Vine. And, that Man and Wo- man being every way of a like Constitution cannot procreate, I will bring Nature itself for a Testimony, who hath made (a) Man of a hotter Constitution than Woman, that the Quality of the one may moderate the Quality of the other. If Barrenness (b) proceeds from the over- much Heat, she is of a Dry Body, subject to Anger, she hath black Hair, quick Pulse, her Purgations flow but little, and that with Pain, she loves to play in the Courts of Venus. But if it comes by Cold, then are the Signs con- trary to those even now recited. If through an evil Quality in the Womb, make a Suffumi- gation of red (c) Storax, Myrrhe, Cassia-Wood, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and let her receive the Fume of it into the Womb, covering her Very close; and if the Odour so received passeth through the Body up into the Mouth and Nostrils; (d) of herself she is fruitful: But if she feels not the Fume in her Mouth and (a) Cum itaq: calidum frigido, commixtum suerit, ex bujusmodi commixtione aliquid generare potest. (b) Hortensius Baptista lib. II. divin. instit. de anima vegetiva cap. 19. (c) Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphor. 59. (d) Lege apud Moschinem cap. 161. 60 The Lady's Physician; Or, and Nose, it argues Barrenness one of these Ways; that the Spirit of the Seed is either through Cold extinguish'd, or through Heat dissipated. If any Woman be suspected to be unfruitful, cast natural Brimstone, such as digged out of the Mine, into her Urine, and if Worms breed therein, of herself she is not barren. Barrenness maketh Women look young, because they are free from those Pains and Sorrows, which other Women are accustom- ed to bring forth withal. Yet they have not that full Perfection of Health which fruit- ful Women do enjoy, because they are not rightly purged of the menstrual Blood and superfluous Seed, the Retaining of which Two, are the principal Cause of most Uterine Diseases. First, The Cause shall be removed, and then the Womb strengthened, and the Spirits of the Seed enlivened. If the Womb be over hot; take Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, Syrup of Violets, En- dive, Roses, Cassia, Purselain. ꝶ. Of Endive, Water-Lillies, Borage-Flowers, ana m. Rhubarb, Myrobolanes ana ʒiii with Water make a De- coction, Add to the straining of the Syrup lax- ative of Violets ℥i. Syrup of Cassia ℥s. Man- na ʒiii. make a Potion. ꝶ. Of the Syrrup of Mugwort ℥i. Syrrup of Maiden-Hair, ℥ii. Water of Succory, Borrage, Fennel, ana ℥iii. Pulv. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 61 pulv. elect. triasand. ʒi. make a Julep. ꝶ. Diapru. solut. elect. ros. Mesuæ ana ʒiii. Rhu- barb ℈i. make a Bolus. Apply to the Reins and Privities, Fomentations of the Juice of Lettice, Violets, Roses, Mallows, Vine-leaves and Nightshade: Anoint the secret Parts with the cooling Unguent of Galen. If the Power of the Seed be extinguish’d by cold, take every Morning two Spoonfuls of Cinnamon-Water with ℈i. of Mithridate. ꝶ. Syrrup of Calamint, Mugwort, Betony, ana ℥i. Water of Penny-royal, Feverfew, Hysop, Sage, ana ℥ii. make a Julep. ꝶ. Oyl of Aniseed ℈is. Diacymini, Diacalaminthæ, Diamosci, Diaga- langœ ana ʒi. Sugar ℥iiii. with Water of Cin- namon make Lozenges: take of them ʒis. twice a Day two Hours before Meals. Fasten Cupping- glasses to the Hips and Belly. ꝶ. Of Styrax, Calamint, ana ℥i. Mastick, Cloves, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, lig. Aloes, Frankincense, ana ℥s. Musk gr. 10. Ambergrease ℈s. with Rose-Water make a Confection: Divide it into four equal Parts. Of one part make a Pomum Odoratum to smell on, if she be not hysterical. Of the Second, make a Mass of Pills, and let her take three every Night. Of the Third, make a Pessary, dip it in Oyl of Spikenard, and put it up. Of the Fourth, make a Suffumi- gation for the Womb. If the Faculties of the Womb be weakened, and the Life of the Seed, suffocated by overmuch Humidity, G flowing 62 The Lady's Physician; Or, flowing into those parts; ꝶ. Of Betony Mar- joram, Mugwort, Penny-royal, Baum, ana m. i. Roots of Asrum, Fennel, Ellecampane ana ʒii. Aniseed, Cummin ana ʒi. with Sugar and Wa- ter s.q. make a Syrrup, take of ℥iii. every other Morning. Purge with these Pills following; ꝶ. Of Digridion gr. ii. Specierum Dacastorci, ℈i. pil. fœtid. ℈ii. with Syrup of Mugwort, make vi. Pills. ꝶ. spec. Diagemmœ, Diamosci, Di ambrœ, ana ʒi. Cinnamon ʒis. Mace, Cloves, Nutmeg ana ʒs. Sugar ℥vi. with Water of Feverfew make Lozenges, to be taken of every Morning. Take of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla and Virga Aurea, not forgetting Sage; which Agrippa wondering at the Operation of, hath honour’d it with the Name of an (a) holy Herb. And it is recorded, that after so many of the (b) Egyptians were dead, the surviving Women, that they might multiply the faster, were commanded to drink the Juice of (c) Sage. Anoint the Genitals with Oyl of Aniseed and Spicknard. ꝶ. Of Mace, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Stirax, Amber ana ʒi. Cloves, Ladani ana ʒs. Turpentine q. s. make Trochiscks, to smother the Womb. ꝶ. Of the Roots of Valerian, Ellecampane, ana lb. i. Ga- langale, ℥ii. Origan, Lavender. Marjoram, Betony, (a) Sacra Herba. (b) Heurnius methodns ad praxin. cap. 14. (c) Read, Dodonœus's History of Plants. lib. 2. cap. 77. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 63 Betony, Mugwort, Bay-leaves, Calamint, ana m. iii. with Water make an Insession, in which she shall sit after she hath had her Courses. If Barrenness proceeds from Dryness, con- suming the Matter of the Seed: Take every Day of Almond-Milk, and Goats-Milk ex- tracted with Honey. Eat often of the Roots Satyrion condited, and of the Electuary Dia- satyrion. Take three Sheeps-Heads, boil them until the Flesh comes from the Bones, then take of Melilote, Violets, Chamomil, Mer- cury, Orchis, with their Roots ana m.i. Fæn- greck, Lineseed, Valerian Roots ana li. i. Let all these be decocted in the foresaid Broth, then let the Woman sit in the Decoction up to the Navel. ꝶ. Of Deer's-Suet ℥s. Cows- Marrow, Stiracis liquidæ ana ʒii. Oil of sweet Almonds ℥ii. with silk Cotton make a Pessary. Make Injections of Fresh-Butter and Oil of sweet Almonds. If Barrenness be caused by any proper Effect of the Womb, the Cure is set down in the fore-going Chapters. Sometimes the Woman proves barren when there is no Im- pediment of either side; except only in the Manner of the Act: As when in the Emis- sion of the Seed, the Man is quick, and the Woman too slow, whereby there is not a Concourse of both Seeds at the same Instant, G3 as 64 The Lady's Physician; Or, as the (a) Rules of Conception require. Wherefore to rake away this Inconvenience, Mulier preparari ac disponi debet molli Complexu, lascivis Verbis, Oscula lasciviora miseenda. If this doth not suffice; before the Act of Co- ition, Foment the private Parts with the Decoction of Betony, Sage, Hysop and Cala- mint. Anoint the Mouth and Neck of the Womb with Musk and Civet. The Cause of Barrenness being removed, the Womb shall be corroborated as follows. ꝶ. Of Bay-berries, Mastick, Nutmeg, Frankin- cense, Cypress-Nuts, Ladani, Galbani, ana ʒi. Stiracis liquid. ℈ii. Cloves ℈s. Amber-grease gr. ii. Musk gr. vi. with Oyl of Spicknard, make a Pessary. ꝶ. Of red Roses, Lapidis Hæmatitis, White Frankincense ana ℥s. Sang. Draconis, Fine-bole, Mastick, ana ʒii. Nutmeg, Cloves, ana ʒi. Spicknard ℈s. with Oyl of Wormwood, make Plaister for the lower Part of the Belly. Let her eat often of Eringo-Roots condited. Make an Injection only of the Juice of the Roots of Satyrion. The aptest Time for Conception, is in- stantly after the (b) Months be ceas’d, be- cause then the Womb is thirsty and dry, apt to draw the Seed, and also to retain it, by (a) Petrus Bayrus pract. lib. 3. 15. cap. (b) Post Purgationem siccior est Uterus & Semen avidius trahit. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 65 by the roughness of the inward Superficies. And besides, in some, the Mouth of the Womb is turned unto the (a) Back, or Side, and is not placed right until the last Day of Courses. Excess in all things is to be avoided, lay aside all Passions of the Mind. Shun Study and Care as adverse to Conception; for if a Woman doth conceive, the wife Parents being otherwise addicted, often beget foo- lish Children, because the Animal Faculties of the Parents, viz. the Understanding and the rest (from whence the Child hath his Reason) are, as it were confus’d, through the Multiplicity of Cares and Cogitations. Examples hereof we have in learned Men, who after great Study and Care, instantly accompanying with their Wives, often be- get doating Children. A hot, and moist Air is most convenient, as appears by the Women in Egypt, who usually bring forth three, or four Children at one Time. G3 CHAP (a) Rhoderic, cast. de Natura Muliebri. lib. 2. cap. 13. 66 The Lady's Physician; Or, CHAP XI. Of the Mola, or Half-Conception. THis Disease, is called of the Greeks. Mule, and the Cause of this Denomina- tion is taken from the Load or heavy Weight of it, it being a Mole, or great Lump of hard Flesh burthening the Woman. It is defined to be an inarticulate Piece of Flesh without Form, begotten in the Matrice, as if it were a true Conception: In which Definition we are to note two Things. First, In that a Mole is said to be inarticulate, and without Form, it differs from Monsters, which are both Formata and Articulata. Se- condly, It is said to be, as it were, a true Conception, which puts a Difference be- tween a true Conception and a Mole; which Difference holds good three Ways. First, In the Genus, in that a Mole cannot be said to be animal. Secondly, In the Spe- cies, because it hath no Human Figure, and bears not the Character of a Man. Thirdly, in the Individuum, for it hath no Affinity with the Parent, either in the whole Body, or any Particle of the same. About the Cause of this Affect, amongst learned Authors, I find Variety of Judg- ments A Treatise of Female Diseases. 67 ments. (a) Some are of Opinion, that if the Woman’s Seed goes into the Womb, and not the Man’s, thereof is the Mole pro- duced. (b) Others there be that affirm, it is ingendred of the menstruous Blood: But if these two were granted, then (c) Maids, by having their Courses, or through noctur- nal Pollutions, might be subject unto the (d) same, which never any yet were. The true Cause of this (e) fleshy Mole proceeds both from the Man, and from the Woman, from corrupt or barren Seed in the Man, and from the menstruous Blood in the Wo- man, both mixed together in the Cavity of the Womb, where Nature finding herself weak, ( yet desiring to maintain the Perpe- tuity of her Species) labours to bring forth a vitious Conception rather than none, and so, instead of a living Creature, generates a Lump of Flesh. The Signs of a Mole are these. The Months are supprest, the Appetite is depra- ved, the Breasts swell, and the Belly is puffed up and waxeth hard. Thus far the Signs of a breeding Woman, and of one (a) Avicenna 10. de Animalibus et 21. tertii tract. 2. cap. 19. (b) Aristot. 4. de Generatione Animali. cap. 7. (c) Plinius lib. 10. cap. 64. (d) Hippoc. 2. Epidem. (e) Galenus 14. de Usu Partium. 17. 68 The Lady's Physician; Or, one that beareth a Mole are all one. I will now shew you how they differ. The first Sign of Difference is taken from the Motion of a Mole; it may be felt to move in the Womb before the third Month, which the Infant cannot: Yet that Motion is not to be understood of any intelligent Power in the Mole, but of the Faculty of the Womb, and of the seminal Spirits de- fused through the Substance of the Mole; for it lives not a Live animal, but vegita- tive in the Manner of a Plant. Secondly, In a Mole, the Belly is suddenly puft up; but in a true Conception the Belly is first re- tracted, and then riseth again by Degrees. Thirdly, The Belly being prest with the Hand, the Mole gives way, and the Hand being taken away, it returns to the Place again: But a Child in the Womb, though prest with the Hand, moves not presently, and being removed, returns slowly or not at all. Lastly, The Child continues in the Womb not above eleven Months; but a Mole continues sometimes four or five Years, more or less, according as it is fastned in the Matrice. I have known when a Mole hath fallen away in the Fourth or Fifth Month. If it remains until the eleventh Month, the Legs wax feeble, and the whole Body consumes; only the Swelling of the Belly still A Treatise of Female Diseases. 69 still increaseth, which makes some think they are Hydropical though there be little Reason for it; for in the Dropsy the Legs swell, and grow big, but in a Mole they consume and wither. If at the Delivery of a Mole the Flux of Blood be great, it shews the more dan- ger; because the Parts of Nutrition, having been vitiated by the flowing back of the superfluous Humours, whereby the natu- ral Heat is consumed: And then parting with so much Blood, the Woman thereby, is so weakened in all her Faculties, that she can hardly subsist. We are taught in the School of (a) Hippo- crates, that Phlebotomy causeth Abortion, by taking away that Nourishment, which should sustain the Life of the Child. Where- fore that this vitious Conception may be deprived of that vegetative Sap, by which it lives; open the Liver-Vein, and then the Saphena on both Feet. Fasten Cup- ping-Glasses to the Loyns and Sides of the Belly; which done, let the Uterine Parts be first mollify’d, and then the expulsive Faculty provoked to expel the Burthen. To laxate the Ligatures of the Mole: ꝶ. Mallows with the Roots, m. iii. Cammomil, Melilote, Pellitory of the Wall, Violet-leaves, Mercury, (a) Libro. 5. Aphorism. 31. 70 The Lady's & Physician; Or, Mercury, Roots of Fennel, Parsley, ana m. ii. Lineseed, Fœngreck, ana lb. i. Boil them in Water, and let her sit therein up to the Navel. At the going out of the Bath, anoint the Privities and Reins with this Unguent fol- lowing. ꝶ. Oyl of Cammomil, Lillies, and sweet Almonds, ana ℥i. Fresh-Butter, Labdani, Ammoniaci ana ℥s. with Oyl of Lineseed make an Unguent. Or instead of this, may he used Unguentum Agrippæ, or Dialsheæ. ꝶ. Of Mer- cury, Roots of Althea, ana m. s. Fol. Brancha Ursinæ m.s. Lineseed, Barley-Meal, ana ℥vi. Boil all these with Water and Honey, and make a Plaister. Make Pessaries of the Gumm Galbanum, Bdellium, Amnmoniacum, Figs, Hoggs- Suet, and Honey. After the Ligaments of the Mole are loosed; let the expulsive Faculty be stirred up to expell the Mole, for effecting of which, all Medicaments may be used which are pro- per to bring down the Courses. ꝶ. Troch. de Myrrha ℥i. Castor, Aristolochia, Gentian, Dictam, ana ℥s. Make a Powder, take ʒi. in ℥iiii. of Mugwort-Water. ꝶ. Of Hype- ricon, Calamint, Penny-royal, Betony, Hysop, Horehound, Valerian, Madder, Sabine, with Water, make a Decoction, take ℥iii. of it with 3is. of Syrup of Feverfew. ꝶ. Of Mug- wort, Myrrhe, Gentian, pil. eoch. ana Eiiii. Rue, Pennyroyal, Sagapenum, Opopanax. ana ℈s. Assa-fœtida, Cinnamon, Juniper-berries, Bo- rage, A Treatise of Female Diseases. 71 rage, ana ʒi. with Juice of Sabine, make Pills to he taken of every Morning. Make Insessions of Hyssop, Bay-leaves, Asrum, Ca- lamint, Bay-berries, Cammomil, Mugwort, Sabine. ꝶ. Of Sagapenum, Marjoram, Gen- tian, Sabine , Cloves, Nutmeg, Bay-berries, ana ℈ii. Galbanum ʒi. Hieræpicræ, black Hel- libore, ana ℈i. with Turpentine, make a Pessary. But if these things prove not available, then must the Mole be drawn away with an Instrument put up into the Womb, called aPes Griphius; which may be done with no great Danger, if it be performed by a skillful Surgeon. After the Delivery of the Mole, (by Reason that the Woman hath parted with much Blood already) let the Flux of Blood be stayed as fall as may be. Fasten Cupping Glasses to the Shoulder, and Ligatures to the Arms. If these help not, open the Liver-Vein on the right Arm. The Air shall be moderately hot and dry; and her Diet such as doth mollify and attenuate, she may drink white Wine. CHAP 72 The Lady's physician; Or, CHAP XII. Of the Generation of Monsters. BY the Ancients, Monsters are ascribed to depraved Conceptions; and are defi- ned to be Excursions of Nature, which are (a) vitious one of these four Ways. In Figure, Scituation, Magnitude, or Num- ber. In Figure, when a Man bears the Cha- racter of a Beast, as did the (b) Monster in Saxony, which was born about the Time of Luther's Preaching. In Magnitude, when one Part doth not equalize with another, as when one Part is too big or too little for the other parts of the Body; and this is so common amongst us, that I need not produce a Testimony for it. In Scituation, as if the Ears were on the Face, and the Eyes on the Breast or Legs; of this kind, was the (c) Monster born at Ra- venna in Italy, in the Year 1512. In (a) Heurnius institut. Medicin. lib. 5. cap. 8. (b) Ruffius de Mul lib. 5. cap 3. (c) Conradus Licostenes tractat. de Miraculis. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 73 In Number, when a Man hath two Heads or four Hands, of this kind was the (a) Monster born at Zarzara in the Year 1540. I proceed to the Cause of their Generati- one, which is either Divine or Natural. The Divine Cause proceeds from the permissive Will of God, suffering Parents to bring forth such Abominations, for their filthy and corrupt Affections which are let loose unto Wickedness, like brute Beasts that have no Understanding. Wherefore it was enacted amongst the ancient Romans, that those which were any Ways (b) deformed, should not be admitted into religious Houses. And (c) St. Hierome, in his Time, grieved to see the Deformed and Lame offered up to God in religious Houses. And (d) Keker- mane, by Way of inference, excludeth all that are mishapen from the presbyterial Function in the Church: And that which is of more Force than all, God himself commanded (e) Moses not to receive such to offer Sacrifice amongst his People; and he renders the Reason. (f) Least be pollute my H Sanctu- (a) Ludovicus lib 24. cap. 3. (b) Gellius lib. I. cap. 12. (c) In 18, Epistolu ad metriadem lib. 2. (d) Lib. de Arts Concionandi. (e) Levit. 21. 18. (f) Verse 23. 74 The Lady's Physician; Or, Sanctuaries: Because the outward Deformity of the (a) Body is often a Sign of the Pol- lution of the Heart, as a Curse laid upon the Child for the Parents Incontinency. Yet there are many born depraved, which ought not to be ascribed to the Infirmity of the (b) Parents. Let us therefore search out the natural Cause of their Generation, which, (according to (c) Aristotle and A- vicen who have dived into the Secrets of Nature) is either in the Matter, or in the Agent, in the Seed, or in the Womb. The Matter may be in Fault two Ways, by Defect, or by Excess. By Defect when as the Child hath but one Leg or one Arm, By Excess, when it hath three Heads, or two Heads. The Agent, or Womb, may be in Fault three Ways. First, in the formative Fa- culty, which may be too strong, or too weak, by which is produced a depraved Figure. Secondly, in the Instrument or Place of Conception, the evil Conformation or Disposition whereof, will cause a Mon- struous Birth. Thirdly, In the imaginative Power, at the Time of Conception, which is of such Force that it stamps the (d) Cha- racter (a) Quos Natura notavit damnavit. (b) S. Job 9.2. (c) Arist. l. tertio Mœtœor Avicenna 2. Met. pio (d) Cardanus de Rerum Veritate, lib. 8, cap. 44. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 75 racter of the thing imagined upon the Child: So that the Children of an Adul- teress may be like unto her own Husband, though begotten by another Man; this is caused through the Force of the Imagina- tion, which the Woman hath of her own Husband in the Act of Coition. Aristotle reports of a Woman, who, at the Time of Conception, beholding the Picture of a Black-Moor, conceived and brought forth an Æthiopian. I will not trouble you with any more human Testimonies, but I will conclude with a stronger Warrant. We read how (a) Jacob having agree’d with Laban to have all the spotted Sheep for the Keeping of his Flocks, took Hazel Rods, to augment his Wages, and pilled white Strakes in them, and laid them before the Sheep when they came to drink, and the Sheep copulating there toge- ther, whilst they beheld the Rods, con- ceived, and brought forth spotted Young. The (b) Imagination also works on the Child after Conception: For which we have a pregnant Example of a worthy Gen- tlewoman in Suffolk, who being with Child, and passing by her Butcher when he was H2 killing (a) Gen. 30. 31. (b) Per Imaginationis Impressio nem Fætus in Utero Ma- tris afficitur signo notabili sine corporali Contactu. Of- waldus Crollius præsatine admenitoria ad Basilicam Chymicam. 76 The Lady's Physician; Or, killing a Sheep, a Drop of Blood sprung on her Face, whereupon she said, that her Child would have some Blemish on the Face, and at the Birth it was found marked with a red Spot. Others are of Opinion, that Monsters may be engendred by some infernal Spirit. Of this Mind was (a) Egidius Facius, speaking of that deformed Monster born at Cracovy. And (b) Hieronimus Cardanus, writeth of a Maid, who was got with Child by a Devil, she, thinking it had been a fair young Man. The like also is recorded by (c) Vincentius, of the Prophet Merlin, that he was begotten by an Evil Spirit. But what a Repugnancy would it be, both to Religion and Nature, if the Devils could beget Men, when we are taught to believe, that not any was ever begotten without human Seed, except the Son of God. The Devil then being a Spirit, having no Corporal Substance, but in Appearance, and therefore no Seed of Generation; to say that he can use the Act of Gene- ration effectually, is to affirm that he can make Something of Nothing, and conse- quently, the Devil to be God, for Creation solely belongs to God alone. Again if the Devil (a) Libro de Cometa. (b) Lib. de Rebus coutra Naturam. (c) De naturali Speculo lib. 21. cap. 30. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 77 Devil could assume to himself a dead Body, and enliven the Faculties of it, and make it able to generate (as some affirm he can) yet this Body must bear the Image of the Devil; and it is against God’s Glory to give Permission so far unto him, as out of the Image of God to raise up his own Off-spring. In the School of Nature we are taught the contrary, viz. That (a) Like begets Like; therefore of a Devil cannot Man be born. Yet it is not denied, but that Devils, trans- forming themselves into human Shapes, may abuse both Men and Women, and with (b) wicked People, use the Works of Nature. Yet that any such Conjunction can bring forth a human Creature, is contra- to Nature and Religion. CHAP XIII. Of the Signs of Conception. IGnorance makes Women become Mur- derers to the Fruit of their Own Bodies. H3 For (a) Omne generans, gener at sibi simile. (b) Lege apud Ruffium, lib. 5. c. 6. 78 The Lady's Physician; Or, For many having Conceiv’d, and thereupo finding their Bodies to be out of Course, and not knowing rightly the Cause, do either run into the Shop of their own Con- ceit and take what they think fit, or else, as the Custom is, send to the Physician for Cure, and he perceiving not the Cause of their Grief, (seeing that no certain (a) Judgment can be given by the Urine,) prescribes what he thinks best, peradven- ture some strong Diuretical or Cathartical Potion, whereby the Conception is de- stroyed. Wherefore Hippocrates (b) faith, there is a Necessity that Women should be instruct- ed in the Knowledge of Conception, that the Parent as well as the Child might be saved from Danger. I will therefore give you some Instructions by which every one may know whether she be with Child or not. The Signs of Conception shall be taken from the Woman, from the Urine, from the Infant, and from Experiment. Signs collected from the Woman are these. The first Day after Conception, she feels a light Quivering or Chillness running through (a) Forestus lib. 2. de incerto Urinarum Judicio. cap. 3. (b) Scientia multa opus est ut Mulier in Uteris gestet Pluirnem. & et. nutitatur, & ut evadat ab ipso Partu. lib. Quanikoion. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 79 through the whole Body; a Tickling in the Womb, and a little Pain in the lower Parts of the Belly. Ten or twelve Days after, the Head is affected with Giddiness, the Eyes with a Dimness of Sight, then follows red Pimples in the Face, with a blue Circle about the Eyes, the Breasts swell and grow hard, with some Pain and Pricking in them, the Belly suddenly sin- keth, and rises again by Degrees, with a Hardness about the Navel. The Nipples of the Breasts wax red, the Heart beats in- ordinately, the natural Appetite is dejected; yet she hath a longing Desire after strange Meats. The Neck of the Womb is retract- ed that it can hardly be felt with the Fin- ger being put up, and this is an infallible Sign. She is suddenly merry, and as soon melancholy, her Monthly Courses are stay- ed without any evident Cause; the Excre- ments of the Guts are unaccustomedly re- tained by the Womb pressing the great Gut, and her Desire to Venus is abated. The surest Sign is taken from the Infant, which begins to move in the Womb in the Third or Fourth Month, and that not in the Manner of a Mole, from one side to ano- ther rushing like a Stone, but mildly, as may be perceived by applying the Hand hot on the Belly. Signs 80 The Lady's Physician; Or, Signs taken from the Urine. The best Physicians do affirm that the Urine of a Woman with Child, is white and hath lit- tle Motes, like those in the Sun-Beams, as- cending and descending in it, and a Cloud swimming aloft of an Opal Colour; the Sediment being divided by shaking of the Urine, appears like carded Wool. In the middle of her Time, the Urine turneth yellow, next Red, and lastly Black, with a red Cloud. Signs taken from Experiment: At Night going to Bed, let her drink Wa- ter and Honey; afterward, if she feels a beating Pain in her Belly and about her Navel, she hath Conceived. Or let her take the Juice of Carduus, and if she vomi- teth it up, it is a Sign of Conception. Cast a clean Needle into the Woman’s Urine, put it in a brazen Bason, let it stand all Night, and in the Morning, if it be colour’d with Red Spots, she hath (a) Conceived, but if it be Black or Rusty, she hath not. Signs taken from the Sex to shew whether It be Male or Female. Being with Child of a Male, the right Breast swells first, the right Eye is more lively than the left, her (b) Face well colour’d, because such as the Blood is, such is the Colour, and the Male is (a) Lege apud Hippoc. lib. de Sterilitate. (b) Hippoc. 5. Aphor. 42. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 81 is conceived of Purer Blood and of more perfect Seed than the (a) Female. Red Motes in the Urine setling down to the Sediment, fore tell that a Male is conceiv’d, but if they be white a Female. Put the Woman’s Urine which is with Child into a glass Bottle, let it be close stopped three Days; then drain it through a fine Cloth, and you shall find little living Creatures; if they be Red, it is a Male, if White, a Female. To conclude, the most certain Sign to give Credit unto, is the Motion of the Infant: For the Male moves in the third Month, and the Female in the fourth. CHAP XIV. Of untimely Birth. WHen the Fruit of the Womb comes forth before the seventh Month, (that is before it comes to Maturity) it is said to be Abortive. And, in Effect, the Child proves (b) Abortive, (I mean not to live) if it be born in the eighth Month. And (a) Vide Moschionis Capup 162. (b) In nostris Regionibus præcipue in Ægypto autem & Hispania, octomestres partus sunt vitales, quia Air ibi cali- dus est, similis Loco Uteri, in quo permanebat Fœtus. 82 The Lady's Physician; Or, And why Children born in the seventh and ninth Month may live and not in the eighth Month, may seem strange, yet it is true: The Cause hereof, by some is ascri- bed unto the Planet under which the Child is born; for every Month, from the Con- ception to the Birth, is governed by his proper Planet: And in the eighth Month, Saturn doth predominate, which is cold and dry, and Coldness being an Enemy unto Life, destroys the Nature of the Child. (a) Hippocrates, gives a better Reason: The Infant being every Way perfect, and com- pleat in the seventh Month, desires more Air and Nutriment than it had (b) before, which because he cannot obtain, he la- bours for a Passage to go out; and if his Spirits be weak and faint, and have not Strength sufficient to break the Membranes and come forth; it is decree'd by Nature, that he should continue in the Womb un- til the ninth Month, that, in that Time his wearied Spirits, might be again strength- ened and refreshed; but if he returns to strive again in the eighth Month, and be born, he cannot live, because the Day of his Birth is either past or to come; for in the (a) Lihro de Septimesiri Partu. (b) Seprimo Mense semper movet Infans ad Partum. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 83 the eighth Month, saith (c) Avicen, he is Weak and infirm, and therefore being then into the cold Air, his Spirits cannot but sink. Untimely Birth may be caused by Cold, for as it maketh the Fruit of the Tree to wither and fall down before it be ripe, so doth it nip the Fruit of the Womb before it comes to full Perfection, and make it to be abortive. Sometimes by (b) Humidity, weakening the Faculty, the Fruit cannot be retained until due Time: By Dryness or (c) Emptiness, defrauding the Child of his Nou- rishment; by one of the three Alvine(d) Flux- es, by (e) Phlebotomy and other Evacuations; by (f) Inflammations of the Womb, and by other (g) sharp Diseases. Sometimes it is caused by Joy, Laughter, Anger, and especially (h) by Fear; for in all, but in that especially, the Heat forsakes the Womb, and runs to the Heart, to help there, and so the Cold strikes into the Ma- trice whereby the Ligaments ate relax’d and (a) 2I tertii Tract. de Abortu. (b) Hippoc 5. Aphor. 45. (c) 5. Aphor. 44. (d) 5. Aphor. 34. (e) 5. Aphor. 30. (f) 5. Aphor. 43. (g) 5. Ahpor. 31. (h) Gulenus 2. in 3. Epid. 8. 84 The Lady's Physician; Or, and Abortion follows. Wherefore (a) Plato in his Time, commanded that the Women should shun all Temptations of great Joy and Pleasure, and likewise avoid all Oc- casions of Fear and Grief: Abortion also may be caused by the Corruption of the Air, by filthy Odours, and especially by the Smell of the (b) Snuff of a Candle, also by Falls, Blows, violent Exercise, Leaping, Dancing, &c. Signs of future Abortion, are Extenuati- on of the Breasts, with a Flux of watrish Milk, Pain in the Womb, Heaviness in the Head , unaccustomed Weariness in the Hips and Thighs, Flowing of the Courses. Signs fore-telling the Fruit to be dead in the Womb, are Hollowness of the Eyes, Grief in the Head, Aguish Horrours, Paleness of the Face and Lips, Gnawing of the Sto- mach, no Motion of the Infant, Coldness and Looseness of the Mouth of the Womb, the Thickness of the Belly which was above is fallen down, waterish and bloody Excre- ments come from the Matrice. (a) Libro 5. de Legibus. (b) Arislot. 8. de Historia Animali, cap. 74. A A Treatise of Female Diseases. 85 A Regimen or Rule for breeding Wo- men. THe Prevention of untimely Birth con- sists in the taking away of the foremen- tion’d Causes; which must be effected both before and after Conception. Before Conception, if the Body be over- hot, cold dry or moist correct it with the contraries; if Cacochimial, purge it; if Plethorical, open the Liver-Vein; if too gross, extenuate it; if too lean, corro- borate and nourish it; all Diseases of the Womb must be removed as I have shewed. After Conception, let the Air be mode- rate: Sleep not overmuch, avoid Wat- ching, Exercise of Body, Passions of the Mind, loud Clamour and filthy Smells: sweet Odours also are to be rejected of those that are hysterical: Abstain from all things which provoke either the Urine or Courses; also from salt, sharp, and win- dy Meats: A moderate Diet shall be ob- served. If the Excrements of the Guts be retain- ed, lenefy the Belly with Clysters made of the Decoction of Mallows, Violets with Sugar and common Oyl; or make Broth I with 86 The Lady's Physician; Or, with Borage, Bugloss, Beets, Mallows, taking in the same, a little Manna. On the contrary; if she be troubled with Looseness of the Belly, let it not be stayed without the Judgment of a Physician, for all Alvine Fluxes, have a malignant Quality in them, which must be evacuated before the Flux be stayed. The Cough is another Accident which accompanied breeding Women and puts them into great Danger of Miscarrying, by a continual Distillation falling from the Brain, to prevent which, shave away the Hair on the Coronal, and sagittal Com- missure, and apply thereon this Plaister. ꝶ. Ræsinæ, ℥s. Ladani, ʒ1. Citron Pills, Ligni Aloes, Olihani ana ℈i. Stiracis liquidæ & siccæ s.q. dissolve the Gums in Vinegar, and make a Plaister. At Night going to Bed, let her take the Fume of these Trochisks cast upon the Coals. ꝶ. Of Frankincense, Stiax, Powder of red Roses, ana ʒis. Sanda- rachæ, ʒiii. Mastick, Benjamin, Amber, ana ʒ. with Turpentine make Trochiscks. Ap- ply a Cautery to the Nape of the Neck: And every Night let her take of these Pills fol- lowing. ꝶ. Hyposistidis, Terræ sigillaæt, Fine-bole, ana ℥s. Bistort, Acatiæ, Stiracis Calamitæ, ana ℈ii. Cloves, ʒi with Syrup of Myrtles make Pills. In A Treatise of Female Diseases. 87 In breeding Women there is a corrupted Matter generated, which flowing to the Ventricle dejecteth the Appetite, and cau- sed Vomiting; and the Stomach being weak, not able to digest this Matter some- times sends it unto the Guts, whereby is caused a Flux of the Belly, which greatly stirreth up the Faculty of the Womb. For the Prevention therefore of all these Dan- gers, the Stomach shall be corroborated as followeth. ꝶ. Ligni Aloes, Nutmeg, ana ʒi. Mace, Cloves, Mastick, Laudanum, ana Eii. Oyl of Spike, ℥i. Musk, gr. ii. Oyl of Mastick, Quinces, Wormwood, ana ℥s. Make an Un- guent for the Stomach, to be applied before Meals. Instead hereof may be used Ceratum stomachale Galeni. ꝶ. Of Conserve of Borage, Bugloss, Anthos ana ℥s. Confect. de Hyacintho. Lemmon Pills condited, Specierum diamarg. pulv. de Gemmis, ana ʒii. Nutmeg, Diambræ, ana ℈ii. Peony-Roots, Diacoralli, ana ʒi. with Syrup of Roses make an Electuary of which she shall take twice a Day, two Hours before Meals. Another Accident which perplex- eth Women with Child, Swelling of the Legs, which happens the first three Months by superfluous Humours falling down from the Stomach, and Liver; for the Cure whereof. ꝶ. Of Oil of Roses ʒii. Salt Vi- negar, ana ʒi. shake them All together until I2 the 88 The Lady's Physician; Or, the Salt be dissolved, and anoint the Legs hot therewith, chasing it in with the Hand. But Purging is more proper, if it may be done without Danger, as it may in the fourth fifth and sixth Month of (a) Pregnation, for a Child in the Womb is compared to an Apple on the Tree: The first three Months it is weak and tender, subject with the Ap- ple to fall away, but afterwards the Mem- branes being strengthened, the Fruit remains firmly fastened in the Womb, not apt to Mischances, and so it continues, until the seventh Month; then growing near the Time of Maturity, the Ligaments are again relax’d (like unto the Apple that is almost ripe) and grow looser every Day until the Time of Delivery. If therefore her Body hath Need of purging, she may purge with- out Danger in the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Month; but not before, or after, unless in some sharp Diseases in which the Mother and Child both are like to perish. Apply Plaisters and Unguents to the Reins, to strengthen the Fruit of the Womb. ꝶ. Of Gum-Araback, Galangale, Histort, Hypocistid. Storax. ana ʒ. Fine-bole, Nutmeg, Mastick, balaust. Sang. Draconis, Myrtle-berries ana ʒis. Wax and Turpentine q. s. Make a Plaister, Apply it to the Reins in the Winter Time; and remove it every fourteen Days, left the Reins (a) Hippoc. 4. Aphor. A Treatise of Female Diseases. 89 Reins be over-hot therewith. In the Interim anoint the Privities and Reins with Unguentum Commitissæ. But if it be Summer Time, and the Reins hot, this Plaister following is more proper. ꝶ. Of red Roses, p.i. Mastick, red-San- ders, ana ʒii. Bole-Armony, red Coral, Bistort, ana ʒi. Pompranate Pills, prepared Coriander ana ʒiis, Barberries, ℈ii. Oyl of Mastick and Quin- ces ana ℥i. Juice of Plantain ʒii. with Pitch make a Plaister, anoint the Reins also with Unguentum Sandalinum. Once every Week wash the Reins with two Parts of Rose Water and one Part of white Wine, mingled together and warmed at the Fire, this will asswage the Heat of the Reins, and Disperse the Oyl of the Plaister out of the Pores of the Skin, and cause the Ointment or Plaister the sooner to penetrate and strengthen the Womb. Some are of Opinion that so long as the Load-stone is laid to the Navel it keepeth the Woman from Abortion. The like also is recorded of the Stone Ætites being hanged about the Neck. The same Virtue hath the Stone Samius. Thus briefly (as far as Modesty would give leave) I have run through all Distempers of the Matrice. God make my Labour profita- ble; For, Healing cometh of the most High. Hinc omne Principium, huc refer Exitum. Horat. The THE Author's Prayer FOR HIS PATIENT. WHat Cure I undertake within this (a) Roof, Lord say the Word he whole, and ’tis enough. Thy Word alone, did make the Lame (b) to walk. The (c) Deaf to hear, yea and the Dumb to talk. The Servant's (d) Palsie, by thy Word was cur'd, The (e) Lepers cleansed, and of Health assur'd. By it, the born (f) blind Man, was made to see, By it, the (g) Dead to Life ev'n raised be, By it, were these Cures wrought, O Lord grant them, Unto my Prayer that thou wilt say Amen. For neither (h) Herb, nor Plaister will do well, Unless therewith thy Benedict doth dwell. (a) S. Luke 7. 6. (b) Acts. 3. 7. (c) S. Mark 7. 3. (d) S Mat. 8. 13. (e) S. Mat. 8. 3. (f) S. John 9. 1. (g) S.John II. 44. (h) Wisdom. 16. 12. THE THE TABLE THE INTRODUCTION pag. I. CHAP. I. Of the Suppression of the Courses. p. 8. CHAP. II. Of the Overflowing of the Courses. pag. 16. CHAP. III. Of the Weeping of the Womb. pag. 23. CHAP. IV. Of the false Courses and Whites. pag. 26. CHAP. V. Of the Suffocation of the Mothers. pag. 32. CHAP. VI. Of the Falling down of the Womb. pag. 42. CHAP. VII. Of the Inflammation of the Womb. pag. 46. CHAP. VIII Of the Schirrosity of the Womb. pag. 50. CHAP. CHAP. IX. Of the Dropsy of the Womb. pag. 53. CHAP. X. Of Barrenness. pag. 56. CHAP. XI. Of the Mole, or half Conception. pag. 66. CHAP. XII. Of the Generation of Monsters, and whether Devils can engender. pag. 72. CHAP. XIII. Signs of Conception. pag. 77. Signs whether it be Male or Female. pag. 80. CHAP. XIV. Of untimely Birth. pag. 81. A Regimen: Or, Rule for breeding Women. pag. 85. FINIS.