■&\~: + ^«c:*Bfife^ V**. U" /uot- <.-o SHtE.WHhc£& M tb*; ARISTOTLE, THE FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER, IN FOUR PARTS. "CONTAINING J. His Complete Master-Piece ; displaying the secrets of Nature in the Generation of Man. To which is ad- ded, The Family Physician; being approved reme- dies for the several Distempers incident to the hu- man Body II. His Experienced Midwife; absolutely necessary for Surgeons, Midwives, Nurses and child bearing Women. III. His Book of Problems, containing various Ques- tions and Answers, relative to the State of Man's Body. IV. His Last Legacy; unfolding the Secrets of IS ature respecting the Generation of Man. A NEW EDITION. NEW-ENGLAND: PRINTED FOR THE PUBLISHERS. 1831. W 2 3.^0 / 11 S TO THE READER. TO say that Aristotle, the learned author of the fol- lowing sheets, was reported to be the most learned philos- opher in the world, is no more than what every intelli- gent person already knows : nor can any think otherwise who will give themselves time to consider that he was the scholar of Plato (the wisest philosopher of his time) and under whom Aristotle profited so much, that he was ehosen by king Philip of "vlacedon as the most worthy and proper per«on in his dominions to be the tutor of his son Alexander, by whose wise precepts and instructions Al- exander became of so great wisdom, judgment, prowess, and magnanimity, that he justly obtained the title of the Great. Alexander himself was so sensible of the advan- tages he received from the instructions of so great a 8tn- girite (for so Aristotle was colled from the country of Sta- gira. where he was born) that he often declared he was more beholden to his tutor Aristotle for the cultivation ©1*his mind, than to his father Philip for the kingdom of Macedon. Though Aristotle applied himself to the investigation of the secrete of nature, yet he w'.».-, pleased to bring into a fuller and more true light those secrets with respect to the generation of man. This he styled his Master.Piece.; and in this he has made so thorough a search, that he has a- it were turned nature inside out. The divine records assure us, that the secrets of nature have been the study of diverse illustrious persons, equally renowned for wisdom and goodness; the first of whom, Job, has made it sufficiently evident by that exceilont philosophical account he gives of the generation of mm in the tenth chapter of the book which bears his name. where he says, " Thine hands have made me, and fash- ioned me together round about: Thou hast pourod me TO THE READER. out as milk and curdled me like cheese : Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews." David, one of the greatest kings of Israel, whose piety was superior to his power, being pe- culiarly styled a man after God's own heart, says, in his di- vine soliloquies to his Creator, *; Thou hast cover* d me in my mother's womb ; I will praise thee, for I an; fear- fully and wonderfully made,,: Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hidden from thee when I was in secret,-md curiou-h wrought in the lowest parts of the eartii: Thine eye did see my substance, yet being imperfect: and in thy book, all my members were written, which in continuar/ce were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Let the words of holy Job and those of David be put together, and I will not scruple to affirm, that they make the most accurate system of philosophy respecting the generation of man that has ever yet been penned; there- fore why should not the mysteries of nature be inquired into without censure, since, from this inquiry, so muclv praise resounds to the God of nature ! For, the more wc know of his works, the more our hearts will be inclined to jyaise him, as we see in the instance of David above mentioned. That the knowledge of the secrets of nat.uro.is too often abused by many persons, 1 readily grant; and think it very unf ortunate that there should be a generation of such profligate persons in the world ; but at the same time do aver that this is no objection to the work. Having said thus much of the wonderful works of na- ture in the generation of man, I shall next proceed to give the reader the best translation possible of that ex- cellent treatise of the renowned Aristotle, which he was pleased to style his MASTER PIECE. I cannot help observing, that having met with a col lection of approved receipts by the great Hippocrates, and thinking they would be very acceptab'e to my rea- ders, I have added the same by way of supplement, al the end of the Master Piece. ARISTOTLE s MASTER PIECE. PART I. THE SECRETS OF NATURE DISPLAYED. INTRODUCTION. M'is strange to see how things are slighted only because they are common, though in themselves worthy the more serious consideration, this is the very case of the subject lam now treating of. What is more common than the begett'mg'of children ? And wha'. is more wonderful than the plaslie power of nature, by which children are for med ? For though there ii rtdicaed in the veiy nature of all crea- tures, apropenMtm which leads them to produce the image ot themselves, yet how these images are produced after those propensions are satisfied, is only known to those who trace ihe secret meanders ot nature in their private cham- bers, to those dark recesses of the womb, where this em- bryo receives formation. The original of which proceeds from the divine command, increase and mullifily. The nat- ural inclination and propensity of both sexes to each other, the plastic power of nature, is only the energy of the first blessing, which ;o this day upholds the species of mankind in the world. Now since philosrphy informs us, that JVoscc leifisam, is one of the first lessons a man ought to learn, it cannot sure !r be accounted an useless piece of knowledge for a man to be acquainted with the cause of his own being, or by what secret power of nature it was, that coagulated milk (as a divine author calls it) came to be substantiated into a human body. The exp'anation of this mystery, and the unfolding the plastic power of nature, in the secret workings of gen- eration and the formation of the seed in the womb is the subject of the following "treatise ; a subject so necessary to be known to the female sex, that many for want of this knowledge have perished with the fruit of their womb also who had they but understood the secrets of generation, which are displayed in this treatise, might have been still living For the sake of such, I have compiled this work, which I have divided into two parts in the following ir?n« ner. 1st. I will shew that nature need not be ashamed of her work; and give a particular description of the partner 1* it AtUSl'OTLE's MAal... I'ir.LL. orgms of generation in man, i.nd afterwards in wr.nn-n and then to shew che use of these purs in the act of coition, and how positively nature has adapted them to the tnd for which she ordained them. 2dly, I will point out the prohibition or restriction, that the Creator of all things and Lord of nature has put upon man by the institution of man iage, with the advantage it brings to mankind. 3dly, I shall shew when either sex may enter into a mar- ried state, and be fit to answer the end of the creation, &c 4thly, I shall discourse of virginity, and therein shew what it is, how it is known, by what means it may be lost, and how a person may know that ii is so. In the second part, which chiefly relates to married wo- men, and the preservation of the fruit of the womb, for the propagation of mankind to the world, 1 shall shew, 1st. What conception is : what is prerequisite thereunto: how a woman .may know when she hath conceived, and whether a boy or a girl. 2dly, Shew how a woman that hath conceived ought to order herself. 3dly, Shew what a wowan ought to do that is near the time of her deliverv, aiu» how sheonght to be assisted. 4thlv, I shall shew what are the obstructions of concep- tion, and therein discourse largely about barrenness, and shew what are the causes, and cure thereof, both in men and women. 5ihlv, Direct midwives how they could assist women in the time of their laying in, bringing several other material matters proper to be spoken of under each of these several heads: which will sufficiently render this book what Aris- totle designed it, his Complete. Master Piece. CHAP. I. 4particular description of the Parts and Instruments of Generation, both in Men and Women Section 1. Of the instrument h of generation in mens with a particu- lar description thereof. THOUGH the Ins'ruments or parts of generation in all creatures, with respect to their outward form, are not per- haps the most comely ; yet in compensation of that, nature has put upon them a more abundant and far greater honor than on other parts, in ordaining them, to be the means by which every species of being is continued from one genera- tion to another. And therefore though a man or woman w?ie through the bounty of nature, endowed with angelic -.ountenancea, and the most exact symmetry and proportion Aristotle's master piece. 7 ;>f parts that concurred togeth. r to Uk •- king up of the most perfect beauty, yet, if ihey were defective in the in- struments of generation, thev would not fo- all their beauty be acceptable to either of the other sex ; because they would be therebv rendered incapable »f satisfying the nat- ural propensions which every one fi:>d* in hmiseif. And therefore, since it is our duty to be acquainted with our- selves, and to search out he wonders ot God in nature, I need not make any apology for anatomizing the secret parts of generation. The organ of generation in man, nature has placed ob- vious to the sight, and is called the. yard ; and because hanging withoul the belly is called the penis, a pendcndo, It is in form long round and on the upper side flatish. and consists of skin, tendons, veins, arteries and sim ws, being seated under the Ossa Pupis, and ordained by nature for a two fold work, v»z. fur the evacuating of urine, and con- veying the seed into the matrix. The urine which it evac- uates is brought to it through the neck of the Vesica Uri- natise, and the seed which it conveys into the matrix, is brought into it from the Vesiculae Seminales But to be more particular.' Besides the common parts, as the cuticle, the skin and the Membrana Carnosa. it has several internal parts prop- er to it, of which i.umb r there are seven, viz. The two nervous bodies; the Steptun ; the Urethra ; the Glands ; the Muscles ; and the vessels ; of each of tl'ese distinctly, in the order I have placed them; and first, of The two nervous bodies These are called so from their being suvrdundtd w th a ti.ick, white, nervous membrane, though their inw.nrri substance is spongy; as consisting prin- cipally of veins, ar.eries. and nervous fibres, interwoven Hke a net. And nature has so ordained it, that when the nerves are filed with ap.im I spirits, and the arteries with hot and spiritous blood, then thr yard is distended, and be- comes erect; when the flux ot the spirit ceases, when the blood and the remaining spirits are absorbed, or sucked up by the veins, so the penis becomes limber and flaggy. 2. The second internal part is the Stepium Lucidum, and this is in substance white and nervous, or sinewy ; and its office is to uphold the two lateral or side ligaments and the Urethra. 3. The third is the Urethra, which is only the channel by which both seed and urine are conveyed out ; it is in sub- stance soft and loose, thick and sinewy, like that of the lig- aments. It begins at the neck of the bladder, but springs 8 ARI3 10 ILL'S MASTER Pll.LK. not from thence, 01 ly is joined to it and so proceeds to the glands It ha-, three h"lesat the beginning, the largest of which is inthe midst, which teceives the urine into it. The other two art-smaller receiving the seed into each semiual vessel. 4. The fourth is the Glands, which is at the end of the penis, covered with a very thin membrane, by reason of a I'raeputium or Fort-skin, which in some covers the top of the yard quite close, in other, not; and by its moving up and down in the act of copulation brings pleasure both to man and woman. The ex\remepait of this cover, which I call Praeputium, and which is so called a Praeputandn, from cutting off. as the Jews were commanded lo cut it off on the eighth day. The ligaments hy which it is fastened to the glands is called FraeiiUin,or the bi idle. 5. The fifth thing is the Muscles, nnd these are four in number, two being placed on each side. Th*"e muscles which are instruments of voluntary motion, and wi hout which no partof the body on move itself, consist o! fi'i of them are thicker and shorter than the other. I ne *d not tell you that the other two ;tre longer and thim t< ; <>niy I take notice, that the < fficeuf the two last is to dilate, if vou will, open the lower part of the Ure'hra both tor making water and voiding the seed, and therefore are called Accelerators 6. The sixth aid last things are the vessels, which con- sist of Veins Nerves, and Arteries ; of which some pass by the skin and ate visible to the eye, and others pass more inwardly For indeed th«* ar eries are dispersed through the body of the yard much more than the veins, and tha dispersion is coi.tran wise, the right artery being dispersed to the leftside, and the left to the right; as for the two nerves, the greater is bestowed upon the muscles and the body of the >ard, and the less upon the skin. What I have hithert. s.iid relates to the yard, properly so called; but, because there are some appendages belong- ing thereto, which when wanted renders the yard of no use in the act of generation, it will also be nece&sary before I conclude the section, to say something of them, I mean th,e stones, or testicles so called, because they testify the person aristotle's master piece. 9 to be a man ; their number and place is obvious ; and as to their use,in them the blood brought thither by the spermat- ic arteries is elaborated into seed. They have coats or coverings of two sorts, proper and common; the common are two, and invest boih the testes : the outermost of the common qoats, consists of the cuticula, or true skin, called Scrotum hanging out of the abdomen like a purse. Mem- brana Carnosa is the innermost. The proper coats are also two ; the outer called Eliihoridis or Vaginalis, the inner Al- bugiena, into the outer are inserted the Cremastei s; to the upper part of the testes are fixed the Epidermis or Pa- rastat.-.e, from whence arise the Vasa Deferentia Ejaculato- ria, which when they approach near ihe neck of the bladder deposit the seed into the Sieulae Seminales, which are each orivvo ortV.ree of them, like a bunch of grapts, and emit the seed into the urethra in the act of copulation. Near those are the Parastatae, which are about the. bigness of a wnlnut, and joiifto the neck of the bladder. These affoid an oily, slippery and salt humor, to besmear the Urethra, and thereby defend it from the acrimony of the seed and u- rine. Beside these vessels, by which the blood is conveyed to the testes or ot whirbthe seed is made, and, the arteriae spermaiicae, there are also two; and, so likewise are the veins, which carry out the remaining blood, whicirare called venae spermartcae. And thus those noble parts we see '.5^, For such the parts of generation be; ^ And they who carefully survey will find ^ Each part is fitted for the use design'd ; The purest blood we find if well we h«ed, Is in the testicles turn'd into seed : Which by most proper channels is transmitted, Into the place for it by nature fitted : With highest sense of pleasure to excite In amorous combatants the more delight ; For in this work nature doth design Profit f.nd pleasure, in one act to join. Section II. Of the secret parts in Women. WOMAN, next toman, the noblest piece of this crea- tion, is bone of his bone, and flesh of hi> flesh, a sort of sec- ond self; and, in a man ieci state aie accounted bui one: as the poet says, Man and wife are but «ne right Canonical hermaphrodite. It istherefore the secret parts of that curious piece v' nature that we are to lie open which we will do with u> much modesty as. will consist wuh ipeakitg intelligible. *0 Aristotle's master piece. The external parts commonly called pudenda (from the shame-facedness that isn woman to have ihem seen) arc the lips of the great orificewhich are visible to the eyt : and in those that are grown, are covered with hair, anu have pretty store of spongy fat ; their use being to ktep the in- ternal parts from all annoyance by outward .uciients. Within these are the Nympi.x, or winqs, which present themselves to the eye when tut i.ps aie severed, and con- sist of soft and spongy flesh, and the doubling of the skin placed at t e sides of the neck ; ibey compiss the cutoris, anu both in form and coior resemble the comb of a cock, locking fresh and red, and in the art of coiii

»fnda themselves, being so placed chiefly for the sense of pleasure, sympathetically moving from the head and womb. Here the reader ought to observe, that two ligaments hanging on either h«dc of the womb from the share bone, piercing through «hv Peritoneum and joining to the bone it- self causes the womb iO be moveable, which upon divers oc- casions either tails iow or rises : the neck of the womb is o* the niosi exquisite sehee, so that if it be at any time dis- ordered, either with a vchinosity, too n uch hot moisture, or relaxation,'hp womb is subject to b.netmess. In i ose that are near th«ir delivery, there usually stays a most glu- tinous matter in the en'ranee, to iacilivate the b»i h ; for at -hat tine tht mourh 11 iht won.b is open to a widenexs in proportion to tba bigdfess of ihe child. Aristotle's master piece. 13 Under the parts belonging to g.-neraiion in women, are also comprehended the preparatory or spermatic vessels; the preparatory vessels differ not in number from those in man, for they are likewise four, two vessels and two arte- ries ; their rise and original is the same as in man, on the side of them are two arteries which grow from them, dif- fering only in their size and maimer of insertion, the right vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow vein, and the left from the emulgent vein ; and on the side of ihem are two arteries which grow from the areata. These preparatory vessels are shorter in women than in men, because they have a shorter passage, the stones cf a woman Iving with- in the belly, but those of a man without : bi*. lo make a- ■mends for their shortness, they have far more writhing to and fro, in and out, than they have in men ; that so the substance they carry may be the better prepared, neither are they united as they are in men, befcre they come to the Mones, but are divided into two branches, whereof the greater only passeth to the stones, but the lesser to the se- cundated egg, and this is properly called conception. And then secondly, to cherish and nourish it, tili nature has fram- ed the child, and brought it to perfection. Thirdly, it strongly operates in rending forth the birth, when its ap- pointed time is accomplished, there dilating itself in an ex- traordinaiy manner ; and so aptly removed from thy senses, that no injury accrues to it from thence, retaining in itself a strength and power to operate and cast forth the birth. The use of the preparatory vessels is to convey the blood to the testicles, of which a part is spent in the nourishment of them, and the production of those little bladders in all things resembling eggs, through which the vasa Praeparan- tia rpn, and are obliterated i i them* This conveyance of blood is by the arteries, but as for the veins their office i» to bring back what blood remains from the fore mentioned u-e. The vessels of thiskind are much shorter in wi men ,lnn men, by reason of their nearness to the testicles ; and yet that defect is more than madegcodby the many intricate windings to which they are subject ; for in the middle way they divide themselves into two branches of different niag. nitude ; for, one of them being bigger than the other, pass- es to ihe testicles. The testicles in women are very useful; for where they are defective, generation work is quit e spoiled ; fir though those little bladders which are on their outward superfices contain nothing of seed, as the followers of Galei.. &c. er- roneously imagine,yet they contain several eggs, (abtur the ouoiber of twenty in each testicle,} one of which being ijn- 2 14 Aristotle's master piece. pregnated by the most spirituous part of man's seed, to th« act of coition, descends through the oviducts into the womb, where it is cherished till it becomes a live child. The fig- ure of these Oveae or tggs, is not altogether round, but a little flat and depressed on the sides, and in their lower part, oval but where the blood vessels enter them, thai is, in the upper part, they are more plain, having but one membi ane about them, that the heat may have more easy access to the womb, both to the nourishment of itself, and the infant therein. Let me further add, these spermatid veins re- ceive.the arteries as they pass by the side «f the womb, and thereby make a mixture of the vital and natural blood, that their works be more perfect. The deferentia, or car- rying vessels spring from the lower part of the stones, and are in color white, substance sinewy, and pass rot through the womb straight, but wreathed ; they proceed from the womb in two parts, resembling horns, whence they are called the horns of the womb. The stones of women are another part belonging to the in- struments of generation ; for such things they also have as well as men, but ihey are also differently placed: neither is their bigness, temperament,substance, form, or covering the same. As to iheir place it is the hollowness of the abdo- men, resting upon ihe muscles of the loins, and so not pen- dulous, *s in man. And that ihey are so placed i*, that by contracting the heat they may be the more fruitful, their office beu.g to contain the ovum, or egg, which being im- pregnated by the seed of the man, is that from which the embryo is engendered. The stones differ also from men's in their form ; for th ugh they are smooth in men, they are uneven in women ; being also depressed or flattish in them, though in men their fvi m is round and oval. They have also in women but one skin whereas in men they have four. Nature having wisely contrived to fortify these most against the injuries of the air, that are most exposed to it ; ihe stones of women being within, but those of men without the belly. Th*y differ also in their substance, being much more soft than those of men, and not so well compacted : their bigness and temperature differ, in that they art less, and colder than those in men. Some indeed will have their use to be the same as in men, but that is for want of judgment; for Aristotle and Scotus both affitm, that the women have no seed, and that their stones differ also in their use from those of men ; their use bting as I have al- ready said, to contain that egg which is to be impregnated by the seed of a man. " - ^w remains, that I say something of the ejaculatory aristotlf/s master piece. 15 vessels, which have two obscure passages, one on either side which in substance differ nothing from the spermatic veins. They rise in one part from the bottom of the womb, but not reaching from the other extremity,either to the stones, or any other part, are shut up and incapable, adhermg lo the womb, as the colon tloth to the blind gut, and winding- halfway about ; though the stones are remote from them, • and touch them not, yetvthey are tied to them by certain membranes resembling the wings of a bar, through which certain veins and arteries, passing from the end of the stones, may be said hereto have their passages, proceeding from the corner of the womb to the testicles, and are ac- counted the proper ligaments by which the testicles and the womb are united and strongly knit together. Thus th womtn s secrets I have survey'd. And let them see how curiously they're made, And that thoug'i they of different sexes be, Yet on the whole they aie the same as we. For those thai have the strictest searchers been, Find women are but men turned outside in : And men if they but cast tlxjir eyes abort, May find they're women with their inside out. Section III. Of the use and Action of the several Paris in Wom^n ap- propriate to Generation. I SHALL next take a survey ot the parts of generation both in men and women, and shew ihe use and action of these pares iu the work of generation, which will excellent- ly infoim us ihat nature has made nothing in vain. The external pai\s in a woman's privities, or that which is most obvious to the eye ai first, commonly called Puden- dum, are designed by nature to cover the great orifice, na- ture intending that orifice to receive the penis or yard in the act of coition, and also to give passage to ihe urine, and, a. the time of birth, to ihe child. The use of the wings or knobs, like myrtle berries, are for the security of the in- ternal part by shutting up the-orifice, and neck of the blad- der, also for delight and pleasure; for by their swelling up they cause titiiation and delight in those parts, being press- ed by the man's yard. Their use is likewise to obstruct the involuntary passage of the urine. I he use and action of the clitoris in women is like that of the penis or yard in men, that is erecting its extreme end being'like .hat of the glands m the men, the seat of ihe greatest pleasure in the act of copulation, so is that of tlie c.i oris in worn, n, and therefore called the sweetness of love, and the fury of venery. 16 aristotle's master piece. The action and use of the neck of the womb, is the same ■with that of the Penis, that is,election, which is occasioned fcundry ways : fir First, in copulation it is erected and made s'raight ior the passage of the Penis to the womb. Second* ly. while the passage is replete with the spirits and vital blotd. it becomes more straight for embracing the penis. And for the necessity of erection there is a two told reason : one is, that if the neck of the womb was not erected, the yard could hive no convenient pass, ge to the womb. The other is, that it hinders; any hurt or damage that m g?»t en- sue through the violent concussion ot the yard during the ti'.m of copulalien Then as the vessels that pass through the neck of the womb, (heir office is to replenish it with blood and spirits, th it so as ihe moisture consumes through the heat contract- ed in emulation, it may still by these vessels be renewed. But their chief business is to convey nutriment to the womb. Thus Nature nothing does in vain produce, But fits each part for what's ifcs proper use : And though of different sexes form'd we be, Yet betwixt these there is that unity, That we in nothing can a greater find, Unless the soul that's to the body joir.'d : And sure in this Dame Nature's in the right,. The strictest union yields the most delight. CHAP. II. Of the restriction laid upon Men in the use of Carnal Cop* ulation, by the institution of Marriage, with the advan- tage that it brings to mankind and the proper time for it.. THOUGH the cieat Architect ot the world has been pleased to frame us of different sexes, and for the propaga- tion and continuation of mankind, has indulged us the mu- tual embraces of each other, the desire whereof, by a pow- erful and secret instinct,, is become natural to us, yet he would leave them to the law of the Creator, who has or- dained that every man shall have his own wife ; and, tho\ since man-, by sinning against his Creator, hath fallen from his primitive purity, and has multiplied wives and concu- bines, by which the first institution is violated, ami the grossest affront given to the Divine Law.giver ; for the ho- ly Jesus hath told us, That in the beginning marriage was of one man to one woman ; so that as these conjugal de«- lights cannot be enjoyed but in a married state, so neither, in ihat state can they lawfully be participated of with mnre than one wife. And it is the breaking of this order that has filled the world with confusion and debauchery; has brought diseases on the body, consumption ou the estates. ARISTOTLE'S MASTER PIECE. 17 and eternal ruin to the soul, if not repented of. Let all those, therefore, of either sex, that have a desire to enjoy the delights ot mutual embraces, take care hat they do it in a married state, with their own *ives or husbands, or else it will become a curse to them, instead ot a blessing : And, to that end, let them consider what is due to trans- gressors of his law, who hath said, Thou shall not commit Adultery. Whatever is spaken of the veneral pleasuie, is spoken to those who have or may have, a right thereunto, by buing in a married state. • For, Who to forbidden pleasures are inclin'd, Will find at lastehey leave a sting behind. Suction 11. Of the happiness of the Married State. Matrimony, in the present age, is looked upon as a most ' insupportable yoke ; Wives and husbands are accounted the greatest clogs and burthens to those who give up the reins to their unbridled appetites. Notwithstanding the present mode of thinking is against me, I doubt not of mak- ing it appear, that a married state is tlie most happy con- dition, (where persons are equally yok«d) that is to be en- joyed on this side Heaven. The author and institutor of maniage, and who first bro't man and woman together, was no other than he that made them, even the Great Lord of the universe, whose wisdom being infinite, could not but know what condition was good for us ; and his goodness being equal to his wisdom, suffi- ciently shews the end of this institution was the happiness of the creature he had made; ad indeed man could not be happy without it; for he saw that it was not good that man should be alone, and therefore made a woman to com- plete his happiness, which was not perfect whilst he wanted such a help mate for him. The time of the institution is also very remarkable ; for it was whilst Adam and his new made bride were clfithed with all that virgin purity and innocence with which they were created, before.they had entertained the least converse with the temper, or had given way to one disordered thought; and yet could curiously survey the several .incomputable beauties and perfections of each other without sin, and knew not what it was to lust. It-was at this time that the Creator united Adam in the holy bands of wedlock. ' Twas in paradise where the first match was made ; and which could scarcely hare been par.id.ise without il ; for paradise is known to be a place of pleasure, wherein they were surrounded with the quintessence ot all delights ; wbere there was nothing wanting that might please th« eve 2* 18 ' Aristotle's master piece. charm the ear, or gratify the taste; and yet Adam was not- happy with these pleasing sweets till he employed his Evry so that it was a married state which completed his happi- ness, and which was a paradise of pleasure itself. What an addition to happiness a good wife makes ! such an one is the best companion in prosperity, and in adversi- ty the surest friend ; the greatest assistance in business, the only lawful and comfortable means by which he can have issue, andthe great remedy aejainst incontinence ; and if we believe king Solomon^The greatest honor unto him that has her. For he tells us, She is a crown to her hus- band. Surely these are not small advantages. If married persons would be cureful to do their respective deties, there would be but littl? complaining ; nor would any condition in h£- be so agreeable as the married state. How much more satisfaction a man receives in the embra- ces of a loving wife, than in the wanton dalliances of a de- ceitful harlot. Thus does this section unto ail relate The pleasures which attend the married state : And shews it does with innocence consist; And that so many have those pleasures miss'd, 'Tis their own fau't, they will no wiser be, As in this mirror they may plainly see. Section III. At what age young Men and Virgins are capable of car* nal copulation ; and why Tney so much desire it. I shall in the present section make it my business to shew at what age young men and virgjns are capable of the mar- riage bed, which because so many desire before they attain to it, it will likewise be necessary to shew the cause of their impetuous desires. The inclination of virgins to marriage is to be known by many symptoms ; tor when they arrive at ripe age, which is about fourteen or fifteen, their natural purgations begin to flow ; and then the blood, which no longer serves for me increase of their bodies, docs by its abounding, stir up their minds to venery ;»to which also external causes may incite them. For their spirits are brisk and inflamed when they arrive at this ige, and their bodies are often more heated bv their eating sharp and. salt things; and by spices, by which their desire of veneral embraces becomes very great, and, at some critical junctures, almost insupportable. The use of those so much desired enjoyments being denied to virgins, is often followed by very daogercus, and sometimes dismal consequences, precipitating them into those follies that may bring an indelible stain on their families, or bring. Aristotle's master piice. 15 an themselves the Green Sickness, or other diseases. But when they are married and those desires satisfied by their husbands, those distempers vanish, and their beauty re- turns more gay and lively than before.. And this strong in- clination of theirs may be known by their eager gazing at men, and affecting their company, which sufficiently dem. onstrates that nature excites them lo elesire coition.. Nor- is this the case with young virgins only, but the same may be observed in young widows, whocannot be satisfied with- out that due benevolence which they were wont to receive from their husbands. At fourteen years of age commonly, the menses begin to flow in virgins ; at which time they are capable of conceiv- ing and therefore fit for marriage ; though it would be much better both for themselves and their children if they would not marry till eighteen or twen'y ;.. if they are healthy, of strong body, and use themselves :o temperance, they may continue bearing till upwards ot SO, though generally leave offbetween 40 and 50 : for the menses flow longer in some than in others; But when they cease, they cease bearing, and therefore Sarah bearing Isaac after it had ceased to be with her according to the custom of women, may well be termed miraculous. As for male youih, when they arrive at 16 or between that and seventeen ; having much vital strength, they may be capable of getting children ; which ability, by the force and heat of procreating matter, constantly increases till 45, 56, 65, and then begins to flag, the seed by degrees be- coming unfruitful, the nature of spirits being extinguished, and the heat dried up. Thus it is with th?m for the mos^ part, but many times it falls out otherwise in particular in- stances, as once in Sweden, a man was married at 100 years old to a bride of 30, and had many children by her ; bot he was a man of so hale a constitution, and carried his age so well,that strangers would not have guessed him at above 60. And in Campania,, where the air is clear and temper- ate, it is usual for men of 80-yeats old to marry ytung vir- gins, and have children by them ; which shews that age in man, hinders not procreation, unless they be exhausted in their youth, and theiE yards shrivelled up. If any ask, why a woman is sooner barren than a man., let such know, that the natural heat, which is the cause of generation, is more predominant in men than women ; for the monthly purgations of women shew them to be more moist than men, and so does also the softness of th«.ir bodies. A" d 'he miii exceeding her in native heat, concocts the hu- mors imo proper aliment, by the benefit wheieof ihey are SO ARHTOTr.K's MASTER PIECE. elab'xraJed i:ilo seed ; but women though of a finer make, yet not being so strong as men, their faculties are thereby hindered in their opeia'ion. Tuns nature to Iit children is sokind, Tii at e:irly they those inclinations find, Which prompts them on to propagate their kind. Hence 'tis a virgin her desires can't smother, But restless is till she be made a mother. CHAP. III. Of Virginity, what it is, how it may be known, by what ?nrans it may be lost, and how a person may know that it is so. Section I. Of Virginity, and wherein it consist*. HAVING treated of the desire voung men and virgins hive to mutual embraces, and at what age they are fit for them ; I have also shewn that those pleasures are only law- ful to be enjoyed in* a married state ; and have also ac. quainted the reader wfth the advantage of such a condi- tion. But since the desires of many after mutual embraces are so impetuous that not having an opportunity to enter into a married state, they have anticipated the pleasures of matrimony, and lost their virginity before hand; and yet, perhaps have afterwards pretended to bring their virgin- ity to a marriage bsd, by which means many an honest man has been deceived, and meretricious women escaped with impunity ; on the other hand, some virtuous young virgins, that have come sueh to their husband's beds, have been ac- cused by the ignorince and credulity of their husbands, >.o have lost their virginity before hand, when there has been no such matter ; therefore to d* right iu this case to both parties, my design in this chapter is to shew what virginity is, wherein it consists; how many ways it may be lost, and how a man may know that it is so or not; that so women mav not be wrongfully censured, or men imposed upon. Virginity untouch'd and taintless, is the boast and pride of the fair sex. But they generally commend it to put it off; for, as good as it is, they care not how soon they are hon- estly rid of it. And I think they are in the right of it, for if kept, it grows useless, or at least looses so much of its val- ue; a stale virgin, i'lf such a thing there be) baing looked upon like an old almanack out of d te. But, to speak to the purpose, virginity is the chief, the prirr e. the best of any thing, and i> properly the integritv of i wornm's privities, not violated bv man, or not known bv him, it being the dis- tinguished characteristic of a virgin, that she has not known. Aristotle's master pikce. 24 To make this more plain, I must here observe, that there h in maids, in the neck of the womb a membraneous pro- duction called the Hymen, which is like the bud of a rose haif blown, and (his is broken in the first act of copulation with man: and hence comes the word Deflora. to deflow- er ; whence the taking of virginity, is called deflowering a virgin: for when lb*: rose bud i.-> expanded, virginity is lost. Certain it is, there is in the first act of copulation, some- thing that causes pain alid bleeding ; which is an evident sign of virginity. But what this is authors are not agreed on. Some say it is a nervous membrane, a thin skin wiih small veins, that bleeds at the firit penetration of the yard. O hers say it is ihe four caruncles, Knobs, or little buds like myrtle berries, which are plump and full in virgins, but hang loose or flaggy in those who have used copulation, be- ing pressed by the yard. Some have observed the fleshy circle about the Nymphae, or neck of the womb,,with little obscure veins, which make the membrane not to be nerv- ous, but fleshy. But setting aside conjectures, the Hymen, or Claustrum Virginale, is a thin membrane, interwove* with fleshy fibres, and endowed with many little arteries and veins, spread across the passage of ihe vaghtu, behind the insertion of the bladder, with a hole in the midst for the menses to flow, so big, that it will admit the top of one's little finger. This is that which is called the zone, or girdle of chastity; and where it is fqund in the form described, it is a certain noteof virginity ; but in the first act of copula- tion it is necessarily violated, and then it is generally ac- companied with an effusion of blood, which blood, is called theflowerof virginity ; and when once broke, it never clo- ses again. Section II. How virginity may be tost. In the former section i have shewn in what virginity con- sists, and that it is lost by the first penetration of the yard, which may be easily known by'its being attended with ef- fusion of blood upon the rupture of the Hymeneal membrane, or Claustrum Virginale ; but I must do the fair sex this justice, to let the world know, that although wherever thia is found, it is an undoubted token of virginity, yet it will not follow, that where this token is wanting, virginity is de- flowered; for the hymen may be corroded by acrimoni- ous and fretting humours flowing through it with fhe men- ses, or it may be violated by the inversion or falling out of the uteras, or of vagina or sheath, which sometimes hap- "» pens even to virgins; or (which all virgins should bew*nt of. for, the preservation of their credit, and preventing ot £3 Aristotle's master piece. suspicion) pet haps the unwarv btide has had her menses- but a day or ; wo before, in which case both the Hymen and inner wiink'id membranes ot the vagina are flaggVt weak and relaxed, so that no such rnp'ureor effusion may hap- pen. It wete better therefore lhat when virgins aie about to man-}, thev would fix their wedding day at least six or seven davs after ihe menses have done flowing. But further, nature hath given greater desires after en- joyment to some than to others, and such, though thev ab- stain from enjoyment, yet so great is their desire after it, that they may break the Hymen or Claustrum Virgi»-<'r ; and sometimes it itches so bad. that they put in iheir find- er, and so break it. Somet mes the midwives break it ii the birth ; and sometimes it is done by stoppage of uvine, coughing, violen' straining o»> sneezing; so that no bleeding at the first penetration of the husband i> not always a sign of unchastity, or that another has been there before him, seeing that ihe h\ menu! membrane may be broke so many other ways ; but wh<*re bleeding does flow, it is an undenia- ble token that the person was a virgin, and never knew man before. And indeed, tho' the Hymen may be broke all these ways mentioned, yet it so rarely happens to be broke any other way, lhat Leo Africanus makes mention of it as a general custom of the Africans at their weddings, that the marriage ceremony being over, the bride and bride- groom are shut up in a chamber while the wedding dinner Vs preparing; an ancient woman stands at the door to re- ceive from the bridegroom a sheet, having the bloody to- ken of the wife's virginity, which she shews in triumph to all the guests, and then they feast with joy ; but if there is no blood seen, the bride is to be sent home again to her friends with disgrace, and the disappointed guests go home without their dinner. There are others, that make the straightness of the pri- vities a sign of virginity, but'his is a very uncertain rule; for this depends much upon the age, habit of the bodv, and othercircumstanc.es. But, though women who have used carnal copulation, are not so straight as virgins, yet this cannot be a certain argument of virginity, because the pri- vities may be made straight by the use of astringent medi- cines. 1 have heard of a courtezan, who, though she had b'en married, gave herself out to be a virgin, and by the help of a bath of comfrey roots, deceived those with whom she had to do. Others judge of lost virginity by the milk of the breast : but such perhaps, are ignorant thst there is a twofold radk : the one of virgins, the other of such as have on- Aristotle's master piece. Sjj eeived or brought forth children : that of virgins is a mala- dy contrary to nature, made of blood from the womb; turned into mi k bv the faculty of the breasts ; the other is natural, where there is a child either in the womb or*born ; yet the milk (though both are white) differs very much both in respect to the blood, and diversitv of veins that bring it to tiie breasts : and that cf virgins is thinner, less in quantity and notsoswtet: therefoie if virgins hjppen to have such milk, they are not for that reason to be reck- oned unchaste. Upon the whole, the sum of what I have said upon this head of virginity, terminates in this ; that when a man is married and finds the tokens of his wife's. virginity, upon iho first act of copulation, he has £ll the reason in the wcrld^o believe her such, but if he finds them not, he has not reason to think her deviiginated. if he finds her other- wise sober and modest: Seeing the Hvmcn nay be broken so many other ways, and yet the woman both chaste and virtuous Only let me caution virgins to take all imagina- ble care to keep iheir virgin zone entire, that so when they many, they may be such as the great Caesar wished his ■.lite to be, not only without fault but without suspicion also. Thus have 1 virgin innocence survey'd, And shew'd the d.fference betwixt wife and maid, And that their chastity they need not fear, W hose vii gin token plainly doth appear, Nor censuie those in whom they do not so, Un'ess the contrary they plainly know, F is an ovum, er egg, impregnated by the man's seed, or being con- veyed to it, the womb closes up, that no air may entf r therein but the impregnated ovum may swell into a foetus. This is thai which is truly and properly conception, and the pre- requisites (hereunto I shall make the subject of the next section. Section II. Of the prerequisites lo conception. I have shewn in the. foimer section, that there are two things to be regarded chiefly in conception, to wit, the ac- tive and passive principle. This in part shews, that differ- ence of sexes is a prerequisite to conception. So nature has ordained there must be a proper vehicle for the active prin- ciple to be injected thereinto and there must also be a pas- ' she principle to be impregnated thereby, so the woman has no active principle to impiegnate, and therefore, without difl> rent sexes, there can be no conception- But this is not all: for it is not enough that there be dif- Aristotle's master pifxe. 25 ferent sexe these different sexes must unite, and there must be coition, in order to conception ; and t is coition, or the mutual embraces of both sexes, which nature has made so desirable to etclvo^ier: which, when authorised in the "way that heavtn has ordained, there is no need of ravish- ing ; for \he fair bride will quickly meet her bridegroom with equal vigor. But since in that there may be over- doing, and such errors committed by their giving way to the impetuosi y ot their desires, as mav be prejudicial to con- ception, it wiil not be amiss to give some directions to make this operation the more effectb .1. Section III. A word of advice to both sexes : or, Directions respecting the act of Coition or carnal copulation. Though there ore some that desire not to have children, and yet are very fond of nocturnal embraces, to whom these directions will be no way acceptable, becnuse it may pro- bably produce those eff cts which they had rather be with- out ; yet I doubt not but the generality of both sexes, when in a marriage state, have such a desire lo vroduce the fair image of themselves, that nothing can be more welcome to them than those directions th. t may make their mutual em- braces most effectual t© that end: and therefore let none thi k it strange that we pretend to give directions for the promoting that which nature itself teacheth alltoperferm ; since 'tis no solecism for art to be a handmaid to nature, and to assist in her noblest operations. Neither is it the bare performing of that act which we here direct to, but the performing it so as 10 make it conducive, unto the work of generation. And since this act is the foundation of genera- tion, and without which it cannot be, some care cugbt tobe taken, and consequently some advice given how to perform it well : and therein I am sure the proverb is on our side, which tells us that what is once well done, is twice done.— But yet what we shall advance on this nice subject, shall be offered with such caution, as not logive offence to the chast- est ear, nor put the fair sex to the trouble ef blushing.— What I shall offer will consist cf two parts. First, some- thing previous to it; and secondly,.some.thing consequential to it. For the first, wh«n married persons design to follow the propensions of nature, for the production of the fair image of themselves, let every thing that looks like care and busi- uess be banished from their thoughts, for all such things are enemies to Venus ; and let their animal and vital spirits be powerfully exhilerated by some brisk and generous restorai 3 26 aristotle?s master piece. lives ; and let ihem, to invigorate their fancies, survey the lovely beauties of each other, and bear the bright ideas of them in t-htir minds; and if it happens, that instead of beauty there is any thing that lookslike impeifection or de- formity, (for nature is not alike bountiful to all) let them be coveted over with a veil of darkness and oblivion. And since the utmost intention of desire is required in this act, it may not be amiss for Ihe bridegroom lor the more eager heightening of this joy, to delineate the scene ot their ap- proaching happiness to his lair languishing bride, in some such amorous rapture as this, Now» my fait bride, now will I storm the mint Of love and joy, and rifle all that's in't. Now my inf ranchis'd hand on every side, Hhall o'er thy naked polish'd ivory slide, Fieely shall now my longing eyes behold, Thy brfred snow and thy until ained gold: Nor curtain now though of transpaient lawn, Shall be before thy virgin treasure drawn. I will enjoy thee now my fairest come, And fly with me to love's- elysium", My rudder with thy bold hand, like a try'd And skillful pilot, theu shait steer, and guide, My bark in love's dark channel, where it shall l)ance, as\he bounding waves do rise and fall. ' Whilst my tall pinnace in the Cyprian strait, Rides safe at anchor and unlades the freight. Having by these and other amorous acts (which love can better dictate tjjan my pen) wound up your fancies to the highest ardor, and desires, Perform those rights nature and love requires, 'Till you have quench'd each other's am'rous fires. When \he act of coition is river, and the bridegroom has don« what nature prompted him to do, he ought 10 take care not to withdraw too pi ecipi tatejy from the field of love, lest he should, by so doing, let ihe cold into the womb, which might be ot dangerous consequence. But when he has given time for the matrix to close up, he may withdraw, and leave the bride to her repose, which ought to be with all the calmness ■ T' ^^'""B »"« sneezing, it possible, should be avoid- ed, or any thug ihat agitates or causes a motion of the body. J.-se amorous engagements should not be often repeated till the coDcei lion ,- to, mc d. And it may not be amiss ,u remind the Li .digicom, that the f«ir lasts aid the year, aid Aristotle's master piece. 27 that he should be careful not to spend his stock lavishly, as women, in general, are better pleased in having a thing once well done, than often il I done. Sfxtion IV. How a woman may know when she has conceived. After the means made us? of irr order lo conception, ac- cording to the directions given before, there is reason to expect that conception should follow ; but as things do not always succeed according to desire, so therefore concep- tion does not always follow upon coition. For there are many women, especially those netvly married, who know not whether they have conceived or not, after coition; which, if they were assured of, ihey might and would avoid several inconveniences which they now run upon. For af- ter conception a woman fi'ids an alteration in herself, and tet knows not from whence it arises, she is apt to run to the doctor and enquire ot him vvh tt is the matter, who not knowing that she is with child, gives a strong, port ion, which certainly destroys the conception. There are others, who out of foolish bashful coyness, though they know that they have conceived yet will not confess it, that they may be in- structed haw to order themselves accordingly. Those that are coy may learn m time i» be wise ; and for the sake of those that are ignorant, I shall set down the signs of con- eeption, that women may know thereby whether the) have conceived or not. If a woman hath conceive.l, the vein under her eye will be swelled,!, e. under the lower ejelid, the vein in the eyes appearing clearly, and ihe eyes something d'scok-red ; if the woman hath not her turns upon her, nor huh watchid the night before, there is a certain sign ot her having con- ceived ; and this appears most plainly just upon ihe con- ception, and hold* for the first two months after. Stop the urine of the woman close inaglass or bottle three d iys, at the expiration of which time si rain it through a linen rag ; if you perceive small living creatures in it yom may in- stantly conclude that she hath conceived : for the urine, which was before part ot her own substmce, will be gene- rative as well as its mistress. A coldness and dullness of ihe outward parts after cop- ulation, shews a woman to have conceived, the heat being retired to make the conception ; and then the veins of the breast are more ciearly seen than they were before. The tops of the nipples look rvdder than formerly ; the body ' is weakened, and the face discolored, the belly waxeih v4ry 'fat, because the womb closeih itself together to nourish andcherbb, the seed^ If she drinks cold.water, a coldness- 28 aristotle's master piece. is felt in the breasts : she has also a loss of appetite, sour belchings, and exceeding weakness of ihe stomach ; ine breasts begin to swell, and wax hard, not without pain or soreness ; wringing or griping pains like the cramp, hap- pen in the belly above the naval; also divers appetites and longings are engendered. The veins of the eyes are also elearly seen, and the eyes seem something discolored as a looking glass will shew. The excrements of the guts are voided painfully, because the womb swelling thrusteth the right gut together : likewise let her take a green nettle and put it into her urine, cover it closely, and let it remain all uight : if she is with child it will be full of red spots on the next morning, if she is not with child it will be blackish. By these experiments, some of which never fail, a woman may know whether she hath couceived of not, and to reg« ulate herself accordingly ; for When women once with child conceived are, They of themselves should take especial care. Section V. How to know whether a wman be conceived of a male or female Child. In the present section I shall endeavor to gratify the curiosity of many persons who are vary desirous to know whether they are conceived of a male or female. For the satisfaction of such I shall give the sign of a male child be- ing conceived, and the reverse that of a female. It is then a sign of a m*le child, when the woman feels it first on the right side ; for male children lie always on that side of the womb, the woman also when rising frtm her chair, doth sooner stay herseif upon the right hand than on the left. Also the belly lies rounder and higher than when it is a female, 'ihe color of the woman is not so swarthy, but more clear than when it is a girl. The right side is more plump and harder ih:in the left, the right nipple red- der. She likewise breeds a boy easier and with less pain than a girl, and carries her burthen not so heaviiy, but is more nimble and stirring. I wil| only as to this, add the following experiments which 1 never kociw fail. If the circle uuder the woman's eyes, which is of a wan blue color, be more apparent under the right eye, and that most discolored, she is with child of a boy : if the mark be most apparent in her left eye, she is with child of a girl. Tue other is, let her dr<»p a drop of her milk in a bason of fair water, if it sinks to the bottom as it drops in, round in a drop, it is a girl she is with child of; f>r if it be a boy it will spread and *wim' at the top. T.iis I have often tried and it never failed. AHISTOTLE^S MASTER PIECE. &9 For whether male or female child it-be You have conceiv'd, by the.se tules you'll see. CHAP- II. SfcCTION I. Ho'V a Woman should order herself in order to Conception. 1 AM very well satisfied that m.uiy women desire cop- ulation, n ot from any delight or satisfaction they take there in, moie than as it is the means -ppointei! by Him that bids us increase and muhiply, for the cb'.aining of children, and the propagation of mankinds And though several make use of coition lo obtain that end, yet we find by ex- perience, lhai in many it does not succeed* because ihey oider not themselves as they ought to do ; for though it must be granted, that all our endeavors depend upon the divine blessing yet if we aie wanting in any thing to our- selves how can we expect that blessing to succeed our en- deavors ? My business therefore in this section shall be to shew how women that desire lo have children should order themselves. First, women that are desirous to have children, must, in order thereuuto, give themselves to moderate exercise; for want of exercise, and idleness, are very great enemies to the work of generation, and indeed are enemies bolh to soul and body. Those (hat shall give themselves the trou- ble to observe it, will find those city dames lhat live high, and do nothing, seldom have children, or if they have, they seldom live ; whereas, those poor women that accustom themselves to labor, have many children, and those strong and lusty. Nor need we wonder at It, if we consider the benefit that comes by a moderate exercise and labor ; for it opens the pores, quickens the spuits, stirs up the natu- ral heat, strengthens the body, senses and spirits, comforts the limbs, and helps nature in .ill her exercises, of which procreation of children is. none of the least. Secondly, women in order to conception, should avoid all manner of discontent and the occasion of it ; for discontent rs a great enemy to conception, and it so dispiiits either man or woman, that it hinders them from putting forth ►hat vigor which ought to be txeited in the act of coition. When on the contrary, content and satisfaction of mind dilate the heart and arteries, whereby ihe vital blood and spirits are freely distributed thi-.-ughuutthe body and thence arise such affections, as please, recreate and refresh the nature ot man, as hope, joy, love, gladness, and mirth. Nor does it only eom'ort and strengthen the body, but also the operation and imagination of ihe mind ; which is so much the more necessary > in so much the imagtiiaiien of 3* 3Q Aristotle's master piece. ihe mftther works forcibly upon ihe conception of the child Women therefore, ought to take great care that their im- agination be pure and clear, that their child may be well' formed. Thirdly, women ought to take good care to keep the womb in good order: and to see that the menses come down as they ought to do, for if they are discolored they are out of order, but »f the blood comes down pure, then the wo- men will be very prone to conceive with child, especially if they use copulation in two or three days after the month- ly terms are stayed. Fourthly, a woman that would conceive should observe that she does not use the act of coition too often ; tor sa- tiety gluts ihe womb and renders it unfit for its office. There are two things demonstrate this ; i. e. that common whores (who often use copulation) have never, or very rarely any children : for the grass seldom grows in a path that is com- monly trodden in. The other is, that women, whose hus- bands have been long absent do, after copulation with them again conceive very quickly. Fifthly, care should be taken that the time of copulation be convenient that there be no fear of surprise; for fear hinders conception. And then it were the best also that the desire of copulation be natural, and not stirred up by provocation ; and if it be natural, the greater the woman's desire of copulation is, the more likely she is to conceive. I will add no more}, bat some authors report, that a load- stone carried about a woman, not only causeth conception, but concord between man aud wife ; if it be true I would have no man ied woman go without one, both for her own and husband's quiet. Let all the fair, who would have children from Their soft embraces, read what's here laid down, Those that to exercise themselves incline, And in their love to be content design, Who have their monthly terms in order flow ; And regulate them if they do not so ; That love's embraces moderately use, And to enjoy ihem a fit season choose ; These may, content with what they've done, remain, And need not fear their wishes to obtain. Skction II. What a woman ought lo observe after conception. After a woman has conceived, or has reason lo think so, she ought to be very careful of herself lest she should do any thing that might hinder nature in her conception. For in the first two months after conception ^vomen are \cry Aristotle's master piece. 3i subject to miscarriages, because then the ligaments are weak and soon broken. To prevent this, let the woman every morning drink a draught of sage ale, and it will do her abundance of good. And if signs of abortion or miscarriage appear, let her lay a toast dipped in tent (in case muscadel cannot be got- ten) to the naval, fortius is very good. Or, take a little green tansy, and having bruised it sprinkle it with musca- del, and apply it to the naval, and she will find it niuch belter. Also tea infused in ale, like sage ale, and a draught drank every morning, is most excellent for such women as are subject to miscarriages. Also if she, can, let her be where the air is temperaie. Let her sleep be moderate ; let her also avoid all watching and immoderate exercise, as also disturbing passions, loud clamors ai.d fithy smells ; and let her abstain trom all things which may provoke either urine or the courses, and also lrom all sharp and windy meats ; and let a moderate diet be observed. . If ihe excre- ments of the guts be retained, lenify the briy with clysters made of the decoction of mallows and violets, with sugar and common oil ; or make broth of borage, bugloss, beets, mallows, and take therein a little manna ; but on the con- trary, if she be troubled with a looseness of the belly, let it not be stopped without ihe judgment of a physician ; for that matter all uierine fluxes have a maligna»t quality, and must be evacuated and removed before the flux be stayed. CHAP, III. How the child liet hand how it groweth up in the- womb of the Mother ajter conception. Section I. How the child is formed in the womb ofter conception. AS to the formation of the child, it is to be noted, ihat af- ter coition the seed lies warm in ihe womb for six days, without any visible alteration, only that the womb closes up ittelf to prevent iis issuing forth again, and for the securing it from any cold, and all this time it looks like butter or co- agulated milk. And it would be necessary for her who has conceived, to forbear the embraces of her hnsband all the time, lest the conception should be spoiled. In three days after, it is altered from the quality of thick milk or butter, and becomes blood, or at least resembles it in color, nature having now begun to work upon it ; in the next s x days following, that blood begins to be united into one body, grows hard and becomes a Utile quantity, and lo appearance a round lump. And, as in the first ;eation the earth was void and without form, so in this creating work of divine power in the womb j in xhis shapeless embryo lies the first 33 Aristotle's master piece. mass. But in two days afrer the principal members are formed by the plastic power of nature, and these principal members are four in number, vis. The heart, the brain, the liver, and the tesiicies or stones—Three davs alt. r the other members are formed, and are distinguished from the shoulders to the knees, and the heart, liver and stones, with their appurtenances, do grow bigger and bigger. Four d 1V8 after that, the several members of the whole body appear, and as nature requires, they conjunctly and severally do receive their perfection. And so in the appointed time, the w.iole creation hath that essence which it ought lo nave in the perfection <>f it, receiving fiom God a living sou), therewith putting hi its nostrils the breath of life. Thus i hive shewn the who e operation of nature in the formation of the child in the womb, according to the energy given it by the Divine Createf, Maker, and upholder of all thing9 b' th in heaven and earth. By some others more briefly, but to the same purpose, the forming of the child in the womb of its moiher is thus de- sciibed -r three days in the milk, three in the blood, twelve days from the flesh, and eighteen the members, and forty days afterwards the child is inspired with life, being en- dowed with an immortal living soul. Skction IL Of the manner oj the child's lying in the womb from the conception to the birth, I come now to shew in what manner the child lieth in the womb of its mother, whilst it is confined in the dark reces- ses ; first giving the reader the testimony of two or three of ihe most learned on this head. Tne learned Hippocrates affirms that the child, as he is placed in the womb, hath his hands upon his knees, and his head bent to his feet; so that he lies round together, hi9 hands upon his knees, and his face between them ; so that each eye touches each" thumb, and his nose betwixt his knees. And of the same opinion in this matter was Bartho- linius the younger. Columbus is of opinion that the figure of the child in the womb is round, the right arm bowed, the fi"gers thereof under the ear, above the neck, and the head bowed, so that ihe chin toucheth the breast, the left arm bowed above both breast and face, and propped up by the bending of the right elbow : the legs are lifted upwards, the right of which is so lifted up, that the thigh toucheth the be lj, the knees, the naval, the heel touchtth th; left buttock, and the foot is turned back and covereth the se- crets ; -be left thigh touchtth the belly, and'the h $ lifted op to the breast, the back lying outwards. Aristotle's master piece. &3 Thus the reader may see how authors differ herein : but this ought to be noted, th*t the different positions which the clold hath been seen in, hath given occasion to the different opinions of authois. For when the woman is young with child the embryo is always found of a round figure, a little ol« ong, having the spine moderately turned inwards, the thighs folded, and a little raised, to which the legs are j< ined, that the heels touch the huttjeks the arms bending, the hands placed upon the knees towards which the head is inclined forwards so that the chin touches the breast ; the spine of the back is at that time placed towards the mother's, the head uppermost, the hands forwards, and the feet downwards,and proportionable to its growth it extends its members by little and little, which were exactly formed in ihe first month. In this posture it usually keeps till the seventh or eigh:h month, and then by a natural propensity and disposition of the tipper parts of the body the head is turned downwards towards the inward orifice of the womb, tumbling as it were over its head; so that the feet are up- perm'.st, and the face towards ihe mother's great gut. And this turning of the infant in this manner with his head down- wards, towards the latter end of a woman's reckoning, ia so ordered of nature, that it may be the better disposed for the birth. The knowledge of these things being so essential to the practice of a midwife, I cou!d not omit them. CHAP. IV Of the obstructions of conception ; with the cause and cure of Barrenness, and the signs of Insufficiency both in Men and Women BEFORE 1 proceed any further, it is highly necessary that 1 irectt of the instructions ot conception, which natu- rally leads me to treat of barrenness ihe grand obstruction? of conception. Section I. Of Barrenness. Barrenness is a natural or accidental dtfect which hinders- conception : for that which hinders conception causeih bar- renness. There are several causes why conception may be hindered : as too much heat or cold dries up the seed ar,d makes it corrupt : this, extinguishing the life of ihe seed, and that, making it walerish, and unfit for genera- tion. It may be caused also by the stoppage or overflowing of the courses, and by swel'ing ulcers, or inflamations of the womb, or by an excrescence of flesh growing about the mouth of the matrix, whereby the seed is hindered fiom being injected into the womb, and want of love in the per- sons copulating may also hinder conception, as is apparent from ihose women who are deflowered against their will; no conception following any forced copulation. 34 Aristotle's master piece. And here let me caution parents against one thing thn^ often causeth bureness, which might easily be prevented ; and that is, against virgins letting blood in their arm be- fore their courses come down ; these come down'in virgins usually in the 14di year of their age, seldom before the 13ih but never before the 12 h. Now. because usually a young virgin is out of order before the first break down, the moth- er goes with her lo the doctor, who finding that fulness of blood istheoccasion of her illness, orders her to let blood in the arm : upon which she becomes well for a time, the supeifluous blood being taken away ; and theremedy^which is worse than the disorder, being repeated four or five times, the blood comes not down at all to the woml>> as it doth in other women, but dries up, and is forever barren \ wheieas, had shebeen let blood in the foot it would Inve brought the blood downwards, and so have provoked the terms and prevented mischief. Another cause of barrenness is, for want of convenient, moderate quality, which the woman ought to have with the man ; as, if she be hot, he must be cold \ if he be dr^, shg moist; but if they both are dry or boih are of a moist con. s'iiuiion, they cannot propagate, though in this case neither of tht m may be barren, singly considered; for he or she, row as barren as the barren fig tree, yet joined with an apt constitution, they become as fi uiful as the vine. Another cause of birrenness may be the disuse of copu- lation, for some there are of that frigid constitution, that thty either u be known by her desirir.g venery, and receiving no pleasure in the act of copulation, even while the man is spenili g his seed ; her terms are phlegmatic, thick, slimy, and flow not rightly : In this case let her take syrup of calamint, fiiugwort. betony, of each one ounce ; water of pennyroyal, feveitew ; hysop, sage, of each two ounces ; ar.il muke a julep. Let htr take every morning two spoons full of cinnamon water, with one scruple of mithridate. Arso let her take oil of aiiis>sted,one scruple and a half, jessamine, diacli'ion both disnosch dia- glaog. of each one dram ; sugar, tour tuncts ; wi'li water of cinnamon make lozenges, and take of them a dram and a half twice a day two hours before meals. Let her a so fast- en cupping glasses to her hips and belly ; and let her take storos ralamita one eur.ce, mastic, cloves, cinnamon, nut- m g, lignum aloes, frankincense, of each half an ounce, musk, ten grains, ambergrease* half a scruple, w i>h rose wa- ter make a confection ; divide it in>o fcur pans, ot one make a ponum odoralum to smell to, if Uie be noi hysteric- al ; of the second make a mass of..pills, and Itt her ti.ke three every night, of the «hiid n.rke a p< ss:iy. aud.put it up ; of the fourth make a fumigation hi the won b. If barrenness arises fr< m the tacu(ties t! .be w mb being weakened and the lite of the setd si.fiocattd by over much humidity flowing on those parts, let htr take of betony, m..rjuram, mugwort, pvnov ? .yul, bairn, of each one hai,d- fui ; root of ontum, fennel, elecampane, ot e ;di fwn drams ; -anissted, cummin seeti, of each a cli-aio, with sugar aid water a r-i fficieut quantitv, c.-l %\ln\i n.akt ; -yrup, ai.d take three ounces every morning. Then puige wilh ihese pi Is follow irg, take of pil. ext. two scruplts ; diagtidion, two grains, species dtcasto. <-ut scrup.i ;'nuke ihem up into nine pills with syrup o!'mugwort._ Also take spec dU agmiuae, dn.muschi, diambiae, of each one ortm ; cinna- mon one dr^m and a half; mace, cloves, nuimtf, ot e; ch 4iali a dram : tugar six ounces, with water of feverfew ; 38 aristotle's master piece. » make lozenges to be taken every morning. Likewise let her take of the decoction of sas„parilla and vigaaurea, with a good quantity > f s >ge, which is an herb of thai virtue, that Cornelius Agrippa honored it with the title ..f sacra heiba, a holy herb ; and Dodoncus, in his history of plains reports that af'er a great plague had happened in Egypt, which IihcI almost depopulated ihe country, the surviving women were commanded (o drink the juice of sage, that ihey might multiply the faster. Lethei anoint the genitals with the oil of annisseed and spikenard. Trochiks to smooth the womb ar£ also very good. To make which, let her take mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, storax, and amber, of each one dram ; cloves, laden of each ha't a dram ; turpentine, a suf- ficient quantity. Lastlv, take the roots of valleron and el- ecampane, of each one pound ; of gallangal three ounces; origan, m ijorai^ betony, mugwort, bay leaves, calamint, of each three handfuls ; with water make an infusion, in which let her *it after she has had her courses. But to proceed. If barrenness be caused by the dryness of the womb con- suming the matter of the seed, let her take every day al- mond milk and goat's milk,/extracted with honey : eat of- ten of the n ot naiyiion candied, and of the electuary of di- asatyron. Let her also take three sheep's heads, and boil them till the flesh comes from ihe bones ; then take of me. liot violets, camomile, meicuiy, orchks, with the roots of each, one pound ; senugret k. linseed, vallerian roots, of each a handful; let all these be decocted in the aforesaid broth, and let the woman si', in the decoction up to the na- vel. Also, take of deer's suet half f.n ounce; cow's mariow, styracis lyquide, ot each one dram ; or of sweet almonds, two ounces ; with silk or cotton nuke a pvssary, and make injections, only of fresh butter, and oil of sweet almonds. It sometimes happens that barrenness is caused by remiss- ness in the manner and ihe act of coition ; and though there be no impediment on either side^ yet if both sexes meet not in that act Cyith equal vigor, no conception follows ; for many limes the man is too quick for the woman, or tathtr the woman too slow for the'man, and is not prepared to re- ceive the seed with that delight she ought, when it is emit- ted by the man ; ar.tl those who follow the opinion of the ancients, that ihe woman who contributes sted in the for- mation of ih»ch 'd as well as ihe man, are of opinion that there ought lo be a joint emission both of ihe man and wo- u. in at the same instant, which administering to bolh a great delight, ptifects the work of conception. But if in il;.s case the woman be slack, it will be proper for the mao Aristotle's master piece. 39 to follow the advice given in chapter 3d, sect. 2, where both sexes are shewn how to manage themselves in the act of coition, that so by stirring up in the women a desire to ve- nery. she may meet his embraces with the greatest ardor- If this should prove ineffectual, let her before the act of co- ition foment the privities with the decoction of betony, sage, hysop and calamint, anoint the mouth anJ head of the womb with musk and civit j and the cause of barrenness being removed, let the womb be corroborated by the following ap- plications. Make of bayberries, mastick, nutmeg, frankincense, cy- press nuts, zadani, galbina, of each one dram : styracis liquidae, two scruples ; cloves half a scruple ; amber- grease, two grains ; musk, six giains, then with oil of spike- nard make a pessary- Also take red roses, with frankin- cense, lapids hamatit's, of each half an ounce, sangus dra- conis, fine bole mastic, of each two drams \ nutmegs, cloves of each one dram ; spikenard half a scruple, and with oil of wormwood make a plaster for the lower part of the belly. And let her eat of erringo roots candied, and make an in- jection of the juice of the roots of statyrion: and then let her use copulation soon after the menses are ceased, con- ception being most apt to follow ; for then the womb is thirsty and dry, and aptest both to draw the seed and to re- tain it by the roughness of the inward supei fices. A woman should be careful to avoid excess in all thnigs, as being the greatest enemy to exception. F. r should a woman con- ceive under care, study, 8ec. the child would probably be foolish, because the animal faculties of ihe parents were con- fused. CHAP. V. Sec I. How women ought to govern themselves during their pregnancy. FIRST, let a woman that is with child choose a temper- ate air, not infested with fogs, and for that reason not near any marshy ground*, rivers, &c- But thfc cannot be avoid- ed by some, their habitation falling oui to be in such places. But those who can live where they please ought to avoid such places, as likewise the going abroad in too hot or too cold weather ; also when the south wind blows hard, for that often proves hurtful to women with child and some- limes causes abortion. Secondly, she ought to be very cautious in the matter of her diet, choosing only those meats that create wholesome nourishment, and such as are immoderately dry ; and let her take care to prevent and avoid immoderate fasting, foe that will weaken the inL«>, and render it of a sickly consti- 40 Aristotle's master ptece. tution, and sometimes cause abortion. And as all excesses ought to be avoided, so she must take care not only of nvoid- ing immoderate fasting, but likewise immoderate e-uog too. which will not only be apt tos'uffup ihe chid, but 10 swell ii up to that degree, that it will endanger the lite ot. itself and the mother in its birth, Let it suffice that in gtneral she avoids all mens which are too hot or too cold, and moist ; such ass ill ids, spices and hot meats which of- ten cause the child o he boi t. before its ti ne ; and some- times without n.iils, which loreshews a short life. And therefore in this case the most wholesome meats are pig- eons, partridges, pheasants, larks, veal, mutton or any meat ih.it yieldi a good juice, and contributes kindly nour- ishment ; as also, such ti-uit as are sweet and of easy diges- tion, as cherries, pears, damsons, and the like. But let her avoid, as pernicious, all such things as cause and create wind. Care ought also to be taken with respect to her exercise;; which ought to be moderates for violent motion either in walking or working, is hurtlul and disturbing to the womb, especially riding upon the stones in a coach, or any other uneven place ; and in like njanner, all extraordinary sounds and noises should be avoided, especially the ringing cf bells and the discharging of great guns ; neither ought she to give way to either immoderate laughter or weeping, or to anger, or any other passions, for that may be prejudicial to her. Section H. Further rule, for women lo observe during their preg- nancy. Though the act of coition is that without which concep- tion cannot be, yet the immoderate iweofit hinders the brief end for which it was designed. In the first four months after conception, she ought not to lie with her husband, at least sparingly, lest by shaking the womb in that action, the courses should again be forced down. In the fifth and sixth months she ought to abstain ; but in the 7th, 8th, and 9.h, it may freely be permitted by reason it ©pens the pas- sage, and facilitates the birth. To contribute the better towards which, the womaa should be careful to keep her body soluble; syrups and other opening things being very helpful to nature in those operations. Let her not lace too close, le»t ihe child be thereby hindered from coming to its full growth. To prevent any disorder that may happen to her breasts by too much blood, which will cause curdled milk, let her wear a necklace of gold about iver neck, or rather a s:»ait Aristotle's master piece. 41 ingot of steel between her breasts, fomenting them a quar- ter ot an hour every morning with water distilled from ground ivy, periwinkle and sage, being blood warm. When her belly is swelling, and ihe motion is great,which will be about tlve fourth month, she may swathe it with a swathband annointed with pimatum, or any other thing ot the kind, to keep it smooth and free from wrinkles. For which end it will be Oest to take the caul of a kid, and of a sow, ot each three ounces ; capon grease and goose grease, of each one ounce and a huf; having melted them altogeth- er, put thereto a quarter of * pint of water ; after which strain them through'a linen cloth into fair water; casting it to and fro therein till it be while ; at which time add to it of marrow of a red deer, one ounce, and lay it in red rose water, twelve hours. After the expiration of which you may use it, anointing the swathe and belly. But if these ingredien's are not easy to be had, you may make use of the following lineament, which will do almost as well as ihe other ; take of mutton suet (that which grows about the kidneys is best) and of dog's grease of each two ounces, whale oil one ounce, and oil of. &weet almonds the same quantity ; wash them well, after they are melted to- gether, in the water of germander, or new white wine, an- noint the belly.and swathe therewith. Those that care noc to anoint iheir bellies, may make use of the following bath or decocti»n ; take of all sorts of mallows and mother wort each two handfuls; white lilly roots thiee ounces ; melilot and cammoile, of each two handfuls ; lime seeds, quince seeds and senugreekseeds, three ounces, boil them well in spring water and bathe therewith. Ifthe woman after her quickening, finds but little molion cf the infant in the womb, let her make a quilt in the mauner following, and bind it to the navel, and it will much strengthen and comfort the in- fant; take the powder of roses, red coral and jelly flowers, of each two ounces; mastic a dram, angelica seeds two drams, ambei grease two grains, and musk two grains ; ail of which being well beaten, put them into a lit.en bag, spread them abroad and quilt it, that they may be in every part of it placing upon U e navel, and ft will have the desired ef- fect. These things are sufficient lo observe during the time of their pregnancy, that neither the child nor mother may miscarry, but be brought to the birth at the appointed time. 4* £3 Aristotle's master piecs. CHAP, VI. Directions for Midwives how to assist Women in the time of their Labors, and how Child bearing Women shota-L bt ordered in time of their lying in. Suction 1. How a Midwife oaght to be qualified. * A MID A 1FE ought to be of a middle age. neither loo old nor too young, and of a good hab> of body, neither sub- y ct to diseases, fears or sudden frights ; nor are the quali- fications assigned to a good surgeon improper for a midwife, viz. a lady's hand, a hawk's eye, and a lion's heart ; to which may be added, activity of boity, and a convenient strength, with caution and diligence, not subject to drowsi- ness, nor apt to be impatient. She ought to be sober and af- fable, not subject to passion, but bountiful and compassion- ate, and her temper cheerful and pleasant, thai she may the better comfort her patients in their sorrow. Nor must she be very hasty, though her business perhaps require her in another place, lest she should make more haste ihan good speed. But above all she ought to be qualified with the fear of God, which is the principal thing in every state and condition, and will furnish her on all occasions both with knowledge and discretion. But I now proceed to more particular directions. Section II. What must be done when a woman's time of labor is come* When the time of birth draws near, and the good womaa finds her travailing pains begin to come upon her, let her send for a midwife in time ; better too soon than too late, and get those things ready which are proper on such occa- sions. When the midwife is come, let the first thing she does be to find whether the true time of birth be come. The want of observing this hath spoiled many a child, and en- dangered the life of the mother; or at least put her to twice as much pain is she needed ; for unskilful midwives, not minding this, have things to force down the child, and there- by disturbed the natural course of her labors ; whei eas na- ture works best in her own time and way. I do confess it is somewhat difficult to know the true timepfsome women's labor, they being troubled with pains so long before iheir true labor comes ; in some, weeks before ; the reason ©I which is the heat of the reins, which is manifest by the swelling of legs. And therefore when women with child « find their legs to swell much, they may be assured their reins are too hot. Wherefore my advice to such women is, to cool fieir reins before the time of their labor, which may *?e effvc unlly done by anointing the reins of the buck with ARISTOlLE'a MASTER PUCE. 43 the oil of po; p.. s at d violets, or water lilies, and thus they may avoid that hud labor which they usually undergo whose reins aie hot, that they may the.better prevent, let me 11 c^mmendto you the decoction of plantain leaves and roots, which is thus made ; Make a strong- decoction of them in water, and then having, strained and clarifi d it with the white of an egg, boil it into a syrup with its equal wttgnt of sugar, and keep it for use. But since it is so ne- cessary tor midwives to know the time of a woman's labor, the following section will rightly inform them* Section III. Signs by which the true time cfa Woman's Labor may be known* When.woroen draw near the time of their reckoning*, es- pecially with their first child, and,perceive any extraordi- nary pains in their belly, they immediately send for their midwife, as taking it for their labor, though perhaps those. pains whiclvare so often mistaken for labor, are only the cholic, and proceed-fr. an the wind, which pains ihoush ihey come and go, griping the whole belly, are yet without any forcing downwards into the womb, as js done by those that go before.labor. Bnt-these cholic pains may he removed by warm clothes laid upon the belly : and. the application of*a clyster or two by which those pains lhat precede, a ti ue labor are rather furthered than hindered. There are also ether pains incident to women in that condition from lha flux of the belly, which are easily, known by ihe frequent stools that follow them. But to speak more directly of the matter ; the signs of labor some few days before are that the woman's belly, which before lay high, sinks down, and hinders her from walking so easily asbhe used to do ; also there flows from the womb slimy humors, which nature has appointed.to moisten and make 6mooth the passage, that its inward ori- fice may be the more easily dilated when there is occasion,. which beginning to open at-that tine, suffers that slime to How away, which p-.oceeds from the glands, called piesta- lx. These are signs preceding.labor. But when she is presently falling inio labor, the signs are great pains about the reins and loins, which coming and retreating by intervals, answer in. the bottom of tbe belly by cougruou* throes ; and sometimes the face is red and inflamed, the bloog being much heated by the endeavor a woman makes te bring forth 'he child ; and likewise during tht strong threes her perspiration is in.ercepted, which causes the blood to have recourse to her face ; her privyt Jarts are m> swelled by the infant's head lying in the birtb^ 4-i- ARI3T0TLE'"a MASTiR PIECE. which, bv eften thrusting causes those parts w distend out- WHids. She is likewise much subjec, to vomiting, w.ncn is also a sign of good labor and speedy delivery, thoujh by a ereatmany ignorant women thought oiherw.se ; for gntd pa.ns are thereby excited and redoubled ; which vomiting is occasioned by the sympathy there is between the womb arid the stomach ; Also, when the birth is near, most wo- men are troubled with trembling 01 the thighs and legs ;_ not wiih cold, like beginning of an ague fit, but with ihe heat of the whole body ; though this indeed does not happen al- way *. Aiso if the hum crs, which then flow from the womb, are discolored with biood (which is what the midwife calls shews) it is an infallible mark of the birth's being near ;, ant! then if the midwife put her finger up tbe neck of the womb, Uie will-find the inwaidorifice dilated ; at the open. ing of which the membranes of the infant, containing the waitrs, present themselves, and are strongly forced down- wards with each pain she haih ; at which time one may perceive them sometimes to.resist the-finger ; and then a- gain to press forward, being more or less hard and extend- ed, according as ihe pains are stronger or weaker. These membranes with the water in them, when they are before the head of the child, which the midwife calls the galhei ing of the womb, to the touch of the fingers resembles those eggs which yet have no shell, but are covered only by a simple membrane, After this, pains still redoubling, the membranes are broken by the strong impr«sion of the wa- ters, which presently flow away, and then the head of the infant is presently felt naked, and presents itself at the in- ward orifice of the womb. When those waters come thus away, then ihe midwife may be assured the birth is very near ; this being the most certain sigrvthat can be ; for the amnion and alantois being broken which contained those waters by the pressing forward of the birth, the child ia no more able to subsist long in the womb afterwards, than a naked man in a heap of snow. Now, these waters, if the child come presently after them, facilitate the labor, by making the passage slippery ; and therefore letno midwife use means to force away the water ; for nature knows best v hen the true time of the birth is. and therefore retains the water till ihe lime; but ifbv accident the water breaks a* way loo long before the bi' th, then such things as will has- ten it may be safely administered. Sec IV. What is to be done at the time of Labor. When the midwife is satisfied th t it is the true time of labor, she must take c; re to gat all things rtadv that are necessary to comfort the tray&hng woman in that time ; ari-totle's MASTs.R pifce. 4t>« and the better to d it. let her see that she be not s*r tight taced. She may also give her a,pretty strong c yster, if she fi ids there is occasion for it ; hat with this proviso, tiie; i- bi d >ne at the beg.nni .g.aiul before the child b- too fo. w ltd ; tor otherwise it will be difficult for her to receive it. I'lui advantage of whici. clvster is, that t+ie gut thereby will be excited to discharge itself of its excrements, aid the rectum being emptitd, there will be mere space for the dilaiiiigof the passage ; iike-iise to ciuse the pains to bear more downwards, through ihe endeavors she nukes whed oth-r necessary things for her labor are put in order, both for the mother and'the child. As t0 ihe manner of the delivery, various midwives use different ways ; some are delivered sitting on a midwife's stool ; but, for my own part, I •hink that a pallet bed gird- ed and placed near the fiie*, that ihe good woman may come on each side, and be more readily assisted, is much the best way And if the laboring woman abounds wi.h blood it may not be: improper to let her bleed a little, for by that means she will both breathe tue belter, and have her breath more at liberty, and likewise more strength to bear down her pain ; »nd this may be done without danger, because the child be» ing now ready to be born, needs not the moihei 's blood for.- us nourishment any longer ; and not only so, but this evact- uation does many times prevent her having a fever'after delivery. Likewise if her strength will permit, let her walk up and down her chamber ; and the better to enable her thereto, let her take some good and strengtheningthings, such as new laid eggs, jelly broth, some spoonfuls of burnt wine; and encourage her to holde.fr her pains, bearing; them down when they take her, all that she can. And let the midwife often touch the inward orifice with her finger, that she may better know whether ihe waters are going to break, and whether the birth will follow soon after ; for generally the birth follows in two hours after the eflux of the water. And to help it afterwards, let her anoint the woman's privities with emolient oil, hog s grease, and fresh buter; especi illy if she ftods them too hard, to be dilated: Let the midwife also be near the laboring woman all the while and diligently observe her gestures, pains and com- plaints, for b. this she may guess pretty well how her la- bor goes forward ; for when she changes her groans, into loud cries it is a great sign the birth is near; at which time her pains are greater and more frequent. Let her also sometimes rest herself on her bed, to renew her strength bit not too long at a time, for to lie too long at a time wiH *G aristotle's master piece. retardjier labor and thcremre 'us better for her to Whltt about her chamber as much as she can ; which that she may ihe iv-ttcr do, let the good woman support her under her f.ims if it te necessary ; for by walking, the weight of fie child cau-.es th'; inward orifice of a woman to dilate much sooner than it would do if she lay upon her bed ; be- sides her pains, bv walking will be stronger and more fre- niu-nt, and in cmvqiience her labor will not be near so long. It she finds my sick qualms, let her not be discour- aged ; and if she fi.ids any motions to vomit, let her not suppress tham, but rather give way to them; for it will (however uneasy and irksome they be for the present) be much for her benefit, because they further the pains, aud provoke downward. Section V. How to provide the birth, and cause speedy delivery. When the birth is long deferred after the coming down, on the waters, let her hasten the birih by drinking a draught of wine wherein ditany, red coral, juniper berries, betony, pennyroyal, and feverfew, have been boiled or the juice of feverfew.taken in its prime (which is in May) and clarifi- ed and so boiled in a syrup, and twice its weight of sugar is very g.iod upon lbs occasion. Also- mugwort used in the s&me manner, works the same effect. And so also does a dram of cinnamon in powder, given inwardly, or tansey bruivd and applied to the privities. Likewise the stone /Etitis hed to the privities does in a very little time draw forth the child and tin? after burden: but great care must be taken to remove it gently, or else it will draw forih ii.2 womb and all, so great is its magnetic virtue. Also a de- coction of savory made with white wine, and drank, gives a woman speedy delivery. Also wild tansey or silver weed bruised and applied lo ihe woman's nostrils is very good. So also are date stones beaten to powder, and half a dram of them taken in white wine ; parsley is of excellent use on this occasion ; for if you biuise it and press out the juice, ai d fien dip a linen clnth in it, and put it up, being so dip- ped in iha mouth of the womb, i: will presently cause the: child to come away, though it be dead, and will bring away the after burden also, The juice of parsley being of great virtue especially the stone parsley, being drank by a wo- man with child, it cleareth not o: ly the womb, but also the child in ihe womb, of all gross humors. A scruple of c«s- torum in powder, in any convenient liquor, is very good to he tak^ n io such a case, and so also are two or three drops of spirit of castorumin a convenient liquor Eight or nine chops of the spirit of myrrh, given in a convenient liquor, Aristotle's master piece. 47 have the same effect. Or, give a worn •» in tiavil another woman's milk to drink, it will cause speedy delivery. Also the juice of leeks being drank with warm water hath a migh- ty effect, causing speedy delivery. '1 ake piony ^eeds beat them to powder and mix the powder with oil; with which oil anoint the loins and privities ot the woman with child ; it gives her deliverance very speedily, and with less pain than can be imagined. And this may be noted for a gene- ral rule, that all those things that move the.terms are good for making the delivery easy. There are several olter things «fficacious in this case ; but I need not heap medi- cines unnecessarily, those I have already named being sufficient. When any of the forenamed medicines have hastened the birth, let the midwife lay the woman in a posture for deliv- ery. And first let the woman be conducted to the pallet bed, placed at a convenient distance from the fire, accord- ing to the season of .he year ; and let there be a quilt laid upon the pallet bedstead, which is better than a feather bed, and lc it have thereon a linen cloth in many folds, - ith such other things as are necessary, which may be changed ac« cording as the occasion requires it, that so the woman may not be incommoded with blood, waters, and oilier fiiih,which are voided in labor. Then let her lay the woman upon her back, h.ving her head a little raised by the help of a pil- low, having the like help to support the reins and buttocks, that her lump may lie high ; tor if she lie low, she cannot very well be delivered. '1 hen let her keep her knees and thighs as tar asunder as she can, her legs being bowed to- wards her buttoeks, and let her feet be stayed against a log, or some other firm ihing And let two women hold her two shoulders, that she may strain out the birth wiih more ad- vantage, holding in her breath, and forcing herself as much as possible in like manner as when she goes to stool : for by such straining, the diaphragm, or midiiff, being strongly thrust downwards, necessarily fotces down the womb and the child in it. In the mean time, ,e* tin midwife encourage her all she can, and take care that shehive no riogson her hands when she annoints the p u t; then let her j^entfy di- late the inward orifice of the womb, ai d putting hvr fingers In the entry thereof, stretch them from one another when her pains take her, by this means ei deavoi to he,p forward the child, and thrusting by liitie and little the sides of the orifice towards the hinder pan of ihe child's heart, arnoint- ing those parts with fresh butter, in case ii be necessity.— And when the head of the infant is somewhat advanced iut» 43 ar'Stotle's master piece. the inward orifice, it is usua* amm.g midwives to sty it is crowned, because ii botu girds and surrounds ii like a crown ; but win nit is gone so iar, and the cxti e mitj begins to appear without the privy p..r-s 'hty say the chi'd is in the passage ; and :it ths time th/ woman feeis her: elf as if she was scratched or piirketl with puis, ;nd io ready to think that the midwi't hurts: er ; w-hereas-tn tru h u isonly occasioned by the violent distei.tetn o!" those parts, which sometimes even suffer a laceration il.rougu ihc bigness of the child's head v\ Inn thijjs are come to this postuie let the midwife»seat heisC.f conveniently to receive the clu d, which will now come very quickly ; acd'wiih her fingers' end, which she ought also to be sure to keep pared, Itt tier endeavor to thrust ihe crowning of the womb back over the head of the child. And as soon as it is advanced is far as the ears or thereab uf, let her take hold of the iwo sides with her two hands, and wait till the good pain comes and then quickly draw forth the Child, taking care tint the navel stiing be not en angled about tire child sneck, or any other part, as sometimes it is, lest thereby the after bu»den be pulled with violence, and perhaps the wi.mb also, io which it is fastened, so either cause her to' flood or else break the string, both of which are ot bad consequence to the wo- man, and render her deliveiy the more uifficult. (iieat care must be taken that.the head be not drawn tonh straight, but shake it a little from one side to the other, that ihe shoulders may the sooner and easier take its pi ce immedi- ately after it is past ; which must be done w ihi-ut 1 sing any time, lest the head being passed, .he.child stop there by the largeness of the shoulders, and so be in daigei of being suffocated in the passage, as it hat sometin.es hap- pened, for want of care therein. When the head is oorn, she may slide in her fii.gers under the armpits, and ih test of «.he body will follow without difficulty, as soon as iht nod- wife hath It. this mani.er drawn foi th he child, let lu i Ky it on one side, est th«'blood and water which folic* to», in i e- diaely, should doit an ii jury, by runnu g into its nu.utli . nd nose, as it wou.d do ,f it \«y on its back, a. d son dimari ,,e cloaking of it. Vhe child being thus-drawn ter h Jh next ■H.n.g icquisiiei* to bring away the alter buioen; but be. loir that, let the midwife |)e vtiy careful ., tx,n,ii.e w he h. er here be any moie chiltnei. in -he vvm, b. for s. nut. es ? lw tn|.nKX l''lu%etvvi,ls } *>* which the midwife n ay sans- -i.d ihe Wh,lt ss o| her belly. ijul lhU ls ,„; „ to put ,,. , 1, ,.„ lip tht e OI. „ liere t -l Whether another child is not presenting l0 the pLage: *J Aristotle's master piece. 49 if so, she must have a care how she goes about the after birth till the woman be delivered. The first string must be cut and tied with a 'hread three or four double, and the ends fastened with a string to the woman's thigh, to prevent the inconvenience it may cause by lunging between the thighs. fel-CTION VII Of the. after burden. Until the after burden is brought away, which sometimes is more difficult to do than the child, and altogether as dan- geious, if it be not speediiy done, the woman cannot proper- ly be paid to be safely delivered though the child be born Therefore as soon as the child is born, before the mjdwife either ties or cuts the navel string, lest 'he womb should close, let her, having taken the string wind it once or twice ab< ut one < r two of the fingers of the left hand, joined to- geiher. the better to hold it, with which she may only take single hold of it above the left, near the privities, drawing lik« wise with that very gently, resting a while, with a fore finger of the same hand extending and stretching alorg the string towards the entry of the Vtginia, always observing, for the more facdity, to draw it from the side to which th« burden least inclines, for in so doing the rest will separate the better. And extraordinary care must be taken that it be not drawn forth with too much violence, lest by break- ing the string near the burden, the midwife be obliged to put her whole hand into the womb io deliver the woman ; and she had need to take caie in this matter, that so the womb itself, to which sometimes this burden is fastened very strongly, be not drawn away with it which has sometimes happened. Il is therefore necessary, to assist nature with proper remedies, which are in general, what has been be- fore mentioned, to cause a spttdy delivery ; for whatever has magnetic viitue to bring away the birth, has the same to bring away the after bit th. Besides which, the midwife ought to consider that the woman cannot but be much spent by ihe fatigue she has already undergone in btinging forth ' the infant, and therefore should be sure io take cate to give her semething to comfort her. To which purpose some good jelly broths and a little wine, with a toast in it, and other comfortiiig things, will be necessary. Sneezing being ce.nt'»cive to bring away the after birth, let her take a little white hellebore in powder to cause her to sneeze. Tansey and he stone iEtjtis, applied asbefoie directed, is very ef- ficaciousin 'his. The smoke of marygold flowers, rtceived up a woman's privities by a funnel, will brir.g away the af- ter birth, though the midwife has lost her hold. Or, if you boil mugwort in water till it be vety soft, and then take it 0 50 aristotle's master piece. out and apply it like a pi ultice to the navel of the woman in travail, constant y brings away both the biith and the after birth ; but as scon as they are come forih, it must be instantly taken away, lest it should bring away ihe womb also. Section VIII. how to cut the child's Navel string After the birth and alter biith are safely biought away, the midwife ought to take care to cut the navel siring; which, though ii be by some esteemed a thing of small mat- ter, yet it requires none of the least skill of a midwife to do it with that care and prudence which it ought, and there- fore to instruct the industrious midwife a hide herein : As soon as the child is come into the woi Id, let her consider whether it be weak or strong ; if it be weak, let her gently put back part of the vital and natural blood in the body of the child by ihe navel, for that rcciuits a weak child, the vital and natural spirits being communicated by the mother to the child by its navel string- But if the child be strong there is no need of it. Only it will not be amiss to let the midwife know, that many children that are born seemingly dead, may be brought to life again, if she squeeze six or t.even drops of blood cut ot that part of the navel string which is cut off, and give it to the child inwardly. As to the cutting it short or long, authors can scarce aj- gree about it, noi midwives neither : some prescribe it to be cut at four fingers' breadth, which is at the best but an uncertain rule, unless all fingers were of an equal size. 'Tis a received opinion, that the parts adapted to generation are erher contracted or dilated, according to the cutting of the navel string, which is the reason that min wives are gen- erally so kind to their own sex, that they leave a longer part of the navel string of a male than a female, because they would have the male well provided for the encounters of Venus. And the reason ihey give why they cut those more short is, because they believe it makes them modest, and their parts narrower, which makes them more accept- able to iheir husbands. Rut whether this be so or not (which yet some of the greatest searchers into the secrets of nature affirm for a truth) yet certain it is that great caie flight tobe used abemt cutting oft the navel string ; and es- pecially, that after it is cut, it be not suffered to touch the ground, for if it be, the child will never be able to hold its water, but be subject a.I its life time to diabetes, as experi- ence often confirms : but as to ihe manner of cutting the navel s.ring, let the midwife take a brown thread, three or lour times double, of an ell long, or thereabouts, tied with a tjngle knot at eucb ot the ends, to prevent their entang- Aristotle's master piece. 51 ling ; and with this thread so accommodated (which the midwife ought to have in readiness before the woman's la- bor, as also a good pair of scissors, that so no time may be lost) let her tie the string within an inch of the belly with a double knot, and turning about the ends of the thread, let her tie two or more on the si,' ■ of the string, reiterating it again, if it be necessary ; then let her cut off the navel string, another inch below the ligator towards the after birth ; so that there only remains but two inches of the string, in the midst of which will be the knot spoken- of, which must be so straight knit, as not to suffer a drop of blood to squeeze out of the vessels; but yet cire must be taken not to knit it so straight as to cut it in two ; and there- fore the thread must be pretty thick, and pretty straight knit, it being better too straight than too loose Some cnil- dren have miserably lost their lives, before it hath ->eeh discovered that the navel string was not well tied. There- fore great care must be taken that no blood squeeze through, for if there do, new knots must be made with the rest of the string. You need not fear to bind the navel string very hard, because it is void of sense ; and that part of it which you leave on falls off of its own accord in a few days, orJi- narily six or seven, and sometimes in less time ; but it very rarely tarries longer than the eighth or ninth day. As soon as the navel string is cut off, apply a little cot- ton or lint in the place to keep it warn.', lest the cold enter into the body of the chi'd, which it will unavoidably do, hi case it be not bound hard enough : and if the lint or cotton you apply to it be dipped in the oil of reses, it will be bet- ter : then having put another sui.ill rag three or four times double, upon the body of the child, above the navel, lay the siring so wrapped upon it that it may not touch the naked belly. Lpon the toji of ail.put another small bolster; and then swathe it in a linen swathe, four fingers broad, to keep ii steady, lest by rolling too much, or being continually stir- red from side, to side, it come to fall iff before the navel string which you left remaining is fallen off. ' lis the usual custom of the midwives to put a piece of burnt rag to it ; but 1 would advise them to put a small quantity of bole am- monica, because of its drying quality, thus much may suf- fice as to cutting the navel su ing and delivery of a wonun in labor, where the labor is natural, and no ill accident happens. But it sometimes so falls out, that tfie labor is not only hard and difficult, but unnatural also, in which the midwife roust take other measures. 52 Aristotle's master piece. chap. VII, What unnatural Labor is, and whence it proceeds ; and what the Midwife ought to do in such Cases. Suction I. What unnatural Labor is. IT will be necessary to acquaint my readers, that there are three sorts of bad labor,..» painful and difficult, but not all properly unnatunal, which are as follows : The first, properly stvled hard labor, is that wherein the mother and child do suffer very much by extreme pain. The second is difficult labor, different from the former, in thit besides those extreme pains, it is generally attended with some unhappy accident, which, by retarding the birth, makes it very difficult ; neither of those, though hard and difficult, can be called unnatural ; for women to bring forth children in pain and sorrow is natural. Ii is therefore ihe third soi t of iabor which I call unnat- ural : and that is, when the child essays to come into the world in a contrary position to that which nature ordained. To explain this, tue reader must know, that there is but one right and natural posture in which children come to the birth, and that is when the head comes first, and the body follows after in a straight line. If instead of this i e child comes w=th its feet foremost, or with the side across, it is contrary to nature, or to speak more plainlyj, unnatural. Section II. Whence hard, difficult and unnatural labor proceeds. The true physical reason why women m general bring forth their children with so much pain, is that the sense of feeiing being distributed to the whole body by the nerves, and the mouth of the womb being so straight, that it must of necessity be dilated at the time of her delivery; the di- lating thereof stretcheth the nerves, and from thence com. e\h the pain ; some women having more pain in their labor than others, proceeds from their having the mouth of the matrix more lull of nerves than others. Hard and difficult 1 ibor may proceed either from the mother and child, or from both: It may proceed from the mother, by reason of a genernl indisposition of her body, or from-the indisposition of some particular part, and that principally of the womb, which may be affected with such a weakness as renders the mother unable to expel her bur- den. It may be also because she is too young or she may be too old, and so may have the passage too straight, and then, if it be her first child, the parts may be too dry and hard and cannot easily be dilated. The cholic does also cause labor to be hard and difficult, because it hinders the true pain which should accelerate it ; for which reason, all aristotle's master piece. 53 great and acute pains render a woman's labor very diffi- cult. As when the woman is taken with a violent fever, frequent convulsions, a great flooding, or any other violent distemper, especially when the membranes are thick, and the orifice is too straight, or the neck of the womb not suffi. cientlv opened. Hard labor may also proceed from the child, and this is either when it happens to stick to a mole, or is so weak that itcannot break the membrane; also when it is too big either all over, or its head onlv ; or if tue navel vessels should be twisted about its neck as when it proves mon- strous. or comes into ihe birth io an unnatural posture. Sometimes it proceeds from the ignorance of the midwife, who may hinder nature in her work. Sfction HI. How the midwife must firocerdin order to the Delivery of a Woman in case of hard labor and great extremity. In case the midwife finds the w>mai? in difficult labor, she must endeavor to know the particular obstruction or cause thereof, that so she may apply a suitable remedy. When hard labor is caused by a worn tr.'s being too young and straight, the passages must »*e anointed with oil, hog's lard, or fresh butter, to relax and dilate them the easier. But if a woman be in years and has hard labor from her first child let her lower parts be anointed to molify the inward ori- fice, which in such ca*e (being more hard and callous) does not easily yield to the distension of labor ; and indeed this is the true cause why such women are longer in labor, and why their children in their birth are more subject to bruises than others. Those who are very lean, and have hard la- bor from that cause, let them moisten their parts with oil and ointments, to make them smooth and slippery, that the head of the infant in the womb may not be compressed and bruised by the hardness of the mothei's bones in its passage. But if the cause be weakness shejoughi to be sti engthened,the better to enable her to support her pain. Since difficult la- bor proceeds from divers causes, the midwife must make use of several remedies to women in hard, difficult labor, which must be adaptnd to the cause from whence it pio- ceeds. I netd not tell the judicious, midwife, that in case of ex- tremity, when the labor is not only hard, but difficult and dangerous, a far greater care must be had than at other times. In such cases the situation of the womb most be minded, and accordingly her posture of lying will be regu- lated ; which will be best across the bed, being held by those that are of a good strength to prevent h»r slipping 5t Aristotle's master piece. down, or moving herself during the time of the operation; Then let her thighs be put asunder as far as may be, and held so, while her legs are bent backwards towards her hips, her head leaning upon-n bolster, and the reins of her back supported in like manner, her rump and buttocks be- ing lifted up; observing to cover her stomach, belly, and thighs, with warm linen, as well for decency's sako as to keep them from the cold. The woman being in this posture, let the midwife, or other operator put up her hand and try if the neck of the womb be dilated, and then remove the contracted b>ood that ob- structs the passage of the birth, and having greatly made way, let the operator tenderly move the infant, having ihe hancl anointed with sweet butter, or an harmless pomatum, and if the wa'ersare not come-down they may be let forth without any difficulty. And if the infant should attempt to break forth rot with the head foremost or across, he ought gently to turn it, that he may find the feet; which having done, let him draw forth one, and having fastened it to a ribbon, put it up again, and finding the other, bring them as close as may be ; let the woman breathe between whiles, assisting nature what she can by straining in bringing for- ward the birth, that so he may the more easily draw it forth ; and (hat the operator may do it the better, and his hold may be the surer, he must fasten or wrap a linen cloth about the child's thighs, observing to bring it into the world with its feet downwards. But in case there be a flux of blood, let the opera- tor be well satisfied whether the child or secundine come first ; for sometimes when the secundine has come first, the mouth of the womb has been thereby stopped, and the birth hindered, to the hazard both of the woman and child ; and therefore, in this case the secundine must be removed by a swift turn, and the child souglrt for, and drawn forth, as has been directed. If upon enquiry, it appears that the secundine comes first, let the woman be delivered with all convenient speed, because a great flux of blood will follow ; for then the veins are opened. And on this acsount two things are to be minded; first, whether the secundine advances forward much or little ; if the former, and the head of the child first appears, it must be directed to the neck of the womb, as in the case of natural births; but if there appears any difficul- ty in the delivery, the best way is to seaich for the feet, and by them it may be put by with a gentle hand, and the child taken out first : but if the secundine is advanced, so th.it it cannot be put back, and the child follow it clgse, then the Aristotle's master piecs. 5a secundine is io be taken out first with much care, and as swift as may be, and laid aside, without cutting the entrail that is fastened to them ; for by that you may be guided to the infant, which whether itbt alive or dead, must be drawn forth by the feet as soon as possible ; though this is not t; be done but in case of great necessity, for ihe order of na- ture is for the secundine to come last. Section IV. Of the delivery of a dead Child. In delivering a woman of a dead child, ihe operator ought to be certain the child is dead, which might be known by the falling of the mother's breasts, the coolness of her belly, ihe thickness of her urine, which is attended with stinking sediment at bottom ; and no motion to be perceiv- ed in the child. Also, when she turns herselt-m her bed, the child sways like a lump of lead, and her breath stinks, though not used to do so. When the operator is certain that the child is dead, let him or her apply themselves to the saving of the mother, by giving her tfyo.se things that are most powerful in serving nature in her operations. But, if through weakiess, the womb is no' able to co-operate with nature, so that a manu.il operation is absolutely neces- sary, let the operator carefully observe the following di- rections, viz. If the child be found dead with his head foremost, he must take notice that the delivery will be the more difficult, because in this case it is only impossible that the child should any ways assist in its delivery, but the strength of the mother does also very much fail her, where- fore the most sure and safe way for him to put up his left hand, sliding it, as hollow in the palm as he can, into the neck of the womb, into the lower part thereof towards the feet, and then between the infant and ihe neck of the mat- rix ; and having a hook in the right h nd, couch it clo^e and slip it above the left hand between the head of the child and the flat of the hand, fixing it to the bone of the temple towards the eye % or, for want of convenient coming at that, observe to keep the left hand in its place, gently moving and st rring the head with it, and so with the right hand hook draw the child forward, encouraging the woman to put forth her utmost strength, and always drawing when the woman's pangs are upon her. The head being thus drawn forth the operator must, with all speed, slip his hand under the arm holes of the child, and take it quite forth, giving immediately to the woman a toast of fi.e wheaten bread in a quarter of a pint of tent, to revive and cherish her spirits By what I have already shewn, the midwife will know what to do in any other case that may fall out, remember- 66 Aristotle's master piece. ing,that for a child to come head foremost, and the body to follow in a straight line, is the right posture for a child w hen It comes to the birth-; and if it comes any other way, it will he the wisdom of the midwife, if possible to bring it to this pasture; but if that cannot be done without very great danger, then put it in a po«ure th.it it may be brought forth by the fee*. And the midwife perceiving in what pos- ture the child present5, or that the woman floods, or any other accident happens, by which she finds it not in her power to deliver it, it will behest for her to send for a man midwife in time, rather than put things to the utmost extremity. CHAP VIII. Sec I. DirectioJis for child bed Women after delivery. After the birth and after birth are brought awav if the woman's body be very weak, keep her not too hot, the extremity ot beat weakens nature, and dissolves the strength, but whether she be weak or strong let no cold come near hi, for cold is an enemy io the spermatic parts: and if ccld,gets into the womb it increases the after pains, causes "Swellings in the womb, and hurts the nerves. Therefore if a woman has had very hard labor, 'tis proper, after de- livery, to wrap her in the skin of a sheep, taken as warm as possible, and putting the fleshy sides to h r reins and bel- ly ; if a sheep's skin cannot well be had, ihe skin of a hare or rabbit, taken off as ssoi? as it is killed may be applied io the same part, and by so doing, the dilation made in the birth will be closed up, and the melancholy blood expelled from those parts; and these may be continued during the space of an hour or two. After which let the woman be swathed with a fine linen cloth, about a quarter of a yard in length, chafing the belly, before it be swathed with the oil of St. John's wort: afterwards raise up the matrix with a linen cloth, many times folded, then with a little pillow or quilt, cover her flank, place the swathe somewhat above the haunches, winding it indifferently stiff, applying at the same time, a warm cloth to the nipples. Care should bo taken not to apply any remedy to keep back the milk, be- cause those remedies which drive back the milk, being of a dissolving nature, it is in»proper tD apply them to the breast during such a disorder, lest evil humors should be contract- ed in the breast thereby ; and therefore twelve hours at least ought to be allowed for the circulation and setilement sf the blood. After the woman has been delivered for some time, you may make a restrictive of the yolk of two eggs, a quarter of a pint of white wiue, oil of Stt John's wort, oil of ros.es, Aristotle's master piece. 57 plantain, and lose water of each an ounce, mix them to- gether, fold a linen cloth and dip therein, warm it before a gentle fire, apply it to the breasts, and the pain of these parts wiil be greatly eased. IVu be sure not to let her sleep soon ifter her delivery, ^ut let her take some broth, or c&udie, or any other liquid matter that is nourishing, about four hours after her delive- ry, and then she may be safely permitted to sleep if fhe is disposed, as it is probible she will be, being tired with the fatigue of her labor. But before this, as soon as she is laid in her bed let her drink a draught of burnt white wine in which melt a dram of spermatic. Let her also avoid the light for the first three days for labor weakens the eye sight. The herb vervain is of singular service to the sight, and may be used any way, either boiled in meat, or drink, not having the least offensive taste, but many pleas* ant virtues. If she sh mid be feverish, add the leaves or roots of plantain to it; but if her courses come not away as they ought, let the plan*ain* alone, and instead thereof put mother of thyme. If the womb is foul, which may be known by the impurity of the blood, and its stinking and coming away in clotted lurrps ; or if you suspect any of ihe after birth to be left behind, which may sometimes happen though the midwife be ever so careful and skillful, then make her a drink ot feverfew, penneroyal, mother of thyme boiled in white wine, and sweetened with sugar ; panada and new laid eggs are the best meat for her at first ; of which let her eat often, and but a little at a,time. Let her use cinnimon iu all her meats and drinks, for it mightily strengthens the womb; let her stir very little lor s.x or seven days after her delivery; and talk little, for that weakens her If she goes not to stool, give a clyster made with the decoction of mallows, and a little brown sugar. Af- ter she has lain a week, or more, give her such things as close the womb; to which you may add a little polypodium, both leaves and roots bruised, which will purge gently. This is as much in case of natural birth as needs at first be done. Suction II. In extremity of unnatural labor. Let the woman besur^ to keep a temperate diet; and take car£ that she does by no means overcharge herself, af- ter such an excessive evacuation not being ruled by or giv- ing credit to unskUlfnl*'nurses, who are apt to admonish litem to teed heartily, the better to repair the loss 0f blood ; for the blood i«s not ft/i- the most pm pure, but such as has been detained in the vessels or membranes, and it is better 58 Aristotle's master piece. voided for the health of a woman than kept, unless there happens an extraordinary flux of blond ; for if her nour- ishment be too much.it may make her liable to a fever, and increase the milk to a superfluity which may be of dan- gerous consequence. It is therefore requisite for the first five days especially, that she take moderately panada broth, poached eggs, jelly of chickens and calves feet, French barley broth, each somewhat increasing the quantity. And if she intend to be nurse to Iver child, she may take a little more than ordinary to increase the milk by degrees; which must be of no continuance, but drawn off either by the child or otherewise. In that case likewise, let her have corian- der or fennel seed boiled in barley broth : and by ihat means, for the time before mentioned let her abstain from meat. It no fever trouble her, she may drink now and then a small quantity of white wine or claret, as also a syrup of maiden hair, or any other syrup that is of an astringent quality, taking it in a little water well boiled. And alter ihe fear of a fever or contraction of humors to the breast is over, she may then be nourished more plenti- fully with the broth ot pullets, capons, pigeons, partridges, mutton, veal, Jtc. which mu^gjiot be till after eight days at least from the time of the delivery ; for by that time the womb will have purged itseif, unless some intervening acci- dent should hinder. It will then be expedient to give her cool meats, so it be done sparingly, the better to gather strength ; and let her during the time rest quietly, and free from disturbance, not sleeping in ihe day time, if she can avoid it. If there happens any obstructions in the evacu- ation of excrements, the following clysters may be adminis- tered. Take pellitory of the wall, and of both th.- mallows, of each a handful ; fennel and anniseed of each two ounces; boil -hem in the decoction of a sheep's head, aud take of this three quarters, dissolving it in common honey and coarse sugar, and of new fresh buiter two ounces : strain it well, and administer it clyster wise. But if this does not operate to your mind, then you may take one ounce of cathoiicon. CHAP. IX. Of a mole or false conception : and of Monsters and Mon: strous Births, with the reason thereof. Section I. Of a Mole, or false conception. A MOLE or Ulse conception, in nothing eise but a mass or grtat lump of flesh burdening the womb. It is an inarti- culate piece of flt-sh, without auv form, and therefore differs from, monstei s, v, Inch are fur mat a and articulate ; and then Aristotle's master piece. 59 it is said to be a conception, but a false one, which puts a diff rence between a true conception and a mole ; and the difference holds good in three different ways : First in the genius becuse a mo;e cannot be said to be animal. Second- ly, it differs in species, because it hath no human figui «\ and bears not the character of a m en. Thirdly, it differs in the individium, for it hath t.o i.ffi.tt> with the partspf that in the whole body, or any pai tic:es ot the same. Thei e are variety of judgments among authors, about the producing cause of this effect, some <> {firming that ii is produced by the woman's seed going into tht we.mb without the man's : but because we h-eve befoe proved lhat women h;ive properly no seed at all. but only an ovalium, wiich is fecundated by the active principle of the man's seed, this opinion needs no confutation. Others say, it is engendered of the menstruous blood : but were this granted, it would foalow that maids by having their courses stopped, might be subject to the same, which never any yet were. The true cause of this carnous conception, which we call a mole, proceeds both from the man and the woman, from corrupt and ban en seed in the man, and from the menstruous blood in the woman, both mixed together in the cavity of the womb ; and nature find- ing tursetl weiek,(yet desirous of mail.tajning the perpetuity of her species) labors to bring tonh a vicious conception ra- ther than none : and not being able to biing forth a living cieature, generates a piece of flesh. This imperfect conception may be known to be such, by the following signs. The monthly courses are suppiessed,, the belly is puffed up, and waxeth hard, the breath smells, and the appetite is depraved. But you will say these are signs of a breeding woman in true conception, and therefore these cannot distinguish a mole. To this I answer, though thus they agree, yet ihey are different in several respects ; for a mole may be felt in the womb before the ihiid month, which an infant cannot ; the motion of the mole being only caused by the faculty of the womb, and of the seminal spirit diffused through its substance ; for though it has no animal, yet it has a vegetative life ; and then the belly is suddenly swelled where there is a mole ; but in conception the belly is first contracted, and then riseth gradually. Another dif- ference is, the belly being pressed with the hand, the mole gives way, and the hand being taken away, it teiuriis to the place again ; but a child in the womb, though pressed wiih the hand, moves nqt presently, and being removed returns not at all, or at least very slowly. But, to name no more, anothe r material d'fference is, that a child contii ues not in the womb above eleven mouths at most; but a mole some- 60 ' Aristotle's master piece. times continues tour or five years, sometimes more or less, accordhg to its being fastened to the matrix; for sometimes the mole hath fallen .iwav in four or five mo ths ; and if it remains until the lib month the legs art leeble, and the wi -me, who are thus afflicted, :hii.k thev are hydropical, thougn it be no such thing ; which a woman easilv k'.ows, if she * ill but considei thai in a dropsy he legs will swell andgrow big ; in case •>{ a mole, they consume and wither. This dis- temper is nil enemy to true conception, and of dangerous convqueuce : for a woman that breeds a mole, is every way more inconvenienced than a woman that is wi h child, and all the while she keeps it, she lives in danger of her life. The cure of this distemper consists chiefl\ in expelling it as soon as may be ; for the longer it is kept the worse it is ; and this many times cam-ot be effected without manual ope- ra* ion ; but that being the last remedy, all other means ought to be first used. Amongst which, phlebotomy ought not to be omitted ; for seeing letting of blood causeth abor- tion, by reason it takes away that nourishment that should sustain the life of the child, why may not this vicious con- ception be b,y the same means deprived of that vegetative sap by which it livefs I to which end open the liver vein, and the saphana in both feet ; fasten cupping glasses to the loins and sides ot the belly ; which done, let the urinary part be first molified, and the expulsive faculty be provoked to ex- pel the burden. And to loosen the ligatures of the moie, take mallows, with roots, three hvndfuls, pelliiory, camo- mile, violet leave*, melilot, roots of fennel, parsley, mercu- ry, of each two handfuls ; senugreek and linseed, of each one pound ; boil them in water, and make a bath thereof, and let her sit therein up to her navel. At her going out of the bath, let her reins and privities be annointed with this unguent. Take amoniaii, landani, fresh butter, of each an ounce ; and wiih oil of linseed make an ointment ; or in- stead of this may be used uiguenlum agrippae or dialths.— Also take aq. brynns c< mposito roots of althas and mercury of each a handful ; linseed and barley meal, of each six ounces; boil all these v. ith watei and honey, and make a plaister, and the ligaments ot the mole being thus loosened, let the expulsive faculty be stirred up to expel the mole ; for the effecting of which, all those mtdxaments are very proper which bring down the courses. Therefore take »a- vinc, madder, valerian, horthound, sage, hyslop, betony, pennyroyal, cahunint, hyptricen. aid with watei make a decoction, and give three ounces of it, with an ounce and a Aristotle's'master piece. 61 half of syrup of feverfew. But if these remedies prove net available, then must the mole be drawn away by manual op- eration, in the manner following : let the operator (having placed the woman in a proper posture, as has been directed in cases of unnatural labor) slide his hand into the womb, a*d with it diaw forth the mole ; but if it be grown so big that it cannot be drawn away wholr, (which is very rare, because it is a soft tender body and much more pliable than a child) let »he operator bring it away by parts, using a crotchet or knife, if it cuonot be done otherwise. And if the operator finds it is joined and fastened to ihe womb, he mi st genjly separate it with his fingers' ends, his nails being pared putting ihem by little and little between the mole and the womb beginning on the side where it does stick fast,and so pursue it till t be quite loosened, taking great care if it grows too fast, not to rend or hurt the proper substance of the worrb, proceeding as in case of an after burden that stays behind in tbe womb when the string is broken off; but a mole has never any string fastened to it, or any burden whence it should receive any nourishment, but does of itself immediately draw it from ihe vessels of the womb. And thus much shall suffice to be said concerning a mole ; of which I have shewn the cause, the signs, and the cure. SECTION II. Of monsters, and monstrous births. Monsters are properly depraved conceptions, and are deemed by the ancients to be excursions of nature, and are always vicious either by figure, situation, magnitude, or number. 'ihey are vicious in figure, when a men bears the char- acter of a beast : Vicious in magnitude when ihe parts are not equal or one part is bigger than another ; and this is a thing very common, by reason of some excrescence. They are vicious in situation many ways ; as if the ears were on the face, or the eyes on the breasts, or on the legs, as were seen in a monsier born at Ravenna, in Italy, in the year 1570. And lastly vicious in number, when a man hath two heads, four hands and two bodies joined, which wasthe case of the monster born at Zazara in the year 1550. As to the cause of their generation, it is either divine or natural. The divine cause proceeds from the permissive will of the great Author of our being, suffering parents to bring forth such deformed monsters, as a puuishmt-nt tor their fii.hy and coriuot affection, Itt loose unto wickedness, like brute beasts that have no understanding ; for which reason the ancient Komans enacted, that those who were deformed should not be put into religious houses. And St. 63 aristotie's master piece. Jerome, in his time, grieved to see the deformed and lame offered up to God in religious houses : and Kecherman, by way of inference, excluded all that were misshapen, because out vard deformity of body is often a sign of the pollution of the heart, as a curse laid upon the child for the incontinen- tly ot the parents. Let us therefore search out the na'ural cause of their generation, which according to those who have dived into the secrets of nature, is eiiherin the matter or the agent, in the seed or in ihe womb. The matter may be in fault two ways, by defect or access. By detect, when the child hath but one arm or leg, Sec. by access, when it has three hat ds or two heads. Some monsters are also begotten by women's bestial and unnatural coition, &c. The agent or womb may be in fault three ways; first, in the forming faculty, which may be too strong or too weak,which sometimes produces a depraved figure. 2d.lv, The evil (lis. position of the instruments or place of conception, will cause a monstrous birth And thirdly, the imaginative power at ihe time ol conception, is of such a force as to stamp a cha- racter of the thing imagined upon the child ; thus a woman at the time of conception.beholding the picture of a Black- amoor, conceived and brought forth a child resembling an Ethiopian; and by this the children of an adultress, though begotten by another man, may have the nearest resem- blance to her own husband. This power of imagination -was well known to the ancients, as is evident by the exam<- pie of Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, who having agreed with his father in law to have all the spotted sheep for the keeping of his flock to increase his wages, took hazel reds, peeling them w'th white streaks in ihem and laid them before the sheep when they came to drink, and they coupling together whilst they beheld the rods, con- ceived and brought forth spotted young. Nor does the im- agination *ork m the child at the time of conception only, but afterwards also ; as was seen in the example of a wor- thy gentlewoman, who being big with child, and passing by a butcher killing meat, a drop of blood spirted on her face; whereupon she then said that the child would have some blemish on bis face, which proved true, for at the birth it yras found marked with a red spot. But besides the way already mentioned, Monsters are sometimes produced by other means, to wit, by the undue coition of a man and his wife when her monthly flowiugs are upon her ; which being a thing against nature, no won- der that it should produce an unnatural issue. It therefoi e a man's desire be ever so great for coition (as sometimes it is after long absence) yet if a wtman knows that the cus- Aristotle's master piece. 63 torn of women is upon her, she ought not to admit of any embraces', which at that time are both unclean and unnat- ural. The issue of these unclean embraces proving often monstrous, as a just punishment for such a lurpidinous ac- tion. Or, it they should not always produce monstrous births yet are the children thus begotten, for the most part dull, heavy, sluggish, and defective in understanding, wanU ing the vivacity and liveliness which those children are en- dued with who are begotten when women are free from their courses. There has been some contending amongst authors, wheth- er those who are born monsters have reasonable souls, the result of both sides, at last coming to tiiis, that those who, according to ihe order of nature, - :e descended from our first parents by the coition ot" man and woman, though their outward shape be deformed and monstrous, have notwith- standing reasonable sou)s; but these monsters that are not begotten by man, but are the product of a woman's unnat- ural lust, copulating vvith other creatures, shall perish as the brute beasts by whom they were begotten, not having a reasonable soul. The same being also true of imperfect and abortive births. Some are of opinion, that monsters may be engendered by infernal spirits; but notwithstanding /Egidius Facius pretended to believe it with respect to a deformed monster born at Cracovia, and Hieronimus Caiomus writeth of a maid that was got with child by the devil; yet, as a wicked spirit is not capable of having human seed, how is it possi- ble he should beget a human creature ? If they say, that the devil may assume to himself a dead body and enliven the faculties of it, and therebv make it able to generate, I an- swer, that though we suppose this could be done, (which I believe not)yet ibat body jnst bear the image of the de»il: and it borders on blasphemy, to think th.-.t the all wise and good Being would so far give way to the worst of spirits as to suffer him to raise up his diabolical offspring ; for in the school of nature, we are taught the contrary, viz, that like begets like ; whence it follows, that a man cannot be bora of a devil. The first I shall present is a most frightful monster in- deed, representing an hairy child. It was covered over 64 Aristotle's masteJor have we any work for them to do. Two arms, two legs, are all that we can use, And to have mere mere s no wise man would choose. ari^totle's master piece. &* In the time of Henry III. a woman was delivered of a child, having two heads and four arms, and the rest was a twin under the navel : and then beneath, all the rest was sinothlaugh,speak,cryr nnd both eat and be hungry together. Some- imes one would speak tnd the other keep si- lence' ; and sometimes >oth would speak to- gether. It was of the "ema'e sex; and tho' it had two mouths, and lid eat with both, yet there was but one fun- lament to disburden nature. It lived seve- ral years, but one out- lived the other 3 years carrying the dead one (tor there was no parting them) till the other fainted with the burden, and more with the stink of the deaH r ,r-ase. A child was born in Flanders which had wo heads and four rms teeming like two ;irls joined together, •uving two of their irms lifted upbetween nd above their heads; he thighs being plac- d as it were across >ne another according to the figure. How mg ihey lived I bad io account of. ARISTOTLEs MASTER PIECE. PART III. Displaying the Secrets of Nature relative 70 PHYSIOGNOMY. CHAP. I. Section I. Of Physiognomy, shewing what it is, and from whencejt is derived. PHYSIOGNOMY is an ingenious science or knowledge of nature by which the inclination and dispositions of eve- ry cieature are understood ; and because some of the mem- bers are un com pounded and entire of themselves, as the tongue, the heart, &c. and some of a mixed nature, as the eyes, the nose, and others, wc therefore say, that there are many signs which agree and live together, which inform a wise man how to make his judgment, before he be too rash to deliver it to the world Nor is it to be esteemed a fool- ish or idle art, seeing it is derived from the superior bod- ies ; for there is no part of the face of a man, but what is under the peculiar influence or government, not only of the seven planets, but also of the twelve signs of the zodiac; and the disposition, vices, virtues, and fatality, either of a man or woman, are plainly foretold, if the person pretend- ing to the knowledge thereof b* an artist, which, that my readers may attain to, I shall set these things ^n a clear Eght. ^■The reader should remember that the forehead is gov- erned by Mars ; the right eye is under the dominion of Sol ; the left is ruled by Lona or the Moon ; the right ear is the care of Jupiter ; the left of Saturn ; the rule of the no>e is claimed by Venus, which by the way is one reason that' in all unlawful veneral encounters, the nose is too subject to bear the scars which are gotten in those wars; and the nim- ble Mercury, the signification of eloquence, claims the tie- minions ofthe mouth, and that very justly. Thus have the seven planets divided the face among them, but not so absolutely, but that the twelve signs of the zodiac do also come in fo^a part. And therefore the sign Cancer presides in the uppermost part of the forehead ; Leo attends upon the right eyebrow, as Sagitarius dties up- on the right eye, and Libra upon the right ear ; upon the left eye and eye brow Aquarius and Gemini, and Aries the left ear ; Taurus rules in the middle of the forehead, and Capricorn the chin ; Scorpio takes upon him the protection Aristotle's master piece. 67 of the nose ; Virgo claims the precedence of the right cheek, and Pisces of the left. And thus the face of man is cantoned out among the Signs and Planets ; which being carefully attended to, will sufficiently inform the aiti&is how to pass a judgment ; For, according to the Sign or Planet ruling, so also is the judgment to be of ihe part rul- ed, which all those who have understanding know how to apply. In the judgment that is to be made from physignomy, there is a great difference betwixt a man and a won an, because, in respect of the whole composition, men more fully com. prehend it than women do, as will appear in the following section. Therefore the judgmeuts v.e pass properly con- cern a man, as comprehending the whole species, and but improperly the woman, as a part thereof, and derived from the man; and therefore in the judgment about the lines and marks of a face, respect should be had to (he sex ; for when we behold a man whose face is like unto a woman's : or the face of a woman, who in respect of her flesh and blood is like unto a man, the same judgment is not passed on her, as on a man ihat is like unto her, in regard that the complexion of the woman is much different from that ot a man, even in those respects, which are said to be common ; therefore respect should be had to other pans of the bodv, as the hands Sec. Now in these common respects, two parts are attributed to a man, and a third part to a woman. Wherefore, it being our intention to give you an exact account aecording to the rule of physiognomy, of all and ev- ery part of the members of the body, we will begin with the head, as it hath relation only to a mm and a woman, and not any other creature thai the work may be more obvious to every reader. CHAP II. Of the judgment of Physiognomy.. Hair that hangs down without curling, if it be of a fair complexion thin and soft, signifies a man to be naturally faint hearted, and of a weak body, but of a quiet and harm- less disposition. Hair that is big and thick and short de- notes a man to be of a strong constitution, bold, secret, de- ceiifnl, and for the most part, unquiet, and vain, lusting af- ter beauty, and more foolish than wise, though fortune may favor him. He whose hair is partly curled and partly hanging down, is commonly a wise man or a very great fool, or else a knave. He whose hair groweth thick on his temples and his brow, one rr>ay at fi»st sight certainly con- clude that such a man is by nature simple, vain, luxuri- ous, lustful, credulous, clownish iu his speech and conver- C8 Aristotle's master piece. sation, and dull in apprehension. He whose hair notonlr curls very much, busheth out, and stands on end, if the hair be white, or yellowish, he is by nature proud and bold, dull of apprehension, soon angry, a lover of vtnery, given to ly- ing, malicious, and ready to do any mischief. He whose hair i i*vs in the coi ner of his temples, and is also gros9 and rough, is a man highly conceited of himself* inclined to mal- ice, bu» cunningly cor.c«als it, is very courtly, and a lover of new fashions. He who hath much hair, that is, whose hair is thick all over his head is naturally vain and very luxuri- ous, of a good digestion, easy of belief and slow of perform- ance, of a weak memory, and for the most part unfortunate. He whose hair is of a reddish complexion, is, for the most p*rt, if not always proud, deceitful, detracting, venerousr and full of envy. He whose hair is ex'raordiuary fair, hi for the most part, a man fit for all praise-worthy enterpri- ses, a lover of honor and much more inclined to do good than evil; laborious and careful to perform whatever is committed to his care ; secret in carrying on any business, and fortunate. Hair of a yellowish color shews a man to be good conditioned, and willing to do any thing, fearful, shamefaced, and wtak of body, but strong in the abilities of the mind, and more apt to remember than revenge an in- jury. He whose hair is of a brownish color, and curleth a little, is a well disposed man, inclined to that which is good, a lover of peace, cleanliness and good manners. He whose hair turns grey or hoary in the time of his youth, is gene- rally given to women, vain, false, unstable and talkative. Note. That whatsoever signification the haii has in men, it hath the same in women also. Thus does wise Nature make oor very hair Shew all the passions that within us are ;. If to the bottle we are most inclin'd, Or, if we fancy most the female kind j If into virtue's paths our minds we bend, Or, if to vicioos ways our footsteps, tend, A skillful artist can unfold the same, And from our hair a certain judgment frame ; But since our periwigs are come in fashion, No room is left for such an observation. The forehead that raiseth in a round, signifies a man lib- erally merry, of good understanding, and generally inclined to virtue. He whose forehead is fleshy, and the bone of .he brow jutting out, and without wrinkles, is a man inclined to suits of aw, contentious, vain, deceitful, and addicted to iollow ill courses. He whose forehead is very low and lit tie, is of good understanding magnanimous, but extremely atiistotle's master piece. 69 bold and confident, and a great pretender to love and hon- or. He whose forehead seems shat p, and pointing up in tin-corners of his temples, so that the bone si ems tojnt fori ha iiiile, is a man naturally weak and fickle, and weak in his intell ctuals. He whose brow upon the temple is lull of flesh is a man of a great spirit, proud, watchful, and of gross understanding. He waose brow is full of wrinkles, and haih as it were a seam coming do.vn in the middle of the forehead, is one thai is of a great spirit, a great wit, void of deceit, and yet of hard fortune. He who lias a lull large forehead, and a little rou,;d, destitute of hair, or at least that Ua.s little on it, is bold, malicious, high spirited, full of choler, and apt to transgress beyond all bounds and yet of a good * it. He who?>e forehead is long and high, jutting forth, and whose face is figured almost sharp and peaked towards the chin,is one reasonably honest, but weak and simple, and of hard fortune. VVho view men well may on their vices hit, For some men's crimes are on their foreheads writ; But the resolved man outbraves his fate, And will be good although unfortunate. The eye brows that are much arched, whether in man or woman, and which, by frequent motion, eleva:e themselves, shew ihe person to be pioud high spiried, vain glorious, bo d and threat ning, a love of be«iutv, and indifferently in- clined to either good or evil. He whose eyelids bend downwards when he speaks to another mm,or looks upon him, and who has a kind of sku:king lo^k, is by nature a penurious wretch, close in all his actions, of few words, but full of malice. He whose brows are thick, and have but a little hair upon ihem, is weak and credulous, very sincere, sociable, and desirous of good company. He who.ie eye brows are folded," and us, unfaithful, envious, miserable, impious towards God, and dishonest towards men. He whose eyes are smal1, imd conveniently round, is bashful and weak, very credu- lous, libeial to others, and even in hiis conversation He whose eyes lo.ik on a squint, is deceitful, unjust, envious, fu- rious a great liar, and as ihe effect of all this, miserable.— A wandeiing eye, ro'ling tip and down, denotes a vain, sim- ple man, lusiful, treacherous. He or she whose eyes are twinkling, aud which move forward 01 backward, shew the person to.be luxurious, unfaithful, presumptuous, treacher- ous, and hard to believe any thing that is spoken. If a per- son his any greenness mingled in the white of his eyes, such is commonly silly, and often very false and deceitful, unkind to h* friend?, a great concealer of his own secrets, and very cfioienc. Those whose eyes roll up and down, or those who seldom move iheir eyes, but when they do, draw them itv waidlv, and fasten them upon soraeebject, such are by their inclinations, very malicions. vain gloiieus, slothlul, unfaith- ful, envious, false and contentious. They whose eyes are ad- dicted to blood-shot, are naturally choleric, proud, disdain- fu,, cruel, shameful, perfidious, and much inclined to super- grit on. They who have eyes like oxen, are persons of good nutriment, but of a weak memory, tlull understanding, and silly in their conversation ; but they whose eyes are neither too little nor too big. and inclined to a black, do signify a man mild, peaceable, honest, witty, and of good understand- Aristotle's ma9Ter piece. yi ing ; and or.e that, when need requires, is serviceable to his friends. * Thus from the eyes w» sev'ral things may see, By nature's art of physiognomy, That no man scarce can make a look awry. But we thereby some secret symptoms may Discern of his intention, and foresee Unto which paths his steps directed be ; And this may t»*ach us, goodness more to fr iae, For where ont'o £ od, there's twenty otherwise. A long and thin nose denotes a man bold, curious, angry, weak and credu.ous ; easy to be persuaded either trtgood or evil. A long nose and ' X'ended its tip bending downwards, shews the person to be wise, discreet, Ific ous, honest, and faithfu., and who will not be easily oveireacked. A bottle nose denotes a man tobe impetuous in the obtaining his de- sires, vain, false luxurious, weak, credulous. A rose broad- er in the middle, and less towards the end, denotes a vain, talkative person, a liar, and o»e of hard fortune. He who hath a long and great nose, is an admirer of the fair sex, well accomplished for the wars of Venus, but ignorant of any thing that is good ; assiduous in obtaining his desires ; and though very ignorant, would fain be thought very know- ing. A nose sharp on the tip of it, and neither too long nor too short, too thick nor too thin, denotes the person, if a man, to be of a fretful disposition, always pining and peevish ; and if a woman, a scold, contentious, wedded to her own hu- mor ; and if married, a plague to her husband. A nose very round at the end of it, and having but little nostrils, shews the person to be munificent and liberal, true to his trust, but credulous, proud, and vain. A nose very long, and thin at the end of it, and sometimes round, signifies one bold in his discourse, honest in hisdealings, patient in receiving, and slow In offering injuries, but yet privately malicious.— He whose nose is naturally more red than any other part of his face is denoted to be covetous, luxurious, and an enemy to goodness. A nose that turns up again and is longsnid full on the tip of it, shews the person to be bold, covetous, envious, a liar, and deceiver, vain glorious, contentious, and unfortunate He whose nose riseth high in the middle, is prudent, politic, courageous, honorable in his actions and true to his word. A nose big at the end shews a person to be of a peaceful disposition, industrious, faithful, and of a good understanding, A very wide nose wiih white nostrils denotes a man full of apprehension, and inclined more to simplicity than wisdom, and withal contentious, vain glori- ous, and a liar. 7* Aristotle's master piece. Thus from '.he nose cur physiognomist Con smell men's inc inatioi:s if wt list ; And fiom its color and its mnke, Ot vici -ml v rtutj a sut ve« can take. When the- nostrils are clo-o and thin, they denote a man toh»vebui iit-ie c es, aid to be very de<-irous ot ihe eij'yinent of women, but modest in bis r.onv< riat.- r. Fut he whose no^tnls are great and wide is usually will hung, and ins fir ; but of an envious, bid, and treacherous dis- position ; and the ugh du 1 of understmiding, ye: confident. Thus those who chiefly mind lie truiai par«, May learn to choose a husband by this *n. A great wide mouth shews a man io bv bold, warlike, shameless stout, .» great liar, talkative, and a i^reat e. er, bu. dull as lo his intellects. A little mi uih -hews the per- son to be cf a quick and pacific temper, s. me what fearful, bu; faithful, secitt, niedest. bountiful, and a little eater. He whose mouih smells of a bad breath, is one of a corrupted liver or lungs, is often times vain, wanton, deceitful, of in- different intellects, envious, covetous and a promise break- er. He that hath a sweet breath is the contrary. Thus trom 'he mouth itself we likewise see What signs of giod and bad may ga'hertd be ; F<>r let ihe wind blow east, wesi, north, or south, Both good and b.id pi oceed out of the mouth. The lips when they are very big and b'ubbering, shew a person to be credulous, foolish, dul.. and stupid, and apt to be enticed to any thing. Lips of a diffeient size, denote a person to be.discreet, secret, judicious, of a good wit, but somewhat hasty. To have lips well colored, and more thin than thick, shews a person to be good humored, and more easily persuaded to do good than evil. To have one lip big- ger ihan the other, shews varicy of fortunes, denotes a dull sluggish temper, and an indifferent understanding. The lips they so much dote on for a kiss, Oft tell fond lovers when they do amiss. ^ W hen the teeth are small, and but weak in performing their office, and especially it they are she rt and few, though ihe party be of a weak constitution, yet they denote him to be ot a meek disposition, honesr, faithful and 'secret, in whatsoever he is entrusted with. To have some teeih long- er and some shorter than others, dtnote a person to be ot a good apprehension, but bold, disdainful, envious and proud. To have teeth very long, and growing sharp towards the end, if they are long m chewing, and thin, denotes the per- son t.> be envious gluttetiou*, bold, shameless, unfaiihiul and suspicious. When the ue.b look veiy brown or yellowi&h Aristotle's master piece. 78 whether they be long or short, it shews the person to be of a suspicious temper, envious, deceitful, and turbulent. To have teeth strong and close together shews the person to be ota long life, adesirer of novelties, and things that are fair and be.,utifal, but of an high spirit, and one that will have his humor in all things ; he loves to hear news, and after- wards io repeat it, and is apt to entertain any thing in his own behalf. To have teeth thin and weak, shews a weak, feeble man, one of short life, and of a weak apprehension ; bufcchaste, shamefaced, tractable, and honest. Thus from the teeth the learned can portend, Whether man's steps to vice or virtue be d. A tongue too swift in speech, shews a man to be down- right foolish, or at best but a very vain wit. A stammering tongue, or one that stumbles in ihe mouth, signifies a man of a weak understanding, of a wavering mind, quickly in a rage, and soon pacified. A thick and rough tongue denotes a man to be apprehensive, subtle and full of compliments, yet vain and deceitful, treacherous, and prone to impiety. A thin tongue shews a man of wisdom and sound judgment; very ingenious, and of an affable disposition, yet sometimes timorous, ard too credulous. No wonde r 'tis that from men's speech we see Whether they wise, or whether foolish be ; But from a silent tongue our authors tell The secret passions within men that dwell. A great and full voice in either sex, shew them to be of a great spirit, confident, proud and wilful. A faint or Weak voice, shews a person of a good understanding, nimble fan- cy, a little eater, but weak of body and timorous. A loud and shrill voice denotes one sagacious and ingenious, but capricious, vainglorious, and weak, too credulous. A strong voice when a man sings, denotes a strong constitution, a good understanding, ingenious, amorous. A weak and trembling voice, denotes one to be envious, suspicious, slow in business, and fearful. A loud, shrill and unpleasant voice, signifies one bold and valiant, but quarrelsome, in- jurious, and wedded to his own humor. A rough and hoarse voice declares one to be a dull and heavy person, of much guts and little brains. Full and yet mild voice, and pleas- ing to the hearer, shews a person to be quiet and peaceable, thrifty and secret, not prone to anger. A voice beginning low or in the bass, and ending high in the treble, denotes a person to be violent, angry, bold, secure. Thus by our voice 'tis to an artist ksown Unto what virtue or fowhat vice we're prone ; 7 5*4 Aristotle's master piese. And he that of a good wife will make choice, May choose her by observing of her voice. A thick and full chin, abounding with flesh, shews a mas Inclined to peace, honesi.but slow in invention, and easy to be drawn to good or evil. A peaked chin, reasonably full of flesh, shews a good understanding, a high spiiit, and laudable conversation. A double chin, shews a peaceable disposition, but dull apprehension, vain, creduious, and se- cret in his actions. A crooked chin bending upwards, and peaked for want of flesh, is, according to nature, a very bad man, proud, imprudent, envious, threatening, deceitful, prone to anger and treachery, and a great thief. Thus, from ihe forehead to the chin we've shewn How mankind's inclinations may be known : From which th' observing reader still may find We're more to evil, than to good inclin'd. Young men usually have hair begin to grow .upon their chins at 1$ yeais of age, and sometimes sooner. These hairs proceed from the superfluity of heat, the fumes where- of ascend to iheir chins, like smoke to the funnel of a chim- ney ; and because it can find no open passage, by which it may ascend higher, it vents itself in hairs which are called the beard. There are few women that have hair on their cheeks, and the reason is, those humors which cause hairs to grow on the cheeks of a man, are evacuated by women in their monthly courses, which they have more or less, ac- cording to the heat or coolness of the constitution; yet sometimes women,of a hot constitution have hair on their cheeks, but more commonly on their lips or near their mouths, where the heat most aboundeth ; and such women are much addicted to the company of men, and of a strong und manly constitution. A woman who hath little hair on her cheeks, or about her mouth and lips, is of a good com- plexion, weak constitution, shamefaced, mild and obedient; whereas, a woman of a more hot constitution is otherwise. But in a man, a beard well composed and thick of hair, sig- nifies fiim good natured, honest, loving, sociable and full of humanity ; on the contrary, he that hath little beard, is, for the most part, proud, pining, peevish arid unsociable. They who fiave no beards, have always shrill and strange squeak- ing voices, are of a weak constitution, as is apparent in the case of eunuchs, who, after they aie deprived of their viril- ity, are tr nsformed fiom the nature ol men into the condi- t»pn of women. Ot men and women's beards I might say more, But prudence bids me ihis discourse give o'er. Great aHd thick cars are certain sign* of a foolish per- ariistotle's master piece. [7$ son, of a bad memory, antV worse of understanding ; but small, thin ears, shew a pet son to be of good wit, grave, se- eret, thrifty, modest, of good memory, and willing to serve his friend. Ears longer than ordinary, signify a bold man, uncivil, vain, foolish, of small industry, but a great stomach. Who hisjust praise unwillingly does hear, Shews a good life as well as a good ear. A face apt to sweat on every motion, shews ihe person to be of a hot constitution, vain, luxurious, of a good stomach, bad understanding, and worse conversation. A very fleshy face denotes a fearful disposition, a merry heart, bountiful and discreet, easy to be entreated, and apt to believe any thing. A lean face, dt notes a good understanding, but somewhat capricious and disdainful in bis conversation. A little round face shews a person to be simple, fearful, of a bad memory, and a clownish disposition. A plump face and full of carbuncles, shews a man to be a great drinker, vain and daring. A face red and high colored shews a man to be choleric, and not easily pacified. A long and lea,» face shews one to be bold in speech and action, but foolish, quarrelsome, proud and injurious. A face every way of a due proportion, denotes an ingenious person fit for any thing and well inclined. A broad, full, fat face, shews a dull heavy constitution, and that for one vinu~ has three vice?. A plainfl.it face without any li.dig, shews a person to be very wise, loving and courtly, faithful to his friend, and patient in adversity. A face sinking down a little, wi.h creases in it, inclining 'o leanness denotes a person to be laborious, envious, deceit tu1, fabe, quarrelsome, vain, silly, clownish^ A face of a handsome proportion, and metre inclined to fat than leap, shews apeison just in his actions, true to bis word, civil, respectful, and of an extraordinary memory. A crooked face, long and lean, denotes a man endued with as bad qualities,as the face is with ill-features A face broad about the brows., and sharper ;.ml less to- wards tlie chin, shews a man simple and foolish, vain, e:,- vious, deceitful and quarrelsome. A face well colore d,; full of good ftatuies, of an exact symme ry and just pro- portion, is commonly the index of a labor mind, and shews the person to be well disponed ; but yet vinue is n< t so im- preguabiy seated iheie, but that by t trong temptation, es- pecially of the fair sex, it may be stipplaiitcdand overcome by vice. A pale complexion, shews the person riot only to be fiskle, but malicious, treacherous, proud, and extremely unaithful. A face well colored shews the person to be of a praise-worthy disposition, st,w.d complexion, easy of belief, 76 aristotle's master piece. 1 espcctful to his friend, ready to do a courtesy, and vary easy to be drawn to any thing. Thus physiognomy i eadeth in each face, But vice or virtue we're most prone l' embrace : For in man's face there hardly is a line But of some inward passion 'lis a sign ; And he that reads this section o'er may find, 1 he fairest face hath still the clearest mind. A great head and round withal, denotes a person to be secret, ingenious, laborious, constant and honest. The head whose gullet stands forih, and inclines towards the earth, signifies a person ihriftv, wise, peaceable, secret, of a re- ined temper, and constant in the management of" his af. fairs. A long head and face, and great withal, denotes a vain, foolish and idle person, credulous and envious. To have one's iiead always shaking and moving from side to side, denotes a shallow, weak, unstable person, given to ly- ing, a great talker, and prodigal in all his fortunes. A big bead and broad face shews a man to be courageous, a great hunter after women, suspicious, bold, shameless. A very big head, but not so proportionate to the body, and a short week and gullet, denotes a man of apprehension, wise, inge- nious, of a sound judgment, faithful, true and courteous to e vainglorious, timorous, wanton, and much sub- ject to choler. If the throat be so thin and lean th.it the veins appear, it shews a man to be weak, slow, and of a dull and heavy constitutior. A long neck shews one to have a long and slender foot, and that he is stiff and inflexible. A short neck shews one to be witty and ingenious, but deceitful and inconstant, aud a great lover ot pence and quietness. A lean shoulder bone signifies a man to be weak, timor- ous, peaceful, not laborious, and yet fit for any employment. AftfST0TLErS MASTER PIECE. 77 targe shoulder bones denote a strong man, faithful, but un- fortunate ; somewhat dull of understanding, laborious, con- tented, a great eater and1 drinker. He whose shoulder bone seems to be smooth, is modest and temperate. He whose shoulder bone bends and is crooked inwardly, is com- Hvonlv a dv»i' person and deceitful. Long arms lunging down, and touching the knees, denote a? man liberal, but vaing.orious, pi cud and inconstant. He whose arms are very short in respect to his body is * man of high and gallant spirit, and of a graceful temper. He whose arms are full of bones, sinews and fl«-sh, is a great desirer of novelties, ciednUus and apt io believe every thing. He whose arms aie very hairy, whether they be lean or fat, is for the most part a luxurious person, weak m body and mind, very suspicions and malicious. He whose arms have no hair on them at all, is of a weak judgment, angry, vain, wanton, credulous, a deceiver, ai.d very apt to betrav his dearest friends. CHAP. IV Oj Palmistry, shewing" the various Judgments drawn from the hand. BEING engaged, in th.s thud part, to shew what judg- ments may be drawn, according to physiognomy, from ihe several parts of the body, and comirg in order to speak of the hands, it has put me under the necessity of saying some- thing about palmistry, which is a judgment made of the conditions, inclinations, and fortunes of men and women, from the various lines and characters nature has imprinted in their hands, which are almost as vaiioas as the hands that have ihem. The reader should remember that one of these lines of the hand, and which indeed is reckoned the principal is called the line of life > this line encloses the thumb separat- ing it from the hollow of the hand. The next to it called the natural line, takes it beginning from the rising of the fore finger, near the line of lite, and reaches to the table line, and generally makes a triangle. The table line com- monly called the line of fortune, begins under the little fin- ger, and ends near the middle finger. The girdle of Venus which is another line so called begins near the first joint of the little finger, and ends between the fore finger and the middle finger. Tlve line of death is that which plainly ap- pears in a counter line to that of life, and is called the after line, ending usually as the other ends ; for when the line of fife is ended death comes, and it can go no farther. There are lines in the fl:shy parts, as i-i the ball of the thumb, called the Mount of Venus; under each of the fingers are 7^ Aristotle's master piece. also mounts, each governed by several planets; and the hoi* low of the hand is called the Plain of Mars. 1 hus, The thumb we to dame Venus' rule commit, Jove the fore finger sways as he thinks fit ; Oid Saturn dors the middle finger guide ; O'er the ring finger Sol does still preside ; The outside drawn, pale Cynthia does direct : And unto the hollow Mars does much inspect ; The little finger does to Merc'ry fall, VV hich is ihe nimbiest planet of ihem all. I proceed lo give judgment from the several lines. In Palmistry the left hand is chiefly lo be regarded, because therein the lines are most visible, and have the strictest communicati +.\ with the heart and brain. In the next place observe the line of life, and if it be fair, extending to its full length, and not broken with an intermixture of cross lines it shews long life and hea'th : and it is the same if a double line of life appear, as there sometimes does. When stars appear in this line, it signifies great losses and calamities ; if on it there be ihe figures of two G's or a Y, it threatens the person with blindness ; if it wraps itself about the table line, it promises wealth and honor to be attained by pru- deuce and industry. If the line be cut j agged at the upper end, it denotes much sickness ; if this line be cut by any lines comiig from the Mount of Venus, it declares the per- son to be unfortunate in love and business also, and threat- ens him with sudden death. A cross between the line of life and the table line, shews the person to be very liberal and charitable, and of a noble spirit. The table lin«, when broad and of a lively color, shews a healthful constitution, a quiet contented mind, and a cour- ageous spirit; but if it have crosses towards the little fin- ger, it threatens the party with much affliction by sickness. If the line be double, or divided into three parts at any of the extremities, it shews the person to be of a generous temper, and a good fortune to support it ; but if this line be forked at the end, it threatens the person shall suffer by jealousies, and loss of riches gotten by deceit. If three points such as these ,\ are found in it, they denote the per- son prudent and liberal, a lover of learning, and of a good temper. If it spreads towards the fore and middle finger, and ends blunt, it denotes preferment The middle line has in it often very significant charac- ters. Many small lines between this and the table line threaten the party with sickness, but also give him hopes of recovery. A half cross branching into this line, shews honor, riches and goad success in all undertakings A lulf Aristotle's master pi:xs. 79 moon denotes cold and watery distempers : but a sun or stars promises prosperity and riches. This line double, in a women, shews she will have several husbands, bu't no children. If the line of Venus happens to bs cut or d i v ided near tha fore finger, it threatens rui" to ihe party, and that it shall befal him by means of lascivious women and bad company Two crosses on this line, one near the fore finger and the oiher bending cowards the little finger, shew the parly to btf weak, inclined to modesty and virtue ; and in women generally denotes modesty. The-liver line, if it be straight and crossed by other lines, denotes a sound judgment and a piercing understanding; but if it be winding, crooked and bending outwards, it shews deceit and flattery. If it makes a triangle or quad- rangle, it shews one to be of a noble descent, ambitious of honor and promotion . If this line and the middle line b gin near each other, ii denotes a man to be vve.k in judgment, but if a woman, danger by hard fabor. The plain of Mars being ihe hollow of the hand, most of the line* passing through it, are very significant. Being hollow, and the lines crooked and distorted, it threatens the party to fall by enemies. When the lines beginning at the wrist are long within the plain reaching to the brawn of the hand, it shews the person to be of a hot and fiery spirit, given to quarreling. If deep large crosses be in the middle plain, it shews the party shall obtain honor by martial ex- ploits ; but if a woman, that she shall have several hus- bands, and easy labor with her children. The line of death is fatal, and threatens with sickness and short life, when crosses appear in it. A cioiuled moon therein threatens a child bed woman with death. A star like a comet, threatens ruin by war, or death by pestilence.; But if a bright sun appear therein, it promises long life and prosperity. The lines of the wrist being fair, denote goodfor'.une, but if broken and crossed the contrary Thus he that nature richly understands, May from each line imprinted in his hands, His fu'.ure fate and fortune come to know, And in what path it is his feet shall go; His secret inclinations he may see, And to what vice he shall addicted be; To the end that, when he looks into his hand, He may upon his guard the better stand, And turn his wand'ring steps another way Whene'er he finds he does from virtue stray. 80 Aristotle's master piece. CH\P. II. Judgments drawn from the several parts of the Body. A LARGE and full breast, stK-wsamin valiant, but proud. soon angry, and hard to deal with. He whose breast is narrow, rising a little in the middle, is bv the best rules of physiognomy of a clear spirit, great understanding, verr faithful, clean' bo h in mind and body, yet soon angry, and inclined long to keep -it. He whose breast is somewhat hairy, is very luxurious, and serviceable to another. He who hath no hairs upon his breast, is a man weak by nature, of a slender capacity, timorous but of a laudable life and conversation, much retired and inclined to peace. The hack of the chine bone, if the flesh is hairy arid lean, and higher than Any other part behind, significes a man shameless, beastly, and malicious; He whose back is large and fat, is thereby to be strong and stoiftj but of a heavy disposition ; vain,slow, and full of deceit. He or she whose belly is soft all over, is weak, lustful, and fearful, of good understanding, an excellent invention* a little eater, of various fortune. He whose flesh is rough1 and hard, is of a strong constitution, very bold but proud', vain, and of a cruel temper* He whose skin h» smooth, fat and white, is curious, vainglorious-, timorous, malicious. A thigh full of strong bristly hair inclined to curl, signi- fies one lustful, and fit for copulation ; thighs with little hair, and that soft, shews the person to be chaste, having no great desire to veueral pleasures, and will have but few children. The legs of both men and women have a fleshy substance behind called calves ; now a great calf, and large bone, and hairy denotes the person to be strong, bold, dull in under- standing, slow in business, incMned to procreation, and for the most part fortuua e. Little legs and little hair on them shew the person to be weak, fearful, of a quick understand- ing, and neither luxurious at bed or board. He whose leg* do much abound with hair, is lustful, luxurious, strong bat fickle, and abounding with ill humois. The feet of either men or weinen, if broad and thick with flesh and long in figure, especially if the skin feels hard, of a strong constitution, but of weak intellects. But feet that are thin and lean, and soft, shew a weak body, but a strong understanding, and excellent wit. The soles of the feet do administer as plain and evident signs to know the disposition and constitution, as the palms of the hands, being as full of lines, by which all the fortunes or misfortunes of manor woman may be known, and 'heir inclinations fppear. But this in general we may take nofa AlISTOTLl's MA3TE1 PIECE, 81 tice of, that many long lines and strokes do presage many affliC.ioiis and a very troublesome life, attended with much g. i :f. care and poverty. But short line?, if they are thick ai.d'fu'l of cross lines, are yet worse in every degree. 1 hose thej-kin of whose soles are very thick, are generally strong and venturous ; whereas, those the skin of whose soles are thin, are generally weak and timorous. I shall now, having given an account of what judgments m .y be formed from ihe several parts of the body, before 1 conclnde, give an account of what may be drawn by the rules of Physiognomy, from things extraneous, which are found upon many, and which indeed to them are parts of the body, but are so far from being necessary parts, that th^y are the deformity and burden of it, and speak ot the habits of the body as they are distinguished persons. I. Of crooked and deformed persons. A CROOKED breast or shoulder, or the exuberance ot flesh in the body either of man or woman, signifies ihe per- son to be extremely parsimonious, and ingenious, and ot great understanding, but very covetr.us, deceitful, mali- cious, and of a bad memory ; either extremely virtuous or vicious, seldom in a medium. But if the person deformed hath an excrescence on his breast, instead of ihe back, he is for the most part of a double he*rt, and very mischievous-. II. Of the divers Manners of going, and particular pos- tures both of Men and Women. He or she that gnes slowly, making great steps as they eo, are generally persons of bad memory, dull of apprehen- sion, given to loitering, and slow of belief. He who goes apace, and make short steps, is most successful in all his undertakings, swift in his imaginations, and numble in the disposition of his affairs. He who makes wide and uneven steps, and side long, is one of a greedy sordid nature, subtle, malicious, and wills to do evil. III. Of the Gait or Motion in Men or Women. Every man and woman hath a certain gait or motion. For a man to be shaking his head, or using any light motion with his h.L-.dsor feet, whether he stand-, sits, or sneaks, is superfluous, unnecessary, and uahands.-me : and such, by the rules of physi villain, an hostess not to over reckon you, and an usurer to be charitable ; then say you have found a prodigy, or men acting contrary to the couiae of their nature. END OF THE MASTER PIECE. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. fieing choice and approved remedies for the several dis- tempers incident to the human body. A powder for the Epilepsy or falling sickness. TAKE of opponax,crud«e antimony, dragoi s blood, cast- or, peony seeds, of each an equal quantity, makt tbcm into a subtle powder the dose of half a dram, in black cherry water. Before you take it, *he stomach must be cleansed wiih some proper vomit, as hat ot Mynsinci's emeic Tar- tar, from tour grains to six. For children, salt of vitriol, from a scruple io h* f a drum. A vomi' for a swimming in the head. Take cream of tan ir half a scruple, castor two grains, mix all together for a vomit,*o be taken at four o'clock in the afternoon. At night, going to bed, it will be very pro- per to take a dose of the apoplectic powder. Far spitting of blood. Take conserve of comfrey, and of hips, of each an ounce and a half, conserve of red roses three ounces, dragon's blood a dram, species of hyacinth two scruples, red coral a dram ; mix with the syrup of red poppies, and make a soft (electuary ; take the quantity of a walnut night and morning. A powder against vomiting. Take crabs eyes, red coral, ivory, of each two drams ; burnt hartsfiorn, one dram, cinnamon and red saunders of each half a dram ; make all for a subtile powder and take half a dram. for the Bloody Flux. Take a dram of powder of rhubarb in a sufficient quanti- ty of conserve of red roses, earlv in the morning, and at night take of torrefied or roasted r.*barb half a dram, diascordi- um a dram and a half, liquid laudanum cydoniated a scru- ple. Mix them and make a bolus. For an inflmmation of the lungs. Take curious water ten ounces, water of red poppies tbree ounces, syrup of poppies one ounce, pearl prepared a dram : Make a julep and take six spoonfuls every 4 hours. For weakness in Women. After a gentle purge or two, take the following decoction, viz. a quarter ota pound lignumviths, sassafras two ounces; boil the whole in six quarts of water to a gallon ; strain and keep it for use : Take half a pint first in the morning, fast- ing for two hours after; another at four o'clock in the at- ternoon, and a third at going to bed. 84 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. For Worms in children. Take wormseed i>alt a dram, flower of sulphur a dram, Bulpruuella half a dram ; mix and make a powder ; give as much as will lie upon a silver threepence night and morning, in treacle or honey. For grown persons add a small quan- tity of ale>e rosatum. and so make them up into pills, three or four of which may be taken every morning. A Diet Drink for the Vertigo, or swimming of the Head. TaKe small ale, and boil it in the leav es of mistletoe of the apple tree, roots of male peony and peony flowers ; then put it into a vessel of four gallon*, in which hang a bag of half a pound of peacock s dung, and two drams of cloves bruis- ed ; drink it as a common drink. For a looseness. Take of Venice treacle and diascordium, of each half a dram, in warm ale, waer g-uel, fkc. at night going to bed. For Jevers in children. Take of crab>.' eyes one di am, cream of tartar half a dram, white sugar candy finely powdered, the weight of both ; mix them well together, and give as much as will lie upon a sil- ver three-pence, in a spoonful of barley water or sack whey. For an Headache of long standing, Take the juice of powder of distilled water of hog lice, and continue the use of it. For the Gripes in children. Give a drop or two of the oil of anniseed in a spoonful of penada, milk, or any thing you shall think proper. For an Ague. Take the common bitter drink, without the purgatives 2 quarts salt of wormwood 2 oz. saffron a dram. After a vo-. mit or convenient purge, take hnlf a pint of this three times a day, in the morning fasting jnid day and at night. F"or the Cholic. Take anniseed, sweet fennel, coriander, carraway seeds, two drams each, cummin seed a dram, rased ginger a small -quantity, bruise all in a mcrter, and put them into a quart of Nantz brandy to infuse three days, shaking the bot- tle three or four times a day, then strain it; take two or three spoonfuls in the fit. For the palpitation or beating of the Heart. Take powder of crabs eyes, burnt hartshorn, red coral, of each a dram, English saffron a scruple, mix and make pow- der. Take a scruple of it nightand morning in a spoonful of barley water, drinking a draught after it. Lozenges restorative in Consumption. Take pine nuts prepared two drams and a half, green fus- tic two drams, species diambix two scruples, cinnamon ^83 TAMILY PHYSICIAN. «nd cloves half a dram each, galargal a scrup'e, nutmegs two scruples, white ginger, half a dram. Xilo aloes half a so uple, with tour ources and a half of sugar dissolved in rose water, and of the species imke a confection in lozenges. Against Aches and Pains in the Joints. Take powder of camopetys and gen'ian, of each 5 drams, dried leaves of rue three ounces ; make all into a fine pow- der after due purging, give a dram of this night and morn- ing, in a spiv.ntul ot white wine P\r Spoti and Pimples in the Skin. Take biack soap two ounces, sulphur vive in powder one ounce, tie them in a rag, and hang ihem in a pint of vinegar for the space of nine days ; then rub and wash the pp.rt gently twiee a day. that is, night and morning. Purging PUlsJor the ■'Scurvy, Take rosin of juiep twen.y grains, aromatic pills with gum two grains, vitriolated tartar twenty six grains, oil of juniper ten grains, with a sufficient quantity of gum armoni- ac dissolved in vinegar of squills. Take four at a time ear- ly in the morning, fasting two hours after. You may take ihem once a w*ek A distilled Water Jor a confirmed Phthisic. Take leaves-of ground ivy five h. ndtuis, six nutmegs slic- ed, two pound of the crumbs of wheat bread, three pound of snails, half boiled and sliced into milk, and ttke it three or four times a day, sweetened with sugar and pearl of roses. A quiet JVight draught when ihc Cough is violent. Take of water of green wheat six ounces, syi up ot dias- -cordium three e.unces. Mix them, and take two or threa spoon ails at going to bed. For Vomiting or Looseness. Take of Venice treacle one ounce, powder of tnrmentife roots contrayerva, pearl and prepared coral^of each a yiffi- cient quantky, with the syrup of dried roses make an elect- uary ; take the quantity of a walnut every fourth or fifth hour ; drink after it a draught of ale or beer,, with a crust of bread, mace or cinnamon boiled in it. A distilled Water for the Jaundice. Take one pound of the roots of English rhubarb sliced, the rinds of four oranges sliced, filings of steel one pound, fresh strawberries six pounds, three quarts of while wine ; let them stand in infusion for some time, distil all according to art. Take four ounces twice a day, with twenty drops of the spirit of saffron . - For the Rheumatism* Take volatile salt of hartshorn, volatile salt of amber, two drams each, crabs eyes one ounce, cochineal ft set uple; m'- * 6 30 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. and make a powder. Take half a dram three times a day, or every fouv hours, keeping your bed and sweating upou it. For a violent 4oothache. If the teeih be hollow, nothirg cures but drawing, but if occasioned through a,de>floxion of humors, first take a gen- tle purge, and at night when you go to bed take a grain or two of London laudanum, which will thicken the humor, stop the dtfluxion, and consequently remove the pain. For Saint Anthony** Fire. Bleeding surmised, take ttog spawn water, plantain wa- ter, half a pmt each, sugar of lead two drams ; mix .ind shake the bottle till the salt is dissolved. Dp a ln.en ci'lhin *Ms water and bathe ihe part affected ; it cools wonderfully. For the Blacjc Jaundice. Take flowe.rs of sal ammoniac, diancum, and extract of gentian, of each a dram ; salt amber a scruple ; gum am- moniac dissolved in vinegar of squills suffices ; makeamasa of small pills, take it three or four mornings and evenings. For stinking Gums ivujiout Rottenness. Take powder ot best myrrh one ounce : claret wine a pint ; after two qr three days infusion, wash your gums and mc-uth with it. For the Rheumatism proceeding from the Scurvy. Take stone horse dung a pound, white wine three or four jquarts, d'*t'l according to art ; take five or six ounces twice or thrice a day. Some take the infusion only, but thin exceeds it. Par a .convuiaive Cough in Children. % After a gentle vomit and purge, apply a blister to the nape of the neck ; but if the distemper be obstinate, cut an issue in the neck or arm ; keep them close to a diet drink of shavings of ivory, saunders, and some diuretic ingredi- ents. But it a specific you may have cupmoss in powder every day in boiled milk, and the decoction of hyssop, with a little castor and saffron. For an inward Bleedings Take leaves of plantain and nettles, of each three hand- fuls, bruise them well, and pour on them six ounces of plantain water ; make a strong emulsion, and drink the whole off. Powder against Poison and Pestilence. Take zeodory, euphorbium, corallina, tormentil, gentian, common dittany, sealed ear th, armenian bole, red and white coral, spikenard, mattich, clove jelly, flowers, lesser cen« tuary, red suanlcrs, bone of a stag's heart, camphor, of each equal parts. Make all into an impalpable powder ; give) one dram with sorrel water, or with wine and sorrel boiU p.d together. Experienced mid-wife,. PART I. GUIDE FOR CHILD BEARING WOMEN- INTRODUCTION. • I HAVE given this book the title of the Complete and Experienced Midwife, both because it is chiefly designed fnt those that profess midwifery, and contains whatever is necessary for them to know in the practice thereof, and al- so because it is the result of many years experience, and that in the most difficult cases, and is therefore the more to'be depended upon. A midwife is the most necessary and honorable office, being indeed a helper of nature : which therefore makes it necessary for her to be well acquainted with all the operation? of nature in the work of generation, and instruments with which she works. For she that knows not the oper*uiomrof nature, nor with what fciolsshe works, she must needs be at a loss how to assist therein. And see- ing the instruments of operation both in men and women are those things by which mankind is produced, it is very necessary that all midwives should be acquainted wiih th- m, that they may the better understand their business, and assist nature as there shall be occasion. The first thing then necessarv, as introductory to this treatise, is an An- atomical Inscription of theseveral parts of genera- tion both in men and women; and having designed through. out to compreheud much in a little room, I si ai, avoid all unnecessary and impertinent matters with which books of thisnatuie are fur the most part loo much cloggegand which are more curious than needful. And though 1 stvipld be necessitated to speak plainly, that so 1 may be under- stood, yet i ^hall do it with that modesty that none shall have need to b'ush, unless ii be fr-m something in them- selves, rather than from what they shall find h-re, having the motto of the royal garter for my defence, which is. ^Ha- ni soil qui maly pense f or, Evil to him that evil ihinks. CHAI*. I. An Anatomical Description of the Instruments of Gene- ration in Men and Women. Si^ction I. Of ihe parts of Generation in Man. AS the generation of mankind is produced by the coition of both sexes, it necessarily follows that ihe instruments ©f •^8 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. generation are of two sorts, to wit, male and female; the operations of which are by action and passion, and herefn the agent is the seed, and the patient blood : whence we m ly easily collect, that the body of man being generated by action and passion, he must needs be subject thereuuto during his life. Now, since the instruments of generation are male and female, i: will be necessary to treat of them boih distinctly that the discreet midwife miy be well ac- quainted with their several parts, and their various opera- tions, as they contribute to the work of generation. And, in doing this. I shall give the honor of precedence to my own sex, and speak first of the pirts of generation in nun, which shall be comprehended under six particulars, viz. The preparing vessels, the corpus varicosum, the testicles or stones, the vasa deferentia, the seminal vessels, and the yard, of each of which in their order. 1. The fust a.-e the vasa preparentia, or preparing ves. sels, which are in number four, two veins, and as many ar- teries ; and ihey are called preparing vessels from their office, which is, to prepare that matter or substance which the stones tut n into seed to fit it for the work. VYhence -you may note, lhat the liver is the original of blood, anil distributes it through the body by the veins, and not the heart, as some have taught. As to the original of these veins, the right vein proceedeth from the vena era, or great vein, which receives the bood from the liver and dis- tributes it by its branches to all the body ; the left is from the emu'gent vein, which is one of the two mam branches of the hollow vein passing to the reins. As to the arteries,. ihey both arise from the great artery, which the Greeks call lhat which is indeed the great trunk and original of all the arteries Rut 1 will nut trouble you with Greek deriva- tions of words affecting more to teach you the knowledge of thifigs than words. 2-9 iie next thing to be spoken of is the corpus variorum, and this i>"an interweaving of the veins and arteiie* wh'ch carry t'ae vital and natural blood to the stones to make seed of These, though at the first descension they keep at a ^-mall dis'ance the one from the other, yet before they en- ter the stoues they make an admirable intermixture of twisting the one from ihe other so that sometimes the veins go into the arteries, and sometimes the arteries Into the veins; the substance of which is very hard and long, not much unike a pyramid in form, without any sensible hol- lownevs. I he u>e is to make one body of the blood and vi « tal spirits, which they both mix and change the color of* from vcl to white, s~> th.it the stoues may both 'have a frc EXPERIENCED MJDWfFE. 89 Flatter to work upon, and do their work more easily ; for which reason, the interweaving reacheth down to the very stones, and pierceth in their *ubs' ance. 3. The stones are the third thing to be spoken of, called also testicles ; in Latin, Testes, that is,wi;nii-ses, because they witness one to be a man. As to these I need not tell you their number, nor where aature has pacedthem, for that is obvious to the eye. Their substance is soft, vhitft and spongy, full of small veins and arteries, which is the reason they swell to such a bigness upon the flowing down of the humor in them. Their form is oval ; bu*. most au- thors are of opinion, that their bigness is not equal, but that the right is the biggest,-th* hottest, and breeds the best and the strongest seed. Each of these stones hath a mus- cle, cal.ed, cremaster, which signifies to hold up, because they pull up the stoi.es in the act of coition, that so the ves- sels biiingslackened may the better void ihe seed. These muscles are weakened both by age and sickness ; and the stones then hang dowo lower than in youth and healin. These stones are of great use, for they convert the blood and vital spirits into seed for the procreation of man. But this must not be understood as if they converted all the fciood that comes into them into seed, for they keep some for their own nourishment. But besides this they add strength and courage to the body ; which is evident from this, that eunuchs are neither so hot, strong,, nor valiant, as other men, nor is an ox so hot or valiant as a bull. 4. The next in order are the vasa deferentia, which are the vessels that carry the seed from the stones to the semi- nal vessel*, which is kept there till its expulsion. These are in number two, in color white, and in substance nervoua or sinewy ; and form a certain,Hllowness which they have in them, are also called spermatic pores, they rise not far from the preparing vessels ; and when they come into the cavity of the belly, they turn back again and pass into the backside of the bladder, between it and the right gut ; and when they come near the neck of the bladder they are join- ed to the seminal galls, which somewhat resemble the cells of an honey comb : which cells contain an oily substance, for they draw the fatty substance from the seed which they empty into the urinal passage, which is dene for the most p irt in the act of copulation, that so the thm internal skin of the yard suffers not thiough the acrimony or sharpness of the seed. And when the vasa deferentia has passed as before declared, they fall into the glandula prostr^u, which are the vessels ordained to keep the seed, aitd which are next to Ue spoken of. 8* 90 EXPERIENCED- MIDWIFE. 5. The seminal vessels called glandulum seminale, are certain kennels placed between the neck of the bladder, and the right gut, compassing about the vasa deferentia, the urethra, or common passage for seed and urine, passing through the midst of it, and may properly enough be called the conduit of the yard. At the mouth of the urethra, where it meets with'the vasa deferentia, there is a thick skin whose office is to hinder the seminal vessels which are of a spongy nature, from shedding their seed against their will; the skin is very full of nares, and through the heat of the act of copulation, the pores open, and so give passage to the seed, which being of a very subtile spirit, and especially being moved, will pass through the caruncle or skin as quicksilver through leather ; and yet the pores of this skin are not discernible unless in the anatomy of a man, who had some violent running in the reins when,he died, ai;d then they are conspicuous, those vessels being the proper seat of that disease. 6. The last of the parts of generation in tran to be spo- ken of, is the yard, which has apritxipal share in the work of generation ; and is called Penis, from ii* hanging wiih- out the belly ; and it consists of skin, tendons, veins, arte- ries, sinews and great ligaments, and is long and round, being ordained by nature both for the passage of ihe urine, and for the conveyance of seed into the matrix. It hath some parts common withit to the rest of the body.as the skin, or the Membrana Carnosa, and some parts it has peculiar to itself, as the two nervous bodies, the Septum, the Ure- thra, the glans, the four muscles, and the vessels The skin which (he Latins called Cutis, is full of pores, through which the sweat and fuliginous or sooty black vapors of the third concoction (which concocjMthe blood into flesh) pass out; these ports are very man^and thick but hardly visible to the eye ; and when the yard stands not, it is flaggy ; but when it stands, it is stiff The skin is very sensible, because the nerves concur to make up its being; tor the brain gives sense to the body by the nerves As*to the Carnus Mem- brana, or the fleshy skin, it is so called, not because i's bo- dy is fleshy skin, but because it lies between the flesh and passeth into other parts of the body underneath the fat, and sticks close, to the muscle ; but in the yard there is no fat at all, only a few supeificial veins and arteries pass be- tween ihe former skin and this, which when the yard stands are visible to the eye. These are the parts common both to the yard and the rest of the body. I will now speak of these parts of ihe yaid which are peculiar to itself and to no i:\;er parts of the body ; and these ?.re likewise six, as EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 9£ has been already said,of which ic will be necessary to speak particularly. And, 1. Of the Nervous bodies : These are two. though join- ed together, and are hard, long and sinewy ; they are spongy within, and full of black blood; the spongy sub- stance of the inward part of it seems to be woven togeiuer like a net, consisting of innumerable twigs of veins and ar- teries. Th; black blood contained therein is very full of spirits, and the delights or desire of Venus add heat to- these, woich causeth the yard to stand ; and that is the reason that both veneral sights and tales will do it. Nor need it be strange to any, that Venus, being a planet cold and itioist, should add heat to those parts, since by night, as the Psalmist testifies, Ps. cxxi. 6. Now this hollow, spon- gy intermixture or weaving was so ordered by natuie, on purpose to contain the spirit of veneral heat, that the yard may not fall b-fore it has done its work. These two side ligaments of the yard, where they are thick and round, a- rise from the lower pari of the share bone, and at the be- ginning are separated the one from the oiher, resembling a pair of horns or the letter Y, where the Urethra, or com- mon passage of urine and seed, passeth bet ween them. 2. Those nervous bodies of which I have sp< ken-, so soon as they come to the joining of the share bone, are join- ed by the Sceptum Lucium, which is the second in'errial part to be described, which.in substance is white and nerv- •us, cr sinewy, and its use is to uphold the two side liga- ments and the Urethra. 3. The third thing in the internal part of the yard is the Urethra, which is the .passage or channel by which both the seed and urine is conveyed out through the yard The substance of it is sinewy, ihick,_soft and loose, as the side ligaments are: it begins at the neck of ihe bladder, and, be- ing joined to it, passeth to the glands. It has in the begin- ning of it three holes, of which the largest of them is' in- the midst, which receives ihe urine into it, the ether two> are Smaller, by which it receives the seed from each semi- nal vessel. 4. The yard has four muscles ; on each side two ; these muscles are instruments of voluntary motion, without which. no part of the body can move itself. It consists of fibrous- flesh to make its body, of nerves for its sense, of veins for its nourishment, of arteries for its vital heat, ©f a mem- brane or skin to knit it together, and to distinguish one Hivscle from another, and all of them from the flesh. Of these muscles, as 1 said before, the yard has two on each $lde, and the use of them is to erect the yard, and make it 93 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. stand, and therefore they are also called erectors But here you must note,that of the two on each side the one is shorter and thicker than the other: and these are they that do erect the yard, and so are cajled erectors. But the two othevs being longer and smaller, their office is to dila;e the lower part of the Urethra, both for making water, and e« milting the seed ; upon which account they are called Ac- celerators. 5. That which is called the Glands is the extrem* part of the yard, which is very soft, and of a most exqui-.,Le feel- ing by reason of the thinness of the skin wherewith it is covered. This is covered with the Prseputii Spermatic Vessels. EXPERIENCED MID WIPE. $$ 1-st. Of the Privy Passage. Under this head I shall con-1 sider the six following parts. 1. The lips, which are visible to the eye, and are design- ed by nature as a cover to the Fis&ura Magna, or great orifice; these are framed of the body, and have pretty store of spongy fat: and their use is to keep the internal- parts from cold aud dust. These are the only things that^ are obvious to the sight, the rest are concealed, and cannot" be seen, unless the two lips are stretched asunder, and the entrv of the privities opened. 2.' When the lips are severed, the next thing that ap-- pears is th? Nymphs or wings; fiey are formed of soft and ?p jngy flesh, aud are in form and color like the comb of a cock. 3. In the uppermost ptrt, jast above the urjnary pas- sag?, may be observed the t'litori-s which is a sinewv and* hard body, full of spongy and black muter within, like the side ligament jf the yard ; representing in form the y:ird of a man, and stiff-rs erection and falling as a man's yard, in; proportion to the d.-sire a woman huh in copulation ; and this a'soisthat which gives a worn en delight i.i copulation;' fir without this a woman hath neither a desire to copula* tion, and d hght in it. nor can onceive bv it. And 1 have heard that some women hive had their-Ciitons so long ih\t: they have abused other women therewith : nay, some have pone so far as to say..that those persons that hive been re- ported to b* Hermaphrexlites, as having the genitals both of men and women, are only such women in whom-the: Ciito- i is hangs out ex emally, resembling the form of a yard. But though I will not be positive in that, yet it is certain, that the larger the Clitoris is in any woman the more lust- ful she is. 4. Under the Clitoris, and above the neck, appears the Orifice, o; urinary passage, which is much larger in- women. thin men, and causes their watvr to come from them in a: great stream. On both sides the urinary p issages mav be seen two small membraneous appendices, a little broader above than below, issuing forth of the inward parts of ihe' great lips, immediately under the Clitoris; the use where- of 16 to cover the orifice of the urine, and defend ihe blad. der from the co'd air: So lhat when a woman pisseth. she contracts herself so, that she conducts out the urine wi fl- out suffering it to spread along the privities, and olten with- out so much as wetting the lips ; and therefore these small membraneous win«s are called the JVymphee, because they govern the woman's water. Some women Ivive them so- great and long, tint they have been neccstitaUd to cut offi 9* EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. so much as has exceeded and grew without the lips. 5: Near this are four Caruncles, or fleshy knobs, com- monly called Caruncles Myrtiformes: these are placed, on each side two, and a small one above, just under the urina- ry passage, and in virgins are reddish plump and round, but hang flagging when virginity is lost. In virgins they ar« joined together by a thin and' sinewy skin or membrane, Which is called the Hymen, and keeps them in subjection, and makes them resemble a kind of rose bud half blown. This disposition of the Caruncles is the only certain mark of virginity, it being in vain tosearch for it else where, or hape to be informed of if in any other way; and'tis from the pressing and bruising the Caruncles, and forcing and breaking the little membranes (which is done by the yard in the first act of copulation) that there happens an effusion of blood; after which they remain separated, and never re- cover their first figure, but become more and more flat as the acts of copulation are increased ; and 'in those that have children they are almost totally defaced, by reason of the great distention these parts suffer in time of their labor* Their use is to straighten the neck of the womb, to hinder the cold air from incommoding it, and likewise to increase mutual pleasure in the act of coition : for the Caruncles be- ing then extremely swelled, and filled with blood and spir- its, they close with more pleasure upon the yard of a man, whereby the woman is muthmoredelighted. What I have p-aid ot the effusion of blood which happens in the first act of copulation, though when it happens it is an undoubted Bign of virginity, site wing the Caruncles Myrtiformes have never bee* pressed till then ; yet when there happens no blood, it is not always a sign that virginity is lost before ; for the He men may be broken without copuiation by the de- fluxion of sharp humors, which sometimes happens to young virgins, because in them it is thinest. It is also done by the unskilful applying of bestaries to provoke ihe terms, &c. But these things happen so rarely, that those virgins do thereby bring themselves under a just suspicion. 6. There is next to be spoken of, the neck of the womb, which is nothing e.se but the distance between the privy parage and ihe mouth* of the womb, into which the man's yard enters in ihe ict ot copula'ion ; and in women of rea- sonable stature is about eight inches in length. It is ot a membraneous substance, flesiiy without, skinny, and very much wrioklcd within \ and that it may both retain the seed cast into it in the act of copulation, and also that it may di- late and extend itself to give sufficient passage to the infant ftt its birth. It iscomposed of two membranes, th« inner* rEXPERIENCED MIS WIFE. S5 most of them being white, nervous .enel circularly w.tfinkitd much like the palate of an ex that so it might either con- tract or dilate itself acce.rdi:.g to ihe bigr ess or \e< gth of the man's yard . nd to the end, thai by the collision, vque^z** ing, or pressing maile-b> the yard in copulation, the pleas- ure may be mu Ur.Hy augmented. Ihe « xfernal, or out- most nnmbrj.e is red -end fleshy like the muscle of the Fundament '.ui r.■ai-dii.p th« first, to the end of -.he yard may be better ci-seo w , hin it; and it is.bv means of this membrai.e ihat the ntck adneres the stronger io bolh the bhedder and .he r ght gu . The internal mtmbiane in young girls is vei y soft and delicate, but in women much addict- ed to copulation it grows harder ; and in those .that are grown aged if they have been given much td venery, it is a mos; become grisly. 1. Having spoken of the privy passage, I come ;now to speak of the womb n •, for nature has attended that action with something pleasing and delight- ful, that they are willing to indulge themselves in the use thereof, notwithstanding the pains that they afterwards en- dure, and the hazard of their lives which often fellow it: And this comes to pass not so much from any inordinate lust $$ EXPERIENCED IIIDWiFK. in women, a9 for that the great Director of nature, for .the increase and multiplication of mankind, and even for all othei species in the elementaly world, bath placed such a m.^ne.ic virtue in the womb, that it draws the seed to it as tht; loadstone draws iron. The author of naiuie.-has placed the womb in the belly, th;.t the heat might always be maintained by the warmth of the parts sun oundr.g it ; it is tber tore seated in the mid- dle ot tht hypogust; urn (or the lewer part of the belly) be- tween the biaeldtr and ihe recium (or right gut) by which aso it is defended from any hurt through the hardness of the bones ; and i is placed in ihe lower part of the belly for the conveiiiency of-c< pulation, and of a bii th's being thrust out at the full lime. It is of figure almost round, inclining somewhat to an ob- long, in part resembling a pear, lor, from being broad at the bottom, it gradually teraiinates in the point of th* orifice, which is narrow. The lei-g h, breadth and thickness of the womb, differ according to the age and disposition of the body ; for, mvir- ,gms not ripe, it is very small in all its dimensions, but in wo- men whose terms flow in great quantities, and ^uch as fre- quently use copulation, it is much larger ; and if they have had children, it is larger in them than in such as have none-; but in women of a good stature, and well shaped (it is as I have said befote) from the entry of the privy parts to the -bottom of the womb, usually about-eight, but the length of the body of the worab alone does not exceed three inches, and the breadth thereof is nearly about the same, and of the little fingtr, when ihe woman is not pregnant ; but when the woman is with child, it becomes of a prodigious great- ness, and the nearer (he woman is to her delivery, the more is the womb extended. It is not without reason then that nature (or the God of nature rather) has made the womb of a membraneous sub- stance ; fir thertby it doe* easier open to conceive, and is gradually dilated from the growth of the Fatus, or young one, and is afterwards contracted and closed again,to thrust forth both it and the after buiden, and then to retire to its primitive seat. Hence also it is enabled to expel any-noxi- ous humors which may sometimes happen to be contained within it. Before I have done with the womb, which is the field of generation, and ought therefore to be more particularly ta- ken care of, (tor as the seed of plants can produce no fiuits, nor spring unless sown in ground proper ib waken and ex- cite theit vegetative virtue, so likewise the seed of a maR, EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 97 (hough potentially containing all the parts of a child, would never produce so admirable an efiect, if it were not cast in- to the fruitful field of nature, (the womb,) I shall proceed to a more particular description of the parts thereof, and the uses to which nature has designed them. The womb then is composed of various similary parts, that is ot membranes, veins, arteries and nerves. Its membranes are two, and ihey compose the principal part ot its body ; the outmost of which ariseth from the PeritoJiium, or cawl, and. is very thin, withoj.it smooth, but within equal, that it may the better cleave to the womb, as it were fleshy and thicker than any else we meet wiih in the body when a wo- man is not pregnant, and is interwoven with all sorts of fi- bres or small strings, that it may the better suffer the exten- sion of the child and the waters caused during the pregnan- cy, and ateo that it may the easier close again after deliveiy. The veins and arteries proceed bolh from the Hypogas- trics and the Spermatic Vessels, ot which I shall speak by and by ; all these are inserted and terminated in the pro- per membrane of the womb. The arteries supply it with blood for its nourishment, which being brought thither in too great a quantity,sweats through the substance of it, and distils as it were dew into the bottom of its cavity, from whence do proceed both the terms in ripe virgins, and the blood which nourisheth the embryo in breeding women.— The branches which issue from the Spermatic Vessels, are in each side of the bottom of ihe womb, and are much less than those which proceed from the Hv pogastrics, those being greater, and bedewing the whole substance of it. There are yet some other small vessels, which, arising the one from the other, are conducted to the internal oiifice, and by these, those that are pregnant do purge away the superfluity of their teims, when they happen to have more than is used in the nourishment ot the infant; by which means natuie has taken such care of it in the womb, that during its pregnancy, it shall n«l be obliged to open itself lor the passing away those excrementinous humors, which, should it be forced to do might often endangei abortion. As touching the nerves, they proceed from the brain, which furnishes all the inner parts of the lower belly with them, which is ihe true reason it hath so great a s/ttipathy with the stomach, which is likewise very considerably fur- nished from the same part ; so that the womb cannot be af- fliGted with any pain, but the stomach is immediately sensi- ble thereof, which is ihe cause of those loathings or frequent vomitings w! ich happen to it. But, besides ah ilu.se parts which compose the womb, it 9 98 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. hath four ligaments, whose cffice is to keep it firm in its place, and prevent its constant agitation, by the continual motion of the intestines which surround it, two of which are above and two below : Those above are called the broad li- gaments, because of their broad and membraneous figure, and are nothing else but the production of the Peritonxum, which growing out of the side of the loins towards the leius, come to be inserted in the sides of the bottom of the womb, to hinder the body from bearing too much on the neck, and so from suffering a precipitation, as v, ill sometimes happen when the ligaments are loo much rel.ixed ; and do also con- tain the testicles, and as well conduct the different vessels, as the ejaculatorjes to the womb. The lowermost are call- ed round ligaments, tt king 'heir orignal from the side of the womb near the horn, from whence they pass the grain, to- gether with the production of ihe Peritoneum, which ac- companies them through the rings and holes ot the oblique and transverse muscles of the belly where they divide them- selves into many little branches, resembling the foot of a goose, of which some are inserted into the ospubis, and the rest are list and confounded with the membranes lhat cover the upper and interi. r parts of the th'gh ; and it is that which Ciuses that numbness which women with child tselin their th'ghs. These two ligaments are long, round and ner- vous, and pretty big in their beginning, near the matrix, hollow in their rise, and all along to ihe os pubis, where they are a little smaller, and become fiat, the better to be insert- ed in the manner aforesaid ; it is by their means the womb ishirdered from rising tootngh Now, although the womb :s held in its naiural situation, by means of these four liga- ments, yet it has liberty enough to extend itself when preg- na.nt, because ihey are very loose, und so easily yield to its distention. But besides the ligaments, which keep the womb as it were in a poise, vet ins fis'ened, for gi eater se- curity, by its neck, both to the- bladder and rectum, between which it is situated. Whence it comes to pass, that if at any time the womb be. inflamed, it communicates ihe infla- maticn to the neighboring parts. ' Its use or proper action in the woi k of generation, is to receive and to retain the seed, and to reduce it fiom powder to action, by us heat, for ihe generation of the infant, and is therefore ab^luttly necessary for the conservation of'he species. It also see ms by accident to receive and expel the impurities of the whole body, as when women have abund- ance of white > and to purge away from time to time, the su[ eifluity of blood, as it doth every month by the evacua- tion ot blood, as when a woman is not with ohild. And thus EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 99 much shall suffice for the description of the womb, in which 1 have been the larger, because, as I have said before, it is the field of generation. 3d. The next thing to be described in the genitals of wo- men, is the testicles, or stones, for such women have, as well as men, but are not for the same use, and indeed are differ- ent frnm those in men, in several particulars ; as 1st, in place, being within the belly, whereas in men they are with- out. 2dly, in figure, being uneven in women, but smooth in men. 3dly, in magnitude, being lesser in women than in men. 4thly, they are not fixed in women by muscles,'but by ligatures. 5thly, they have no prostrates, or kernels, as men have. 6thly, they differ in form, being depressed or flattish in women, but oval in men, 7'bly,they have but one skin, whereas men have four : for ihe stones of m^n being more exposed, nature has provided for them accordingly. Sthly, their substance is more soft thin in men. And, 9ihly, their temperature is colder than men. And as they differ in all these respects, so they do in their use, for they perform not the same actions as men's, as I shall shew presently.. As for their seat, it is in the hollowness of the Abdomen, and therefore not extremely pendulous, but rest upon the ova or egg. It is true Galen and Hippocrates did erroneously ima- gine that the stones in women did bolh contain and elabo- rate seed as those do in men, but ii is a great mistake ; for the testicles of a woman are as it were no more than two clusters of eggs, which lie there to be impregnated by the moist, spiritous particles, or anim uing effltivia conveyed out of the womb through the two tubes, or different vessels ; But however, the stones in women are very useful, for where they are defective, generation work is at an end. For ibo' theae little bladders, which are on iheir supeifices, contain nothing of seed, yet they contain stveialeggs, (commonly to the number of twenty in each testicle,) one of which being impregnated in the act of coition, by ihe most spirituous part of the seed of the man, descends through the oviducts into the womb, and there, in process of time, becomes a liv- ing child. 4th. I am now to speak of the spermatic vessels in wo- men, which are two, and are fastened in their whole ex- ten', by a membraneous appendix to the broad ligament of the womb : These do not proceed from the testicles as in men, but are distant from them a finger's breadth at least; and being disposed after the manner of the miseraic veins, are trained along the membraneous distance between the different vessels and the testicles. Their substance is as it \tere neivous and moderately hard ; they are round, hoi- 100 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. low, big, and broad enough at their end, joining to the horn of the womb. Some authors affirm, that by these, women discharge their seed into the bottom of the womb ; but the whole current of our modern authors run quite another way, and are positive that there is no seed at all in their vessels; but that after the egg or eggs In the avoric or testicles, are impregna-ed by the seed of the man, they descend through these two vessels into the*womb, wher* being placed, the embryo is notrished. These vessels are shorter in wrmen than the* are in men ; for the stones of a woman lying with- in the belly, their passage must needs be shorter ; but their various vreathing and windings in and out, make amends for the shortness of their passage. These vessels are not united befoie they come to the stones, but divide themselves into tv\o branches, the largest whereof only passes through the testicles, the lesser to the womb, both for the nourish- ment of itself aud the infant in it. I further observe, that these spermatic veins receive the arteries as they pass by the womb, and so there is a mixture between natural and vital blood, that so the work might be better wrought, and that it is so, appears by thi«. That if you blow up the sper- matic vein, you in ty perceive the right and left vessel of the vvombblown cp ; fmm whence also the communication of a!l the vessels of the womb may be easily perceived. The deferentia or carrying vessels, spring from the lower part'of the testicles, and are in color white, and in substance sinewy, and pass not the womb straight, but wreathed with several turnings and windings, as was said of the spermatic vessels, that so the shortness of the way may be likewise re- compensed by their winding meanders ; yet near the womb they becGme broad again. They proceed in two pari3 from the womb, which Tesemble horns, and are therefore called the horns of the womb. And this is all that is needful to be known or treated of concerning the parts of generation boh in men and women. Only since ou.; modern anatomists and physicians, are of different sentiments from ihe ancients, touching the woman's contributing of seed, for the formation of the child as well as the man ; ihe ancients strongly affirming it, but our modern authors being generally of another judgment ; I will here declare the several reasons for their different opinions, and so pass on. Sfction III. Of the differences between the modern Physicians, touch- ing ike Woman's contributing Seed to the formation of the child. I will not make myself a party in this controversy, bu EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 101 set down impartially, yet briefly, the arguments on each side, leaving the judicious reader to judge for himself. Though it is apparent (e ly the ancients) that the seed of man is the principal efficient And beginning of'-action, mo- tion, and generation, yet it is evident that the woman doth afford seed becatise she hath seminal vessels, which else had been given her in vain ; but since nature forms nothing io vain, it must be granted the) were made for the use of seed and procreation, and fixed in their proper places, to contribute virtue and efficacy to the seed : And this, (say they) is further proved from hence. That if women, at vears of maturity, use not copulation to object their seed, they often fall into Strang? diseases and it is apparent that women arc never better pleased than when they are often satisfied this way, which argues the pleasure and delight they take therein : which pleas-ure,say they, is double in wo- men to what it is in men; for, as the delight of men in copu- lation, consists ch:efly in the emission of the seed, so women. are delighted.both in the emission of .their own,,and the re- ception of the man's. But against all this, our modern authors affirm, that the ancients were very erroneous : Forasmuch as the testicles iu women do not afford seed, but are two-eggs, like those of fowls, and other creatures, neither have they any such offices as men, but inoeed are an Ovarium, or receptacle for eggs, wherein these eggs are nourished by the sanguinary ves- sels dispersed tbreiugh them ;.and from thence,one or more are fcecundated by the man's seed,.are conveyed into the womb by the oviducts. And the truth of this, say they, is plain, that if you boil them, their liquor will have the same taste, color, and consistency, with the taste of bird's eggs — And if it be objected, that they have no shells, the answer is easy ; for the eggs of fowls, while they are in the ovary, nay, after they are fallen into the uterus, have no shell; and though they have one when they are laid, yet it is no more than a fenc« which nature has provided for them against outward injuries, they being hatched without the body; but those of women being hatched within the body, have no need of any other fence than the womb to secure them. They also further say, there are in the generation of the foetus, or young ones, two principles, active and passive : the active is the man's seed, elabora'ed in the testicles, out of the arterial blood and animal spirits ; the passive princi- ple is the ovum or egg, impregnated by the man's seed ; for to say that women have true seed, say they, is erroneous.— But the manner of conception is this : The most spirituous part of man's seed, in the act of copulation, reaching up to .9* 102 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. the ovarium or testicles of the woman, which contains diverse eggs, sometimes more and sometimes fewer, impregnates of them, which being conveyed by, the ovaducts to the bottom of the womb, presently begins te swell bigger and bigger and drinks in the moisture that is sent thither, after the same manner that the seeds in the ground suck the fertile moist- ure thereof to make them sprout. But, notwithstanding what is here urged by our modern anatomists, there are some late writers of the opinion of the ancients, viz. that women have both and emit seed, in the act of copulation, and the good women themselves take it ill to be thought merely passive in those wars, wherein they make such vigorous encounters, and positively affirm, they are sensible of the emission of their seed in-those engage- ments, and that a great pari of the delight they take in that act consists in it. I will not therefore go abeut to take any of their happiness away from them, but leave them in pos- session of their imagined felicity. Having thus laid the foundation of this work, In the de- scription I have given of the parts dedicated to the work of generation both in man and woman, I will now proceed to speak of conception and of those things that are necessary to be observed by women from the time of their conception to the time of their delivery. CHAP. III. Of conception ; what it is : the signs thereof whether con- ceived oj a Male or Female ; how women are to order themselves after conception. Sectiok I* What conception is, and the qualifications requisite thereto. Conception is nothing else but an action of the womb, by which the prolific'seed is received and retained, that an in- fant may be engendered and formed out of it. There are two sorts of conception ; the one according to nature, whidh is followed by the generation of the infant in the womb; the oiher is false, and wholly against nature, in which the seed changes into water, and produc€s only false conception, moles or other strange matter. Now there are three thii.gs principally necessary in order to a true conception, so that generation may follow; to wit, diversity of sex, congress ion, and emission of seed. Without diversity ef sexes thei e can be no conception ; for, though some will-have a woman to be an animal that can engender of herself, It is a great mis- take; there can be no conception wiihout a man to discharge his seed into her womb. What ihey alledge of pullets lay- ing eggs without a cock's treading them is nothing to the purpose; for those eggs, should they be set under a hen, will nevrr become chickens, because they never received EXPERIENCED MID'VIFE. i®& any prolific virtue rrom the male ; which is absolutely nt- cessary to this purpose, and is sufficient to convince us that diversity of sex is necessary even to those animals as well as to the generation of man. But diversity of sex, though it be necessary to conception, yet it will not do alone ; there must ilso be a coogression of those different stxes ; tor di- versity of sex would profit little, if copulation did not follow. I confess I have heard of some subtle-women, who to cover their sin and shame, have endeavored to persuade some persons that they were never touched by m°n to get them with child ; and that one in particular pretended to con- ceive, by going into a bath where a man had washed himself a little before, and spent his seed in it, which was drawn and sucked into her womb, as she pretended. But such sto- ries as those are only fit to amuse them that know no bet- ter. Now that these different sexes sheeuld be obliged to come to the touch, which we call copulation or coition, be- sides, the natural desire of begetting their like, which stirs up men and women to it, the parts appointed for generation are endowed by nature with a deiightfuland mutual itch, which begets in them desire to the action ; without which, it would not be very easy for a man born for the contempla- tion of divine mysteries, to join himself by way of coition to a woman, in regard of the uncleanness of the part and ot the action ; and on the other side, if women did but think of those pains and inconveniences to which they are subject by their great bellies, and tho^e hazards even of life itself, be- sides the unavoidable pains that attend their delivery, it is reasonable to believe they would be affrighted from it. But neither sex make these reflections till after the action is over, considering nothing beforehand but die pleasure of enjoyment. So that it is from this voluptuous itch that na- ture obligeth both sexes to this cor.gression. Upon which the third thing followeth of course, to wit the emission of seed into the womb in the act of copulation. For the woman having'received this prolific seed into her womb, ard it tain- ed it there, the womb thereupon becomes compresst-d, and embraces the seed so closely, that being closed, the point of a needle, (as saith Hippocrates) cannot enter it without vio- lence ) and now the woman may be said to have conceived; . the several-faculties which are in the seed it contaius, being reduced by its heat from power into action, makii g use -of the spirits with whieh the seed abounds,and which are the instruments by which it begins to trace out the first linea- ments of all the parts ; to which afterwards, of making use of the menstcuousblood flowing to it, it gives in lime growth and final perfection. And thus much shall suffice to bhev/ what conception is. I shall now proceed to shew,> 101 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Sfction II. The sign* oj Conception. There are many prognostics or signs of conception ; I will name some of the chief, which are the most certain, and let alone the rest. 1. If a woman has been more than ordinary desirous of copulation, and haih tiiken more pleasure than usual there- in, (which upon recollection she may easily know,) it is a sign of conception. 2. If she retain the seed in her womb after copulation, which she may know if she perceives not to flow down from the womb, as it used to do before, for that is a sure sign the womb has received it into the inward orifice, and there re. tains it. 3. If she finds a coldness and dullness after copulation, it shews the heat is retired to make conception. 4. If after this she begins to have loathings to those things which she loved before, and this attended with a loss of ap- petite, and a desire after meats, to which she was Hot affect- ed before, and hath often nauseatings and vomitings, with sour belchings and exceeding weakness of stomach. 5. After conception the belly waxeth very flat, because the womb closeth itself together, to nourish and cherish tha seed, contracting, itself soas to leave no empty space. 6. If the veins of the breast are more clearly seen than they were wont to be, it is a sign of conception. 7* So it is, if the tops on the nipples look redder than for- merly, and the breasts begin to swell, and grow harder than usual, especially if this be attended with pain and soreness. 8. If a woman hath twisting and griping pains, much like those of the cramp in the belly, and about the navel, it is a sign she has conceived. 9. If under the lower eye-lid the veins be swelled, and appear clearly, and the eye be something discolored, it is a certain sign she is with child, unless she have her menses at the same time upon her, or lhat she hath sat up the night before. This sign has never failed,. 10. Some also make this trial of conception ; they stop the woman's urine in a glass or phial for three days, and then strain it through a linnen cloth, and if they find small living creatures in it, they conclude that the woman has certainly conceived. 11. There also is another easy trial ; let the woman that supposes she has conceived, take a green nettle, and put it into her uriufe, cover it close, and let it remain therein a whole night ; if the woman be with child, it will be full of red spots on the morrow ; but if she be not wi'h child it will be blackish* EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 103 12. The last sign I shall mention is that which is most ob- vioss to every woman, whick is the suppression of the terms. For after conception, nature makes use of that blood for the nourishment of the embryo, which before was cast out by nature, because it was too great in quantity. For it is an error to think that the mens'iual biood, simply in itself considered, is bad ; because if a woman's body be in gocd temper, the blood must needs be good ; and that it is voided monthly, is because it offends in quantity, but not in quality, But though the supprcssie>n of the ternis is generally a sure sign of conception to such persons as have had them or- derly before, yet is not the having them always a sign there is no conception. Forasmuch as m-my that have been with child have had their terms, and some even till the fifth or sixth month ; which happens according to the woman's being more or less sangjine ; for if a woman has more blood than will suffice for the nourishment of the embryo, nature continues to void it in the usual way. Whence the Experi- enced Midwife may learn there are a few general rule's which do not sometimes admit of an exception. But this shall suffice to be spoken of the signs and prognostics of conception. Section III. Whether conception be of a Male or Female. Authors give us several prognostics of this : though' they are not all to be trusted, yet there is some truth among them ; The signs of a male child conceived are.. 1. When a woman at her rising up is moie apt to stay her- self upon her right hand than her left.. 2 Her belly lies rounder and higher than when she has. conceived of a female. S. She first feels the chi'.d to beat on her right side. 4. She carries her bur ^en more light, and wiih less pai»- thai when it is a female. 5. Her right nipple is redder than the left, and her right breast harder and more plump 6 Her color is more clear, nor is she so swarthy -ns when she has conceived a female. 7. Observe a circle under her eye, which is a pale and b'uish color; and if that under her right eve be most ap> parent, and most discolored, she hath conceived a son. , 8. If she would know whether she hath conceived a son or a daughter, let her milk a drop of her milk into a bason of fair water; if it spreads and swims at top, it certainly is a boy ; but if it is round as it drops in, and sinks to the bet. torn,it is a girl. This last is an infallible rule, ^vnd in all it is to be noted, that what is a sign of a male $ oncer;, i^r?, the contrary holds good of a female. 106 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Skction IV. How a Woman ou^ht to-order herself after conception. My design in this treatise being brevity, I shall preter- mit all that others say of the causes of twins ; and whether there be *ny such thing as superfcetations, or a second con- ception in womao, which is yet common enough, when I ccme to shew vou how the midwife ought to proceed in the delivery of these women lhat are pregnant with them. But having already spoken of conception, I think it now neces- sary to shew how such as have conceived ought to order themselves during their pregnancy, that they may avoid those inconveniences which often endanger the life of the child, and many times their own. A woman after her conception, during the time of her be- ing with child, ought to be looked on as indisposed or sick though in good health ; for child bearing is a kind of nine month's sickness, being all that time in expectation of ma- ny inconveniences, which such a condition usually causes to those that are not well governed during that time ; and therefore ought to resemble a good pilot, who, when sailing in a rough sea and full of rocks, avoids and shuns the dan- ger, if he steers with prudence ; but if not, it is a thousand to one but he suffers shipwreck- In like manner, a woman with child is often in danger of miscarrying and losing her life, if she is not very careful to prevent those accidents to which she is subject all the time oi her pregnancy : all which time her care must be double, first of herself, and secondly of the child she goes with, for otherwise a single error may produce a double mischief; for if she receives any preju- dice, her child also suffers with her. Let a woman therefore, after conception, observe a good diet, suitable to her tetrperament, custom, condition and quality; and if she can, let the air where she ordinarily dwells be clear and well tempered, free from extremes ei- ther of heat or cold ; tor being too hot, it dissipateth tha spirits too much, and causeth many weaknesses, and by be- ing too cold and foggy, it may bring down rheums, aid dis- tillations on the lungs, and so.cau^e her to cough, which by its impetous motions forcing downwards, may make her miscuny. She ought also to avoid all nauseous and lit smells; for sometimes the stink of a cande not well put out mty cause her to conae before her time; and I have known the smell of charcoal to have the same eff.ct. Let her also avoid smelling of rue, mint, pennyroyal, castor, bi imstone, Sec. But with respect to her diet, women with child have gen- erally so great loathings, and so many different longings, EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. IQff that it is very difficult to prescribe an exact diet for them. Only this I think advisable, that they may use of those meats and drinks which are to them most desirible, tho' perhaps not in them so wholesome as some others, aid it may not be so pleasant; but this liberty mu>.t be made use of with this caution, that what she so desires be not in iiself absolutely unwholesome ; and also that in every thing they take care of excess. But if a child bearing woman fids herself not troubled with such longings as we have spoken of, and in such quantity as may be sufficient for herself and the child which her appetite may in a great measure regu- late ; for it is alike hurtful for her to fast too long, as to eat too much, and therefore rather let her eat a little and often, especially let her avoid eating too much at night; because the stomach, being too much filled, conipreve h .he dmph- ragam, and thereby C2U>es difficuny < t b eathings. Let her roea be easy of dtcociop, miCIi as ;he tt-iu'eres" pars of beef, mut'on. veal, sows,pullets, capoi s. ( ig; > n- and par- tridges, ei.her boiled or roasted, as she- lik*--, best : new laid eggs are also very good for her ; and let her put in o her bro hs (hose herbs that puiity it, as sorrel. '•*-'■ uce. succory and barrage; for they will puige and pui ?y the bU.od ; let her avoid whatsoever is hot seasoned tspeci ly pies and baked meats, which, being ot hot digestion overcharge the stomach. If she desires fish, let it be fiesh, and such as i3 taken out of rivers and running streams. Let her eat quin- ces, or marmalade to strengthen her child ; for which pur- pose sweet almonds,honey, sweet apples, ard full ripe grapes are also good. Lei her abstain fre.m all sharp, sour, bitter, salt things, and all ihings that tend to provoke the :u.-ms, such as garlic, onion*, oiives, mustard, fennel, with pepper, and all spices, except cinnamon, which in the last three months is good for her. If .it first her diet be sparing as she increases in bigness, let her diet be increased tor she ought io corsidei she has a child as well as herself to nour- ish. Let her be m< derate in her drinking ; ,and if she drinks wire, let it be rathei claret than white, (which will breed good blood help the digestion, and comfort the stomach, which is always weakly during her pregnancy) but white winebeirg diuretic, or that which provokes urine ought to be avoided. Let her have a care of too much exercise, and let her avoid dancing, riding in a coi.ch, or whatever else purs the bodv intc violent motion, especially in her first month But to be more particular 1 shall here set down rules pre per for every nr.onth.~fcr the child beaiug wo- rn: f te i re ei herself, fiom the timeshe has firstconctived to the time of her delivery. 108 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Rules far the fi»st two Months. AS soon as a woman k.iows or has reason tobelie\e, she has conceived, she ought to abstain from all violen' motion or exercise, whether in walking, riding on horseback, or in axoach. Let her also abstain from venery, to which, af- ter conception, she has usually no great inclination, lest there be a mole or supeifcetation ; which is the adding of one embryo to another. Let her beware she lift not her arms too high, nor carry great burdens, nor repose herself on hard and uneasy seats. Let her use moderately meat , of good juice ana easy concoction, and let wine be neither too strong nor too sharp, but a little mingled with water; or, if she be very abstemious, she mav use water whenrin cinnamon is boiled. Let her avoid fastings, thirst, watch- ing, mounting, sadness, anger, and all other perturbations of the mind. Let-none present any strargeor unwholesome things to her, not so much as name it, lest she should de- sire it, and not be able to get it, and so either cause her to miscarry, or the child have some deformity on that account. Keep her belly loose wiih prunes, raisins, or manna, in her broih ; and let her use the following electuary lo strength- en the womb and the child. "Take conseive of'burrage, bugloss, and red rose;*, two ounces each ; balm, citron peel, and mirobalans candied, each an ounce ; extract of wood aloes a scruple ; pearl prepared half a dram ; red coral,'ivory, each a dram; precious stones each a scruple; candied nutmegs two drams ; and with sy 1 up of apples.and quinces make an elec- tuary. Let her use the following Rules. " Take pearls prepared a dram ; red coral prepared and ivory each half a dram, precious stones, each a scru- ple ; yellow citron peels, mace, cinnamon cloves, each half a dram, saffron a set uple, wood aloes, half a scruple ; am- btigrease six drams, and with six ounces of sugar, dissolv- ed in rose water m tke. rouls." Let her also apply stiength- entrs to the navel, of nutmegs, mace mastic, made up in bags, or a toast dipped in malmsey, spiinkTed in powder of mint. If sh«r happens to desire clay, rbalkvor coal (as man> women wiih child do) give her be.ans boiled wiih su- gar ; and if she long f,>r anything which she cannot obtain, let her presenily drink a l^rge diaughi of puie cold water. Utile for the Thiid Month. In this month and the next, be .sure to keep from bleed- ing ; for though it may be safe at other times, it will not be so ui.tii the end of the fouith month ; and yet if too much blood abound, cr iome incident dhease happen, which re- EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. , 10$ ouires evacuation, you may use a cupping glass, with scar- ification, and a little blood may be drawn from the shoul- ders and arms especially it she has been accustomed to bleed Let her take care of lacing herself too straightly, but give herself more liberty than she used to do ; for, en- closing herbeily intoo straight a mould, she hinders the in- fant from taking its tree growth, and ofttn makes it come before its ume. • Rules for the Fourth Month. In this month you ought also to keep the child bearing woman from bleeding, unless in extraordinary eases ; but when this month is past, blood letting and physic may be permitted, it it be gentle and mild; -ond perhaps it may be necessary to prevent abm lion. In this month she may purge in acute diseases ; but purging may be only used from the beginning of this month to the end of die sixth ; but let her take care that in purging *he uses ro vehement medicine, nor very bitter, as aloes, which is an enemy to the child, and opens the mouth of the vessels; neither letberuse co- loquintiela scammony, nor turbith; she may use cassia, manna, rhubarb, agaric, and senna, diacidonium purgans is best with a little ot the electuary of the juice .of roses. Rules for the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Months. In those months child bearing women are often troubled with coughs, heart beating, fainting, watching, pains in the loins and the hips and bleeding. The cough is from a sharp vapor lhat comes to the jaws and rough artery from the terms, or from the thin part of that blood gotten into the veins of the breast, or fallen trom the bead to the breast. This endangers abortion, and strength fails from watching ; therefore purge the humors that fall trom the breast with rhubarb and agaric, and strengthening the head as in a ca- tarrh, and give sweet linitives as in a cough. Palpitation and fainting arise from a vapor that go to it by ihe arte- ries or from biood that aboundeth, and cannot get out at the wumb, but ascends and oppresseth the heart ; and, in this case,cordia\s should be used both inwardly and out- wardly. Watching is from sharp, dry vapors that trouble the animal spirits ; in this case use frictions, afld let the •woman wash her feet at bed time, and let her take syrup cf poppies, dried rose6, emulsions of sweet almond and while poppy seeds. If she be troubled with pains in her loins and hips, as in these months she is subject .to be from the weight of her child, who is now grown big and heavy, and so stretcheth the ligaments of the womb, and parts ad- jacent, let her hold it up willr swathing bands about ber neck. About this time also the woman often happens to 10 110 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE, have a flux of blood, either at the nose, womb, or htmorr* hoids, from plenty of blood, or from ihe weakness of ihe child that takes it not in, or else fiom evil humors in the blood, that stirs up nature to send it foi th. And sometimes it happens that the vessels of the womb may be broken, either by some violent motion, fall, cough or 11 ouble of mind, (for any of these will work that effect; and this is so dan- gerous, that in such a case the child cannot be well : but if it be from blood only, the danger is no less, provided it flows bv the veins of the neck of the womb, for then it pre- vents plethory, and takes away the nourishment of the child; but if it proceeds from the weakness of the child that draws it not, aborion of the child often follows, or hard travail, or else she goes beyond her time. But if it flows by the in. ward veins of her womb, there is more danger by the open. ness of the womb, If it comes from evil blood ; the danger is alike from cacochimy, which is like to fall upon both. If it arbes from plethory, opca a vein, but with very great caution, and give her astringents such as the following : " Take pearl prepared a scruple ; red coral two scruples, mace, nutmegs, each a dram ; cinnamon, half a dram ; make a powder, or with sugar, rouls ;" or, give this pow- der in broth : " Take red coral a dram ; precious stones half a scruple; red saunders half a dram; sealed earth and tormentil roots, each two scruples, with sugar of roses and manusChristi, with pearifive drams, make a powder/' You my also strengthen the child at the navel ; and if there be a cacochim, after the humors, and evacuate, if you may. do it safely ; you may likewise use amulets on her hands and about her neck. In a flux of hemorrhoids, let her drink hot wine with a toas'ed nutmeg. In these months the belly is also subject to be bound ; but if it be without any apparent disease, the broth of a chicken, or ot veal sodden with oil, or with the decoction of mallows, mercury, and linseed put up in a clyster, will not be amiss, but in less quantity than is given in other cases ; to wit of the decoc- tion five ounces, of common oil three ou'ices, of sugar two ounces, of cassia fistula one ounce. But it she will not take a clyster, one or two yolks of new laid eggs ; or a few peas pottage warm, with a little salt and sugar, supped up a lit- tle before meat, wi I be very convenient. But if her belly shall be distended and stretched out with wud, alittle fen- nel seed and anniseed reduced into powder, and mingled with honey and sugar, marie after the manner of an electu- ary, will do very well Also, if the thighs and feet swell, let them be anointed with exphrod'tum (which is a liquid :fnedicine made with vinegar and rose water) mingled whh •» iiltle salt. K x , EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Hi Rules for the Eighth Month. The eighth is commonly the most dangerous and therefore the greatest care and caution ought to be used ; and her diet ought to be better in quality, but not more, nor indeed so much in quantity as be lore : but as she must abate her diet, so she must increase her exercise. And because then women with child, by reason of the sharp humors, alter the belly, are accustomed to weaken their spirits and strength, they may well take before meat an electuary of diarrhodan or aromaticum, r. s .turn, or diamargarton and as they will loathe and nauseate their meat they may take green gin- ger condited with sugar, or the rinds ofci«rons and oranges condited; and often use honey for the strengthening ot the infant. When she is not far from ber labor, let her use every day seven roasted fi-s before meat and sometimes lick a little honey ; but let her beware of salt and powder meat, for it is neither good for her nor her child. Rules for the Ninth Month. In the ninth month, let her have a care of lifting any great weight; but let her move a little more to dilate the parts, and stir up natural heat. Let her take heed of stooping, neither sit too much nor lie on her sides ; neither tught she to bend herself much, lest the child be unfolded in ihe umbilical ligament, by which means it oftrn perishes. Let her walk and stir often, and let her exercise be rather to go upwards than downwords ; let her diet now especial- ly be light and easy of digestion ; as damask prunes wiih sugar or figs, and raisins, before her mea , as also the yolk of eggs, flesh and broth of chickens, birds, partridges, and pheasants; astringent and roasted mea's, witi rice and hard eggs, millet, and such like other things are proper ; baths of sweet water with emolient herbs, ought to be used by her this month without intermission. Aud after tlve bath let her belly be anointed with the oil of roses and vio- lets; but for her privy parts, n is finer '.o anoint them with the fat of hens, geese, or ducks, or wi h oil of lilies, and the decoction of linseed and senugreek,lr i!ed with oil of lin- seed and marshmallows, or with the following liniment : w Take of mallows and marshmallovvs, cut and shred, of each an ounce ; ofUnseed one ounce ; let thtm be boiled from twenty ounces of water to ten ; thsn let her tak<» three ounces of boiled broth ; of oil of aimonds, and oil of flourde- luce, of each one ounce; of deer's suet three ounces ; let her bathe with this, and anoint herself with it warm." If for fourteen days befor . the birth she do every morning and evening bathe and moisur ounces ; let them be boiled in such a sufficient quantity of water as may make a broth there. with." But let her not sit too hot upon the seat, nor higher than a little above her navel ; nor let her sit on it longer than above half an hour, lest ber streng'h languish and de- cay, for it is better to use it often, than to stay too long in it. And thus I have shewn how a child bearing woman ought |to govern herself in each month during her pregnan- cy. How she must order herself at her delivery, shall be shewn in another chapter, after I have first shewn the in- dustrious Midwife how the child is formed in the womb, and the manner of its decumbiture there. CHAP. I Of the Parts proper for the Child in the Womb ; how it is formed there, and the manner of its situation therein, IN the last chapter I shewed whman as she ought. Tuts therefore shall be the work of this chapter. I shall begin with the first of these. Skc- I. Of the parts proper to a Child in the Womb. In this section I must first tell you what I mean l>y the parts proper to a child in the womb, and they are only those that either help-or nourish it, whilst it is lodged in that dark repository of nature, and lhat help to clothe and dcfeud a EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 113 there, and are cast away as of no more u-e after it is born, and these are two, viz- th nmbilicum or navel vessels, and the secundum ; by the first it is nourished, and by the sec- ond clothed and defet.ded from wrong. Of each of these I shall speak distinct!v. and first, Of the Umbilicum or Navel Vessels. These are four in number, vz. one vein, two arteries, and the vessel-which is called machos. 1. The vein is that by which the infant is nourished, from the time of its con- ception to the time of its delivery ; till being brought into the light of this world it his the same way of concocting its food that we have. Ths vein ariseih from the liver of the child, and is div ided into two parts when it hath passed the navel ; and these two aic ag in divided, and subdivided, the branches being upheld by the skin called chorion (of which I shall speak.by and by) ami are j ined to the veins of the mother's womb, from ihence they have their blood for ihe nourishment of the child. 2 The arteries are two on each side, which proceed from the back branches of the great artery of the mother ; and the vita! blood is carried by these to the child, being ready concocted by the mother. 3. A nervous or sinewy producion is led from the bottom of the bladder of the infant to the navel, and this is called urachos; and its use is to convey the urine of the infant from the bladder to the alantois. Anatomists do very much vary in their opinions concerning this ; some denying any such thing to be in the delivery of women, and others affirming it; but experience testifies there is such a thing. For Bar- tholomew Cabrolios. the ordmarv doctor of'anatomy to the college of physicians at Montpclier in France, records the history of a maid, whose water being a long time stopped, at last issued out through her navel ; and Johannes Ferne- lius speaks of the same thing that happened to a man of thirty years of age, who having a stoppage in the neck of the bladder, his urine issued out of his navel many months together, without any prejudice at all to his health, which he ascribes to the ill lying of h's navel, whereby the urachos was not well dried. And Volchier Coitas quotes another such ina maid of thirty four years, at Nuremberg in Ger- many. These instances, though they happen but seldom, are sufficient to prove that there is such a thing as an ura- chos in men. These four vessels before mentioned, viz. one vein, two arteries, and the urachos do join near to the na- vel, and are united by a skin which they have from the cho- rion, and so become like a gut rope, and are altogether void of sense ; and this is that which the good women call the navel string. The vessels are thus joined together, that so *10 lit EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. they rray neither be broken, severed', nor entangled ; anu when the infant is born, are of no use, save only to make up the ligament, which stops the whole of the navel and some other physical use, 8cc Of the Secundine or After Birth. , Setting aside the name given to this day, by the Greeks and Lvins, it is called in English by the name of Secundine, After birth and After burden, which are held to be four in number. 1. The first is called Placenta, because it resembles the form of a cake, and is knit both to the navel and chorion, and makes up the greatest part of the secundine or after birth. The flesh of it is like that of the milt, or spleen, soft, red, and tending something to blackness, and hath many small veins and arteries in it ; and certainly the chief use of it is for containing the child in the womb. 2. The second is the Chorion. This skin, and that called the Amnios involve the child round, both above and under- neath, and on both sides, whfch the Alantois doth not This skin is that which is most commonly called the secundine, as it is thick and white, garnished with many small veins and arteries, ending in the Placenta, before named, being very light and slippery. Its use is not only to cover the child round about, but also to receive and safely bind up the roots and the veins and arteries, or navel vessels before described. 3. The third thing which makes up the secundine, is the Alantois, of which there is a great dispute among anato- mists ; ;some saying there is such a thing and others that there is not. Those that will have it to be a membrane, say, it is white, soft, and exceeding thin, and just under the placenta, where it is knit to the urachos, from whence it re- ceives the urine, and its office is to keep it separate from the sweat, that the saltness of it may not offend the tender skin of the child. 4. The fourth and last coveting of the child is called Am- nois, and it is white, soft,and transparent, being nourished by some very small vein? and arteries. Its use is not only to enwrap the child round, but also to retain the s* eat of ihe child. Having thus described the parts proper to the child in the womb, I will »ext proceed to speak of the formation of the child therein, as soon as I have explained the hard terms in this section, that those for wht se help this is de- signed, may undei stand what they iead. There is none so ignorant as not to know that a vein is that which receives blood fi'om the liver, and distributes it in several branches EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 113 to all parts of the body. Arteries proceed from the heart, are in continual motion, and by thai motion quicken the bo- dy. Nerve is ihe same with sinew, and is that bv which the brain adds sense and mo:ion to the bodv. Placenta properly signifies a sugar cake ; but in this section it is us- ed to signify a spong-y piece of fkbb, resemblin ,- u cake, full of veins and arteries, and is m ide to receive ihe mother's blood,-appointed for the infant's nourishment in the womb. Chorion is the outward skin wticli compasseth tlie child in the womb. Tne amnois is the i.nur skin whi. h compasseth thechi'd in the w .-lib. The Alantois is the skin thai holds tlie urine of the child during the time that it abides in the womb. The Uivichos is the vessel that conveys the u* ine from the child in the womb io the Alantois. I now pro- ceed to Sec. II. Of the formation of (he Child in the Womb. To speak of the formation ot the child in the womb, we must begin where nature begins ; and that is, at the act of Coition, in which the woaib having received the generative seed, without which there can be no conception; the womb immediately shuts up itself so close that not the point of a needle can enter ihe inwaid orifice; and this it does partly to hinder the issuing out of the seed again, and partly lo cherish it by the inbred heat, tlie better to provoke it te action ; which is one reason why women's bellies are so lank at their first conception. The women having thus conceived, the first thing which is operative in the concep- tion, is the spirit whereof the seed is full, which, nature. quickening by the heat of the womb, stirs it up to action. This seed consists of very different parts, of which some ure more, and some are less pure. Tne internal spirits there- fore separateth those parts that are less pure, which are thick, cold, and clammv, from them that are more pure and noble. The less pure are cast bo the outsides, and with therathe seed is circler! round, and of them the membranes are matte, in which that seed which is the m«st pure is wrapped round, and kept close together, that it may be de- fended from cold and other accidents, and operate the bet- ter. The first that is formed is the amnois, the next the chori- on ; and they enwrap the seed round as it were a curtain. Soon after this, (for the seed thus shut up in the woman lies not idle) the navel vt.n is bred, which pierceth those skins, being yet very tender, and carries a drop of blood from the veins of the mother's womb to the seed; from which drop is formed the liver, from which liver there is quickly bred the vena cava or chief vein, from which all the re-it of the 116 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. veins that nourish the body spring ; and n«w the seed hath something to nourish it, whilst it performs the rest ot na- ture's work, and also blood administered to every part ot it to form flesh. This vein being formed, the navel arteries are soon after formed, then the great artery, of which all others are but branches, and then the heart ; for the liver furnisheth the arteries with blood to form the heart, the areries being made of seed but the heart and the flesh of blood. After this the brain is formed, and then the nerves, to give sense and motion to the infant. Afterwards the bones and flesh are formed, and of the bones, first the vertebra>or Chine bones, and then the skull, 8cc. As to the time in which this curious part of nature's work- manship is formed, physicians assign four diff-rent seasons wherein this microcosm is formed, and its formation per- fected in the womb : The first is immediately after coition ; the second time of forming, say they, is when the womb, by the force of its own innate power and virtue makes a mani- fest mutatn'i or coagulation in the seed, so that all the sub- stance thereof seems coagulated flesh and blood, which hap- pens about the twelfth or fourteenth day after copulation, and though this concretion or fleshy mass, abounds with spi- rits, yet it remains undistinguishable without any form, and may be called a rough draught of the fcetus or embryo.— The third time in which this fabric is come to some further maturity is, when the principal parts may be in some mea- sure distinguished, and one may discern ihe liver, umbilictl veins, arteries, nerves, brain, and heart: and this is about eighteen days after conception. The fourth and last time assigned by physicians for the formation of the child, is a- boot the thirtieth day after conception for a male, but for a female, they tell us forty.two or forty-five days are requir- ed, though for what reason I know not, nor does it appear by the'birth ; for if the male receives its formation fifteen days sooner than the female, why should it not be born so much sooner too. But as to that, every day's experience shews us the contrary ; for women go to the full time of nine months both with male aud female. But at this lime of 30 days, (or some will have it 4S) the outward parts may be also seen exquisitely elaborate, and distinguished by joints ; and from this time the child begins to be animated, though as yet t.iere is no sensible motion ; and has ail the parts of the bo- dy, though small and very tender, yet entirely formed and figured, although not longer in the whole than one's middle finger ; and from thence forward, the blood flowing every day more and more to the womb, not by intervals, like uieiv EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 117 cxttrsesjbut continually, it grows bigger and atrct^er lo the end of nine months, being the full time of a woman's ordina- ry labor. Very great have been the disputes- among both philoso- phers and physician* about the nourishment of the child in the womb, both as to what it is, and which way it receives it. Almse-on was of opinion lhat the infant drew in its nour- ishment by its whole body, because it is rare and spungy, as a spunge sucks in water on every side ; and so he thought ihe infant sucked blood not only fiom us mother's veins, but also from the womb. Democntus held that the child suck- ed in the nourishment at is mouth. Hypocrates affiims that the child sucks :n bo'h nourishment and breath by its mnuth from the mother, for which he gives two reasons : 1. That it will suck as soon as it is born, -nd must have learnt to suck before. 2. Because there are excrements found in the guts as soon as it is born. But neither of these reasons are sufficient to prove Ui assertion; for as to the first " that the child will suck as soon as it is born,'' it is from- natural instinct; for take a young cat that never saw her dam catch a mouse, and yet she wll catch mice herself as soo« as she is able. And as to his second reason, it is a suf- ficient answer to say, that the excrements found in 'he gms of an infant new born, are not exciements of the first con- coction, which is evident, because they don't stink, but are the thickest part of the blood, which is conveyer, from ihe vessels of the spleen «0 the guts. Havii g therefore said enough to confute the opinion of th- child's receiving nour- ishment by the mouth, 1 do affirm that the child revives its nourishment in the womb by the navel, ard, that it should be so, is much more consonant to tru-h and reason ; which) beinggranted,.it will easily follow that the nourishment ibe cltild receives, is pure blood conveyed in'o the liver by the navel vein, which i a branch of the vena porta, or great vein, and passes to the >msl e-t veins of the liver. Here this blood is made most pure, and 'be thicker and rawer part of it is conveyed to the spleen and kidneys, and the thick excrement %if it to the guts, which is that excrement found there so soon as they are bom. The pure part is conveyed to the vena cava, and by it distributed throughout ihe body by the small veins, whieh like so m«ny s-mu) rivulets, pass to every part of it. I his blond is accompanied (as all b:ood is.) with a certain watery substance, the better to convey it through the passage it is to luti io, which as in men, is bieathed out by sweating, and contained in the amnios, as I have already said. 118 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Sfc-CTl N 111. Of the manner of the Child's lying in the Womb. # I come now to shew after what manner the child lies in the womb, a thing so essential for a midwife to know, that she can be no midwife who is jgnOrani of it ; and yet, even abot t this auhors extremely differ ; for there is not two in ten that agree what is the form that the child lies in the worrb, or in what fashion it lies there ; and this may arise io a great measure from the different figures that the child is found in according io the different times of the woman's pregnancy ; for near the time oi its deliverance out of those winding chambers of nature, it oftentimes ehanges the form in which it lav before, for another. Hippocrates affirms, the child is so placed in the womb, as to have its hands, its kneed, and its head bent down towards its feet, so that it lita round together, its hands upon both its knees, and its face between mem ; so that each eye toucheth each thumb, and its nose betwixt his knees. And B ertholinus was also of the same opinion. Columns describes the postore of the child thus : -The right arm bowed ihe linger* were under the ear and above the nock r the head bowed down,so that the chin toucheth -the breast, the left arm bowed above both bre;u,t and face, and the left arm ispiopped up by the bending of the rignt elbow, the legs are l^ted up so lhat the EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. H% Hugh toucheth the btlly, 'he knees the navel, the heel the lefi buttock, and the foot is turned b.tck and covereth the secrets ; the left thigh toucheth the btlly, and the leg is liftcd.up to the breast, the back ly ing outward. Ai.d thus much shall suffice concerning the opinion of authors. I will now shew ihe seve; a' situations of the child in the, womb, according to the d'ffereru times of pregiancv by which those that are con ran ti. nature, and me the chef cause of all labors, wi.i be mote easily conceived by the understanding midwife: It < ught therefore, in the fiist pt ice, to be observed, thai the mlants, as well male as fe- male, are generally situated in tht midst of 'he womb ; for though sometimes to appearance a woman's btlly seems higher on one side than on the other, yet it is so with res- pect ro her belly only, and not of her womb, in tht mids; of which ii is always placed. But in the second place a woman's great belly makes dif- ferent figures, acoordingto ihedifferen.. times of pregnancy ; for when she is young with child, the embryo is always found of a round figure a little oblong having the spine moderate- ly turned inwaids, the.thighs folded, and a little raised, to which the legs are so joined thai the heels touch the but- tocks. The arms are bending, and the hands placed upon the knees ; towards which the head is inclining forwards, so that the chin.toucheth the breast; io which posture it re- sembles one sitting to ease nature, and stooping down with the head to see what comes from him. The spine of its back is at that time placed towards the mother's and the head uppermost, the face forwards, and ihe feet down- wards; propcrtionably to its growti, it extends .its mem- bers by little and little, which weie exactly folded the first month. . In this posture it usually keeps till the seventh month, 8c then by a natural propensity & disposition of the up- per part of the body,the head is turned downwards towards the inward orifice of the womb, tumbling as if it were over its head, so that then the feet are uppermost, and the face towards the mother,s great gut; and this turning ot the in- fant in this manner, with his head downwards, towards the latter end of a woman's reckoning is so ordered by nature, that it may thereby be the better disposed for its passage in- to the world at the time of its mother's labor which is then not far off: (and indeed several children turn not at all un- til the very time ot birth) for in this posture.all its joints are. most easily extended in coming forth ; for by this means the arms and legs cannot hinder its birth, because they cannot be bended against the inward orifice of the womb; and the rest of the body, being very supple, passeth 1S# EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. without any difficu.tv after the head, which s hard and big, ■being past the birh. p is true, there are divers children that he in the womb in another posture, and come to the :birth with their feet downwards, especially il there be twins ; for then by their different m > ions 'hey so distoib one another, that thev seldom tome bo h in the same pos- ture at the time of labor, but one will come with the head, and another with the tee.t, or perhaps, lie across, and some- time^ one of them will come light But however the child nnv be situated in the womb, or to whatever posture it presents itself at the time of birth, if it be not with its hrad forward, as I have before described, it is always against na- ture; and the delivery will occasion the mother more pain and danger, and require greater care a"iid skill from the midwife than when the labor is more natural. CHAP. IV A Guide for Women in travail, shewing what is to be done when 'hey fall in Labor, in order for their Delivery. The end of ail that we. have been treating of, is the bring. ,ing foith of a child iniotHe world with safety both to the .mother and to the infant. The whole time ot the woman's pregnancy may very well be termed a kind of Lbor; for, from the lime of her conception, to the time of her delivery .she lab' resist and theji again to press forward the finger, being mote or less hard ahd extended, according as the pains are stronger or weaker. These membranes, with the waters in them, when they are 11 122 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. before the head of the child, which the midwives call the Gathering of the Waters, resemble, to the touch of the fin- ger, those eggs which have no shell, but are covered only with a single membrane. After this, the pains still redoub- ling, the membranes are broken by a strong impulsion of the waters, which presently fflow away, and then the head of the infant is presently felt naked, and presents itself at .the inward orifice of the womb- When these waters come thus away, then the midwife may be assured the birth is very near, this being the most certain sign that can be ; for the amnois and alantois being broken, which contain those waters, by pressing forward of the birth ; the child is not better able to subsist long in the womb afterwards, than a naked man in a heap of snow. Now, these waters, if the child comes presently after them, facilitate the labor by making the passage, slippery^; and therefore let no midwife (as some have.foolishly done) endeavopr to force away the water, for nature knows best when the true time of the birth is, and therefore retains the wat^r till, that time. But if by accident the water breaks away too lopg before the birth, then such things as will hasten it, may be safely admitted ; and what those are I shall shew in another section. Sec. II. How a Woman ought to be ordered when the time of Labor \s come. When it is known that the time of a woman's labor is come by the signs laid down ip the foregoing section, ol which those that are most to be relied on are pains or strong throes in the belly, forcing downwards towards the womb, and a dilation of the inward orifice, which may be perceived by touching it with the finger, and gathering of the waters be- fore the head of the child, and thrusting down of the mem- branes which contain them ; through which, between the pains, one may wiih the finger discover the part which pre- sents as said before, especially if it be the htad of the child, by its roundness and hardness. If these things concor,and are evident, the midwife, may be stJre it is the time of her labor ; and care must be taken to get all things ready that are necessary to comfort the woman in that time. And the better to help her, be sure to see she be not straight la- ced. You may also give her a pretty strong clyster, or more, if there be occasion, provided it be done at the be- ginning, and before the child be too forward. The benefit .accruing hereby will be, to excite the gut to discharge it« self of its excrements, that so the rectum being emptied, there may be more space for the dilation ol the passage ; likewise to cause the pains to bear the more downwards; through the endeavors she makes when she is at stool; and EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 133 in the mean time, all other necessary things for her labor should be put in order, both for the midwife and the child* To this end some get a midwife's stool, but a pallet bed girted is much the best way, placed near the fire, it the sea- son so require. Which pallet ought to be so placed, that there maybe easy access to it on every side,that the woman may be the more readily assisted, as there is occasion. If the woman abounds with blood, to bleed her a little may not be improper, for thereby she will both breathe the better, and have her hreasts more at liberty, and likewise more strength to bear down the pain ; and this she may do without danger, because the child being about that time ready to be born, has no more need of the mother's blood for its nourishment ; besides, this evacuation does many times prevent her havrhg a fever after her delivery. Also, be- fore her delivery, if her strength will permit, let her walk rp and down her chamber ; and that she may have strength so to do, it will be necessary to give her some strengthening things, such as jelly broth, new laid eggs, or some spoonfuls of burnt wine. And let her, by all means, hold out her pains, bearing them down as much as she can at the time when they take her; and let the midwife from time to time touch the inward orifice with the finger, to know whether the waters are ready to break, and whether the birth will follow soon after ; let her also anoint the wo- man's privities with emoiient oil, h'og's grease and fresh butter, if she finds they are hard to be dilated. Let the midwife be all the while near the laboring woman, and dil- igently observe her gestures, complaints, and pains, for by this she may guess pretty well how her labor adyanceth ; because when she changeih her ordinary groans into long cries, it is a sign the child is very near ihe birth; for at that time the pains are greater and more frequent. Let the woman likewise by intervals rest herself on the bed to regain ber strength, but not too long, especially if she be little, short and thick, fcr such women have always worse labor, if they lie long on their beds in their travail; itisbet- ter, therefore that they walk, as much as they can, about the chamber, the women supporting her under their arms, if it be necessary, for by this means ihe weight of the child causeth the irv-ard orifice ot the womb to dilate sooner than in bed; and if .her pains be stronger and more frequent, her labor will not be near so long. Let not the laboring woman be concerned at those qualms ard vomitings, perhaps which she may find come upon her, for they will be much to her advantage in the issue, how- ever uneasy she may be for ihe time, as they further the tluoes and pains, provoking downwards. But to proceed .-• 124) EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. When the waters of the children are ready and gathered, which may be perceived through the membranes to present themselves to the inward orifice,of the bigness of the whole dilation, the midwife ought to let them break ot themselves, and not, like some hasty midwives, who being impatient of the woman's long labor, break them, intending thereby to hasten their business, when instead thereof, they retard it; for, by the too hasty breaking of these waters, (which Na- ture designed to cause the infant to slide forth the more easi- ly) the passage remains dry, by which means the pains and throes of the laboring woman are less efficacious to bring forth the infant than they would otherwise have been. It i» therefore much the better wav to let the water.* break of themselves ; after which the midwife miy. with ease feel the child bere by that which first presents, and thereby discern whether it comes right, that is, with the head foremost, for lhat is the most proper and na'ural way of its birth ; if the head comes right, she will find it round, big,hard5and equal;. but if it be in any other part, she will feel it unequal, rug- ged, and soft or hard, according to the nature of the part it is. And this being the true time when the woman ought to deliver, if nature be not wanting to perform its office, there- fore when the midwife finds the birth thus coming forward, let her hasten to assist and deliver it, for it ordinarily hap- pens soon after, i f it be natural. But if it happens as sometimes it may, that the waters break away too long before the birth, in such a case those things that hasten nature may be safely admitted ; to which purpose, let her make use of pennyroyal, dittany, juniper berries, red coral, betony, and feverfew boiled in white wine, and a draught of it drank ; or it would be much belter to take the juice of it when it is in its prime, which is in May, and having clarified it, let them make it into a syrup, with double its weight of sugir, aud keep it by them all the year to use when occasion calls for it. Mugwort, used in the same manner, is also good in this case. Also a dram of cinnamon powder given inwardly profi.s much in this case ; and so does tansey bruised and applied to the privities, or an oil of it so made and used as you were taught before. The stone iEtites held to the privities is of extraordinary virtue, and.instantly draws away both child-andafter bur- den, but great care must be taken to remove it presently, or it will draw forlbthe womb and all; for such is ihe mag- netic virtue of tliis stone, that both child Sc womb follow it as readily as iron doth the loadstone, or as the load stone the Jfor'h star. There are many other things that physicians aflum are EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 125 good in this case anions which are, aiv ass's or an horse's hoof hung near the privities ; a piece of red coral hung near the said place ; a load stone helps much, held in the wo- man's left hand, or the skin which a snake hath cut eff, girt about the middle next the skin. These things are mentioned by Mizaldus; but setting those things aside as not s.> certain, notwithstanding Mizaldus quotes them, the following prescriptions are very good to give speedy deliv- erance iowomen in travail. 1. A decoction of white wine made in savory, and drank. 2. Take wild tansey, or silver weed, bruise it, and apply it to the woman's nostrils. 3, Take date stonee, and beat them to powder, and let her take half a dram of them in white wine at a time. 4.-. Take parsley, and bruise it, and press out the juice, aid dip a linen cloth in it, and put it up so dipped into the mouth of" the womb, it will presently cause the child to come away though it he dead, and will bring away the af- ter burden. Also the juice of parsley is a thing of so great virtue (especially stone parsley) beingdrank by a woman with child, it cleanseth not only the womb, but also the child in the womb, of all gross humors. 5. A scruple of cast or um in powder, in any convenient liquor, is very good to be taken in such case ; and so also is two or three drops of spirit of castorum in any convenient liquor ; also eight or nine drops of spirit of myrrh, given in any convenient liquors gives speedy deliverance. 6. Give a woman in such a case another woman's milk to drink it will cause speedy delivery and almost wiihout any pain. 7. The juice of leeks, being drank with warm water, hath a mighty operation to cause speedy delivery. 8. Take piony seeds, and beat them into powder, and mix the powder with oil, with which oil anoint the loins and privities of the woman with child ; it gives her deliverance very speedily, and with less pain than can be imagined. 9. Take a swallow's nest, and dissolve it in water, strain it, and drink it warm ; it gives delivery with great speed and much ease. Note, this also is general, that all things that move the terms are good for making the delivery easy ; such as myrrh, amber in white wine, or lily water, two scruples or a dram ; or cassia lignea, dittany, each a dram, cinnamon halt a dram, saffron a scruple, give a dram ; or take borax mineral a dram, cassia lignsa. a scruple, saffron six grains, and give it in sack ; or uke cassia lignea a dram dittany, amber of each, half a dramr cinnamon, borax, of each a *1J 125 EXPERIENCED ILIDWIFlv,. drusi anda half, saffr-n i scii|r tw - or three drops of oil ot cinnamon in verviun water. Some prepare the secundine thus ; take the naval strings and dry it in an oven ; lake two drams of the powder, cin- namon a dram, saffron half a sci uple, with juice of savin make troches j give two d'-ams ; or wash the secun- dine in wine and bake it in a pot ; then wash ii in endive water and wine: take half a dram of it ;— long pepper, galangal, of each half a dram ; plantain and endive seed, of each a dram andahilf ; lavender seed four scruples ; make a powder ; or take laudanum two drams, storax, calomine, benzoin,of each half a dram ; musk, am. bergrease, each six grains ; make a powder, or troches for a fume. Or use pessaries to provoke the birth ; take gal- ban urn, dissolved in vinegar, an «unee ; myrrh two drams ; saffron a dram ; with oil ot orts make a pessary. An Ointment for the Navel. Take oil of kier two ounces, juice of savin an ounce, of leeks and mercury, each half an ounce ; boil them to the consumption of the juice ; and galbanum dissolved in vine- gar half an ounce, myrrh two drams, storax liquid a dram; round birth wort, sowbread, cinnamon, saffron, a dram ; with wax make an ointment and apply it. If the birth be retarded through the weakness of the moth- er, refresh her with applying wine and soap to the nose, Confect Alkermas Diamarg. These things may be applied to help nature in the deliv- ery when the child comes to the birth the right way, and yet the binh is retarded; bat if she finds the child comes the wrong way, and she is not able to deliver the woman as she ought to be, by helping nature, and saving both mother and child, (for it is not enougli to lay a woman, if it might be done by another with more safety and ease, and less haz- ard both to woman and child) then let her send speedily for better and more able help; and not as I once knew a mid- wife, when a woman she was to deliver had hard labor, ra- ther than a man midwife should be sent for, would under- take to deliver the woman herself, (though told by others that it was a man's business) and in her attempting it, bro't away/be child, but left the head of the infant behind in the mother's womb ; and had not a man midwife been present- ly sent for, the mother h^d lost her life as well as the child; such persons may rather be termed butchers than midwives. But supposing the womanV labor to be na ural, I will next shew what ike-midwife ought to do in order to her delivery: EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 127" 'CH \ P. V. r . Of natural labor ; what it is. and what the Mjftmfc ts it. do in such a Labor. Section i What natural Labyr is. There are four hugs to denominate a woman s labor na- tural ; the fit st is, that it be at the full time ; for if a woman comes before her time, itcan.iot properly be te. met) natural labor, neitherwill it be so easy as it she had completed her nine months. The second thing is, that it be speedy, and without any ill accident ; for when the time of the birth w come, nature is not dilatory in the bringing of it forth, with- out some ill accident intervene, which,ei.de, .it unnatural The third is, that the child be alive : tor all will grant, that the being delivered of a dead child is very unnatural. The fourth thing requisite to a natural birth is, that the child come right; for if the position ot the child in the womb be contrary to what is natural, and the event proves it so too often, making that which should be a time et life, the death both of the mother and the child. Having thus told you what I mean by natural labor, 1 shall next shew how the midwife is to proceed here, in order to the woman's delivery. W hen all the foregoing requ.is.tes «oncur, and afttr the watersare broke of themselves, let the I&^ring woman be conducted to a pallet bed, provided near the fire for lhat purpose, as has alreadybeen said, and let there rather be a quilt laid upon thepal.et bedstead, than a feather bed, having thereon linen clothes ia many loids.with such other things as are necessary, and may be changed ac- eordingto the exigence requiring it, lhat so the woman may. not be incommoded with 'he blood, waters, and other filth, which is voided in abot. The bed ought to be so ordered, that the wom..n being ready to be deliverer, should lie on her back upon it, having her body in a convenient posture ; that is, her head and breast a little raised,so that she is be- tween lying and sitting, for being so placed, she is best capa- ble of breathing, and likewise will have more strength to bear her pains, than if she lay otherwise, or sunk Gown in her bed. Being so placed, she must spread her thighs a-. broad,- foidu.g her legs a little towards her bo'tocks, .. me- what raised by a small pillow underneath, to the end that her rump should have more libeity »o retire back, and let her feet be stayed agaiast firm things j beude-s this, let her lake h-ld *.f some of the good women attending her. with her hands, lhat she may the better stay herself during her pains. She being thus placed near the sidt ot. her bed, living her midwife by, the better to assist noon occaaion,)ei h/er.take. 128 EXfEIUEXCED MIDWIFE. couragr, and he'p her pains the best sl.e can, bearing them down when they take her, which she must do by holding hi her breath, and forcing herself as much as possible, in iikc manner as when she goes to stool ; for by such straining, the diaphragma or midriffr being strongly thrust down- wards, necessarily forces down the womb and. ihe child in it. In the mean time, let ihe midwife endeavor to comfort her all she can, exhorting hereto bear her labor courageous- ly, telling her it will be quickly over, and t'»at there is no fear but she will have a speedy delivery. Let the midwife also, having no rings on her hand, anoint it with oil or fresh butter, and therewith dilate gently the inward orifice of the womb, putihs her fingers ends into the entry thereof, and stretch theui one from the other, when her pains take her ; by this means endeavoring to help forward the child, and thrusting by little and little the sides of the orifice towards thehinder part of the child's head, anointing the parts also with fresh butter if it be nscessary. V\ hen the head of the infant is somewhat advanced into this inward orifice, the midwife's phrase is, ''it is crowned;" because it girds and surrounds it just as a crown ; but when it is so far that the extremities begin to appear without die privy parts, then say they, "the child is in the passage."— And at this time the woman feels herself as it were scratch- ed or pricked with pins, and is ready to imagine that ^e midwife hurts her, when it is occasioned by the violent dis- tention of those parts, and the laceration which, at some times, the bigness of the child's head causeth there. When things are m this posture, let the midwife seat herself con- veniently to receive the child, which will now come quickly, and with her finger ends (which she must be sure to keep close paired) let her endeavor to thrust the crowning of the womb (of which I have spoken before) back over the head of the child. And as soon as it is advanced, as far as the ears, or thereabouts, let her take hold of the two sides with her two hands, that when a good pain comes, she may quick- ly draw forth the child, taking, care that the navel suing be not then entangled about the neck or any other part, as sometimes it is, lest thereby the after burden be pulled with violence, and perhaps the womb also, io which it is fastened, and so either cauhe her to flood, or else break the string, t- • h which are of br d consequence to the woman, whose de- livery may thereby be rendered more difficult. It must al- so be carefully heeded that the he..'' be noi drawn out strait, but shaking it a little from one side tn the oiher, that the shou'ders may sooner and easier take their place immedi- ately.after it be past, without losing any time, lest the head E35PERIENCED MIDWIFE. 121- Being past, the child be stopped there by the bigness of the shoulders, and so come in danger, of being suffocated and strangled in the passage,as it sometimes happens, for want of care therein. But as soon as the head is born, if there be need, she may slide in her fingers under the arm pits, and the rest of the body will follow without difficulty. As soon as the midwife hath in this manner drawn forth thw chjld, let her put it on one side, lest the blood and water which follow immediately, should do it an injury, by run- ning into i:s mouth and nose, as it would do if it lay on its back, and so endanger the choaking of it. The child being thus born, the next thing requisite is to bring away the after burden ; but before that, let the midwife be very careful to examine whether there be more children in the womb ; for rometimes a-woman may have twins that expected it not j which the midwife may easily'know by the continuance of the pains after the child is born, andxhe bigness of the moth- er's belly. Bur the midwife may be more sure of it, if she puts her hand up the entry of the womb, and finds there an- other water gathering, and a child in it presenting to the passage ; and if she finds it so, she must have a cave of go- ing about to fetch away the after birth, till the woman be delivered of all the children she is pregnant with. Where- fore the first string must be cut.being first tied with a thread three' or four times doubled, and the other end fastened with a string to tne woman's thigh, to prevent the inconvenience it may cause by hanging between her thighs ; and then re- moving the child already born, she must take care to de- liver her of the re"st, whether more or less, observing all the same circumstances as the first; after which it will be necessary to fetch away the after birth, or births. But of that in another section ; after first shewing what is to be. done, to the new born infant. Section II. OJ the cutting off the Child's Navel String. Though this is by many accounted but a trifle, yet great care is to be taken about it; and it shows none of the least art er skill of a midwife to do it as it should be. In doing this the midwife ought to observe. 1st. the time ; 2d. the place ; 3d. the manner ; 4th. the event. The time is, as soon as ever the infant comes out of the womb, whether it brings part of the after birth with it or not; for sometimes the child brings into the world a piece of the amnois upon its head, and is what'the good woman calls the caul, ;md ignorantly attributes some extraordinary virtue to the child that is so born ; but this opinion is only ••!•*. efiv-t of their ignorance ; for when a child is born with. ISO EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. such a crown, as some call it, upon its brows, it generally betokens weakness, and denotes a short life. But to the mat- ter in hand. As soon as the child is come into the world, consider whether it be weak or strong ; and if it be weak, let the midwife gently put back part of the vital and natural blood into the bodv of the child by its navel; for that re- cruits a weak child ; but, if the child be strong, the opera- tion is needless. Only let me advise you that many children that are born seemingly dead, may be soon brought to life again, if you squeeze six or seven drops of blood out of that part of the navel string which is cut off, and give it to the child inwardly. Authors can scarce agree whether the navel string should be cut long or short ; some prescribing it to be cut off at four fingers'' breadth, which is at best but an uncertain rule, un- less all fingers were of a size. It is a received opinion, that the parts adapted to generation are either contracted or di. lated according to the cuttingof the navel string; and there* fore midwives generally leave a longer part of it to a male than to a female, because they would have the male well provided for the encounters of Venus ; and the reason they give that they cm that of the females shorter is, because they believe it makes them modest, and their privities narrower, which makes themrmore acceptable to their husbands.— Mizaldus was not of this opinion, and therefore he ordered the navel string to be cut long both in male and female chil- dren ; because, sard he, the instrument of generation fol- lows the proportion of it, and therefore if it be cut too short in a female, it will iv a hinderance of her having children. I will not contradict these opinions of Mizaldus, that expe- rience has made good. The one is, that if the navel string of a child, after it is cut, be suffered to touch the ground^ the child will never hold'its water, neither sleeping or wakingj but will be subject to an involuntary making of water all its life time. Th^ other is, that a piece of the child's navel string carried about one, so that it touch his skin, defends him that wears it from the falling sickness and convulsions As to the manner how it must be cut : Let the midwifo take a brown thread four or five times double, of an ell long, or thereabouts, tied with a single knot at each of the ends, toprevent their enlarging; and with this thread so accom1- modated, (which the ir id wife must have in readines3 before the woman's labor, as also a good pair of scissors, that no time may be lost.) let her tie the string within an inch oi ti.^ belly, with a double knot, and turning about the ends of the thread, let her tie two more on the other side of the str'n i;. reiterating it again if it be necessary; then let her cut tfl EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. iSi the navel another inch below the ligature, towards the after birth, so that there only remains but two inches of the string, in the midst of which will be the knot we speak of, which must be so strait knit as not to suffer a drop ot blood .to squeeze cut of the vessels ; but care must b°. taken not to knit it so strait as to cut it in two, and therefore the thread must be pretty thick, and pretty strait knit, it being better too strait than too loose ; for, some children have miserably lost their lives, with all their biood, beiore it wasdiscover- ed, because the navel string was not well tied. Therefore great care must be taken ^hatno blood squeeze thiough,for if there does, a new knot must be made with the rest of the string. You Beed not fear to bind the navel string very hard, -because they are void of sense, and that part of it which you leave on falls off ot its own accord, iri a very few days, sometimes six or seven, and sometimes sooner ; but rarely tarries longer than the eighth or ninth. VVhen you have thus cut the nav.el string, then take care the piece that falls off, touch not the ground, for the reason I told you that Mizaldus gave, which experience has justified. As to the last thing mentioned, which is the event or con- sequence of what follows cutting of the navel string. As soon as the navel string is cut off, apply a little cotton or lint to the place to keep it warm, lest the ccld enter into the body of ihe child, which it will most certainly do, if you have not bound it hard enough. If the lint or cotton youajj- piy to it be dipt in oil of ro»es, it will be the better.; and then put another sir all rag three or four times dcub!e upon the belly. Upon the top of all, put another small bolster, and then swathe it with a linen swathe, four fingers broad, to keep it steady, lest by rolling too much, or by, being con- tinually stirred from side to side, it comes to fall off before the navel string, which you left remaining, is fallen off. It is the usual custom of midwives to put a piece of bi rnt rag to it, which we commonly call tinder ; but I would rather advise them to put a little of aimoniac to it, because of its dry ing quality. But this shall suffice to be spoken as to the cutting of the navel string. Section III. How to bring away the after burden. A woman cannot b'- said fairly to be delivered, though the child be born, till the after burden be also taken from her; herein differing from most animals, who, when they have brought forth their young, cast forth nothing else but some waters, and the membranes which contained them. But women have an after labor, which sometimes proves mor dangerous than the first; and how to bring it safely away, 13S EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. withont prejudice to her, shall be my business to shew »* this section. ^ As soon as the child is born, before the midwife either ties or cuts the navel string, lest the womb should close, st her take the string and wind it once or twice about one or two of the fingers of her left hand joined together, the bet- ter to hold it, with which she may draw it moderately, and with her right hand she may only take a single hold of it a- bove the left near the privities, drawing likewise with that very gently, resting the while the fore finger of the same hand, extended ami stretched forth along the string towaids the entry of the vagina ; always observing, for the more fa- cility, to draw it from the side where the buiden cleaves least, for in so doing, the rest will separate the beitei ; and especially care must be taken that ii be not drawn forth- with too much violence, lest by breaking the string r.ear the burden, the midwife will be obliged to put ihe whole hand into the womb to deliver '.he woman ; and she need be a very skilful person that undertakes it, lest the woinb to which this burden is sometimes very strongly fastened, be drawn with it, as it has sometimes happened. It is there- fore best to use such remedies as may assist nature. And here take notice, that what brings away the birth, will also bring away the after birth. And therefore, for the effecting this work, I will lay-down the following rules: 1. Use the same meats in bringing away the after birth, that you make use of to bring away the birth ; for the same care and circumspection is needful now that was then. 2. Consider the laboring woman cannot but be much spent by what she has already undergone in bringing forth the in- fant ; and therefore be sure to take care to givt her some- thing to comfort her. And in this case good jelly broths, al- so a little wine and toast in it, and other comforting things will be necessary. 3. A little white hellebore in.powder, to make her sneeze, in this case, is very proper. 4. Tansey and the stone .^Elites, applied as before direct- ed, is also of good use in this-case. 5 If you take the herb vervain, and either boil it in wine or make a syrup with tht juice of it, which you mav do, by adding to it doub'e its weight of sugar, (having cl rifled the juice before you boil it) and a spoonful or two of that given to the woman, is very effic.ch us to brii.g away the secun- dine; and feverfew and mugwcrt, have ihe.same operation taken as the former. 6. Alexander boiled in wine, and the wine drank ; also sweet servile, sweet cicely, angelica roots, and master wort, are excellent remedies in this case. *XPERIFNCED MIDWIFE. 183 if. Or if tlusw tail, the smoke ot muygold* received up a woman's privities by a funnel have been known to bring away the after birth, even when the midwif. fei go her hold. 8. Which is all I sh> u d add in this c.ise. Boil mugwort in water till it be very soft; (hen take it out, and apply it in manner of a poultice io the navel of the laboring woman, and it instantly bi ings away the birth and after birth; but special care must be taken to remove it as soon as they «ome away, lest by its longer tarrying, it should dr?w :iway the womb also. But thus rnuch shall suffice to be spoken of in bringing awav ;lu after burden in all natural labors. Section IV Of laborious and difficult Labors, and how the Midwife is to proceed therein. To proceed in this section the more regularly, it will be nect ssary to acquaint 'he reader that theie are three sorts of bad labors, all painful and difficult, but not all properly unnatural. It will be necessary therefore to distinguish these. The first of these bad labors is that wherein the mother and child suffer very much by extreme pain and d.fficulty, even th- ugh the child come right; and this is diMinguisha- bly called laborious labor. The second is that which is difficult, and differs not mi'ch from the former except ihat besides those extraordinary .pains, it is generally attended with some unhappy accident, which by retarding the birth, causes the difficulty ; and these difficulties being removed, accelerates the birth and bustens ihe delivery. Some h^ve asked wbat the reason is that women brmg ibrh their children with so much pain ? I answer, the sense of feeling is distributed to the whole body by the nerves, and the mouth of the womb being so straight lhat il must of necessity be diluted at the time of the woman's delivery. the dilating theieof stretches the nerves, and from thence comes the pain. And therefore the reason why some wo- men have more pain in their labor than oihers, proceeds from their having the rrcuih of ihe matrix more full of nerves than othei s, as skilful anatomists do easily discover. But to proceed, the best way io temove these difficulties that occasion such hard pains and labor I am here to treat of, is to shew from w'hei ce they proceed for the cause of any distemper being ki own, is as much as half the cure. N-.w he difficulty ot labor proceeds either from the mother or child, or b'-th From the mother, by reason of the indisposition of her body, or may be from some particular partonty, and chiefly the womb, as when the woman is weak, and the womb is 12 134 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. not active to expel its burden, or from weakness or disease, or want of spirits ; or it may be from some strong passion of the mind with which she was before possessed ; it may be also because she hath been too young, and so may have the passage too strait, or too old ; and then, if it be her first child, because her parts are too dry and too hard, and can- not be so easily dilated, as happens also to them who are too lean. Likewise those who are either small, or short, or deformed, as crooked women, who have not a breath strong enough to help their pains, and to bear them down, and per- sons that are crooked having sometimes the bones of the -passage not well shapen; the cholic also hinders labor, by preventing the true pains, and all great and acute pains, as when the woman is taken with a violent fever, great flood- ing, frequent convulsions, bloody .flux or any other great distemper. Also excrements retained cause much difficulty, and se does a stone in the bladder; er when the bladder is full of urine without.being able to void it ; or when the woman is troubled with great and painful biles. It may also be from the passages, when the membranes are thick, the orifice 109 strait, and the neck of the womb is not sufficiently open, the passages are pressed and strained by tumors in the adjacent parts, or when the bones are too firm, and will not open, which very much endangers mother and child; or when the passages are not slippery, by reason of the waters hav- ing broke too soon, or ihe membranes being too thin. The womb may also be out of order with respect to its bad situ- ation, or conformation, having its neck too strait, hard or callous; which may easily be-»onaturally, or may come by accident, being many times caused by a turrior, a.posthume) ulcer or superfluous,flesh. As to hard labor occasioned by the child, it .is when the child happens to stick to a mole, or when it is so weak that m it cannot break the membranes, or it 11 be too big all over, or in the head only, or if the navel vessels are twisted abuut it3 neck when the belly is hydropical. or when it is mon- strous, ha\ ing two heads, or being joined to another child ; also when the child is r*» ad, or so weak that it can contrib- ute nothing 'o its birth, likewise when it comes wrong or when there are one or two more. And in all these various difficulties theie is oftentimes one more* and that is the ig- norance of" the midwife ; tot want of understanding her bu- siness hinders nature in her work, ins.ead of helping her Having thus looked into the cau*e of hard labor. I will now shew the industrious midwife how* she my minister *ome reljeflo the laboring.woman under these ciicumstan- EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 135 ces. But it will «-eqiu- d understanding tnd judgment in th 'inidwir-, when she finds a woman in difficult laber, to k.io* the !)ii--r.,i u- obstruction, or cau.^e thereof, and so a suitab'e r. udv m > applied. As tor insunce, when it b~<,.. -."= he t\- o.-r's br nig too young and too strait, she na s be g'-'otiy sr t d, and *he passages anointed with oil, h,,^', j„,.'- , , ■■■■.., (miter, to re.a.x and dilate them the eas- iei, est he. -.-.■ -i J Happen a rupture of any part when the child born; for snneumes the peritoneum breaks with -he >kin from the privities oJ the fundament. But if a woman *,t i-i years with her first chi,d, let her lower parts be iic.o 11 erl to molify tue inward orifice, which m such a casebe-ig in re hard and calious, doth not easily yield to the .1 intention of labor which is me uue cause why such wo-nen i'-vr longer in hbrr, and also why their children being fore-d against the inward orific- of the womb (whish as I hive said, is a little callous) are born with great humps ancLbruises on their heads. Those women that are very srdpb^Tid mishapen, should not be put to bed, at least till tJ|Sir'waters are broke, but raiher kept upright, and assist- WWwflk about (he chamber, by b.-ing supported under theuarrns ; for by that means'hey will breathe more free- ly, and bear their pains better than on the bed. because there they lie all on a heap. As for those that are very lean, and have hard labor, from that cause, let them moist- en the parts with oils and ointments, to make them more smoothe and slippery, that the head of the infant and the womb be not so compassed and bruised by the hirdness of the mother's bones which form the passage. If the cause- be weakness, she ought to be strengthened, the better to sup- port her pains; to which end *we her good jelly broths, and a little wine with a toast in it. If she fears her pains, let her be comforted, assuring her that she will not bear many more, but be delivered in a little time. But if her pains be slow and small, or none at all, they must1 be pro- voked bv frequent and pretty strong clysters, that so they may be excited thereby ; after which let her walk about the chamber, that so the weight of the child may help them forward. But if she flood or have convulsions, she must then be helped by a speedy delivery ; the operation whereof I shall relate in -the section of unnatural labor3. If she be costive, let her use clysters, which may also help to dispel the cholic, at those times, very injurious, because attended with useless pains, and because such bear not downwards, and so help not to forward the birth. If she finds an ob- struction or stoppage on the urine, by reason the womb bears too much on the bladder, let her lift up her belly a little with 1S6 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. her hand, and try if by tnat she receives any benefit ; if she finds 6he does not. it will be necessary to introduce a cathet- er in the bladder, and thereby draw forth her urine If the difficulty be trom the ill posture of a woman, let her be placed otherwise, in a po-ture more suitable and convenient for her. Also if it proceed from the indispositions of the womb, us from its oblique situation, 8cc. it must be remedi- ed as well as can be, by the placing of her body according- ly ; or if it be a vicious conformation, having the neck too hard, too callous, andioostraii.it must be anointed with oils and ointments as before directed. If the membranes be so strong as that the waters don't break in due time, they may be broken with the fingers, if the midwife be first well assured that the child come forward ioto the passage, and ready to follow after, or else by ihe breaking of the waters too soon, the child may be in danger of regaining dry a long time ; to supply which defect you may unoisien the parts with fomentations, decoctions, and emolient oils ; which yet is not half so well as when nature does the work in her own time, with the ordinary slime and waters which do best when they come in their own proper time nd great care ought to be taken therein ; bur before any thing be done, the mid- wife ought to be well assured the child is dead indeed, which may be known by these signs : 1. The breast suddenly slacks, or falls flit, or bags down. 2. A great coldness possesses the belly of the mother, es- pecially about the navel. EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 13/ 3. Her urine is thick, a stinking settling at the bottom. 4. No motion of the child can be perceived ; for the trial whereof let the midwife put her band in warm water, and lay it upon hv belly ; for that if it be alive, will make it stir . 5; She is very subject to dream of dead men, and be af- frighted therewith. ^ 6. She has extravagant longings to eat such things as are against nature. 1. Her breath stinks, though not used so to do. 8. When she turns herself in the bed, or rises up, the child sways that way likeia lump of lead. But these things carefully observed, the midwife may make a judgment whether the child be alive .r dead ; espe- cially if the woman takes the following prescription : " Take half a pint of white wine, and burn it, and add thereto half an ounce of cinnamon, but no other spice what- ever ;" and when she has drank it, if her travailing pains come upon her, toe shild is certainly dead ; but if not, the child may possibly be either weak or sick, but not dead.— And in this case, it will refresh the child, and give her ease ; for cinnamon retresheth and strengtheneth the child in ihe womb. Now, if upon trialr it be found the child is dead, let the mother do all she can to forward her delivery, because a dead child can be no ways helpful therein. It will be ne- cessary therefore that she take some comfortable things to prevent her fainting, by reason of those putrid vapors as- cending from the dead child. And intnder to her delivery, let her take the following herbs boiled in white wine, or as many ot them as you can get, viz. dittany, betony, penny. royal, sage, feverfew, century, ivy leaves and berries. Let her also take sweet basil in powder, half a dram at a time, in white wine ; and her privities be anointed with the juice of garden tansey; or, if you take tansey in the summer, when it may be most plentifully had, and before it runs up to the flower, and having bruised it well, boil it in oil till the juice of it be consumed. If you set it in the sun, after you have mixed it with oil, it will be more effectual. This a careful midwife ought to have always by her. As to the manner of her delivery, the same methods must be used as are mentioned in the section of natural labor. And here I oanr.ot but again recommend the stone JEtites, held near the privities, whose magnetic virtue draws the child any way with the same felicity as the loadstone draws iron. Let the midwife also make a strong decoction of hyssop with water, and give the woman to drink it very hot) and 138 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. it will, in a little time, bring away the dead child. A de- coction of the herb m\sterwirt, used as the above, works the same effects. The roots of polipodium stamped well warmed a little, and bound on the sides of her feet, will soon bring away the child either alive or dead. • If as soon as she is delivered of the dead child, you are in doubt, that part of the after birth is left behind, for io such cases, being rotten, it may come away piece meal, let her continue drinking the same decoction, till her body is cleansed. The following medicines stir also up the expulsive facul- ty ; but in this case they must be made stronger because the motion of the chiid ceaseih. Take savin, round birthwort, troches of myrrh, asarara roots, cinnamon half an ounce, saff; on a scruple, give a dram with savin water. Or, take borax, savin, dittany, each an ounce; myrrh asaram roots, cinnamon, saffron, each half a dram make a powder, give a dram. But she may purge first, and put her in an emollient bath, anointing her round about the womb with oil of lilies, sweet almonds, caroomoiie, hen and goose grease. Also, foment to get out the child, with a decoction of mercury, orris, wild cucumbers, sxchus, broom flowers. Then anoint the pri- vities and loins with ointment of sowbread ; Or, Take coloquintida, agaric, birthwort, each a dram,make a powder, add armoniac dissolved in wine, ox gall, each two drams, with oil of kier make an ointment. Or, make a fume with asses' hoofs burnt, or gallianum, or caster, and let it be taken in with a funnel. To take away pains and strengthen the parts, foment with the decoction of mugwort, mallows, rosemary, wood- myrtle, St. John's wort, each half am ounce ; spermaceti twe drams, deer's suet an ounce, with wax make an ointment. Or, take wax four ounces, spermaceti an ounce, melt them, dip flax therein, and lay it all over her belly. If none of ibese things will do, the last remedy is to use surgery, and then the midwife ought, without delay, to send for aa expert an able m in midwife,- to deliver her by manual operation ; of which I shall treat more at large in the next chanter. CHAP. VI. In shewing the duty of a midwife, when the woman's la- bor is unnatural, it will be requisite to shew in the first place what 1 mean by natural labor ; for, it is natural to a woman to bring forth children in painand sorrow. That which I call annatural, is when the child comes to the birth in a contrary posture to that which nature ordaintdj and in which the EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 13ft generality of children come Into the world. Now, as truth is but one, but error dilates itself into infinite variety ; se there is but one proper right and natural posture in which children come to birth ; but there are as many wrong and unnatural weys as there are different postures of children when they are come to be born. The right and natural birth is when the child comes with its head first and yet ev.-n this is too short a definition of a natural birth, for if any part of the head but the crown comes firs:, so lhat the body follow not in a straight line it is a wrong and difficult birth. Now there are four general ways a child may come wrong ; 1st, when any of the fore parts of the body first present them- selves. 2dly, when by a unhappy transposition, any of the hinder parts first present themselves. 3dly, when either of the sides. Or, 4thly, when the feet present themselves first. To these four, all the particular and different w rang postures that a child can present itself in for the birth, may be reduced ; and therefore I shall confine mys> If only to treat of these four more g.neral wrong ways. SicriON I. How to deliver a Woman of a dead child by natural operation. The last section of the last chapter treated of the deliv- ering of a woman of a dead child, and several things were directed to be applied in order to facilitate the delivery ; but when all these fail, a manual operation is absolutely ne- cessary. In order thereto, let the operator acquaint the woman with the absolute necessity, there is of such an op- eration ; and that as the child has already lost its life, there is no other way left for the saving of hers. Let him also tell her, for her encouragement, that he doubts not, with the divine blessing, to deliver her safely, and that the pain arising thereby will not be so great as she fears. And then let him endeavor to st«rup the woman's pains, by giving her some sharp clyster to excite her throes to bear down and bring forth the child, and if this prevail not, let him proceed with his manual operation. First, let her be placed cross the bed, that he may ope- rate the easier; and let her lie on her back with her hips a little higher than her head, or at least the body equally placed, when it is necessary to put bvck or turn the infant to give it abetter posture ; being thus situated, she must fold her legs so as her heels be towards her buttocks, and her thighs spread, aud held by a couple of strong persoas ; there must be others also to support her under her arms that the body may not slide down when th.? child is drawn forth, for which sometimes, a great strength is required; let the HO EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. sheets and blankets cover her thighs for decency's sake, and also to prevent her catching cold. Then let him anoint the entrance of the womh with oil or fresh butter, if neces- sary, that so he may with more ease introduce his hand, which must also be anointed ; and haying by signs before mentioned, received satisfaction that it is a dead child, he must do his endeavor to fetch it away as soon as possible; and if the child offers the head first, he must gently put it back.un'il he hath liberty to introduce his hand quite into the womb; then sliding it along under the belly lo find the feet, let him draw it forth by then* being very careful to keep the head from being locked in the passage, that it be not separated from the bodv ; which may be effected the more easily, because the child being very rotten and putn- ficd, the operator is not so mindful to keep the breast and face downwards as he is in .living births But if, notwith- standing all these precautions, by reason of the child's pu- tretacti >n, the head .-.ii >ud be separated *-d left behind in the womb, it must be drawn fonli according to the direc- tions which shall be given in section third of this chapter for that purpose. But when the head, coming first, is so far advanced that it cannot well be puibick, it is better to draw it forth so, than o torment the woman too much by putting it back to turn it tnd bring it by the feet ; but the head being a part round and slippery, it may so h ipp n that the operator cannot 'ake hold ot it with his fingers by rea- son of its moisture, nor pjt them up to the side ot .t, because the passage is filed with is bigness, he must take a proper instrument, and put it up as f »r as he can without violence, between the womb & ihe child's head, observing to keep the point of it towards ihe hedd, and let him fasten it there* Riving it a good hold upon one of the bones of the skull, that it may not slide ; and after it is well fi*ed he m ly there- with draw it for h keeping the ends of the fingers flat upon the opposite side, the better to help disengage 1, and by shaking it a little t» conduct it directly out of ih passage, until the head be quite b >rn, and then taking hold of it with the hands only, the shoulders may be drawn into the pas- sage, and so sliding the fingers of both hands under the armpits, the child may be quite delivered. And then the after burden fetched, being carefurnot to pluck the navel string too hard, lest it break as ofUn happens, when it is corrupted. If the dead child come with the arm up to the shoulders ■ soexiremely swelled that the woma.i must suffer oogreat a violence to have it put back 'tis then the best, to take it. off at the shoulder joints, by twisting it three or four times EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Mt about, which is ve^y easily don.' D) . ev.son of the softness and tenuemess of ihe body. After 'he auti is so separated and no longer possessing the passage, the operator will have more room to put up his'hand into the womb, to fetch the child bv the feet and bring it away. But alhougb the operator be sure the child is dead in the womb, yet he must not therefore presently use instruments, because thev are never to be used but when hands *re not sufficient, and there is no othe- remedy to prevent the woman's danger, or to bring forth the child any other wayv And tlie judicious operator will choosethat way which is least hazardous and most safe. Section II. How a Woman must be delivered when the ' Child's Jeet come first. There is nothing more obvious to those whose business it is to assist laboring women than that the several uonat- uril postures in which children present themselves at their births, are the occasion of the mo>t bad labors and ill acci* dents lhat happen unto women in such a cemdition. And since midwives are very often obiged, because of the unnatural situations, to draw the children forth by the feet, I conceive it to be most proper to shew first, how a ehild must be brought forth that presents itself in that pos- ture, because it will be a guide to several of the rest. I know indeed lhat in ihis case 'tis the advice of several authors to change the figure, and place the head so that it ma> present ihe birth, and this council I should be very in- clinable to follow, could they but also shew how it must be done. But it will appear very difficult, if no t impossible to be performed, it we will avoid the dangers th atby such vio- lent agua ioas both the mother and the child mus: be put into, and therefore my opinion is, that it is better to draw it forth by the feet, when it presents itself in that posture, than lo venture a worse accident by turning it. As soon therefore as the waters are broke, and it is kuowa that the child comes thus, and (he womb is open enough to* admit the midwife's or operator's hand into it. or else by anointing the passage; with oil or hog's grease, to endeavor to dilate by degrees, using her fingers to this purpose, spreading them one f.-oin .he other, after they are together entered .nd continuing to do so till it be sufficiently dilated? then taking ere that her nails are well paired and no rii gs on hei fiugers, and her hands well anointed with oil or fresb butter, and the woman placed in the manner directed in the foi m» r section, let h ;r gently introduce her hand into the entry of the womb) where finding the child's feet, let kcr 14S EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. draw it forth in the m.mner I will piestutly direct; only let her first see whether it preseiitsone too-, or both and it it be but one f ot, she ought to consider whether it is ihe right foot or the left, and also in what fashion it comes; for by that means she will sooner come lo know where to find the other .vhich as soon as she knows and finds, let her gently draw i-inhwith ihe other ; but of this she must be especially carelul, v.z that this second be not the foot of aneth, r child ; for if so, it may be of the most fatal conse- quence, for she mit sooner split boh mother and child than draw them forth jbut ihh may be easily prevented, it she doe> but slide her hand up tire first leg asd thigh to the twist ;,nri there fiidb*i.h ih-gh* jevlned'o;.;eiher, and de- scending from one and in-* same body. vnd this is also the best means to find the other foot when it comes with but one. As soen as the midwife hvh found both the child's feet, she may draw them foith, and holding them together, may bring thein bv little and Ii tie in this manner, t king af er- wards hold of the tegs and thighs as soon as she can come at themvlnwing themnolill the hips be come forth. W hilst this is doing, let her observe to wrap the parts in a single cloth, that so her hinds being already greasy, suae not on the infant's body which is slippery, because of the vicious humors which .tre all over it, and prevent one's taking hold of it, whiih being done, she may take hold under the hips, so to draw it forth lo the beginning of the breast ; and let ber on both sides with her hand bring down the arms along the child's body, which she may then easily find ; and then let her take care that the belly and face of the child be downwards, for if it should be upwards, there would be some danger of its being stopt by the chin over the share bone; and therefore, if ii be not so, must turn it to that posture ; which maybe easily done, if she tak^ hold on the body when the breast aad arms are forth in the manner we have said, and draws it with turning it in proportion on that side which it maw inclines to, rill it be turned with the face downwards, and so having brought it to the shoulders, let her lose no time, desire the woman at the same time, to bear down, that so at drawing, the head at that instant, may take its place, and not to >z stopt in the passage. Some children there are, whose heads are so big, that when the whole bo- dy is horn, yet that stops in the passage, though the mid- wife takes ali possible care*to prevent it. And when this happens, she must not endeavor only to draw forth the child by the shoulders, lest she sometimes separate the body from the head, as I have known it done by the midwife ; but she EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 143 must discharge it by little and little from the bones in the passages, with the fingers of each hand, sliding them on each side opposite the one to the other, sometimes above, and sometimes under, until the work be ended, endeavor- ing to dispatch it as soon as possible,- lest the child be suffo- cated, as it will unavoidably be, if it shcald remain long in that postore ; and this being well and carefully effected, she may soon alter fetch away the after birth as I have before directed. , TT Section III. How ta bring away the head of the Child, when separated from the Body- and left behind in the Womb. Though the utmost care betaken in bringing away the ehi'd by the feet, yet if the child happens to be dead, it is sometimes so puirified and conupted. that with the least pull the body separates from ihe head, and remains a'«ne in the womb, and cannot be brought away but with a manu- al operation and difficulty, it being extremely slippery, by reasen of the place where it is, and from the roundness of its figure, on which no hold can be well taken. And so very great is the difficulty in this oase, that sometimes two or three able practitioners in the art of midwifery, have one after the other, left the operation unfinished, as not able to effect it after the utmost efforts of their industry, skill and strength ; so that the woman not being able to be delivered, perisheth. To prevent which fatal accidents for the time to come, let ihe following operation be observed : When the infant's head separates from the body, and is left behind, whether through putrefaction, or otherwise, let the operator immediately, whilsi th womb is yet open, di- rect up his right hand to the mputb, for no other hold can there be had ; and having found rt, letbim put one or < woof hisfii gers intoit,,by little and little, holding it blithe juw ; but if that fails, as sometimes it will, when pun ifie.l, then let him pull forth his right hand, ard si tie up his kit with which he must support the head, and with the right let hrn take a harrow instrumeni calleel a crotcht t ; bu iei it be strong, and with a single branch, which lit mu>,t guid along the inside of his hand, with the point of it towards it, for fear of hurting the womb; and having thus introduced it, let him turn it towards the head, for t. strike either into an eye-hole or the hole of an eat or-bihmd the head, or else. between ihe sta'ure, as he finds it most convenient and easy ; and then draw forth ihe head s ■ fastened v-ith the said instrument, sti11 helping toe-nciuo i: with his lett hand.; but when he h*th brough. it near the passage, b* ing strong- ly fastened to the instrument, let him remember to draw i44 EXPERIENCED MTDWIFE. forth his hand, 'hat the passage ,.oi being fillfd with it, may be the taiger and easier. k> epi-g Mill « fl gtr or two on the side of the heaot the right wav, even that is an unnatural lab r, and thereiore though the.head comer,.first, yet if it be the side of the head instead of tht ^rown, it is very dangerous both to the moth- er and child rot the child may sooner break its neck than be born m that manner; and by how much the moiher's pains continue to bear the child, which it is impossible, un- EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 140 less the head be . -gl.tly placed, the more the passages are stopt; therefore s soon as the position of the child is kne*j»n, the woman must be laid with ail speed, lest the child should advance further in this vicious posfuie, and therefore ren- der it more difficult to thrust it back, which must be done in order to place the head in the passage right as it ought to be To this purpose therefore place the woman so that her hips may be a little higher than her head and shoulders, causing her to lean a little upon ihe opposite side to the child's ill posture ; then let the operator slide up his hand, well annointed with oil, by the side ot the child's head, to bring it right, gently with his fingers between the head and the womb ; bu^ if the head be so engaged that it cannot be done that way. he must then put his hand to the shoulders, that so by thrusting them back a little into the womb, some- times on the one side and sometimes on the other ; he may by little and little give it a natural position. • I confess it would be better if the operator could put back the child by its shoulders with both his hands ; bui the head takes up so much room, that he will find much ado to put up one, with which he must perform his operation, with the help of the finger ends of the other hand,put forwards the child's birth, as when the labor is natural. Some children present their face first, having their heads turned back, in which posture it is extremely difficult that the child should be born; and if it continue so long, the face will be swelled, and withal black and blue, that it will at first seem monstrous, which is occasioned as well by the compression of it in that place, as by the midwife's fingers handling it too readily, in order to place it in a better pos- ture. But this blackness will wear away in three or four days time, annointing it often with oil of sweet almonds. To deliver the birth, the same operation must be used as in the former, when a child comes with the side of the head ; only let the midwife or operator work very gently to avoid as much as possible the bruising of the face. Section V How to deliver a woman when a child presents one or both Hands together with the Head. [Sometimes the infant will present some other part togeth- er with its head, which if it does, it is usually one or bolh its hands, and this hinders the birth, because the hands take up part of tkat passage which is little enough for the head a- lone ; besides, that when this happens, they generally cause the head to iean on one side ; and therefore this position may be very well stiled unnatural. Wherf the child presents 13 146 EXPERIEKCED irflWIf^. thus, the first thing to bed. ne .i.e. i pc rceived. mustbe to prevent it fiom comii g down mo e, or engaging fur- ther in the passage; and therefore the operator, having placed the woman on the bed a litt e lower than her l-'ps, must put and gu'de back ihe infant's hand wnh hi own as much as nray be or both of them if 'hey both cou.e dowp, to give way to the child's head •' ar>d his being done it the head be on one side, it must be brough' into its natural pos- ture in the middle of the passage, that it may come in a straight line, and then proceed as directed in the foregoing section. Section IV. How a woman is lo be delivered when the Hands or Feet of the Infant come together. There is none but will readily gram, that when the hands and feet of an infant present together, the labor must be unnatural, because it is impossible a child should be born in that manner. In ihis therefore, when the midwife guides her hand towards the orifice of the womb, she will perceive only many fingers close together ; and if.it be not sufficient. ly dilated, it will be a g< od while before the hands and feet will be exactly distinguished; f or they are sometimes so shut and pressed together, that they seem to be all of one and the same shape; but where the womb is open enough to introduce the hand into it, she will easily know which are the hands and which are the feet ; and having well ta- ken notice thereof, let her slide her hand, and presently di- rect it towards the infant's breast, which she will find very near, and then let her very gently thrust back the body to. wards the bottom of the womb, leaving the feet in the same place where she found them ; and then having placed the, woman in a convenient posture, that is to say, her hips a little raised above her breast and head, (which situation ought always to be observed when the child is to be put back into the womb} let the midwife afterwards take bold of the child by the feet, and draw it foiith as is directed in the sec- ond section. This lebor, though .somewhat troublesome, yet is much better than when the child presents only its hands ; for the child must be quite turned about before it can be drawn lorth ; but in this, they ate.ready presenting themselves, and in this there is not so much lo,do, but to lift and thrust back a little the upper part of the ^ody, which is almost done of itself by drawing it along by the feet. I confess there are.many authors that have written of la- bors who vvould have all wrong births redpeed to a natural *i5ure ; which.is vo turn it,.that itmay come with the head EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 14>7 first; but those that have thus written are such as never un- derstood the practical part; for / they had the least expe- rience herein, they would know that it is very often impossi- ble, at least if it were to be done, that violence must neces- sarily be used in doing it, that would very probably be the death of mother and child in the operation. I would there- fore lay down as a general rule, that whensoever an infant presents itself wrong to the birth, in what posture soever from the shoulders to the feet, it is the best way, and soonest done, to draw it out by the feet; and that it is better search. ing for them if they do not present themselves, rather than try to put it in the natural posture, and place the headfore- most ; for the great endeavors necessary to be used In turn- ing the infant in the womb, do so much weaken both mother and child, lhat there remains not afterwards strength enough to commit the operation to the work of nature, tor usually the woman hath no more throes or pains fit for la- bor, after she has been so wrought upon ; for which reason it would be very difficult and tedious at best : and the child by such an operation, made very weak, would be in extreme danger of perishing before it could be born. It is therefore much better in these cases to bring it away immediately by the feet, searching for them as I have already directed, when they do not present themselves ; by which the mother will be prevented of a tedious labor, and the child be often brought alive into the world, who otherwise would hardly esc. pe death. And thus much shall suffice to be said of unnatural labors ; for by the rule already given, a skilful ar- tist will know how to proceed in any posture in which the child shall present itself. Section VII. How a woman ihail be delivered that has Twins, which present themselves in different postures. We have already spoken something of the birth of twins, in the chapter of unnatural labor ; for it is not an unnatural labor barely to have twins, provided they come in a right position to the birth. But when »hey shall present them- selves in divers postures, they come properly undsr the de- nomination of unnatural labors ; and if when one child pre- sents itself in a wrong figure it makes if much more so when there are several, and renders it not only more painful to the mother and children, but to the operator also, lor they often trouble each other, and h-nder both their births be- sides winch, the womb is then so filled with hem, that the operator can hardly introduce his hand wilhou: much vio- lence, which he must do, if they be to,be turned to thrust batjc, to give them a better position. ( 148 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. When a womMi is pregnant with two children, they rare* ly present to the birth together, the one being generally more forward than the other, and that is the reason that but one is felt ; lhat many times th; midwife knows not rhat there are twins till the first is born, and that she is go- ing to fetch away the after birth. In the 5th chapter, wherein I treated of natural labor, I shewed how a womaa Should be delivered of twins, presenting themselves both right; and therefore, before I close this chapter of unnatu- ral labor/it onlv remains that I shew what ought to be done, whemthey either both come wron.j- or one of them only, as for the most part it happens; the first generally comitig right, and the second with the feet forward, or in some worse posture. In such a case, the birth of the first must be hast. ened as much as possible, to make way for the second,which is best brought aw ly by the feet, without endeavoring to place it right, even though it was somewhat inclining to- wards it, because it has bren already t*red and weakened by the birth of the first as well as its mother, that there would be greater danger of its death than likelihood of its corning cut of the womb that way. But if, vrhen the first is bom naturally, the second should likewise offir its head to the birth, it would be'then best leaving nature to finish what she has so well begun ; and if nature should be too slow in her work, some of those things mentioned in the fourth chapter to accelerate the birth may be properly enough applied ; and if after that, the second birth'should be yet delayed, let a manual operation be de- ferred no longer ; but the woman being properly placed, as has been before directed, let the operator direct his hand gently into the womb to find the feet, and so draw forth the second child, which will be the more easily effected, hecause there is way made sufficient by the birth of the first; and ie the waters of the second child be not broke, as it often hap- pens, yet intending to bring it by the feet, he need not scru- ple to break the membranes with his fingers ; for though when the birth of a child is left to the operation of nature, it is necessary that the waters should break of themselves ; yet when the child is brought out of the womb by art, there is no danger in breaking of them ; nay, on the contrary, it be- comes necessary \ for without the waters are broke, it would be almost impossible to tarn the child. But herein principally lies the care of the operator, that he is not deceived when either the hands or the feet of both children offer themselves together to thebirih ; in this case he ought well to consider the operation, as whether they be not joined together or any way monstrous ; and which part EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. f£& belongs to one child and which to the other, that so they may be fetched one after the other, and not both together, a9 might be, if it were not duly considered, taking the right foot of the one and the left of the other, and so drawing them together, as if they belonged to one body, because there is a left and a right, by which means it would be impossible ever to deliver them. But a skilful operator will easily prevent this, if having found two or three feet of several children, presenting together in a passage, and taking aside two of the forvvardest, a right and a left, and sliding his hands a- Ibng the legs and thighs up to the twist, if forwards, or the buttock-, it backwards, he finds they both belong to the bo- dy ; of which being thus assured, he may begin to draw for>h the nearest, without regarding which is strongest or weakest, bigger or less, living or dead, having put first a little aside that part of the other child whfch offers, to #ive the more way and so dispatch the first, wherever it is, as- soon as may be, observing the same rules, as if there were but one. that is keeping the breast .and face downwards, with every circumstance directed in the section where the child come-, wkh its feel first, and not fetch the burden till the second child is born. And therefore when the operator has drawn forth one child, he must separate it from the" burden, having tied and cut the nave) string, and then fetch the other by the teet in the same manner, and afterwards bring away the after burden with the two strings, as have been before shewed. If the children present any other part than the feet, the operator^nay follow the same method as is directed in the foregoing section, where the several un- natural positions are carefully treated of. CHAP VIII. \ Directions for child bearing Women in their lying in. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth chapters, we have treated at large of women's labor, and how they may be safely de* Hvered both in natural and ' unnatural labors. Having therefeie thus brought the good woman to bed, I will in this chapter direct how she ought to be ordered in her lying in. Section I. How a W*man newly delivered ought to be ordered. As soon as she is laid in bed, let her be placed in it con- veniently for ease and rest, which she stands in great need of, to recover herself of the great fatigue she underwent during her travail ; and, that she may lie the more easily, let her head and body be a little raised, that she may breathe more freely, and cleanse the better, especially of that blood which then com'-s away that so it may not cletj which being retained causeth very great pain 150 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Having thus placed her in bed, let her drink a drtogU of burnt white wine, when you have, first melted therein a dram of spermaceti. The herb vervain is also & most singu- lar herb for a woman in ihis condition, boiling it in what she either eats or drinks, fortifying the womb so exceed- ingly, that it will do it more good in two days, having no offensive taste, though very pleasant virtues. And this is no more than what she stands in need of, for her lower parts being so greatfy distended to the birth of the infant, it Is good to endeavor the prevention of an inflamation there. Let therefore be outwardly applied all over the bottom of the belly and privities, the following anodyne or cataplasm. Take two ounces of oil of sweet almonds, and two or three new laid eggs, yolks and whites, stirring them together in an earthern pipkin over hot embers, till it comes to the Consistence of a poultice ; which being spread upon a cloth must be applied to those parts indifferently warm, having first taken away the closures (which were put to her pre- sently after her delivery) and likewise such clots of blood -as weie then left. Let this lie oo five or six hours, and then renew it again as sou see cause. Great care out to be taken at first, that if her body be very weak, she be not kept too hot, for extremity of heat weakens nature and dissolves the strength ; and whether she be weak or strong, be sure that no cold air comes near her at first; for cold is an enemy to the spermatic parts, and if it gets into the womb, it increases the after pains, causes swellings in the wi«mb,and hurts the nerves. As to her diet, let it be hot, and let her eat but a little at a time. Letjber avoid the light for three or four days, and longer ^f she be weak, for labor weakens her eyes exceedingly, by a harmony between the womb and them. Let her avoid great noises, sadness and troubles of mind. If the womb be foul, which may be easily perceived by the impurity of the blood (which will then either come away is clots or stinking, or if you suspect any of the after bur- den to be left behind, which may sometimes happen) make her drink of feverfew, mogwort, pennyroyal, and mother of thyme, boiled io white wine, sweetened with sugar. Panada and new laid eggs is the best meat fur her at first, of which she may eat often, but not too much at a time. And let her u?e cinnamon in all her meat and drink for it is a great strengthener to the womb. . Let her stir as little as may be, till after the fifth, sixth, 133 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 5. Take bayberries, beat them to powder, put the pow- der upon a chaffing dish of coals, and let her receive the smoke of them up her privities. 6. Take tar and barrows grease, of each an equal quantity, boil them together, and whilst it is boiling add a Irtle pidgeon'sdung to it. .Spread som* of this upon a lin- en cloth, and apply it to the reins of her back, and it will give her speedy ease. Lastly, let her take half a dram of bayberries beaten in- to * powder in a draught of mustard or tent. II. Another accident in which women in oh,Id bed are subject, • is the hemorrhoides, or piles, occasioned through their straining in bringing the child into the world, lo cure this,. 1. Let her be let blood in the vein saphsna. 2._ Let her use pollypodium in her meat and drink, bruised and boiled. 3. Take an onion, and, having made a hole in the mid- dle, of it, fill it fuil of oil, toast it and having bruised it all together, apply it to the fundament 4u Take as many wood lice as you can get,, ^nd bruise them, and having mixed them With a little oil, apply them warm as before. 5; If she go well to stool, let her take an ounce of cassia^ fis'uta drawn at night going to bed; she need no change of diet after. III. Retention of the menstiues is another accident hap- pening to women in child bed ; and} which is of so danger- ous consequence, that, if not timely remedied it proves mor- tal. Where this happens, 1. Let the woman take such medjeines as strongly pro-' voke the terms, such as dittany, betony, savory, featherfew contaury, juniper berries, peony roots. 2. Let her take two or three spoonfuls of briony water each morning. 3. Gentian roots beaten into a powder, and a dram of it taken every morning in wine, is an extraordinary remedy. 4, The root of bi.-thwort, either long or round, so used, and taken as the former is very good.. .5. Take twelve piony seeds, and beat them int«* a very fine powder, and let her drink them in a draught of hot carduus posset, and let her sweat after. And if this last medicine don't bring them down the first time she takes it, let her take as much mt>r- three hours after, and it sel- dom fails. IV. Ovei flowing of th* menses is another accident in- cidental lochild bed women EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 153 1. Take shepherd's purse, either boiled in any con- venient liquor or dried and beaten into a powder, and it will be an admirable remedy to stop them, this being espe- cially appropriated to the privities. 2. The flowers and leaves of brambles, or either of them being dried and beaten into powder, and a dram of them taken every morning in a spoonful of red wine, or in the de- coction of the leaves of the same, (which perhaps is much better ;) is an admirable remedy for the immoderate flow- ing of the terms in women. V. Excoriations, bruises and rents,of the lower part of 'he womb, are often occasioned by the violent distention and reparation of the four caruncles in a woman's labor. For the healing whereof, As s»on as the woman is laid, if there be only simple con- tusi ons and excoriations, let the anodyne cataplasm, for- merly directed, be applied to the lower parts to ease the pain, made of the yolks and whites of new laid eggs, and oil of roses boiled a little over warm embers, continually stir- ling it till it be equally mixed, and then spread upon a fine cloth, it must be applied very warm to the bearing place or five or six Ivurs, and when it is taken away, lay some fine rags, dipped in oil of St. John's wort twice or thrice a day, also, some foment the parts with barley water and honey of roses to cleanse them from the excrements which pass. When the woman makes water, let them be defend- ed with fine rags, and thereby hinder the urine from caus- ing smart and pain. VI. The curdling and clotting of the milk is another ac- cident that often happens to women in child bed ; f&r, i» the beginning of child bed the woman's miik is not purified, because of those great commotions her body suffered during her labor, which affected all the parts, and it is then mix- ed with many other humors. Now this clo'.tmg of milk does, for the mo ears old; which is occasioned by the tenderness of their bodies, and feebleness of their age, which hinders them from express- ing the incommodities they labor under, any othei ways than by their cries. The business of this chapter therefore will be to discover the indispositions to which they are subject, with the remedies proper for them. Section I. Of Gripes and Pait.s in the bellies of young Children. This I mention first, as it is often the first and most com- mon distemper which happens to little infants after their birth,'majiy children being so troubled and pained there- with, that they cry night and day, and at last die of it,— This comes, for the most part, from the tudden change of their nourishment, for having always received it from the umbilical vessels whilst in their mother's Womb, they come to change, on a sudden,"*1not only the manner of receiving it,, but the nature and quality of what they receive as soon as frhey are born, for instead of purified blood only, conveyed to them by means of the umbilical vein, they are now oblig- ed to be nourished with their mother's breast milk, which thay suck with their mouths., and from which are engender. EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 1&7 ed many excrements causing gripes and pains, and that not only because it is not so pure as the blood wiih which it was nourished in the womb, but because the stomach and intes- tines cannot yet make a good digestion. It is also caused sometimes by a tough phlegm, and sometimes by the worms ; for physicians affirm, that worms have been bred in chil- dren even in their mother's belly. The remedy therefore must be suited to the cause ; if it proceed from the too sudden changes of nourishment, the remedy must be to forbear giving the child suck tor some days, lest the milk be mixed with phlegm ; and at. first it must suck but little until it be accustomed to digest it. If it be the excrements in the intestines, which by their long stay increase these pains, give ihem at the mouth a little oil of sweet almonds, aid svr^up of roses. If it be worms, lay a cloth dipped in oil of woi m word, mixed with ox gall, upon the belly for a small cataplasm, the powder of rue and .wormwood; coloquintida. a Hoes, th" seeds of citron incorpo- rated with ox gall, and the powder of lupines. Or, give it oil of sweet almonds, with sugar candy and a scruple of an- nisseed; it purges new born babes from green choler and stinking phlegm, and if it be given with sugar pap, i> allays the griping pains of the belly ; also annoint the belly with .e-ii of dill, or pellitory stamped with oil of camomile to the belly. Section II. Of weakness in new born Infants. Weakness is an accideiuihat many children bring into .the world along with -'em, and is often occasioned by the labor of the mother; by the violence and length whereof .they suffer so much, that "hey are born wi h great weak- ness, and many times it is difficult to know whether they .ire .alive or dead, their body appearing so senseless, and their face sob.lue and livid, that they seem to be quite choaked ; and, even after some hours, their shewing signs of life is at- tended with so much weakness, thai it looks like a return from death, and that they are still upon the borders of that kingdom. In this rase the best way to help the infant is to lay htm speedily in a warm bed and blankets, ard carry him to the fire, and then let the midwife sup a little wine and spout it into his mouth, repeating it often if there be occasion. Let her apply linen to the breast and belly, dipped in wine, and then let the face be uncovered, that he may breathe more freely ; also let the midwife keep its mouth a little open, cleanse the nostrils with small linen tents dipped in white Wine, that so he may receive the smell of it, and let her 1* i58 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. chafe every part of his body well with wafm cloths, to bring back the blood and spirits, which being retired inward thro' weakness, often puts him in danger of being choaked. By the application of these means, the infant will insensibly re- cover strength, aud begin to stir his limbs by degrees, and at length to cry, which, though it be but weakly at first, yet afterwards as he breathes more freely, he will cry stronger y and stronger. Section III. Of the fundament being closed up in a new born htjant. Another effect that new born infants are liable to, is te have their fundaments closed up, by means whereof they can neither evacuate the new excrements engendered by the milk they suck, nor that which was amassed in their in- testines, whilst in their mother's belly, which is certainly mortal without a speedy remedy. There»-ha.ve been some female children who have had their fundaments quite clos- ed, and jet have voided the excrements of the guts by an orifice, which nature, to supply that defect, had made with- in the neck of the womb. For the cure or remedy of this, we must notice that the fundament is close two ways ; eithsr by a single skin, thro' which one may discover'some black and.blue marks, pro- ceeding from the excrements retained, which of one touch with the finger, there is a softness felt within, and there- abouts it ought to be pierced ; or else it is quite stopped by a thick fleshy substance, ,in such sort that there appears nothing withoui by which its true situation may be known. When there is nothing but the single skin which makes the closure, the • operation is very easy, and the child may do very well; for then an apertion or opening may be made with a small incision knife, cross ways, that it may the bet- ter receive a round form, and that the place afterward^ may not grow together, taking great care not to prejudice ihe sphincter or muscle of the rectum. The incision being thus made, the exciements will certainly have is'sue. But if, by reason of their long stay in the belly, they are become so dry that the infant cannot void them, then let a small clyster bfe given to moisten and bring them away ; after- wards put a linen tent into the new made fundament, which at first had best be anointed with honey of roses, and to- wards the end wnh a drying cicatrizing ointment, such as Unguentum, Album, or Pomphelix. observing to cleanse the infant of his excrements, and dry.it again as soon and as often as he evacuates them, that so the apertion may be prevented from turning it to a malignant ulcer. 8ut now if the fundament be stopped up in such a manner F.X*»""»r«5NCEl* MIDWIFE. 15& that iwi'!-,'Vin,ik o appearance can be either seen or feh htn-li^OjM a.t'n i- so much mor*difficult ; and even wh :• v-vi>-, he d-nger is mucii more of the infant's esc i,x >g'- V 1 ttoi f n be a fern lie, and that it sends forvh r* fx-^'cu i > by aie w*y I have mention-'d before, it is better > o neeld'e. then by endeavoring to remedy an inconvcmei ce 'o ru i an extreme hazard of the infant's death. Bau-»toi> k . re. th:»i hethbu one edge, enter in- to the void place, .nd turim.g thebaic!., of it upwards with- in half a finger's breadth ot the child's rump which is the place where he will certainly find the intestine, let him thrust it forwards, that it may be open enough to give free vent to the matters there contained, being especiadv care- ful of the sphincter ; after which, let the wound be dressed according to the method d< reeled Section IV. . Of the Thrush or Ulcer in the mouth of an Infant. The thrush ie a distemper that children are very often subject ta, and it arises from bad m. k, or from foul hu- mors in the stomach ; for sometimes, though there be no ill quality in the milk itself, vet it may corrupt in the child's stomach bec.u.e of its weekness or some other indisposi- tion, in which, acquiring an acrimony instead of being well digested, there arise trom thence.biting vapors, which form- ing a thick viscossity, do thereby produce this distemper. Lis often difficult, as physicians tell us, because it is seated in hot and moist places, where the putrefaction is easily augmented, and tor that, the remedies applied can- not lodge there, being sson washed away by spittle. But if they arise from too hot a quality in the nurse's milk, care must be taken to temper and cool, prescribing her cool di- et, bleeding and purging her also if there be occasion. I'ake lentiles husked, powder them and lay it upon the child's gums ; or take melidium in flower, half an ounce, and with oil of roses make a liniment. Also wash the child's mou;h wiih barley and plantain waiey, and honey of roses, or syiup of dry roses, m.xing them with a little verjuice or juice of lemons, as well to loosen and cleanse the vicious hu- mors whicii cleave to the Inside of the child's mouth, as to cooltho.e p;trts which are already over heated. This may be done by me.ius of a small fine rag fastened ta the ejjd of a little stick, and dipped therein, wherewith the uxors may be gently rubbed, being caieful-not to put the child to t 1€0 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFES too much pain, lest an inflamation make the distemper worse. The child's body must be also kept open, that the humors being carried to the lower parts, the vapors may not ascend, as it is usual for them to do, when the body is costive and the excrementss too long retained. If the ul- cers appear malignant, let such remedies be used as do their work speedily, that the evil qualities that cause them being thereby corrected, their malignity may be prevented; and in this case touch the ulcers with plantain waters sharpen- ed with the spirits of vitriol, tor the remedy must be made sharp, according to the malignity of the distemper. It will not be unnecessary to purge these ill humors out of the whole habit of the child] by giving half an ounce of succory with rhubarb. Sec V. Of pain in the ears, inflamation, moisture, Wc. The brain in infants is very moist and hath many ex« crements which nature cannot send out at its proper pas- sages ; they get often to the ears, and there cause pains, flux of blood, with itiflamution, and matter with pain ; and in children is hard to he knovn, having no other way to make it known than by constant crying ; you will also per- seive them ready to feel their ears themselves, but will not let others touch ihem if they can help it ; and sometimes you may discern the par'.s about the ears to be very red. These pains, if let alone, are of dangerous consequences, because they bring forth watching and epilepsy, for the mois- tare breeds worms there, and fouls the spongy bones, and by degrees incurable deafness. To prevent all those ill consequences, allay the pain with all convenient speed, but have a care of using strong reme- dies. Therefore only use warm milk about the ears, with the decoction of poppy tops, or oil of violets ; to take away the moisture, use honey of roses, and let aquamellisbe drop- ped into the ears ; or take virgin honey half an ounce, red wine two ounces, allum, saffron, saltpetre, each a dram ; mix them at ihe fire ; or drop in hempseed oil with a little wine. Section VI. Of redness and inflamation of the but- tocks, groin and thighs of an infant. If there be not great care taken to change and wash the child's beds as soon as they are fouled with the excrements, and to keep the child very clean, their acrimony will be sur- to cause redness, and beget a smarting in the buttocks, groin and thighs of the child, which by reason of the pain, will afterwards be subject to inflamaions, which follow the sooner, through the delicacy and tenderness of their skin from which the outward skin of the body is in a short time separated and worn away. EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 161 The remedy of this is two fold ; th-it is to say, first, to keep h- child cleanly, and in the seco id place, to take off the >ha-pness of is urine. As to keeping it cleanly,she must be a sorry nurse that needs to be taught how to do it, for if she lets ii but have dry, clean and wirm beds and clouts, as often and soon ts it ha* fouled and wt them, either by its urine or exccin^ns it will be sufficient•;■•aud, as to the second, the taking offrie sharpness of the child's unne, lhat mus! be done by the nurse's keeping a cooling diet, that her milk m *y have ihe same quality ; and therefore she ought to ab-.1 ein from-all thing-, that may heat it. But besides these, cooling and drvi'-g remedies are requisite to be ap- plied ro the inflemed parts; therefore let tne parts be bith- ed with p an am water, with a fourth of lime water added toit. eac'i time the child's excrements are wiped off; and if the pain be v.M'y great, let it only be fomented with luke warm milk. .The powder of a post to dry it. or a little mil1 dust sirewd upon the parts '-.fleeted, may be proper enough, and it is used by several women. Also Unguentum, Album, or DHpamphniigos, spread upon a small piece of leather in form of ■; pUster. will not be amiss.' Rut the chief' thing must be the nurse's taking great care to wrap the inflemed parts with fine rags wh-n she opens the child, that those parts may not be gathered and pained by rubbi % -hem together. Suction VII. Oj Vomiting in young Crildren, .. V -m ing in children proceeds sunetime's from too much* •milk and sometimes from bad miik, aid is often from a* moist loose stemach ; for as dryness retains, so looseness ie^. go. This is for the.most part, wtthom danger in chil- dren -, for the stomach, no being used to meat and milk beim; aken too much crudities are easily bred, or the milk is corrupted ; and i* is beiter to vomit these up than to keep th m in ; but if vomi'ing last long, if will cause an atrophy or consumption for want of nourishment. *£ Toiemedy this, if from too much milk t/rit which is emit- ted is yellow and green or otherwise ill colored and stink- ing : ni this case, mend the milk, as has been shewn be- fore ; cleanse the child with honey of roses, and strengthen its stomach with syrup ef milk and quinces made into an electuary. If the hu nor be hoi and sharp give the syrup of pomegranates, currants and coral ; and apply to the bel- ly the plaster of bread, the stomach cernte, or bread dipped in hot wine; or take oil of mastic, quinces, mint, worm- wood, each half an ounce ; of nutmegs by expressions half a dram, chemical oil of mint, three drops. Coral hath an 162 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. occult property to prevent vomiting, and is therefore hung about their necks. Section VIII. Of breeding Teeth in young Children. 1'hisis a very great and yet necessary evil in all children having variety ot symptoms joined with it; they begin t© come forth, not all at a time, but one after another, about the sixth or seventh month : the fore teeth coming first,then the eye teeth, and at last of all the grinders; the eye teeth cause more pain to the child than any of the rest, because they have a very deep root and a small nerve, which hath communication to that which makes the eye move. In t he breeding of their teeth first they feel an itching in their gums, when they are pierced as with a needle, and pricked by the sharp bones, whence proceed great pains, watching, and inflamation of the gums, fever, looseness, and convul- sions, especially when they breed their eye teeth. The signs when children breed their teeth are these. 1, It is known bv their time, which is usually about the seventh month. 2. Their gums are swelled, and they feel a great heat there, with an itching which makes them put their fin- gers in their mouth to rub them, from whence a moisture distils down into the mouth, btcause of the pain they feel there. 3. They hold the nipple faster than before. 4. The gum is white where the tooth begins to come ; and the nurse in giving them suck finds the mouth hotter, and that ihey are much changed, crying every moment, and cannot sleep, or but very little at a time The fever that follows, breed- ing of teeth comes from choleric humors, inflamed by watch- ing, pain, and heat. And the longer teeth are breeding, the mure dangerous it is, so that many in the breeding of them die of fevers and convulsions. For remedy, two things are to be regarded; one is, to preserve the child from the evil accidents that may hap. pen to ifaby re won of the great pain ; the other, to assist as much as may be the cutting ot the teeth, when they can hardly cut the gumsthem^vlves. For the first of these, i. e. the preventing of these acci- dents to the child, the nurse ought to take great care to keep a good diet, and to use all things that may cool and temper tier milk ; that so a fever may not follow the pain of the teeth. And to prevent the hamir from falling too much upon the infhmed gums, let the child's belly be kept always loose by gentle clysters, if it be bound ; though often times there is »o need of them, because they are at those times usually troubled with a looseness, and yet for all that, clysters may not be improper. As to the other, which is to assist in catting of the teeth, EXPERIENCED MIDWrFE. 183« that the nurse mu*t do from iw: to time, mollifying a nd loosening them, by rub'jiog tiem with her fiiger dipped in butter or honey, to let the child have a virgin wax candle to chew upon; oi anoint the gums with ihe mucilege of quince made with, mallows wa:er, or with the brains of a hare ; also foment the cheeks wiih h? dccoc.ion of Alihea, and camomile flower and dill, or witu ihc juice of mallows and fresh butter. If the gums are iufl .med, add juice of nightshade a.id leuuce I have airs idv said tne nurse ought to keep a temperate die; 1 wil now add, that bar- ley broth, water ^g'uel. raw egg-., p>un-s lettuce antl en- dive, are good tor her ; but let her avoid salt, sharp, biting and peppered meats, and wme. 1KCTI0N IX. Of the Flux of tht belly, or looseness in Infants. It is very emu tn -n t >r mtan s to have the flux »f he bel-» ly, or looseness, especially upon the leas indisposition 'r noris it be wondered at. seeing their natural mm^tness con- tributes so much thereto; aod it it b- not ex raordmary violent, such .n-r* in a better state of he >l h th in hose h\t arejjound. Th.s fl ix. if vioLe • ><, proc-.-d^ tram dr-ers cau- ses" as, 1st.. Fr>m breeding teeth, and is ve the flux w th purges, such as leave a blooding quality behind them : \s svrup of honey, of roses, or a clys^ ter. Take the decoction of millium, rayiobolans, each two 15* EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. or throe ounces, with an ounce or two of syrup >f rosea**" and mnke a clyster. After cleansing, if it proceed fr in a hot c; u~e. give syrup of dried roses, quinceo, mi r' • ,c r I, mastic, h it's hotn, red roses, or powder of nyi H -s n>li a little -aoeuis. Draconis. Also n-oirrt wit!» oil of r >ses myrtles, mastic, each two drams with i:i! of myrtles and wax, make an ointment. O;- tak^red roses, m ,ule. each a handful, cypress roots, two drams ; nvke a bag. bn] i. in red wine and »pply it to ^he belly Or use »i>' p'aister of bread or stornachointment If the cause be toid, - iv the excrements white, give syrup of mtsnc. \nd th ■ q..i ic s, with mint water. Use ourwardly, mini, t»iastic. cu-.nmin ; or, take rose seeds an ounce cummoi a'Ki ant. s jeed, ejch two drams; with oil of-masMC, wormwood,-and wj x, make an ointment. Sect. X. Of the F.fvlepsy and Convulsions in Ch''d"tn. This i* a distemper 'ha" is the dea-h of manv \onng e it- dren, and proceed;, from the brant fi- st, as when th- lit*. mors are bred in the brain that cmtse it either f>o,n < le ia- retits, or from vapors -orb«d honors, that twitch th' in rn- brnnesof the brain ; it is also sometimes ea^ed from < iher distempers, and from bad diet; likewise the'ooth tr.he, when the brain consents causes it, and so does a sud leu frighi. \s to the distemper it>elf, it is manifest, am1 weil e.ough known where it is ; and as to the cause whence t comes you may know by the signs of the disease whethi r it comes from bad milk, worms or teeth ; if th"se are all *<•- sent, it is certain that the brain is first affected ; If it comes with the sir all pox or measles, it ceasein when they come forth, it namre be strong enough. . For the remedy of this grievous and often mortal dN'prn- per, give the following powder to prevent it, to a chim as soon as it is born Take male piony roots, gathered in lie decrease of the moon, a scruple, with leaf gold'make a powder ; or, take piony root a dram piony seeds, misleote, of the oak, elk's hoofs, man's skull, amber, each a scruple, musk two grains ;' make a powder. The best pari of the cure is taking care of the-«iur>es diet, which must no be disorderly by any means. If it be from corrup . mi k. pro- voke a vomit, to do which, hold down the tongue, and put a qui. dippedin kweet almonds down the throat. If it comes from worms, give such things as will kill ih« worms. H there be a fever, respect that also, and give coral smarag- ed, and elk's hoof. In the fit, give epileptic water, as la- vauder water, and rub with oil of amber, or hang a piony root, elk's hoof, and smaraged coral,- about the neck. As to a convulsion, it is when the brain labors to cast out that which troubles it. The matter is m the marrow of the EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. l$d back, and fountain of the verves ; it is a stubborn disease and often kills. For the remedy whereof, in the fie wash the body, espe- cially the back bone, with Decoction of Althaea, lily rootsj piony and camomile flowers, and anoint it with man's and goose grease, oil of worms, oris, lilies, turpentine, mastic, storax and calamint The sunflower is also very goed, boiled in water, to wash the child. THE EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE, PART II. Containing proper and safe Remedies for curing oj aK those dstempers that are peculiar to the Female -SeAi and e?,*iecially those that have Obstructions to the bear- ing oj Children. Having finished the first p^rt of this book, and I hope therein amply made good my promise to the reader, I ;irn now come to treat of the distempers peculiar to ihe female sex; in which it is not mv design to enlarge, or to rreat of all the distempers thev are incident to, but those only to' which they are most subject, when in a breeding condition, and that keep them from being so. For each of which dis- tempers I have laid d >wn such proper aud s.ife remedies, as, with the divine b'essing may be sufficient to repe them ;- and since as amongst all the diseases to which human na- ture is subject, there is nqne that more diametrically oppo* ses the very end of our creation, and the design of nature in the formation of different sexes, and the power thereby giv- en us for the work of generation, than that of sterility or barrenness, which, where i; prevails, renders the most ac- complished midwife, but an useless person, and destroys the design of our brok ; I think therefore barrenness .s an effect that deserves our first consideration. CH^P. I. Of barrenness ; its several kinds. with proper remedies a* gainst it ; and the signs of insufficiei.cy both in men and women. Skction I. Of barrenness in general. As there is no general rule bu' will admit of some excep- tion, against this second part; for though I have promised to treat herein t>nly of diseases peculiar to the female sex, yet this cL^pier will engage me to speak of a defect in m*n, barrenness being an effect incident to them also ; and there- fore it is necessary to be handied with respect to mtn as well as women, that without treating of it so, I shall not be 163 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. able to make good the old proverb, of setting the saddle od the right horse. • Havmg promised this, :>nd thereby anticipated an objec- tion, I shall now proceed to the subject of this chapier,which is barrenness. Bai renness is either natural or accidfntal. Natural barrenness is. when a woman is barren, though t'ne instruments of generation are perfect both in herself and husband, and no prepos'erous or diabolical course used to cause il ; and neithei age nor disease, or any natural de- fect hindering, and yet the woman remains naturally bar- ren, and conceives not. Now rhis may proceed from a natural cause ; for if the m m and woman bv. of one complexion, they seldom have children ; andnhe reason is cleari for the univtrsal course of ii'itui e being formed by the Almighty, of a composition of contraries, cannot be increased by a composition of likes; and therefore, if the cons.itution of the woman be hot and dry, as wlU as the man, there can be no conception ; and if, on ihe contrary, the man should be of a cold and moist consti'ution, as well as the woman, the effece would be the same; and this barrenness is purely natural. The only way to help it is for people before they marry to observe each other's constitution and complexion, if they design to have children. If their complexions and constitutions be alike, they are not fit to come together, for the discordant nature snakes the only harmony in ;he work of generation. Another natural cause, of barrenness is want of love be- tween the man and wife. Live is that vital principle that ' ought to inspire each organ In the act of generation, or else 'twill be but spiritless and du'l; for if their hearts be not united in love, how should their seed unite to cause concep- tion ; and this is evidently evinced in that there never follows conception on a rape : therefore it men and women design to have children, let them live so that their hearts as well as their bodies may be united, or else they may miss ot their expecratiohs, A-third cause of natural barrenness is virgins letting blood in lh,e arm before their natural courses come down, which is usually in the fourteenth or fifteenth year of their age ; rarnietimes perhaps before the thirteenth but never before the twelfth. A ad beeiauss ustr.illy they are out nf order and indisposed before their purgations comedown, their parents run lame either party, for neither may be in fault,but perhaps God sees it not good (for re. sons best known unto himself) to give them any ; of which we have divers instances in history. And though the Almighty in the productions of nature, works by natural means, yet wh«re he withholds his blessing, natural means are ineffectual ; for .it is the blessmg which is the power v and energy by which nature brings forth her productions. Section II. Signs and ctuses of insufficiency in men. One cause m*y be m some viciou-mess.in the jard, as if the same be crooked, or any ligaments thereof distorted or broken, whereby the ways and passages through which the seed should flow, come to be stopped or vitiated. Another cause may be. too much weakness ot the yard, and tenderness thereof, so that it is not strongly er < ugh e- rected to inject seed into ihe womb ; tor the suing Ii ami stiffness of the yard very- much conduce to conception, by reason of the forcjbie injection of the seed. ,468 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. Also if the stones have received any hurt, so that theycan- «ot exercise the proper gift in producing seed, or if tbe\ be oppressed with any inflamation or tumor, wound or ulcer, ordraw up within the belly, and not appearing outward- ly, these are signs of insufficiency and causes of barrenness. Also a man may be barren by reason of the defect of seed ; as first, if bt cast forth no seed at all, or less in sub- stance than is needful. - Or, secondly, if the seed be vicious, or unfit for generation, as on the one side, it happens in bod- ies that are gross and fat, the matter of it being defective, and on the other side too much leanness, or continual wast- ing of consumption of body destroys the seed ; nature turn- ing all the matter and. substance thereof jnio nutriment of ihe body. Too frequent copulation is also one great cause of barren* ness in men ; -foi it attracteththe. seminal moisture from the stones before it is sufficiently prepared and concocted ; so if any one by daily copulation do exhaust -and.draw out all Ahe moisture of the seed, then do the stones draw the moist humors from the superior veins in'o themselves ; and so having but little blood in ihem, they are.forced of necessity to cast it out raw and unconcocted, and thus the stones are violently deprived of the moisture of their veinjs, and the su- perior veijis from all the other parts of the body for their proper nourishment, thereby depriving ihe body of its vital .spirits. And therefore no wonder thai ihose that, use im- moderate copulation are very weak in theii bodies ; seeing their whole body is thereby deprived of.their best and purest vblood, and of the spirit, insomuch that many who have been toe much addicted to thai pleasure, have killed 'hemseives .in the very act, and therefore it is no wonder if such ■ncoiv* cocted and undigested seed be unfi' for generation. Gluttony, .drunkenness, and the other excesses, do also .much hinder tneav,.from fruitfuiness, and make .them unfit Jbr generation. But among other causes of barrenness in men. this alsojs one that makes tl em barren and almost of the na ure of eunuchs, and that is the iucision or die cutting of-thrir veins rbehind their ears which in case of distemper-, is ottentimes done > for accordingto the opinion of most physicians and anatomists, th> seet' fi >ws fiom ihe brain by those veins be- hind the ears mere .than from any o her part of the body.— From whence it is very probable, that the transmission of the seed is hindered by the earning of Ihe veins behind the .ears, so that it cannot descend at all u the 'esticies,orcome .the her very crude and raw. And thus much for the signs and causes of barrenness in men. EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 169 Suction III. Signs and Causes oj insufficiency, or barrenness in women" Although there are many causes cf barrenness of women, ye*, the chief and principal aie internal, respecting either the privy parts, the womb, or menstruous blocd Therefore Hippocrates sahh (speaking of either easy or difficult conception of women) tlie first consideration is to be had of vheir species, for little women are morJ apt to conceive than great ; slender thi-,n gross ; while and fair, than ruddy and high colored ; black at.d wane ; those that have their veins conspicuous are more apt to conceive than others ; but to the very flejsh is evil; to have great swelled breasts is good. The next thing to be considered is the monthly purga- tions, whether I'.iey"have bttn e:uly every month, and wheth- er thev flow plentifully, and are of good color, and whether they have been equal every month. Then the womb er place of conception is to be consider- ed, it ought to be clean, sound, dry and soft ; not retracted or drawn up ; not prone, nor descei ding dovvnwaids, nor the mouth thereof turned awry r.or too clote ihut. But to speak more particularly. The first parts to be spoken of are the pudenda, privities, and the womb ; which parts are shut and enclosed, either by nature or against nature ; and from hence such women are cailed imperfores ; and in some women the mouth of their womb continues compressed, or clostd up, from the time of their birth, until ihe coming down of their courses, and then on a sudden when theirft,tet ms press forward u purgation, they are molested with great and unusual pains ; some of these break of theTT'ovvn accord, others are dissect- ed and opened by physicians, others never break at ail, and it brings death. And all these Aethis parlicu'arly hardies, shewing that the womb is shut th:ee manner of ways which hindeis con- ception. And ihe first is. when the lips of the pudenda grow or cleave together ; the sexeral is, whtn there are certain membranes gro>virgui the middle part ot the mat- rix within ; the thirtl is, when (though the lips and bosom of the pudenda may appeiir fair aid o] er) ihe mcuth cf the womb may be quite shot up ; all which r.rt occasions of barrenness, in- that they Lit.dir both the ute of man, the monthly ocurses and coi.cep'. u. But among all the causes he scent thereof to her nose, it is a sign of *■*»«.tlu.ii?.»s- EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 171 Culpepper and others also give a great deal of credit to the following experiment. Take a handful of barley, and steep half of it in the urine of the man, and the other half in the urine of the vvoman, for the space of tvventy four hours, and then^ake it out, and set each by itsrif, in a flower pot or some other thing ; wa- ter the man's every morning with his own urine, and the woman's with hers, and that which grows first, is the most fruitful ; aud if one grow not at all, that party is naturally barren. But, now, having spoken enough of the disease, it is high time to assign the cure. If birreaness proceed* from stoppage of the menses, let the worn m sweat, for that opens lbs p.irts ; "and the best waytosweatis in a hot house. Then let the womb be strengthened by drinking a draught ?f white wine, wherein a handful of stinking arrack, first bruised, has been boiled. For by a secret magnetic virtue it strengthens the womb, and by a sympathetic quality removes any disease thereof. To which add als^a handful of vervain, which '13 very good to strengthen both the womb and h?ad, which are commonly afflicted together by sympathy. H»ving used ihese two or three days, if they come not down; take of calac, mint, pennyroyal, thyme, betony, dittany, feverfew, burner, mug- wore, sage, piony roots, juniper berries, hilfa handful-of each, or so many as can ke got, let all these be boiled in beer, and drank for hsr ordinary drink. Take one part of ihe gentian root, two parts of centory, distil ihem with ale in an alembic, after you have bruised the gen'ian rojts, and infused them well. This water is an admirable remedy to provoke the terms, but if you have not this water in readiness, take a dram of centory, and half a dram of gentian routs bruised, boiled in posset drink, and drink a draught of it at night going to bed. Seed of wild navew beaten to powder, and a dram of it taken in the morning in white wine, alsj is very good ; but if it do not do, you must be let blood in the legs. And be sure jou administer your medicines a little before the full of the moon, or between a new and full moon, by no means in the wane of ihe moan ; if you do, you will fi id them ineffectual. If binenness proceed from the overflowing of the men- strues, then strengthen the womb, as you were taught, «nd afterwards anoint ihe reins of the back v\ ith oi^of roses, oil of myrtle, oil or'quitices every night, and then wrap a piece of white baize ab^ut your.reins, the cotton side next the skin, and keep the same always to it. But above all 1 recom- mend this medicine to you. Takecomfrey leaves or root's, 175 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. and blown wound woi t,'of each a handful; bruise them well, and boil them in ale, and drink a good draught of it now and then Or take cinnamon, cassia lige producing it, which may he known by its sip;.s ; for a flix of fie womb being a continu- al distillation from it for a long tim; together, the color of what is voided shews what humor it is that offends : in some it is red, a;«! tit■■*' proceeds front blood putrefied ; in some if is yellow, and lhat denotes choler; in others white and pale and that denotes phlegm. If pute blood coinea out, as if a vein were opened, some corrosion or gnawing of the womb is to be feared. All these are known by these signs. * The place of conception is continually moist with the hu- mors, the face is ill colored, the party loaths meat, aud. breathes with diffi tilty, the eyes are much swollen, which is sometimes wiihout p.vin. If th? offeneling humor be pure blood, then you i..ust let blood in the arm, and the cephalic vein is fr test to draw back the blood, and then let juiee of plantain and comfrey be inj'.-c'ed into the womb. It phlegm- be the cause, let cinnamon be used in all her meats and drinks, and le"t her takealiitle Venice treacle or mithridate every morning Let her boil burnet, mugwort, featherfew, :;nd vervain in all her broths. Also, half a dram of myrrh taken every miming is an excellent remedy against this malady. It choler be ihe cause, let bsr take burrage, bug* loss and roses, endive and succory roots, lettuce and white pnppy seed, each a hatvltul ; boil these in white wine till one half be wined ; let her drink hilfa pint every morning, to which add syrup of psach flowers, and syrup otchicony, of eacli an ounce with a little rhu'iarb, and this will gently pirgeher. If it'proceeds from putrefied blood, lei her be blooded in the foot, and then strengthen the womb as I have directed in stopping of the menses. If barrenness be occasioned by the falling out of the womb as sometimes happens, let h=r apply sweet scents to her nose, soc'i as civit, galburn, storax ■calamitis, wood of aloes and other things of that nature ; and let ber lay stinking things to the womb such as assifcetida, oil of amber, or the smoke of her own hair burnt; for thh\is a certain truth, EXPERIENXED MIDWIFE. 173 that the womb fiies from all stinking, and cleaves to all sweet thngs. But the most infallible cure is th s, Take com- m-m burdock leaf (which you may keep dry all the year) apply this leaf to her head, audit will draw the womb up- wards. In fits of tke mother apply it to the soles cf her feet, and it will draw th. womb downwards. But seed baton into powder draws the womb which way you please accerd. ing as it is applied. It barrenness proceed from a hot cause, let the party take whey and clarify it, then boil p'antaiir leaves and roois in it and drink it for her ordinary drink. Let her also iiji»ct the juice of plantain into the womb with a svringe; if it be in winter, when you cannot get the juice, make a strong de- coction of the leaves and roots in wa'er, and inj-ci that up with a syringe: bu' let it be but blood warm and you will find this medicine of great effic lobsters, prawnes, pidgeons, Sec. The stones of a fox dried and beateu to powder and a dram taken in the morning in sheep'smilk; and the stones ot-a boar taken in the like maoi.er are very good. The heart of a male quail carried about the man, and the heart of a female qu til earned about he woman, causelh natural 1-ve and fruitfuluess. Let them also that would increase their seed, cut and drink of the best as near as they can ; for sine cerere et libera frigit venusas an old ptoverb which is, without good meat and good drink, Venus will be frozen todeah. Pottages are good to increase the seed, such as are mude of beans, peas aud lupines, and mix th? rest with sugar. French beans, wheat sodden in broth, annis seeds, also onions stewed, gai licks, leeks, yellow rapes, fresh bugv»ort roots, oringo roots ginger coni'ected, 8cc. Of fruits ; hazle nuts, cypress nuts, pistachi» almonds, and mirmupana made thereof. Spices good to increase seed,ate cinnamon, card luuin, galengal, long pepper, cloves, ginger, saffroi, assafaeiida, take a dram and a half in good wine, is very good tor this purpose. The weakness and debility cf a man's, yard being a great hindrance to procreation, let him to strengthen it. use ilie following ointments. Take wax oil of b-vercod, marji- rum gentle, add oil of cotlis, of each a like quantity, mix i* into an ointment, and put to it a little musk, and with it anoint the yards cods, fkc. Take of house emmets ihree drams, oil of white sesanum, oil of lilies of each an ounce ; pound and bruise the ants, and put them to the oil, and let them stand in the sun six days, then stram out ihc oil, and add to it euphorbium one scruple, pepper and rue, of each one dram ; mustard seed half a dram. Set ihis again all together in the sun twoor three days, then anoint the n sti u- ments of generation therewith. So much for this chapter. CHAP. II. The diseases of the Womb. I have already said, that the womb i» the fi.ld of gene- rate! ; and if this field be corrupted, it is in vain -o expect any fruit though it be never so wed sown ; il is therefore not w,!aout reason that I intend in this chapter to set down the several distempers to which the womb is obnoxious, and proper and safe remedies against them. Section I. Of the hot Distemper of the Womb. This distemper consist in the excess of he;.t; for the heat of the womb is necessary for conception, but if it be too much it nourisheth not the seed, but disperse!h its heat, ad hinders the conception ; this preternatural heat is some- times from the birth, and mak< s them barren ; but it it be 176 EXPERIBNCED MIDWIFE. accidental it is from hot causes ahat bring the heat and the blood to the womb ; it arises also fr6m medicines, and from too much hot meat, drinks and exercise. Those that are troubled with this di temper, have but few courses, and those yellow, black, bum. or sharp, have hair betimes in their pnviits ; ihey are very prone toluit, and ar^ subject to ihe headache, and abound with choler. And whin ilu distemper is strong upon ihein, they have but few terms, and ou- ut order, being bad and hard to flow, and in lime they become hypochondriacs, and for the most part barren, h.«* i"g sometime-, a frenzy of the womb. l"hc remedy i» (o use coolers, so fh.it they offend not the vtsMs s 'hat must be open for the flux of the terms. There- fore inv.ardiy use coolers, such as succory, endve. violets, water l;".e-, orrel, I ttuce, landirrs, an.! symps, and con- t>ei vts fti. dc- thereo'. A'so take to^crvc of succory, vio- lets,, watei ilu'S, buri age, each an ounce ; conserve of ro- sea half at ou xe, di margition frigid, ciiafriascaioal, each hal: a (ham ; and wih *»yrup of violets, oi juxe of citrons, make an dec uary. For ou'.w 'id applications make use of oiti'dit nt of roses, violets, water lilies, gourd, V.nus narvel appbed to the b -ck. and loins. Let the air be cool, her garments thin, and her meat en- dive, lettuce, succory »nd barley. Give her no hot meats, nor strong wine, unless mixed with water. Rest is good fur her, but she must abstain from copulation though she m-y sleep as long as she wili. Section II. Of the cold distemper of the Womb. Tnii distemper is the reverse of the foregoing, and equal- ly an enemy to generation, being caused by cold quality abounding to excess, and proceeds from too cold air rest, idleness and cooling med;cines. It may be known by an aversion to letchery ; and taking no pleasure in th? act of copulation when they spend their seed. Iheir terms are phlegmatic- thick and slimy and do not flow as they should. The womb is windy, and the seed crude and watei ish. It is the cause of obstructions and barrenness, fit hard to be cured For the cure of this distemper use this wa^er : Tt. * ° ga- langal, cinnamon, rutmeg, mace, cloves, each two drams ; ginger cubebs, zedory, cardanum, each an ounce ; grains of Pdiadise, long pepper, each half an ounce ; beat them and set them into six quarts ef wine for eight days; then add sage, mint, b.ilni, motherwort, each three handfuls. Let them stand eight days more, then pour off the wine and dis- til tUem. Or you may use this: Take cinnamon, nutmegs, cloves mace, giuger, cubsbs, cardamums, grains of Para» EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 1/7 e sul- phur, baths and spaw waters, bolh-i a ward and outwaid, because tiny expel wind. Section IV. Of the dropsy of the Womb. This is another morbific effect of the womb, proceeding from water, as that before mentioned did from wind,by which the belly is so swelled, that it deceives many, causing them to think themselves with child, when indeed they are not.— This is an unnatural swelling raised by the gathering to- gether of waters, from moisture mixed with the terms, and an evil sanguification from the liver and spleen ; also by immoderate drinking, or eating of crude meats ; all which causing a reple-.ion, do suffocate the native heat. It may also be caused by overflowing of the courses, or by any oth- er immoderate evacuation. The signs of this distemper, are the lower pai ts of ihe belly, with the privities, puffed np and pained ; the feet swell; the natural color of the face d*cays; the appetite is departed ; the terms also are fewer, and cease before their time ; her breasts are also soft, but without milk. This is distinguished from a general drop- sy, in that the lower parts of the belly are most swelled ; neither does the sanguificative faculty appear so hurtful, nor the urine so pale, n>r the countenance so soon changed, neither are the superior parts so extenuated, as in a general dropsy. But yet this distemper foretels the total ruin of the natural functions, by that singular consent the womb hath with the liveu and therefore an evil habit of body or a gen- eral dropsy will follow. For the cure of this disease, first mh'gate the pain with fomentations of mellilot, mallows, linseed, camomile, a*id althse, then let the humor b.-prepared with syrup of stoeshus, calamint, niugwoit, both sorts, with the distilled wate rs, or decaction of nodder, maij num, sage, orange, speerage, pennyroyal and betony ; and let her '.aigs wi h senna, ar- garic, rhubatb, aid cliterian. Take calamines, mugwort, lovage roots, pennyroyal, each an handful j savila pugil j EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. iJQ madder roots, an^hca. of each an ounce ; boil them in w&« ter, ard sweet- n ,!. m v i h sugar. Or, if she like it better, make broths of the same. Also take specirerr diambree, diamescidnlci,, diacalamenti, diacinnitr oni, aiacimini, troce de myrrh, cf e.ich two drams, sugar one pound ; with beto- ry water m ib.e lozei.ges, and let her take ot ihem two hours le*..,re men -. Apply also to the bottom of the belly, as hot as can be endured, a little bag of camomile, cummin and niell.' ^t boiled in oil of rue ; and anoi it the belly and privi- ties with unguentum Agrippje, mingling therewith oil of I roe:. Let the lower parts of the belly be covered with a plaister of bayberries,or with a cataplasm made of cummin, camomile and briony roots, adding thereto cow's and goat's dui.g. For injection in'o the womb, take asarum roots three drams, pennyroyal, calimint, each half a handlul, sa- vin, a pugil, maclnacan a diam ; annlsseed, cummin, each- haif a diara. Bcil them and take six ounces strained with oil of elder and orris, each an ounce; ard ii ject it into the womb by a metrenchita ; let the air be hot and dry. Mod* erate exeicise may be allowed, but much sleep is forbidden. She may eat the flesh of partridges, larks, chickens, moun- tain birds, hares, conies, See. and drink win* mixed with a Ir.ile water. Sfction V. Of the inflamation of the Womb. T!i#s is a tumor possessing ihe wrmb, accompanied with unnatural heat, by obstruction, and gathering together of corrupt biood ; for the blocri that comes to the womb, gets out ot the vessels into its substance am! grows hot, pu relies, and causeth an inflamation, e?her all over, or in part, be. fore or behind, above or below. This happens also by sup- pression of menstrues, repletion of the whole bodyTimmod- erate copulation, often handling of the genital-, difficult child birth, vehement agitation of the body or by falls or blows. The signs of this inflamation are tumois wi'h heat and pain in the region ef the womb, stretching and heaviness in the privities, also a pain in th • head and stomach, with vomit- ing, coldness of the knees, convulsions of the neck, doting, trembling of the heart ; and s. k "tines straitness of bieaih by reason of heat which is communicated fo the diaphragma, or midriff; and the breasts sympathizing with the womb, are pained and swelled ; but mote ] hi ticu.. ry, if ihe fore part of the matrix be inflan <:e!, the privities are grieved, and the urine is suppressed, <>r flows forth wiih difficulty ; if it be behind, the loins aid back suffer, nnd the belly is bound ; if the inflammation be in the bottom of the womb, the pam is towards the navel ; if the neck of the womb be 180 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. affected, the midwife, putting up her finger, may feel the mouth of it retracted, and closed up, with a ha.ditcss about it. As to the prognostics of it, all inflammations of the womb are dangerous, and sometimes deadly, especially if it be all over '.he womb ; if ihe woman be with child, she rare y escapes, an abottion follows, and the mother dies. As to the curt ; first, let the humors flowing to the womb be repel ed ; for ihe effecting of which after ihe belly hath been opened by the cooling clysters, letting of blood will be needful ; open therefore a vein in the arm, but have a care cf bleeding in the foot, lest thereby you draw more blood to the womb, but if it be from the terms stopt, you may. The opinion of Galen is, lhat the blood may be diverted by bleeding in the arm, or cupping the breasts, and that ii may be by the opening an ancle vein, and cupping upon the hips. Then purge gently with cassia, rhubarb, senna, and miro- bolans thus ; take senna two drams, annisseed one scru-le, mirobolans half an ounce, barley water a sufficient quanti- ty ; make a decoction, dissolve it In syrup of succory, with rhubarb two ounces, pulp of cassia half an ounce, oil of an- ms-eed two drops, a.id make a portion. At the beginning of the disease anoint the privities and reins wiih oil of roses and quinces. Make plasters of plaintain, linseed, b-rl«y meal, mellilot, fenugreek and white of egg ; and if the pain be vehement, add a little opium. For re-pelhrs and ano- dynes take Venus navel, purslain, lettuce housleefcjt vine leaves, each a handful, boil ihem in wine ; barley meal two ounces, pomegranate flowers two drams, boil a dram with oil of roses, and make a poultice. Or take riiacibilou sim- ple two ounces, juice of Venus navel and planta'n, each half an ounce ; take of fenugreek, mallow roots, decocted figs, linseed, barley meal, dove's dung, turpentine, each three drams ; deer's suet half a dram, opium half a scruple, and with wax make a plaistcr. After it is ripe break it by the motion of the body, coughing, sneezing, or else by cupping and pessarie3; as, take rue half an handful, figs an ounce, pigeon's diing, orris root, each half a dram; with wool make pessary. After it is broken and the pains abate, then cleanse and heal lh« ulcer with such cleansers as these, viz. whey, barley water, honey, wormwood, smallage, orris, birthwoit, myrrh, turpentime, allum ; take new milk boil- ed a pint, honey half a pint, orris powder half an ounce, and use it very often every day. If it break about the bladder, use an emulsion of cold seeds, whey, and syrup < f violets. Let her drink barley water, or clarified whey, and her meat be chickens, and chic.kcr, bread, boiled with endive, succo- ry ^ sorrel, bugloss and mallows. EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 181 Suction VI. Of Schirosity and Hardness of the Womb. A swelling in the womb neglected, or not perfectly cured, often pioduces a schirosity in the matrix, which is a hard, insensible, unnatural swelling, causing barrenness, and be- getting an indisposition ol the whole body. The immediate cause is a thick, earthy humor, (as natural melancholy, for instance) gathered in the womb, and causing a schirreus without inflammation. It is a proper scbirrous when there is neither sense nor pain, and it is an improper schirrous when there is some little sense and pain. This distemper is most usual in women of a melancholy constitution, and also such as have not been cleansed from their menses, or from the retention of the lochia, or after purging ; it is like- wise sometimes caused by eating corrupt meat ; or those inordinate lodgings called pica, to which breeding women are often subject ; and lastly, it may also proceed from ob- structions and ulcers in the womb, Or some evil effects in the liver and spleen. It may be known by these signs ; if the effect be in the bottom of the womb, she feels as it were a heavy burden representing a mole, yet differing, in that the breasts are attenuated, and the whole body alsc*. If the neck of the womb be hardened, no outward humors will ap- pear, the mouth c-f it is retracted, and touched with the fin- ger, feels hard ; nor can she have the company of a man without great pains and prickings 1 his schirrosity or hardness is (when confirmed) incurable, and will turn into a cancer, or dropsy ; and ending in a cancer, proves dead- ly ; the reason of which is, because the native heat in those parts being almost smotheied, it is hardly to be restored again. For the cure of this, first prepare the humor with syrup of burrage, succory, epicymum, and clarified whey ; which being done, take of these pills following, accoiding to the strength of the patient ; take hicra pica, six drams ard a half; agaric, lapislazuli, abluti salis Indce, cohquintidn, of each one dram and a half; mix them, and make pills. The body being purged, proceed to molify the hardness as fol- loweth ; anoint ihe privities and the neck of the womb, with the following ointment ; take oil of capers, lilies, sweet al- monds, jessamin, each an rui.ce; mucilage, fei ugreek, al- th«e, ointment ot aULie of each six drnms ; amoniacum dis- solved in wine, an ounce, which with wax make into an ointment. Then apply below the navel diochylon lernelli ; and make emulsions of figs, mugwcrt, mallows, pennyroyal, althac, fennel roots, melliiot, fenagieek, and li« ^eed boiled in water ; but for injection, take bdeUum dissolved in wine, fl$2 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. oil of sweet almonds, lilies, camomile, each two ounces, marrow of veal bones, and hen's grease, each an ounce,with the yolk of an eggf The air must be temperate ; and as for her diet, let her abstain from all gross, vicious and salt meats, such as pork, fish, oil cheese, Sec Section VII. . Of the siraightness of the Womb and its Vessels. This being seated in the vessels of the womb, and neck thereof, is an obstruction to the bearing of children, as'it hinders bolh the flowing of the menses and conception. The cause of th-.s siraightness is thick and tough humors, that stop the mouth-of the veins and arteries ; these humors are bred of gross or too much nourishment ; when'the heat of the womb is so weak i^at it cannot attenuate the humor which by reason thereof, either flow froth the whole body, or are gathered into the womb.' Now, the vessels are made closer or straiter several ways; sometimes by inflamma- tions, schirrous, or other tumors ; sometimes br compres- sions, or by a scar, or flesh, or membrane, that grows after the wound. The signs by which this is known, are stop- page of the terms, not conceiving, crudities abounding in the body, which are known by particular signs ; for if there was a wound, or the secundine was pulled out by force, phlegm comes from the wound. If stoppage, of the terms be from an old obstruction by humors, it is hard to be cured ; if it is only from the disorderly use of astringents, it is more curable ; if it be from a schirrous, or other tumors .hat com- press or close'the vessels, the disease is incurable. For the cure of that which is curable, obstructions must be taken away, phlegm must be purged, and she must 6e let blood, as will be hereafter directed in the stoppage e>f the terms. Then use the following medicines Make ot an- nisseed aud fennel seed, each a dram : rosemary, pennyroy- a'l, calamint, betony flowers, each an ounce ; cestus, cin- namon, galeiigal, each half an ounce ; saffrom half a dram, with wine. Or, take asparagus roots, parsley roots,' each an ounce ; pennyroyal, calamints, each a handful ; wall .flowers, dill flowers, each two pugils; boil, strain,'and add syrup ot mugwort, ar, ounce and a half. For a fomentation lake pennyroyal, mercury, calamint, marjoram, mugwort, each two handfuls; sage, rosemary, bays, camomile flowers, each an handlul ; boil then in water, and foment the groin and the bottom of the belly, or let her sit up to her navel in a bath, and then anoint about the groin with oil of rue, li- lies, dill, &c. Sb.cti.on VIII. Of the falling of the Womb. xbis is another evil effect of the womb, which is both EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 183 very troublesome, and also a hindrance to conception__ Sometimes the womb falleth to the middle of -the thighs, nay, almost to the knees, and it may be known then by its, hanging out. Now that which causeth the womb to change its place is, when the ligaments by which it is bound to the other parts are not in order, for there are four ligaments, two above, broad and membraneous, that come trom the peritoneum, and two below, that are nervous, round and hol- low ; it is also bound by the great vessels by veins and arte- ries, and to the back by nerves. Now the place is changed when it is drawn another way, or when the ligaments are loose, and it falls down by its own weight. It is drawn on one side when the menses are hindered from flowing, and the veins and arteries are full, namely, those which go to the womb. If it be a mole on one side, and the spleen cause it; by the liver veins on the right side, and the spleen on the lelt, as they are more or less filled. Others are of opinion, it comes from the solution or connexion of the fibrous neck. and the parts adjacent, and tljat from the weight of the womb descending This we deny'not ; but the ligaments must be loose or broken. But women in a dropsy could not be said to have the womb fallen down, if it came only from looseness ; but in them it is caused by the saltness of the water, which dries more than it moistens. Now, if there be a little tumor wi'.hiii or without the privities, it is noih- ingelsebut adescent of the womb; but it there be a tumor like a goose egg, and a hole at the b utom, there is at firsc a great pain in the parts to which the womb is fastened as the loins, the bottom of the belly, and the os sacrum, which proceeds fiom the breaking or stretching of the ligaments, bur a little after the pain abates; *nd here is an impediment in walking ; and sometimes biood comes frt>m the bieach of the vessels, and the excrements and urine are stopt, and then a fever and a eonvu^icr. ensueth, which often times proves mortal, especially if it happens to Women with child. For the cure of this distemper, first put it up before the air alter it, or it be swolen or inflamed; and therefore first of all give a clyster to remove ihe excrements; then lay her on her back with her legs abroad, and thighs lifted up, and head down ; then take ihe tumor in your hand, and thrust ii in wiihout violence. If it be swelled by alteration and cold foment it with the decoction of mallows, altlix, line, fenugreek,camomile flowers, bayberries, antl anoint it with oil ot lilies and hen's gi ease. If there be an inflammation, do not. put it up but fright it in, by putting red hot iron be- fore it, and making a show as if you intended to hurra it; 184 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. but first sprinkle upon it the powder of mastich, fran&in- cense, and the like. Take frankincense, mastich 2 drams ; sarcocol steeped in milk, a dram ; mummy, pomegranate flower, sanguis dr.iConis, each half a dram ; when it is put up, let her lie with her legs stretched, and on» opon the oth- er, for 8 or 10 days, and make a pessary in the form of a pear, wnh cork or spungv, and put it into the womb, dip- ped in sharp wine or juice of ascacia. with powder of fan- guis, galbanum bdellium. Also apply a cupping glass, with great flame under the navel or paps, or to both kidneys,and lay this plaister to the back. 1 ake opoponix two ounces, storax liquid half an ounce, mastich. frankincense, pitch, bole, each two drams, then wiih wax make a plaister ; or laudanum a dram and a half, maitich, and frankincense, each hilfa dram, wood alo< 0, cloves, spikes, each a dram ; ash colored am'bei grease four grains, mu>k half a scruple ; make two round piaisters to be laid on each side of the navel; make a fume of snail skins salted, or of garlick, and let it be taken in the funnel Use also astringent fomentations of bramble leaves, plantain, horsetail, myrtle, each two handfuls, wormseed two pugils, pomegranate flowers half an ounce, boil them in wine and water. For an injection,. takecomfrey roots an ounce, rupture wort two drams, yar- row, mugwort, each halt an ounce, boil them in red wine, and inject it with a syrings. T> strengthen the womb, take hartshorn bays, of each a dram, myirh half a dram ; make a powder for two doses, and give it with sharp wine. Or, take zedoary, parsnip seed,, crabs eyes prepared, each a dram ; nutmeg half a diam, and give a dram in powder ; but astringents must be used vvitn great caution, lest by stopping the courses, a worse mischief follow. To keep it in its place, make rollers and ligatures as for the rupiure ; and put pessaries into the bottom of the womb, that may force it"to remain. I know some physicians object agaipst this, and say they hinder conception ; but others in my o- pinion, much more justly affirm, that they neither hinder conception, nor bring any inconvenience ; nay, so far from that, they help conception, and retain it, and cure the dis- ease perfectly. Let ths diet be such as are of drying as- tringeiit, and glewjng qualities, such as rice, starch, quin- ces, pears, and green cneese ; but let summer fruits be a- voided, and let her wine be astringent and red, CHAP. IIL Of Diseases relating to Women's monthly courses. Section I. Oj Women's monthly courses in general* Divine providence which, with a wisdom worthy of it- self, has appointed woman to conceive by coition with the man, and to bear and bring forth children, has provided fur EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 18i7 the nourishment of children during their recess in the womb of their mother, by that redundancy of blood which is natur- al to all women, and which flowing out at certain periods of time (whe:i they are not pregnant) are fiom thence called"" terms and menses from their monthly flux' of excrementi- tious and unprofitable blood ; which is only to be understood with respect to the redundancy thereof, being an excrement only with respect to its quantity, for as to its quality it is as pure fk incorrupt as any blood in the veins ; and this appears- from the final cause of it, which is the propagation ami con- servation of mankind J and also from the generation of i<, it being the superfluity of the last aliment of ihe fleshv parts. If any ask, if the menses be not of a hurtful quality, how can it have such "venomous effects, as if it fall upon trees and herbs, it makes the one barren, and mortifies the other i I answer, this malignity is contracted in the womb; for the woman wanting native heat to digest this superfluity, sends it to the matrix, where seating itself till the mouth of the womb be dilated, it becomes corrupt and mortified, which may easily be, considering the heat and moistness of the place ; and so th s blood being out of its proper vessels,and too long retained, offends ih quality. But if rigidity be the cause why -women cannot digest ail their last nourishment, and by consequence have those monthly purgations, bow comes it to pass, may some say, that they are of so cold a constitution more than men ? Of this I have already spoken in thechaprer of barrenness; it is chief!v thus. The Author of our being has laid an injunction upon men and women to propagate their kind, hath also so widely fitted them for that work ; and seeing that in the act of coition there must be an agent and a patient, (for if they be of one constitution, there can be no propagation) therefore the man is hot and dry, and the woman cold and moist It is therefore neces- sary that the woman should be of a cold constitution, be- cause in her is required a redundency of matter for the nour- ishment of the infant depending on her. And this is w isely ordained by-nature, for otherwise the child would detract from, and weaken the principal parts of the mother ; which would most unnaturally render the provision of the infant to be the destruction of the parent. Now these monthly put gations usually begin about the H'.h year, and continue till the 45th or 50th year ; yet not so constantly, but that of- tent ines there happens a suppression, which is sometimes natural and sometimes morbifical. When they are .atur- ailv suppn.-st, it is either in breeding women, or sueh as give suck ; but that which is morbifical must be the subject of the following scion. #16 186 EXPERIENCED MHMVlfE. Section II. Of the suppression of the Monthly Courses. The suppression of the terms which is morbific, is an in* terception of that accustomary evacuation of blood which should come from the matrix everv month, and which pro- ceeds from the matter vitiated. The cause of this suppres- sion is either internal or external ; the internal cause is ei- ther instrumental, or material, in the blood or in the womb.. The blood may be faulty two ways, in quantity, or in quali- ty ; in quantity, when it is so consumed that there is no ov - erplus left, ai in viragoes, and all virile women, who, thro' their heat and strength of nature digest and consume all their best nourishment; but women of this constitution are rather to be- accounted antbropophageae, that is, women eat- ers, than women breeders, because they consume one of the principles of generation which'gives a bring to the world, i. e. the menstruous blood. The blood may also be consumed,, and the terms stayed, by too much bleedii gat the nose,and likewise by a flux of the hemorrbnides, or by adysenteria,, evacuations; chronicle and continued diseases But sec- ondly, the iratier may be vicious in quality, as if it be san-. guineous, phlegmatical, melancholic : each of these, if they offend in grossness, will cause an obstruction in the veins. The womb also may be in fault diverse ways ; as by the narrowness of tbo veins and pass. \.jes, by apostumous, tu- mors, ulcers, and by overmuch cold or heat, the one vitia- ting the action, and the other consuming the matter ; also, by an evil com position .of the uterine parts by the neck of; the womb being turned aside ; and sometimes, though but rarely, by a membrane or excresenceof flesh growing about the womb. The external cause may be heat, or dryness of the air, immoderate watching, great labor, violent motion, whereby the matter is so consumed, and the body is so exhausted, lhat there is no redundant blood remaining to be expelled ; whence it is recorded of the Amazons, that being active, and always in mi^bn. iheyhad little or no monthly fluxes ; it may also be caused from cold ; and most frequently it is so making the blood vicioos and gross, condensing and binding up the passages, that it cannot flow forth. The signs of he disease are pains in the head, neck, back, and loins, with v>eariness of the whole body, but especially of the hips and legs, by reason of a confinjty which the womb hath in those parts; if the suppression proceeds from cold, it rauseth a heavy sluggish disposition, a pale color, a slow pube, the urine etude, waterish. and much in quantity, t-nd no desire to copulation, the excrements of the guts being usually re- EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 187 tained; but if it proceeds from neat, the Signs are contrary. If it be natural, or caused by conception, it m.n h known by drinking water and honey after suppers, going to bed ; for if after taking it, it causeth the woman to feel a beating pain about the navel and lower parts of the belly, it is a sign she hath conceived, ahd that (h« suppression is natural, it not, then it is vicious, and ought medicinally to be taken a- way, otherwise many dangerous diseases will follow ; such as swoouings, fainting*, intermission of puise, obstructions, epilepsies, apoplexies, frenzies, melancholy, pas- ion-, &c. which makes it highly necessary to say something now of= the cure. The cure of this distemper must be by evacuation for this suppression is a phlelhoric effect, it will therefore be best in the midst of (he humor, two days befote the wonted e- vacuation, to open the sapheua veins of h»th feet; and if the repletion be not great, a>pplv cupping g asses to the legs and 'highs, after let'ing b'.ood. ihe humor tnus-- be prepand- and made flexible with syrup yf siaj bu>. ivrehound, o\s p,, betony, maiden hair, of each one handful,, irnkf a decocin.n,. and take thereof three ounGesof syup of mugwort, succo- ry. maiden hair, mix-ench half an ounce, and after she comes out of the bath, let her drink it off. I hen purge pil. de Agarick Elepbing L'och ; Fxdu (Jalen in this case commends Pilule de Hiera cum co;oquin;ida;. for as they are proper to purge the Humor offending, so they open the passage of the womb. If the stomach be ovei charged, let her take a vomit, but let it be so prepared as to act both ways lest the humors should be too much turned back, by working only upwards ; to which end, take trochisk of a- ga^ia two drams, infuse them in three ounces of oximel, in whichdissolve benedict laxat, half an ounce, and of the e- lec uvry diasarum one scruple ^ aud let her take it after the manner of a purge. \\ !«en the humor has been thus pnrged; you may proceed to more proper and forcible re- m-'dies. Take exiract of mugwort one scruple and a half, rii ds ot cassia paisly seed, castor, of each a scruple ; and with juice of smallage, after sup per going to bed. Also ad- minister to the lower parts suffumigaiions ot ambei,unc- ti ->ns. inieciions and incessions ; make suffumigations of am- ber, gaibanum, melan hum, bayberries, mugwort, cinna- mon, nutmegs, cloves, &c. Make pessaries of figs, and the leaves of mercury bruised, and roled up in lint. Make in- iecions of the decoction of merrury ; betony, origin mug- wort, and figs, and inj-ct it into the womb by an instrument fit for that purpose. For unction, t.,ke ladant, oil of myrrh, of each two drams j oil oi lilies, almonds, capors, camomile, 100 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. of each half an ounce, and with wax make an unguent, with which let the piace be anointed. Let. the air be hot and dry, her sleep shorter than ordinary, let ber use moderate exercise before meals, and let her meat and drink be atten- uating. Skc. III. Cfthe overflowing of the monthly Courses. This distemper is directly contrary to lhat of which I have spoken, in the foregoing section, and is no less dan- gerous than the other, and therefore requires to be spoken ol next io order, This distemper is a sanguineous excre- ment, proceeding from the womb and exceeding in time and quality. I call it sanguineous, because there are two ways by which the blood flows forth, one is by the internal veins in the body of the womb which is properly called ihe monthly flux ; the other is by those veins which are termi- nated in the neck of the matrix, which some physicians call the hermorrhoides of the womb ; and that it exceeds, in quantity, when they flow about three days ; but this is the most certain sign of their excess in flowing, when they flow so long that the faculties of the body are thereby weakened* for iu bodies abounding with gross humors, this immoderate flux does sometimes unbuieeu nature of her load, and is not to be stopped without advice from a physieiar. The cause ot this immoderate flowing is either external or internal. The external cause may be the heat of the air; lifting and carrying heavy burdens, unnatural child births, falls, &r. The internal cause may be threefoldtin the mat. ter, instrument, or faculty; the matter, which is the blood, may be vicious two ways • first, in quantity bekg so much that the veins are not able to contain it; secondly, in qual- ity, being adust, sharp, waterish, or unconnected. The in- strument, viz. the veins are faulty by the dilation of the ori- See, which may be caused two ways ; first by the heat of the constitution, climate, or season, heating tne blood, whereby the passes are dilated, and the facuuy weakened, that it cannot retain the blood ;. secondly, by tails, blows, violent motion, breaking of a vein, Sec. . This inordinate flax mav be known by the appetite being decayed, the concoction depraved, and all the actions of the body weakened ; the feet swelled, the color of the face changed and a general feeblen-ss posses-»eth ihe whole body. If it comes by the breaking of a veiu. the body is sometimes Cold, the blood fl.ws forth on heaps and thai suddenly, with great pain ; if't comes through heat, ihe orificeM>f Ihe veins bei:ig dilated, ihen there is little or no pain, yet the blood flows faster than it doth >n an erosion, and not so t,.si «s in a, rupture. If ly erosion, or sharpness of the blood she fecis, EXPERIENCED MIDWIF-E. 18$' a great hes.t scalding the passage, it differs from the other two in that it flows not so suddenly, nor so copiously as they do. If it be weakness of the womb, she has an aversion to copulation ; if it proceeds from the blood, drop some of it; on a cloth, and when it is dry, vou may judge ot the quality by the color; if it be choleric, if will be yellow, if melan- choly black, if phlegmatic, waterish aBd whitish. The cure of- this consists io three particulars. \st. In repelling and carrying back the blood. 2diy, In correcting and taking away- ihe flexibility of the mattrr ; and 3dly, corroborating the vein or faculties. For the first, t* cause a regression of the blood open a vein in her arm, ami .haw out so much blood as the strength of ihe patient will permit, and that not at once, but at several tines, f.x tn reby the spirits are less weakened, and the retraction so much great- er. Apply the cupping glasses to the liver that 'h rever- sion may be in the fountain. To correct the flexto'lily of the maiter, cathartics moJ«rated wiih Astrictories may be used. If it be caused by sharpness of blood, co side-r whe- ther the corrosion be by salt phlegm, or adu^t choler ; if by &ah phlegm, prepare with syrup of violets, wormwood, rose*, citron peels, succory, 8cc. and then take this purgation;. Mirobolans, chervel, half an ounce, trochisks ef agaric one dram, with plantain water make a decoction, add thereto, syr. rosar.iux, three ounces, and make a potion. It" by a- dust choler, prepare th : body wiih syrup of toses, myrtles, sorrel, purslain, mixed with wa er ol plant lin, knotgrass, and endive, then purge with this potion : Take rinds ot mi- robolans, rhubarb, of each one dram, cinnamon fifteen grains, infuse them one nigh; io endive water, add to it the strained pulp of tamarinds, cassia, of each half an ounce, syrup of roses one ounce, and make a potion. If the blood be waterish aod unconcocted, as it is in hydropical bodies, and flows forth by reason of the tenury, to draw off ihe wa- ter will be profitable, to which end purge with agaric, ela- tcrium, and coloquiruida. sweating is also very proper in this case, for by ii the matter offending is taken away, and the motion of the blood is carried to the outward parts. To procure sweat, use cardanum water with mithndate, or the decoction of guiacum doedalso greatly provoke sweat ; and pills of sasaparilla, taken every night at going to bed, are worthily recommended. If the b.ood ff,ws forth from the openin/orbreakingofavein, without any evil quality of itself ttienought corroboratives only lobe applied, winch is the thing to be done in this inordinate flux ; bole armo- nic one scruple, London treacle.one dram, old conserve ot roses half an ounce, with syiup of myrtles, make an etec ISO EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. tuary. Or if the flux has continued long, take of mastick two drams, olihani. tinct. de careble, of each one dram, bal- anstium one scruple, make a powder ; with syrup of quia. ces make it into pilis, and take one always before meals. Section IV. Of Terms coming out of Order either before or after the usual Time. Both these shew an ill constitution of body. Every thing is beautiful in its order, in nature as well as in morality, and if the order of nature be broke, it shews the body to be out of order. Of each of these effects briefly. When the monthly courses come before their time it shews a depraved excretion that comes for the time often flowing sometimes twice a month. The cause why they come sooner is in the blood which slirs up the expulsive faculty in the womb, or sometimes in the whole body, cau- sed oftentimes by ihe person's diet which increaseth tt.e blood too much, makers it too sharp or too hot ; and if the retentive faculty of the womb be weak, and the expulsive faculty strong, and of a quick sense, it brings ahem forth the sooner, and sometimes they flow sooner by reason of a fall or stroke, or some violent passion which the parties themselves can beat relate. If it be from heat, thin and sharp humors, it is known by the distemper of the whole body. The looo«ene3s of the vessels, and weakness of the retentive faculty, is known from a mo stand loose habit of body. It is more troublesome than elangeroiis but hinders conception, and therefore the cure is necessary for all, but especially sue.h as desire children. If it proceeds from a sharp blood lei her temper it by a good diet and medicines. for which purpose let her usebachs of iron water that cor- rect the distemper of the bowels, and then evacuate. If it proceeds from the retentive faculty, and looseness of the vessels, it is to be corrected with gemle astringents. As to the courses flawing after the usual lime, the causes are thickness of the blood and the sm illness of its quantity, with the straitness of the passage and weakness of the ex- pulsive faculties, either of these single, m,»y stop the cour- ses, but if they all concur they, render the distemper the worse. If the blood abounds not in such a quantity as may stir up nature to expel it, its purging must necessarily be deferred till there be enough. And if ihe blood be thick, ihe passage stopped and the expulsive faculty weak, the menses must needs be out of order, ai d the purging of them retarded. For the cure of this, if the quantity of b'.ood be small, let her ase a larger diet-and very little exercise. If the blood EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. i§! be thick and foul, let it be made thin, and,the humors mix- ed therewith be evacuated. It is good to purge after the courses have done flowing, and to use calamints: and in- deed the oftener she purge the better. She may also use fume and pessaries, applying cupping glasses without scar- ification to the insides of the thighs, and rub the legs and scarify the ancles, and hold-the feet io warm water four or five days before the courses come down. Let her also anoint the bottom of her belly with things proper to pro- voke the terms. Section V. Of the false courses or Whites. The whites or false courses are a foul excretion from the womb, for from the womb proceeds not only the menstru- ous blood, but accidentally many other excrements, which is a distillation of a variety of corrupt humors through the womb, flowing from the whole body, or part of the same ; which, though called-the whites, are sometimes blue or green, orredish, not flowing at a set time, or every month, but in a disorderly manner, sometimes longer, ard some- times shorter. It is different from the runnit.g of the reins, both less in quantity and whiter and thicker in quality, and coming at a great distance : it is different also trom those night pollutions which are only in sleep, & do proceed from the imagination of venery. The cause of this distemper, is either promiscuously in the whole body, by a cacochymia, or weakness of the same; or in some of the parts, as in the liver, which by the ina- bility of the sanguificative faculty, causeth a generation of corrupt blood, and then the matter is reddish. Sometimes in the gall being remiss in its office, not drawing away those choleric superfluities which are. engendered in the liver, and then the matter is yellow '■ sometimes in the spleen, not defecating and cleansing the blood of the ex- crementitieus parts, and then the mattev flowing forth is blackish. It may also come from catarrhs in the head, or from any other putrefied or corrupt member. But if the matter of the flux be white, the case is either in the stom- ach or reins. In the stomach by a phlegmatical and crude matter there contracted and vitiated through grief, melan- choly, and other distempers; for otherwise, if the matter were only pituitous, and no ways corrupt or vitiated, being taken into the liver, it might be convei ted intt blood, for phlegm, in the ventricle.is called nourishment half digested; but being corrupted, although it be sent into ihe liver, it cannot correct,lhat which the first hath corrupted, and therefore the liver sends it to the womb, which can nehher digest it nor repel it, and so it is voided cue still keeping 192 EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. the color which it had in the ventricle. The cause also may be in the veins, being over heated, whereby the sper- matical matter, by reason of its tenuity, flows forth. Ihe external cause may be the moistness of the air, eating cor- rupt meats, anger, grief, slothfulness, immoderate sleepirg, and costiveness. The signs are extenuation of body, shortness and stinking breath, loathing of meat, pain in the head, swelling of ihe eyes, melancholy, humidity, flOwings from the womb, of di- vers colors, as redish, black, green, yellow, white; it is known from the overflowing ol the courses, in that it keeps no certain period and is of so many colors, all which do degenerate trom blood. For the cure of this, it must be by methods adapted to the case; and as the causes are various, so must be the cures. If it be caused by the distillation from the brain, take syrup of betony, stxchas and marjoram, pufge with pil. loch; make napalia, of the' juice of sage, hyssop, betony, negella, with one drop of oil cloves, and a little silk cotton. Take elect, dianth aromat, rosar, diambre, diamosci dulcis of each one -dram, nutmegs half a dram at night going to bed. If the matter flowing forth be redish, open a vein in the arm, if ..ot, apply ligatures to the arms and shoulders. Some have cured this distemper by rubbing the upper parts with crude honey ; and so Galen says he cured the wife of Boetius. If it proceeds from crudities in the stomach, or from a cold distempered liver, take every morning of the decoc- tion of lignum sanctum ; purge with pill deagaric, de har- modact, de hiera uyacolocynthid foetida, aigtagrative. Take of elect, aromor, ros. two drams, citron peels dried, nutmeg, long pepper, of each one scruple, diagalinga one dram, fantah albia, lign aloes, of each half a scruple, sugar six ounces, with mint water make lozenges of it, and then take it after meals. if wiih tiigidity of the liver be joined a repression of the stomach puiging by vomiting is commendable ; for which, take three diams of the electuary of diaru. Some physi- cians a.so ailow of ilie dauretical means, of opium, pelro* solium, 8cc. If the matter of the disease be melancholius, prepare wi'h syrup of maiden hair, epiihimum. pnlipody, burrage, bugloss, tumeiory, heart's tongue, and syiup by santinum, which must be made without vinegar, otherwise it will rath- er animate the disease, than strengthen nature^ for melani EXPERIENCED MIDWIFE. 193 *choly is increased by the use of vinegar ; and by Hippo- crates, Silvius, and Aventinus, it is disallowed of as an ene- my to the womb, and therefore not to be used in uterhio diseases. Purges of melancholy are, Pilulsc eumartse pilulae India: piluls de lap. Lazuli diosena, and confectio hamech. Take stampt prunes two ounees, senna one dram, epithi- mum, polypody ; fumetory, of each a dram and a half, sour dates one ounce, with endine waterjnake a decoction, take of it four ounces, add unto it confections hamech three drams, manna three drams, or pilule indatum, phil, baui- mo women begin to have beat ds in their old age, after forty or fifty years of age, when their flowers are ceased. Why doth man only, above all other creatures, wax hoary and grey as Pythagoras and Aristotle affirm i The answer according unto tlie philosophers, is, because man hath the hotest heart of all living creatures; and there- fore nature, lest a man should be suffocated through ihe heat of his heart, hath placed the heart, which is most hot, under the brain, which is most cold ; to the end that the heat of the heart may be tempered with the coldness of the brain ancb the coldness of the brain may be heated with the heat of the heart, and thereby there might be a temperature in both. A. sign to prove this is, because of all living creatures man. hath the worst breath, if he com°s to his full age. . Fur- thermore, man doth consume half his time in sleeping, which doth proceed from the great access of the coldness-. and moisture of the brain, and by that means doth want nat- ural heat to digest and consume that moistness ; which heat he hath sufficiently in bis youth, and therefore in that age- is not grey, but in his old age, when heat faileth ; and there- . fore the vapors ascending from the stomach remain undi- gested and consumed for want of natural heat and th^a, putrefies of which putrefactioo of bumors the whiteness doth follow which is called greyness or hoariness. .Where- .. by it doth appear* that hoariness is nothing-, ehe but a whiteness of the hair, caaaed bv putrefaction of humors a- . bout the roots of the hair, through he natural want of heat in old age. Sometimes also grevness is caused by the naughtiness of complexion which may well happen in youth, and sometimes by reasou of the moisture undigested, and sometimes through over great fear and care,; as appeareth , in merchants.sailors, thieves: from whence cometh this vice. Cura facit canos, quamvis homo non habet annos. Why doth red hair grow white sooner 'ban oiher ? According to the opinion of Aristotle, because redness is an infirmity of the hair, for it is engendered of a weak and infirm matter, that is to say of mat;er corrupted with the flowers of the woman and therefore they wax white* sooner than black hair. Why do wolves grow grisly ? &Q0 ARISTOTLE'S PROBLEMS. Tlie better to understand this question note the difference between greyrress and grisling. Because that greyness is caused through the defect of natural heat, but grislinesi through devouring and eating, as Aristotle witnesse'h, lib. 7. de animal. The wolf being a devouring beast, and an eater, he leltelh it down glyttenously without chewing, and that at once enough for three days, by which means gross vapors.are engendared in the wolfs body, and by conse- quence grisliness. Secondly, greyuess and grisliness do dif- fer, because greyne^s is only on the head, and grisliness over all the body. Why do horses grow grisly and grey ? According to Aristotle, because they are for the most part in the sun. And in his opinion also, heat doth acci- dentally cause putrefaction ; and therefore that kind of heat doth putrefy the matter of hair, and by consequence they are quickly pilled. Why do men become bald, and trees fall their leaves in the winter? Aristotle doth give the same reason for both ; because that the want of moisture in both is the cause of tne want of the hair and of the leaves. And this is proved because lhat a man becomeih bald through venery, for that is lets- ting forth of natural humidity and heat. And so by that excess ia carnal pleasure, moisture is consumed, which is the nutriment of the hair, and therefore baldness doth en- sue. And this is .evidently proved in eunuchs and women who do not gfrow bald, because they do not depart from their moistnessr; and therefore eunuchs are of the complex* ion of women. Bat if you ask why eunuchs are not bald, nor have the gout, as Hvpocrates saith, the answer is, ac- cording to Galen, because the cause of baldness is dryness, the which is not in eunuchs, because they want their stones, the which do minister heat into all the parts of the body,. and the heat doth open the pores, which being ropen, the hair do'.h fall. W hy are not women bald ? ' Because they are cold and moist, which are the causes that the hair remaineth ; for moistness doih give nutri. men1 to the hair and coldness doth bind the pcres. Why are baid men riecei'fui. according to the verse ? Si non vis falti, fugies confor-tia calvi Because baldness dotfr witness a choleric complexion which is hot and dry ; and choleric men are naturally de- ceitful according ii the verse. Hersuious fallax, irascens prodigus, audax. And therefor,, it foliow-.i aprimumad ultimmum, that bald meji are deceitful and'crafty. ARISTOTLE'S PROBLEMS* SOi W hy are not blind men naturally bald ? Because that according to Aristotle, the eye hath most moisture in it, and that moisture which should pass through by the substance of the eves, doth become a sufficient nutri- ment of the hair, and therefore they are seldom bald. Why doth hair stand on end when men are afraid ? * Because in time of fear the heat doth go from the out- ward part of the bodv into the inward, to the intent io help, the heart, and so the pores in which ihe hairs are fastened, are shut up ; af er which stopping and shutting,up of the pore's, the standing up of the hair doth follow, as it is seen in beasts, as dogs, wild b>ars, and peacocks. Of the Head- Why is man's head round ? Because it is most fit to receive any thiwg into it, as Ar-»i istotie doth affirm, Lib. de cat and the head doth contain in it five senses. This is also seen in a material sphere. Why is the head round I Aristotle saith, becausd it doMi contain in it the moistest part of the livingcreatures, and also because the brain may be de f .ded thereby as with-a shield. Why is the head absolutely long but somewhat round ? To the end the three creeks & cells of the brain might the better be distinguished ; that is the fancy in the forehead, the discoursing or reasonable part in the middle, and mem- ory in the hindermost part. Why doth a man lift up his head towards the heavens when he doth imagine ? Because the imagination is in the fore part of the head or brain and therefore it lifteth up itself, that the creeks or cells of the imagination miy b^ opened, and that the spirits which help the imagination, are fit for that purpose, having their concourse thither, may help the imagination. Why doth a man when he mu*eth, orthinketh on things past,.look down towards the earth. Because the cell or creek which is behind, is the creek or chamber of memory, and therefore that looketh towards heaven when the head is bowed down ; and so that cell is open, to the end that the spirits which perfect the memory should enter in. Why is not the head fleshy like unto the other parts ofc the body i Because that, according to Aristotle, the head would be too heavy and would not stand stedfastly ; and therefore it ii without flesh. Also a head loaded wih flesh doth be- token an evil complexion. Why is the head subject to aches and griefs ? SOS ARlSTOTLli's PROBLEMS. According to Constant, by reason of evil humors which proceed from the stomach, ascend up to the head and dis- turbthe brain, and so cause the pain in the head. And sometimes it proceeds from overmuch filling the stomach, because, aocording to the opinion of Galen, two great sin- ews pass.from the brain to the mouth of the stomach, and therefore these two parts do suffer grief always together. Sometimes the ache doth proceed of drinking strong wine, of fuming meats, as garlic or onions, ami sometimes of phlegm in the stomach, whereof spring quotidian fevers. Why have women the headache mora than men ? Albertus soith it is by reason of their moHthly ternv), which men are not troubled with, and so a moist, undleau and venomous fume is dissolved, the which seeking passage upward doth cause-the headache. Why is the brain white f- There are two answers ; the first because it is cold, ard coldness is the m >ther of white ; the philosophers do teach the second, because it may receive the similitude and like- ness of all colors, which the white color can best do, because it is most simple. Why are all the senses in the head ? Because, as Albertus saith, the brain is there on which all the senses do depend,- and are directed by it, and by conse- quence it maketh ail the spirits to feel, and by it all the membranes are governed. Why cannot a man escape death if the brain or heart be hurt ? Because the heart and brain are two of the most principal parts which concern life: and therefoie if they be hurt, there is no remedy left for the cure. Why Is the brain moist ? " Because it may easily receive an impression, which moist- ure can best do, as it appeareth in wax, which doih easily receive the print of the seal when it is soft. Why is the brain cold ? This is answered two ways ; first, because that by this coldness it may clear the understanding of a man, and make it subtil. Secondly, that by the coldness of the brain, the heat of the heart may be temperec". Of the Evks. Why have you but one nose and two eyi, ? Because our light is more necessary for us than the smel!- ing. And, therefore it doth proceed from the goodness of na'.ure that if we receive any hurt or lossofoi.e eye, tha: yet. there should one remaii ; u-ito whicli the spirit w.th which wesee. called Spintus Vi&s, is directed whra the •titer is op I. aristotle's problems. £03 Why have children In their youth great eyes, and why do they become smaller and lesser in their age ! According to Aristotle de generat. It proceedeth from the want of fire and from the assembling and meeting to- gether ot light and humor ; the eyes.are lightened by reason ef the sun, which doth lighten*he. easy humor of the eye, and purge it, and in the absence of the sun those humors be- come dark and black, and therefore the sight is not so good. Why doth the bluish^rey eye see badly in the day time, and well in the night? Because, saith Aristotle, greyness is light and shining of it- self, and the spirits with which we see are weakened in the day time,.and strengthen in the night. Why.are men who have but one eye good archers ? and why do.good archers commonly shut one eye ? and why do such as behold stars look thtough a trunk with one eye* This matter is handled in the perspective arts and the .reason is as it doth appear in the book of Causes, because that every virtue and strength united knit together, is stronger than itself dispersed and scattered. Therefore all the force of seeing dispersed in two eyes, the one being shut is gathered into the other, and so the light is forufied in him, and by consequence he doth see better and more cer- tainlv with one eye being shut than both open. Why do such as drink much> and laugh mucn shed much Because that whilst they drink and laugh without meas- ure, the air which is drawn in, doth not. pass out through the windpipe, and so with force is directed and sent to the eyes, and by their pores passing out doth, expel the humors of the eyes, the which humors being so expulsed do bring 163 rs. v W by do such as weep much, urine but little ? Because saith Aristotle, the radical humidity of a tear and of urine are of the same nature ; and therefore, where weepinedoth increase, urine doth dimmish; and that they be of one nature is plain to the taste, because they are both salt. . . ,, a Why do some that have clear eyes see nothing at all f By reason of the copulation and naughtiness ot the sinews with which we see •; for the temples beiog destroyed, the strength of the light cannot be carried trom the brain to the eye, as philosophers teach, lib. de sen. tf sentto. Why is the eye clear and smooth like unto a glass i Because the things which may be seen are better beaten back from a smooth thing than otherwise. Secondly, I answer, it is because the eye is very moist a- bove all parts of the body and of a waterish nature ; and as .<____=.„.. ;<> door and smaoth. so likewise is the eye. S0$ .aristgtle's problems. Why do men who have their eyes deep in their head see well afar off, and the like in beasts ? Because, saith Aristotle, 2d. de. Gener. Animal, the force and power by which we see is dispersed in them, and doth go directly to the thing which is seen. And this is proved by a similitude,,because that when a man doth stand in a deep ditch or well, he doth see in the day time, standing in those places, the stars of the firmament; as Aristotle tloth teach in his treatise,Me Forma Specula ; because that then the power of the sight and of the beams are not scat- tered. Wherefore do those men who have their eyes far out, and ■ not deep in their head, see but meanly and not far distant ? Because, saith Aristotle, (he beams of the sight which ;pass from the eye are scattered on every side, and go dii ect- ly unto the thing that is seen, and therefore the sight is weakened. Why are many beasts born blind, as lions' whelps, and dogs' whelps. Because such beasts are not yet of perfect ripeness and maturity, and the cause of nutriment doth not work in them. And this is proved by a similitude of the swallow, those eyes, if they were taken out when they are little ones in the nest, would grow again ; and this is plain in many oiher beasts, which are brought forth belore their time, as it were dead, as bears' whelps. And this reason doth belong rath- er to the.perspective than the natural philosopher. Why are not sparkling cats eyes and wolves eyes seen in the light and not in the dark ? Because that the greater light doth darken-the lesser, and therefore in a greater light the spaikling cannot be seen, but the greater the darkness, the easier it is seen, and is made more strong and shining, because it is not then hin- .deredby a greater external light, which might darken it. Why doth a man beholding himself in a glass, presently forget his own disposition•? Answer is made in Lib. de forma spcculi, that the image seen by the glass doth represent it weakly and indirectly, to the power of the sight ; and because it is represented weak- ly, it is al*o weakly apprehended, and by consequence is no 'longer retained. Why is the sight recreated and refreshed by a green co- der,, as this verse sheweth ? Fens, speculumgramen oculis sunt aUviamen. Because the green color doth meanly move the instrument <©f sight, and therefore doth comfort the sight ; but this doth not black nor white colors, becausfcthe colors do vehement- Aristotle's problems. 205 ty stir and alter the organ and instrument of the light, and therefore make the greater violence, but by how much more violent the thing is which is felt or seen, the more it doth destroy and weaken the sense, as Aristotle doth teach. Lib. 2 de animal. Of the Nosr. Why doth the nose stand out further than other parts of the body f There are two answers ; the first, because the nose is as it were the sink ot the bi ain, by which the phlegm of the brain is purged, and therefore it doth stand forth, lest the other parts should be defiled ; ihe second (nccordingto Constant.) is because the nose is the beauty ot the face, and therefore it doth shew itself and shine. It doth smell also and adore the face, as Boeius saiih, de descp. schol. Why hath man the worst smell of all living creatures, as it doth appear, Lib. de animal. Because the man, as the commentator saith, in respect to 4his quality, hath the most brain of all creatures ; and there- fore by that exceeding Coldness and moistness the bra'in wanteth a good disposition, and by consequence the smell- ing insti ument is not good, as Aristotle and Themistoclesdo teach ; yea, some men there be, who do not smell at all. Why doih the vulture or cormoiani smell veiy well, as the commentator doth say \ Because they have a very dry brain, and therefore the air carrying ihe smell, is not hindered by the humidity of the brain, but doth presently touch its instrument ; and therefore he saith, that the vultures, tigers, and other beasts, came five bundled miles to the dead bodies after a battle in Greece. Why did nature make nosti ils ? For three comnrodities. First, because that the mouth being shut, we draw breath in by the nostrils to refresh the heart with. The second commodity is. because lhat the air which proceedeth from the mouth doth savor badly, because if the vapors which rise from the stomach, but that which we breathe from '.he nose is noi noisome. The third is, because the phlegm which doth ptoceed from the brain, is purged by them. Why do men sneeze ? Because that the expulsive virtue of power and the sight should thereb) be purged, and the brain also from supeiflu- fties, because that as the lungs a re purged by coughing, so is ihc s'ght and brain by snet zing. And those who sneeze of- ten are :-.ai<1 so have a stroig brain ; nd iherefoie ihe phy- sicians give s: . zing inrdicants to purge the brain, and Such sick persons as cannot si.ec-ze die quickly, because it is IS 806 Aristotle's problems. a sign their brain is wholly stuffed with evil humors, which cannot be purged. Why do such as are apoplectic not sneeze; that is, such as are subject to bleed ? Because the passages or ventricles of the brain is stop- ped in them; and if ihey could sneeze, their apoplexy would be loosed. Why doth the heat of the sun provoke sneezing and not the heat of fire ? Because the heat of the sun doth dissolve and not con- sume ; and'heiefore the vapor dissolved is expelled by sneezing; but the heat of the fire doth dissolve and consume, and therefore rather doth hinder sneezing than provoke. Of the Ears. Why doth beasts move their ears and not men ? Because there is a certain muscle near unto the jay which doth cause motion in the ear; and therefore that muscle being extended and stretched, men do not move their ears, as it hath been seen in divers men, but all beasts do use that muscle or fleshy sinew, and therefore do move their ears. Why i> rain prognosticated by the pricking up of asses ears. Because the ass is a very melancholy beast, and it pro- ceedeth from melancholy lhat he doth forsee rain to come. In the time of rain, all beasts prick up their ears, and therefore the ass perceiving that it will rain, doth prick up his ears before it come. Why have some beasts no ears ? Aristotle ricth answer and say, that nature doth give un- to every thing that which is fit for it ; but if she should have given birds ears, their flying would have been hinder- ed by ihem ; likewise S-h do not want ears, because they wculd hinder their swimming, and have only certain little holes' through which ihey hear, as Aristotle declares by Ihe sea calf. W hy have dates ears, seeing they seem to be birds ? Btcause they are partly birds in nature, in lhat they do fly, by reason whereof they have wings; and partly they are .hairy, because they are mice, therefore nature has, bring wi«e, given them ears. Why have mentality round ears? Because the shape of the whole and of the parts should be pioportionabie, and especially in all things of one na- ture. For, as a dir.p of v.ater is round, so the whole wa- ter, John de sr,cro Bosco doth prove ; and so because a man's head is rourd the taia incline towards the same figure ; but the heads of beasts, are somc/nat lcr.g, anl so he eais are drawn /n.o length also. AilSTOTLES PROBLEMS. S07 Why did nature give living creatures ears ? For two causes : 1. Because with th«m they should h'-ar. 2. Because by the ear choleric superfluity is purged ; for as the head is purged of phlegmatic superfluity by the no&e, So from choleric by the ears. Of the Mouth. Why hath the mouth lips to compass it. According to Const, because the lips do cover and defend the teeth, it were unseemly that the teeth should always be seen. Another answer is , that the teeih are of a cold na ture, and would therefore be soon hurt, rfrjiey were not eoveied with lips. Another moral reason is, because a man should not be too hasty of speech. Why hath a man two eyes, two ears, and but one mouth ? Because a man should speak but little, and hear and see much. And withal, Aristotle doth say that the hearing and the sight doth shew us the difference of many things ; end Seneca doth agree unto this, affirming that nature en- vironed the tongue with a double cloister, and teeth, and lips, and has made the ears open and wide, and has given us but one mouth to speak but little, though we hear much. Why hath a man a mouth I For many commodities: 1. Because the mouth is tus gate and door ot the stomach. 2. Because the meat h chewed in the mouih, and prepared and made readv for tha first digestion, although Avicen, doth hold that digestion is made in the mouth. 3. Because that the air amwn in:o the hollow of ihe mouth for the refreshing of the heart is made more pure and subtil. And for many other causes which hereafter shall appear. Why are the lips moveable ? Because of forming the voice and words, which cannot be perfectly done without them. For as without a, b, c, there is no writing, so wihout the lips no voice can be well formed. Why do men gape ? The gloss upon the last part of Hipprxrates' Aphorisms vuth, that it proceeds of wearisomness, as when a man sit- ting among such as he doth not know, whose compir.v he would willingly be rid of. Besides, gaping is caused of ihe thick fume and vapors which fill the jaws, by the expulsion of which is caused the stretching out and expulsion of the jws, and opening of the mouih, which is called gaping. Why doth a man gape when he seeth another gape ( This proceedeth of imagiaation. And this is proved by a similitude, for an ass is an animal void of sense, by reason of his melancholy, because he doth retain his supcifiuity a longtime, and would neither eat »or piss, unless tie should 203 AEiSTJTL-;fS Pit )BL"..\n. hear anohcr ; an:l so a mm gipes through imagina;i.s»n wh«aanother ma* doth gape. Of th? Tfkth. Why have they only, am ing all otlier l»ones, the sense of feeling ? Because, as Av'icmi and G ilen say, th^y discern heat and cold which hurt them, which other bines need not. Why have men more teeth than women ? By reason of the abundance nf heat aad blobd, which is more in men than in womvu. Why doth the teeth grow to the end of our l'fe, and not the other bones ? Because o iter wise they would be co:i>u.ii:d with chewing and grinding. Why do the teeth oily come again when they fall, or be taken out, and other bones taken away grow no more. Because that, according to Aristotle, all other bones are engendered of the hu.nid ty vvhich is called radical, aud so they breed in the womb of the mother, but the teeth ar^ en- gendered of nutrive hunrrciity, which is renewed and in- creased from day to day. iVhy are the foreteeth sharp and the cheek teeth broad ? Tnis proceedeth of ihe defect of muter, and of the figure, because the fore teeth are sharp, and ihi oihers broad But according to Aristotle, there is another answer; lhat is, t-rrit it is ziiz office of the fore teeth to cut th: meat, and therefore thev are sharp ; aid the office of the other to chew the meat, and il.-iefore ihiy are broad in fashion, which is fit for that purpose Why do the fore teeth grow soonest ? Because we want the,n sooner in cutting than the other H; chewing Why d > teeth o* hu-nan creatures grow black in old age ? This proceedeth ot ih^ coi ru,Kion of meat, and the cor- ruption of phlegm, ami a naughty choleric humor. Why are colt's te :ih yellow, andoflhs color of siffron when they are voung, and grow white when th.*y are old ? Aris-oile saitu, ifiu a h irsj huh abundance of watery humors in him, which in his youth are digested and con- verted into grossness ; but in old age heal is diminished, and the watery hum >rs remain, whose proper color is white. Why did nature r;'ve living creatures teeth. Arirotle smli {L'b. de general. Animal) to some ti fight with, for the defence of iheir lives, as uito wolves and bears • unto some to eat with, as unto hors.-s ; unto some for the' forming of their voi:e, a-. u:ito men, as it appeareih by the commentary in the book de A.iir.at. ARlSTOTLVrS PROBLEMS. §09 Of the Tongue. Why is the tongue full of pores. According to Aristotle de Animal. Because the tongue 13 the means whereby we taste ; and through the- mouth in the pores of the tongue the taste doth come into the sense of tasting. Otherwise, it is answered, that frothy spiitle is sent into the mouth by the tongue from ihe lungs, moisten the meat, and making it ready for the first digestion ; and therefore the tongue is full of pores, because many have passage through it. Why doth the tongue of such as are sick of agues, judge all things bitter. Because ihe stomach of such persons is filled with choler- ic humors, and choler is very bitter, as it app^areth by the gall, and therefore this bitter fume doth infect their tongue, and so the tongue being full of these tastes, doth judge them bitter, although the fault be not in the meat. ,Thy doth the tongue water when we hear sour and sharp things named ? Because the imaginative virtue or power is of greater force than the power and faculty of tasting ; and when we imagine a taste, we conceive it by the power of tasting as by a mean, because there is nothing felt by the taste; but by means of that spittle the tongue doth water. Why do some stammer and lisp. This happeneth from many causes, sometimes through the mnistness of the tongue and brain, as in children, whicli eannot speak plainly, nor pronounce many letters. Some- times it happeneth by reason of the shrinking of certain sinews, which are corrupted with phlegm ; for such sinews there be which go to the tongue. Why are the tongues of serpents and mad dogs venomous r Because of ihe malignity and tumosity of the venomous humor which doth predominate in them. Why is a dog's tongue fit and apt for medicine and con- trarvwise sn horse's tongue pestiferous. It'isby reason of some secret property, or else it may be said the tongue of a dog is full of pores, and so uoth draw and take away the viscosity of the wound, borne say that a doe hath by nature some tumor in hi* tongue, with the which by licking he doth heal ; the contrary is in a horse. Whv is the spittle while ? Bv reason of ihe continual moving of the tongue, where. of h-at is engendered, which makes this superfluity white, as is seen in the froth of water. Whv is the spittle unsavory, and without taste.1 If it had a certain determinate tas»te, then the tongue ♦ 18 910 AUiSl'OTLh's PROBLLMS. wouid not taste at all, but would have only the taste of spit- tle, and so cou'd not receive other tastes. Why doth the spittle of one that i3 fasting heal an impos- thume ? Because, according to Avicin, it is well digested and made subtile. Why do some abound in spittle more than others. This proceedeth of a phlegmatic complexion, which doth predominate in them, and therefore the physicians say that such should take care of a quotidian ague, which ariseth from the predominacy ofphkgm. The contrary is in those that spit little because heal abounds in them, which con- sumes the humidity of the spittle ; and so the defect of spit- tle is a sign of a fever. Why is the spittle of a man that is fasting more subtle than one who is full. Because the spittle is wiihout the viscosity of meat, which is wont to make the spiule of one who is full gross 8c thick. From whence proceedeth the spittle of a man ? From the fioth of the lungs, which according to physi- cians are the sent of phlegm. Why are such beasts as often go together for generation very full of foam and froth ? Because that then the lights and the heart are in great motion cf Just, thtrefore there la engendeied in them much frothy matter. Why have not birds spittle ? Becauge they have very dry lungs, according to Aristot'e in his fifi h book de Animal. Why do such as are called Epileptic, that is such as are overwhelmed nes an.l j'-anf. .' B.-cause it may bear and sustain ihe head the stronger, also before the backbone is j lined to the brain in the neck, and from thence it receives marrow, which is of the sub- stance of the brain. Why have some beasts long necks, as cr»n°s, stor.ks, and such like ? . . Because such beasts do seek their living in the battom of the water ; and some beasts have short necks, as sparrow hawks, Sec because such are ravenous beasts, and therefore f.ir strength have short neoks, as appeareih in the ox, which ha? a short neck, anu is therefore strong. Why is the neck hollow, and especially before and about the tongue ?• , Because there is two passages, whereof the one doth c-*- 214 AR STOTLe's PROBLEMS. ry the meat into the nutritive instrument as to the stomach and liver, and is called of the Greek Ocse/ihagus. Why is the artery made with rings and circles i The better to bow, and give a sounding again. V\ hy doth a chicken move a good space after his head is' Cut off, and a man beheaded never stireih ? Because a chicken anil such like, have straight sinews and arteries, and therefore the spirit of moving continueth long after the head is cut cfT i but men and many beasts, have long and large sinews and arteries, and therefore the motive spirits do quickly depart from them, and so by consequence cannot move their bodies. Of the Shoulders and Arms. Why hath a man shoulders and arms ? To give and carry burdens, and do any manner of work.' Why are his arms round I For the swifter and speedier work, because that figure is fitest'to move. Why are his arms thick ? i Becau-e they should be strong to lift and bear burdens, or thrust and give a strong blow ; so their bones arc thick, be- cause they contain much marrow, for else they would be ea^ly corrupted and marred ; but marrow cannot so well be contained in small bones as in great. Why do such as are diseased and in grief, uncover anrf cover iheir arms, and such also as are in ag^ny ? Because such are near unto death ; and ii is a sign of death by reason of great grief, which causeth that uncover- ing, as Hippocrates doth teach, lib. Prog'nost. Why dothe arms become small and slender in some sick- ness, as in madmen, and such as arc sick of the dropsy ? Because all the parts of the bo.ly do suffer the one with the other, and therefore one member being in grief all thu humors do concur and i ai timber to give succor aud help to the aforesaid grief. For wnon the head doth ache, all the humors of the arms doth run into-the head, and there- fore ihe arms become small ami slender, because they want their proper nutriment. Why have brute blasts- no arms I 'Ihe fore feet are instead of arms, and in their place, or else we may answer mofe fitly, because all beasts have some parts for iheir defence, and to fight with, as the wolf his teeth, the cow her horns, the horse his hinder feet, birds their beak and wings, but only m m ha'h his arms. Of the Hands. For what use hath a ma-i his hands, and an ape also, which itltkc unto a man ? ▲ RIST-OTLU'S PKGLL^MS. S4f 'Thehand is an instrument which a mun doth especially make use of, because many things are done by the hands, and no' by any other part. Why .,re some men ambo dexter, i. e. using the left hand as the rignt ? By reason of the great beat of the heart ; for that makes a .man as nimble of the left hand as of the right ; and with- out doubt, are of good complexions. Why are not women ambo dexter as well as men . Because as.Galen saith, a woman in health that is most hot, is colder than the coldest man in health. 1 say, in health, for if she have an ague, she is accidenially hotter than a man. Why are ihe fingers full of joints ? To be more fit ai,d apt to receive, and keep the things re- ceived Why hath every finger three joints, and the thumb but two ? The thumb hath three, but the third is joined unto the arm, therefore it is stronger than the other fingers. Why are the fingers of the right hand nimbler than the fingers of the left, as Agideus saith ? It proceedeth from the heat which doth predominate in those parts, which causeth great agility. Why are the fingers thicker before meat than after, as Albertus saith ? Because a man who is fastirg, is full of bad hum»rs„which puff up the parts of the .body, and fingers also; hut when ihe humors are expelled through meat, the fingers become more slender. And for the same reason, a man who is fasting, is heavier than when he hath meat in his belly, as is most plain in fasteTs. Another reason may be given,'because that af- ter the meat the heat is departed from the outward parts of the body into the inward, to help digestion, and the outward and external parts become slender ; but after digestion is made, the blood turneth again to the exterior parts, and then they become great again. Why are some men left handed ? Because the heart sendeth out heat into the right s-ide,but more into the left, and doth also work a slenderness ai,« subtility on the left side. Of the Natls. From whence do nails proceed ? Of the fumositjiand humors which are resolved, and go into the excrements of the fingers, and they are dried thro' the power of the external air, and brought to the hardness of a hota. ^16 Aristotle's problems. Why do the nails of old men grow black and pale ? Because the heat of the heart decayeth, which decaying, their beauty decayeth also. Why are men judged to be of good or evil complexion by the color of ihe nails ? Because they give witness of the goodness cr badness of the heart, and therefore of the complexion ; for, if they be somewhat red, they betoken choler well tempered ; but if they be yellr.wish or black they signify melancholy. VV hy do white spots appear in the nails ? Through mixture of a phlegm with the nutriment. Of the Breast. For what reason is the breast hollow ? Because there is the seat of the spiritual and serial mem- bres which are most noble, as the heart and lights; and therefore because these might be kept from hurt, it was ne- cessary that the breasts should be hollow. Why hath man ihe broadest breast of all living creatures ? , Because the spirits in men are weak and subtle, and there- 'fbre do require a spacious place wherein they are contained, as the breast is. Why are the breasts of beasts round ? Because they are in continual motion. Why have women narrower breasts than men ? Because there is more heat in men, which doth naturally move to the uppermost part of them, making ihose parts grr at and large, and therefore a great breast is a token of courage, as in the lion and bull; but in women cold predo- minates, which naturally tends downwards, oid theiefore women often fall or their backside, because the hinder parts are gross and heavy, by reason of cold ascending thither ; but a man commonly falls ou his breast, by reason of its greatness and thickness. Of the Paps and Duos. Why are paps placed upon the breasts ? Because the breast is the seat of the heart, which ismost hot, and therefore the paps grow there, to the end that the menses being conveyed thither,as being near lothe heat of the heart, should-the sooner be digested, and convei ted into the matter and substance af milk. Why are the p.ps below tht breast in beasts and above the breast in women ? Because a woman £i-e • upright, and has two legs only,and therefore if hei p^jis sliou'd b; below her breasts, ihey would kinder hei .going, but beasts have fouj feet, and therefore they are t ol Hcdertd in iheir going. Why have aot men as great breasts and p*ps as women . Aristotle's problems. Si7 Because a man hath no monthly terms, and therefore haih no vessel deputed for them. Which paps are best for children to suck, great or little ones, or the mean between them both*? In great ones the heat is dispersed, and there is no good digestion of milk 4 but in small onfes the power and force is strong, because a virtue united is strongest, and by conse- quence there is good working and digestion of the milk, and therefore, the small are better than the great ones, but yet the mean *nes are best of all, because every mean is best. Why do the paps of young women begin to grow about 13 or 15 years of age, as Albertus saith ? Because then the flowers have no course to the teats, by which the youngone is nourished, but follow their oidinary course, aad therefore wax soft. Why hath a woman who is with *hild of a boy, the right pap harder than the left ? t Because the male child is conceived in the right side ot the mother, and therefore the flowers do run to the right pap, and make it hard. Why doth it shew weakness of the child when the milk doth drop out of the paps before the woman be delivered ? Because the milk is the proper nutriment of the child in the womb of the mother, and therefore if the milk run out, it is a token that the child is wk nourished, and is therefore wpelr Why doth the hardness of the paps betoken the health of the child in the womb ? Because the flowers are converted into milk, and tnat tnilk doih sufficiently nourish the child, and thereby the strength is signified. umm**a Why hath a woman but two paps, and sortie brute beasts ten or more ? . , , „u:i.i B« cause for the most part, a woman hath but one child, either boy or girl, and therefore one pap is^ sufhcient, or two ; but beasts have many ycung ones, and therefore so "Th' "are women's paps hard when they bo with child, "Tne^well'thenTird a, e puffed up because the much mois- tui^wiicl proceeds fiom W ^t^Zl^FS whiC- st other seasons rcma.neth in the wqmb, and is ex- tvlle.l bv the place deputed for that end. ^By what mean, doth the milk of the paps come to the mAc^d1nSToDHippocrateS,-becaose there is a certain kntuiTg, aS coupling of the pap with the womb, a.d there 19 $18 aristotle's problems. are certain veins which the midwives do cut in the time o| the birth of the child, and by those veins the milk doth flow in at the navel «f the child, and so it receives nutriment by the navel. Some say the child in the womb is nourished at the mouth, but it is false, because that so it should void ex- crements also. Why is it a sign of a male child in the womb when the milk that runneth out of the woman's breast is thick and not much, and a female when it is thin ? Because a woman that gcath with a boy hath great hea in her, which doth perfect the milk, and make it thicker, but such as go wiih a girl hath not so much heat, and there- fore the milk is undigested, watery, and thin, and will swim above the water if it be put into it. Why is the milk white, seeing the flowers are red which it is engendered of ? Because blocd which is well purged and concocted bccom- eth white as appeareth in flesh, whose proper color is red, and being boiled is white. Another answer is, eveiy humor which is engendered of such part of the body, is made like unto that part in color where it is engendered, ::s near as it can be, but because the flesh of the paps is white, there- fore the color of the milk is white. Why doth a cow give milk more abundantly than other beasts ? Becp.use she is a great eating beast ; and wheie much monthly superfluity is engendered, there is mn;,h milk, be- cause it is nothing else but that blood purged ".nd tried ; and because a cow has much of this moi.ihly biood she hai much milk. Why is not milk wholesome ? According to the opinion of Galen it is for clivers reasons; ist, Because it doih curdle in the stomach, wherefore an evil bieath is bred. But to this Hippocrates gives this remedy, Saying, if ihe third part of it be mingled wiih run- ning water, then it is not hurtful. 2dly, Because the milk doth sour in the stomach, and breeds evil humors which in- fect the breath. Why is milk bad for such as have the headache ? Because it is easily turned into great fumosities, and hath much terrestrial substai.ee in it which ascending doih cause the headache. \\ hy Vs milk fit nutriment for infants. Because it is a natural and usual focd, and they were nrurished by the same in the womb. For what nascn are the white meats made of a new milk- ed oow 501 »goreaiis styiing the heavens a living creature, «ay. the sua is the H*art thei eof. Why only in men is the heart on the left side ? To the end that the heat of the heart should mitigate the coldness of the spleen, for the spleen is the sicat ot melan- choly, which is *>n the left Side also. Why is the heart first engendered, for according to Ar- istotle the heart doth live first and die last ? Because as Aristotle saith, dejuvent, et senect.lhz heart b the beginning and the origin of life, and without it no part can live. According to the Philosopher, of she seed retain- ed in ihe matrix there is first engendered a email skin, which compasseth the seed, whereof first the heart is made of the purest blood ; then of blood not so pure, the liver ; and of thick and cold blood the marrow and brain. Why are beasts bold that have little hearts ? Because in a little heart the heat is well united, and ve- hement, and the blood touching it doth quickly heat it, and is speedily carried into other parts of the body, which gtves courage and boldness. Way are creatures with a small heart timorous as the hare ? The heart is dispersed in such, and not able to heat the blood that cometh to it, *nd so fear is bred. How comes it that the flesh of the heart is so compact and knit together ? It is because in a thick compact substance heat is strong- ly received and united, as appears in other thing6 ; and be- cause the heart with its heat should moderate ihe coldness of the brain, it is nude of th«.t hard flesh which is apt io keep a strong heat. How come* the heart to be the hottest part of all living creatures. It is so compacted as to receive heat best, because it should mitigate the coldness of the brain. Why is the heart the beginning of life ? Because in it the vital spirit is bred, which is the heat of life, and therefore according to the opinion of Augustine, the heart hath two receptacles, the right ar d the left : the right hath more blood than spirits, which spirits it engen* dered to give lift^ and vivify ihe body- Aristotle's problems. fcJS-w Why is the heart long and sharp like a pyramid. A round figure hath no angles, therefore the heart is round for fear any poison or hurtful matter should be retain- ed in it; and, as Aristotle affirms, because that figure is fit- test for motion. How comes the blood to be chiefly in the heart ? The blood is in the heart, as in its proper or efficient place which some attribute to the liver, and therefore, the heart doth net receive blood of any other part,, but all other parts of it. How happens it that some creatures want a heart ? i Although they have no heart, yet they have somewhat which answers it, as appears in eels and fish which have the back bone instead of a heart. Why doth the heart beat in some creatures when the head is cut off, as appears in birds and hens ? Because the he.art is what lives first and dies last, aud therefore beats more than any other parts. Why doth the heat of the heart sometimes fall of a sud- den, as in those who have the falling sickness ? This proceeds from a defect of the heart itself and of cer- tain small skins with which it is covered, which being in- fected and corrupted, the heart falleth on a sudden ; and sometimes it happens by reason of the parts adjoining, and therefore, when any venomous humors goes out of the stomach that hurts the heart and parts adj&ining, it causes this fainting. The disposition of the heart is known by the pulsa, far, a swift beating pulse shews the heat of the heart and a slow beating one denotes coldness; therefore, a wo- man that is in health, lias a slower and weaker pulse tht i a man, as shall appear hereafter. Of the Stomach;. For what reason is the stomach large and round ? Because in it the food is first concocted or digested, as it were in a pot, that what is pure may be separated from that which is not, and therefore, according to the quantity of the food the stomach is enlarged- Why is the stomach round ? Because if it had angles and corners, food would remain in it, and breed humors, s© a man would never want agues ; which humors nevenheless are evacuated, lifted up, and consumed, and not hid in any such corners, by reason .of the roundness of the stomach. II»w comes the stomach to be full ofsiiiews ? Because the sinews can be extended and enlarged, and so is the stomach when it is full, b*t, when empty, it is *ia 23fc Aristotle's problems. drawn together, and therefore nature provides those sinews. How comes the stomach to digest ? Because of the heat vvhich is in it, which Comes from the liver and the heart. For we see in metals the heal of the fire takesaway the rust and dross from iron, the silver from tin, and gold from copper ; so that by digestion the pure is separated from the impure. For what reason does the stomach join the liver ? Because the liver is very hot, and with.its heat helps di- gestion, and provokes an appetite. Why are we cold commonly after dinner ? Because then the heat goes to the stomach to further di- gestion, and so other parts become cold. Why is it hurtful to study soon after d'nner ? Beeause when the heat labors to help 'he'imagination, it ceaseth from d'gesting the food ; so that people should" walk some time after meals. How come women with child to have an inordinate desire of eating coal*, ashe*, and such like ? It flows from the humors of the stomach : and because ^omcn'with child have corTupt hunrtors/therefore they de- sire the like thing*. How come*th the stomach slowly to digest fat meat ? Because it swims in the stomach. Now, the best di- gestion is at the botton of the stomach, where the fat de- scends not : such as eat fin meat are very sleepy, by rea- son digestion is hindered- Whv is all the bodv worse when the stomach is uneasy. Because the sionmch is knit wi'.h the brain, hrart, and liver which are the principal parts in man ; and therefore when it is not well, the others are evil disposed. Another answer is, that if the first digestion be hindered, the others are also hindered ; for, in the first digestion, is the begin- ning of the infirmity that is in the stomach. Why are young men sooner hungry than old men. Young men do digests for three causes, first, growing ; then, for the restoring of life ; and lastly, for conversation of life, as Hippocrates and Galen do say ; eise'we answer, that young men are hot and dry, and therefore, heat doth digest more, and of conseqnence they desire more. Which is best for the stomach, meat or drink ? Drink is sooner digested that, meat, been use meat is of greater substance, and mere mr.'.erial than drink, and therefore meat is harder to digest. Why Is it good to drink after dinner ? because the diink should ui.tke the meat readier to di* Aristotle's vroelems. 225* gest. For, if a pot be fi led with fish or flesh without ][-■ q*ior, then both the pot and meat is marred Tlie stomach' is like unto a pot which doth boil meat, and therefore phy- sicians do counsel to drink at m^als. Why is jt good to forbeat a late supper . Because there is no moving or stirring after supper, and so the meat is not sent down to the bottom of the stomach. but remaineth undigested, and so breeds hurt; and there- fore a light and short supper is best. How comes some men to evacuate clear meat ? By reason of the weakness of nature and expulsion ; which disease is called Lienteria. Of the Blood. Why is it necessary thai every living thing that hath blood, hath also a liver ? , According to Aristotle, because thebloodis first made in the liver, its seat, a-,d is drawn from the stomach by cer- tain principal veins, and so engendered. Fit what reason is the bU ad red ? Firsi, it is like the pari in which it was made, i. c the liver, which is red, then it is likewise sweet, becsjjse it is well digested and c^icwcted ; butifit'have a little eauhy matter mixed with it, that makes it somewhat salt, as ap- p. ars in t\rht. Lib. Meteor. How comes women's blood to be thicker than men »• Their coldness thickens, binds, congeals, and joints it- together. v 'ft-.m comes the blood in all parts ef the b >dy through '.he liver, and by what means. Through tUe principal veins, as the veins or the head, liv- er, Sec to nourish all the body. Of the Urine. How doth the urine come into the bladder, seensg the bladdea-is shut. r\,u»~B Some say by sweating, and it seems to be true. Others say it comes by a small sk.q in the bladder, which opens and lets in the urine. Urine is a certain and not deceitful messenger of the health or mfivmity of man. H.ppocr«tes says, that men make whi e urine in the morning, and be- fore dinner red, but after dinner pale, and likewise after supper ; for there is divers colors. How doth the leprosy proceed from the liver. Because it doth greatly engender the brains, and bleed the falbig sickness and apoplexy. Whv is it hurtful to drink much water.' Because one contrary doth hinder and exp-1 another ; for water is very cold, and lying so on the stomach hinders digestion. %'li aristotll's problems. Why is it unwholesome to drink new wine ; and why doth it very much hurt the stomach. One reason is, it cannot be digested, therefore it causeth the belly to swell, and in some sort the bloody flux ; second- ly, it hinders making water, but to drink good wine is wholesome. Why do physicians forbid us to labor presently after din* ner. For three reasons: first, because motion hinders the vir- tue and power ef digestion ; secondly, because stirring im- mediately after dinner Causeth the parts of the body to draw the meat raw to them, which often breeds sickness; and thirdly, because motion makes tlie food descend before if is digested ; but afier supper it is good to stir, by reason- we soon after go to sleep, therefore should walk a little, that the food may go to tie bottom of the stomaoh. Why is it good te stir after dinner ? It makes a man well disposed, fortifies aid strengthens the natural heat, causing the superfluity in the stomach to descend ; wherefore Aviceti says, such as neglect this ex- ercise, fall into inflammation of the heart. Why is it wholesome to vomit as some say ? Because it purges the stomach of all naughty humors, ex- pelling them, which wonld breed agues if they should re- main in it. Avicen says, a vomit purges the eyes and head, clearing the brain. How comes sleep to strengthen the stomach and the di- gestive faculty . Because in sleep the heat draws inwards, and helps di- gestion ; but when we awake, the heat remains, and is dis- persed through the body. Of the Gall and Sfleek. How comes living creatures to have a gai ? Because choleric humors are received into it, which, through their acidity, help the guts to expel superfluities, also it helps digestion. How comes the jaundice to proceed from the gall ? The humor of the gall is bluish and yellow, therefore when its porss are stopt, the humors cannot go into the sack there- of, but is mingled with the blood, wandering throughout all the body, and infecting the skin- Why hath not a horse, mule, ass, or cow. a gall ? Though those creatures have no gall in one place, as in a purse or vessel, yet they have one dispersed in small veins. How comes the spleen to be black ? It is occasioned by a , terrestrial and earthy matter of Mack color, as Aristo.le says. Another reason is, accord- Aristotle's problems. %%'fp S-ng to physicians, the spleen is the receptacle of melancho- ly, and that it is black. Why is he lean who hath a large spleen ? Because the spleen draws mtieh water to/ itself, which wou d turn tofat ; therefore contrary wise, men that have but h small spleen are far. Why does the spleen cause men to laugh ? Issdorus says, we laugh with the spleen, we are angry with the gall, we are wise with the heart, we love with the liver, we feel with the brain, and speak with the lungs, that is, the cause of laughing, nnger, l«ve, wisdom, speech, and feeling, piocseds from-the spleen, gall, liver, lungs, and brain. The reason is, the spleen draws much melancholy to it, being its proper seat, which melancholy proceeds fronvsad~ - ness, and is there consumed, and the cause failing, the ef~ - feet doth so likewise. Ot (Jarnal'Gopulation. Why do living creatures use carnal copulation ? Because it is most natural to beget their like ; rbr, if cop- ulation were not, all procreation had sunk ere now. What is this carnal copulation ? It is a mmual action of male and female, with instru- ments ordained for that purpose* to propagate their kind ; and therefore divines say, it is a sin to use that act for any other end. Why is this action g*od in those who use it lawfully and ■ moderately I Because, say Avicen and'Const. it eases and lightens the body, clears the mind, comforts the head and senses, and expels melancholy. Therefore sometimes through the omis- sion of this act, dimness of sight doth ensue, aud giddiness ; besides the seed of a man retained above its due lime, is * converted into some infectious humor. Wny is immoderate carnal copulation hurtful ? .. Because it destroys the sight, dries the body, and impairs the brain ; often causes fevers, as Av cen and experience shew ; it shortens life too, as is evident in the sparrow, which by reason of its often coupling, lives but three years. Why doth carnal copulation injure melancholy or choler- ic men, especially thin men I Because it dries the bones much which are naturally so, On the contrary, it is good for the phlegmatic and sanguine, as Avicen says, bee-ause they abound with that substance which by nature is necessarily expelled. Though Aristotle affirms, that every fat creatuie has but little seed, because the substance turns to fat. &&6 ARI3T0TLE?S PROBLEMS. Why do not female brute beasts covet carnal copulaiioa after they are great with young ? Because then the womb or matrix is shut, and desire doth cease. Wny should not the act be used when the body is full ? Because it hinders digestion, and it is not good for a hun- gry belly, because it weakens him. Why is it not good after uirth ? Because then the pores are open, and the heat disperses through the body, yet after bathing it cools the body very much. Why is it not proper after vomiting or looseness ? Because ic is dangerous to purge twice !n one ilay ; but se it is in this act the reins are purged, and the guts by the vomit. Why are wild beasts furious when they coaple, as ap- pear-, in asses which bray; and harls, who are mad alms-it, as Hippocrates says ? Tneir blood is kindled with desire, and nature also la- bors to expel superfluities in them, which dispose them ta anger and madness ; therefore the act done, they are tame and gentle. Ii hy is there such delight in the aet of venery ? Because this act is a base and contemptible thing in it- self, insomuch that all creatures would tutu-ally abhor it, were there no pleasure in it, and therefor* nature readily uses it, that all kinds ef living, creatuies should be main- tained and kept. Of the Seed of Man or Beast. How or" of what comeih the set-d of man ? Tiureare divers opinions of philosophers and physicians in this point. S-mae say it is a superfluous humor of the fourth digestion ; others say, that the seed is pure blood flr»vving from th^ brajn concocted and whitened in the testi- cles; and some say, it is the supeifluity of the second or third digestion ; but Aristotle says, the seed is always the superfluity of the last nutriment, that is of blood dispersed throughout the body, and comes chiefly from tha heart, liv- er, and brain ; which is argued, because those parts are greatly weakened-by ejecting s?ed, and therefore it appears that carnal copulation is not good, but some think, when moderately used, it is very wholesome. Wny is a man's seed while and a woman's red ? Tis white in man by reason of his great heat and quick digestion, because ranfied in the testicles ; but a woman's is red, because 'tis the superfluity «f the second digestion, winch is done in the liver. Or else we may say, it is Le- ARISTGTLE'S PROBLEMS. SS? ,€ause the terms corrupt undigested blood, and hath its color. J>'th the seed of man come from the parts of the body or from humors ? Some say from the parts of the body, and that a lame man begets a lame child ; and if the father hath a scar, the child hath one aho, which could not be, if the seed did not fall from the parts of the body. Others say, it comes from the humors, by reason it is made of the last nutriment, and that it is no part but a humor. As for lameness or scars, they proceed from imagination of the mother at the time of carnal copulation. How comes the imagination of the mother to cause her to bring forth a blackmoor, as Albeitus Magnus reports of a queen who in the act of carnal copulation, imagined a b!?.ck being painted, and in her sight ? As it is said, ,the imagination of a fall, makes a maji fall, and '.he imagination of a leprosy makes a man a leper ; so, in this the imagination is above the forming power, and the child born, followeth the imagination, and not th;pow- er of forming and shaping, because 'tis weakest. Doth the msn's seed enter into the substance of the child ? The seed of both faiher and mother go into the substance pf the child in the womb, as cream geeth to the substance of the cheese. Yet this opinion doth seem to be of force, therefore we say, the seed doth not go into the substance f the child ; and it is prove d thus, because that so the matter and the efficient cause should be all one, which is against the philosopher. The consequence is good becausa the seed is the efficient cause of the house, and therefore is net the material cause of the child. 1 his is proved another way ; as there is the selfsame material cause of nourish- ment and generation ; so we have our being and nourish- ment of the same matter. But the seed cannot be the ma- terial cause of nourishment, according to Averrois, therer fore not of the being. And as both seeds are shut up in the womb, so that of the man disposeth and prepares the wo- man's to receive the foim, perfection, or soul, which being done, it is converted into a humidity that is breathed out by 'the pores of the matrix. How come females to have monthly ccurses ? They ?.re cold in respect of men, and as their nourishment cannot all be converted into blood, a great part thereof t,urns to menses, which are monthly expelled. For what rensrn do not the courses come before thirteen. Because young women are !•'*, ard digest all their noui- lthnient. thereto! e they have them nftth ►.re that age. For what reason do they leave them at abowt fifty. &$S ARISTOTLE'S PROBLEMS. Some answer that old women are barren, and therefore they cease; but a better answer is, that then nature is weak in (hem, anAitherefore they cannot expel ihem : there is great store of immundities bred in them, which lies in a lump ; this makes them troubled with coughs and other in- firmities. Men should refrain their use at those times. Why have not breeding women the menses. BecaiMe that then they turn into milk, and into the nour- ishment of the child ; for if a woman with child have them, it is a sign she will miscarry. Why are they termed menstrua. From the word mensis, a mouth, because it is a time which measures the moon, as she ends her course in 29 days and 14 hours. The moon hath dominion over moisi things, and the metises are humid, and moist things uucrexse and decrease as the moon does. Why do they continue longer with some thai others, with some six or seven, but commenly with all three days. The first are colder, therefore they increase most in them, and consequently are longer in expelling ; other women are more hot, therefore they have fewer, and are soon ex- pelled. Where are the terms retained, before they are run. Some say in the matrix or womb ; but Averrois says, the matrix is the place for generation, and that those terms further not generation at all ; therefore be asserts that there are certain veins about the backbone-which retain them ; a sign of lvhich is, those women, at that time have great pain in their backs. \ Are ihe menses which are expelled, and those of which the child is engendered, all one. No: because the one are unclean, and unfit for that pur- pose, but the other very pure and clean, therefore finest for generation. Why do those got with child, when they have the terms upon tbem, bring forth weak and leprous children. Because, they are venomous; so the cause appeareth in the effect. Why have women their terms, s«me at the new moon, some at theful, and others at the wain. By res-son of their several complexions; and though all women in 1 espect of men are phlegmatic, yet seme are mots sanguine than others, some are choleric. As months have tlieir quarters, so have women their complex'ons ; cnaofa sanguine complexion hath htr ;et r. . in the firs,, quarter, a choleric in the second, a melanche'ic in the third, Sec. Wi.-J" ha\£ the sanguine tbeir» in the fir*! quarter. Aristotle's problems. 229 Because saith Gs;en, ^ire was on a time a good constellation for begelti-g Of "hoes, and a child was then begotten and brought forth. Mt\\ chhad a face like a hog ; According o th:* divers sort. oi inoi.s ers are biougl-t forth. S&3 AR:sroTr.Krs pkcblems. Why are childitm eftener likethe father than the moiirer That pitted* of imagi-ration of the mother in the act of aepulaiion, and therein e the children gel the disposition et the faifw. This nppfars from an Ethiopian queen, who brought forth a white child, becau • her imagination w;ii •pon a white color ; antl is seen in Jacobs skill in casting rods of divers colors into the water when his sheep went to i urn. Why do children sometimt s move reserrble their grand- fathers and great grandfathers, loan their parent0. The virtue and force of ihe grandfather is grafted in the heart of the begetter, and it may be said that sometimes it doih proceed ot the similitude of the nutriment, and then the child is formed by ihe similitude of the grandfather. Why do children, according to the course of nature, some cuuf the mother's, womb in the ninth month. Because the child is then fully per.'ect, or else because •some benign planet dotn reign, Jupiter, who is a friend of nature ; for, according to the astrorromers, he is hot, moist, and therefore doth temper the malice and naughtiness of Saturn, who is cold and dity therefore for the most part, thildien born in the ninth month, are healthful Why do children born in the 81I1 month, for the most part, die quickly ; and why are they called the children of ihe moon. Because the moon is a cold planet, which has dominion over the child, and therefore dotn bind it with its coldness which is the cause of its death. Why doth a child cry as it is born. 1st. Because ofthesuiden change from heat to cold, which cold do.h hurt its tenderness. 2dly, Because the child's soft and tender body is wringed and put together, eoming out of the narrow and strait passage of the matrix ; and especially tha brain being moist and the head pressed mid wiinged together, is the cause lhat some humors do distil by the eyes, which are the cause of tears and weep- ing. 3dly, Divines say it is for the traiKjgression of our first father and original sin. Why doth a child put his finger into his mouth when he Cometh first in o the world. Because that co.ning ouiofthe womb, he cometh out of a hot li.ith, and entering into the CJld, he puts his fiugers into his month for want of heat. How doth a chiid come into the world out of the womb. He cometh foi-U with ihe head forward ; for, if he should come with th? thighs or arms, he would kill himself and the motlie;'. Aristotle's problems. 8$3 Of the Young One in the womb. How is the youngone engendered in the womb. The first six clays the seed hath the. color of milk, but in the six days following a red color, which is near unto the disposition of flesh, and then is changed into a thick sub- stance of blood, but in twelve days following, this substance is mad^ so thick and sound, that it is able, to receive shape and f ii'in, because a fluid or running substance sleepeth on till its birth; and it is governed every month by the planet«. Uo;h the child in the womb void excrements or make water. No; and the reason is, because he hath the first diges. Tion which is in the stomach ; he receives no food by the mouth, but it comes to him at the navel, he therefore makes no urine, but sweats, whioh at best is but little, and is received in a skin in the matrix, and al his birth is oast out.' Why doth the child come easily out of the matrix, after seven, eight or nine months. Because, saith Galen, when the fruit is ripe, then the ligaments are broken, and so it falls out. Of Abortion and untimely Birth. Why do womsn that eat unwholesome meats easily miscarry. Because it breeds putrefied seed in them, which the mind abhorring doth cast out of the womb, as unfit for the most noble shape which is adapted to receive the soul. Why do-h wrestling or leaping cause the casting of the child as some subtle women used to do on purpose. Because it looses the ligaments which should hold the ch»'d». Why doth thunder cause miscarriage. The vapor is burning, and doth easily hurt the tender su bstance of the child, entering in at the pores of the mat- rix- Albertus says, if the child be near delivery, lightning and thunder will kill it. Why doth thunder and lightning rather cause young wo- men than old to miscarry. «■.,„„., „r ««MO Because the bodies of young women a re fuller ofpores,- and more slender, and therefore the W™"?™™'™™ into their body ; but old ones have a thick skin, well com- pacted, therefore the vapors cannot enter. Whv doth much joy cau w wonaen to misc an y. Because in a time of joy a woman is destitute of heat, and so the miscarriage doth follow. *20 £31 ZiMARAS' PROBLEMS. VVhy do women easily miscarry when they arc first with child, viz the first, second, or third raonth. Apples and pears easily fall, at first because the knots and ligaments are weak, so it is of a child in the womb. Why is it more hard te miscarry in the fourth, filth, or sixth month. Because then the ligaments are stronger and well forti- fied. M. ANTON. Z1MARVS S \NCTIPERTIAS' PROB- LEMS. Why is it esteemed io the judgment of the most wise the hardest thing to know a man's self. It is because no' king can be known ; its form and perfec- tion cannot be found ; to know the form and perfection of a man'l self, a% It coraeth unto the philosopher* is a matter hard enough and a man, by the authority of Plato, either is nothing, or if he be any thing, he is nothing but his soul. Or is it because it cannot be done by a reflected action, and to reflect and look unto himself as a token that he is sepa- rated by the flesh ; for he who would know himself should be drawn from sensible affections ; and how hard this is, no man is ignorarit of. Or, is it because a man liveih by understanding : but the understanding, a man cannot con- ceive of himself, but after the understanding of senses, whfreh is very hard. W'hy was Socrates esteemed the wisest of all Greece by Apollo, seeing that, by th^ opinion of Aris»otle, he was con- versant and busied only about morality, and nothing about nature ! fFhetbcr it is because it is more expedient for the com- modity, and u*e of men to live well and contemplate ; or because it seemeth to Plato that he wa? usually professed of him every where, I know one thing that I know milling. Why do men especially strive and contend in things of wit ? Ii is because they think that oth?v things which are Called go ids are the power of anetfcer ; as the gifts of the body are nature's and external, and worldly goods are sub- Jectunto the rule of fortune, whereof it cometh to piss, that every man may easily suffer himself f> be overcame in «uch things, as things not happening through his fault or occasion, but they think wit to be in iheir own power. Or, it is bucanse they think that the gobds of the mind do excel ail other gaods, and therefore do think it a thing most nat- ural to contend for that which is most excellent. Or, it is because it is a common disease of ;fll men, as it'seemeth un- to s.eerfain wbe man, that ewy mm doth think himself ZIMARAS* PROBLl JIS. S3j more learned than he is, and therefore (!<>f d sire lo per- form that which hebebeveth, wiihout study at.d labor. Why do men say that philosophy is naked ? It is because truth is naked, and that there needs no c?- lor of words when we handle a matter of truth ; for, it he- lon^eth to sophisteis to dispute of terms when the sincere truth is sought. Or. it is because they do not play the philosopher well, who seek philosophy tor gain and ambition and not for herself. Or. it is brcauso-he should be void from all worldly aftVctioi.s* w ho desires to endear himself in the study of philosophy ; for Aristotle doih say. the sen! is made wise by rest and quietness. And it were-easy for philosophers to become, ric.i, if they wou;d, as it appeareih by the example of I'halrs. Why do men tlesiie to b? had in memory af'er their death, and therefore some make pvramids, statues, images, and divers other tokens and m*#narncnts which ihey build and leave behind them. It is because all things, as seems unto Aristotle, do de- sire to paricipate of aims perpetuity and divine being *s much as they can ; and therefore, if they cannot remain in nature and being, yet they endeavor at least to continue in the opinion and conceit of man. Or else custom hath brought it in so, to stir up such as comes after, to the end they should not degenerate, from their parents. What's the cause why •ten's desirus grow without meas- ure about fortune's goods ? It is because natural desires, as S«neca saith, have an end, and such desires, as proceed of false opinion have no where to end. Wny do poets alwavs assign and appoint some wise men to be familiar with princes ; as, Homer eloth Nestor with Agamemnon; Euripides, Tiresius with Creon ; He«iodiw, Promotheus, with Jupiter ; and, Maro, Achates and /Ejeas. It is because that by the law of nature, as Plato doth say wisdom and power do direct cmr ac'ions to one end, and to eff«-o-t the same thing, love it and seek it. Whv doth Homer when he makes mention of Ambassa- dors, talk always of the embassy of a commander in bare WTtdis because it is the duty of ambassadors, to declare the ime will of the commander, and put his sentence ,n execu- tion ; and therefore, it is certain, he should add no hing ; or else, it isbecause the commandment of hirn whodo-h.rule tLt £ of a wise man, is put into good order and is pre- sumed to be most perfect. And therefore there should be nothing changed ; hut his decress and constitutions are to be judged absolute and peifect- S36 APHRODISLUS' PROBLEMS. Why does Arisiotle use exceeding brevity in most hard matters. JTliether because it is the custom of wise men to load their words with sentences,or else to the end that he would bt obscure, to fear and keep off rude wiu from reading of his works, as it seemeth in the expositors ; or, whether it is because that in a hard matter, and in a matter ol truth, many words are suspected, b.-cause that truth dtnh consist in few words; or it is because it seemeth to wise men, in many words there is error often committed. Why do famous men, in any science, when thry do err in any matters, err more dangerously than those who are less famous. It is because lhat such trusting to the heat of their own wit, are drawn far from their own senses, and therefore, must needs be deceived. Avicen may serve for a proof uf this, who, for all his fame in philosophy, said that a man might naturally be brought forth of the earth. And lhat great famous Averrois, thought that a m tid might conceive a child in a oath without the knowledge of a man. The PROBLEMS of ALAX. APHRODISEUS. Why'doth the sun make men black ; and nuke dirt white; and make wax soft, and dirt hard ? By reason of the disposition of the substance that doth suf- fer. All humors phlegm excepted, when they are heated above measure, do seem black about the skin: but dirt be- ing either full of saltpetre or salt liquor, when the stti haih consumed its dregs, and fiUh, do.h become white again : when the sun hath drawn and stirred up the humidity of the wax, it is softened ; but in dirt the sun doth consume the humidity which is very much, and so dv.h dry it and make it hard. Why doth black choler, coming into the paps, oause a corrosion or gnawing ; and in those who are melancholy, it doth not, but flies into the brain. Because there are many great veins in the paps by reason of engendering milk, and therefore store of that humor doth run thither. But io th* brain because it Is above, arid also because it hath very small veins, small store of choler doth ascend, and which hath osly power and force to prick and not to gnaw and eat. Moreover, the brain is hard and moist, whereby it is, after a sort contrary to the disposi- tion of black choler, wmch dovh mortify it ; that therefore which is properly called black choler doth brted an eating and gnawing canker in the paps. In the brain it doth breed a man fierck and melancholy, but that which is not properly black ehoier, but meiancholy humor, causeth AFirRODISLUS' PROBLEMS. < %3f swelling only Which is like a cancer bin doth not gnaw and eat,.and d >ih also breed a qaiet and peaceable melan. choly. Fe-r what rtascn will not the Water run oat of the bottom of a wateriig pot, when we put our finger on the mouth of it, and ihe finger being taken away it runneth presently. Because when the finger is taken away from the mouth of the pot, the air entering in doth thrust down the water, which of its own nature doth go downward, antl so goeth out at the bottom. And this is the reason of all mechanical- engines and instruments made to go by air, as clocks, and hour glasses, made by water. \ihy doth wine and water given out of season, to the sick of an ague, cause a distemper of the brain, when ihe water is cold and the wine is h«t ? The wine being apt to ascend, doth burn the braiu at the time it is disturbed and distempered with the ague. And we see also many who are in health, if they use much wine so be scarce well in their wits. But water doth stop the passages of the body, by Which the spirits are dissolved,and so causes them to become thick and gross, and more corrupt and putrefied, by the ague, becometh its nourishment ; as. we see in a smitk's forge, where a little water doth kindle- the fire, and makt it burn fiercer. Why have women, children, and gelded men shrill and loud voices. Because that through the abundance of humidity tlieir artery is not stretched wide : and therefore, as a small note or pipe giveth a .mall slender sound, so does the artery in them that is straight and narrow : for it is the property of heat to make wide and loosen, but eunuchs and women are cold. , Why are children stricken with the planet in the sum. mer time. . They are siek of a weak and lingering ague, ana their eyes sink hollow in iheir head, and ihey become weak and feeble, and sleep very little ; and some of them have a flux because children are tender and so easily vuffer ; and hav- ing great store of phlegm in the head, and thai phlegm be- in? overmuch heated, and also putrefied, do h nr!Ume_ihe Pffue, whereupon the gristles of the brain are set on fire, and therefore they sleep little ; and that fire desceHilmg bv the arteries of the heart, and setting on fire the lively cuiriUdoth kindle aB amie ; and feeing that much choler nriseVofan ague, thereby it faHeth our, that the choler. Knaweih and eateih the belly. It is plain, that the cause ot that alteration is in the brain, because that cooling medf §38 APHRODISEUS' PROBLEMS. c.nes are applied umo the head, a.id such as are good to quench that fire. Some of lSper years are sick of ih- same disease, /.• e. such as have phlegm and choler heaped up in their head, which putrefies by ihe very breathing thereof, and after a manlier, the spirits are set on fire by a fiery air. JFliy are round ulcers hard to be cured. Because (hey *re bred of sharp rhojer, which eats and gnaw*, and bee iiise it doth run, foVwhich reason it re- quires drying medicines as physicians assert. Natural philosophers say it comes to pass because there is begin- ning where the mischievous impostbume doth begin, for in a circle there is neither beginning nor end. When they are burned by physicians they doth assume another, kind of Srh.'-pP. Why is honey sweet to all men, and yet seemeth bitter to such as have the jaundice* Because they have mach bitter choler all over their bet- dies, but it abounds with the tongu-*, whence it happens vdien'tb^y eat honey the tru.nnrsare stirred, and. the taste Itself, when it hath found tne bitterness of choler, csus-'s an imagination'that the honev i> bitter. Why have angry men fiery eyes. Because \he blood about the heart is fervent, and the spirit hot, and so being very subtle and pure, and carried Upwards, and by the eyes, which are clear thsy do shine, and have bloody vapors that ascend with ihem, w:nch makes the face red, which Harnvr not being ignorant of, says " And his eyes were like a burning fame. Why doth water cast upon serpents, came them to fly from us ? Because they are cold and dry by nature, having but lit- tle blood, and therefore fly from excessive coldness. And that they bs of this quality is plain, because they seek tor dens and secret places in the earth, as being warm. At sir.net they shun the air, as being cold ; and again in sum- mer, because the bowels of the eaith are cold, l!iey find out the warmest (daces. Why doth an egg break if it be roas'.ed, and not if boiled. The reason is, when moisture comes near ihe fire, it heats it too much, and so breeds much wind, which bang pent up in a little, foreeth its way out, and so breaks the shell. Tne like happens in tubs, or earthen vessels, when new wine ii yi into chem. Much phlegm breaks the shell of an «.gj» in roasting, the which doth happen in earthen pots too uiu> n heated ; wherefore the co umsn people wet an egg when they intend to rja.it it. IIat water, throuji its soiin-'ii, do h separate its humidity by lute and link-, and so ci>- sorves it through the passages that are m uu s.Ht!is. APHRCDISEUS' PROBLEMS. £39 Why do men, in the act cf carnal copulation, in a man- ner wink, and find a like alteration in all senses. Because that being overcome with the effect of lhat pleas. nre, they do cempreheiid it better, winking as it were with their eyes. They are not lifted up, nor do carry the wind abroad into the air with the senses, whereby they would dis- cern those corporeal affections. Why have some medicines of one kind contrary force, as experience doth teach, mastic doth expel, dissolve, aid so knit ; vinegar both cools and beats. Because there are some small invisible bodies of tbem, not by confusion but by interposition ; as sand mo'tsui td doth clog together, and seems to be but one bedy. though in- deed there are many small bodies in sand. Sioce this is so, it is not nbsurd that contrary qualities and virtues should be hidden in mastic, and nature hath given the 'aw to tht;e occHcs. rhy do our privities swell when we hurt one of our toes. ature caring for those things which belong to the body, hastes to assist the part grieved, and because she hath %he most profitab'e and nourishing 01 all the humors, it u=ie- quisite when she doth descend to the toe wi'h the blood, lhat those veins be filled which are about the privy mem- bers. Why doth not na'.ure .give bit,-Is a bladder, or a recepta- cle fpr urine. Because they do want much mois'uretc give the mailer for feathers to grow, ai.d that th*y do consume with the ex- ercise of flying ; neither do ihey pjss at all, and when they drirk they void very much dung. Why have children gravel breeding in their bladder, and old men in their kidneys, and reins ot the kidneys. Be cause chidren have straight passages in the kidneys, and* n earthy thick humor isthtust with violence by ihe urine from the'fashion of the moon, even to the bladd&r, which hath wide conduits ot passages that give room for the urine and humor, whereof gravel is engendered, to wsx .thick and seat itself, as the custrm of it is. In old men it is the reverse, for they have wide passrges of the reins, back, and kidneys, that the urine may pass away, and the earthy humor congeal and sink down ; the color of the gravel shews the humor whereof the stones come. Why, if the stot,- dt congeal aid wax hard through heat, (children are hot, aid by the same reason it is done-in old men for tiere is ; ot so much cold to be granted as there is in ice or sno*, through which extreme cold the kidneys would pejrsV yet we use not contrary'hings to dissolve 3 219 APHT0DISEU5' PROBLEMS. coldness, but light things, as psrsley, ftnnel, and sur.h like' They say it fallethout that by excessive heat and scorch- ing, 'he stones do crumb'e into sand, as in earthen vessels, which when ihey are overheated or roasted, become sand. And by this mean* it .happens that smill stones are voided together with sard in.maki^g water. Sometimes cold drinks thrust out the stones, ;!ie kidnevs being strciched, and east- ing out by a greater lask, and easing the belly of its burden. Besides it often happens, that an immoderate heat »f the kidneys or of the reins of ihe bark (through which the stone doth grow) is quenched with coldness. Why is the curing an ulcer or bile in the kidneys or blad- der very hard. Because the urine being very sharp, doth exulcerate the wound while good and fit medicaments would cover the skin. Ulcers are harder to cure in the bladder than in the kidneys, because urine stajs in the former, but runs away fiom the latter; What is the teason that in ba.thing vessels, the hot water, when it is stirred, seems the hotter to us, almost burning our bodies. Because, when we enter these sorts of baths, the water itself doth suffer, that is, when the water heats our bodies, it is made colder by us. We have learned that whatever works in generation of corruprion, the same, without all doubt, doth suffer ; the water then being in some sort cool- ed, doth not heat alike, and we being accustomed to it, do not feel the heat as we did in the beginning, because U is diminished. If, by stirring the water, more heat is added, which neither hath yet wrought or suffered any thing of the body which is in it, that will seem very hot and scalding, in regard that it suffers by something, aud so by degrees loses its heat, us the first did. How is it that whatsoever is moved, is hotter for it, es- pecially in summer, when ihe heat ot the tun is most vio- lent. This seems a contradiction to tlie other ; for hot water did not seom hotter to us by moving. Therefore, it is a common thing for what is most and principal in any thing, either in quantity or quality, to overcome and change that vrhich is l«ss and Weaker ; and that which is strong doth somewhat suffer again in doing. W here fore the hot water, when it is very hot, sticking to the hot body cools, and dots not retain the same quality. The air then, which doth com- pass us about, being hot in summer, like the water compass- ing our bodies, is somewhat heated by us, who are hot thro' the seasoii it heats us as linen garments d«i which being APHRODISEUS7 PROBLEMS. 241 first cold, and then stirred, that air which was before heat- ed by us. is driven away, and another, not heated, succeeds and seems cold to us. Why do those sores which breed in ihe ball of the eyes, seem white, when they have less growing, and arc cold, and others do not seem so that grow out of the ball. Because through the ball of the eye the sight proceedeth, which is bright and clear, therefore in the white of the eye, when the weund doth make thick that part of the covering which is like a horn, the spirit of the sight cannot issue out ; hence it comes to pass, rnuch -of it being got together, it makes the wound light and clear, shewing it white ; and because of the quietness of the sight, the spirit cannot go out, it causes blindness. JThy doth chaffand straw keep water hot, and snow cold, which are seemingly contraries. Because the nature of chaff wants a manifest quality ; seeing therefore, that of their nature, they can easily be mingled, and consumed with that which they are annexed un'o, they easily also take the same natuie unto them ; and therefore being put into hot ihings, they are easily hot, and .do heat again, and keep hot ; and, en the contrary, being made cold of the snow, and makir.g the snow cold, do keep in its coldness. So wax and oil will easily be eonsumed,and made one with another thing, and do help the quality which is mingled with them, as being made one with them. Why do the stars and heaven seem clearest in ihe bright winter time. Because the air, either which doth compass us, or that which is highest, is made thin and purged with winds and showers of rain, and by that mranscui sight doth see both further and clearer. The like is manilesily seen in running rivers ; for juch things as are in them are far better seen than in the thick standing puddle of water, where, either nothing is seen, or confusedly. Why have we oftentimes a pain in making water. Because that sharp choler issuing out and pricking the bladder of the urine, doth provoke and stir up the whole body to ease the part offended, and to expel the humor moderately. This doth happen mostly to children, because they have most excremeBts, by reason of their often filling. Why do nurses rock and move their children when they would have them sleep. To the end that the humors, being scattered by moving, may move the brains ; but those of more years cannot en- dure this. Why do some drunkards see double. <&4 2W APIIRUDISLUS' PROBLEMS. Because the muscles of the sight being more or less filled, and by the self sam* means weak and feeble, do draw ona eve upward, aiid the other downward, and by lhat means the beams do not look that way at once, but towards divers places and bodies ; and therefore, each of the eyes using a private office and duty of seeing, doth cause a doub'e sight. Why are boys apt to change their voices about fourteen years of age. Because lhat then nature doth cause a great and sudden change of agt ; experience proveth this to be true, for, at that time we may see that womens' paps do grow great to hold and gather milk, and also those places that are above the hips in which ihe young fruit should remain. Likewise mens' breasts and shcnlders, which bear them great and heavy burdens. Also their stones in which their seed may increase and abide, and their privy members, to let ont the *eed with ease. Further, all the whole body is made larger mid dilated, as the alteration andchange of every part of the body do testify, and the harshness of the voice & hoarse- ness ; tor 'he rough artery, the windpipe, being m;;de wide in the beginning, and th« exteiior and outward part withm rqual io ihe throat, the air going out at the rough, unequal and uneven pipe, doth become ui,equal and sharp, and af er a sort hoarse like unto the voice of a goat, wherefore it Las i's name Bronchus. The same doih happen to ih«:m •into whose rough artery distillation doth flow. Il happens hv reason of the drooping humidity lhat a light small sk a «lied unequally causes the uneven going forth cf ihe spirt and air. Understand lhat the windpipe of goats is such by reason of the abundance of humidity. The like doth happt n unto all such as nature haih given a rough artery, as unto cranes. After the years of fourteen, they leave cff that voic*, because the artery is made wider, at.d reacheth its i a*ural evenness and quality. Why is fortui e paint-.d with adouble forehead, one side bald, and the other hairy. The baldness signifies adversity, and haiiiness prosperi- ty, which we ei'joy when it pleases her. V\ h\ have some commended flattery. Because flattery setteth forth before eur eyes, what we aught to-be, ihrugh not what we are. Wherefat e should virtue be painted girded. To shew that virtuous" men should not be slothful, but di- ligent and always in action. Whs did the ancients say it was better to fall into the hands of a raven, than a flatterer. Because '-he ravens don't eat us till we be dead, but flat- terers devour.us alive AFHRODISbUS' PR03LEMS. &43 Because they are hot, and their pores krge and wide. How comes it that such as have the hicup do ease them. selves by holding their breath The breath retained doth heat the interior parts of the body, and the hicup proceeds from nothing but cold. How comes it that old men remember well that which they have seen and done in their youth, and forget things as they see and do in their age. Things learned in youth have taken root and habituate in the person, but those learnt in age are forgotten, because the senses are weakened in them. What kind of covetousness is best. That of time, when it is e-nploytd as it ought to be* Why is our life compared to a stage play. Because the dishonest do occupy the place of the honest, and the worst sort the room of the good. Why do dolphins, when they appear above the water de- note some storm or tempest approaching. Becau e that, at the b ginning of the tempest, there do arise from the bottom of the sea certain hot exhalations and vapors, whicii heat ihe dolphins, causing them to rise up and seek for cold. Why are things more quiet in the night than in the day. The motion of the air, and the coldness of the night, is the cause thereof, which coldness continues and hinders trie me- tions. How come the Romans to call Fabius Maxim us the target of the people, and Marcellus the sword* Because the one adapted himself to the service of the commonwealth, and the other was very eager to.revenge the injuries of his country ; and yet they were in the senate joined togethei, because th? gravity of the otie would mod- erate the courage and brevity of the oth^r. Why does the slvniug of the moon him the head. Became it moves thi humors ol th; brain, and cannot af- terwards resolve them. If water do noui iah, why do not m^-n drink i'. Water causes the nutriment lo spieadthrough the body. Why is snrezing good. It purgeth the bram, as m';k is purged by the cough. Where is the seat of the aff etiows of the body. Juy dwelkth in the spleen, anger in the gal!, fear in the heart, and lechery in the hvei. Why is hot watei lighter than cold. Because ihe bailing water has lees ventos'tfy, and is more light and subtle, the earthy and heavy snbstance being sep- arated from it. l£uw com s marsh and pwnd water to be evil. 2<*4 APHROBISEUS* PROBLEMS. By reason,they are phlegmatic, and do corrupt in sum- mer time, the fineness of the water is turned inio vapors, and the earthiness doth remain. Why are studious and learned men soonest bald. It proceeds from a weakness of the spirits, or because warmth of digestion causes phlegm to abound in them. Why doih much watching make the brain feeble. Because it increases eholer, which dries and extenuates the body. Why are steel glasses better for the sight than others. Steel is hard, and doth present unt» us more substantial- ly the air which receiveth the light. How doth lore bhsw its greatest force, by making the fool to become wise, or tha wise become a fool. It attributes wisdom to him that bath it not ; for it is harder to build than to pull down, and. ordinarily love and folly are but an.alteration of the mind. How comes too much labor to be bad for the sight. Because it dries the blood too much. Why is goats' milk counted best for the stomach. Because it is thick, not slimy, and they feed upon boughs and wood rather than grass. Why do grief and vexation bring grey haira. Because it dries, and age is nothing else. How is he the most merry that hath the thickest blood. The blood when it is fat and thick makes the spirits firm and constant, wherein consists the force of all creatures. In your opinion which is hardest, to obtain the love of a. person, or to keep it when obtained. To keep it, by reason of the inconstancy of man, who is quickly angry, and 'soon weary of a thing ; hard to be got, and slippery to keep. Why do serpents shun the herb rue. Became they are cold, dry, and full of sinews, but the herb rue is of a contrary nature. How comes a capon better to eat than a cock. The capon loses not his moisture, because he does not tread the hens, and therefore is better Wny do. we smell a thing less in winter than in the sum- mer. Because the air is thick, and less movable. How comes hair to burn so quick as it does. Because the hair is dry and cold. Wny is love compared to labyrinth. Because the entry and coming in is easy, and the going out impossible, or very hard. THE END. ARfSTOTLH'S LAST LEGACY, UNFOUMA'O THE MYSTERIES OF NATURE, IN THE GENERATION OF MANfc TREATING, I. Of Virginity, its Signs and Tokens, and how a Man may know whether he hath Married a Virgin or not. II. Of the Organ of Gener- ation in Women, with a description of the Womb. 111. Of the Use and Action ot the Genitals in the, Work of Generation. IV. Of Conception ; and hew to know whether a Woman has Conceived, and whether of a Male or Female. V. Of the Pleasure and Ad- vantage of Marriage ; with the unhappy Conse- quences of unequalMATcH- is, and Miseries of Un- lawful Love. VI. Of Barhenness, with Remedies against it; and the Signs of the Insuffi- ciency both in Men aad Women. VII. Directions to both Sexes how to manage themselves in the act of Coition, or their Vene- real Embraces. VIII. A VADEMECUMfor Midwives and Nurses ; Containing particular Directions for the faith- ful Discharge of their Employments. IX. Excellent Remedies against all Diseases inci- dent to Virgins and Child Bearing Women ; fitted for the use of Mis- wives, &c. INTRODUCTION". WHEN the Almighty Architect of the world ha:! formed the heaven in the beginning, and laid the founda- tion of the earth, and by his blessed Spirit moving upon the abyss, had created a fair and beautiful world, out of a rude mass and undigested chaos, and by his powerful fiat had brought into being all the several species of vegeta- bles and animals, and given even to the plants and vege? tables to have seed in themselves for producing their several kinds or forms, and to the animals (which h© created male, and female) the power of propagating their species, and had adorned the world with all those beau-^ tiful and glorious embellishments, that his omnipotent wisdom and goodness saw fit and requisite for that great guest he designed to bring into it; he at lact created man as a microcosm, or lesser world to be lord of this greater world, not with a bare fiat only, as he did the rest of his creatures, but called (as it were) a council of the sacred Trinity about it, saying, Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness, &c. as the divine historian expresses : So that man, in his original, is a ray of the divinity, and the very breath of the Almighty ; and therefore it is said, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul. Man being thus created, and made lord of the world, had in himself at first both sexes, for the text tells us, Male and female created he them, and called their name Adam ; but yet till Adam was divided he was still alcpe ; and every creature had a mate, he was lord of all; so that in Par- adise itself he seemed to be unhappy, wanting a meet help ; and therefore his munificent Maker resolving to make him completely happy, divides himself from him- self, that by a more agreeable conjunction, he might be •nited to himself again ; and so of a part of himself was formed Eve, whom Adam, having never seen before, by a sympathy of nature, presently called bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh : And Adam having thus found a meefhelp given him by his Creator, he was now com- pletely happy, and being blessed by the Almighty, had; this law also given him, to increase and multiply* he be-. ing endowed with a natural propension thereunto, and the woman having a plastic pewer given her by nature 213 INTRODUCTION. for the formation of the embryo. This natural inclina- tion and propensiou ofboth sexes to each other, with the plastic power of nature, is only the energy of the first Messing and command of the Almighty, whieh to thm day upholds the world. The mystery of the generation of that noblest piece of creation man, and the unfolding of the plastic power of nature, in the secret workings of generation, and for- mation of the seed in the womb, is the subject of the following treatise ; a subject so necessary to be known by all the female sex, (the conception and bearing of children being that which nature has ordained their prov ince) that many for want of the knowledge hereof perish, with the fruit of their womb also who had they but un- derstood the secrets of generation displayed in this book, might have been still in the land of the living. 'Tis therefore for the u*e of such that this treatise i* compiled: wherein the mystery of generation is not only unravelled, * and the abstruse secrets of nature made known, but the obstructions and hinderances of genera- tion are declared, and proper remedies against all the defects of the womb directed. ARISTOTLE^ LAST LEGACY. Fully unfolding the Mysteries of Nature in the Gene^ ration of Man. Of Virginity, what it h, its Signs and Tokens, and how a Man may know if he marries a Virgin. THE great maker of the universe, thai givs all crea- tures life and being, and a power in themselves to propa- gate their kind, even to the end of ihe world, has to that end^creatcd them male and female, and these of contrary qualities ; for, in this noble pair, man and woman, the man te hot and dry, the woman cold and moist; and these two' different qualities uniting, are ordained by nature for the procreation of children, the seed of the man being the effi- cient cause, and the womb of the woman the field ot gene- rat ion, wherein the seed i» nourished, and the embryo' formed, and indue time brought f oi th. Since women then have so great purt in the generation of man, I shall endeavour to shew how nature has fit;ed them for it ; and because a knowledge of the disease is half the cure, I will give a brief description of the several parts or members of generation, that so, if at any time, any part- be affected, or out of order, it may be sooner reaified : And although 1 must use plainness, yet I hope to do it so as not; to cause a guilty blush on the cheek of the fair 3ex. And since the first state of woman is virginity, order and' method require that I speak something of that;- and im speaking ot it, I will fint shew what it is, and then lay down some signs and tokens of it, how it may be known, aid then proceed to what I have before promised. Virginity Is the boast and pride of the fair sex, though they generally commend it to put it off, and that they may the sooner get a good husband and thereby lose it. And I: think they are in the right, for, if they keep it too long, it grows useless, or at least abates much of its value ; a stale virgin being looked upon like an old almanack out ol date. Virginity, the chief, the best,the prime of any thing, Mid is properly the integrity of woman's privities, not violated bv man or known by him, it being the property ot a virgin not to have known man. But to come a liule more close, there U in young maidens, in the neck of the womb, a pen- dulous production called Hymen, which is like the bud of a rose half blown, and this is broke in the first act ot copu- lation with a man, and from thence the word deflora, t« deflower, because the taking away of virginity ;s deflower- &>Q Aristotle's last legacy. ing a virgin, for when the rose bud is expanded, virgini'v '• wholly lost. Certiin it is, there is in the first act of copu- lation, something which causeth pain and bleeding, which is an evident sign of virginity, but, wh&t this is, authors a* gree not Some say it is a nervous membrane, or thin Skin, with small veins, which bleed at the first penetration of the yard. Others say it is four caruncles, or bits of flesh, or little Duds, like myrtle berries, and these are plump and full in virgins, but hang loose and flag in those that have u->ed copulation. Some have observed a fleshy circle about ihe nymphae or neck of the womb, wit'i little obscure veins, which make the membrane not to be nervous, bui fleshy. There is no doubt but that the part which receiveth the yard is not in women that have used a man, as it is in vir- gins, and yet it is not alike in all, which hath caused di* versity of opinions both in authors ard anatomists, for ibis is not found in all virgins. Excess of lust, and desire of man, in some, may break the Hymen, or clastrum virgin- ale ; sometimes when it itcheth, they put in their finger and so break it ; sometimes the midwives break it in the birth; and sometimes it is done by stopping of the urine, coughing, violent straining or sneezing and thertf ire, if there be no bleeding at lue first penetration, it is not al. ways a sign of unchastity ; but where there is bleeding it is an unquestionable sign of virginity. Leo Africanus makes mention of the custom of the Afri- cans at their wedd ngs, which wis this ; after they were married, the bridegroom and the bride were shut up in a chamber, whilst the wedding dinner was preparing and an old woman s'.ood at the chamber door to receive from the bridegroom a sheet, having the bloody tokens of ihe wife's virgimty, which she shewed in triumph to all the gnests,and then they might feast with joy ; but if there was no blood to be seen, the bride was sent home with disgrace, and the disappointed guests was sent home sadly wihout their din- ner. But notwithstanding the African custom, I affirm that some honest virgins have lost their maiden heads wiihout bleeding, a:.d therefore are not to be censured for want of this token, as some ignorant men may do, and cause their wives to live an uncomfortable life all their days, fancying themselves to be cuckolds, when there is no such matter Some make the straiuiess of the priviies to be a sign of virginity, but this is no certain rule, f >r much depends upon the age, h ibit of-body, and other circumstances. Though it cannot but be acknowledged, that women that bive used carnal copulation are not so strait as virgins, yet this can be no certain argtim -nt of virginity, for, afier repeated acts »f venery, the privities nv.ty be made so s raig'-.t by the ut>e aristoile's last legacy. 25{ of astringent medicines, that a whore may be sometime* taken for a virgin. Culpepper mentions a woman that de- siring lo appear a virgin, used a bath ot comfrey roots, whereby she deceived tru se with wb> m sht had to do. Some muke milk in the breast h. sign o' lost virginity, not considering there is a twofold milk, the one of virgins con- trary to nature, the other natural ; the first is made of blood that cannol get out of the womb, and so goes to the breasts, being nothing but a superfluous nourishment lhat is turned into milk by the faculty cf ihe breasts w iihout the knowl- edge of a man ; the other is only when there is a child ei- ther in the womb or horn. And the milk differs very much bo'h in respect of ihe blood and diversity of veins, that bring it io the breast, and though both are white, jet that ol \ir- gins is thinner, less in quantity and not so sweet ; and there- fore, if virgins happen to have such milk, they are r.ot for that reason to be deemed unchaste. Upon the whole, when a man marries, and finds, upon ly- ing with his wife, the token ot her virginity, he has all the reason in the world to be satisfied he has married a virgin ; but if on the contrary, he finds them not, he has no reason to suspect her of unchast ity, as if she were not a virgin, since ihe hymen, or claustrum virginale, may be broken so many other ways, and yet the woman be both virtuous and chaste, And thus much I thought myself bound to say in behalf of the female sex, who are often accused and suspected of dis? honesty, when there is no occasion for it. CHAP. II. Of ike Organs of generation in Women, with a descrip- tion of the Fabric of a Wojpttn. In describing the oigans of generation in women, I shall use all possible plainness and perspicuity, and thall not be afraid to speak so as I ma) be understood by the meanest capacity, since I design nothing but the instruction of ihe ignorant, for their own safety, and shall say with the motto of ihe royal garter, Honi soil qni malypense. In the genitals of women tht re are several parts which must be distinctly spoken of; that which appears to view at the bottom of the belly is the Jissura magna, or the great clift or fissure of an oval form, with its hair aboui it; also the lips, which natuie designed to keepthe internal parts from cold and dust. The^e are called by the general name of pudenda, tram shamefacedness. because a woman is ashamed when those parts are discovered or made bare. 'Vhefissura magna reaches from the lower parts of the os pubis, near to the annus; but it is closer in virgins than in *. . _ ...u_ i----i.- , • ;i,*-<».. i,,ri u. tvvo lips, which *25S Aristotle's last legacy. towards the pubis grow more full and thick, and meeting rupon the middle of the os pubis, make that rising hill call- ted mons Veneris or the mount of Venu?. The next thing is the nympha,ar wings which appears when the lips are severed, and are framed of spungy or soft flesh, of a red color, two in number, joined in an acute an- gle producing there a fleshy substance composing ihe clyto. lis, and both in farm and color resembling the comb of a cock. The clitoris is a sinewy and hard body, full of spungy and black matter within ; and in form represents the yard of a man and is 6ubiect to erection and falling as that does. This is that which is thereat of veneral pleasure, & gives women delight in the act of.copulation. -For without this, a woman neither desires coition, nor hath pleasure in it, nor conceives byit. The clytoris sometimes grows out of the body two inches, but this very seldom happens. And some think lhat hermaphrodites, or those that have the genitals, are only such women in whom the clytoris hangs out extremely, and so resemble the form of a yard. And I am almost inclined to be of their opinion, especially con- sidering that the hanging out of the clytoris, is generally occasioned through extreme lust ; and both reason and au- thority demonstrate that the higher the clytoris, in women the more vehement their desires are carried after coition and consequently the morelustfuj. ;In the fourth place, under the clytoris, and above the neck of ihe womb are the fleshy knobs or caruncles, placed be- hind the wings, k are like myrtle berries placed one against another, in which place is inserted the orifice of the blad- der, for the passage of the woman's urine : so that the urine of the woman comes through the neck of ihe womb, neither is the passage of the mine common as in men, but particular by itself. Near the orifice of the womb, as I have said before, there are the.caruncles, or fleshy knobs, in number four, in form like myrtle berries ; in virgins these are round and plump, but in women that have used copulation, these are loose and flagging, and.often quite undistinguished, so that the inside of the neck of the womb appears smooth; the uppermost of them is large and forked, the others are below this on the sides, but they all serve to keep back the air, or any offensive thing, from entering the neck of the womb. These caruncles or knobs are joined together by a thin or sinewy skin or membrane, full of small veins this mem- brane hath a hole in the midst for the passage of the month- ly courses, about the bigness of the top of one's little fin- Aristotle's last ligacy. 253 gerin such as are in years fit for marriage ; this is that noted skin called Hymen, of which I have spoken in the former chapter, and which is a certain vgn of virginity wherever it is found-, for the first act of copulation sur«ly breaks it, though it may be broken without the act of cop- ulation, but it is most generally broken by it. Authors have been of divers opinions concerning this Hymen or mark of virginity ; some affirm it to be one thing and some another ; but whatever it be, this is an undoubt- ed tru'.h, lhat it hath certain veins in it which bleed in the breaking, and that b!ocd shews it to be then first broke, and consequently the person to be a virgin ; and I do be- lieve that all virgins have at first, it being the mark that God gave the Hebrews to try their virginity by ; and I ear-not believe God wculd give that for a certain sign of virgii iy which is not always to be found, and though it may be broke without copulation, yet young maidens ought to be very wary of it, since their honor does so much de- pend upon preserving it. For men are not bound to be- lie\e it was broken by accident, though perhaps it might be so, to which end ihey ought to correct and expel all sharp and coi rod'ng humors which sometimes gnaw it asunder, at.d also to avoid all violent exercises which may overstrain them, and by all means touching it with their fingers. I have in the f'ormei chapter tod uu lhat the cai uncles or fleshy knobs, together with the Hjmen, represent the form of a half blown rose, from whence to deflower a virgin lias lis original. The next thing to be spoken cf is the neck of the womb, which is nothing but the distance that is between the privy passage and the mouth of the wcn.b, into which the yaid goes in the act of copulation, which in si me women is tight inches in length ; its substance wiihout is fleshy, bui wiinui skinny, and exceedingly wri kled, lhat it may the bel- ter retain the seed ejected in the actot copulation, and al- so lhat it may dila'e and stretch in ihe woman's labor, and the passage may be the wider for the birth of ihe child. The length of ihe neck of ihe wtn.b is \eiy necessary for two reasons: Fust, that it maj U filled wiih abundance of spirits, and there be dilated, for its better taku.y h0\(\ tne penis or yard, great heat Leii.g requiu-d in such maion which becoming more inicise ot txquisite by ihe act of frication, consumes a great quantity ol nios ure, which there ought to be large ves>.t;* io supply : Secondly, be- cause the'terms or monthly coursis make hrir way thro' them ; on which account women wih child sometimes contii.ue iheir purgations ; for altlituch the womb be shut. £34 AIti6T0TLL?S LAST LEGACY. yet the passage in the neck of the womb through which these vessels pass is open. I will only further observe, that as soon as man pene- trates the pudendum, there appears two little pits or hol.es, these contain an humor, which being pressed cut in the time of copulation, gives great delight to a woman. Having thus spoken of the organsof generation in women, 1 will now describe the fabric ot the womb. The womb is joined to its neck in the lower part of the hjpogastrion, and is placed between the bladder and the straight gut. Its parts are two, the mouih of'he womb and ihe bottom,of the womb. The mouth or entrance may •be both dilated and .contracted much like a purse, for tho' in the act cf copulation it be big enough to receive the glands,nutj or top of the man's jard, jet after conception, u is so close shut, lhat it .will not admit the point of a bod- kin to enter ; ;.nd after this, at ihe lime of delivery, it di- lates itself again so wide, that it makes room enough for the child to come forth, which is so wonderful a thing, lhat all men must acknowledge lhat the wisdom and goodness J o\ir Creator is eminently to be seen in it. Its figure is almost perfectly round, and in virgins doth not exceed the bigness of a walnut, yet after conception, it dilates itself gradually, so that it is able to contain the child kiidnU its appurtenances. It is thick in substance, insomuch that it exceeds a thumb's breadth, which after conception, is so far from decreasing, that it augments very much ; and to strengthen it more it is interwoven with fibres over athwart, which are both strait and winding, and its proper vessels are veins, arte- ries, arid nerves among which there are two Utile veins, which pass from the spermatiG vessels to the boitom of the / womb, and two larger from the hypogastrics, which touch loe bottom and the neck ; ihe mouih of the veins piercing us far as the inward cavity. Also the womb hath two arteries on each side the sper- aiaiic vessels, and the hypogastrics, wliich still accompany ihe veins, also divers little nerves that are knit and en- twined in the form of a net, and extended to the pudenda, placed chitfly for sense and pleasure," moving by way of £) mpaihy between the head and the womb. The stones sod testicles in women differ in several re- spects from those of raer, and that in relation to iheir place, form, figoie, he. As toihe place, in men they are without the belly, in women within; in men they are oval, and have fuui skins lo presuve Cifm from injuries ; in women they ?*•*«!'.pressed and flattisb, aad bate but one skin ; their ARISTOTLE'S LAST LEGACY. 253 Substance is also more soft than those of men, and their temperature is colder.' Their office is to contain their o» vum or eg^, according to our modern authors ; but the an- cients were of opinion, that they served to connect the wo- man's seed, and had the same office in Wtimen as the stones have in men ; but as this of the woman's having seed is strongly opposed by some, and as strongU* contended for by others, I will therefore set down the opinions of both, luving first made an end of the description of the several parts belonging to the organ of generation in women, which is what I am now upon. I come now to speak of the spermatic vessels in women, Which are divided or distinguished by preparing vessels, and carrying vesse's ; the preparing vessels are the same in number as in men, which are four, two Veins and two arteries, not diff-ring from those in a man, but only in their largeness and manner of insertion ; the right vein issuing from tht; trunk of the vena cava, which is the great vein that receives the blood from the liver, and distributes it by brandies to all the bodv, under the emulgent vein, which is one of the chief branches of the hollow veins passing To the reins ; but ihe left springing from the einulgent of the same side. Both of the arter.es issue from the grear artery called Aorta, because it is (he noblest and moiher cff all the rest. These preparing vessels are much shorter in women than in men, because their passage is shorter. The stones of a woman, as I have already noted, lying within the belly, but ihosc of men without ; but then what they want in length, they have in their various wreathings and contortions, which are more than in men tiiat the substance Ih^y carry may be the better prepared, and therefore, their often turning to and fro, and winding in and out make: amends tor the shortness of the passag.-. Observe also, that these vessels are not united, as they are io men, before they come to ihe stones, but are divided in two branehe-., whereof ihe greater only goeih to the stones, and ihe lesser tndeth in the womb, both for (he nourishment of itself and the infant, and that part of the courses may pass through the vessels. These spermatic veins receive me arteries as they pass by the side of the womb, and so there is a mixiure between the vital a-id natural blood, and thereby the work of generation might be b-.tier wrought ; and thus much for the preparing vessels. The carrying vessels called vasa dc Jtrenlia (that is, vessels which cat ry the seed from the stones to the seminal vessels) arise frjin the lower part of lbs testicles, and are iu color white, but in substance siaewy ; they pass not strait 25(5 Aristotle's last legacy." to the womb, but are wreathen. that ihe shortness of the way may b- compensated by their various turning* ant* windings, and, as ihey come next/to the womb, they grow broader. The eiaculatory vessels are two passages oh each side of the womb, and hardly diff r iii su'is-ance from the spermat- ic veins, ihey rise from the bottom of the womb, but reaca net either to the s;oncs, or any other part, but are shut up and are impawab'e, ad luring to the womb as the collar does to the hind gut, winding half way about. Although the stones a-.v al a distance from them, and do-not so much rs touch'h'.m, yet thej/ are listened to ihem, by cvrtain iMCinbraiiL-s mac'ii resembling the wings of a bat through which certain veins and arteries that pass from the end of ihe testicle-, ii ivc t'ncir passages, proceed n^ W- >m th? cir- ners of the horns of the worn') to the testicles, b^ing the proper ligiment.s by which the testicles and the womb are knii togetner ; and these ligaments in men are called crea- rnastei s, which are the muscles that hold up the stones, of which I shall speak further, when I treat of the organs of generation in man. CHAP. III. Of tht Use and Action oj the Genitals in the Work of Generation. THE use of the external parts, commonly called the pu- denda, are designed to cover the great orifice, and the use of lhat is io rec:ive the yard in ihe act of copulation, and to give pustage to tht child at the birth ; and also a passage lor tho urine. The u->e of the wings and knobs like myrtle berries ait for tht- security of the internal parts, shutting the orifice and neck of the bladder ; and by iheir swelling up d ■ c.iio-.e titiilation and delight in those parts, and also to hinder the in volun'.ury passage of the urine. The action of tiie c!>torii hi women is like that, of the yard in men, which is civak-i.-i, audits outer end is like the giatis, or u:,: of ilif.- yard, and ha., the same name, and as the glans in inen is-lli. gteatt-at pleasure in copulation, so i-> this in r> o::ii-a. Tlie action and us^ <,t the neck of the womb is equal wi-.iiiL.it oftfu yard, end is occasioned several way? ; for/ fr :v , i; is erec'-fd and made straight for the pis>age of ihe yard to the w_mb in the act of copulation ; and then whilst i'.r pas-age is repleted with spirit and vital blood, it be- c-miis m.Jie s r.iijh. for embtacing the yard ; and the c.m- lenieuc-j of ereciioa is twofold ; first if the neck, of tlve woab'iV t: r.ct creeled, the yard coad have no convenient auistotle's last lig ,cy. 257 passage to the wonrb ; and in the second place, it hinders any damage that may happen, through the violent concus- sion of the yard in the time of copulation. And as for those vessels that make their way through the r.eck of the womb, their office is to replenish it with blood and spirit, that se as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted in copulation, it may by those vessels be renew- ed ; but their uhief business is to convey nourishment to the womb. The womb has miny properties attributed to it; the first is the retention of the seed; as the ancien-s speak, of tht: secundated egg, as others would have it; and this pro- perly is called conception ; and, 2dly, to cherish and nour- ish it till nature has framed the child, and Wrought it toper- fee.ion, and 3dly, it worketh s'renuously in sending forth thebirih, when ihe time of its rema'mg there is expired, at which time it stretche-h forth itself in a very wonderful manner. The use of the preparing vessels is to convey the blood to the testicles, (part of which is spent in the nourishment of them, and the production of those little bladders, in all things resembling eggs.) through which the preparing ves- sels run, and are obliterated in tncm ; that is done by the arteries ; and as for the veins their office is to bring back what blood remains from the aforesaid uses. These vessels are more short in women than in men, bv reason of their nearness to the stones ; which defect is sufficiently repair- ed by the many windings and turnings to which they aie subject, dividing themselves in the middle way into two branches, though not ot an equal bigness, for one is greater than the other. The stones in women are of that use that if they are de- fective, the work of generation ceases ; for though (ac- cordingto the modera opinion) those tittle bladders which are in their outward superfices, contain nothing of seed, yet they contaiw several eggs, (uncertain as to their number, though generally about twenty) one of which eggs being im- pregnated by the spirituous part of man's seed in the act of coition, descends into the womb, and in the time nature has appointed, becomes a living child. Having thus given an account of the use and act ion of the genitals in the act of generation, I shall now shew you the opinion of both the ancients and moderns tonching the wo- man's contributing seed for the formation of th* child, as well as the man's ; which was the opinion of tho ancients, but is denied by our modern authors. Though it is "apparent, say theancients; that the seed of •.'$ ARIvSVOTLt/S LAST LlGvCV. a man is the principal efficient, and beginni;.~ of action motion, and generation, \et that the woman afft 2ix> AuiaTim, r.\s last llG.vcv. heat to them, which causeth the yard to stand ; and the hollow spungy intermixture, or weaving was ordained on purpose to hold the lienor venenl spirit--, that the yard may not fail before it has d-mc its work ; these two side liga- ments of the yard, wb*re they are thick and round, spring from the lower part of the share bine, and, at tVieir begin- ning are separated the one from thj other, and resemble a pair of horns, or the letter Y, where the urethra, that/s the common channel of urine and seed passeth between them. The septum is in substance white, nervous and sinewy, l»nd its office is to uphold the two side ligaments and the orrthra. The urethra is sinewy, tkick, soft, and loose, like to that of the side ligaments before mentioned. It begins at ihe neck of the bladder, and so passeth to the glans ; in the be- griming of it are three holes ; one large in the midst, which receives the urine into it, tha other two are smaller, which are sent by each seminal vessel to it, by which it receives seed. The muscles of the yard are four, two on each side. A muscle is an instrument ot voluntary motion without which no part of the bady can move itself; it consists of fibrous flesh to make up ita body of nerves for its sense, of veins for its nourishment, of arteries for its vital heat, of a mem- brane or skin, to knit together, and so distinguish one mus- cle from another ; one of each side is shorter and thicker than the other, and their use to erect the yard and make it stand, and are called erectors ; the othsrs are longer and smaller, and their office is to dilate and open the lower part of the urethra, or channel both for making water and void'- ing the seed ; and these are called accelerators. The glans, in the extreme part of the yard is sofr, and of an exquisite feeling' by reason of the thinness of the skin, wherewith it is covered. It is covered with the prepntium or foreskin, which the Jews were commanded to cut off on the eighth day. The skin in some men covers the top of the yard quite close, but in others not, which moving up and down in the act of copulation brings pleasure both to the man and woman. The ligaments by which the pi a;, putium is tied to the glans is called froenum or the bridle. The vessels of the yard are veins, nerves, and arteries. Some veins and arteries pass by the skin, and are visible to the eye ; others pass by the inward part of the yard, the arteries being dispersed through the body of the yard, ex- ceeding the dispersion of the veins, for the right artery is dispersed to the left side, it hath also two nerves, the lesscv ARISTOTLS S LAST LEG1CY. S&l of which is bestowed on the greater upon the muscles a.id body of the yard, Hiving thus described the yard, I shall now speak of th ! s'oaes or testicles, so called because tney testify that he is a man. Their number every b>dy knows, is two ; their sub- stance is white, soft and spungy. Their form is oval, but in some they are bigger ih:\ti oihers; each stone hatha muscle, because they pull up the stones in the act of copa- latiou, that so the vcbseU being slackened, may the better void the seed. '1 he use of the stones is to convert blood and spirit into seed for the procication of nun, and to add strength, heat and courage to man ; as appears from eunuchs, who have lost iheir stones, who are neiihor so hot. srong nor valiant as o.her men. To -he upper part of the testicles, are fixed the equidimt?, from whence arises vatadrferentia, or ejaculatoria, whic:i, when ihey come to the neck of the bladder, deposit the seecL/ in visculas scminales, which are two, each like a bunch of grapes, which admit the seed into the urethra in the act of copulation. As for ihe preparing vessels, which prepare the blood and vital spirits, and cairy them io the testicle-, where they are elaborated into seed I have spoken of them in the chapter of ihe genitals of women ; and since they dif- fer so little from those of men, I shall not n££d to repeat what I have said before. CHAP. V. Of Conception; and ho:i> a Woman may know whether she hath conceived or not, and whether a Male t>r Fe- male. 'Ihe natural instinct implanted in men and women to propagate their own species, puts them upon mekh,g use of those ways nature has ordained for that end, which tUer they have used, the woman many times, through ignoras.ee of lif-r having conceived, or want of that due care she cugi* to take, is little belter than a murderer of her own ctoid, though she intends it not ; for, after concept m, finding herself not well, and not knowing what the matter is, she lur.s to a doctor, and enquires of him, and he knowing noth- ing but what she tells him, gives her a strong caih.nical po;ion which destroys the conception. And some mere are that out of a fooifsh bashful coyness, though they know they havecouceived. vet will not confess ii, lhat so they mitrht be instructed to order themselves accordingly. f*iose itrht be instructed t > oraer memsnuj nu^nu..■&•;. —--- lhat are so cov may in tune learn lo be wiser ; aud for the sake of those 'thai are ignorant, I shall set down ihe signs of conception, that wi men may thereby know whether Uiey ha\e conceived or not. 26S arjsiotle's last legacy. Signs of Conception. If under the eye the vein bcswtl.ed, i.e. undei thelowcc eyelid, the veins in the eyes appearing clearly, and the eyo something discolored ; if she has not her tsrms upon her, nor watc.ned ihe night before, you may certainly conclude her to be with child. Tuis appears most plainly, just upon her conception, and ihe first two months I never knew this sign to fail. Keep the urine of the woman close in a glass thres dais, and then strain it through a fine linen Cloth ; if you fi-id small living creatures in it, she hath most assuredly con- ceived, for, ihe urine, which was before part of her own substance, will be generative as well as its mistress. A coldness and chilliness of the outward parts after c>p- Olaiion, the heat being retired to make conception. The tops of the nipples look redder than formerly. The veins of the breast ate more clearly seen than they were wont to be. The body is weakened and the face discolored. Tlie belly waxeth very fat, because the womb closeih itself to- gether, to nourish and cherish the seed. If cold water be drank, a coldness is felt in ihe breksts. Loss of appetite to victuals, sour belchings and exceeding weakness of stom- ach. The breasts begin to swell and wax hard, not wiihout pain and soreness. Wring'ng or griping pains, like the cramp, happen in the belly about the navel. Divers appe- tites and longings are engendered. The veins of the eye* are clearly seen, and ihe eyes seem something discolored, as a looking glass^will shew you. This is an infallible sign. The excrements of the guts are voided painfully, because the womb swelling, thrusteth the right gut together. Take a green nettle, and put it into rhe urine of a woman ; cover it close, and let it remain a whole night ; if the wnnan be wi.h child, it will bi full of red spots on the morrow ; if she b* not, it will be blackish. There are several oiher rules of this nature, but these are the best, and some ot ihem sel- dom fail. Now because m.*ny are mighty desirous 10 know whether rliey be with child of a male or female, I will, in the next place, lay down some rules whereby they may make a judgment in that case. Signs of a Male Child. A woman breeds a boy with less piiu than a girl, and does not Cany her burden s» heavily, but is more n mble iiv stirring. The child is first felt by her on the right sid**, for the ancients are of opinion, that male children lie on the right side of the wjmb. The woman when she riseth up from a ch.tir, doth readier stay herself upon her right baud that; on her left. 'I'w: b-*Iiy lies rounder ao J higher Aristotle's last legacy. g63 than when it is a female. The right breast is more plump and harder than the left, and the right nipple. The color of a woman is more clear, and not so swarthy as when she conceives a girl. The contrary to these are signs of the conception of a female, and therefore it is needless to set them down. But I will add the following ; (hey have been the result of my own experience, and which I never knew fail. If the circle under the woman's eyes, which is of a wan blue color,be more apparent under the right eye, and the veins most apparent in her right eye, and then most dis- solved, she is with child of a boy ; if the mark be most ap- parent in her left eye, she is with child of a girl. Agai n ; Jet her milk a drop of her milk in a bason of fair water. If jt sinks to the bottom, as it drops in, rcund in a drop, it is a girl she is with child of ; but if it be a boy, it will sppead and swim at the top. This 1 have ofien tried, and it never failed. But before I conclude this chapter, I shall lay down some rules that women ought to observe in order to ooncep- ti'-.Mi ; and likewise, what they should do after conception,. tto prevent miscarriage. What Women ought to observe in order to conception. Women that are desirous to have children, in dYder there;- unto, must give themselves moderate exercise ; for idleness and want of exeicise are very great enemiesjMfceneratioc, work ; and those that observe it, shall find fWt your.city dames, who live high and do nothing, seldom have children, or if they have, they seldom live; yvhereas, the poor women who accustom themselves to labor, have many childrensand those lusty. Nor need we wonder at it, if we consider the benefit that comes by moderate exercise and labor ; for \i opens the pores, quickens the spirits, stirs up the natural heat, strengthens the body, senses, and spirits, and comforts the limbs, and helps natuie in her exercises, of which the procreation of children is none of the least. Next to moderate exercbe, she must avoid all manner af discontent, and the occasion of it ; for discontent is a great enemy to conception, butcontentment and quietness of mind are as great friends to it ; for content dilates the heart and, arteries, whereby the vital blood or spirits is sufficiently dis- tributed thnughcut ihe body ; and thence arise such affec- tions as please, recreate, and refiesb the nature of man, as hope, joy, love, gladness and mirth. Nor does it only com. fort and strengthen the body, but also the operations and imaginations of the mind ; for all agree, that ihe imagina- tion of the mother work6 forcibly upon the conception ot ihe child ; and therefore women ought to lake great care that iheir imagination be pure and clear, tfial their children may be well formed. 2#4 ahistgtlk's last legacy. Another thing tl at women ought to do in order to con- cepiion is, to keep the womb in good order; and io that (nd, see that the meustrues come down as ihey rught to do ; it they are disco'ored, ihen ihey are cut cf order, but if the blood come down pure, then the woman will be very i rone to conceive with child, especially if t!;ey use copula- tion a day or two after the monthly terms are stayed. Another thing a woman cu^ht to observe that would con- ceive is, that she use not the act cf copulation too often, for satiety gluts the womb and makes it unfit to do its office— There are two things demonstrate this ; one is, that the common whores, who often u^e copulation, have seldom any children ; the other is, that those women whose husbands « ve been long absent, after ihey come again, conceive very quickly. And Ihen let the time of copulation be convenient, that theie may be no fear of surprise, for fear hinders concep- tion. And let the time of copulation be natural, and not stirred up by piovocatives ; and observe alsc, "hat the greater the woman's desire of copulation is, the more subject she is to Conceive. A loadstone carried about a woman causeth not only con- ception, buy^i.cord between man and wife. Things neewfmry for Women lo observe after Conception. V'Vumen ate veiy subject to miscaniagis m the two first months after conception, because ihen ihe l/gaments are weak and soon broken. To prevent which, let ihe wom.-.n every morr.ing drink a good draught of sage ale, and it will do her ubundai.ee cf good. But if signs of abortion or miscarriage appear, let her lay a toast dipped in tent, (in case muskadel cannot be got- ten,) to her navel, tor ibis is very good ; or let her take a liule garden tansey. and having biuis'-d it, spiinkle i'. with a little muskodel, ard apply it io fhe navel, and she wi I find i' much belter. ALo tansey infused in ale, like sage ale, and a dr.-ught diar.k every morni; g. is most excellent for such woman as are mbject io miscai liages, also take jii'ce of tansey, ca'.rli) it, and boil it up ii to a syiup wiih twice its weight in sugpir, »• d let a woman take a spoonful i r two of it, in bt.ch ca=es ii will be an excellent ptehei vative a- gai;st miscai tinges. Abo k-t the a'.i be temperate, slttp moder-ve, avoid watclirg :a d immoderate exercise, with cis'uibiiig pas- sions, ;< ud cminoi s, ai:d h!dy :-m eiis ; -udkt Im abstain from all ihir.gs which m*v pitvtke erd.t i .bu ui incur the courses, and also lrim ?.ii tliaip ai.d wirdy ine.;.s, ai.d leta Aristotle's last legacy. 265 moderate diet be observed. If the excrements of the guts be retained, lenefy the belly with clysters m; . . of a de- coction of mallows, violets with sugar and common oil ; or make broth of burrage, bugloss, beets, mallows, and take therein a little manna ; but *>n the contrary, if she be trou- bled with a looseness of ibs belly, let it not be stopped with- out the judgment of a physician, for all u'erine fluxes have a malignant quality in them, which must be evacuated and removed before the flux is stayed. CHAP. VI. Of Barrenness, with remedies against it. and the Signs of Insufficiency both in Men and Women. Having, in the foregoing chapter, treated of conception, with the signs, and given directions to the women both be- fore and after conception, I will in this chapter tieat of the opposite to conception, to wit, barrenness. If it is a blessing to have children, then certainly barren- ness must be a great curse. And indeed in holy writ it is so accounted, and theiefore, some are threatened lhat they shall die childless ; and the wife of Jacob, even his beloved Rache', cried out to him, 'Give me children, or else I die." Indeed it was a passionate expression and fell out accord- ing to her words, for she Ind children, and died in child- bed But to the subject in hand, which is barrenness Barrenness is threefold, to wi', either natural, accidental or against nature. Natural barrennes is when a woman is barren, though the iii>iruments of generation are perfect bolh in herself and her husband, and no preposterous and diabolical course used to cause it, and neither age nor disease, nor any natur- al defect hindering, and yet the woman leim/ms naturally barren, and cot.ceives not. Now this may proceed from a natural cause ; for if the man and woman be of one complexion, they seldom have children, and the reason is clear, for, the universal course of nature being formed by the Almighty of a composition of contraries, cannot be increased by a composition of likes, and therefore, if the constitution cf the woman be hot and dry, as well as that of the man, there can be no conception, and if, on the contrary, the man should be of a cold and moist constitution, as well as the woman, ihe effect would be ihe same, and this barrenness is purely natural. The only way to help it is, for people, before they marry, to observe each other's constitutions and complexions, if they design to h* ve children ; if their complexion or constitution be «like, they are not fit to come toget&ei ; for discordant natures make the only harmony in the works, ef generation. 23 4 &66 ar:siotle*s last legacy. Another natural cau>e of barrenness, is want of lovr be- tween man and wife, love is that vital principle that ought to animate esch 01 gan in the act of generation, or else it will be spiritless and dull, for if th«,ir hearts be not united in love,.how should their seed unite to cause conct ption — And this is sufficiently evidenced, in that ihere never fol- lows a conception upon a iape, therefore if men and w*men design to have children, let them take caie to live, so that their hearts as will as iheir bodies may be united, or else they miss of iheir expectations. A thiid cause ofnatuial barrenness, is the letting of vir- gins' blood in ihe arm before their natural courses are come down, which is usually in the fourteenth and sixteenth years of their sge, sometimes perhaps before the thirteenth, but never before the iwelfih. Aid because usually they aie out of order atkI indisposed before tlieir purgations come down, their paruits iuii to a doctor,.to know what'* the matter, and he straight prescribes opening a vein in tlie arm, seeing it was fullness of blond which was the cause of cffendii-g, and this makes her well at present ; and when ihe young viigin happens io be in the same disord<\r agaii , the mother straight 1 uns to the surgeon, u*es ihe same leme- ,dy, and I y these means the blood is diverted from its prop- er channel, so that it comes not down to ihe womb, as in f other women',-whereby the womb dries up, and the woman is forever barren. The way te prevent this, is to let no vir- gin b'ood in the arm before her courses come well down ; but, if there be occasion, in the foot, for lhat will biing the blood downward, and by that meanspravc-ke the mtnstrues to come down Another cause of natural barrenness is, the debility of persons in copulation ; if persons perfoim not that act with all the heat and an"or that natuie requires, ihey may as well Ut it alone, and expect to have children wiihi-Ut it ; for 'frigidity ar,d coUtjiess never produce conception. Of the cure ot this we will speak, after I have spoken of acciden- tal barrenness, which is what is occasioned by some mor- bific matter or infirmity upon the body, either of the man or •jivomao, which being removed they becoaae fruitful. And hencei as 1 have before noticed, the first and great law of the cieaii■- renness. Also, a man may be barren, by reason of the defect of his seed ; as first. If he cast forh no seed at all cr less in sub- stance than is needful ; or, secondly, if the seed be vicioui, or unfit for generation, as, on the »ne side, it happens in bo- dies that are gross and fat, the matter of it being defective ; and on the other side, too much leanness, or continual wast- ing or consumption of ihe body destroys tlie seed, uauire turning all the matter and substance thereof into nutrii&ent of the body. Too frequent copulation is also one great cause of bar- renness in men, for it attracteth the seminal moisture from' the stones- before it is sufficit- ly prepared and ccucocted, rr if any one by daily copulation do exhaust and ctawciit all the moisture of Lis seed,then do the stones draw the mr-i,; humors fiom the snpe1 ior veins unto themseiies, aid so having but little blood in them, they aie forced ot necessity to cast it out raw and uncdncoced ; and ti-us the stores vi- olently deprived of the moisture of iheir veins, attract'hj same from the other parts of ihcbody for tht ir proper nour- ishment, thereby depriving the body of its vital spirits ; and therefore no wonder that those who u>.c immoderate copu- 308 AUfSTOTLlVS LAST LEGACY. lation are very weak in their bodies, seeing iheir whole b->- dy is thereby deprived of its best and purest blood, and also of the vital spirits, insomuch that many who hav« been too much addicted to that p'.easuie have killed themselves in the act : and therefore, it is no wonder if such unconcocted and undigested seed be unfl. for generation. Gluttony and drunkenness, and other excesses, do also much hinder men fiom fiuhfulntsss, and make them unfit for generation. But amongst other causrs ol barrttints.> in men, this also is one that makes them barren, and almost eunuchs, and that is the incision, or cutting of ihe veins be- hiud the ears, which in case of distempers is olentimes done for according to the opinion of most physicians and anato- mists, the seed fV.ws from the brain by those veins behiid me ears more than from any •ther part of the body ; front whence it is very probuble, the transmission of the seed la hindered by cutting off the veins behind the ears, so that it cannot descend at all to the testicles, or comes thither very ciude and raw. And thus much for signs of barrenness in men. &igns is" Causes of Insufficiency, or Barrenness in Women. Although theie are many causes of barrenness in women yet the etiief and principtl are internal, respecting either t4fc privy parts of the womb, the seed or the menstruous blood. Therefore Hippocrates saith (speaking of either the ea- sy or difficult conception in women) the first consideration ought to be had of their sixcies, for little women are more apt io conceive than great, slender than gross, white and fair than ruddy and higti colored, black than pale and wan ; those which have their veins conspicuous are more apt than others ; but to be veiy fleshy is evil ; to have great swelling breaxts is good. The next thing io be considered is, the monthly purgations, whether they have them duly every month ; if they flow plentifully, are of a good color, whether they have them equally every month ; for so ihey ought to be. Then the womb or place ot conception is to be consider- ed ; it ought lobe clean and sound, dry and soft, nut re- tracted, nor drawn up, nor prone nor' descending down- ward, the miiuh thereof turned away, nor too close shut. But to be more particular. The first pans to be spoken of are the Pudenda or pri- vities, and the womb ; when these are shut and enclosed either by n.uuie or against t,a ure, such women are called imperforate ; for in some women the mouth of the womb continues compressed, or closed up, from the tune of iheir AP'STOTLe's LAsT legacy. 2?>9 bun. i .-1 ,., -tig down of their courses : and then of a suddeH, whtn "heir terms press forward to purgation, th.yare molested with great and nnusual pains. Some of these break of their own accord, oihers are dissected and opened by a physician ; others never break at all and ihen it brings death. All these Aetiu* pvrticuiarly handles, shewing that the womb i> shut three manner of ways, which hinders concep- tion : first, when the lips of ihe pudenda grow or cleave to- gt-ibt r ; second, when there are certain membranes growing in Ihe middle part of the matrix within ; third, when (tho' the lips and bosom of the Pudenda may -pperr fair and open) the mouth of the womb may be quite shut up ; all which are occasions of barrenness, in that ihey hinder both the use cf man, the monthly courses, and conception. But among all the causes of barrenness in women, the gieatest is in the womb, which is the field of generation ; and, if the field be conupted, it is in vain to expect any fruit, let it be ever so well sow a ; for it may be uafit for genera'ion, by reason of many distempers to which it is sub- ject, as for instance, overmuch heat and overmuch cold, tor women whose wombs are too thick and cola cannot con. eeiv, because coldness extinguished the natural heat of the human seed* Immodderate moisture of the wamb also destroys the seed of man, and makes it ineffectual, as corn sown in fens and marshes; and so doth overmuch drynoss of the womb, so that the seed perisheih for want of nutriment. Immoderate heat of the womb is a'.sa a cause of barren- ness ; for it scorcheth up the seed, as corn sown in the drought of summer ; for immoderate heat hurts all the parts of ihe body, and no coac-tption cm live to be nourished in that woman. Also when unnatural humors are engendered ; as too much phlegm tympanies, wind, water, worms, or any such evil humors abounding,contrary tomture; it causes bar- renness, as does also the terms not coining down, in due or- der, as I have already said A woman m iy also have other accidental causes of bar- renness, as sudden frights, fear, grief, and pertubation ot the mind ; too violent ex-rcisei, as leaping, dancing, run- nine, after copulation, and the like. But I will now add some signs whereby we may know ihase things. If the cause of birrenn^ss be in man through overmuch heat in his seed, the woman may easily feel that in receiv- "'ff'the nature of the womb be :©o hot, avid so unfit fur con- 37§ ARSrOTLE's LAST LEGACY. ception, it will appear by having her terms very little, aid tbeir color inclining to yellowness ; she is also very hasty , choleric, and crafty, her pulse beats very swift, and she i* very desirous of copulation. If you would know whether the fault lies in man or wo- man, sprinkie the man's urine upon one lettuce leaf, ancV Can woman's up in auother, and that which dries away first is unfruitful. Also take five wheat corns, and seveH beans, put ihem into an eartheni pot, and let the party make wa- ter therein; let thi-. sand seven days, and it in that time ihey begin to sprout, then the party is fruitful, b»t if ihey sprout not, ihen the party is barren, whether k be man or woman, l-'liis is a certain sign. There are some that make this experiment of a woman's fruiifulness; take myrrh, red storax, and some such odo. rrterous things, and make a perfume of it, which let the- wo- man receive into the neck of the womb through a funnel ; ifshe fuel the smoke ascend through the body to her nose, then she is fruitful, otherwise barren. Some also take garlic and beat it, let the woman lie on ber back upon it, and ifshe feels the scein thereof ascend to her nose, it is a sign of truitfulness. Culpepper and others, give a great deal of credit to the following experiment. Take a handful of barley and steep half of it in the urine of a man, and the other half in the arm* of a woman, for the space of twenty four hours, and then take it out, and set the woman's by itself; and the man's by itself ; set it in a flowerpot, or some other thing where you may keep it dry ; then water the man's every morning with his own urine, and the woman's with her's and that whieh grows first is the most fruitful, and if one grow not at all, that party is naturally barren. But now having spoke enough of the disease, is is high time to assign the cure. If barrennesss proceeds from stoppage of the menses, let the woman sweat, far that opens the part, and ihe best way to sweat is in a hot house. Then let the womb be strength- ened by drinking a draught of white wine, wherein a hand- ful ot stinking arrack, first bruised, has been boiled, for by a. certain magnetic virtue, it strengthens the womb, and by sympatnetic quality, remove any disease thereof. To which add also a h andful of vervian, which is very good to strength* en both the womb and the head, which are commonly af- flicted together by a sympathy. Having used this two or three days, if they come not •own, take of calamint, pennyroyal, thyme, bsleny, (iiuany. akistotle's L\ST llgasv. S*i burnct, feverfew, mugwort. sag-, piony roots, junipei ber- ries, half a hindful of these, or so manv of ih.-m as cur. be gotten ; let all these be boiled in beer, and drank for her or- dinary drink. Take one part of gentian two parts of centaury, distil tlfem with ale in an alembrick, after you ha\e bruised the genetian roots, and infused them well. This water is an admirable remedy to provoke ihe terms.. But if you h:lVe not this water in readiness, take a dram of ce-ataui v, and half a dram of gentian roots, beat them to powder, and take in the morning in white wine, or else take a handlul of cen- taury, and half a handful of gentian roots bruised ; boil it in posset drink, and drink a draught of it at night going to bed. Seed of wild navew beaten to powder, and a dram of it taken in the morning in white wine, ii also very good. But if this doth not do, you must let blood in the legs. And bs sure you administer, your medicine a little before the fuW of the moon, o.r between the new and full moon, but by no means in the wane of the moon ; if you.do you will find theia ineffectual., If barrenness proceeds from the overflowing of the men. strues, then strengthen the womb, as yuu» were taught be- fore, and aferwards anoint the reins of the back with oil of roses, oil of myrtles, or oil of quinces, every night, and thea wrap a piece of white baze about your reins, the cotlon side next your skin and keep the same always to it. But abov£ all, I commend this medicine to you; take comfiey leaves or toots, clowns, wound wort, of each one handful, bruise them well, and boil them in ale, and drink a good draught of it every now and then ; or take cassia cinnamon, lignea, opium, of each two drams ; myrrh, white pepper, gaihunurn of each one dram ; dissolve the gum and opium in white wine, beat the rest into powder; ihen make them into pills by mixing tbem together exactly, and let the patient take two pills every night going to bed ; but let not both the pills exceed fifteen grains.. If barrenness proceed from a flux of the womb, the cure must be according to ihe cause proceeding it, or which the flux proceeds from, which may be known by its signs : for a flux of the womb being a continual distillation from it for along time together, ihe color of what is voided shews what humor it is that offends; and in some it is yellow, and that denotes choler ; in others white and pale, and that de» noes phlegm. If pure blood comes out, as if a vein was opened, some corrosion or knawing of the womb is to be feared. All of them are known by these signs. The place of conception is continually moist w jjh the h»- £73 A':tb roill's la t l:-;;:a;.v. mors, tlie fa&e is colored, Pi." party loathes meats, and b'C.i'li' s v.;'|. difficulty ; ihe eyes -.re much swollen, wlnoh is sonu ;iir,;-s with pain. If the oft'e'ding hum r be pioe blo;d. then yi.u must let blo< d in ; h" *vil bui net, mug- wort, fe.nhviiew and ver\ranin all broths. Also half it dram of ni) rrh tak^n every morning is an excellent rerr e- tly against 'he malady. It choler be the cause, let her take barrage, bogloss, red roses, endive, and succory roots, let- tuce and white popy seed, of each a handful ; boil these in white wine till one half is wasted ; let her drink half a pint every morning; to which half pint add syrup of pe.ich flowers and syrup of chickovy, of each one ounce, with a lit- tle rhubarb ; and this will gently purge her. If it proceed from putrefied blood, let her blood in the foot, and ihen strengthen the womb,, as 1 have directed, in stopping ihe' menstiues. If barrenness be occasioned by the falling out of the womb as sometimes h; ppens. let her apply sweet scents to her nose, »uch as civit, galbanum, sty rax calamitis, wood of aloes, find such other things as are of that nature, and let :':«r lay stinking things to the womb, such as asafoetida, oil of amuei, or ihe smoke of her own hair burnt; tor this is certain that the womb flies from all stinking^ and applies to.all sweet thing*. But the most infalliable cure in this ease, is this; take a common burdock leaf, (which you, may keep dry if you please all the \ear) apply this to hef head, and it will draw the womb downward. Bur seed beaten into powder, has also the like virtue; for by a m .g- netic power it draws the wemb which way you please, ac- cording as it is applied. If barrenness proceed from a hot cause, let the party take whey and clarify it, then boil plantain leaves and roots in it, and drink it for her oidinary drink. Let her also inject the juice of plantain into the womb with a syringe. If it be in ihe winter, when vou cannot get ihe juice, make a strong decoction ef the roots and leaves in water, and inject that up with a svringe ; but let ii be b'ood warm, aid you will €od this medicine lo be of great efficacy. And further, to take away baueime&sp'-xeeding fioro hot causes, take oft- en conserve of roses, col I lozenges, made of iragacanth, (he coidtction of tricantelia, and use to smell camphire, rose water, and saunders. It is also good io bleed the ba&ihca, Aristotle's last legacy. 373 or liver vein, and then take this purge ; take electuarum de epithimo de succo rosarium, of each two drams and a half, clarified whey four ounces ; mix them well together, and take it in the morning, fasting ; sleep after it about an hour and half, and fast four hours after it ; and about an hour before you eat any thing, drink a good draught of whey. Also, take lily water four ounces; mardrogar water one ounce, saffron half a scruple ; beat the saffron to pow- d» r, and mix it wiih the waters and drink them warm in tb« mowing ; use ihis eight days together. Here followeth some excellent Remedies against Barren. 7Zd«s, and to cause Fruit/ulness. Take broom flowers, smallage, parsley seed, cummin, mugwort, featherfew, of each half a scruple -f aloes half an ounce; India salt, saffion,of each half a dram, beat and mix well together, and put it into five ounces of featherfew water, warm, stop it close, and let it stand and dry in a warm place ; and thus do two or three times one after an- other ; then make each dram into six pills, and take one of them every other night before supper. A confection very good against barrenness. Take pisra- chia, pingles, eringoes, of each half an ounce ; saffron one dram, lignum aloes, galiingale, mace,caryoptiila b*lm flow- ers, red and white behen. of each fcur sciuples; shaven ivory, cassia bar, of each two scruples ; syrup of confecied ginger, twelve ounces ; white sugar six ounces ; decoct all these well together, then put to it of musk and amber, of each half a scruple ; take thereof the quantity of a nutmeg three times a day ; in the morning, and an hour befoie noon, and an hour after supper. But if the cause of barrenness either in man or woman, be through the scarcity or diminution of the natural seed, then such things are to be taken as do increase the seed, and incite or stir up venery, and farther conception; which I shall here set down, and so conclude this chapter of bar- renness. . , For this, yellow rape seed baked in bread is very goca ; also youi.g fat flesh, not too much salted ; also saffroo, the tails of stincus, and long pepper prepared in wine ; let such persons eschew also sour, sharp, doughy and slimy meats, I»ng sleep after meat, surfeiting and diunkenness, as much as they can ; keep themselves from sorrow, grief, vexation and care. to mi al 271 AKrSrOTLE?S LAST LEGACY. also cock stones, limb stones, partridges, quails and pheas- ants egg* ; and this i» an undeniable aphorism, that whatso- ever any creature is addicted unto, they move or incite the man or woman that eats them to ihe like ; and therefore partridges, quail^, sparrow, Sec. b^ing- extremely addicted to veneiy, they woik the same efl'ect in those men and wo- men that eat them. Also to take notice, that in what part of ihe bodv ihe faculty, which you would strengthen lies, take the same put of tlu body of another creature in whom the faculty is strong, for a medicine. As, for instance, the procrealive faculty lies in tiie testicles; iheref&te, cock stones, lamb stores, 8tc. are proper to stir up venery. I will also give you another general rule ; creaiur:s that are fruitful, being eaten, make them fruitful that tat them,such as lobs'ers, prawns, pigeons, &c. Au'hors have set down several ways for 'he prevention of barienness ; to carry the herb St. John's Wort about them ; which for that cause was called by ihe ancients Fuga De- monum, or the devil driver. Also to carry a loadstone a- bout them, was accounted a great preservative j as like- wise a plaister of St. John's IVovi !.nd to the reins. And lastly, the. heart of a turtle dove earned about them ; but the: e are only for prevention. But yc will say, how if pre- vention come too late, ami the mischief be dime already.and the man carnot give his due benevolence ; must the poor man remain helpless,and ihe good woman go without what she is married for ? No, there is help even in this case al- so ; and the cure is easy, which thoogw the reader may scruple to believe, yet it has been tr ta and found tffi.c*ual; it is no more than this, let the man «u.!y make waier thro' the wife's wedding ring, and the eiichanimMit will be broke ; and thus one piece of witchcraft is ma#e to drive cut anoth- er. But I will here put a permd to this chapter. Qj the pleasure and advantage oj Marriages ; with tht unequal Matches, and the ruinous effect oj unlawful Love. We have hhherto been treating of the generation of man, which is eff cied by mm and woman in the action of coition or copul.ition. Hut this can be no ways lawfully done, b'Jt by those who are joined together in wedlock, according io the iusii'utioo of the Creator in paradi'-e, when he frs. bro't man and wommi together. Which kemg so it neces-arily lead-) io treat of ihe pleasure and advantage of a married life. *.iul sure there is nnt.e that reasonably question the plea- sure an 1 advantage of a nianied lits, ihai does but nfl. ct upon its uuihor, tr the time itid p ace of its iusiiu ioi..— •Aristotle's last leg\cy. 27j The author and instiiutor of marriage, was no other than the great Lord of the whole universe, ihe Creator cf heav- en and earth, whose wisdn.m is infinite, and therefore knew what was best for us, and whose goodness is equal lo his wisdom, ai.d therefore instituted marri-ge, as what was .best for ihe man whom he had but just oeated, and whom he looked upon as short of thai complete happiness which he had designed himvwhile he was alone aid had not tVie help mate provided for him. The time of its instiution w«s no less remaikable ; it was whilst cur first parents were cloathed with that virgin purity and innocence in which they Avere created ; it was at a time wherein they h id a blessed and uninterrupted converse and communion with their great Creator ; and were complete in all the perfec- tions both of body and mind, being the lively image of him that created ihem ; it was at a time when they could curi- ously survey the several incomparable beauties and perfec- tions of eaeh oiher wiihout s|»i, snd krew not what it was to iust ; it was at this happy time the Almighty divided Adam from himself, and of a crooked rib mj-de an help mate for him ; and by instituting marriage, united him unto him- self i gain in wedlock's sacred bands. And this must needs spet-k very highly in commendation of a married life. But we have yet considered only ihe time ; now let us consider next what place it was wherein this marriage knot was first tied, and we shall .find the place was Paradise, a place formed by the great Creator for delight and pleasure ; and in our usual dialect, when we should shew the highest satisfaction we take in. and give the greatest commenda- tion to a place, we can ascend no higher than toaffn m it was like a Paradise. There are many curious delicacies and delights to please the eye and chatm the ear in ihe gardens of princes and noblemen ; but paradise did certainly out do them all, the sacred scripture giving cf its high encomium!:. It was pleasant as the gardens of God. It was in the midst of Paradise, the centre of delight and happiness, that Adam was unhappy while in * single state; ,-.d therefore mar- liage may properly be stiled the Paradise of Paradise u- Iwill shew you the lovecf a good wife to her husband in an illustrious example of a queen to our own nation. Kin* Fdward I. making a voyage to Palestine, for the recovery of the Holy Land, in whicli expedition he was very 'victorious and successful, took his queen along wiih him, who willingly accompanied him in ail the dangers he expos. ed himself to. It so happened that after several victories obtained, which made him both beloved and feared, he was £7-6 Aristotle's last legacy. wounded by a Turk with an impoisoned arrow, which al" the king's physicians concluded mortal, unless some human criaiure would suck away the poisonous blood out of ihe wound ; at the same time declaring that it would be the death of those that did it. Upon this the th'ng was propos- ed to several of the Courtiers ; but ihey all wav»»d this piece of loyalty ; and as well as they pretended to love the king yet loved tin ir own lives better ; and therefore with a com- pliment declined it, which, when the noble queen perceiv- ed, and that the king must die for the want of such kind as- sistance, she, with a bravene*s worthy of herself, declared she was resolved herself to undertake his cure, and venture her own life to save the king her husband ; and so accord- ingly sucked the poisonous matter from the wound, and thereby saved the king; and, Heaven which did inspire her with that generous resolution, preserved her loo, as a re- ward fir her great conjugal affection. But that which nnders marriage such a mormo, and makes it look like such a bugbear to our modern sparks,are those unhappy consequences that too often attend if, for there are few but»ee what inauspicious torches Hymen lights at every wedding ; what unlucky hands link in the wedding ring, nothing but fears and jars, and discontents and jeal- ousies, a curse as ciuel or else barrenness, are all the bless- ings which crown the genial bed. But it is not marriage that is to blame for this, the things are only the effects of forced and unequal matches; when greedy parents, for the thirst of gold, will match a daughter that is scarce seven* leen, to an old miser lhat is above three-score, can any think they two can ever agree, whose inclinations are as different as the mouths of June and January ; this makes the woman, (who still wants a husband, for the old miser is scarce the shadow of one) either to wish or may be to con- trive his death, to whom her parents thus against her will, have yoked her ; or else to satisfy her natural inclinations, she throws herself into the arms of unlawful love, both of which are equally destructive, and which might both have been preveu ed, had her greedy inconsiderate parents pro- vided her such a match as had been suitable and proper. A sad truth, of which an instance follows. There lived in Warwickshire, a gentleman of very good estate, who being grown ancient at the death of his first wife, thought ot marrying his son and heir, then at man's estate, to the daughter of a neighboring gentleman, of an ancient family, and a fair estate, who approved of the mo- tion, and agreed to give 50001 with his daughter upon her marriage with the ycur.g gentleman. N» sooner had the aristotle?s last legacy. &77 father a sight of the ycur.g lady, but forgettir g Lis.son, be- came a suitor fci himself ; and to obtain htr, offered ;s much money for her (besides the setilii g her, a good joint- uie en her) as her father had promised to give wi.h her to his son. This liberal effer so wrought en htr lady's father, that with persuasion, and with menaces, he forced his- daughter unwillingly to consent to be married to ihe old roar. But as she was in a maimer compelled to this unequal match, so she never lived cc ntentediy with him ; for her af- fections wanderirg after other men, she gave entertain- ment to a young gemlempn cf twenty iwo years of age, whom she liked much tetter then htr husbai d, as one more suitable to her ycurg years ; lhat she grew impatient for her husband's death, therefore sought to cut lhauhresd of life she was cf tpinicn nature iengU.ered « ut too Icrg ; and to that end havirg corrupt*d htr waiting wrman, and a grccm belonging to ihe stable, she retolved by their assist- ance, and that of her enamorato, to muider him in his bed, by strangling him ; which reso uiicn (although her lover failed htr, and csrr.e not at the time she s-\ pcii.ttd him, re- coiling at the dii-mal apprehension ol a fact so horrid) ihe executed only by her seivfaits. For watchit g till her bus- bard was asleep, she Itt in ll.ose assassins, i.nd then casting a long towel about his neck', she caused ihe giecm to lie up- on him, that he might not struggle, whilst she aid her maid by straining the towel, stcjptd his breath. And r.cw the next thing was hew to prevent disccveiy, ard to that end ihty cairied him to another room, where a close st( ol was plactd, tn wh'ch thty stt bin ; ard when ihe maid ard groom were both withdrawn ard the coast clear, she made tech a hideous outcry in ihe hcuse/wiiigirg her hsnds and -pulling off Lcr hair, ard wttpiug so extremely, that none suspected her ; for she alleged, lhat missing him stmetime out of bed, she went to see what was the matter he staid so lorg, found him dead sitting en his close stool ; which stem- jr.g very plausible, prevented all suspicions of his death. And being thus rid cf her husbai d, she set a grtat value ' on her beauty, and 8 Aristotle's last legacy. him to Coventry, his guilty conscience (he being in his cups) farced him upon his knees to beg forgiveness of hiii master for ihe murder of his father. And taking him aside acquainted him with all the cii cumstancss of it. The gentleman, ihough struck with horror and amaze. ment at the discovery of so vile a fact, yet gave the groom good words, but ordeied his servants to have an eye upon him, that he might not escape when sober: and yet escape he did, for all iheir vigilance, and being got to the sea side he attempted three limes to put to sea, but was as often forced back by ihe contrary winds; where being pursued and appiehended by his master, he was bicught back a prisoner to Warwick, as was soon after, the lady and her gentlewoman also, who were all executed for that horrid inuider. The lady was burned on Wolveyheath, and the two servants suffered death at Warwick ; leaving the world a sad example of the dismal consequences of doting love, fcrced matriages and unequal matches. And though in rivany such like matches, the mischief does not run so high, as to break forth into adultery and murder, but the young lady from a principle of virtue and the fear of God, curbs her natural inclinations, and pre- serves her chastity yet either in this very case, her hus- band, conscious (f the abatement of h*i6 youthful vigor, and his cwn weak imbecile performance of the conjugal rites, suspects his virtuous lady and watches over her with Ar- gus' eyes, making himself and her unhappy by his senseless jealousy ; and though he happens to have children by her (which may well be having so good ground to improve on) yet can scaicely think they are hisown. His very sleep is disturbed wiih the dreams of cuckoldum and homes ; nor dares he keep a pack of hounds for fear Act scon's fate should follow him. These ate a few of the sad effects cf old men's dotage and unequal matches. But let us turn the tables now, and see if it be better on ihe tither side, when a young spark about two and twenty marries a granum of three score and ten, with a face more wrinkled ihan a piece of tripe. This I am sure is more un- natural. Here can be no increase, unless of gold, which oftectimes the old hag, for one ean call her no better, that marries a young boy to satisfy her letcherous itch, con- veys «way belore her marrirge, to her own relations, and leaves the expecting coxcomb nothing but repentance lor his portion. Pocket expenses perhaps, she will allow him, ai.d for those slender wages he is bound to do the basest drudgeiy. But if he meets with money, which wai the only motive of the match, her gold being the greatest t Aristotle's last legacy. 379 Cordial at the wedding feast, he does profusely squnade1' it way and riots in excess amongst his whores, hoping ere long, his antiquated wife will take a voyage to another world, and leave him to his liberty ; whilst the old grandame, finding her money wasted', and herself despised, is filled with those resentments that jealousy,envy, and neglected love pan give, hoping each day to see him in his grave, though she has almost both feet in her own ; thus they each day wish for each other's death, which, if it comes not quickly, they often help to hasten, But these are still excresences of marriage, and am theerrors the people marrying, and not tlie fault of mar- riage itself. For let that be what God at first ordained a" nuptial of two hearts, as well as hands, whom eqin iheir hands, and'such will tell you that mortals can enjoy no greater happiness on this side of heaven. CHAP. IJI. Directions to both Sexes, how to raanage themselves in the Act of Coition, or Veneral Embraces. Having shewed in the former chapter, the pleasures and advantages of marriage, I will now give some directions to the new married persons, how to manage themselves in the exercise of one of the greatest, most naturrl and agrreablel pleasures thereof, and that is their nocturnal or veuera embraces ; a pleasure peculiar to a married life, or at least it ought to be st for it is not permitted to any besides. And let not any thiok it strange th it we pretend to give direo U< ns to do wh it nature teaehcth every one, since it is welt known, lhat na'ure has been as-isted by art in some of our most noble observations ; bcsides,it is not the bare performing of lhat act that they are directed to, but the performing of it so that it may be efficacious for \ht production or genera- tion of man, which our great master Amiotle designs in this last legacy to the world, i'o which purpose, some thing; are to be observed previous to this act, and some things consequ nt upon it. Fir: t, things previous to it. When married persons design to follow the piopensions "Of nature for the prodoctioa of the f.iir images of them- selves, let every thing that looks like care and business be banished from their thoughts, for all such things are ene- mies to Venus; and let their animal and vital spirits be powerfully exliilerated by some brisk and generous resto- ratives ; aad let ihyrn-, to invigorate their fancies, survey the lovely beauties of each other, and bear the bright ideas of them in their mi'ids. And som; have thought it neces- SS6 Aristotle's last leoacy. s try, for the further heightening of their joys, for the brisk bridegroom to delineate the scpne of their approaching hap- piness unto the amorous bride, in some such heroical rap- ture as this: I will enj-w thee now my fairest ; come, And fly with me to love's elysiuin -t Now my enfranchis'd hand on every side Shall o'er tny naked nolish'd ivory slifle, Now free as the ambient air, I will behold Thy braided -mow and thy unbvaided gold. No curtain now though of transparent lawn; .Shall bj before thy virgin treasure drawn. Now thy rich mine, to my inquiring eye F.xpos'd-shall read, for my mintage- lie. My rudder, with Uiy bold hand like a try'd And skilful pilo*, thou shalt steer and guide My b.uk i.r.o L.ive'-i channel, where it shall D nice »s the bounding waves do rise and fall. And my tall piimacs in the Ciprian strait Shall rids at anchor and unlade her freight. Having by these, and other amorous arts, which love ttaa bster dictate th.-oi my pen, wound up your fancies lo the highest pitch and desire, Perform those rites which mighty Love requires, And with each other quench your Am'rous fires. But then, in the second place, when coition is over, some farther directions aie nectssary ; 8c therefore, let the bride- groom tatte h.r>.d h-nv he retreats too soon out of the field of love, lesi he should thereby leave an entrance too op * , and cold shou.d strike into ihi womb. But after he has given time far ihe matrix lo ciose up, he may withdraw and leave the bride in her soft repoae, which ought to be with ail the e-dmness tint the silent night, and a mind free from all disturbing care, can give, inclining her to rest on her right side and no: re.noviog, with jut great occasion, till ihe iiun taken her first sleep. She also ought to have a great cue of sneezing, and avoid coughing, if it is possible, or aay other ihing that causes a too violent truation of the bxly. Neidier should these amorous en- gagement be loo often reiterated, till the conception be confirmed: and even thin the bridegroom should re- member, that it is a market that last ail the year and so should hive a cue of spending his stock too lavishly. Nor would ihe br.-pj lik: him at all the worse for it, for women ruber cluse to hive a thing well dine, than to have it often, a ad wjJl and often too can never hold out. ARtSTOTLVS LAST LEC.YCY. SSi CHAP. IX. The Midwives Vade Mccum : C.Gaining particular di- rections for Altdwives, .Yurses, (fc. Those who take upon them the office of a midwife,ought to take care to fit themselves for that emplovment, with the knowledge of those things that are necessary for the faithful discharge thereof. And such pei sons ougnt to be of the middle age, neither too young nor too old, and of a good habit of body, nor subject to diseases, fears or sudden fright, nor are the qualifications assigned for a good surgeon im- proper for a midwife, viz. a lady's hand, a hawk's eye, and a lion's heart ; to which may be added, activity of bodv, and convenient strength, with caution and diligence, not subject to drowsiness, nor apt to be impatient. She ought also to be sober, affable, courteous, chaste ; not covetous, nor sub- ject to passion, but bountiful and compassion ue. And above all, she ought to be qualified as the Egy ptian midwives of old that is, to have the fear of God, which is the principal thing in every state and condition, and will furnish her, in all oc- casions, both with knowledge and discretion. When the time of birth draws near, and the good'woman finds her travailing pains begin to come upon her, let her send for her midwife in time ; better too soon than too late, and get those things ready which are proper upon such oc- casions. When the midwife comes, let her first find wheth • er the true time of the birth be come, for want of observing this hath spoiled many a child, and endangered the life of the mother, or at least put her to twice as much pain as she neeJtd. For unskilful midwifes not minding this, have giv. en Things to force down the child, and thereby disturbing the natural course of ber labor; whereas nature works best in her own time and wav. 1 do confess, it is somewhat dif- ficult to know the true time of some women's labor, they be- ing troubled with pains so long before their true labor, comes in some, weeks before, the reason of which I con- ceive to be the he.it of the reins, and this may be known by the swelling of their legs; and therefore when women with child find their legs to swell much, they may be assured that their reins are too hot. For the cure thereof, let them oool the rems before ihc time of their 'abor, with oil of po- pieSf and oil of viole; *, or water lilies, by anointing xhz reins of their b-tck >vi h ihem"; for such women whosa reins areoverhot have usually hard labor. But in this case, above all the remt.ies thru I know, I prefer the decoction of plantain ic-.--sa and roots; you may make a strong de- coction of lii, -i in water, and then having strained and clarified it w. . ae white of an egg, boil it into a syrup with its-equal weign .1 sugar, and keep it for your use. 2 32 AHI3 TITLE'S LA VT LEGACY. TU.'te are tw > skins that compass the child in the wom.«, the one is the amno;s, and this is the inner skin ;"th» other is the alantois, and this is the skin thathdds the urino of ihe child during the tfme that it abides in the womb ; both those skins, by the violent stirring o~ the child near the time of the birth, are broken ; and then the urine and sweat of the child contained in them fall down to the neck of the womb ; and this is that which midwives call the- water ; and this is art anfalliable sigi that tli2 b'nh is near ; so the child is no longer able to subsist in the womb, when those skins are broken, than a naked man is in the cold air. These waters, if the child comss presently after them facilitate the labor, by making their passage slippery ; and there- fore the midwife must have a care th.tt she force not her water away, for nature knows better the tru* time of ihe birth thin she and usually retains the water till that time. Several medicines to cause speedy d -livery. A loaditone held in her left hand, take wild tansey and bruise it, and apply Kt ta the woman's nostrils. Take date stones and beat them to powder, and let her take half a dram of them in white wine at a time. Take parsley* bruise it and press out the juice, and put it up. being so dipped, into the mouth of the womb, and it will presently cause the chi'd to come away, though it be dead and afier burden also : besides, it clcanseth the womb, and also the child in the womb.of all gross humors. Let no midwifa ev^r force away a child, unless she be »ure it is dead. I ones was where a woman was in labor, which being very hard, her midwife sent for another mid-> wife to assist her, which midwife sending tne fiist dnwn ■>?airs, and designing to have the honor herself, forced away tlie body of the child, and left the head behind, of which the worn m was forced afterwards to be delivered by a man midwife. After the child is born, great care is to be taken by th^ midwives in cutting the child's navel string, which though by some is accounted but a trifle, yet it requires none of the least skill of a m»d.fife to do it with th it prudence and judgment that it ought. And that it may be done so, yon must consider as somas thcchildis freed from its moth- er, whether it bo weak or strong for bolh the vital and nat- ural spirits are communicated by the mother of the child by the navel string, if the child be weak, put back g'ntly part of the vital and natural blood in the body of the child by its navel, for that recruits a weak child } but, if the child be strong you may forbear. As to the manner of cu'ting the child's navel string, let tf;>.- ligaiure or biding be very strong, and be sure do n t AftlaTOTL'l's LA5T L .GACY. SS3 cut it off very near ihe 'hiding, lest the binding unclose" You need not fear to bind the navel string very hard, be- cause it is voidofser.se and the put of the navel suing which you leave on, falls off of its own accord in a few days.. the whole course of n.rure being now changed into the child it having another way ord.tiaed to nourish it. It is no mat- ter widi whit instrument- you cut it off. if it be sharp, and you do it cleverlv*. The piece of the navel string lhat fall be sure you keep from touching th?. ground ; remember what I hive before tod you ; and if you keep it by you it may be of u^e. The navel string being cut off, apply a lit- tle cotton or Mot to the place to keep it warm, lesi the cold enter into the body of the child, which it will be apt to do if it be not bound hard enough. The next thing to be done, is to bring away the afterbirth .or secundine, else it will be very dangerous for the woman. But thts must be done by gentle means, and without any de- lays, for in this case especially, delays are dangerous ; anil whatever I have set down before, as good to cause speedy delivery, and bring away the birth, is good also to bring away the after birth. And after the birth and after birth are brought away, if the woman's body be weak, keep her not too hot ; for ex- tremity «f heat weakens nature and dissolves the strength but whe her she be weak or strong let no cold a;r come near her at fir-U j for cold is an enemy to the spermatic parts. If cold get into the womb, it incieases the after pains, causes swellings in the womb, and hurts the nerves., If what I have written be carefully observed among mid- wives, and such nurses as keep women in their lying in, by God's blessing, the child bed women may do very well, and both midwife and nurse gain credit and reputation. For though these directions may in some things thwart the common practice, yet they are grounded upan experience, and will infallibly answer the end. But there are several accidents that lying in women are subject unto which mu->t be provided against, and these I shall speak of next The first I sh.dl mention are the after pains, about the cause of which authors very rrsch differ, some think they are caused by thianess, soms by the thickness, some by slmirtess, and some by the sharpness of the blood ; but my own opinion is it proceeds from cold and water. But what- ever the cause may be, the observing of ihe foregoing di- rections will very much abate them, if not quite take them away But ia case they do happen, boil an egg, and pour oat the yelk of it, with which mix a spoonful ot cinnamon %%h ARl«fOTLE*S LAST LEGACY. water, and let her drink of it ; aiH if you mix two grains oi ambergrease ^v ith it, it will be better. The second accident lying in women are subject to, is excoriations in the lower part of the womb. To help this, use oil of sweet almonds, or rather oil of St. John's wort, with which anoint the parts. Ano her accident is, that some'imes through very hard iabor, and great straining to bring the child in'o the world, the King in iv.vn.in, comes to ba troubled with the hemorr- hoids or pdes ; io cure this let her use polypodium bruised and boiled in her meats and drinks. A fourth thing that often follows, is the retention of the menses, this is very dangerous, and, if not remedied, proves mortal. Bu< for tliis, let her take such medicines as strongly pro- voke the terms ; and such are piony roots, dittany, juniper berries, betony, centaury, savory, pennyroyal, sage, fever- few. The last thing I shall mention, is the overflowing of the menses. This happens not so often as the foregoing, but yet sometimes it does, and in such cases take the shepherd's purse, either boiled in a convenient liquor, or dried and beaten to powder, and you will find it very good to stop. them. Having thus finished my Vade Mecnm for midwives, be- fore I conclude, I will add something of the cho'iGeand qual- ifications ©f a good nurse, that those who have occasion for them may know how to order themselves for the good of their children which they nurse. First, then, if you would chuse a good nurse, chuse one of a sanguine complexion, not only because lhat complexion is generally accounted best, but also, because all children in their minority have iheir complexion predominant. And that you may know such a wiman, take the following de- scription of her. Her stature of the middle size, her body fleshy, but not fat, and of a merry, pleasant and cheerful countenance ; a fresh ruddy color, and her skin so very clear, that you may see her veins throught ir. She is one that loves company, aid never cares to be alone; never given to anger, but mightily to playing and singing ; and which makes her ihe- fiilest part'for a'^nurse. she very much delights in children. In chusing such a one you can hardly do amiss ; only let me give you this caution, if you can not get o.ie exactly of this description, which you will find very difficult, get one as near as you can to it. And let these rules further guide you in your choree. 1. Let her age be between 20 and 30, ARISTOILE'S LAST LEGACY. %85r for then she is in her prime. 2. Let her be in health, for sickness infects her milk, and her milk the child. 3. Let her be a prudent woman, for such a one will be careful of the child. 4. Let her not be too poor, for if she wants, the child muse want too. 5. Let her be well bred, for ill bred nurses corrupt good nature. 6. If it be a boy that Is to be nursed, be such an one whose last child was a boy, and so it will be more, agi-eeabie, bu: if it be a girl, let trie nurse be one whose last child was a girl. 7. If the nurse has a husband see lhat he be a good likely man, and not given to debauchery, fir that may have an influence upon the child. 8. In the last place, let the nurse take care she be not with child herself ; foe it so, she must ot necessity either spoil her oiv-i child, or yofirs, or perhaps both. To a nurse thus- qialified.you may put your child without danger. And let suoh a nurse observe the following directions, for the bet* ter governing and ordering herself in that station. Directions for Nurses. 1. Let her use bet body to exercise ; if she hath nohting else to do, let her exercise he/seif by danciog the child; for moderate exercise causeth good digestion ; and I am sure go»d blood must needs make good milk, Sc good milk cannot tail of making a thriving ^hiid . 2. Ln her live in good air ; there is i.o one thing more material than ibis. The want of tuis makes so many children die in London; and even these few, that live, are none cf the wisest y for gro-,s and thick air makes unwielily bodies, and dull wit; and let noue wonder at this, for the operation ot the air to the body of man is as great as meat 8c drink, for it helps to engender ihe vital and animal spirits ; and this is the cause of sick- ness and health, of life and death. 3. Let her be careful of her diet, and avoid all salt meats, garlic, leeks, onions, and mustard, excessive drinking of wii.e, atrorig beer or ale for they trouble the child's body with cooler ; cheese, both new and old, afflicts it with melancholy, and all fi th with phlegm. Let her never deny herself sleep when she is sleepy, for by that means she will be mors; wakeful when the child cries. Let her avoid all disquiets of mind, anger vex- ation, sorrow and grief," for these tiling-, very much disorder a woman, and therefore must be hurtful to ihe milk. If the nurse's milk happens to bz corrupted by any accident, as sometimes it may be, by being ei.her too hot or too cold in such cases let her diet be'good, and let her observe the cau- tions already given her. If her miik bz too hot, let her cool it with endive, succory, lettuce, sorrel, purslain, and plain- tain • if ,l be too cold, let her use beverage, vervain, bug. loss, mother of thyme, aud cinnamon ; and \*t her observe 286 Aristotle's last legacy. this gensral rule, whatsoever strengthens the child in the womb, the same attends the milk. If the nurse wants milk the thristle commonly called our lady thristle is excellent for her breeding of milk ; there being few things growing if any, that breed more and better milk than that doth; also, the hoof of the fore feet, of a cow, dried and beaten to powder, and a dram of the powder, taken every morning in any convenient liquor, increases the milk, Remedies for increasing Milk. ^ If a nurse be given to much fretting, makes her lean and hinders digestion, and she can never have siore of milk, ikt what she has be good. Bad meats and drinks, also bin* der the increase of milk, and therefore ought to be foreborn and theiefore women that would increase their milk, should eat good meat, that is if they can get it, And lei her drink milk wherein fennel seed hath been steeped. L-t her drink barley water, barrage and spinnage ; also, goat's milk, and lamb sodtlen with veijuice ; let her also comfort the stom- ach with confection of anais seed, caraway and cummin seeds, and also use those seeds sodden in water ; also take barley water, and boil therein fennel and dill, and sweeten it with sugar, and drink it at your pleasure. Hot fomentation* open the breasts and attack the blood, as the decoction of fennel, smallage, or siamp mint applied. Or, Take fennel and parsley green, each a handful, boil and stamp them, and birley me >. -iiif an ounce, with seed a dram, storax, calamint two 'tains, oil,of lides two ounces and make a poultice. Lastly, take halt an-ounee o; te 's su^C and as mu^.h par- sley roots, with th= herbs, a or -eliiJ a h tlf of oarley meal, three crams of red st ■>: -.x tv u ces of oil o': sweet almqnds ; boil thtj root and herb, well, and beat them to a pip, and then mingle the other am-vigsi them, and put it warm to the nipples, and it will increise ihe milk And thus courteous He tder, I have at length finished whai I design-"*.-!, and promised, and can truly affirm, that thou h ist here those R ceipts and It :medies and U.rections given unto thee, with resect to c add bearing women, mid- wives, and nurse;, that th*y are worih their weight in gold, and will assured y, with the b'tssmg of God, answer the end, whenever thou hast occasion to make use of tliem,they being things taken not on tiusr from tr«idi'ion or hearsay, but th«e reiult and dictates of bound reason and long experience- FLYI3. ^•'H. *&£'< .iH-9: ?r v*-