The Complete DOCTORESS: OR, A Choice Treatise of all Diseases incident to Women. WITH Experimental Remedies against the same.  
Being 

Safe in the Composition.  
Pleasant in the Use.  
Effectual in the Operation.    
Faithfully translated out of Latin into English for a common good.  
LONDON, Printed for Edward Farnham and are to sold at his Shop at the entrance into Popes-head-alley out of Cornhill, 1656.   

THE FIRST BOOK OF women's Diseases.  
The Proem by the Author.  
IT is acknowledged by the most able Physicians, that it requires great diligeuce, and Judgement to contrive an exact Partition, or Explanation of women's Diseases, and to oblige the World with a right Method, and Means to cure them: because sometimes a part is diseased by consent, and sometimes primarily, by itself, or without any communication of distemper either with, or without matter, from any other part. The Ancients, whose studious endeavours conspired the subduing of these Diseases, have left behind them most honourable testimonies of their labours, in favour of that Sex. Modern men also have been stirred up to their defence, as Mercurialis, and Mercatus, the former indeed with sufficient elegance, but the latter with somuch tediousness, and confusion; that you may sooner find your Patient dead, than a remedy in his writings for her recovery; to correct this inconvenience, Rodericus a Castro engaged his pen in their quarrel, but with no great success, for if my Judgement be any thing considerable, his writings are more learned, then useful. When I had noted these deficiencies, I thought with myself, that if I culled out the choicest Medicines (omitting the superfluous) and digested them into a little work by themselves, it might prove an undertaking worthy of a general acceptation; This was the birth, and growth of my design, warrantable enough, as I conceive, if not praise worthy, and if I flatter not myself in an opinion of my own pains, I have proceeded with so much perspicuity, and tender circumspection, as will make the event answerable.   

AN INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS.  

The first Chapter. OF the consent of the Diseases of the Matrix, with the other Parts.  
The second Chapter. Of the suppression, or staying of the Courses.  
The third Chapter. Of the immoderate running of the Courses.  
The fourth Chapter. Of the coming away of the Courses by Drops, the vehement Symptoms thereof, and of the Whites.  
The fifth Chapter. Of the Complication of the Courses, with other Diseases.  
The sixth Chapter. Of hard swell in the Breasts.   

The second Book.  
The first Chapter. OF the Mother.  
The second Chapter. Of the Epilepsy in the Matrix, And the several kinds thereof.  
The third Chapter. Of Melancholy proceeding from the Matrix.  
The fourth Chapter. Of a cold Distemper, and windy humours in the Matrix.  
The fifth Chapter. Of a hard swelling in the Matrix.  
The sixth Chapter. Of the Dropsey in the Matrix.  
The seventh Chapter. Of the falling down of the Matrix.  
The eighth Chapter. Of an Itch, Chaps, and an Inflammation in the Matrix.  
The ninth Chapter. Of a Cancer, and an Ulcer in the Matrix.  
The tenth Chapter. Of Worms, and the Stone in the Matrix, and of the Piles.   

The third Book.  
The first Chapter. OF Barrenness, both Absolute and Respective.  
The second Chapter. Of a Mola, or shapeless lump of Flesh.  
The third Chapter. Of women's long.  
The fourth Chapter. Of a bad stomach, proceeding from vomiting.  
The fifth Chapter. Of a Pain in the belly, the Passion of the Heart, and of sounding Fits.  
The sixth Chapter. Of a Cough in great bellied Women.  
The seventh Chapter. Of the swelling of women's legs, when they are with Child.  
The eighth Chapter. Of Costiveness in Women with Child.  
The ninth Chapter. Of the blood which cometh away from the Matrix of a woman with Child.  
The tenth Chapter. Of the water which cometh away from the Matrix of a woman with Child.  
The eleventh Chapter. Of acute Diseases, which happen to women with Child.   

The fourth Book.  
The first Chapter. OF a Natural ●irth, and of abortiveness.  
The second Chapter. Of a hard Labour.  
The third Chapter. Of the Afterbirth.  
The fourth Chapter. Of the Dead Child.  
The fifth Chapter. Of the Pains, and the suppression of the Courses, after the woman is delivered.  
The sixth Chapter. Of the immoderate flowing of the Courses, after the woman is delivered.  
The seventh Chapter. Of the Diseases which commonly befall a woman, after her delivery.  
The eighth Chapter. Of an inflammation in the Matrix after her delivery.  
The ninth Chapter. Of too little, and too much milk.  
The tenth Chapter. Of sore Breasts.  
The eleventh Chapter. Of wrinkles remaining in the Matrix after a woman's delivery, and of the means to contract the Matrix.   
FINIS.   

Woman's DISEASES.  

The first Chapter. Of the consent between the Diseases of the Matrix, and those of the other parts.  
WOMEN were made to stay at home, and to look after Household employments, and because such business is accompanied with much ease, without any vehement stir of the body, therefore hath provident Nature assigned them their monthly Courses, that by the benefit of those evacuations, the feculent and corrupt blood might be purified, which otherwise, as being the purest part of the blood, would turn to rank poison, should it remain in the body and putrify; like the seed ejaculated out of its proper vessels. Hypocrates had a perfect understanding of these things, as may appear by those words, in his book de locis in homine, where he saith, that the Matrix is the cause of all those diseases which happen to women; and it is no strange thing which he speaketh; for the Matrix hath a Sympathy with all the parts of the body; as with the Brain by the Nerves and Membranes of the parts about the spin, from whence sometimes ariseth the pains, in the fore part, and the hinder part of the head, with Heart also, both by the Spermatick, and the Epigastrick arteries, or those that lie about the Abdomen at the bottom of the belly, from hence cometh the pain of the heart, fainting, and swooning fits, the passion of the Heart, anxiety of mind, dissolution of the spirits, insomuch as you cannot discern, whither a woman breaths or not, or that she hath any pulse; it hath likewise a consent with the breasts; and from hence proceed those swell, that hardness, and those terrible Cancers that afflict those tender parts, that a humour doth flow upwards, from the Matrix to the Breasts, and downwards again, from the Breasts to the Matrix, is the unanimous assertion of Galen, Hypocrates, Laurentius, Duretus, and others; moreover it hath a sympathy with the Liver; and thus the sanguification is perverted, and the body inclines to a Dropsy, and with the stomach and the Kidneys also, as those pains which great bellied women do feel, and the torments which some Virgins undergo, when they have their Courses, sufficiently witness. And lastly, Hypocrates hath taught us, that this consent holdeth with the bladder, and the strait 〈◊〉; for, saith he, when that part is inflamed, than the urine cometh away by drops, and the Patient hath frequent desires, and solicitations to go to stool, but but without any performance.  
women's diseases are divided into four Classes, whereof the first containeth the diseases that are common to all women: the second comprehendeth such as are peculiar to Widows, and Virgins; The third specifieth those Affects that concern barren women, and such as are fruitful; And the fourth treateth of such diseases, as befall Women with Child, and Nurses; of all which we shall now speak, one after another, in their order.  
Those diseases that are common, both to widows and wives, both to barren women, and women that are fruitful, as also to young Maids, and Virgins, proceed from the retention, or stoppage of their Courses, as the most universal, and most usual cause; when these come from them, in a duc and regular manner, their bodies are preserved from most terrible diseases; but otherwise, they are immediately subject to the falling Sickness, the Palfie, the Consumption, the Whites, the Mother, Melancholy, Burning Fevers, the Dropsey inward inflammations of all the principal parts, the suppression of the urine, n●e eating, vomiting, loathing of meat, yexing, and a continual pain in the Head, arising from ill vapours, communicated from the Matrix to the Brain.  
Wives are more healthful than Widows, or Virgins, because they are refreshed with the man's seed, and ejaculate their own, which being excluded, the cause of the evil is taken away. This is evident from the words of Hypocrates, who adviseth young Maids to marry, when they are thus troubled; that women have stones and seed, no true Anatomist will deny; the woman's seed, I confess, in regard of the small quantity of heat, is more imperfect than the seed of the man's, yet is it most absolute in itself, and sit for Generation. Another cause also may be added, besides that which is alleged from Hypocrates, namely, that married women by lying with their husbands, doc loosen the passages of the seed, and so the Courses come down more easily thorough them; Now in Virgins it falls out otherwise, because the blood is stopped by the constipation and obstruction of the veins, and being stopped putrifies, from which putrefaction gross vapours do arise, and from thence heaviness of mind, and dulness of spirit, a benumbedness of the parts, tim orousnesse, and an aptness to be frighted, with a sudden propensity to fall into fits of the Mother, by reason of much blood, oppressing and burdened the heart, also continual anxiety, sadness, and want of sleep, with idle talking, and an alienation of the mind, but that which most commonly afflicts them, is a difficulty, and pain to fetch their breath, for the chest by a continual dialatation and compression, draweth the blood from the Matrix to itself, in a large proportion, and sometimes produceth asthmatical effects. But what shall we say concerning Widows, who lie fallow, and live sequestered from these Venereous Conjunctions? we must conclude, that if they be young, of a black complexion, and hairy, and are likewise somewhat discoloured in their cheeks, that they have a spirit of salacity, and feel within themselves a frequent titillation, their seed being hot and prurient, doth irritate and inflame them to Venery, neither is this concupiscence allayed and qualified, but by provoking the ejaculation of the seed, as Galen propounds the advice in the example of a widow, who was afflicted with intolerable symptoms, till the abundance of the spermatick humour was diminished by the hand of a skilful Midwife, and a convenient ointment, which passage will also furnish us with this argument that the use of Venery is exceeding whole some, if the woman will confine herself to the Laws of moderation, so that sh● feel no wearisomeness, nor weakness i● her body, after those pleasing conflicts.  
Most certain it is, that barren wome● are more tormented with sickness, the● those that are fruitful, because, they wh● have children, live in a more healthful condition, by reason of the opening of th● veins, and the coming away of the superfluous blood; which being of an earthy, and feculent substance, must needs introduce prodigious symptoms in the bodies of other women, who have no seasonable means to vent and purge it out, and daily experience doth witness it to the private consideration of such women, that very many obstructions breed in their Liver, Mesenteries, and Matrices. That women in Childbed also, and such as nurse their own children, are subject to most bitter, and vehement affects, Galen doth daily teach us by an undeniable reason; for whereas the child in the womb is nourished by the sweetest, fattest, and most elaborate part of the menstruous Blood, in its own nature filthy, and dreggish, when the woman is delivered, that blood is forcibly evacuated by a critical kind of motion, and violent ebullition, whereupon the spirits are exhausted, and the feeble creature is precipitated into mortal infirmities, as fainting fits, incredible torments, and frequent soundings.  
Many times also, besides that particular fullness of the womb through the swelling, and strutting of the veins; such women all the time that they be great with child, are oppressed with an abundance of ill humours, contracted, and heaped up together by a bad diet, after which the upper parts of their bodies are many times most woefully inflamed.  
After the same manner also Nurses are tormented with sore breasts, painful swell, Ulcers, and Cancers, and the like crueii diseases, by reason that the Menstruum floweth in an unmeasurable quantity to the breasts, and there settles. But now, by the permission of Heaven, we shall set down a particular Explanation of these Diseases.   

CHAP. II. The suppression of the Courses.  
THe suppression of the Courses, is an interception, or stoppage of that usual evacuation of blood, which is wont to flow from the Matrix every month.  
There is a twofold cause hereof; one inward, the other outwards; the inward cause is also manifold; for sometimes it is one kind of distemper, sometimes another; and sometimes again, a humour is the cause thereof, the distemper is either hot, or cold, and concerning the former, this is controverted among the Doctors, how a hot distemper can stay the Courses: for if we will credit the b●st Authors, or submit our judgements to the general Vote of Philosophy; it is the property of heat to open, to rarify, to make thin, and to dilate: as on the contrary, it is the property of cold to obstruct, to thicken, to bind, and to condensate, the answer is easy and obvious; wherefore we say that heat properly doth not stay the Courses, but only by accident, as namely by attenuation, dissipating, and consuming the thinner parts of the Menstruum, for any humour is reasonably conceived to become more dry and thick, when the thinner part thereof is wasted away; and again, the thicker and drier it is, it must needs be so much the more unapt to be expelled: and this is the reason that sturdy women in the Country, who are accustomed to labour, and take much pains, and such Virgins, as are of a hot constitution, have ver● littl●, or no evacuation this way, because the M●nstruum is wasted, and vanisheth by their continual exercise, and pains taking. Secondly, when the moisture is consumed away the vessels are so much the more narrow and bound up, so that there is almost no passage left for the exclusion of the Courses.  
A cold Distemper stayeth the Courses, because it weakeneth and colleth the parts, breeds bad humours and obstructions, straightens the passages, obstructs the conduits, infirmes, and overcooleth the Matrix, and so retains, suppresseth, and stoppeth the Courses.  
Swell, Imposthnmes, scars, and the like, are all reducible to the inward causes; but the most usual inward cause is a slow, tough and slimy humour, which glewing up, as it were, the vessels of the Matrix, and thickening the blood, retaineth the Menstruum, according to the opinion of Galen, delivered in several places of his works.  
The outward Causes are all those things, which any way increase a cold juice in the body, as a cold and moist Air, gluttony, crudities, cold ●aths, and an unseasonable use of them, meats that yield a gross nourishment, and are hard to digest, and such as constipate the humours, and thicken the blood; in which number are thick and sweet wines, pulse of all sorts, white meats made with milk, hard fish, and salt flesh, potherbs, Vinegar, Olives, Rice, and the like; also an unseasonable use of Venery, a disorderly motion of the body, presently after meats, cold drink, ale, and other Pourtents, or liquors which breed slow, and thick juices.  
You may know when the Menstruum is, or will soon be suppressed by the relation of the sick woman, who commonly will make these discoveries; that she hath no stomach to her meat, that for a long time together she hath felt a heaviness over all her body, with a pain in her back, her privities, and her Matrix: besides, you yourself may discern agreenish paleness in her face; Sometimes she is troubled with loud belchings, and cruel pains in her belly; but frequently with the headache, especially in the forepart of her head, and when the blood is stopped, & putrifies in her body, presently there ariseth a Fever, by reason of that Sympathy, Communion, or consent between the Matrix & the other parts.  
Many, and irreparable are the inconveniences, and evils, which happen by this stoppage of the Courses, if we may believe the great Hypocrates, who in one of his Aphorisms saith, if the Menstruum comes away without moderation, diseases follow; but if it comes not away at all, yet then diseases happen also from the Matrix: but if it comes away in a due, and natural manner, it preserves the woman from all gouty torments, from pains in her joints, from the Pleurisy, and all other inflammations in her sides, from the Apoplexy, from the difficulty to fetch her breath, and from losing her voice; Women that have not their Courses, must seek for remedies with spe●d and prudence; let them betake themselves to a temperate and moust Air, for if the Air be too hot, it wastes the blood, and draws it upwards from the Matrix; it likewise exhausts the Spirits, and is thought to be a weakner of the body: on the contrary, when the Air is too cold, it compels the blood to retire, it weakens the Matrix, breeds gross and thick humours, and locks up the passages, so that the Menstruum cannot descend, the most convenient drink in this case is small Rhenish wine, if there be a Fever, or, which will be less dangerous, small beer boiled with a little Cinnamon, Anise, maidenhair, or Birthwort.  
Her diet should be such as will be soon concocted, and easily distributed to all the parts; boiled meats are more wholesome for her then rosied, because these dry up the blood, but they soften the body, and keep it moist: let her also choose to feed upon tame creatures rather than wild, because these are more hot and dry, but those are more moist and temperate; boil them with red fitches', for the broth that is thus made doth most powerfully bring down the Courses. What meats must be avoided hath been said above; but above all things, let her refrain the use of sour things, because, as Hypocrates hath warned us, they bring pain to the Matrix; it will be good to rub the lower parts of her legs very often, and to tie strait ligatures about them, till they make her complain of much pain.  
Having thus prescribed her Diet, the next design must be to evacuate the Cause; this may be done several ways, but especially by letting blood, and sometimes by purging her body; the Physicians have long contended, but very foolishly, which vein should be cut: but we omitting the frivoulous alterations on both sides, conclude with Galen, that when the Courses are stopped, if the strength of the woman will bear it, and the nature of the Disease require it, the vein in the Ankle must always be opened; not in the Arm as Aetius commands; who also is backed in that opinion by Gradus, Mercurialis, and Amatus Lusitanus, who was taught by Ruffus to open a vein in a woman's arm, to advance the cure; but I cannot approve of that course, because rectitude must ever be observed. Galen in his book de Curandi ratione per sang. miss. chapped. 11. instead of opening a vein, useth Scarification to the domestical part, as having the greatest resemblance with Phlebotomy, and if these things do not overcome the Disease, apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, to take away the accumulation of melancholy blood; for they suck out the feculent, and dreggish humours, impacted in the Matrix, by reason that those parts are so near the one to the other.  
Zacutus Lusitanus applieth them to the inner part of the Matrix, and boasteth himself the Author of this kind of remedy; but whether it be consonant to reason, I leave to considering persons to judge.  
There is no doubt but the application of Leeches may be useful, because the humour is slow, thick and earthy: but in regard that no part is evacuated, till the whole body be first purged, therefore I shall advise you to give her this Purge following, which will work very gently.  
Take three drams of Sena.  
Three scruples of Agarick.  
A dram of Annise-seeds.  
Macerate them together, in a sufficient quantity of Penniroyall water, for the space of a night, to three ounces, in the morning allow them one or two bubblings, and to the liquor which you press out, add  
Four drams of Diaphenicon.  
Mingle them, and give it her to drink.  
Or of the Electuary make a Bolus.  
When the body is purged, and a vein hath been opened, let your Judgement keep company with Galens directions, and prepare the thick humour with this Decoction following.  
Take Smallage, Fennell, and Asparagus roots, of each half an ounce, the leaves of Hyssop, pennyroyal, and Birthwort, of each a handful.  
Two drams of Carrotts seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water, to a quart; to the strained liquor add Syr. de 5. radicibus, and Syr. lupulorum, of each an ounce, mingle them, and make an Apozem. Or  
Take the roots of Acorns, and Elecampane, of each two drams.  
The leaves of 

pennyroyal,  
Motherwort,  
Balm,  
Betony, of each a handful.    
Two ounces of white Agarick.  
An ounce and a half of Anise seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Fumitary water to a pint: to the liquor which you press out, add 

Syrup of Motherwort,  
Syrup of maidenhair, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.    
Note that Agarick hath respect unto the nervous parts, and that the Syrup of the five roots with vinegar doth hurt the Nerves, because all sharp things are hurtful to the Matrix, according to Hypocrates, whose Judgement winneth reverence with the best Physicians.  
Fomentations must be applied to the small guts, to the privy parts, and you must make them of opening simples, and such as will cut into, and make thin the gross and thick humours.  
Baths and halfetubs prepared of the like simples will be very useful; and the best liniments you can choose are made of oil of Lilies, castor, dill, and capers, and the most profitable ointments are unguent. Agrippe, and de Althaea, with gums.  
After you have gone thus far, you must evacuate the blood, and provoke urine: to which purposes prescribe this Decoction following.  
Take the roots of Butcher's broom▪  

Asparagus,  
Smallage,  
Fennill, of each an ounce.   
The roots of Aristolochy the round.  
Birthwort of each two drams.  
The leaves of Penniroyall,  

Snakeweed,  
Motherwort, of each a handful.   
Four drams of Sena.  
Two ounces of white agaric.  
Four ounces of Hermodactyls.  
An ounce and a half of Epithymum.  
Anise and fennel seeds, of each an ounce.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, to a pint and a half, to the strained liquor being hard pressed, add two ounces of the best honey, mingle them, and make an Apozem.  
Every other morning let her drink four ounces of this fasting, and in the mean time strengthen her belly, and her Matrix, with fomentations that are good to expel wind: you may make them of the Simples aforesaid, with the powders Dianis, Diacumin, Diagalang. and the like.  
You must provoke the Menstruum with Pessaries, made of the juice of Mercury, Cucumbers, Restharrow, unsalted butter, Hogs-grease, the gall of an Ox, Sagapenum, Ammoniacum, Castor, Assafoetida, and the like. Perfumes made with spices bring down the Courses, if the steam or vapour of them be conveyed into the Matrix; or you may appoint little Trochishes to be made with rue, aristolochy, Castor, assa fetida, Sagapenum, and turpentine, which being cast upon hot burning coals they will smoke, and that smoke will speedily bring down her Courses, if it be received up thorough a tunnel.  
You must make an issue in her leg, that the Matrix may exhale, and the thick humours may be purged out.  
Such Compositions as have steel in them will be most effectual, for it is manifest by experience, that steel is good to cut into, and make thin the thick and slow humours, to open obstructions, to bring down the Courses, to provoke urine, and to free the vessels from all matter that stop them: and all these things it performs by manifest qualities inherent in it, and not by the ponderosity, or heaviness thereof▪ as some have conjectured.  
Several Authors have devised several preparations of it; but we always used to prepare it after this manner following.  
Take a pound of Steel filled into a mos● fine dust, wash it in Pennyroyall water distilled, till the water look pure and clear, than put it into a glass Viol., pouring upon it a sufficient quantity of Vinegar, made with Penniroyall: set it in the Sun thirty days, stirring it about every seventh day, afterwards dry it, wear it to a most subtle powder in a Marble mortar, sift it, and keep it for your use; the Dose, or quantity hereof to be taken, is a dram with wormwood wine, or Rhenish wine, or with Hydromel.  
Note, that we advisedly make use of the vinegar aforenamed, because the use and virtue of Steel is to unlock obstructions; and Vinegar hath a faculty to penetrate, make thin, and cut asunder the thickest humours, and therefore by the help thereof the Steel is with the more expedition transmitted to the remotest parts of the body.  
Yet if the patiented be troubled with a hot distemper in her Liver, stomach, or spleen, or if you discern any weakness in her inward parts, then prepare the steel with Rose-water, or whey of Goat's milk.  
When she hath taken the steel, let her walk an hour after it; for exercise opens the pores, and thereby the Medicine is the more easily distributed: when she hath observed this injunction, let her lie down till she begin to sweat, or if she find in herself a disposedness, let her sleep: afterwards give her to eat, but her meat should rather be roasted, then boiled, and for her drink, allow her small wine, or wine prepared with steel.  
I do not judge it meet to determine any time for the continuance of these Rules, and precepts, only in general, I hold it convenient to use them, till the Patient be more apt, and disposed for exercise, till she can walk without any lazy complaint of weariness, till her lips begin to look of a more lively colour, till no obstruction be perceivable by the touch, and in a word, till the urine, which was thin, pale, and discoloured, appear reddishlike unto the urine of a healthful woman.  
The Spring time is the most convenient to undertake this Cure; for then the humours are most apt to flow, which in the Winter are congealed, and impacted in the several parts; and in the Summer time it will not be altogether so proper to begin the Cure, for then through the immoderate heat o● the season, the humours do daily threaten to precipitate the sick woman into a fever.  
If the woman be weak in her body, let her refrain from exercise, and rest herself upon her bed, and after the space of a full hour, let her body be diligently rubbed, till it look red, that the faculties of the steel may be actuated, and assisted in their operation; for Galen in his book de Puero Epileptico and the fourth Chapter saith, that the rubbing of the body supplies the want of exercise, because it attenuateth and cureth the humours, unlocks the obstructions, quickens, and kindles the natural heat, and dissolves the peccant matter.  
Many mingle steel prepared with Conserves, and Syrups; Some make Lozenges thereof, and so do we also; especially when the Patient refuseth Wine, or Conserves, and the like: for in some cases we must allow pardon to the queazinesse of the sick, and humour the Palate with a safe indulgence.  
The powders Diarhod. Abbot, Dialacca, and Diacucurma, are very good to open the passages which are stopped, and therefore you may prudently mingle them among the ingredients for the Lozenges aforesaid.  
Here perhaps you will start this question; if heat provokes to stool, and brings down the urine, if it attenuates, cuts into the humours, and open the obstructions; why do Physicians unanimously command the staying of a looseness, or an Issue of blood, in what part of the body soever it happen, and to that intent prescribe water, or wine, or beer, wherein steel hath been quenched, thereby to make it more binding, and more apt to stay any flux? I answer, that steel is endued with those qualities I readily grant; but the Method which is observed in the use of steel doth clearly demonstrate a diversity of faculties to be in it: wherefore if your aim and intention be to open the obstructions, drink the wine when the steel hath been once, twice, or thrice quenched in it; but if you desire it should bind, then prescribe it to be taken after the sixth, or seventh quenching; for the first water or wine openeth, because in that lieth the fiery quality; but the other bindeth, because in that consists the earthy part: neither shall you need to wonder, that several and contrary qualities should lie concealed in one, and the same mineral, mettle, or simple, seeing that by daily experience we have a demonstrative certainty of the truth thereof; for thus Aloes hath an Emplastic and an opening quality: thus Rhubarb both binds and purgeth.  
Now you must note that these Simples are called hot and cold, as they have hot or cold parts predominant in them: thus we conclude endive to be cold, because the parts thereof are more moist than bitter, and we say Rhubarb is hot, because it hath a nitrous, fiery, purging quality predominant in it, above the earthy, binding, and cold parts.  
Christopherus a Vega, a man otherwise very learned, seems to my understanding to forsake the offers of reason, in saying that steel is unprofitable, because he never saw any woman, who had not her Courses, or who was troubled with obstructions, cured by the means of this Remedy; but truly, if it doth not sometimes totally ' subdue the evil, yet the fault must not therefore consequently be charged upon the Medicine, because the Matrix is sometimes vitiated by an habitual distemper, or else the obstructions thereof are so many, or so stubborn, that sometimes they destroy the sick woman; and if it do not fall out so, yet is it an undeniable truth which the Poet tells us,  
Non est in Medico semper relevetur ut Aeger, Interdum docta plus valet arte malum.  
That is,  
The Doctor cannot still successful be, Sometimes the evil gets the victory.   

CHAP. III. The immoderate flowing of the Courses.  
THis disease is contrary to the former; for as in that the Menstruum is too long retained, so in this they run too long.  
There is also this difference between them: the one proceedeth from a hot distemper, the other from a cold one.  
This we now treat on, is produced by twofold cause, the one inward, and th● other outward.  
The inward Cause is a hot distemper o● the Liver, whereby the blood grows hot thin, boiling in the vessels, and opening them, so that the Menstruum is purged out, before the usual and due time.  
The outward Cause is that which heateth and inflames the blood, and withal makes it thin, as vehement and sturdy exercises, pensiveness, and immoderate care of the mind, excessive anger, and thought busied upon revenge: a custom of eating meats that are hot in their quality, namely, such as are full of pepper, and salt, bibing of wine, and strong drinks, too much bathing of the body, long watch, fitting in the Sun overmuch, or by the fire side, etc.  
You may easily make yourself acquainted with the signs by conversing with, and questioning the sick woman, besides, you may of yourself observe, that the Patient is much weakened, in regard that the parts are deprived of the purest portion, and the most laudable substance of the blood, by which the life of a Creature is prolonged; women thus affected are very sad, and melancholy, by reason that the blood faileth, which otherwise contains a spirit in it, that makes them cheerful and lively, they grow lean and feeble, scarceable to stand upon their legs, they are apt to Nauseate, and forsake their meat, they are bound in their bodies, and grow puffed, and swelled up; they are troubled with weakness in their stomaches, they cannot digest their meat, their eyelids sink inwards, the calves of their legs swell, and their outward parts look pale, and discoloured: yea, by degrees the whole radical moisture, and inborn preservative decayeth and the Patient perisheth.  
Wherefore make no delay, but immediately oppose all your helps of Art to the subduing of the Disease; let her be lodged in an air that is cold and dry, and let her not be exposed to any air by night: strew cool herbs about her chamber, and let her avoid the air which is hot, because it rarefies the blood, makes it thin and waterish, and also inflames, and overheats it.  
She must forbear the use of hot meats, as Leeks, Onions, Watercresses, Origanum, and the like; let her likewise refrain from feeding upon spiced meats, and such as breed a thin juice; Rice boiled with sheeps-feets is good for her: and so are roasted Quinces, Medlars, and Services.  
Three hours after Supper, let her take fine flower, or pure Biscuit dissolved in Plantain, or Rosewater, and sweetened with Sugar.  
Give her no wine, unless it be sour, and binding red wine; but it will be more profitable to give her water, wherein gun tragacanth hath been boiled, and perfume● with Mastic, beer in which steel hath been infused will be profitable for her about the third, or fourth day, for this drin● hath a binding faculty without heating.  
But the opening of a vein twice, or thrice in a day, obtains the pre-eminence from all other remedies, according to the judgement of Galen, because it draws back the humour more forcibly to the upper parts when it is often repeated, then when it is done all at once; hear him in his own words. Quantò majorem in numerum particulares auxeris detractiones, tantò efficaciorem revulsionem efficies, that is, the oftener you open a vein, taking away a small quantity of blood at a time, so much more effectual will the Revulsion be; for when the blood is alured to the contrary part by these frequent iterations; Nature is accustomed to summon the blood to the upper parts: and thus that ordinary saying among the Doctors may properly be understood, that one flux cureth another.  
Hypocrates commendeth a large Cuppin-glass applied to the breasts; and very deservedly, because there is a great consent and Sympathy between the veins of the Matrix, and those of the Breasts.  
Moreover, you must prescribe such things as are of tried, and known virtue, to thicken the blood, syrup of Poppy, Quinces, dried Roses, Myrtles, and the like.  
We usually prescribe this Draught following for the sick, and we must add this to its commendation, that it seldom faileth in its operation.  
Two scruples of boiled Rhubarb.  
A scruple of Citron myrobalans.  
Half an ounce of syrup of Quinces.  
Two ounces, and a half of Plant ane water.  
Mingle them, and let her drink it.  
Divers Authors, as Rondeletius, Hollerius, Amatus Lusitanus, and others condemn th● boiling of Rhubarb; and the reason is this▪ as things say they, become more mild▪ and weak in their operations, when they have passed the fire; so those things which ar● gentle, become more vehement, having acquired a new kind of faculty by the forc● of the fire: this I grant most willingly, bu● in the mean time they purge less, an● bind more, which we desire, and as fo● any corrupt quality, which the power o● the fire may have contributed to it, that i● easily washed away by the help of Plantain water, or the juice of Quinces, if you demand whither this humour should be prepared? I answer, evacuate it without any delay, for you must not expect, or wai● the concoction thereof.  
Binding Glisters will be very useful; you may make them after this manner.  
Take four drams of the roots of Consolida major.  
The leaves of plantain and horsetail, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of red Roses.  
Two drams of shaled Pease.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of plantain water, to nine ounces; to the strained liquor add a dram of the Trochisches de Carabe, two ounces of syrup of Roses made with dried Roses.  
The whites of two Eggs.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster. Or  
Take four drams of the greater Comphrey roots.  
The leaves of knotgrasss, and plantain, of each a handful.  
As many red Roses as your thumb, and two fingers can take up.  
Sumach and Quince seeds, of each two drams.  
Three drams of barley parched, and beaten to a gross powder.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of plantain water to nine ounces.  
To the strained liquor add two ounces of syrup of Myrtles.  
A dram of terra sigillata.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
After these glisters are injected, anoint the Matrix with astringent ointments; Take as many plantain leaves as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice.  
Red Roses.  
Mulberry leaves.  
Oak leaves, of each half the quantity aforesaid.  
A dram of Sumach seeds.  
Boil them gently in four pints of oil of Quinces.  
Strain and press the liquor hard, and then put in  
True Bolearmanick,  
Trochischs de Carabe, of each a dram.  
With a sufficient quantity of white wax, make a soft ointment, according to art, or  
Take two ounces of unguentum Comitisse.  
Oil of myrtles, and oil of quinces, of each two drams.  
Mingle them, and make a lineament.  
You must likewise bathe the Matrix with fomentations made after this manner.  
Take the leaves of plantain,  
Knotgrass,  
Oak leaves.  
Red Roses, of each a handful.  
The seeds of plantain, Sumach.  
Quinces, of each three drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of red wine, or water wherein steel hath been quenched to three pints: use the strained liquor as was said above.  
That which remains after the straining may be kept for a Poultis, unto which you may add oil of quinces, and unguentum Comitisse, of each two ounces, and mingling them together, you have an excellent Poultis.  
But if the disease yield not to these Remedies, you may exhibit half a dram of new Treacle, or Philonium Persicum, or a scruple of the mass of Pills de Cynoglossa; if the Patient incline to a Consumption, give her Cow's milk prepared rightly with steel, to drink in a morning fasting; if the evil still persevere, and you suspect the heat of the Liver to be the Cause of the disease, make an issue in her leg, that the Liver may exhale at that vent, and the other bowels may evaporate, or else let her go into a Bath, the waters whereof run from an iron Mine; for these naturally bind and thicken.   

CHAP. IU. Of the coming away of the Courses by Drops, of the vehement Symptoms thereof, and of the Whites.  
AS the urine irritates the expulsive faculty, so many times doth the Menstruum, for as that, when it is too hot, doth prick, burn, and is frequently pissed out, so the Menstruum being vehemently hot, doth cause an itch, and an irritation, and produceth a Disease, which the Doctors call Stillicidium Vterinum, which we may english, to be a coming away of the Courses by drops.  
The Disease proceeds from the same Causes, as doth the immoderate▪ flowing of the Courses: therefore the same Remedies will be also proper to overcome them; yet in this present cure you need not prescribe so many Remedies, nor so often.  
When any notable Symptoms accompany this Disease, as a vehement burning, torments in the Matrix, a pain about the secret parts, it is called the Stillicide, or Dropping of the Matrix, from a sharp humour, arising through the hot distemper of the Liver, and the Kidneys; and whereas it takes beginning from a hot distemper, from whence sharp, hot, and fiery humours are generated, your Method must be first to root out the Cause, and then to cure the distemper; wherefore her body must be cooled, her blood must be thickened, and the Flux must be drawn back to the upper parts; this is done by a cool Air, by giving her whey to drink, wherein steel hath been often quenched; and lastly, you may prescribe for her the cold thickening Diet, which we have set down above.  
You may let her blood in both arms, and appoint the opening of the vein called Salvatella; Leeches must be applied to the Hemorrhoids, that the adust and melancholy blood may be drawn out. Purge her often with Rhubarb and Cassia, Syrup of Violets, Citron Myrobalaus, Manna, Tamarinds, Diaprun sumpl. and the like Simples which gently bring away choler. Cooling and thickening Juleps will be very necessary, which you may make after this manner.  
Take twelve ounces of plantain water.  
Four ounces of Rose water.  
Two ounces of Syrup of the juice of Quinces.  
Mingle them, and make a Julep, or  
Take the waters of Plantain,  
Purslane, of each eight ounces,  
Syrup of Poppy,  
Syrup of restharrow, of each an ounce and a half.  
Mingle them, and make a Julep.  
If the chiefest fault lie in the Kidneys,  
Take ten ounces of Bean water distilled.  
The waters of Plantain.  
Mallows, of each two ounces.  
Syrup of Myrtles.  
Syrup of Poppy, of each an ounce.  
A scruple and a half of Lapis Prunelle.  
Mingle them, and make a Julep.  
But note, if the Patient have a hot Liver, and a cold stomach, it will be convenient to lessen the quantity of the distilled mallow water, or to prescribe an equal part of Rose water, the virtue whereof strengthens the inward parts.  
Baths made with binding Simples, are highly profitable in this Disease; for they do not only attemper the sharpness of the humours, but they drive the humours to the outward parts, and so defend and fortify the Matrix from that annoyance, which they threatened unto it, and in a while the Flux is stayed.  
Whey, although it be Diuretical, and provoke urine, yet when steel is quenched in it, it is wonderful wholesome for her: as Hypocrates affirmeth concerning the Son of Erotelaus, lying sick of a bloody Flux, for when he had drunk whey, in which red hot flints were quenched, his evacuations were more moderate, although they were bloody, and in a short time they ended; here is to be noted, that whey although upon a slight consideration, it may seem to be Diuretical, and ●o to provoke rather than to stay the flux, yet if steel be frequently quenched in it, till the thin and fiery parts thereof be wasted away, it stayeth the Flux.  
If these Remedies prevail not to perfect the Cure, I shall counsel you to make an Issue upon the knee, for this being kept open, the corrupt humours are evacuated, without any decay of the spirits, which otherwise do many times produce grievous and vehement Symptoms; we have spoken of the coming away of the Menstruum by Drops, with the terrible Symptom which accompanies it, namely, a vehement and insupportable pain, but because this pain proceeds from divers causes, the Cure must be also diversified.  
Women therefore which are of a cold Constitution, especially if they be young, prone to Venery, Black, and Hairy, must be purged, that the Cause may be taken away, and therefore their bodies must be first prepared before you can hope to appease the pain.  
You may evacuate the humour with Diaphenicon, Benedicta laxativa, or with Pills of Hiera: and you may prepare the humour with smallage, and fennel roots, with agrimony and Motherwort leaves, boiled in water wherein steel hath been quenched with Rhodomel.  
The pain must be appeased with unguent. Populeum, unto which you may add a few grains of opium; or else you may apply fomentations to the head.  
A vein also must be opened, as we have showed you above.  
If a woman or Virgin have the whites, which come away of a thick and fattish substance, you must proceed as in the former Cure; but you must be exceeding cautious how you let blood, for such bodies are full of raw humours, by reason whereof the spirits are much exhausted, and her body is weak and infirm, according to the Judgement of Galen, in his book the Sanguine. missione. chap. 11. wherefore in such cases, I counsel the Patient to go to the Spa waters, or some other of the like Nature; for they purge away the thick humour both by siege and by urine, but especially the melancholy juice, which is the cause of this disease.  
A Decoction of China and Sa●zapavilla cannot be improper, nor Leeches applied to the Hemorrhoids. Note that the Caul of a Ram or Weather newly killed, must be laid to the affected part, being first anointed with oil of Castor; for as the skull of a man is good against the Falling Sickness, and the Lungs of a Fox against the stoppage of the pipes, by a specifical virtue, or hidden similitude, so is this good for the stomach, and the Loins.  
The Whites are defined to be a lasting distillation from the Matrix, however it be affected; for Nature indevoureth to expel that superfluous, moist, and excrementitious blood through the Matrix, and even at the same time disburtheneth the body from this unprofitable and offensive humour.  
This evil is reckoned among the Symptoms of those things, which are immoderately expelled out of the body, the Causes whereof are divers; for sometimes a predominancy of choler, sometimes a phlegmatic juice; many times melancholy, and very often blood is evacuated; this is easily known, because a snotty kind of humour drops, and distils continually from the Matrix, which if it be red, it proceeds from blood; if white, from phlegm, if yellow, it takes beginning from choler.  
The sick woman complains of a general weakness over all the parts of the body, her legs and eyelids are swelled, she cannot digest her meat, her stomach fails her, she is lazy, and loves no exercise, and cares not to stir up and down; so that at length her strength decayeth, and her spirits fail, through the abundance of blood which hath come from her: wherefore this disease calls for early help, lest it degenerate, as not seldom it doth, into a Dropsey, or a Consumption, or the like terrible Diseases.  
If the body therefore abound with much blood, let a vein be opened in the arm, to draw back the course of the humour, which is hastening from all parts of the body to the Matrix. Thus we read that Galen cured the wife of Boetius, unto whom other Physicians had preposterously prescribed Medicines without opening a● vein.  
Afterwards you must prepare the phlegmatic humour with a decoction of wormwood, unto which add Syr. of Roses, or Syr. de artemisia, the choleric humour must be prepared with a decoction of endive, sorrel, unto which may be added Oxysaccarum, or Syrup. de succo Cichorii; if it be a Melancholy humour, prepare it with a decoction of Fumitary, Buglos, unto which add Syr. of Fumitary, and Syr. Lupuli.  
Then expel the humour with some gentle purge; if it be phlegmatic,  
Take three scruples of white agaric Trochischt.  
Two scruples of the root of Mechoacha.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
Macerate them the space of a night, in a sufficient quantity of fennel water; in the morning to two ounces and a half of the liquor which you press out, add  
Three drams of Diacarthamum.  
Half an ounce of Diacnicum.  
Mingle them together for a Potion.  
If Choleric humours abound in the body, Take two drams and a half of the best Rhubarb.  
Citron myrobalans.  
Cinnamon, of each a scruple.  
Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of endive water, press them with all your might, and add  
An ounce and a half of Syrup of roses laxative.  
Mingle them, and give it her to drink in the morning.  
If Melancholy humours be predominant.  
Take two drams and a half of Sena.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
Macerate them over night, in a sufficient quantity of fumitary water, in the morning press out the liquor, and add  
To two ounces and a half of the liquor strained and pressed,  
Two drams of Confectio Hamech.  
Halse an ounce of Syrup of fumitary.  
Mingle them for a Potion.  
If the Disease yield not to these Medicines, expel the humour by an Epicrasis, that is, by some Decoction, that by degrees will digest, open, and eva●uate the humour, and also mightily provoke urine; this Apozem following hath all these virtues.  

Take the roots of Parsley,  
Fennell,  
Buglos,  
Polypody of the Oak, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of Maidenhair.  
Agrimony,  
Motherwort, of each a handful.  
Six drams of Sena.  
Two drams of rhubarb.  
One dram of agaric.   
As much Epithymum as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers.  
Two drams of anise seed.  
Macerate them together a whole night, in two pints of barley water, upon hot embers, in the morning allow them one or two gentle bubblings, and when you have strained them, add  
Syrup of fumitary.  
Syrup of roses laxative, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them for an Apozem.  
Every other morning let her have four ounces of it fasting.  
If all these things prove ineffectual, infuse a whole night six grains of Antimony in wine, and let her drink it, if her body be strong enough to abide the conflict of the medicine: for besides that, it draws back the humours from the Matrix, by provoking to Vomit, it likewise purgeth away by stool that tenacious, phlegmatic, and thick humour which is the cause of the Disease.  
Wormwood beer is not unwholesome for her, or instead thereof, prescribe to her, beer wherein China roots have been infused, for this disperseth the humour to the skin, and dries up the superfluous moisture; for the same purpose, we advise, with Galen, that a Bath of hot sand be prepared; that after the use thereof the body be well rubbed, and anointed with honey heated by the fire; then, as we prescribed above, make an Issue in her knee.   

CHAP. V Of the Complication of the Menstrunm, with other Diseases.  
THe Complication of the Menstruum with other Diseases is hard to be known, and not easy to be cured; for if any woman be sick of any Disease, and if her Courses be suppressed, or appear not, the Physicians are at a stand, what is most fit, during this Judication, to be done, for if we follow the motions of Nature, who worketh rightly, and open a vein in the ankle, this will not cure the Disease, which is rooted in the upper parts.  
And if you draw blood from the arm, you pervert the course and order of Nature, to the great disadvantage of the sick woman. But you will say, in such a case as this, what is to be done? I shall tell you in few words.  
The Disease is either vehement, or moderate, and of long continuance; if the Courses appear, or come down, in a disease of long continuance, you may defer the opening of a vein till a more convenient season, be it either a vein in the arm, or in the ankle, which you intended to cut, for you can do no hurt by omitting, or at least suspending this remedy.  
But if the Disease be acute, and require a speedy evacuation; you must observe whither the Menstruum be answerable to the plenty of blood which abounds in the body; if her Courses come down, according to the prescription of Hypocrates, you must not be busy, but leave the whole matter to Nature; of the same opinion is Galen also, for, saith he, if at that time when you are letting blood, it should so fall out, that her Courses come down, or that she should on a sudden have the Piles, you must desist from phlebotomy, and commit the whole business to Nature, if you are satisfied that the Menstruum cometh away in a sufficient quantity; but otherwise take from her so much blood, as may make good the deficiency of her Courses.  
But if a burning Fever be upon her, if she have not her Courses according to custom, and to the satisfaction of her own desires, than this defect must be supplied with medicines, by opening a vein in her ankle, applying Cuppinglasses with scarification to the calves of her legs, or Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, to take away the superfluity of the blood.  
One thing must be considered, namely, if a woman after her delivery have a burning Fever upon her, her Courses actually flowing, whither it be lawful, in regard of the vehemence of the Fever, to open the upper veins? Fernelius, Valeriola, Amatus Lusitanus, and divers others of good account, assent the lawfulness and expediency thereof; for although some have imagined, that if the upper veins be opened, the blood will ascend to the upper parts; yet if it be true which they imagine, more profit and advantage will accrue thereby to the sick woman, then hurt or danger; for when a vein in the ankle is cut, although it bring down the Courses, and supply the defective motion of Nature, in respect of the part particularly affected; yet is it not equally prevalent against a most vehement inflammation, nor altogether so profitable in a most acute disease; because the blood must be drawn out from some vessel, that is nearer to the part affected, that the conjunctive cause may be taken away, and although by cutting a vein in the ankle, we can draw the whole mass of blood out of the body, yet the blood is not so fitly taken from one part, as from another; for in a Quinsey, or a Pleurisey, 'tis more commodious to open the Basilick vein to temper the heat, than any other vein in the whole body.   

CHAP. VI Of hard swell in the Breasts.  
THe Breasts are naturally thin, spongy, or fungous, and lose; for this reason they are apt to entertain any crude, and melancholy humours, flowing to them either from the Matrix, or from any other parts; these, if they are not rightly, and duly expelled, they breed painful, yea malignant and cankered Ulcers: wherefore you must address yourself to the Cure, without any truce or delay; and this consists in three things; in prescribing a Diet, in the manual operations of Surgery, and in outward and inward Medicines.  
Let her therefore make choice of a pure air, let her drink be small beer boiled with anise and snakeweed; let her meat be of good concoction, and easy distribution, as Mutton broth, Cock broth, and roasted Chickens; let her avoid meats that thicken the blood, as milk, cheese, bacon, fish, and the like; open a vein, if she have not her Courses, in her ankle, or cut the Basilic● vein twice or thrice, to ease the Liver, the Spleen, and the Kidneys, as the multitude o● blood shall require it.  
Note that the humour must be prepared and attempted with this Apozem.  
Take the roots of Succhory,  
Polipody, of each an ounce.  
The bark of the root of the Caper, an●  
Tamarisk tree, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of Buglos,  

Fumitary,  
Balm, of each a handful.   
Two drams of Fennill seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity o● barley water to two pints, and to the strained liquor add  
Syrup of Borage,  
Syrup of ●umitary, of each an ounce and a half.  
Ten grains of Spirit of Vitriol.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.  
Because the humour is thick and dreggish, you must purge her body several times, till it be perfectly cleansed, this may be done with this decoction following.  
Take an ounce of Polypody of the oak.  
The leaves Fumitary,  

Hops,  
Borage,  
Endive, of each a handful.  
Epithymum,  
Century the less, of each half a handful.   
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water, to two pints, and in the strained liquor infuse a whole night,  
An ounce of Sena.  
Four drams of Rhubarb.  
Agaric Troch.  
Cream of Tartar, of each two drams.  
Epithymum, and  
The flowers of borage, buglos, and rosemary, of each as many as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice▪  
Two drams of anise seeds.  
In the morning give it one or two bubblings, strain and press it, and to the liquor, add  

Syrup of violets.  
Syrup of fumitary, of each an ounce.  
Make an Apozem, or  
Take the leaves of bugloes,   

Fumitary, of each a handful.  
Balm,   
Germander, of each half a handful.  
As much Epithymum, as you can contain● between your thumb and two fingers.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity o● whey, to a pint, and a half, infuse for ● night in the strained liquor  
Six drams of Sena.  
Two drams of white Agarick.  
A dram and a half of anise seeds.  
In the morning press out the liquour hard, and add  

Syrup of Violets,  
Syrup of fumitary, of each an ounce an● a half.  
Mingle them for an Apozem.   
Confectio Hamech and Diacricu will b● highly profitable; so also are Pills de Lapi● Lazuli.  
Sometimes you may prescribe glisters, t● temper the melancholy humour; as for example.  

Take the leaves of Mallows,  
Marishmallowes,  
Violets, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of bran.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.   
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to nine ounces: in the strained liquor put in  

Confectio Hamech,  
Diacatholicon, of each an ounce.  
An ounce and a half of oil of violets.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster, or  
Take half an ounce of Polypody roots.  
The leaves of bugloes,  
Fumitary,  
Violets, of each a handful.  
Four ounces of sena.   
As much Epithymum as you can take up, between your thumb and two fingers.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Cock broth to nine ounces, to the strained ●●quor add  

Diaprun. Laxativum,  
Confectio Hamech, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets.  
A dram of Sal gem.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.   
Leeches applied to the Fundament may much promote the Cure.  
The event may likewise gratify your trial, if you prescribe Cordials, Treacle, Mithridate, Lozenges of Pearl, Alkermes, and the like: which with their coldness, dryness, and cordial virtue, retain the spirits, correct the blood, even when it is putrifying, and preserve the bowels in their due Symmetry, and natural constitution; Note, that you may not forget to wash her legs, with a decoction of Hops, Violets, Fumitary, Roses, Mallows, and Vine leaves.  
If by the advantage of time it prove a● cankered, and a creeping Ulcer, you must not vex, and discompose the Patient with many, or strong Medicines, but you mus● institute a palliative Cure; for Gale● boasteth that he thus cured a woman who had a Cancer in her breast, for whe● the thinner part was brought away, i● became thicker, more full of putrefaction, and subject to exulcerate; for it i● undeniable, as the same Author affirmeth● that the vehemence of the remedies inflame the humour, and set it on fire, by that acrimo●nius quality, which is naturally in them.  
Almost all Authors agree that Issues an● convenient, for they supply the stead o● Purges, and Phlebotomy, as Guido a good write● witnesseth in his book de Cauteriis.   
The end of the first Book of women's Diseases.   

THE SECOND BOOK, Written by NICHOLAS FONTANUS: OF women's Diseases.  

The first Chapter. OF the Mother.  
THat Disease which we commonly call the Mother, the Physicians term the Strangulation, or Suffocation of the Matrix, and sometimes the Ascent of the Matrix. Ga●● took it to be a drawing back of the Ma●ix, to the upper parts. Hereupon some of the Ancients conceived the Matrix, to b● some straggling Creature, wand'ring too and fro through several parts, to which fantastical conceit, Fernelius, Eugenius, and Laurentius, contributed a credulous Assent; for though a woman be dead, yet can you not with an ordinary strength remove the Matrix from the natural place; neither is that reason, which Fernelius allegeth, of any moment, who saith, that in these diseases he hath touched it upwards, seeing that this is not the true Matrix, but a gross, windy swelling, of a roundish figure, and somewhat resembling the Matrix; you will say the Matrix doth remove, and slip from its proper place; I grant it, for by reason of the moisture, wherewith those parts abound, the Matrix is loosened, and exceedingly stretched: and this is the truth of the whole matter.  
The Cause of this Disease is twofold: the Retention of the Seed, and the Menstruum, which are the material cause: and a cold and moist distemper of the Matrix, breeding phlegmatic and thick juices, which is the efficient cause: for when the Seed is retained, and the Menstruum hath not the customary, and usual vent, they burden the Matrix, and choke, and extinguish the heat thereof: then upon the diminishing of the natural heat, windy humours are bred, especially in the Matrix, which by nature is a cold, nervous, and bloodless part; after the same manner, if the seed be kept too long, it disturbeth the Function of the spiritous parts, and the Midriff, it oppresseth the heart, causeth fainting and sounding fits, bindeth as it were, and girteth about the parts, and seems in such a manner to stop the breath, that the sick woman is in danger to be strangled: her pulls is sometimes weak, various, and obscure: she hath inward discontents and anxieties, and is most commonly invaded by, at least very subject unto Convulsion fits: she lies, as if she were astonished and void of sense: and from her belly you may hear rumbling, and murmuring noises; she breatheth so weakly, that it is scarce discernible, and indeed she is so sad an object, that the bystanders may easily mistake her to be dead. The drowsy and sleepy disease called Carus differs from this, because they who are affected with it, have the use of their breath free, without any molestation: and it differs from a Cata●psy (another drowsy disease, casting the ●●ck into a profound and dead sleep) because they who are taken with that, li● without any motion, but they who hav● the mother, are tormented with Convulsion fits, their legs and their hands are stretche● and writhed into unusual figures, an● strange postures; and by this it is distinguished from an Apoplexy, unto which it is exceeding like.  
Galen wondereth how these women ca● live, who are troubled with these crue● fits of the Mother, without any pulls, o● breathing, in as much as it is impossible fo● one that liveth not to breath, or for on● that breatheth not, to live; for so long ● we live, so long we breath. To this I answer that although these women live without respiration, yet do they not live without transpiration; for this being performed through the pores of the skin, by th● motion of the arteries, conserveses the sym● metry of the vital heat; for then tha● small heat retiring to the heart, as to Castle, may bepreserved by this benefit o● transpiration alone.  
Now to procure an assurance, whith● the woman be living or dead, hold a feather, or a lookingglass to her mouth, the former stir, or the latter be spotted it is an undoubted sign that she liveth.  
This is a most acute Disease, and soon dispatcheth the sick woman, especially if it took beginning from somevery contagious, and poisonous vapours; lecherous women, and lusty widows that are prone, and apt to Venery, are most subject to it: but married women that enjoy the company of their husbands, and such as are with child, are seldom invaded by it.  
You must apply your Remedies in the ●●t, and after the fit: in the fit, the humour ●ust be drawn back with rubbing the parts, ●ying painful Ligatures about them, and applying Cuppinglasses, with scariffication to ●he calves of her legs: have such Glisters in readiness, as will take away the pain, dissolve, draw back, and purge out the thick ●umours: you may compound them by ●hese forms following.  
Take half an ounce of Elecampane roots.  
The leaves of rue, penniroyall, Motherwort, ●nd pellitory of the wall, of each a handful.  
Three drams of sena.  
Bran, Camomile flowers, and the tops of Dill, of each half a handful.  
Bastard Saffron, and anise seeds, of each too drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of birthwort water to nine ounces, to the strained liquor being squeezed, and pres● very hard, add  
Diaphenicon, and benedicta laxativa, of each an ounce.  
Oil of dill, and oil of rue, of each s● drams.  
Half an ounce of butter.  
A dram and a half of salt.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
Carminative medicines must be laid upo● the whole inward region, as fomentation made of the leaves of Rue, Motherwort, Penniroyall, the flowers of Melilot, and Camomile, or unguent. de Althaea, with the oyl● of Camomile, Dill, and Rue; for this looseneth the passages by opening the pores, an expelling the wind; pessaries may be p●● up, made with Civet, Musk, and Amber but you must affront her nose with stinking odours, as the steam of brimstone, th● smoke ascending from old shoes burn● Partridge feathers, sagapenum galbanum, asafetida, and the like, cast into the fire; because the Matrix doth, as it were abhor, retreat, and fly from these things, wherea● sweet things do allure to them.  
But some curious brain may here demand, why sweet things held to the nos● do breed the fits of the Mother, and on the contrary, stinking things appease those fits? I answer; sweet things applied to the Matrix, in regard that they are hot, do expel the wind, cut into the slow and tenacious phlegm, and afterwards purge it out: but stinking things applied to the Nose, consume the ascending vapours with their heat; but you may still demand, if hot stinking things be good to break the wind, why may they not be laid to the Matrix, as well as sweet things? I answer? the Matrix embraceth, and meeteth sweet odours and perfumes, but unsavoury and stinking scents it abhors, and flies from; for 'tis a most certain truth, that every creature, even by natural instinct, shuneth inconveniences, and affecteth things convenient.  
If the evil still increase, and if the Virgin be of a good habit, fleshy, and for a long time hath not had her Courses, or for too long a time hath had them: the safest course, although upon the approach of the Fit, will be to open a vein in the ankle, without delay, especially, if any excretion of blood appear, either at the nose, or at the mouth; for as Hypocrates hath excellently taught us; as the coming down of the Courses, is a present Remedy for those who vomit blood; so in a body that is plethoric, by reason that the Menstruum hath been long suppressed; you may help a woman who vomits blood, if you cut one of her lower veins; the same opinion i● favoured by Galen in his Commentry, saying in this case we ought to endeavour ar● evacuation, namely, such an one as is correspondent to nature, when she is obedient to her own laws.  
After the Phlebotomy, if her body b●strong, and the Disease continue, apply Cuppinglasses, with scarification to her thighs Leeches to the Hemorrboids, and with iterated Glisters, and medicines given again and again into the body, purge out th● Melancholy juices.  
Many, who are more rash than learned more bold, then skilful, because of th● cold and the wind, which are the cause● of this Disease, at the beginning will unadvisedly be offering wine to the sick, which being odoriferous, is apt to allure the Matri● to the upper parts; therefore I counsel all those that value the health of thei● friends, to forbear this temerity: yet if sh● faint, and her spirits be so far spent, tha● she 'swounds, or is ready to swoon, in such an exigence you may allow her wine, yet in a small quantity.  
When the Fit is over, let her live soberly, and feed upon hot meats. that yield a thin, and subtle nourishment, and be very careful to preserve herself, lest she fall into a Relapse; herbs, and roots, and such thing as thicken the blood, or are hard to digest, must be no part of her diet, Wormwood beer may be allowed her, or in her beer mingle Cinnamon water, or boil anise seeds, or China roots in it.  
The humour must be prepared with cutting Syrups, as Rhodomell, Syrup of Wormwood, Syrup of Mint, or Syrup of the five roots.  
You may prescribe the Purge of Mechoaca, Hiera Picra, pills of agaric, of Hiera, with Confectio Hamech, or Sena.  
You must open a vein in the ankle again, and because this thick and stubborn humour will not obey a single evacution, you must also purge her body again with agaric, hellebore, Pills of Mastic, or of Rhubarb.  
Steel taken in powder, or mingled among the other medicines, will much advance the Cure; so will an Issue, and an artificial Bath made with Sulphur, or a decoction of Salsa parilla, Guaiacum, and China.  
Lastly, if the Disease take beginning from the seed, because in Physic, no peculiar, or elective purging medicine is consecrated to it, you must lessen her diet, enjoin her an abstinence from hot wine, and let her continually wear plates of lead upon he● back; for it is most certain, that these do● diminish the seed; if the Patient for twelv● mornings together upon an empty stomach drink three ounces of a decoction of agnus castus seeds, boiled with six grains o● Camphire.   

CHAP. II. Of the Epilepsy in the Matrix, And th● several kinds thereof.  
Physicians reckon up a twofold Epileps in the Matrix; one by Consent, th● other by Propriety; the Cause of this is thick, viscous, and slow humour, obstructing the hollow parts of the Nerves: th● cause of that is a cold distemper of the Matrix, and a contagious vapour assaulting and shaking the Brain, and the nervous parts: for when the animal faculty strives to expel that humour, or vapour from itself, the hollow parts of the Nerves are crushed together, and the passages are stopped, and thus there happens a constipation, or an obstruction, the insides of the Nerves being, as it were straightened, bound, and closed up together.  
That there is such a Disease, as an Epilpsy by Consent, we are warranted by Galen to believe, who in his book de Locis, propounds the example of a boy, who being lame in his legs, fell afterwards into an Epilepsy, and after the same manner Virgins, who are troubled with obstructions, wind, or a malignant vapour in their Matrices, do frequently fall into the Falling Sickness.  
This is easily known; for imminent windy humours, and rumblings in her belly do presage it, her stomach swells, her mind is confused, her eyes are dim, and when she is ready to fall into a fit of the Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness, she may perceive a tingling noise in her ears, a giddiness, circumagitation, or turning round in her head: she is sad in her mind, disquieted in her body, troubled with the passion of the heart, and not seldom with sounding fits; 'tis a sad spectacle to behold her in this condition, from which if she be not seasonably delivered, she is very likely to fall into an Apoplexy; this we have learned from Galen, who in his third book de Locis, and 5. chapped. saith, epileptics do often degenerate into a melancholy madness, and so on the contrary; for this melancholy mood turns to the Falling Sickness, when the humour invades either the body, or the mind; or if that dark vapour becloud the mind, inducing a dimness, or gloominess in the thoughts, with sadness, despair, and deep melancholy; if the spirits, which are bright and clear in their own nature, be obscured with the foggy commerce of black vapours, the very presence of them dismayeth, terrifies, and discomposeth the mind: or if a confluence of those vapours assault the body, that is, the brain and the nerves, they produce the Falling Sickness.  
This requires a twofold cure: one in the Fit, the other after the Fit. In the Fit you must quicken and excite the animal faculty, and force back those poisonous vapours, that are stealing from the Matrix to invade the upper parts: then the wind must be expelled, the ways kept open, and the thick humour must be got out of the body, by rubbing the parts, by tying strait ligatures about her legs, by fomentations, and baths, made with the leaves of penniroyall, motherwort, thyme, nip, camomile, salt, vinegar, and water; softening Glisters are so useful, that you must not forget to inject them; you may make them thus.  

Take the leaves of motherwort,  
Penniroyall,  
Birthwort, of each a handful.  
Rosemary,  
Mint, of each a handful.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.   
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, to nine ounces, strain and press out the liquor, and then add  

Hiera picra Galeni,  
Diaphenicon, of each an ounce.  
A dram of sal gem.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster, or  
Take the roots of Elecampane,  
Restharrow, of each four drams.  
The leaves of Marjoram,  
Motherwort,  
Birthwort, of each a handful.  
The tops of Dill,   
Camomile Flowers, of each half a handful.  
Two drams of anise seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity o● Barley water, to nine ounces, to the liquour which you press out, add  
An ounce and a half of Diaphenicon.  
Mass. pill. fetidar.  
De hiera cum Agarico, of each two scruples.  

Oil of Dill,  
Camomile,  
Butter, of each half an ounce.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.   
If necessity urge you, and the strength o● the Patient will bear it, you may prescribe a sharper clyster, to draw the humours from the farthest distant parts, and to imitate th● nature and effects of a Purge; be this for a● example to you.  

Take half an ounce of Polypody roots.  
Two drams of Mechoaca.  
The leaves of Sage,  
Rosemary,  
Betony, of each a handful.  
Half an ounce of bastard Saffron seeds.  
Two drams of Agarick.   
As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb, and two fingers.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of honeyed water to ten ounces, strain, and press out the liquor, and add  

An ounce of Hiera Logodii.  
A dram of the Mass of Pills of Cochia.  
Ten grains of Troch. Alhandal.  
Half a dram of sal gem.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.   
For this being a most acute Disease, requires the utmost trials of art, that it may not degenerate (as it is very prone to do) into a true Apoplexy.  
To the Matrix (to make a sudden dispatch of the Cure) apply Carminitive fomentations, and ●ath the privy parts, to break, and expel the wind.  
After the use of the Fomentation, apply oil of Castor, oil of wormwood, and inject odoriferous Pessaries of musk, amber, Civet, made up with gallia Moschat, and a piece of Cotton, according to the secret rules of Art; to the nose you must hold stinking things, as sagapenum, galbanum, assa fetida, Castor, rue, and the like.  
When the Fit is approaching, Hypocrates adviseth to open a vein in the Ankle, and this advice is magnified, and applauded by Galen in his book de Rigore Chapt. 8. neither may you forget to apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, or the calves of her legs; for they will suck out the feculent and dreggish humour, that is impacted in the Matrix.  
Cordials must be administered, as Treacle, Mithridate, Alkermes, Confection de Hyacyntha, and the like: or if you please compound them after this manner.  
Take the hoof of an Elk.  
The wood of Misletoe of the Oak, of each two drams.  
The skull of a man newly dead of some violent death.  

Hartshorne, of each two drams.  
Pearl prepared,  
 Ivory,  
Mastic, of each a dram and a half.  
The powder of Rosemary,  
Stechas,  
Sage, of each a scruple.  
The species Diacastor.  
Diaccumin. of each a scruple.   
With a sufficient quantity of honey, of roses, and Syrup of Stechas, make a mixture.  
If the Disease become again indigested and crude, prescribe another Purge, of Aloes, Hiera Picra, Benedicta Laxativa, or Turbith; but that the ignorant may not be rashly precipitated into some erroneous composition, we shall limit him to this prescription.  
Take two scruples of the mass of Pills de Hiera cum agarico.  
Ten grains of pill. faetidae.  
Troch. Alhandal,  
Diagrydium, of each five grains.  
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Stechas make nine Pills.  
Sometimes the retention of the Seed is the Cause of these Symptoms, which if they be so vehement, that the former remedies cannot tame them, proceed as followeth.  

Take Storax in powder,  
Aloes in powder,  
White agaric, of each two drams.  
The juice of the herb Mercury,  
The juice of the wild Cucumber, of each three drams.  
A sufficient quantity of Turpentine.   
With a piece of Cotton make a pessary, according to art, put it up, and move it up and down, till the superfluous seed be ejaculated.  
If the sick woman have many Fits in a day, certain it is, that the disease is fixed, and rooted in the Head: wherefore in such cases I have known no better remedy, than an actual cauterizing in the hinder part of the head, from whence as from an Issue, that virulent and luxuriant humour which is the cause of this most dangerous disease, may at last have a vent.  
In the intermission of the Fits, you mu●● open a vein in her Ankle; this is not my counsel only, but Galen enjoins the sam● remedy; for in his book de Cur. ration. pe● sang. missionem, he saith; if you will prevent the Falling Sickness, ●ut the Scyrhena● that is the vein in the Ankle; afterwards he commands the preparation of that cold● and thick humour, which may be effected by this Apozem following.  

Take the roots of fennel,  
Small Aristolochy,  
Elecampane, of each four drams.  
The roots of Dittany,  
Peony, of each two drams.  
The leaves of Nip,  
Penniroyall,  
Calamint,  
Sage, of each a handful,  
The flowers of Stechas,   
Rosemary, of each as much as you can grasp between your thumb, and two fingers at twice.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, wherein steel hath been infused, to two pints.  
To the strained liquor add  

An ounce and a half of Syrup of St●●has.  
An ounce of oxymel Scilliticum.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.   
After you have prepared the humour, purge the body with this composition following.  
Take two drams and a half of Sena.  
Three scrup●e● of white agaric.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
A scruple of Ginger,  
Macerate them for a ●ight in a sufficient quantity of parsley water; in the morning give them one or two bubblings; and to the ●iquor which you press ou● (I mean ●hree ounces of it)  
Add two scruples of Mas●▪ ●il●. 〈◊〉.  
Mingle them for a Potion▪ or  
You may prescribe some other mi●ture ●o● purge phl●g●●▪ and more 〈◊〉 to ●reak and expel wind, or make ready ●his plaster following, to be applied to petrovell, and her secret par●●●  

Take three ounces of ●●stort 〈◊〉  
Lign. Aloes.  
Sautali moschatel●●▪  
Nutmegs.  
Barbaries.  
Dill, of each two dram●▪  
Cinnamon,  
Cloves,  
Scevanth,  
Camomile flowers, of each a dram.  
Male frankincense, or Olibanum,  
Mastic,  
Trochischs de Gallia Moschata,  
Storax calimata,  
Red storax, of each a scruple.  
Seven grains and a half of musk.  
Three ounces and a half of yellow wa●  
An ounce and an half of turpentine.  
A pound of pure laudanum.  
Nine ounces of ship Pitch.   
Mingle them, and according to Art mak● a Plaster.  
If the contumacity of the evil be such, ● not to yield to all these remedies, make I●sues in the legs, and if those also prove in effectual, my last recourse is to a decoction of Guaiacum wood, wherewith the learned Jachinus, as he averreth in his Commentaries upon Almansor, hath cured many o● this Disease.   

CHAP. III. ●f M●lancholy proceeding from the Matrix.  
THis hath one and the same Cause with the Epilepsy, namely the retention of ●e Seed, and the suppression of the Men●●m, which being earthy, and not ob●ning a vent, they putrify, beget vapours, ●hich do not only assault the brain, but ●ey oppress the heart also, and the Mid●e; for when a gloomy and black vapour ●ends to the brain, the principal parts, ●d their instruments are depraved, and ●e animal spirit, which is the chiefest in●ment of the soul, and in its own nature ●are and perspicuous, is rendered dark, ●d obscure.  
The true signs of this disease are sad●se, fearfulness, anxiety of mind, and seve●l figures or postures of unquietness ap●ring in the body.  
They despair, they dote, they talk ●ly, especially at that time when they spect their Courses; in these you may ob●ve a depraved motion of the principal Members, because the temperament of t● brain is perverted by that cold and d● humour; moreover they are unwilling dye, they cannot sleep, they have no stomach to their meat, and being taken wi● a strange loathing of aliment, their bod● waste and consume; sometimes they imagine that they undergo the torments damned souls in Hell; they weep wit● out any cause, they groan, they lame● anon again they laugh, desire to go to some by corners, and according the inward discomposure of their mind they turn, vary, and alter their gestu● and countenances into several figur● sometimes they have a conceit that they talking with Angels, sometimes they murmur, sometimes they sing; certainly th● is not a more strange and wonderful d● ease, for in several persons it bewrays a thousand, several, ridiculous, and ant● behaviours.  
He sees the difficulty of this Cure, b● in regard of the Symptoms, and the stu● bornesse of the disease, who understands to be a cold and dry affect (for there is ● doubt, but the brain labours under cold, and dry distemper) and how mu● dryness resisteth the best medicines, is n● unknown to Philosophers; for as it is of a dull, and sluggish action, so are there many resistances: and from thence comes the danger, because it easily degenerates into raving, and raging madness, or into the Falling Sickness, or into an Apoplexy, and it is held incurable, if the brain be primarily affected, because in continuance of time, ●t takes so deep a root, that no Magazine of Remedies, no stratagems of Art can remove it.  
Wherefore you must be very careful, when you undertake the Cure; as for her Diet, let it incline to hot and moist, assign ●er a gently breathing air; boil her drink with the roots of bugloes, angelica, and snakeweed; with the leaves of hops, buglos, balm, ●nd fumitary; allow her white Wine that is ●mall, and well scented, let her be indulgent to her sleeps, avoiding cares, pensiveness, and troublesome thoughts; if her body be costive, make it, and keep it soluble. Venery is wholesome for melancholy persons, provided that it be acted seasonably, and with moderation. Hypocrates placed the whole hope of the Cure in the evacuation of that excrement, commanding, as we have said above, such Virgins to marry.  
To facilitate the Revulsion, and the evacuation of the humour, loosen the belly with moistening Suppositories, and Glisters observe their composition.  
Take two scruples of the species Hiera picr●  
Ten grains of Troch. Alhandal.  
Half a dram of common Salt.  
With a sufficient quantity of honey boiled to a due thickness, make a Suppository, ●  
Take a scruple and a half of Hiera Pi● in the species.  
Trochishes of agaric.  
Troch. Alhandall, of each a scruple.  
Half a dram of Sal gem.  
With a sufficient quantity of honey, according to art make a Suppository.  

Take the roots of Elecampane,  
Polypody, of each four drams.  
The leaves of mallows,  
Violets,  
Balm,  
Pellitory on the wall.  
Mercury, of each a handful.  
Ten good prunes.  
Five drams of Sena.   
As much Epithymum as your thumb, an● two fingers can grasp.  
Two drams of anise seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity ● fumitary water to nine ounces, when you have strained and pressed out the liquor, add,  

Diaprun. Laxat.  
Diaphenicon, of each an ounce.  
An ounce and a half of oil of Violets.  
A dram of Sal gem.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster. Or,  
Take the leaves of Buglos.  
Borage,  
Balm, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of Violets.  
Four drams of Sena.   
Half an ounce of the roots of black Hellebore.  
As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.  
A dram of fennel seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of ●roth, made of a sheepshead and guts, sound●y washed before you put them into the pot, ●nd to ten ounces of the liquor which you press out, add  
An ounce of Diaprun. Laxat.  
Half an ounce of Confectio Hamech.  
An ounce and a half of oil of Violets.  
Two drams of common salt.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
But if the Disease arise from a suppression of the Courses, think upon that Oracle of Hypocrates, and obey his words as a sacred Law, when he saith, the true way to provoke them, is by drawing blood from the ankle; provided that there be no reason to oppose this injunction; having so done and laying Leeches to the Hemorrhoids, th● use whereof is exceeding profitable in thi● disease; if the body be full, and the diseas● be found to be common to the whole body, open the Basilick vein on the righ● side: from whence, if an earthy and blac● blood flow away, Galen adviseth you t● take out a large quantity.  
If the Patient be young, lean, black an● hairy, adventure upon deep scarification made in her back, and fasten great Cuppi● glasses to her arteries.  
These universal administrations bein● premised, and the humour being rightly prepared, it will be convenient to prescribe a Purge to cleanse her body fro● melancholy: to this purpose  
Take three drams of Sena.  
A dram of the roots of black Hellebore.  
Two scruples of agaric Trochisht.  
Half a dram of fennel seeds.  
Macerate them in a sufficient quantity of fumitary water for a night, and when i● the morning you have pressed out the liquor take three ounces of it, and add  
Three drams of Diacatholicon.  
Two drams of Confectio Hame●h.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets,  
Mingle them, and make a Potion.  
She must not take any Pills, for they are too great driers, both in respect of their form, and also in regard of the ingredients whereof they are compounded.  
But by all means, let her have somewhat to dispose her to sleep; as this, or the like emulsion.  

Take the seeds of Gourds,  
Melons,  
Citruls,  
Cucumbers of each an ounce.  
Six sweet Almonds blanched.  
Two drams of white Poppy seeds.   
With ten ounces of a decoction of Lettuce, and Poppy heads, and an ounce of Syrup of Poppy, make an Emulsion, to be taken about nine a clock at night, and at two a clock in the morning.  
Embrochations also may be prepared for the head; you may make them of a decoction of poppy heads, barley, roses, violets, waterlilles, nightshade, lettuce, coriander, and mandrake roots.  
Anoint her nose and her Temples with this ointment following.  
Take half an ounce of unguent. Populeum.  
Two drams of unguent. rosarum.  
Half a dram of Opium, dissolved in vinegar of roses.  
Mingle them for the use aforesaid.  
Let her have cooling Lotions, to bathe the palms of her hands, and the soles of her feet; if the cruelty of the disease be such, as to deprive her of all sleep, prescribe this draught following; yet suspend the use thereof till you have tried other means, to procure rest for the sick Creature.  
Take a scruple of Philonium Romanum.  
Three ounces of Lettuce water.  
Mingle them, and let her drink it when she goeth to bed, or  

Take Philonium Persicum,  
Requies Nicholai, of each a scruple.  
Two ounces of a decoction of poppy.  
Mingle them for a Draught.   
Sometimes we use to exhibit two or three grains of laudanum opiatum: yet forbear this remedy, unless an urgent occasion prompt you to it.  
Baths are most wholesome, if they be made of the decoction before prescribed; or else you may follow this example.  

Take two ounces of Barley,  
The leaves of Violets,  
Vine leaves,  
Lettuce,  
Willow leaves.  
Mallows, of each two handfuls.   
The leaves of red rose, water lilies, of each a handful.  
Boil them altogether, in a sufficient quantity of broth made with a sheehead, and let her bathe herself in the strained liquor.  
A Bath prepared of oils, and sweet waters is very effectual; so also is a Bath of Ass' milk; for these things temper the earthy humour, mitigate the acrimony thereof, correct the dryness, and parchednesse of the skin, render the blood more apt to descend, provoke sleep, qualify the furious motions of the spirits, and nourish and fatten such bodies as are dried up, and consumed. You must also comfort the heart with Cordials, and to the same purose  

Take the waters of Borage,  
Balm, of each six ounces.  
Syrup of the juice of Borage.  
Syrup Regis saboris, of each an ounce.  
Two drams of Cinnamon water.  
Mingle them, and make a Julep, or  
Take Conserve of the flowers of Violets,  
Borage,  
Oranges, of each an ounce.  
Confectio Alkermes,  
Confectio de Hyacy●tha, of each a dram and a half.  
Species Diamargarit. frigid.  
Species Diambrae, of each a dram.   
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup de pomis Regis saboris, adding two leaves of gold, make a mixture, or  
Take the species Letificant. Galeni,  
The species Diambra, of each half a dram.  
Pearl prepared.  
Bezoar stone, of each a scruple.  
Two ounces of Sugar dissolved in Rose-water.  
Make them into Lozenges according to Art.  
If these remedies get not the victory, we counsel you to make deep issues upon the knee; and if the disease be inveterate, prescribe an extract of black Hellebore, and apply Caustics to the region of the spleen, by the force and strength whereof, the black and cloudy humour, which sticks so close to the bowel, may by degrees be brought away.   

CHAP. IU. Of a cold Distemper, or a swelling in the Matrix.  
THe Matrix is sometimes swelled, either because the Courses are stopped, or else in regard of a continual suppeditation of cold aliment, which generates a cold distemper in those parts: which because it cannot be simple, or solitary, therefore it presently consociates itself with moisture, and from thence arise thick, slow, and cloudy winds, in the very caverns, or hollow parts of the Matrix, tormenting the woman with unspeakable pains.  
The signs are a swelling below the Navel, near the privy parts, slow winds, with rumbling, and murmuring of the guts, forsaking of meat, sadness, slothfulness, heaviness in the head, and about her secret parts.  
This is a grievous disease, because many times it turns to a Dropsey in the Matrix: for, in regard that those windy humours are bread, and increased by the diminution of the natural heat, as Galen hath observed in his book the Sump●om. Causis, it comes to pass, that the feeble heat, now generating wind, proceeding from a cold distemper in the Matrix, doth so weaken it, that instead of wind, water, or a waterish humour is produced.  
This disease is cured by an extreme thin, and drying diet: wherefore let the air incline to hot and dry: but if the place be such as doth not naturally afford such an air, prepare it by art, sprinkling aromatical things about her chamber, as sage, nip, betony, rosemary, flechas, thyme, origanum, and lavender.  
Let her choice be of those dishes, which will be of good nourishment to the body, ●asie to digest, and soon distributed to all the parts, as thrushes, young sparrows, partridges, pheasants, and pigeons: she may not eat the flesh, of goats, Kids, hares, cows, sheep, nor Deer: meats made with milk are unwholesome for her: so are roots, salads, and potherbs: new laid eggs, raisins, and figs may be allowed her: but command a forbearace of chestnuts and almonds; for they are thick and windy; let her eat the whitest bread baked with anise, or fennel seeds, or a little honey; course barley bread, and the like, is not good for her, but nothing is more unwholesome for her then fruit; you may grant her the use of some few herbs, as sparagus, parsley, alexanders, water pepper, ●orage, and buglos.  
For her drink, give her Fountain water, wherein anise seeds, or cinanon, or china ●oots, or the like have been boiled; but ●he most wholesome drink for her is wormwood ●eer.  
If she drink wine, let it be sparkling and pleasant, claret wine mingled with water, ●ther artificial drinks, as ●ider, perry, me●eglin, steepona, Nectarella, Medea, and the ●ike are hurtful for her.  
The humour must be prepared with Rho●omel, Syrup of wormwood, Syrup of mint, and the like.  
Her body must be purged by fits, for the ●rude, thick, and windy humour, will not ●e got out with one medicine; this is ●aught us by our great Master Hypocrates, who in his fourth book de Acutis, saith, whosoever endeavours at the beginning of a disease to dissolve, or take away an inflammation by a purging medicine, he will find himself much mistaken; for whilst ●he part is intensively inflamed, and the affect yet crude, and unconcocted, the physic gets no victory, hath no laudable operation at all: but rather it brings away such things, as would have made resistan●● against the disease, and so by this rashness, the body is weakened, and the disease g●t● strength: which when it hath once overcome the body, becomes uncurable: therefore whensoever you undertake to purge● body, you must not only make the humours fluid, but you must also stay till they are concocted, especially in chronical, and long lasting diseases; this may be done b● the help of this Ap●ze● following.  

Take the roots▪ of fennel,  
Elecampane, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of pe●●iroyall,  
Worm●wood,  
Hops,  
Motherwort, of each a handful.   
As many Camomile flowers, as you ca● take up, between your thumb and two fingers at twice.  

Two drams of agaric Trochischated.  
Half an ounce of Mechoca roots.  
The seeds of fennel,  
anise, of each two drams.   
Boil them according to art, in a sufficient quantity of barley water, to tw● pints; when you have pressed out the liquor with all your strength, add  
Two ounces of Diacnycum.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, or  
Take the roots of Polipody.  

Angelica.  
Hermodactyls.  
Of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of Hops,  
Motherwort,  
Fumitary,  
Balm,  
Betony, of each a handful.  
Six drams of sena.  
Agarick Trochischated.   
The roots of Mechoaca, of each two ●rams.  
Half an ounce of Bastard Saffron, seeds.  
Epithymum,  
Camomile, of each as much as you can ●●ke up between your thumb and two fin●ers.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.  
Boil them according to art, in a sufficient quantity of Cock broth, to two pints, ●resse out the liquor with your utmost wrength, and add  
Two ounces of Syrup of the juice of fu●itary.  
An ounce of Diacnycum.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.  
Let her every day drink three ounces of i●  
For nothing cleanseth the Matrix fro● tenacious, and slimy humours, so effectually as Agarick; or which is a surer, an● more infallible remedy against the Mother● if we may credit Galen, and Mesur. Mona●dus, Costa, Clusius, Lobel, and Weckerus, ascribe the same virtues to Mechoaca, which is ho● and dry.  
Turpentine, although Galen in his boo● de sanitate tuenda, saith, that it serves on● to loosen the belly, yet it purgeth, a● cleanseth all the bowels, as the Liver, t●● Spleen, the Kidneys, the Lungs, and the M●trix, from those tough and slimy humour which are strongly impacted in them.  
There are several ways to prepare i● sometimes it is most easily taken with t● yelk of an Egg, sometimes in powder, a● sometimes being reduced into an oil, t● admirable efficacy hereof frequent experience doth more and more discover to m● so that I have often adventured to give (and with blessed success) in many disease's, both of the Chest, the Kidneys, an● the bladder; for this cleanseth the stomach from thick, and tough humours, fro● which part floweth the whole stream ●● phlegmatic humours, it wonderfully warmeth the Matrix, wipeth away the clammy filth which sticks about the walls of it, expelleth wind, provokes the Courses, and brings down urine.  
You may make an excellent Fomentation after this manner.  

Take the leaves of Motherwort,  
Penniroyall,  
Birthwort,  
Rue, of each a handful and a half.  
Rosemary,  
Sage,  
Betony, of each a handful.  
The flowers, of Camomile,  
Stechas, of each half a handful.  
The tops of Dill,  
Wormwood,   
Of each as much as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.  
Boil them in white wine to four pints; use the strained liquor for a Fomentation, and with sponges dipped in it, bath all about the bottom of her belly, her groiny and her privy parts.  
After the Fomentation, apply this admirable ointment.  

Take oil of laurel,  
Wormwood, of each an ounce, and a half.  
Oil of Castor,  
Earthwormes, of each an ounce.  
In these oils boil gently  
The powder of aromaticum rosatum,  
Wormwood,  
Sage,  
Lignum aloes, of each a dram and a half.  
A dram of red Coral.   
Strain, and press out the unctuous substance, and add  
Three drams of yellow wax.  
Mingle them, and make an ointment.  
If you augment the several doses of the aforesaid herbs prescribed, for the Fomentation, you may make a half Tub: or you may lay on the plaster pro Matrice ('tis sold in the shops) aromatized with Diarrhodon Abbat. and Diamoschus dulcis, or instead thereof apply the plaster Tachamacha, or Catanua. Antidotes may not be omitted, as Treacle, and Mithridate. Excellent Lozenges may be made for her of sugar, with the species Diamoschus, Diagalanga, Diaeinnamomum, or Diacumium, or if you please, prescribe this mixtue following.  

Take the roots of Elecampane candied,  
Ginger candied, of each an ounce.  
Conserve of the Flowers, of Sage,  
Rosemary,  
Oranges, of each six drams.  
Half an ounce of conserve of horage.  
The species aromaticum rosatum,  
Diamoschus, of each a dram, and a half.   
With a ●ufficient quantity of Syrup of Wormwood 〈◊〉 them for your use.  
If these medicines do not overcome the disease, let her u●e mineral, sulphureous baths, or the like.  
Zacutus Lusitanus saith, if you take the dirt in the bothome of one of these baths, and lay it up●n the Matrix, it is as divine a medicine against the cold affects of the Matrix; but in these words of his, I conceive there is more of ostentation, then of truth.  
If the evil yet persevere, we used in the next place to prescribe sweeting remedies, of guaiacum, china and sassaphraz roots to be administered, as we have already showed in the foregoing cures; and afterwards we make issues that the Matrix may exhale.  
Now let us consider what must be determined in this case concerning Phlebotomy; some will say that in a bad habit of the body, in a Dropsey, in the trembling palsy, and the like, where there is a deficiency of natural heat, no man will adventure to let blood: seeing that when the blood is diminished, the heat is also lessened, and the crude humours become so much the more crude: this was Avicens fear, as is manifest by these words of his: beware lest you precipitate your Patient into one of these extremes, either into an ebullition of choleric, or an indigested abundance of cold humours; this we confess to be true; yet not so, but that sometimes (all other administrations being rightly and duly premised) with Galen we may take away blood by fits, then exhibit Mellicratum. Then again open a vein, either the same day, or the day following, as the disposition of the matter shall dictate to your reason; we leave much also to nature herself who many times concocts the thick humours; the vein in the ankle must be opened, if women are thus affected; but whe● men are troubled with these windy humours, the Basilick vein is the most prope● to be opened.   

CHAP. V A Schirrhus in the Matrix.  
A Schirrhus in the Matrix is a hard, and stony swelling, bread of earthy humours, and of a thick and melancholy blood retained in the body.  
This is either produced by a cold distemper in the Matrix, or else it proceeds from a weakness in the upper parts from whence thick humours do arise.  
This disease is very easy to be known, because in those who languish under it, the Matrix appeareth hard in the circumference, like unto some great bowl, or a round Sphere▪  
It differs from a swelling which is caused by wind; because in this wind is heard within, which yieldeth to the touch, and is moved from place to place: but a Schirrus is a hard unmoveable swelling, of a black colour, and sometimes of a palish, wan colour, if any phlegmatic humour be mixed with it.  
It differs from an inflammation in the Matrix, because in this there is a burning Fever conjoined, and other signs which manifest an inward fiery Disposition.  
This is a chronical Disease, continuing many times beyond the space of a year; for the Matrix, not being numbered among the more noble parts, doth better endure these molestations; it is also a contumacious affect, despising ordinary remedies, and if you oppose such as are vehement, it degenerates into a Cancer.  
After this sometimes follows a Dropsey in the Matrix, which when it is much hardened, becomes void of sense, incurable, drawing the neighbouring parts into consent with it, and so weakening them, that many times the Creature perisheth for lack of wamrth and cherishing heat.  
She must forbear all those things, that yield a thick juice, and what these things be we have already in good part told you; for her drink, allow her a mixture of wine and water, in which tamarisk roots, or the bark of the Caper tree have been boiled.  
The first regions of the body must be gently cleansed, and then that humour which nourisheth the swelling, must be rooted out with some peculiar and elective medicine; if it proceed from a suppression of the Courses, or Hemorrhoids, open a vein in her ankle, or open the hemorrhoidal veins with leeches: but if it arise from some fault in the Liver, or the Spleen, cut the basalick vein.  
Having thus showed yourself careful of the whole body, you must in the next place be solicitous of the affected part; first by applying such things as will gently mollify it, as the fat of a hen, the marrow of a dear, or of a calf, with ammoniack, Storax, or bdellium: or with discutient fomentations after this manner.  
Take an ounce of the roots of Polypody of the Oak.  
The bark of the root of the Caper tree.  
The bark of the tamarisk tree, of each half an ounce.  

The leaves of wormwood,  
Sage,  
Savine,  
Penniroyall, of each two handfuls.  
Balm,  
Motherwort,  
Hops, of each a handful.  
The seeds of broom,  
Fennill, of each half an ounce.   
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water wherein steel hath been quenched, to six pints and bathe the affected part with the strained liquor; This ointment following hath a like efficacy.  

Take unguent. Agrippe.  
Unguent. Martiatum, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of unguent. de althaea.  
Oil of wormwood,  
Capers,  
Dill, of each three drams.  
Mingle them, and make an Ointment.  
Plasters also are very profitable.  
Take Diachylon cum gummis,  
Emplastrum de meliloto, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them for the use aforesaid, or  
You may make ready this plaster following.  
Take ammoniack,  
Sagapenum, of each an ounce.  
Opoponex,  
Bdellium, of each half an ounce.   
Dissolve them in strong wine vinegar, thicken them to the form of a hard ointment, and then add  

The powder of ireos.  
Ceterach,  
Auripiguentum, of each a dram.   
With oil of Capers make a mass of plastering stuff, and spread it upon a piece of leather, cut into a convenient form.  
If these medicines avail not, prescribe sweeting drinks for her, made with Guaiacum, China, and Salsa parilla; for as Fallopius, an Author of good account, saith, Salsa parilla hath a sovereign faculty to dissolve a skirrhus, or any hard knotty swelling.  
Sulphureous Baths are also most excellent in their operations.  
Some commend a poultis made of Goat's du●●: for this draweth away the wind, strengthens, and mollifies the part afflicted, and consumes the thick matter, whereof the schirrus is bred. I usully made it after this manner.  

Take three ounces of Goat's dung.  
Meal of Lupins,  
Fitches, or Vetches, of each two ounces.  
An ounce of Bran.  
Half an ounce of Sulphur in powder.   
With the sharpest and strongest vinegar, wherein steel hath been ten times infused, make a Poultis.  
Steel is commended by all Authors, it mollifies and opens the Matrix; quickens the natural heat of the upper parts, and brings down the Courses, the stoppage whereof is the undoubted cause of this disease; this, as hath already been declared at large, is taken many ways, either in water, or in the form of a Bolus, or in Lozenges, or in powder, or in some conserve, as it shall seem good to the Physician, and most acceptable to the sick woman's palate.  
Issues will be profitable; for whatsoever slimy, or clammy humour doth daily fall down, more and more from the upper parts into the Matrix, finds a passage out of the body again, so long as these are kept open.   

CHAP. VI Of the Dropsey in the Matrix.  
WE affirm with Galen, that an universal Drosey can by no means be generated without the fault of the Liver, seeing that the first instrument of sanguification is the author of the blood, which if it fail in its action, 'tis no wonder if water and wind be generated in the body, instead of laudable and pure blood.  
But we confess with Hypocrates, that a particular Dropsey may be produced without any fault in the Liver; thus there is a Dropsey of the Chest, in the Foot, the Finger, the Arm, the Matrix, which we ourselves have often seen; the Cause thereof is a waterish swelling, rising in the hollow parts of the Matrix, partly by reason of the suppressed Menstruum, and partly by some violent labour, or some vehement abortiveness, or by some cold distemper, and wind ●n the Matrix.  
The swelling is discernible by the touch: and if you lay your fingers upon her Matrix, the print of them remains: if the Patient turn herself from one side to another, the waterish humour immediately falls down on that side; within you may perceive a rumbling noise of waters, her Courses are stopped; she falsely surmiseth that she is with Child: the breasts grow lank, and there is no appearance of milk.  
She feels some difficulty to fetch her breath; she is troubled with passions of the mind, she is tormented with thirst, complains of heat in all the parts of the body, is apt to nauseate, subject to a pain in her heart, and all other things molest her, that usually accompany a true Dropsey, and that in regard of a salt and waterish phlegm, retained in the hollow parts of the Matrix, and communicated through the common ways to the upper provinces of the body.  
It differs from an inflammation in the Matrix; because this is consociated with a Fever, continually burning all the parts of the body: but in a Dropsey of the Matrix, the heat is more gentle and temperate; all things are locked up in the Matrix, that is, nothing worth the mentioning comes from thence in an inflammation: but in a Dropsey a waterish, slimy and stinking excrement floweth away.  
This is a chronical Disease, and doth not quickly either destroy, or take leave of the Patient.  
It differs also from the windiness which swells the Matrix, for in that the swelling is not so great, the flesh is not so pale and shining, neither is there so much wind, and it is easily differenced from a Schirrus, for in this you may feel a great hardness, but in the Dropsey, the flesh is soft and lank.  
The Dropsey in the Matrix is a direful disease, whereby the upper parts being vitiated, sometimes the whole body is drawn into consent, and then the natural heat of the Matrix is diminished, and indeed the oeconomy of this part only is not disturbed, but the universal strength of the influent heat is by degrees extinguished.  
Wherefore you must begin the Cure without any procrastination, or careless delays, by a heating and drying diet; the form, quantity, quality, and manner whereof, we have set down already at large, in the Chapter of a swelling in the Matrix.  
Allow her pure wine for her drink; that is sincere wine; or else wormwood wine; or if it seem pleasant to her, boil china roots, with anise seeds, Cinnamon, and Agrimony in water, for her to drink; or altar her beer with China, or wormwood, or Century.  
All moist things must be avoided: and the air must be artificially heated, unless you can settle her in an air, which is naturally hot.  
Among the universal remedies you must Ornit Phlebotomy, for this exhausts the hot substance, and weakens the natural heat, cooleth the body, extinguisheth the inborn preservative; yet this rule is not so strict, or so general, but that sometimes it may be lawful, yea necessary to cut a vein, when her Courses are suppressed, or when the Piles are stopped: yea, if she be young, and in the flower of her youth, it may be requisite to let her blood in the spring of the year, especially if the constitution of the weather be agreeable, and the constitution of her body temperate, and sanguine, but otherwise never, or at least very sparingly, and that in the Ankle.  
Purge the first regions of her body with Diasenua, Mechoaca, or Diaphenicon, the thick, viscous, and waterish humours, nevertheless being first prepared, specially with such remedies as we have commended unto you above, and although the waterish humours may be purged out, without staying for their concoction, because water neither concocts, nor waxeth thick, according to Galen, in his book de purgand. Med. Facult. yet to expel the wind, and to open the obstructions, wherewith the upper parts are infested, I praise those things which are good to break wind, to unlock the passages, and to purge out the humours; this is commodiously performed with wormwood, agrimony, fennel, Maidenhair, the juice of the Florentine Flowerdeluce, Sena, the roots of Parsley, Fennill, Sparagus, Butchersbroom, and Alexander, boiled after this manner.  
Take the last named five roots, of each half anounce.  

Three drams of danewort roots.  
The leaves of wormwood,  
Water agrimony,  
Maidenhair, of each a handful.  
Six drams of Sena.  
An onnce of the juice of Ireos' roots.   
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water, to two pints, unto the strained liquor clarified with the white of an Egg, add  
Two ounces, of Syrup Byzant. simple.  
An ounce of Syrup of wormwood.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.  
When the humour is prepared, exhibit pills de Hiera cum agarico to the quantity of a dram. Antimony warily administered, is a divine medicine, and so are the Trochischs' Alhandal; for these irresistably bring away those thick and clammy humours, which stick so fast to the Matrix; afterwards the Matrix must be strengthened, and the windy humours must be expelled, with Lozenges made according to this manner.  

Take the Electuary Diacinnamomum,  
Diagalanga,  
Dialacca, of each half a dram.   
Two ounces of sugar dissolved in Cina●on-water.  
According to Art, make them into Lozenges, or  

Take an ounce of old Treacle.  
Two drams of aromaticum rosatum.   
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of wormwood make a mixture.  
The Ointments, Plasters, and Poultices, which are mentioned above, must be applied to the secret parts: issues also and sca●ifications will be convenient, as we have already taught; Pessaries likewise may be made after this form following.  

Take Troch. Alhandal,  
Troch. de agarico,  
The best Aloes of each two drams.   
A dram of Elaterium, which is the juice of the wild Cucumber inspissated.  
The yelke of an Egg,  
Unsalted Butter,  
The juice of Mercury, of each three drams.  
With a sufficient quantity of wax, a piece of Cotton, and a piece of taffeta make a pessary.  
This being administered, apply the Fomentation following to her privy parts.  
Take danewort roots newly gathered.  
The roots of the Florentine Flowerdeluce,  
The roots cucumber. asi●rin. of each six drams.  
The flowers of Camomile,  
Melilot, of each two handfuls.  
A handful of the tops of Dill,  
Juniper berries,  
Laurel berries, of each half an ounce.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of wormwood water distilled, to four pints, to the strained liquor add  
Oil of Lilies,  
Laurel berries, of each three ounces.  
Use it as was said above.   

CHAP. VII. Of the falling down of the Matrix.  
THe Matrix sometimes falleth down upon the lower parts, and this disease the Physicians call the Descent of the Matrix; this is resembled to a , or a gooseegg, as it is small or great; as there are many Causes of this disease, namely a hard labour, and a frequent bringing forth of children, miscarrying, a bringing away of the dead child, some fall from on high, hard riding, or immoderate dancing, yet there is one, in my judgement, more common than any of the rest, namely too much moisture in that part, whereby the Matrix becomes soft, and lose; 'tis needless to set down any signs whereby to know this disease: for of itself it is conspicuous.  
Yet in the mean time you must not let pass any opportunity of help, because it is accompanied with a diuturnal Fever, many times with Convulsion Fits, and a trembling of the parts.  
Wherefore if the disease proceed from an excess of moisture, prescribe a drying diet● and open the basalick vein for Revulsion sake.  
A purge must by no means be granted her, for 'tis exceeding hurtful, because it precipitates the humours to the part affected, and there breeds an inflammation; but a Vomit is very proper in this case; because by drawing the humours to some other part, it doth derive them from the Matrix.  
When you have done these things, labour to settle the Matrix in its former place, and to this purpose the woman must be laid upon her bed, with her legs stretched out, than the Matrix must be gently bathed with mollifying fomentations, afterwards to the end it may not fall down again, rub the parts well, tie ligatures upon her arms: yea, apply stinking things to her Matrix, as assa faetida, galbanum, Castor, and stinking piss: but to the nose hold sweet things, as musk, civet, and amber.  
When you have thus done, dry up the moisture, digest the slimy humour, and expel the wind with this Fomentation.  
Take half an ounce of tormentil.  
The leaves of wormwood,  
Mint,  
Sage,  
Penniroyall, of each two handfuls.  
The flowers of Camomile,  
Red roses, of each a handful.  
 alum,  
Live Sulphur, of each three drams.  
Boil them in sour red wine to three pints, and with the strained liquor bathe her secret parts.  
After the fomentation, lay on this plaster.  
Take two ounces of Emplastrum pro matrice.  
Pitch,  
Gummi laranne, of each a dram.  
Two drams of the Trochisches de Gallia Moschata.  
The powder of red roses,  
Red Coral,  
Acorns, of each a dram and a half.  
With a sufficient quantity of wax make a Mass and spread it upon a piece of leather cut into a convenient form.  
If it cannot be reduced to its natural site and position, by the dexterity of the hand, but gins to mortify by the inclemency of the air, cut it off, and afterwards fasten it by actual Cauterizing, only be careful of some ligaments, and fear not the incision, because it is none of those principal parts, without which we can live no longer, but it is a part intended by Nature for Conception only and generation. Avicen reports of some women, who lived eighteen years without a Matrix; and the possibility hereof we affirm to be true upon our own experience.   

CHAP. VIII. Of an Itch, Clefts, Chaps, and an Inflammation in the Matrix.  
AN Inflammation in the Matrix is a preternatural swelling, arising from a hot blood, or from the suppression of the Menstruum, in the hollow parts thereof.  
The Causes of this swelling are either inward or outward; the inward Causes are a great plenitude or fullness of the whole body, begot by a hot distemper of the Liver and the veins.  
By the vehemence of this distemper, the blood itself is compelled in a large proportion to the Matrix: and thus the retained blood, being no ways able to get out, either putrifies, or else without putrifying, produceth an inflammation: sometimes also an Ulcer in the Matrix, or clefts, or chaps, or the Piles, do most speedily draw the blood unto them by reason of the pain and heat.  
The outward Causes are a fall, a blow, a stroke, a hard labour, immoderate coition, and the like, which weakening the Matrix, the blood flows unto it, and settles there without resistance; after this inflammation in the Matrix, there follows an acute Fever, bred of the putrefaction of the blood, which Fever, Galen saith, must be numbered among the continual Fevers.  
She complains of a great pain in her head, by reason of vapours ascending from her Matrix: also her eyes ache, and her neck is drawn to one side, her stomach is affected by consent with nauseating, vomiting, and a griping pain; and from hence many times proceeds a pain in her back, and idle talking; the excrements are suppressed by the compression of the strait gut, and from hence comes a difficulty to make water, or a pissing by drops.  
Every one knoweth how dangerous, and mortal this disease is, by reason of the consent, which it hath with the parts aforesaid: wherefore you must presently address yourself to the Cure; first prescribing a thin and cold Diet, which Hypocrates enjoins to be observed in all Fevers, and inflammations, and afterwards opening a vein.  
Many Physicians have been puzzled to find out Galens meaning, who first commands the Basilick vein to be cut; Secondly, the Saphena, or vein in the ankle, but the reason is obvious; for whereas in the beginning of the disease the body is full, he prescribed the opening of the basilick vein to expedite the Revulsion: otherwise he had drawn the humours by a precipitate motion, to the part affected, and so superinduced an inflammation.  
When this is done, he proceeds to lessen the predominancy of the blood, by cutting a vein in the ankle, and not without sound reason: for by the proximity, or nearness of that part, the labouring parts are soon disburdened.  
A Purge is in this case inconvenient, by reason of the inflammation of the part, and the drawing faculty of the purging simples. Glisters may be profitable, both to bring away the antecedent cause, and also to free the afflicted part from the peccant matter; Make them by this example.  
Take the leaves of Violets,  
Mallows,  
Beet, of each a handful.  
The flowers of dwarfelder,  
Violets, of each a handful.  
Roses,  
Prunes, ten in number.  
The seeds of Melons,  
Cucumbers,  
Citrons,  
Gourds, of each two drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of whole barley water, to nine ounces, to the strained liquor, add  
Two ounces of Electuarium lenitivum.  
Oil of Roses,  
Oil of Violets, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
To appease the pain, you may mingle Topical remedies with the Anodynall, and apply them.  
Take the leaves of Mallows,  
Violets, of each a handful.  
Boil them to softness, than set them into an oven, and dry them, beat them to powder, sift them, and to the sifted matter add  
The whites of two eggs beaten together.  
The meal of marish mallows,  
Unsalted butter,  
Oil of Violets, of each an ounce.  
Two drams of Opium dissolved in wine vinegar.  
Mingle them, and make a Poultis, or Take four ounces of the crumbs of whit● bread.  
The whites of two eggs.  
Ointment of Roses,  
Ointment of Poplars, of each an ounce.  
Two scruples of Saffron.  
Mingle them, and make a Poultis.  
This Inflammation will either be dissolved, or hasten to suppuration; you may guess by the vehemence of the fever, when it will dissolve; for seeing that the greatness of the fever doth accompany the greatness of the inflammation; if the fever remit, which depends upon the inflammation, 'tis a certain sign, that the inflammation shortly will be dissolved; but if after the universal administrations, the fever still continue vehement, it is a true sign of suppuration, and the rather if the pain be increased, according to that Oracle of Hypocrates, whilst Matter or Corruption is ripening, the pains and the Fevers are more importunate than when it is full ripe.  
The proper sign of suppuration is a most vehement pain upon the privy parts; and therefore to humour the evil, and to hasten the suppuration, prescribe this Poultis following.  
Take the heads of white Lilies.  
The roots of marish mallows, of each two ●unces.  
The leaves of mallows,  
Marish mallows, of each a handful.  
Bran,  
Camomile flowers, of each half a handful.  
Twelve fat figs.  
Boil them all to softness, pulp them through a hair sieve, and add to the pulp  
Two ounces of the meal of line seed.  
Unsalted butter,  
The oil of sweet almonds, of each half an ounce.  
Hogsgrease,  
The fat of a hen, of each half an ounce.  
A dram of Saffron.  
Mingle them, and make a Cataplasm.  
A Fomentation made of these things, and with sponges applied to the secret parts, are of known virtue; but then note, that when you use it, it must be hot or lukewarm; for the Matrix being a part full of Nerves is easily offended with cold things.  
When there is an itching in the Matrix, by reason of an influx of some choleric, and biting humour, usually there follow chinks, chaps, and clefts, all which require one and the same manner of cure, with an inflammation.  
If the Itching continue long, give whey, or an infusion of Ruharb to dri● lay cooling Epithems upon her Liver, ● then wash her Matrix with this Injection  
Take a dram of Trochisch. All. Rhasis.  
Mallow water.  
Breast milk of each three ounces.  
Mingle them together for an injection.  
From hence, if there be occasion proce● to issues.   

CHAP. IX. Of a Cancer, and an Ulcer in the Matrix  
A Cancer is an uneven, bluish swelling with pain, and filthy to behold, th● is twofold, either with, or without an Ulcer; the one hath sordid lips, from whence issueth a black corruption, unsavoury an● stinking; but the other, namely, that without an Ulcer, is called almost by all Antiquity a hidden Ulcer.  
The cause of this is the menstruous blood detained in great abundance, and afterwards dried, and burnt up to adustion: sometimes it is produced by a dry humour falling down from the upper parts upon the Matrix, from whence that accumulation of ●did, and blackish blood floweth away. You may discern the signs by a pain ●ut the groin, the abdomen, the bottom the belly, and in the loins of her back: is a stubborn disease: both in respect of ●e incommodiousness of the place, which the sink of all the humours, and also in agard of her frequent desire, and indea●ur to make water, which render the medicines so moist, that they cannot stick to ●e part; moreover light remedies it con●mnes, and vehement medicines make it ●orse: wherefore Hypocrates in one of his ●horismes most wisely adviseth us, not to ●re a hidden Cancer; because they who ●e cured quickly perish, they who are not red live so much the longer; and we say ●e same of a Cancer, which is exulcerated, ●e pains whereof are greater, and do ●ore torment the woman, when the Cure ●f the Ulcer is attempted.  
We must therefore content ourselves with palliative Cure, that the Patient may live ●e longer (for in the midst of misery life sweet) this may be done by appointing good Diet, and forbidding the use of Me●ncholy meats.  
Upon the approach of the Spring, and about the end of Autumn, let her bl● from the basilick vein; but if she have n● her Courses open a vein in the ankle.  
Prescribe such simples as are good ● purge Melancholy, as Sena, Hellebore, my● balans, epithymum, and anise seeds; So● of these must be infused a whole night ● whey, and so strained and drank, but ● hibit not stronger Physic, because the h●mour is so apt to be outrageous.  
Local remedies which are moderately cold and binding, may be applied to ● privy parts, as roses, myrrh, the juice of u● ripe grapes mingled with rose-water, bred milk, and the white of an egg, or  
Take Cerus washed,  
Tutia, of each an ounce and a half.  
 Led,  
Frankincense, of each two drams.  
With four ounces of oleum Omphaci●●● stirred much, and long in a marble mortar▪ and  
Three drams of white wax, make an ointment, or  
Take four ounces of Litarge of silver washed in the juice of Pomegranates, and for two whole days worn to dust in a marble mortar.  
Frankincense,  
 Lead,  
Auripigment, of each two drams.  
Hogsgrease,  
The grease that is gathered from sheep's wool,  
New butter, of each half an ounce.  
Four ounces of oil of roses.  
Four drams of wax.  
According to the rules of Art make an ointment.  
If any filthy matter, or bloody corruption run from the Ulcer, beat the shells of Crab fishes to ashes (having first dried them in an oven) and strew the ashes upon the Ulcer, and anoint it twice a day with oil.  
If the pain increase, and grow insufferable, inject this decoction into her Matrix with a Syringe.  
Take an ounce of the sperm of Frogs.  
The leaves of mallows.  
Marish mallows,  
Violets,  
Mercury, of each a handful.  
Coriander seeds,  
Poppy seeds, of each two drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of whole barley water, to eighteen ounces; to three ounces of the strained liquor add  
Syrup of the juice of Pomegranates,  
Honey of roses strained, of each an ounce and a half.  
Mingle them together, and make an injection for six times, to be injected twice every day.  
Purge her body once a month with this Medicine following.  
Take three drams of Sena.  
A dram of Agarick Trochischated.  
Half a dram of black hellebore.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of fumitary water, to three ounces; in the morning set them upon the fire, and after one or two bubblings, add to the liquor which you press out, half an ounce of Syrup of the juice of fumitary.  
Two drams of Confectio Hamech.  
Mingle them for a draught.  
If her body be sufficiently strong, open a vein, yet be sparing of her blood; the Surgeon's work, which may be profitable, when the breasts, or the other parts are infested with a Cancer, must in this case be omitted: first, because he cannot have a full view of it, and secondly, being irritated by his administrations, it would cast the Patient into Convulsion Fits, in regard of the consent which it hath with the brain, which by this means would presently perish.  
Ulcers happen in the Matrix several ways, either upon the coming down of the whites, proceeding from an acrimonious and sharp humour, or else from clefts and chaps, which are not easily curable, because of the humour which insinuating itself, corrodes, and exulcerates the part.  
The signs of an Ulcer in the Matrix are, a pricking pain about the privy parts, fluxes of a virulent and corrupt humour, a gentle Fever, idle talking, and sometimes sounding Fits.  
These Ulcers are very hard to cure, partly because of the distance of the place, the virulency and malignity of them, and partly also, because it is so full of Nerves, that they hinder the coalescence, and healing of it.  
The most proper and convenient diet which in this case you can prescribe, is that which is moderate and temperate: let her surrender her whole desires to sleep, not fearing any excess; hot meats must be avoided, and exercise must be forborn; but above all things, let her refuse her husband in his loving offers of Benevolence; for by heat and motion the humours melt, and falling down upon the Matrix, they exasperated the Ulcers.  
When you let blood open the black vein; a Vomit may be given with security, and safety, but the event of a Purge is doubtful: yet if you prescribe one, let it be very gentle for the reasons aforesaid.  
Local remedies are very proper and profitable: so are Baths, and the Injections which we have already commended to you; provided, that you add a dram and a hall of the Trochisch. alb. Rhasis, with two ounces of Hydromel, and the whey of Goa●● milk.  
If you can gather from the confession of the sick woman, that these Ulcers own their beginning to the French Pox, having first made trial of all these remedies aforesaid, as well universal, as particular, prescribe compositions which receive Mercury, the several forms whereof, if God permit, when we describe the Cure of the French Pox, we shall set down at large.   

CHAP. X. Of Worms, the Stone in the Matrix, and the Hemorrhoids.  
THat worms breed in all the parts of our bodies is a truth not to be denied. The Cause of these worms is a viscous, phlegmatic, raw, and cold humour, sticking by its clamminess to the very Matrix, or to the neck thereof, and by degrees putrifying.  
The signs of them are a dew, or moisture upon the lips of the Matrix, slenderness, troublesome sleeps, an itching in the belly, and a slow Fever.  
This is a disease full of molestation, in regard of the Fever, and the want of sleep, which waste and consume the sick Creature.  
To facilitate the Cure, a dry regiment is necessary; meats that yield a thick, cold, and moist juice must be avoided; her beer should be boiled with rhubarb, purslane, or sorrel, and you may purge her body with pills of mastic, or de Hiera, cum agaries, or  
Take an ounce of grass roots.  
The leaves of plantain.  
tansy, of each a handful.  
Two drams of ci●●n seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of balm water to a pint, in the strained liquor infuse for the space of a night  
Three drams of the choicest Rhubarb,  
A dram and a half of agaric Troch.  
Coralline,  
Hartshorne prepared, of each a dram.  
In the moring set them upon a gentle fire, allow them one or two bubblings, strain them, and press out the liquor, and then add  
Four ounces of Diacni●u.  
Mingle them for an Apozem.  
Every other day let her drink three ounces of it.  
You may make your injections after this manner.  
Take half an ounce of Dittany roots.  
The leaves of tansy,  
Calamint, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of Century the less.  
Two drams of citron seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of honeyed water to nine ounces, add  
An ounce and a half of Syrup of Wormwood.  
Two drams of aloes in powder.  
Meal of Lupins.  
Rhubarb in powder, of each a dram.  
Mingle them, and make an Injection to serve three times, or  
Take the roots of Costmary,  
Aristolochy, the long, of each two drams,  
Coloquintida,  
Aloes,  
The gall of an Ox, of each three drams.  
Two drams of hartshorne prepared.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of wormwood water to nine ounces, every morning inject three ounces of the strained liquor.  
Or make a plaster of the things aforesaid, according to art, and lay it to the privy parts.  
The same administrations will serve against the stone in the Matrix; provided that you are sure, that that is the Material and efficient Cause; that is a thick, slow and visco●● humour, the other, namely the efficient, is an immoderate heat.  
Stones many times also are generated of a corruption, or matter congealed in the Matrix, and grown dry; the Cause is twofold; one inward, the other outward; the inward hath already been declared; the outward is a thick, cold, and waterish meat, suppeditating matter to the Concretion of the stone: as milk, fish, pulse, and other gross aliments, as cheese and muddy ale.  
The Stone in the Matrix is known by the pain in the part, and if you press down the Matrix the pain is exasperated.  
The woman conceives not, her Courses come down immoderately, and if she put her finger up her fundament, she may feel the Stone. Use your utmost speed and diligence to cure it; for whereas the Matrix is as the sink, or common shore, into which Nature empties out all the gross and superfluous blood, it may be feared that that corrupt matter will turn to a Stone, which in continuance of time grows sometimes to such a bigness (as we of our own knowledge can testify) that it fills the whole capacity of the Matrix, and totally suppresseth the Courses, breeding Ulcers full of corruption and purulency.  
The Cure consists in a good regiment, in the preparation of the humours, and in the evacuation and expurgation of them, to prepare the humours, give her this Apozem following.  
Take the roots of parsley.  
Eryngos,  
Fennill,  
Alexander, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of Germander,  
Violets, of each a handful.  
White Maidenhair,  
Century the less, of each half a handful.  
The seeds of grummell,  
Nettles, of each two drams.  
Six drams of raisins picked and stoned.  
Four drams of liquorice,  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of barley water, to two pints, to the strained liquor add  
Syrup of the five roots.  
Syrup of Lemons, of each an ounce and a half.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem.  
When she hath drunk the Apozem, make ready this Potion.  
Take the roots of Polypody,  
Marish mallows,  
The leaves of Violets,  
Mallows, of each a handful.  
The leaves of Sena,  
Bastard saffron seeds, of each half an ounce.  
Agarick Trochischated,  
Mechoacha, of each two drams.  
Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of Rhenish wine to eight ounces, and boil them gently in the morning, strain and press out the liquor with a strong hand, and add to it  
Half an ounce of Electuary Diacarthamum.  
Mingle them together, and make a Potion for two doses to be taken every other day.  
We have already furnished you with Fomentations, Poultices, Ointments, Plasters, and half tubs to bathe in, which are very serviceable in this cure; but above all things inject these glisters following very often, throughout the whole progress of the Cure.  
Take nine ounces of some emollient decoction.  
Diacatholicon,  
Benedicta Laxativa, of each an ounce.  
Oil of Dill.  
Oil of bitter Almonds, of each six drams.  
A dram of Sal gem.  
Mingle them, and make your clyster, or  
Take the roots of restharrow,  
Marish mallows, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of mallows.  
Violets,  
Pellitory of the wall,  
Mercury, of each a handful.  
The tops of Dill,  
Camomile flowers, of each half a handful.  
Line seed.  
Fenugreek, of each three drams.  
Two drams of nettle seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water to nine ounces, to the strained liquor add  
Diaphenicon.  
Benedicta laxàtiva, of each an ounce.  
Oil of Lilies,  
Unsalted butter, of each an ounce and a half.  
Mingle them and make a clyster.  
When these things are done, let the Midwife put her finger up into the Patient's Fundament, and artificially press down the belly upon the bones, that join near the privy parts, that the place where the stone lies, may be raised up: this being dried, put in a hooked instrument, and draw it out, as we have sometimes seen it done, but afterwards let issues made in her body be kept open.    

THE THIRD BOOK, OF Barrenness, and such Diseases, as befall Women with Child.  

The first Chapter. OF Barrenness, both Absolute and Respective.  
PRovident Nature that she might contrive the continuation of Mankind for a long time, if not in the Individual, yet at least in the Species, hath imprinted in those parts dedicated to generation, a vehement, continual, and inexpressible appetite to propagation: and thus by a due commixture of the woman's blood with the seed of the man, she formeth and fashioneth a Creature in the Matrix, which at a certain, and appointed time, she sends forth into the world complete, and perfect in its Conformation.  
Wherefore in my Judgement, Conception is nothing else then a receiving of the man's seed in the Matrix, being tightly and proportionably intermingled, aptly retained, and fully perfected, and therefore by the rule of Contraries, we may affirm Barrenness to be a Depravation, or defect of these operations.  
Barrenness is either natural, and acquired from the first Elements of the Conformation, or introduced by sickness; or lastly Respective, namely in reference to the Man, or the Woman, the first is incurable; for no Physician can correct those errors, which Nature commits in the mysterious purpose of our generation; one of these errors is the straightness of those passages which lead to the Matrix, being sometimes so narrow that they hinder the right transmission of the seed into the vessels of Generation, or if it be injected, yet is it received with so much pain and labour, that the Matrix doth neither concoct nor perfect it, another error is the wideness of those parts, into which although the seed be duly ejaculated, yet it presently slips out again, because the capacity of the Matrix is too wide; the crookedness of the vessels also may be another impediment; for we may many times meet with jesting errors, as I may call them, in the workmanships of Nature; thus in one body a double Matrix hath been seen, in another two hearts, in a third, the Spleen placed where the Liver should stand, and many other such like recreations of Nature, as Realdus Columbus hath discoursed of the● at large in his Anatomy.  
The second kind of barrenness is that which is contracted by some disease; for whereas the seed is a certain spiritual substance, generated of the purest part of the blood, it is necessary that it should be concocted in a temperate womb; but if the Matrix be too hot, it consumes the seed, as a little water thrown into a fire, is presently dried up, and on the contrary, if it be too moist and cold, the actions that are ordained for conception are weakened, and disabled, because cold is unprofitable, and useless for any function: it shuts up the mouths of the veins in the Matrix: it renders a woman averse from, and indisposed to the pleasure of the Lawful sheets; for a waterish seed cools the Testicles, and makes them unapt to elaborate the seed, and make it fit to unite and mix with the man's seed; unto these impediments Hypocrates hath also added another which in his Aphorisms he calls a thick Matrix.  
From all which it is manifest, that the temperate Matrix is most fruitful, namely that which obtains a mediocrity, approaching to no excess, either of an active or passive quality; by the universal Constitution of the whole body, you may best discern the temperature of the womb, which is most fit for conception; for such women are fresh coloured, and of a rosy complexion, gentle of behaviour, affable in their carriage, merry and pleasant in their conversation, not dull and drowsy, and full of pensiveness.  
The third cause of barrenness proceeds neither from the Nativity of the Patient, nor from any sickness, but relates to the man, as for example; one and the same woman may have had Children by a former husband, and yet no children by a second husband, not because she is now barren, or unfruitful, but she is so called because of her husband, by whom she hath now no children, the case is likewise the same on the man's part, respectively to the woman; but perhaps you will demand a reason hereof, I answer; because the proportion and temperature of both the seeds, which ought to concur to generation, are contrary the one to the other; for the seed both of the man and the woman, if it be prolifical and fruitful, will be of a white, and shineing colour, not thin and waterish, but of a thick, and compacted substance, in sent, like unto the flowers of the Dwarfelder tree, and being put into water, it will sink to the bottom; but that which is unfit for generation will swim upon the top of the water, and is in all respects contrary to the former; the man ought to be of a strong constitution, well set, full of museles, and neither too slender, nor too thick; for those that are slender, are usually too weak to get children, at least such is are healthful, strong, and lively, and those who are to gross, are commonly of a cold temper, have a thin and slippery seed, and are more desirous of Venery, then able to perform it.  
Barren men are commonly beardless, slow in imagination, and dull in practice, because their seed is cold, and contains not any spirit to tickle, and warm their Fantasies, but they sit like images, and are sad, and insociable; on the contrary, hairy men, that have Testicles of an indifferent size, and a well concocted seed, are cheerful, affable, ever frequenting the young company of Maids, and Virgin●, being excited by the flagrancy of their eyes to Venereous dalliances, and lustful speculations.  
After the same manner we must give judgement concerning women, which besides the signs aforesaid, if they be bald▪ and harelesse in the privy parts, they are suspected to be barren; but if they be rough, and full of hair, it is a sign that they are fruitful; the wiser sort of Physicians know, that much hair is an undeniable argument of much heat, and of the strength of that heat, which driveth out those fuliginous humours, whereof those hairs are generated.  
Those women that have black hair, are more apt for Venery, than any other complexion, because they are hotter, and have their Courses in a more plentiful manner: which Courses, how conducible they are to make her fruitful, is manifest to any ordinary capacity, because the menstruous blood is one of the Principles of our generation.  
Other sorts of barren women must be referred to this Catalogue, as those that are luxuriant, and the whorish crew; the former, because by frequent coition their bodies become empty of seed, and if any at that time be ejaculated, it is not fit for generation, because Nature is not allowed time enough to elaborate and concoct it: and the latter sort conceive not, partly by reason that many, and various seeds are mingled together, and partly also by reason of their frequent cohabitation with men, whereby the neck of the Matrix is made so slippery, that it cannot retain the man's seed.  
It will not be impertinent to inquire at what time women begin to have their Courses? I answer, that for the most part, they begin when the Virgin is twelve years of age, and end when she hath attained to ●orty five: and in all that intercourse of ●ime women are held capable of children; ●ut if any Auhors will affirm that women ●ay conceive, before and after those fore●med periods of time; we also affirm, ●at this is not ordinary, but very rare; let the learned Reader consult Marcell●s Donatus, and S●kenchius de menstruo sangui●●, in the chapter de cita & sera Conceptione admiranda, and he will strait demand, whither a woman can conceive without the Menstruum? I answer negatively; for when either Principle of Generation i● defective, there can be no conception; if you still obtrude upon me, that many women have conceived without the Menstruum, I grant it to be true; if you spea● of the outward Menstruum, namely that, which we call their monthly Courses: but if you mean it of the inward, that is of that, which runneth out of the vessels into the Matrix for conception sake, you are deceived; for no woman can conceive without this inward menstruum; you will ask again peradventure, can a woman conceive without pleasure? and whither i●●e absolutely necessary that the seeds should be intermingled, and that the man and the woman should both spend at one, and the same point of time? to the first I answer, that they enjoy an unspeakable pleasure, although tha● conduceth littl● or nothing to conception; and to the second I affirm, that it is not necessary that they both spend at one time, although I confess that may facilitate, and much help conception, but that it is sufficient, if the seed be received into the Matrix, and rightly concocted; for there is in the woman's seed, such an earnest, covetous, and greedy desire, to embrace, and be united with the seed of the man, that although the man spend after the woman, yet she sucks it in, and the conception is nevertheless perfect.  
Thus we have declared unto you (with all possible observation of modest expressions) the Causes of barrenness in general; and the signs of such men and women that are unfruitful, by which notes you may discern the particular constitution of either Sex.  
It would be needless to set down any prognostic signs, because from a true consideration of the precedent notes, you may raise an unerring determination, whither the fault be in the man, or the woman.  
Let us now advance to the cure; we have said that there is a threefold kind of barrenness, Natural, Respective, and that which is contracted by some disease; that which comes from the Nativity of the Patient is incurable; but that which is comparative in relation to the woman, or the man, may have help from artificial administrations; for if the man or the woman be unfruitful through an excess of the first qualities, that intemperance must be corrected; how to bring this to pass, now hear and understand; if any man thoroughly knoweth how to cure that barrenness, which comes by sickness, the same man will be able to particularise every cause that introduceth unfruitfulness.  
Now this barrenness that happens by reason of some disease, must be cured by a distinct observation of the cause, whereupon it hath dependence; if it proceed from an Ulcer, that Ulcer must be cured; if it arise from frequent coition, the incontinent person must curb her, or his appetite; if the Air be a suspected cause, remove to another place; if any poison hath got into the body, by the power and malignity whereof, the spirit which is in the seed is weakened, and dulled, you must prescribe remedies of Bezoar stone, and apply such medicines to the privities, as have a faculty to resist poison.  
If the party be bewitched, as it often comes to pass, even by the malicious art of the Devil, or his instruments, besides the ordinary helps, you must endeavour to subdue the evil with other means, as the learned Fernelius hath taught us in his book de abdit is rerum causis; for some diseases and remedies exceed the limits and boundaries of Nature.  
If slenderness be the cause of unfruitfulness; you must nourish and fatten the body with meats that yield good juice, and with moistening baths: and you must be careful to avoid evacuations, and all other things, which weaken the strength, and exhaust the spirits.  
If fatness hinder fruitfulness; the body must be extenuated, made lean, dried, and rubbed, and all other means must be used to dissolve and evacuate the thick juices; the Patient must accustom herself to much exercise, refrain from anger, and all passions of the mind, and content herself with little spleen; for these things introduce leanness, bring down the body, and take away all grossness, and corpulency; for the same purpose also you may frequent the Bath, and hot houses, for sweeting doth much extenuate a fat body. If the Affect be produced by an excess of the first four qualities, as we have already intimated, that hot distemper must be corrected by a various administration of remedies, in contrariety to that excess; first with a cold, and moist air, for in such cases, a hot air weakens our strength, and draws out the natural heat to the circumference, inflames, dissolves, and enervates the faculties of the Matrix, and because a hot distemper cannot long continue simple, and uncompounded, but in a short space associates to itself a dry distemper, therefore the aliments must be moist to resist the increase of that drought, which is not cured without much trouble and difficulty, if it be once introduced into the Matrix, which by Nature is a dry and nervous part; wherefore let her drink be potentially moist, as small beer, or a decoction of barley, but enjoin her an abstinence from wine, and all such meats as are spiced with cinnamon, and Ginger.  
Let her meat be of easy concoction and distribution, potentially cold, and moist, that is, cold and moist in their qualities, and operation, though they be actually hot when she eats them, it would be superfluous to name them, having already sufficiently spoken of them in the precedent chapters of a hot dihemper in the Matrix, and an inflammation in the Matrix.  
It will be convenient to draw blood from the basilick vein, in the right arm, and if the hot dishemper be the cause, that the Patient hath not her Courses, cut a vein in her ankle.  
Moreover you may prepare cooling, and moistening Juleps after this manner.  
Take Syrup of Violets and water lilies, of each two ounces.  
Twelve ounces of Endine water.  
Six drops of Spirit of 〈◊〉, mingle them, or  
Take Syrup of horage, and Syrup of purslane, of each an ounce and a hals●●  
A decoction of lettuce, wash ●●cumber citrul, gourd, and melon feeds, of 〈◊〉 a diam and a half, take a pint and alhalfe of the decoction mingled with the Syrups, and 〈◊〉 her drink it at three doses.  
Prescribe a Purge also to evacuate choler.  
Take three drams of the best rhubarb.  
A scuple and a half of citron seeds.  
Macerate them a night in a sufficient quantity of a decoction of tamarinds, to two ounces and a half, in the morning strain and press them, and to the liquor add three drams of the Electuary Diaprun. laxative. Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets by infusion, mingle them, and give it in the morning.  
Whey of itself is exceeding wholesome, or else you may thus compound it for your Patient.  
Take an ounce of borage roots.  
Two handfuls of sorrel leaves with the roots.  
Endive and borage leaves, of each a handful.  
Six drams of tamarinds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of whey to a quart, and in the strained liquor infuse for a whole night  
Half an ounce of choice rhubarb.  
Two scruples of Cinnamon.  
In the morning let them bubble a little over a gentle fire, and when you have pressed them hard, add  
Three ounces of Syrup of roses laxative.  
Mingle them together for an Apozem.  
Which is of most excellent virtue to correct the heat, and distemper of all the veins, and principal parts; this Bath also will be very effectual to cool the body.  
Take four handfuls of vine leaves.  
The leaves of mallows, violets, and endive, of each two handfuls.  
A handful and a half of bran.  
A handful of salt.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water to eight quarts, let her hold her feet in the strained water, two or three hours together.  
You may likewise prepare fomentations of the herb aforesaid, and bathe the privities, the Liver and the reins of the back; and afterwards you may make use of this ointment.  
Take two ounces of unguent. infrigidantis Galeni.  
An ounce of Cerat. Sautalin.  
Oil of roses, and oil of violets, of each half an ounce.  
Two drams of the powder of red coral.  
Half an ounce of vinegar of roses.  
With a sufficient quantity of white wax, make an ointment according to Art.  
Take the liquor which is distilled out of Cockles, Snails, or Frogs, mingle it with Saccharum perlatum, and give it her to drink, as a most effectual remedy against this Disease.  
A decoction of young Chickens boiled with prunes, and borage leaves, and taken every morning upon an empty stomach, doth refresh the body, strengthen the spirits, moisten the Matrix, cleanseth away the foulness that groweth in those parts, and very powerfully resists the causes of barrenness.  
When unfruitfulness proceedoth from a cold distemper, you must observe a contrary method of cure; as for example.  
The air must incline to hot and dry, the meat must be also potentially hot and dry: and because this cold distemper in perpetually consociated with moisture, whereby cloudy and gross v●pours get into the Matrix, which is cold and nervous, therefore it will be requisite to correct this coldness, to take away the moisture, and to consume, and dissipate those windy vapours; from hence you may gather, that this is a very frequent cause of barrenness, and abortiveness; and so likewise are flatulent and windy humours; for they extremely swell the Matrix, so that the seed cannot be perfectly retained, neither can the child be held fast by the Cotyledous.  
When you attempt the Cure, abstain from Phlebotomy, unless it be preparative only, to disburden the oppressed vessels; when the Patient is in the spring of her years, and at the Spring of the year, lest by taking away the blood, the spirits should be wasted, the humours should become more cold, and indigested, which otherwise, were not the blood prodigally let out, might be seasonably concocted, and this you may observe with the learned Fernelius, to prescribe a Purge, before you open a vein in crude bodies, that the first region may be cleansed; if any man shall rashly proceed to a contrary course, doubtless with great disadvantange to the Patient, he shall pervert the right order of Nature: for when as he hath emptied the veins by Phlebotomy, he will fill them again with that filthy accumulation of corrupt humours, which they suck in with greediness from the first places, and so he shall not lessen, but double the disease; the Purge may be made as followeth.  
Take a dram and a half of the whitest agaric.  
Two drams of bastard Saffron seeds.  
A scruple of Ginger.  
Half a dram of Anniseeds.  
Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of marjoram water, to three ounces; in the morning press them hard, and add  
Diaphenicon and Diacuicum, of each half an ounce.  
Mingle them, and let her drink it in the morning.  
If her body be not sufficiently open, give the same potion every third day, or else prescribe this clyster following.  
Take nine ounces of a mollifying decoction made with marjoram and groundpine, or germander, of each a handful.  
Diacarthamum and Diaphenicon, of each an ounce.  
An ounce and a half of honey of roses strained.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
When you have thoroughly purged the body, and taken away the cause, the parts must be strengthened, and the distemper must be corrected with these pills.  
Take a dram of right lign. aloes beaten to powder.  
Two scruples of aloes ro sat.  
Musk and amber, of each a scruple.  
With a sufficient quantity of alkermes, make thirty five pills.  
Let her swallow five of them, or fewer, every morning; they are exceedingly provocative, and withal they strengthen the brain, the heart, the liver, and the Matrix; when the man and the woman intent conjunction, let him anoint his yard with oil of mastic, and wormwood mingled with a few grains of musk and civet; and let the woman also anoint her privy parts therewith, as well within as without; for by this means there is raised a mutual inclination to Venery, and the seed is received with a greater pleasure, and is more duly retained and elaborated; reason itself will convince us, that sweeting remedies made of ebony, and Salsapa●illa will mightily help, and prepare the Matrix; for they expel the windy humours, strengthen the Matrix, and dissipate the fuliginous and gross vapours; natural Baths are excellent for the same purposes, and so are Treacle, Mithridate, Alkermes, Aromaticum rosatum, Diarrhodon Abbatis, Diamargarit. calidum, and Diacinnamomum; and lastly if you desire any satisfaction from our opinion concerning Issues, we answer, that they evacuate those cold and thick juices which daily flow unto, and settle in the Matrix, and therefore, as we said almost every where, we affirm the use of them to be very expedient, and conducible.   

CHAP. II. Of the shapeless lump of Flesh called Mola.  
A Mola is an unprofitable and shape●●●● lump of flesh, bred in the Matrix of the menstruous blood, as the Material cause thereof, according to the opinion of Galen, in sundry places of his works.  
He saith of the menstruous blood, that it, such as is very thick and much hardened in the Matrix; but note, that he doth not here exclude the seed of the man, for every Physician knows that a Mola proceeds from a mixture of the menstruum, and ● corrupted seed, which indeed doth somewhat endeavour Conception, but cannot perfect it: neither is there any cause of wonder that such a lump of deformity should be fashioned in the womb, seeing that several kinds of monsters are bred there, according to the variety of th● humour, which floweth into the Matrix; h● that would acquaint himself with th● knowledge of these things, may rea● Skenkius his Observations, and the wonderful stories related by Marcellus Donatus; if also he would search into, and examine the true cause of these things, let him read Laurentius his book of Anatomy.  
But why doth this breed in the Matrix only of a woman, and not in some other part? I answer, because, although the blood may congeal, and become clotted in the other parts of the body, yet it happens so more frequently in the Matrix of a woman, then in any other part of her body, because the Matrix is as the common shore of the body, where most of the excrements are exonerated.  
But why doth a Mola breed in women only? I answer, because women only have an abundance of this menstruum, more than other Creatures, and that their bodies are full of gross, thick, and tenacious humours, by reason that for the most part they use a moist diet, and abandon themselves to a reprovable, and disorderly course of life. This Mola is of several kinds; for sometimes it is waterish, sometimes windy and humoral, and sometimes again 'tis skinnie and bloody; this last is the most ordinary, and all Physicians have granted it, this is that which is most usually presented to our observation; and lastly, this is that which so often hath deceived women, who boasted themselves to be with child, and were not, and their Physicians also who told them they were with child, when they were not.  
Wherefore to avoid these common couzenages, let us be circumspect in the knowledge, and right understanding of the signs, which are a swelling, with a drawing back of the hypochondriacal parts, the women grow lean, are full of pain, and very apt to long; the belly is burdened, her back acheth, her breasts swell, and her Courses are stopped, and that at the beginning of her conception: but afterwards in process of time, she seems to have the Dropsey, her belly is so immoderately swelled; but you may know this from a Dropsey; for in that the belly sounds like a Drum: the woman feels within a kind of fluctuation, or waving motion, and if a finger be laid hard upon her belly, the print of it remains.  
A Mola is distinguished from a perfect conception, by three most certain signs, that is, by the motion, by the milk, and by the time that a woman beareth her child; in the motion, because there is a great difference between the motion of a child, and the motion or stirring of a Mola, because the child kicks, and turneth about to all the parts of the bottom of the belly, but a Mola moveth like a Globe, now on the right side, and anon on the left; this also, if you press down the woman's belly with a gentle hand, removeth from the place, and returns not suddenly into it again; and from the milk you may gather a neverfailing sign, because the breasts swell all the time a woman is with child; but in the other it happeneth otherwise; the time likewise affords a neverfailing sign; for if the swelling of the belly continue beyond the eleventh month (which is the most constant and certain period of a woman's Reckoning) and not signs of a Dropsy at that time appear, you may warrant your own confidence that she hath a Mola, but no child in her belly.  
This is a most dangerous disease; for many times a woman carries it in her womb, the space of two or three years, and sometimes longer, insomuch that the natural heat is suffocated therewith, moreover, in the expulsion of it, there is no small danger, for many times it groweth to such a bigness, that it comes not away without extreme hazard of the woman's life: for a great Issue of blood ensueth, whereby the spirits being spent and exhausted, she waxeth feeble, wan and pale, and many times perisheth in the very act of expelling it.  
This evil hath a twofold manner of Cure; one Preservative, to prevent the Generation or breeding of the Mola, and the other curative, to destroy and bring it away, when it is bred; and this last is also twofold; for the first design must be to exclude it; and the second to save the woman in the very act of excluding it.  
The Preservation consists in a due observation of these things following; the air she lives in must be hot and dry, and the place healthful, being situate towards the East: let her keep a good diet, feeding upon meats that yield a wholesome nourishment to the body, and such as are soon concocted, and distributed to all the parts: let her choice also be rather of hot, then cold meats, avoiding such as are fat, salt, and hardened with smoke, fish which breed thick, windy, and viscous juices, are unwholesome for her; she cannot desire a more wholesome drink then Wormwood wine, or excellent generous French wine: her belly must be kept open and soluble; exercise must be used, and sleep refrained: angry chide and cares of the mind must be moderated, and all such things for borne, as dry the blood, and diminish the natural heat.  
In the next place prepare the thick, and gross humours with Rhodomel, Syrup of wormwood, Syrup of mint, and the like, mingled with some convenient water, afterwards prescribe this Purge.  
Take three drams of Sena,  
A scruple of Agarick Trochischt.  
A dram of the root Mechoaca.  
A dram and a half of anniseeds.  
Boil them a short space in a sufficient quantity of pure water to three ounces: then strain and press them, and to the remaining liquor add three drams of Diaphenicon. Mingle them, and let her drink it in the morning early.  
If her Courses be stopped, cut a vein in her ankle; Leeches also may be applied to the Hemorrhoids, but with caution and wariness, lest thereby you more and more weaken such women, whose bodies are full of raw and indigested humours, afterwards you must purge her body again, with a scruple of extract. Catholic. and as much of mass. pillul. faetidar. and lastly, prescribe an Apozem, or Decoction to cut asunder, and evacuate the gross and tough humours▪ to provoke urine, to open the obstructions of the Matrix, and to bring down the Courses: all which virtues meet together in this Composition following.  
Take the roots of smallage,  
Eryngos,  
And Fennill, of each half an ounce.  
The bark of the root of the Caper,  
And Tamarisk tree, of each two drams.  
The leaves of penniroyall, and birthwort, of each a handful.  
Germander, Maidenhair, Balm, of each half a handful.  
Ten drams of Sena.  
Three drams of agaric trochischt.  
A dram and a half, or two drams of Epythymum.  
Boil them all according to art, in a sufficient quantity of water, wherein steel hath been infused to a quart: when you have strained, and with a strong hand pres● out the liquor, add  
Three ounees of Syrup of roses.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, or  
Take the roots of Butcher's broom,  
Asparagus,  
Polypody of the oak,  
And fennel, of each half an ounce.  
The leaves of Penniroyall,  
And motherwort, of each a handful.  
A dram and a half of anise seeds.  
The flowers of Violets, Rosemary, and Borage, of each as many as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.  
An ounce of raisins of the Sun.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to a quart. In the strained liquor infuse for a night  
Ten ounces of Sena.  
Three drams of the whitest agaric.  
Two drams of the best rhubarb.  
A dram of Epithymum.  
In the morning let them bubble once, or twice, and then to the liquor which you press out, add  
Syr. Byzantin.  
And Syr. de eupatorio, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them and make an Apozem.  
Of this, or of the former let her take twice in a day the quantity of three ounces for a week together, once in the morning, and the second time at four a clock ●n the afternoon.  
Excellent Lozenges may be made of the species Diamosch. and Diacinnamomum, or you may compound them with Treacle, Mithridate, and Bezoar stone.  
When the Mola hath obtained some growth, if it be waterish, it must be brought away with such simples, as have a faculty to purge out waterish humours; or i● it be windy, you must prescribe such medicines, as are of a known, and approved virtue to strengthen the Matrix, and to expel wind; and Carminative glisters in such cases will be very convenient; so also will plasters and fomentations applied to her privy parts: but that which is humoral, skinny and bloody may be overcome with the same remedies as are set down at the beginning, against the stoppage of the Courses.  
When Nature endeavours to expel this unprofitable burden, and an issue of blood ensueth thereupon, with fainting and swooning fits, than you must be diligent to strengthen the Patient with broths made of the flesh of Capons, and Partridges, and with such things as will stay the blood, and refresh the exhausted spirits; such as are Chalybeated wine, Sugar of Pearl, Coral, etc.  
You will object that wine cannot be seasonable, because by the heat thereof it makes the blood thin, and makes it more apt to flow away in greater measure by opening the passages, rather than it can any way help to stay it. I answer, it is not guilty of this mischief, if it hath a reddish Tincture; for if good Claret wine be chalybeated, as hath been said, besides that it nourisheth the b●dy, it is also a binder; for it comforteth the spirits, and refresheth the whole body, which vermes must needs be profitable for, and welcome unto a Creature, who is hourly subject to faint and swoon, and although it might provoke the blood to flow, yet a greater good must be preferred before a small inconvenience, and therefore give her wine to refresh her spirits, which will be more to her advantage, than the issue of blood can be to her prejudice, for she may perish suddenly in one of those fits, but the flux of blood may be restrained by degrees.  
Note that four things require an abstinence from wine. First, an inflammation of the bowels. Secondly, a vehement pain in the head. Thirdly, a Frenzy. And fourthly, a burning Fever in a crude disease; and of this opinion was Galen, as appears in his first book ad Glauconem, and the 14. chapter. Moreover the Patient should be refreshed with the choicest meats, and then the Mola should be disposed to come forth by softening and loosening fomentations, made of a decoction of marishmallowes, mallows, motherwort, Mercury, Birthwort, Sage, Hyssop, Calamint, the seeds of line, marishmallowes, fenugreek, camomile, melilot, and rosemary; in this you may dip a clout, and bathe her privy parts.  
But if the blood come not away, rub her legs, and apply dry Cuppinglasses to the calves of her legs, and bind most painful ligatures about them; and in a word make trial of all such remedies, as will draw down Nature, the humours, and the Mola to the lower parts.   

CHAP. III. Of women's Long.  
WOmen are sometimes so extravagant and preposterous in their appetite, that they refuse wholesome meat, and long after colaes, chalk, a piece of an old wall, starch, earth, and the like trash, which they devour as ravenously, as a hungry Ploughman will wind down a good bag-pudding.  
Now perhaps you may also long to know the cause hereof, which is no other than the menstruous blood, especially if it be retained about the middle of their time, and grow corrupt; for the child in the womb is nourished with the sweetest part of the blood, and the other part remaining which is vicious, filthy, and dreggish, noisome exhalations, especially in the middle months arise from it, and in such a manner contaminate all the upper partts, that the worst things are vehemently desired, and the most wholesome refused; the signs are apparent from the depravation and irregular temper of their stomach.  
This Disease is hard to cure; yet not so much in respect of the disease itself, as of the subject wherein it is generated, which is a woman with child; now we know that such women must be warily, ●nd religiously dealt withal, and unless it be in extreme necessity, their bodies ought not to be purged. By this unavoidable abstinence the disease is increased, and the bad humour, being long retained in the body, becomes daily more and more corrupt, by the tetrous exhalations which ascend up from the pollutions of the Matrix: therefore having first appointed a strengthening, and drying diet, you must endeavour to rid away that humour, with Syrup of roses solutive, and afterwards when the body is cleansed, and free from the humour you may prescribe a gentle Purge of Rhubarb, which hath both a purging and a strengthening faculty; for if we may adventure our belief to the assertions of the best Physicians, Rhubarb may be safely given to old men, infants, and women with child; and Fallopius in his book of purging Simples, and in the chapter where he speaketh of Rhubarb, saith, it dries up all superfluous moisture contained in the vessels of the Matrix, it is a gentle cleanser, it strengtheneth the Heart, and the stomach by its astringent faculty, neither need you to entertain the vain fears of some, who suspect that the bitterness thereof may destroy the child, for the taste of it is not horrible to nature, and besides the bitterness quickly vanisheth.  
There remains another doubt to be answered; namely, whether it be more proper and advantageous to prescribe an infusion of Rhubarb, or to give it in the substance? I answer, that it purgeth most in the substance, or body of it, expelling the humours by siege, which it doth not in an infusion, at least not so powerfully, because than it evacuates only by the purgative virtue which is in it, and of the same opinion is the Author before named.   

CHAP. IU. Of a bad stomach, proceeding from Vomiting.  
IT is a known truth, that most dangerous, direful, and pernicious Symptoms invade women with child, from which also forsaking of meat, and Vomiting do afterwards follow, all which things proceed from those noisome and soggy exhalations, which are distributed into the several parts, from the corruption of the blood; for whereas there is a sympathy, and consent between the stomach and the Matrix, when any poisonous, or malignant vapour ascendeth from the latter, it immediately invades, and overcomes the stomach, which being weakened in the conflict, or endeavour to resist, and keep out those vapours, the functions of it are depraved, it refuseth all comfort or nourishment, or if at any time it admit any, 'tis no sooner swallowed, but vomited up again; these are the signs of this disease, and to cure it, proceed according to the Method following. In the first place prescribe a cleansing potion.  
Take three drams of Elecampane roots  
The leaves of wormwood, and  
Century the less, of each half a handful.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of whole barley water to a pint, and a half, to the strained liquor add three ounces of honey of roses strained, mingle them for a Potion; against the next morning prepare this purge following.  
Take three drams of rhubarb.  
Two scruples of agaric Trochischt.  
A dram of anise seeds.  
Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient' quantity of mint water, to two ounces and a half; in the morning press them hard with all your strength, and add three drams of the Electuary Diaphenicon; if she cannot take down a Purge, let her swallow these Pills following.  
Take a dram of the mass. of Pills de Hiera cum agarico.  
Make nine pill●, and gild them.  
The next day following, give her this strengthening mixture, which doth not purge at all, and every morning let her eat the quantity of a Nutmeg.  
Take Elecampane roots candied,  
Marmalade of Quinces, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of Conserve of red Roses.  
Four scruples of aromat. rosat. in powder.  
Two scruples of mastic in powder.  
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of ●int make a Confection.  
After the use of these things, make this plaster following, and lay it to her stomach.  
Take lignum aloes,  
Yellow Sanders,  
And the round Cyperus, of each two drams.  
Galangale, mace, cloves,  
And calam. aromat. of each a dram.  
Common wormwood, roman wormwood,  
Spikenard, dried mint,  
Of each as much as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers.  
Mastic,  
Storax calamitu.  
Red Coral, of each two scruples.  
Amber,  
Musk, of each a scruple.  
Pure laudanum,  
Turpentine, of each an ounce.  
Four ounces of white wax.  
Make a Mass; whereof let him take a sufficient quantity, and spread it upon leather, and lay it to her stomach.  
Biscuit steeped in muskadine is excellent good for her: because it refresheth the spirits, and mightily strengtheneth the stomach.   

CHAP. V Of a Pain in the Belly, the Passion of the Heart, and of sounding Fits.  
Women with Child do often feel a pain in their bellies, and this also proceeds from wind, and the malignant vapours aforesaid: neither are the swooning Fits, or the Passion of the heart produced by any other causes, because the heart when it is shaken with this fuliginous, and gross spirit, doth frequently stretch, and contract itself, and endeavouring to expel the evil which annoys it, it falls into an inordinate and strange motion, like unto trembling.  
Under these diseases the woman languisheth, is full of fears and frights, prone to despair, subject to faint, can obtain no sleep, but wasteth away daily, and waxeth lean and meager.  
To take away her pain, you may administer such remedies, as will expel the wind, and strengthen the bowel; of which sort you may furnish yourself with plenty above, in the chapter of a cold distemper, and windy humours in the Matrix▪  
You may likewise anoint the stomach with this ointment following.  
Take an ounce of unguent. Altheae.  
Oil of wormwood,  
Oil of Camomile,  
And oil of rue, of each three drams.  
The power of lignum aloes,  
Mastic,  
Wormwood,  
And both sorts of Coral, of each a dram.  
Half a dram of aromat. rosat. in powder.  
Six drops of oil of anise seeds.  
With a sufficient quantity of yellow wax, according to art make an ointment.  
This, or the like fomentation may likewise be very useful.  
Take half a dram of elecampane roots.  
Two drams of lignum aloes.  
The leaves of Rue,  
Motherwort,  
Sage,  
Wormwood,  
Mint, of each a handful.  
Mastic,  
Cloves, of each two drams.  
Boil these Simples in a sufficient quantity of water to three pints, and prescribe the strained liquor for a fomentation.  
After the use of the fomentation, clap to the stomach the cawl of a sheep newly killed. In Spain the greatest persons, and those the wisest also, take hot bread from the oven, afterwards they soak it in Muskadine, and having sprinkled upon it the powders of red and white coral, and aromat. rosatum, they lay it to the heart: others instead thereof use Treacle, Alkermes, and Confect. Hiachytorum, to all which may be added, if the evil yield not to the remedies aforesaid, a little bag to be worn upon the left pap, and made after this manner following.  
Take two drams of lignum aloes.  
Bezoar stone,  
Musk,  
Red coral, of each a dram.  
Red and yellow , of each two scuples.  
The Specie Diamosch.  
And Diambr. of each a scruple and a half.  
With a piece of red taffeta and cotton make ● quilted bombast for the use aforesaid.  
Mingle cordials with her drink; and cordial conserveses, as for example.  
Take two ounces of conserve of red roses.  
Two drams of alkermes.  
Macerate them a night in two pints of plantain water, and red wine, in the morning strain it through Hypocrates his sleeve, that is a woollen bag, and give her now ●nd then the quantity of a small wine glass.  
If these remedies overcome not the dis●●se, apply an exceeding great Cuppinglasse ●o the heart; by the force whereof the win●y vapour will evaporate; for although ●lysters do draw back the humour from ●● affected part, yet in reference to great bellied woman you ought to suspect the event of them, because they raise too great a disturbance by provoking nature down▪ wards, and many times cause abortiveness; yet if the pain be insupportable, then inject carminative glisters, and omit all bitter ingredients, as Hyena, benedicta Laxativa, or Scammoniata; but to prevent all error, prescribe this following.  
Take a handful of mallow leaves.  
The flowers of melilot,  
The tops of Dill, of each half a handful.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to nine pints, to the strained liquor add two ounces of Syrup of ●●se● Laxative.  
An ounce of red Sugar.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster. Or  
Take the flowers of melilot.  
And mallows, of each a handful.  
anise and Fennill seeds,  
Of each two drams.  
Boil ethem in a sufficient quantity ●● broth, made with an old Cock to ni●● ounces, to the inward liquor add  
Portuguese Manna:  
And red Roses, of each an cunce and half.  
An ounce of oil of rue.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
It might do much good, if you gave her a draught of balm water in the morning, in which water you may s●eep lignum aloes the space of a night, and afterwards put to the strained liquor a sufficient quantity of Syrup of mint; for this expels the wind▪ cleanseth away the phlegm, and powerfully strenghthens the stomach.  
You must frequently and laboriously rub her lower par●s, tie ligatures about them, and apply Cuppinglasses to them, if there be no imaginable cause to fear abortiveness, but if there be the least suspicion of that, omit all such applications as may procure a revulsion of the blood, nay, let me give you this caution absolutely to forbear them, unless she be taken with desperate trembling and fainting fits, or swooning, in the spring time too, when her spirits require them.  
You must cause her Basilick vein to be opened, if she be young, fleshy, and strong, for this Remedy, besides that it letteth out the thick, dreggish, and black blood, it refresheth the child also, and the heart is sweetly, easily, and safely delivered from that burdensome humour, which 〈◊〉 press and almost overwhelm it.   

CHAP. VI Of a Cough in Women with Child.  
MOst certain it is, that great-bellied Women, by reason of their being with child, have not sometimes a free vent for their crude and indigested aliments, either by Stool, or by Urine, or by any other Emunctories of the body; these being unduly kept in the body putrify, wax hot, and communicate noisome fumes, and vapours to the spiritous parts, which by their clamminess, thickness and sharpness, together with the bad quality that is in them, gripe, and twitch the Woman, and force her to cough.  
Some perhaps may demand, why doth this Coughing happen in the last months? the answer is obvious; namely, because in those months a greater plenty of excrements are lodged in the body, than were accumulated at the first.  
The cause of the Cough, according to Hypocrates, i● a viscous, thick, and tough homour, impacted in the Pipes of the Lungs; which humour sometimes also, through that consent which is between the Matrix, and the Chest, invadeth that part, and raiseth a Coughing: and these are these are set down as the true signs of this evil.  
As for the Prognosticks, you must know that a Cough befalling a woman with child is a bad Symptom: seeing that by the least stretching, and shrinking the Cotyledons or vessels of the womb, are many times loosened, yea sometimes burst asunder, and from thence comes abortiveness.  
The Cure is perfected with sweet wine, mild beer, and the frequent use of a Ptisa●▪ sharp, sour, and cold things must be avoided; meats also must be forborn which breed a thick nourishment, and are hard to digest; vehement evacuations likewise are not good; wherefore having given order for the observation of a good Diet, prescribe some gentle, lenifying medicines to provoke her to spit, as manna, Syrup of roses laxative, Diacnicu, and the like.  
These things being administered, proceed to Electuaries, and expectorating medicines, and especially to this Apozem following.  
Take an ounce of cleansed Barley.  
The roots of Aristolochy,  
Liquorice scraped, of each two drams.  
The leaves of Asarabacca.  
Nettles,  
White Maidenhair, of each a handful.  
Two drams of raisins picked.  
The flesh of Dates.  
Fat Figs, of each three drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, to two pints, and to the strained ●●quor, add  
Two ounces of Diacodium.  
Mingle them, and make an Apozem, or  
You may prescribe Lozenges after this manner.  
Take a dram of the species Diatragac●n●●. frigid.  
Diaire●●,  
Poppy seeds, of each a scruple.  
Two ounces and a half of Sugar dissolved in rose water, according to ar● make them into Lozenges.  
Then prescribe this Conserve.  
Take Conserve of red Roses,  
Elecampane candied, of each an ounce.  
Conserve of Violet flowers,  
Rosemary flowers, of each half an oun●●.  
Two drams of meal of beans.  
A dram of Diaireos.  
Ten grains of Sulphur.  
With Syrup of Colt's foot make a Conserve.  
Meal of ●eanes, according to Galen, doth cleanse and mundify the Chest, digests the crude spittle contained in the pipes, and makes it easy to be excerned; beanflower water is exceeding good for the Lung●, especially if she drink it with Syrup of maidenhair, or Oxymel S●i●●iticum; the same faculties hath the distilled waters of red Poppies.  
The yolk of an egg taken in the morning with Sugar, and the oil of sweet Almonds is a most incomparable remedy, and hath done good to thousands.  
Anoint her Breast with this Ointment, which is good to prepare the crude, and thick matter which stops her pipes.  
Taken an ounce of the ointment of marish mallows.  
The axungia of a hen  
Of a Duck, of each half an ounce.  
Oil of sweet Almonds,  
Oil of Violets, of each▪ two drams.  
Ten grains of Saffron.  
Mingle them, and according to art make an ointment; heat it when you use it, and anoint the whole region of her Chest therewith.   

CHAP. VII. Of the swelling of the Legs in Women with Child.  
FRom the same cause, namely from abundance of phlegm, and crude humo●rs, especially in the last months, proceed the swelling of the legs, face, and eyebrows▪ and when I have told you that the flesh of the whole body groweth soft, and that she looketh white and wan in the face, I have discovered unto your consideration the fignes of this disease.  
Women in this condition cannot be restored to perfect health till she be delivered: yet may we not delay our helps, lest a worse evil happen unto her; for whereas the legs and feet are outward parts, and at a great distance from the fountain of heat, they are quickly affected with cold, and mortified through the abundance of crude humours, which many times settle in them.  
You may securely, speedily, and gently accomplish the cure by strengthening and dissolving remedies.  
In the first place therefore provide a bath with chalybeated water, Saltpetre, Sulphur, Wormwood, Stechaz, Rosemary, and Camomile: in this liquor let her wash her lips, her thighs, her legs, and her feet, and when she washeth them, let her also rub them sound.  
If her flesh grow very soft and lank, so that you fear a mortification, apply this Poultis following, which will exceedingly comfort her.  
Take two handfuls of Wormwood,  
Meal of Vetches,  
Meal of beans,  
Meal of barley of each an ounce and a half.  
An ounce of Bran.  
With a sufficient quantity of oxymel, and a brine made with lemon pills, according to art make your Poultis.  
If the coldness of the part be such, that you fear a gangreen, there is nothing will more certainly prevent it then Scarification: for by this means the part is ventilated, and preserved from putrefaction.  
Strengthening remedies must sometimes be exhibited to expel the wind, yet you must administer them with a good diet, consisting of drying, and corroborating things, as Treacle, Mithridate, and other drying confections and powders, Diacinna●om●m, arom●tic●m ros●tum, Diarrhodon Abba, 'tis, unto which we may well adjoin a decoction of China and Salsaparilla with a little stick of cinnamon, and a few anise seeds.  
Note that these remedies may properly be accommodated to the cure of the disease, called the Vterine Flux, which happens sometimes to women when they are ready to lie down, by reason that there is an excessive abundance of humour in their bodies, or else because the child in their bellies is very large and great.   

CHAP. VIII. Of Costiveness in Women with Child.  
THe inner part of the humour being spent upon the nourishment of the child in the woman's belly, the dregs grow hard, and when Nature striveth to cast them out by a strong and vehement endeavour, the▪ Matrix suffers a compression, by which▪ compression the child is offended, the C●tyledons are loosened, and many times the woman miscarrieth, and the child proves abortive.  
The belly must be solicited, but not with glisters, because they hurt the child, especially if it be grown to some bigness, but with Suppositaries made with hogsgrease, and five or sixgraines of Diagrydium; for these will irritate.  
Her meat should be of a moistening and mollifying quality, as mallow, and borage ●eaves eaten with butter and Sugar; fat pottage also is good for her, in which, if she complain of no torments, you may boil polypoda, sena and pr●nes.  
Manna above all other things is in present case to be preferred: and next to it we commend Syrup of roses laxative, and Syrup of Violets made with a frequently iterated infusion.  
Sometimes you may prescribe this Julep.  
Take the waters of borage,  
Fumitary, of each eight ounces.  
Three ounces of Syrup of Violets.  
Mingle them, and make a Julep.  
Forberare the use of sharp medicines, for they work with an unnecessary vehemence, and not seldom cause abortiveness.  
Unto this disease we adjoin a looseness, which happeneth, when women are of a cold constitution, and full of crudities, or when they have a weak belly: Sometimes also it happens by their inordinate Long, when they wish for a greater variety of dishes than they are able to concoct; for then many times what they have so greedily devoured passeth down into the guts without digestion, and causeth a looseness through the weakness of the retentive faculty.  
We have learned from Hypocrates to accou●t this among the dangerous diseases; for in the fifth broke of his Aphorisms he hath these words: If a woman with child be troubled with a great looseness, 'tis to be feared that she will miscarry, and note well the reason hereof: for when she is thus afflicted, the good and the bad go away together, the child is defrauded of its due nourishment, and so perisheth.  
You must presently strive to stay the looseness with binding and thickening meats, as quinces, rhubarb, beer wherein steel hath been often infused; or else you may prescribe this Potion following.  
Take a handful of plantain leaves.  
The seeds of flux wort.  
The seeds of Sumach, of each a dram.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of red wine, to a pint and a half, to the strained liquor add  
Srrupe of Comphrey.  
Syrup of Quinces, of each an ounce.  
Make a Potion.  
Boil, or steep anise seeds in her drinker and apply the same fomentations, ointments, and plasters, as we have already commended unto against Vomiting.  
But if the excrements be slimy, putrified, and stink, you must not neglect the use of Rhubarb gently roasted, and of myrobalans slightly roasted; for these do not only purge, but they bind withal, and strengthen the parts. Sometimes you may exhibit Philonium Persicum, Requiem Nicholai, or Pill. de Cynoglossa, but with a sober caution; the quantity is a scruple, or at the most but two scruples, and that when the other things have proved unsuccessful, and also when the strength of the Patient will a●low the taking of them.   

CHAP. IX. Of the flowing away of Blood from the Matrices of women with Child.  
ALthough we made mention of this disease in the first book, where we treated of the immoderate flowing of the Courses; yet we conceive it may be worth our labour, and the Readers thanks to add a few things, which in the Chapter aforesaid, were purposely omitted by us.  
Blood then floweth immoderately from the Matrix, either when the lips thereof an unlocked, or when the vessels are open, or lastly, by transcolation.  
The inward cause of these symptoms is an extreme heat, or thinness in the blood; which either eats asunder the vessels, or rarefies the tunicles thereof; the outward causes are all those things which have a power to make thin, to heat, to open, to rarefie, and to subtilise the blood; as immoderate cares of the mind, long watch, a continual use of hot meats, as dishes peppered and spiced: also drinking too much wine; yet you may exhibit a glass of Claret wine in a moderate quantity, to refresh her spirits, provided that no Fever be suspected, and that her Matrix be not inflamed.  
The signs of this evil are manifest; for the spirits are deficient, the heat is diminished, the face groweth pale, the feet swell, the strength decays, the meat is forsaken and no sleep can be obtained.  
The danger of this Flux is unknown, I suppose, to few women; for seeing that our natural heat hath its chief, and sole perseverance in the blood, the loss of that blood in an immoderate quantity, must needs exhaust the spirits, weaken the body, and at length when the natural heat is almost extinguished, and the sanguification is depraved, there will undoubtedly supervene either a Dropsey, or a Consumption.  
When you begin the Cure, keep the Patient in a dark room, and let the air be cold and dry; or if naturally it be not so, make it so by art; her meat should be potentially cold, thick, and binding: as the flesh of Partridges, and sheep▪ feet, or sheepsheads, or broths made of them; pease beans, quinces, Services, and the like, are not unwholesome for her, and for her drink, let it be beer, or water wherein steel hath often been quenched.  
Let her blood immediately to divert the humour, but in what part, there is indeed a great controversy among the Physicians about it; but to promote the Revulsion of the humour, if the Patient be strong enough, we tie ligatures about her legs, and boldly open a vein in her arm; or if she be very strong, we apply Cuppinglasse● with scarification to her shoulders.  
When the vein is opened, give her thickening Syrups, as Syrup of poppies, Myrtles, quinces, or Syrup of restharrow; Juleps also made with the distilled waters of plantain and roses, and mixed with the Syrups aforesaid, will be convenient for her, or you may mingle Conserve of roses, or Conserve of acacia with Bolearmenick, and the Trochisch. de Carabe, which will be an excellent mixture to thicken, and stay the blood; but however forget not to prescribe this Purge.  
Take two scruples of Rhubarb gently boiled.  
Ten grains of the myrabolans called chebule. Syrup of dried roses, or  
Syrup of sour Pomegranates, half an ounce.  
Three ounces of plantain water, or a decoction of tormentil roots.  
Mingle them, and make a Potion.  
Procure some sleep for her with Opiates, as Athenasia, Requies, Nichola●, Philonium Persi●um, new Treacle, or Philonium Romanum; yea with pills de Cynoglossa, or four or five grains of Opium: all these things do wonderfully thicken the blood, straighten the passages, fatten the body, concoct the blood, provoke sleep, and therefore are very proper for women thus affected. Note that the Opium restrains, and stops all superfluous evacuations, sweat excepted, which it provokes; besides, by inviting sleep it refresheth the body; for by sleep the aliment is soon concocted, the natural heat retiring to the inward parts, whereas when the Patient waketh, the heat is distributed and diffused all over the outward parts.  
Lay this plaster which follows the ointment to the reins of her back, and with the ointment anoint her privy parts, and the region of her Kidneys.  
Take the powder of Gyprus Nuts.  
The roots of Comphrey,  
Bistort, of each two drams.  
Red Sanders,  
Red Coral,  
Bolearmenick,  
Mastic, of each a dram.  
With four ounces of Vnguentum Comitiss● make an ointment.  
After the ointment apply this Plaster, as was said above.  
Take a pound of loom, and beat it to powder, with ten drams of  toasted by the fire, and the whites of four Eggs, incorporate them, and make a plaster.   

CHAP. X. Of water flowing away from the Matrices of women with Child.  
MOst certain it is, that Women with Child by reason of their depraved appetites, and continual intemperance in their diet, abound with crude and unconcocted juices, which nature not knowing how to digest, nor being able to expel them by her monthly Courses, are accumulated in a large measure, pollute the body, and introduce a cold distemper, from whence that water comes, which is the intended subject of our present discourse; they who live a sedentary and an idle life, are very obnoxious to this disease; in such women this waterish humour comes away at the Matrix, cold to the touch, slow in motion, slimy in substance, and white to the eye, and void of all manner of sharpness; these women look pale, their skin is lank or lose, they are lazy, and loath to use any exercise, they are troubled with wind, and loud rumblings in their bellies.  
Account this a difficult Cure: especially when it happens in the last months, when we dare not administer convenient remedies, fearing to destroy, or hurt the child; because such kind of remedies dissolv●, and exhaust the spirits, and when the body is extremely weakened, they precipitate the Patient into a Dropsey, which is scarce curable; or else she miscarries by reason that the retentive faculty is too much weakened by excess of moisture.  
You must therefore endeavour the cure by a drying Diet, as Biscuit made with anise seeds, and with flesh meat rather roasted then boiled; forbidden windy meats, salt meats, such as breed a thick juice, and yield too much moisture; almonds, chestnuts, pine kernels, and boiled rise are very wholesome, all herbs and fruit, beside quinces and medlars, are unwholesome.  
For her drink, give her binding red wine, or wine wherein steel hath been quenched: for this comforts the spirits; a decoction of china and Salsaparilla may be profitable, because it dries up the descending moisture, and cleanseth the body from it, this potion following will do her much good.  
Take two drams of Cyprus nut●.  
The leaves of wormwood,  
Mint,  
Red roses, of each half a handful.  
The seeds of quinces,  
Services, of each two drams.  
Parched rise,  
Mastic, of each a dram.  
Half a dram of gum dragon.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, wherein steel hath been quenched, to two pints; to the strained liquor add  
Syrup of dried roses,  
Syrup of the juice of quinces, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of honey of roses.  
Mingle them, and make a Potion.  
Let her take three ounces of it early in the morning; it evacuates the waterish humour, and not only strengthens, but also binds the parts, drieth the Cotyledons, and retaineth the child in the Matrix, that it come not into the world before its due time; after the Potion, the next day lay this Plaster to her privy parts.  
Take two drams of Loadstone beaten to powder.  
Spikenard,  
Mastic,  
Red coral, of each a dram.  
Two ounces of oil of quinces.  
Six drams of white wax.  
Mingle them and make a Pla●ster.  
A gentle laxative Decoction cannot be inconvenient, and therefore we shall here set down that which hath often purchased sweet ease to the Patient, and credit to ourselves.  
Take a handful of plantain leaves.  
A pugil of red roses.  
Four drams of rhubarb.  
Two drams of agaric trochischated.  
Mastic,  
Spikenard, of each a scruple.  
Macerate them together in two pints of water, wherein steel hath been infused upon hot coals, the space of six hours; afterwards set them upon the fire, and when they begin to bubble, press out the liquor with a strong hand, and add to it  
Two ounces of Syrup of Fumitary.  
Mingle them according to Art.  
Give her every other morning fasting three ounces of this decoction; for it gently strengthens the parts, diverts the waterish humour from the Matrix, and with much benignity evacuates it.  
When the woman is almost ready to be in labour, a wheyish or waterish humour floweth leisurely, and by degrees from the Matrix, either because of some dilatation of the Membranes, in which the child is enwrapped, or else because those membranes are burst asunder; and although it descend leisurely, yet a large quantity comes from her; if this happen when she is in labour, suspend all helps of art, for it is a good omen that she will be safely delivered; but if it should fall out in the fifth, sixth, seventh, or vl month, in which there is, or may be a fear of miscarrying, then may you properly and securely adadminister those things, which we even now prescribed.  
If you demand from whence that abundance of waterish humours doth come, which floweth before she is in Labour? I answer from the Membrane, or skin called Ammion, which is fastened to the Child, and from the other called Chorion, in which two skins, the urine of the Child is so long reserved, till the fullness of time be accomplished, in which it should be borne; at which time seeking by instinct of nature, for a greater proportion of nourishment, it kicks, and tears these membranes, out of which when a large plenty of waters have run, it comes forth into the world.   

CHAP. XI. Of Acute Diseases, befalling Women with Child.  
WOmen are preserved both from the threaten, and also from the Invasions of those Diseases whereunto they are subject by a threefold kind of Remedies: by Diet, by Phlebotomy, and by Purging, or to speak more properly, by being purged.  
But the two latter are the more difficult, according to the opinion of Galen, who in this hath the concurrence of Avicens judgement also; you must know, saith he, that ●very disease of repletion, or the malice of a complexion is not cured by his contra●y, but sometimes by a good regiment of ●ealth; wherefore if it be a slight disease, ●t will be cured of its own accord; for ●he●e is no kind of disease so fierce, saith Galen in his book of Diet, which is not ta●ed by it; but yet a moderation must be observed; for they who are near their ●ime, and look every day to be in labour, ●ant a larger proportion of nourishment, because the child is big, and should they be defrauded of this mediocrity, they would perish by the cruelty of an acute disease; wherefore here lies all the difficulty to prescribe a convenient and fit Diet for such women; for should you allow them meat and drink suitable to the condition of women who are not with child, you should destroy the child: and should you, out of a regard to the preservation of the child, be more liberal and indulgent to their appetites, this condescension would espouse you to another error, for hereby you might cherish the cause of the disease; let her therefore be fed with meats that are of easy concoction and distribution, and prohibit her the use of thick, sharp, sour, bitter, and windy meats, that are hard to digest.  
Having prescribed a good Diet, you must consider whether it be expedient she should be let blood. Valesius sets down the reasons on both sides, and for the Negative he allegeth an Aphorism in Hypocrates, running to this sense; if a woman with child be let blood, she miscarries, and the rather, if the child in her womb be big; because the child is thereby defrauded of its aliment. Secondly Galen saith, Physicians ought not to be busy in offering helps, or strong remedies to women with child, nor any exquisite manner of Diet; here you must understand Phlebotomy say they; therefore it must from Galens words be concluded inexpedient. Thirdly, if any evacuation be a cause of abortiveness, as a flux of the belly, or a looseness, as Hypocrates in another Aphorism affirmeth, how much more will the opening of a vein be a cause, by means whereof the aliment is taken away from the child. Fourthly, a Fever kills the child, by wasting the spirits, and drying up the blood with the vehement heat thereof; therefore so also will phlebotomy kill the child by exhausting the spirits, and consuming the blood.  
But all these reasons to my understanding are of no weight▪ no moment, no validity, seeing that it is most certain, that the very impregnation, or being with child doth forbid phlebotomy, in respect of itself, yet not as one of those principal scopes which withstand it, but of those which indicate and advise to a sober and due celebration of it; wherefore when a woman sick of an acute disease must be let blood, yet must she bleed less than the affect and the plenitude require, because of that indication, which is taken from the child in her womb; for her gravidation, or being with child ought to be reputed as a Symptom which wastes the spirits, because her bringing forth the child is a kind of evacuation.  
To the second I answer, that Galen in that place means nothing else, but that Physicians should counsel their Patients to avoid intemperance, because women with child admit not of the least degree beyond a medioicity.  
To the third I answer, that it is not always true that abortiveness followeth upon any large evacuation; and therefore it should not only have been said, but proved by the Interpreters of Hypocrates; for we see that it follows not upon hunger, or emptiness, unless it be diuturnal, nor from a looseness, unless it be immoderate, nor lastly, from phlebotomy, if a vein be opened in the arm, wherefore, that I may conclude, I conceive Hypocrates did intent only to prohibit the cutting of a vein in the ankle, but not in the arm: for I confess, if a vein in the ankle be cut, the blood is drawn in abundance to the Matrix, and so may strangle, or choke the child, and cause abortiveness: the like also doth any vehement and exorbitant Purge.  
Wherefore if an inflammation be present, we affirm that a woman with child may be let blood without▪ any danger of abortion: yet with this condition, that she be first well nourished with meats of good concoction and quick distribution, and that a small quantity only be taken away, lest the spirits should be impaired either for the present, or the future. Moreover I like not the cutting of the Basilick vein, because it much exhausts the blood, and may cheat the child of his nourishment. Lastly, I counsel you to apply strengthening, and nourishing things to the navel before you cut the vein, as unguentum Comitissae, or Emplastrum stomachichum, or fomentations made of wormwood, roses, mastic, lignum aloes, quince seeds, and Claret wine: and whilst she is bleeding, let her hold cold water in her mouth, or cold beer, that if perhaps she begin to faint, she may swallow it, and preserve herself from swooning.  
But what shall be said concerning Purges, which consist of hot ingredients, and as Galen and Averro contend, disturb and hurt the child. I answer, all purging medicines are not of that quality; wherefore we may safely prescribe manna, sena, tamarinds, rhubarb, and cassia, omitting such simples as have any participation of vehemence; and we confidently aver, that Hypocrates must be understood in this sense, where he saith, women with child must be physickt or purged, if the matter be turgid, in the fourth month unto the seventh; because the child in the womb is likened to the fruit upon a tree, which as at first they fall down by any slight motion, and afterwards stick faster to the tree, but when they are full ripe fall of their own accord; so the child; wherefore if you will prescribe any physic, follow the directions of Hypocrates, and exhibit it between the fourth and the seventh month, because then there is a firm connexion between the Membranes, and the Cotyledons.  
If you desire exactly to know these middle months? I answer, they are the fifth, the sixth, and part of the seventh.  
If you object the words of Galen, who saith that a child three months old is strong, and able to resist the injuries of physic. I answer, that he reckons the end of the third to be complete, not till the fourth month be begun, concerning which argument the learned may consult the Epistles of Mainendus.    

THE FOURTH BOOK, OF Woman's Diseases.  

The first Chapter. OF a Natural Birth, and of Abortion.  
PRovident Nature at all times hath not a greater care of any thing, then of the propagation of mankind, and this although it appear not so much in the species, yet it is clear and manifest in the individual, and thus she hath framed women to a delight in Venereous conjunctions, that they might with greediness suck in the man's seed, and dispose and cherish it to Generation. So soon as the woman hath conceived, Nature hath an especial care to fashion, augment, nourish, adorn, and perfect the child, and at determined time to send it out into the world, in all respects complete and absolute.  
This sending forth of the child is twofold; either natural, or preternatural; the first is when Nature at a time prefixed, sends out into the Province of the world a perfect Citizen, with an exact dearticulation of all the parts, with a little pain, without any fever, or passions of the mind: this sometimes comes forth before its time, with great pain to the woman in her back and belly, as in the fifth, seventh, or eighth month: or else it stays beyond the ordinary date of time.  
There are several opinions among the Physicians, why a child that is borne in the eighth month should be weak, and not healthful, whereas a child borne in the seventh month is held to be both strong, and healthful. Laurentius in his book de re Anatom. handles these things with much elegance, and thither we refer the Reader, and for our own opinion, we shall most readily declare it to be this; that I hold it impossible, that the child should be able to undergo two afflictions, the one immediately following the other; namely, one in the seventh, and the other in the eighth month, in which it is very obnoxious to sufferance and danger, and therefore most commonly perisheth in the eighth month, for it comes to pass that the child is doubly, or consequently afflicted; first with that affliction which befalls it in the womb, and afterwards with that which happeneth in the birth; but this b●●alleth not the child, which comes forth in the seventh month, because it comes into the world perfect, strong, and without the labour of the seventh and eighth month.  
Galen describes▪ Abortion to be an imperfect Emission of the Child, or a violent Excretion of the Child.  
The Causes hereof are many and various; some inward, some outward; the outward cause, which for the most part is subjected to the arbitrement of sense, is a vehement fever, which kills the child, especially if it continue long; for it is destructive, both to the Mother and the Child; the fiery heat thereof devours the whole substance of the moisture, wastes the spirits, consumes the flesh, and so weakens the body, and destroys the child by exhausting the spirits, and dissipating the aliment; to this we have already adjoined an excessive, or lasting looseness, because as we have said, it looseneth the Cotyledons, and by the sharpness of the humours irritates the Matrix, shaking, agitating, and assaulting it, till provoked Nature excern the Child: dancing, leaping, loud crying, long fasting, do all presage that the woman will miscarry; so also are the relations of some unexpected events, anger, chiding, thunder, the sudden noise of some pistol or musket, a fall, the denial of some ardent request, and an innumerable company of other such things.  
The inward are reduced to three Causes namely, to the weight or heaviness of the humour, whereby the suffocated child is overwhelmed and perisheth; the second is the great bulk of the Matrix, by reason whereof the child is scarce held fast, but slides away, and slips out; or the small and narrow capacity of the Matrix, wherein it neither groweth to any bigness, or perfection, but perisheth for want of room; the third is a skirrosity or hard swelling, which is an impediment to the child, that it cannot lie stretched out to its full dimensions, but endures a compression, and dieth.  
Galen reckons up those signs which go before abortion; the first whereof is an extenuation of the nipples, the second a diminution of the milk; the third when the child is not perceived to stir in the belly; the fourth the slenderness of the woman; the fifth, the looseness or lanknesse of the whole belly; the sixth, the depravation of the appetite: the seventh, which is a true sign that she is now ready to miscarry, is a pain in her back, in her privy parts, and torments all over her belly, with a thin humour distilling from her Matrix.  
This is far more dangerous, than a lawful and natural birth, in regard of the perturbations and violence which is offered to nature.  
As for the Cure, the woman having already miscarried, that consists in the point of preservation, namely, to prevent the supervening of a Fever, or the Whites; this may be done by the help of those things which we have noted above; sleep must be procured; then the belly and the Matrix must be strengthened with fomentations, lit●●e bags, such like administrations as are ●ood to expel wind.  
To prevent obortion, and to preserve the woman from miscarrying, we approve (if the danger be threatened from an extreme fullness of humours, the cutting of the Basilick or the middle vein; for this counsel we have the Authority of Fernelius, who in his second book de Meth. Med. saith, unless many veins be unlocked about the mouth, in which the woman looketh, she will miscarry; for the child is overwhelmed, and choked with too much blood; but if it proceed from the amplitude and large capacity of the Matrix, apply astringent decoctions; if from the narrowness of the part, mollifying medicines will be most proper, yea, and such as resolve and consume away hard swell, may be convenient for this cure.   

CHAP. II. Of a hard Labour.  
WE call a woman's Labour hard, and difficult for five conditions, or five reasons: the first whereof is an Anticipation of, or as we use to say, when she comes before her due time, in the fourth, fifth, or sixth month, which because it is excerned by nature before the natural time, it is imperfect, precipitating the woman into many straits and bitter pangs: the second is a transversal, or preposterous Egress, as when one foot only, or an arm appeareth, or when the breech cometh before the head, or when both the feet joined together come out first, and afterwards the head; the third is, when the child which comes forth of the womb is mishapen, nature having erred in the conformation; the fourth is intolerable pain, fainting, swooning fits, and bitter torments about the bottom of her belly, and the secret parts; the fifth is, an effusion or running out of water many days before the birth: which being run out, the passages which before were slippery to assist the emission of the child, now remain hard and dry, and become an impediment to the birth; this humour is of no small advantage, nay, it is of admiral concernment to facifitate the birth, if we may without procuring envy to the man; believe Galen, who saith in his book de usu partium that that humour serves not only to moisten the child, and to make the ways slippery, but it likewise 〈◊〉 the callosity and hardness of the matrix, almost to an incredible dilatation; to these we may adjoin the weakness of the mother, and the imbecility of the expulsive faculty, as also the strength of the Retentive.  
The signs of an illegitimate birth succeeding, are vehement, but vain endeavours and strive, seeing that the child for the reasons aforesaid is hindered from coming forth.  
No man of understanding can deny, but this must be terrible to behold, and painful to endure; for if the child chance to die, and lie dead in the Matrix some days, it is most certain, that it will putrify, infest the principal parts with noisome vapours, and poisonous exhalations, weaken their strength, and bring an unavoided death upon the woman.  
We have often, and with the saddest apprehensions, beheld, how much diligence was necessary both to the relief of the Mother, and the preservation of the child: wherefore having provided a skilful Midwife, you must lay the woman in a dark place, lest her mind should be distracted with too much light; all passions of the mind must be diverted by a pleasant, and cheerful conversation, and provide such meat for her as is easy of concoction. Let her drink be small beer, or barley water boiled with Mdidenhaire, and cinnamon, unto which add a small quantity of Rhe●ish wine; for this brings down the urine, moves the Courses, and facilitates the birth; boiled meats are most wholesome for her, as mutton boiled with Rosemary; chicken broth also is good for her, and so are the chickens. Binding, and sharp things must be avoided; gentle, and moderate exercise is commendable; and afterwards the Midwife may rub her legs and her feet.  
We have acquainted you with the Conditions of an ill birth; and now we shall furnish you with remedies to prevent, or oppose those conditions.  
When the child goeth out in a depraved figure, the Midwife must gently dilate the parts with her hand, or with some convenient instrument; certain it is that this happens very often, if a monster be borne, in regard of the ●ad conformation of the body; if a foot, or an arm, or the shoulders, or the buttocks come out first, than the Midwife by the activity of her hand, anointed with oil of sweet simonds, must thrust back the child, and dispose it to a more regular egress: but if this cannot be done, the child's life is in danger; and if the child perish, it must either be expelled with medicines, or drawn out with an ●ooked instrument, as we shall show you in the chapter next following.  
If vehement Symptoms arise from hence, all which are wont to proceed from the weakness of the Mother, or else from clotted blood destilling from the Matrix before the birth, and that you fear a greater inquination in regard of that putrified blood, then comfort the f●eble and decayed spirits of the woman with the Rhenish wine and broths aforesaid; whe● this is done, provoke the clotted blood▪ and feculent humour by strong ligatures, by rubbing her body with a course cloth, and applying Cuppinglasses to her leg●; and if the woman be fallen into an agony●▪ if 〈◊〉 be young▪ of a good ●abit, full of blood, or of a sanguine complexion, and if it be also the Spring time (if those about her have strong fea●es that she will dye●) open a vein in her ankle; for thus Nature is disburdened, and the womb which was oppressed with the weight of the blood feel●● ease, and many times the woman recovers who was at death's door.  
To witness the truth hereof, we have an authentic warrant from the writings of Hypocrates, who in his book de morbis mulier. hath these words; if a woman with child be a long time restrained, and cannot bring forth; if she be likewise in the vigour of her age, and full of blood, you must open a vein in her ankles, and draw away the blood, respect being had to the strength of her body. Note that he saith out of her ankles, that is, at one time from both ankles, as Cordaeus his Commentatour hath observed unto us; but yet in our Climates, we conceive it sufficient to cut a vein in the left ankle only; because our opinion is, that somewhat must be left to Nature, who is somewhat wearied, but yet able to make a further resistance.  
After the phlebotomy, kerb the malice of the humours with Bezoar stone, Treacle, Mithridate, Alkermes, Hy●●ynth●, with Lozenges made of Manus Christi, Diamargariton frigidum, Aromaticum rosatum, and the like.  
If great plenty of waters come away before the birth, if the Matrix and the Scabbard thereof remain dry, if the Cotyledo●s be contracted and straightened, so that no room is left for the egress of the child; then must it be your endeavour to soften, to moisten, and make wide the passages, with oil of sweet almonds, or with a warm cloth dipped in the oil, or else fill a bladder full of this oil, and lay it upon her privities; or lastly, you may mingle it with a decoction of onions, garlic, rue, and birthwort.  
Half Tubs are in this case very profitable, being made after this manner following.  
Take the leaves of mallows,  
Marish mallows, of each four handfuls.  
Motherwort,  
Rue,  
Birthwort,  
Penniroyall, of each three handfuls.  
Camomile,  
Melilot flowers,  
The tops of Dill, of each two handfuls and a half.  
The seeds of Fenugreek,  
Marish mallows,  
Line, of each an ounce and a half.  
An ounce and a half of Laurel berries.  
Boil them all in thirty pints of water, put them into a tub, and let the woman fit covered in it, till all things correspond with her expectations.  
You cannot scandalise your judgement by an error, if you present her with an opening, dilating, and provoking draught, as she is seated in the Tub; the form whereof may be this.  
Take two scruples of the Trochisches of Myrrh.  
Ten grains of Borace.  
Eight grains of Saffron.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of Motherwort.  
Three ounces of a decoction of madde● roots and rosemary.  
Mingle them for a draught.  
Many commend this ointment following, which they apply to the privy parts.  
Take unguentum de Althaea,  
Vnguentum Resumptivum, of each an ounce.  
Oil of white lilies,  
Oil of Dill,  
Hensgrease, of each half an ounce.  
Saffron,  
Dittany beaten to powder, of each two drams.  
With a sufficient quanty of wax make an ointment.  
But if nature be culpable in both, namely in the weakness of the Mother, and the expulsive faculty, and also in the strength of the retentive; then against one you must administer corroborating medicines, as hath already been said, and to rectify the other fault, you must adhibit loosening remedies, such namely as are recited above.   

CHAP. III. Of the Retained Secundine.  
GAlen in his book de usu partium hath reckoned up three membranes, which enwrap the child in the womb; the first whereof is called Ammios, this on every side is spread over the whole child, and receiveth the child's sweat, that it may swim in it; The second is named Allantoeides, or Intestinalis, or as others name it better, Vrinaculum, whose use is, to receive the urine; the third is called Chorion, our Midwives call it the Secundine, which is nothing else but a multitude and connexion of vessels and membranes, through which as by little springs or rivulets, the child draweth blood and air; these membranes are burst when the child gins to ●●ick his way out into the world, from whence that liquor distilleth, as we have noted above, which makes the passages slippery; after the nativity of the child these membranes are excerned, but if they chance to be retained, they introduce most outrageous Symptoms, and a disease of number, in the excess.  
The Causes of the retention are divers, for many times the Matrix is confirmed after the child is borne; many times the immoderate passions of the mind make nature forget herself in his duty; sometimes odoriferous things draw the Matrix upwards, and so nature is disturbed in her purposes of exclusion; an unseasonable drinking of cold water is a very frequent cause of it; and so are gross meats that stuff the body and thicken the blood.  
You may know by the Midwife's relation, that the Secundine is retained, unto whom (if she be skilful) you ought at the command of Hypocrates yield up your belief, or you may conjecture it; if the woman be sad in mind, subject to faint and swoon, full of tossing, and unquietness, if she feel a heaviness in her womb, or a round substance, like unto a fixed and  ball.  
This is a most lamentable disease; for if he Secundine be retained for any considerable time it putrifies, and communicates poi●sonous exhalations to the principal parts, as the heart, the brain, the liver; from whence arise swooning fits, anxiety of mind, giddiness in the head, and direful torments.  
Wherefore let it be the Midwives care with all speed to attempt the cure, bringing down the Secundine with her fingers besmeared with oil, and let her hold fast the umbilical vessels, till the Secundine follow; but what if it remain behind? then according to the Oracle of Hypocrates delivered in the fortieth Aphorism of his fifth book; you may exhibit sneezing medicines to the nostrils; for these by that motion compress the upper parts, and the expulsive faculty being irritated, out comes the Secundine.  
Take black pepper,  
Mustard seed,  
Sagapenum of each a dram and a half.  
Tobacco,  
Castor,  
White hellebore, of each a dram.  
A scruple of Euphorbium.  
Make a fine powder of them, and upon the point of a knife, or thorough a quill let her sniffe up a little of it at a time; or you may prescribe this Potion for two Doses; it hath often done the Cure.  
Take eight ounces of penniroyall water.  
An ounce and a half of aqua Hysterica.  
Two scruples of Castor in powder.  
Mingle them for a Potion, to be taken at twice, or  
Take two scruples of the Trochisches de Carabre.  
A scruple of Borace.  
Half an ounce of the Syrup of juice of betony.  
Three ounces of a decoction of Savine.  
Mingle them for a Draught.  
Suffumigations are also very profitable to bring away the Secundine.  
Take Storax,  
Benjamin,  
Lign. aloes, of each two ounces.  
Musk,  
Civet, of each a scruple.  
Make a pessary of them, adding Vnguentum Agrippe and the juice of Mercuty. Liniments must not be omitted, made with unguentum de Althaea, de Agrippa, oil of Almonds, and oil of Dill; fomentations and half tubs are equally necessary, made of a decoction of camomile, pellitory of the wall, Motherwort, Birthwort, Origanum, Sage Savine, anise, fennel, and Line seeds, unto all which may be added oil of Almonds, and oil of Dill; Glisters must also be injected, and with good success you may continually rub her hips and her thighs, tie ligatures about her legs, apply Cuppinglasses, and cut a vein in her ankle.  
When the Secundine is ejected or drawn out, give the woman Cordials, as Bezoar stone, Treacle, Confect. de hyacintha, or Alkermes: all which things are of undoubted virtue to restrain the malignity of the vapours; sometimes a Mole remaineth in the Matrix after the birth, which by reason of the congealed blood, and the fleshy substance, whereof it is compounded, is as difficult to cure, as the recention of the Secundine: wherefore you must endeavour to expel that by the help of those remedies, which we have prescribed above in the chapter of a Mola, and here also a little above.  
Note the difference between the Secundine and a Mole: this is fixed and unmoveable, but that is movable from one place to another in a Mole, or when a woman is troubled with that half conception, so called, a black and clotted blood drops from the Matrix, which upon the retention of the Secundine appears not.   

CHAP. IU. Of the Dead Child.  
Certain it is, that the Child dies in the Mother's womb for many causes; the first of these is an inward cause, as a defect of aliment, or the corruption of it; the second is a most vehement burning Fever, which by the excessive heat thereof wastes the spirits, and destroys the natural heat; The third cause is an unseasonable evacuation of blood at the nose, the mouth, the Matrix, or by phlebotomy; The fourth is an exuperance, or an immoderate predominancy of humours in the body; The fifth is a great quantity of moisture loosening the vessels; The sixth is some vehement medicine. The first outward cause is some blow; the second a Cough: the third vociferations, or loud and clamorous yawling: the fourth sneezing; the fifth, sad tidings; the sixth, some horrible and dreadful sights.  
The Child may be known to be dead by a coldness about the Mother's navel, and by a kind of sixth and  weight in her belly: by a bad taste in her mouth, and by her stinking breath.  
Use your utmost activity and cunning, to bring away the dead child, both by inward administrations, and by outward applications, inwardly let her take this Potion.  
Take a a dram of the Trochishes of myrrh.  
Castor,  
Storax,  
Borace, of each ten grains.  
Four ounces of a decoction of Savine.  
Mingle them for a draught, or  
Take the powder of assa faetida.  
Trochishes of myrrh, of each a scruple.  
Troch. Alhandal.  
Borace of each ten grains.  
Nutmog,  
Saffron, of each five grains.  
Two ounces of a decoction of Savine,  
Two ounces of muscadine,  
Mingle them for a Draught, or  
Take the powder of Euphorbium,  
Dittany of Crect, of each a scruple.  
Ten grains of borace.  
Five grains of Cantharideses prepared.  
Three ounces of a decoction of Savine.  
Mingle them for a Draught.  
Glystars and Suppositaries are of great concernment, and thus make you them.  
Take a dram of restharrow roots.  
The leaves of Savine,  
pennyroyal,  
Birthwort,  
Motherwort, of each a handful.  
Origanum,  
Sage,  
Dittany of Crect, of each half a handful.  
Fennill seeds,  
Nettle seeds,  
The pulp of Coloquintida, of each two drams.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water to nine ounces, to the strained liquor add  
Two ounces of benedict a laxativa.  
Half an ounce of hiera picra.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster, or  
Take Troch. Allhandall.  
Scammony, of each a scruple.  
A dram of common salt.  
With a sufficient quantity of white honey boiled according to Art, make your Suppository.  
Outwardly you may apply ointments made of oil of Castor, oil of Foxes, oil of Euphorbium, with unguentum Agrippe, un●o which may be added a little coloquintida, powder of dittany, scammony, the gall of an One.  
Take two ounces of Vnguentum Agripp●.  
Oil of Castor,  
Foxes,  
Euphorbium, of each half an ounce.  
The pulp of coloquintida,  
Dittany of Crect,  
Scammony, of each two drams.  
The gall of an Ox,  
Euphorbium, of each a dram.  
Mingle them, and make an ointment.  
Suffumigations may be prepared by this form following.  
Take half an ounce of live Sulphur.  
Opoponax,  
Galbanum,  
Assa faetida, of each two drams.  
The powder of rue,  
Savine, of each a dram and a half.  
The gall of an Ox,  
The juice of an onion, of each a sufficient quantity.  
Make them into Trochisches for your use.  
Pessaries must not be forgotten; therefore  
Take three drams of Hiera piera in the species.  
A dram and a half of myrrh,  
A sufficient quantity of unguentum Agripp●.  
With a piece of cotton according to Art, make a Pessary. Or  
Take Ammoniack,  
Assa faetida,  
Black hellebore, of each two drams.  
Troch. Alhandall,  
Scammony, of each a dram.  
The juice of rue,  
Soldanella,  
The gall of an Ox, of each half a dram.  
Two dram● of Turpentine.  
With wool and cotton (according to Art) make a long Pessary.  
If these things will not bring away the child, and if the Mother be sadly fallen into an agony, the safest method will be, to draw out the child with instruments, if no contraindications appear, as a bad pulse, and a difficulty of breathing, with anxiety and uncheerfulness of disposition in the woman.   

CHAP. V Of the Torments, and the suppression of the Courses after the Birth.  
WOmen in labour must be gently handled, and carefully looked unto, both in respect of the room where she is laid, and also in regard of the Diet which is most proper for her in that condition.  
As for the place, it must be dark, far and free from noise, or any other disturbance that way; lest she should be offended by any accidents of fear, or sadness, or by any sudden surprisals of anger or grief.  
The Diet consists in meats of good juice, and easy concoction, and such as are not slow in their distribution to the several parts, because they thicken the blood, and obstruct the passages.  
Let her drink be small beer, clear, and well settled from dregs. Barley water in which birthwort and borage leaves have been boiled, is incomparably the best drink you can device for her: and next to it we prefer Rhenish wine, conditionally, that the presence of a Fever doth not forbid it.  
The whole hope of preserving the Woman, yea, of curing the Diseases which happen after the birth, is placed in the evacuation of the feculent menstruous blood, and therefore 'tis the duty of our skill to provoke, and urge down that blood, lest that evil be fall her, which Physicians call Torment.  
This is a pain in the whole lower region of the belly, felt upon the privy parts, near the small guts; the inward cause thereof is a multitude of thick menstruous blood retained in the body.  
The outward cause, is the inclemency of the outward air, in regard of the coldness, and the passions of the mind: thick meats, as cream, custards, and the like, corpse bread, salt flesh, hard fish, and many other things which are hard to digest, and not kindly distributed to all the regions of the body.  
You may most easily discover this affect by the signs; for the Courses are retained, at least they come down not so freely, nor in such plenty as at other times they were wont; a wand'ring and unquiet pain is perceived beneath the navel, with gurgulations and rumbling in the guts; the woman breaks wind, both upwards, and downwards; and this wind is bread of a thick and feculent blood.  
This affect must not be despised by neglect; for the matter making way by degrees to the affected part, augmenteth the pain, yea, and introduceth inflammations with a Fever; wherefore, when you have duly considered the age of the woman, the Climate in which she liveth, the time of the year, and the menstruum, you must without delay open a vein in the ankle, and not once only, but twice or thrice, as it shall seem expedient; for by this administration the thick and feculent blood is drawn out; rub her legs, till by her complaints you know she feels pain, and apply Cuppinglasses to the inward part; neither may you forget to lay Leeches to the Fundament, by reason of its nearness to the Matrix and the spleen.  
A Purge be it strong, or be it gentle, must be exhibited the first days, because the belly is not sufficiently open, and inclined to evacuate the menstruum; for should you afterwards purge her body, it would take off Nature, and interrupt her in her duty, as Avicen showeth in his fourth Fen. and and first chapter.  
Therefore let the blood be made fluid, and the passages kept open: and then mitigate the pains with mollifying fomentations mixed with Anodynalls.  
Take the Caul of a weather newly killed, and clap it upon the part; for by the actual and asswaging heat thereof, it takes away the pain: and the same virtue hath the bladder of an Ox, if it be filled half full of this decoction following.  
Take the leaves of mallows,  
Vialets,  
Pellitory of the wall,  
pennyroyal, of each a handful and a half.  
The flowers of Camomile,  
The flowers of melilot, of each a handful.  
Line feeds,  
Fennill seeds, of each half an ounce.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water to three pints, unto which add  
Three ounces of oil of sweet almonds.  
Oil of Dill,  
Oil of poppies, of each an ounce and a half; use it as was said above.  
Anoint her belly with this ointment following.  
Take unguentum de Alth●a,  
Vnguentum Agrippe, of each an ounce.  
Oil of Lilies,  
Oil of camomile, of each two drams.  
A dram of Opium dissolved in burnt ●ine.  
Mingle them for a Lineament.  
Between the suppression of the Courses, and the staying of the menstruum, after a woman's delivery, there is little or no difference; for there is one cause of both, and that accompanied with the same signs, and therefore we shall not diversify the Cure, but direct the Reader to the second chapter of our first book, where she may furnish herself with convenient remedies.   

CHAP. VI Of the immoderate coming down of the Courses after the birth.  
WE have sufficiently handled the Causes of the immoderate flowing of the Courses in our first book; we have also related unto the signs; wherefore now we shall tell you further from an Aphorism in Hypocrates, that if Fainting and Convulsion fits befall a woman in Childbed, 'tis a bad sign, because they argue a great weakness, after which follow inexpressible tortures, with pain in the hypochondriacal parts, by reason of the clotted blood, a small, frequent, and swift pulse, yea, and death itself; sometimes the woman is surprised with dotage, a quinsey, or a Lethargy; wherefore you must labour to stop the Courses with all your best premeditation, and caution: and the most expedite means you can use, are a thickening, bindiug, and cold diet, as broth made with trotters, in which you may also boil rise, quinces, or pease: but abstain from wine; for it opens the parts, thins the humours, and provokes the Courses, as on the contrary cold things, bind, thicken, and stop up.  
Rub her hands, and tie Ligatures about her upper parts: and according to the injunction of Hypocrates, in his Aphorisms, lay Cuppinglasses to her Breasts.  
Finally, if the woman's strength will bear it, there is not a surer remedy than letting blood; and you must open the Basilick vein twice, or thrice.  
Thickening things are very necessary, and of great moment in this cure.  
Take true bolearmenick,  
The species Diatragacanth. frig. 1. of each a scruple.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of Quinces.  
Half an ounce of plantain water.  
Mingle them for a Draught, or  
Take terra sigillata,  
Red coral prepared,  
Troch. de carabe, of each a scruple.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of pomegranates.  
Three ounces of a decoction of red rose leaves.  
Mingle them for a Draught, or  
Take the leaves of plantain,  
Knotgrass, of each a handful.  
Red roses,  
Pomegranet flowers, of each half a handful.  
Myrtle seeds,  
Sumach seeds, of each two drams.  
A dram of the juice of hypocystis.  
Boil them to six pints in a sufficient quantity of water, wherein steel hath been quenched, give the strained liquor for a fomentation, or  
Take the powder of Cyprus nuts.  
The roots of tormentil,  
Dragon's blood, of each a dram and a half.  
A dram of mastic,  
Half a dram of right bolearmenick.  
Two ounces of unguentum Comitissae,  
Oil of mastic,  
Oil of myrtles, of each two drams.  
With a sufficient quantity of wax make an ointment.  
If these get not the victory; a scruple of the mass of pills de Cynoglossa.  
Make five pills, and gild them, or  
Take half a dram of new Treacle.  
Half a scruple of Requies Nicholai.  
Two drams of Syrup of poppy.  
Three ounces of plantain water.  
Mingle them for a Draught.  
If any fault in the Liver, as sometimes it happeneth, is the cause of this evil; apply cooling Epithems unto it, or instead thereof you may adhibit Ceratum Santalinum mixed with the powders of Coral, Roses, and Camphire.   

CHAP. VII. Cures of such Diseases as usually befall a woman, after she is delivered.  
We are taught by Hypocrates, that those Diseases which happen after the Birth, are more dangerous and venomous than the rest, because they are produced by agrosse, impure, thick, and feculent blood; for the Child in the womb sucketh away the sweetest part of the blood for its own nourishment, which it purifies, and reserves, the melaneholy, and thicker portion thereof being separated, and forsaken, which if the providence of Nature do not duly evacuate, and purge away, the woman in Childbed will without all doubt be invaded by strong and vehement Fevers, by reason of the boiling and putrifying of the blood in the veins of the Matrix, which, according to Galen, are very large; in the first place therefore, let the Patient be carefully attended, and begin the Cure by opening a vein, by Cuppinglasses applied to the calves of her legs, with Scarification, and laying Leeches to the Hemorrhoids.  
But the Controversy will be what vein must be cut; for if she bleed from the arm, you draw the blood upwards; if from the ankle, you weaken the body, and contribute no ease; but if you will follow my direction, tie strong Ligatures about her thighs and legs, having first well rubbed them, and then open the Cubit vein without any discouragement; for this cleanseth the very Mineral, sink, and puddle of the putrified Humours. Galen indeed affirmeth, that if a vein be opened in any part of the body, it will exhaust and empty all the Vessels; but not equally, and in all respects alike: for we deliver it for an undoubted truth, that the whole mass of blood will soon flow away, if the Basilick vein be opened, which is greater than any of the rest; and of the same Judgement is Fernelius, who saith; if the menstruum flow away from women in Childbed, through the vehemence of a Fever, you must cut the Cubit vein.  
At the beginning you must refrain the use of purging medicines; for although you should make choice of such as are most gentle in their operation, yet they stir the humours, and do not expel them from convenient places. Again, should you prescribe strong purges, they would draw back the menstruum from the Matrix to the stomach, and disturb Nature, when she is labouring to expel it; and that this were no rational, and well-grounded means of Cure, but rather a rash and preposterous adventure, any sober judgement will acknowledge, because the expedition, the Art, and the Mystery of the whole Cure consisteth in the provocation of the Menstruum.  
If it be a violent burning Fever, prescribe such things as will qualify and temper the heat of the blood; but avoid cold Simples, because they keep in the menstruum by binding up the parts; neither may you be too bold with hot things, for they inflame the blood.  
These Glisters following will be of excellent use for the purpose aforesaid.  
Take nine ounces of some softening Decoction.  
An ounce and a half of the Electuary called Diacatholicon.  
An ounce of honey of roses.  
Butter, and oil of sweet Almonds, of each half an ounce.  
A dram of salt, mingle them, and make a clyster, or  
Take nine ounces of mutton broth well boiled.  
The leaves of Motherwort, Violets, and Pellitory of the wall, of each a handful.  
Pellitory of the wall, of each a handful.  
Two ounces of honey of roses.  
The yolkes of two eggs.  
An ounce of oil of Violets, mingle them, and make a clyster.  
You may make a Ptisan of Raisins, Barley, and Liquorish, which will be very profitable for the sick; and of no less efficacy is this Julep following.  
Take Endive and Borage water, of each six ounces.  
Syrup of Betony, and Pomegranates, of each an ounce.  
Mingle them together for a Jule●, or  
Take twenty grains of Mithridate.  
Ten grains of Alkermes without Musk, or Amber.  
Three ounces of Buglos water,  
Mingle them, and let her drink it at one draught.  
If the Disease yield not to these remedies, we judge it expedient to let her blood again, but in the Ankle; if you suspect that Obstructions occasion the dis●ase, as commonly indeed they are to be suspected, you may observe the same way of Cure, as is approved in a Fever, arising from Obstructions, and  
Take half an ounce of parsley roots.  
The leaves of betony, and carduus Benedictus, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of white Maidenhair.  
The flowers of B●rage, Buglos, Violets, or Roses, of each as many as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers at twice.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water, to a pint and a half; in the strained liquor infuse four drams of the choicest Rhubarb, the space of a night setting the vessel upon hot ashes, with four scruples of agaric Trochiscated, and a scruple of cinnamon, all put in together.  
In the morning boil them a little, and when you have strongly pressed out the liquor, add three ounces of Syrup of roses laxative, and make an Apozem, or a Decoction.  
Let her drink three ounces of this Decoction every other morning.  
Hereupon ensueth a Lask, or Looseness in the belly, but without any pain, acrimony, or griping: and so long as it continueth free from any of those bad qualities, you may by no means stay it; but if it last longer with the Fever, the most prudent course will be to open a vein in her Ankle, having always a diligent regard to the strength of her body: for this evacuation is Symptomatical (as Physicians speak) and according to the Prognostications of Galen, it is either mortal, or very difficult to be judged: his words are these; when any disease beginneth, if any thing be evacuated, it is not evacuated by any help or courtesy of Nature; but all such things happen by chance in regard of those dispositions, which are in the body besides nature; for it is impossible that any thing should be well purged out when Nature is oppressed (as then she is with the crudenesse of the humours) with those causes which did produce the disease; for that the Crisis and Judgement upon this disease may be sound and good, it is requisite that those crudities must first be concocted, and afterwards duly purged out; wherefore if the Looseness happen at the beginning, you must neglect that, and be intentive to cure the Fever, yet with an eye to the looseness by letting her blood; but very sparingly, lest the spirits should be wasted; if the looseness continue so long, as to weaken the body, and bring the sick creature very low, then stay it, but with caution, and tender wariness; but above all things, avoid the use of such things, as will thicken the humours, for thus indeed you might stop the Looseness, but then withal you should stay the menstruum, which inconvenience you ought chief to fear.  
Your safest way therefore will be to apply strengthening Fomentations and Plasters, that will moderately bind; and with such you may furnish yourselves above.  
It would not be unprofitable to purge away the cause of the Looseness, that so one Flux might be cured by another, therefore  
Take half a dram of toasted Rhubarb.  
Ten grains of that sort of Myrobala●● called Chebule.  
Half an ounce of Syrup of dried roses.  
Three ounces of plantain water.  
Mingle them, and make a Potion.  
Many times this Looseness turns to the Bloudyflux, with cruel pains, want of sleep, a continual Fever, and frequent going to stool.  
This must be helped with Glisters of a binding, qualifying, and cleansing faculty, as for example.  
Take the roots of Comphrey, and marshmallows of each three drams.  
A handful of plantain leaves.  
Half a handful of red roses.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of barley water to nine ounces; and to the strained liquor put in  
Two ounces of honey of roses strained,  
An ounce of red Sugar.  
The yolk of an egg.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster. Or  
Take violet leaves, plantain, and pellitory, of the wall, of each a handful.  
Half a handful of red roses.  
Half an ounce of whole barley.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of broth made with sheep's feet, to nine ounces; to the strained liquor add  
Two ounces of honey of roses strained.  
The yolk of an egg.  
Mingle them, and make a clyster.  
You must not neglect to open the Basilick vein, and the Salvatella; a vein which brancheth out of the ●ephalick vein, on the outside of the elbow, for these administrations will be wonderfully helpful to cure a flux of blood, arising from a distemper in the Liver; those astringent fomentations also, with the ointments, and Epithems, whereof we have spoken at large in the precedent chapters, will be of singular use.  
The next Disease, unto which women are subject after their delivery, is a Lientery, so called, because the meat passeth through the body, as it was chewed in the mouth, without any change or alteration; this is a most dangerous disease, and therefore all diligence imaginable must conspire to stop it: no less terrible, and perilous is that other, named by the Doctors Iliaca Passio, when the guts are so bound up, or inflamed, or enwrapped one about another, that whatsoever is swallowed down, is presently cast up again by vomit, this also requires a seasonable and prudent use of remedies, lest the Patient should pine away, and perish for want of sustenance: besides, it is so much the more dangerous, because by those frequent Vomitings Nature is interrupted, and distracted, and that menstruous matter is driven upwards, which should have been purged out from beneath.  
But note that these Vomitings proceed from several causes. First from a certain contagious vapour, ascending from the Matrix, and with the noisome odour thereof, irritating and pricking the stomach, so that it suddenly parts with all the aliment that was contained in it.  
You must be exceeding industrious with all convenient speed, to free the woman from this infirmity; the vapours must be opposed, and forced downwards, that so by the discreet helps of art, Nature may be assisted to expel those faulty, and offensive humours by the Matrix.  
This may be accomplished by tying Ligatures about the lower parts, and by rubbing of them till she complains you hurt her, by putting Pessaries up into the Matrix, and applying Cuppinglasses to her thighs, also by holding things of a strong, and unpleasant odour to her nose, and by opening a vein in her Ankle.  
When her body is duly nourished, and well refreshed, give her this clyster.  
Take the leaves of violets, pellitory of the wall, and beares-breech, of each a handful  
Half a handful of red rose leaves.  
Two drams of fennel seeds.  
Boil them to nine ounces in a sufficient quantity of a decoction of an old hen, and to the strained liquor add  
Two ounces of honey of roses strained.  
An ounce of new butter.  
Make a clyster.  
This being given; you must strengthen the stomach with the stomachical Plaster already prescribed, and with these Lozenges.  
Take a dram of aromaticum rosatum in the species.  
Red coral and pearl prepared, of each half a dram.  
With two ounces and a half of white Sugar dissolved in a sufficient quantity of rose water, make little Lozenges according to Art, or  
Take old Conserve of red roses.  
Roman wormwood.  
The Conserve of Quinces, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of the Conserve of Acacia.  
A dram and a half of aromaticum rosatum in the species.  
A dram of the Trochichs de carabe.  
Two scruples of red coral prepared.  
With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Pomegranates make a mixture.  
Sometimes the Vomiting is accompanied with yexing, and they both proceed from the same causes, and therefore may both be cured with the same remedies: but if it be of long continuance, the most rational and best grounded proceeding, is to apply a Cuppinglasse to the mouth of the stomach with a mighty flame.  
After all these follow two more, namely spitting of Blood, and a Cough: the former whereof is cured by cutting a vein in the Ankle; which kind of remedy is approved by Hypocrates, in the thirty two Aphorism of his fifth book, saying, a woman is freed from spitting or vomiting blood, if the menstruum break forth, and frequent experience justifies this truth; for divers women, by the omission hereof, as Galen hath observed in his book of Letting Blood, fell into the Phthisic, and other most lamentable diseases.  
But the Cough is twofold, either dry, or moist; the cause of the former is a certain, contagious vapour communicated to the spiritous parts, provoking the Midriff, the Lungs, and the other instruments of breathing, to expel whatsoever is faulty, and offensive; the cause of the latter is a crude, and raw humour, ascending up from the Matrix to the Chest, and sticking fast unto it.  
This is cured by rubbing the parts, and tying strait Ligatures about them, by Pessaries, Glisters, Cuppinglasses, opening a vein in her ankle, by Electuaries, Ptisans, expectorating Potions to cleanse away the bad humour, by laying on Empl●strum Resumptivum Pectorale, or Vnguentum de Althaea, among which you must mingle Cummin seeds and Saffron.  
After the same manner Women in Childbed are troubled to fetch their breath, because by a mutual, and frequent stretching, and compression of the Chest the vapours are transmitted to the Lungs, and they who feel themselves molested with such vapours do seldom escape that Cough we last mentioned.  
Moreover to this Catalogue belongeth the Pleurisy, which is a most acute, and therefore a most dangerous disease; this you may discern by these signs following, an acute and burning Fever, a Cough, difficulty to fetch breath, a pricking pain, and a hard pulse.  
Open a vein, and you overcome this without any further remedy; but the question will be, in what part of the body? I answer, if it be a most violent Pleurisy, that torments the sick, if her Courses come down after a right manner, and yet the evil abates not, then cut a vein in her ankle; but if this avail not, so as the Patient's life is now in danger, then open a vein in her arm, especially, if she be full of blood, that the vicious humour may be drawn away from the inflamed place, and seasonably evacuated; this advice of mine is justified by the approbation of Mercurialis Mercatus, Alphonsus a Castro, Meschius, Valeriola, and the leared Zacutus Lusitanus; neither will it be incovenient; if you interchange this administration of phlebotomy, namely, first to draw blood from the ankle, then from the arm, then from the ankle again, and so keeping turns, as need shall require; for thus you will give ease, both to the part inflamed, and likewise to the Matrix, which is the part mandant, or that from whence the evil is communicated and distributed to the other regions.  
This being carefully performed, your next design must be to mitigate, and take away the pain with fomentations, liniments Electuaries, and Ptisans.  
Take an ounce of the roots of marish mallows.  
The leaves of mallows, marish mallows, and white Maidenhair, of each a handful.  
Half a hundfull of the flowers of dwarf-elder.  
anise and Line seeds, of each half an ounce.  
Boil them in water to a quart, and give her the strained liquor to drink at several times, then  
Take a dram of unguentum de Althaea.  
The Axungia of a hen, and new butter, of each half an ounce.  
Two ounces of oil of sweet Almonds.  
Mingle them, and make an ointment, then  
Take Syrup of Violets compound, and Syrup of Maidenhair, of each an ounce and a half.  
Mingle them, and make a mixture to be licked from the point of a knife.  
Afterwards.  
Take two ounces of cleansed barley.  
An ounce of raisins picked, stoned and washed.  
Two drams of the best Liquorice.  
Boil them in rain water to a quart, and give her the strained liquor to drink.  
Note that in all diseases of the Membranes, the upper part of the throat, and the Jaws, yea, and in the Falling-sickness, the Apoplexy, the Palsy, and the Convulsions, you must begin the Cure by letting blood, if plenty of blood give occasion to the Disease.  
The swelling of the feet is the last of all those Symptoms, which invade a woman after her Delivery; and this proceeds from a disorderly, and negligent Diet, during the time of her being with Child; for by that means raw humours are bread in her body, which after her Delivery settle in her legs; as being cold parts, full of nerves, and far distant from the Liver, which is the fountain of blood, in which places you shall perceive soft kind of swell, which being crushed down, retain the print of your fingers.  
This must be cured with strengthening administrations, and such medicines as are good to expel the raw humours, and likewise with such as will moderately bind; for should you give her strong binder's, you would thereby allure the humours towards the upper parts; therefore to avoid that error, prepare this Bath following.  
Take two ounces of marish mallow roots.  
The leaves of mallows,  
Mint,  
Wormwood,  
Sage,  
Rosemary, of each two handfuls.  
The leaves of red roses and camomile,  
Of each a handful.  
An ounce of Laurel Berries.  
Saltpetre,  
Sulphur, of each half an ounce.  
Boil them to eight pints in a sufficient quantity of water, wherein steel hath been often quenched, and let her put her feet into the strained liquor.  
Then take the dreggish substance which remains, after the straining of the said liquor, and add to it  
The meal of Orobus,  
And Lupins, of each three ounces.  
Four ounces of Oxymel.  
With a sufficient quantity of brine, made with the juice of Lemons, reduce them into the form of a Poultis, and lay it to the swollen feet.  
But if the humour fall down again into the legs, by reason of an habitual distemper in the upper parts, you must either make an issue upon the knee, or else provoke her to sweat, with a decoction of Salsaparilla, and China roots; for by the virtue of these Simples the humour is made thin, and more apt for expulsion, and the lower parts wax more firm and strong.   

CHAP. VIII. Of an inflammation in the Matrix after a woman's Delivery.  
THe Cause of an Inflammation in the Matrix is a hot and boiling blood retained in the vessels, and putrifying.  
The signs are a pain in her secret Parts, a vehement Fever, much heat, swelling, and a great itching about all the parts of the Matrix; hereupon the woman becomes very prone to fainting fits, to lie as if she were stupefied, to talk idly, and the like, by reason of the consent between the Matrix, and the other parts, as we have already showed. Lastly, she can neither go to stool, nor make water, without great difficulty, because the parts are so exceedingly swelled.  
This is a most terrible disease, as well in regard of the Symptoms, as of the Imposthume, which, if it be broken, leaves behind it an incurable Ulcer, from whence filthy and noisome exhalations are communicated to the principal parts, which is an unerring sign of Death.  
The Cure is Universal, and Particular: the universal is the opening of a vein in the ankle, regard being had only to the part inflamed, and the motion of nature; but afterwards, we deny not, but it may be expedient, and efficacious to draw blood from the arm, in respect of the Fever.  
The Particular is accomplished by lenifying medicines, and by washing the part, the one is done by a Cataplasm made after this manner.  
Take two ounces of the crumbs of white Bread.  
The Pap of roasted apples.  
The Pulp of cassia newly drawn out, of each an ounce.  
Half an ounce of the mucilage of Fleabaneseeds.  
Ten grains of Saffron.  
Make a Cataplasm according to Art.  
But if the Inflammation seem to hasten to suppuration, which you may perceive by the Fever, and the vehemence of the pain, than you must discreetly assist Nature, by an application of suppurating medicines, but by no means adventure to give her a purge: remedies of the former sort are as follow.  
Take an ounce of marish mallow roots.  
The leaves of mallows.  
And marish mallows, of each a handful and a half.  
Line seed,  
Fenugreek, of each half an ounce.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of breast-milke unto softness; pulp them through a Sieve, and add to the pulp  
Two ounces of Hogs-grease.  
An ounce of oil of roses.  
Make your Cataplasm.  
When you have overcome the Imposthume, use this Injection with a Syringe.  
Take six ounces of a decoction made with will barley, and risen leaves.  
An ounce and a half of honey of roses strained.  
Make an Injection, and wash the ulcerated part very often every day, till the pain cease, and the Ulcer be healed, though she continue the use thereof for weeks, months, and years.   

CHAP. IX. Of too little, and too much Milk.  
WAnt of milk ariseth from these three several Causes. First, from the fault of the milk. Secondly, from some impediment which hinders the transmission of the milk to the breasts; or if it be transmited, it is not retained. Thirdly, a penury, or lack of blood, either for want of necessary food, or by reason of some immoderate issue of blood from the Matrix, or from some other part.  
The Signs of these things are the slenderness of the breast, a sharp taste in the milk, and a bad smell; other signs you need none, because the disease is manifest of itself; in the mean time you must take heed, that this corrupt milk do not settle in the Breasts, and exulcerate them; wherefore beginning with the first cause, you must correct and amend the faults of the milk by purging out the bad juice: if phlegm abound, give her hot things, not only to purge her, but also to nourish her body; if choler be predominant, prescribe cooling and moistening things.  
But when the Breasts do neither draw the blood nor retain it, you must be solicitous to strengthen the Breasts by drawing blood unto them; to this purpose you must rub her body, apply fomentations, and Cataplasms, that will moderately heat, and expel, made of marish mallow roots, the leaves of Violets, mallows, melilot, fenugreek, the crumb of white breead and the yolks of Eggs.  
Moreover, if the parts want nourishment, then let her seed upon the choicest dishes, or at least appoint such things for her, as are good to increase blood, and milk, as eggs, butter, milk boiled with fennel, par snips, and the like.  
Rock her to sleep, by peaceable and sweet admonitions, and exercise your wits to keep her from anger, melancholy, and all other perturbations of the mind.  
It will not be hurtful, but rather expedient to allow her the use of good wine, but then remember to put into it the powder of earth worms.  
Contrary to this is the immoderate plenty, and superfluity of the milk, which you may easily discern by that which comes away, therefore if you suspect that the blood will congeal and grow clotted, then lessen the abundance of the mike, with a thin and spare diet; enjoin her to be very abstemious and moderate in her drink, and if her Courses be stopped, open a vein in her ankle; but otherwise in her arm, rub her legs, and use all other means to divert the blood from the Breasts; but above all things, let her use Exercise, which is the best remedy in this case.  
Yet if the blood be congealed, and if by the exhalation of the thinner part, the rest wax thick, than you must administer attenuating and drying medicines to cut, make thin, and dissolve the clotted blood; of this sort are Emplastrum de muciloginibus, and emplastrum de Meliloto, among which you may mingle the juice of Smallage, and Frankincense.   

CHAP. X. Of the Inflammations of the Breasts.  
Woman's Breasts, those delicate and tender parts, are not only frequently afflicted with the congealing of the blood, but they are likewise very apt to be inflamed, by reason of a mixed plenty of blood and milk, whereby they swell exceedingly, look of a high, red colour, and are full of pain and soreness; This Inflammation is accompanied with a Fever, which the Physicians call Lactaria, that is by Interpretation, the Fever of the milk, or the milky Fever; and the learned Midwives call it Pila, because presently, unless the Breasts be well chafed and rubbed, there appeareth to the touch an exact resemblance of a Ball; This taketh not beginning from any venomous humour contained in the Breasts, but is rather to be accounted a Symptom, driver to the Breasts by the motion of Nature, and the blood; it is likewise very hardly distinguishable from a true Fever, in which all the signs are conspicuous and manifest, as appear in this, the swelling in the Breasts only being excepted, which is not some Ball accidently swallowed with the drink, as many learned men have vainly, and irrationally surmised; for how is it possible, that a Ball should slip from the stomach through those slender passages of the Messentery, and the Liver the hollow vein, and the Axillary veins, to the region of the Breasts; therefore in my Judgement, it is a phlegmatic matter, ravelled as it were by the burning heat of the part into long threads, as it happeneth to the slow matter contained in the Kidneys, and the Bladder.  
If the Fever and the Inflammation be urgent, you must immediately command a vein in her ankle to be opened, if it happen presently after her delivery: but if a month be overpast, let the Basilick vein on the same side be opened.  
You must prescribe medicines to repel the humour, but be careful that they be not extreme cold, lest the humour should retire back to the principal parts; a clyster also must be first injected; and you may afterwards prescribe this Poultis following, which will mollify and dissolve the humour, and be very profitable.  
Take an ounce of marish mallow roots.  
The leaves of mallows,  
Violets,  
Plantain, of each a handful and a half.  
Boil them altogether in milk to softness, and pulp them through a Sieve, and to the pulp add  
Four ounces of the crumb of white Bread.  
A scruple of Saffron.  
Mingle them, and make a Poultis.  
Many times the Breasts and the Nipples are full of chaps, which exceedingly torment and pain a woman: these are caused by a sharp waterish humour falling down upon them, and may be cured with mallows boiled in breast-milke, or with the white of an egg, or with Lily leaves moistened in oil, or with Vnguentum Pompholygos, or which will exceed all the former with oil of Nutmegs; among which you may mingle bolearmenick with Cerus, and some drops of oil of Lead, or some other oil by itself.   

CHAP. XI. Of wrinkles remaining in the Matrix after a Woman's Delivery, and of the means to contract the Matrix.  
When a woman is delivered, there appear Chaps, or Wrinkles, by reason of the coming forth of the Child, and the flux of the Menstrunm: these we have often cured with gentle, astringent medicines, having first administered this Injection through a Syringe.  
Take half an ounce of Comphrey roots.  
Two drams of Cyprus nuts.  
Pomegranet flowers,  
Red roses, of each as many as you can contain between your thumb and two fingers at twice.  
Myrtle seeds,  
Shumach seeds, of each a dram.  
Boil them in a sufficient quantity of red wine, to sixteen ounces, and reserve the strained liquor for an Injection; or  
Take a dram of Comphrey roots.  
Cyprus' nuts, and the seeds of rhois,  
Of each half a dram.  
As many red roses as your thumb and two fingerscan grasp.  
Beat them to a gross powder, and with an ounce of unguent. Pompholygos, and a piece of Cotton, make a Pessary.  
With the same medicines, intermingling some other things that are greater binder's, you may help the looseness, and wideness of the secret parts; which if they be not seasonably and prudently contracted, may possibly be a cause that the woman will have no more Children. Some Midwives use water wherein she'll hath been infused, which we dislike not, provided that when you boil the water, you put in a quantity of Sumach seeds, Medlar seeds, and red Roses.   
FINIS.