The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Aristotle the Famous

Philosopher, by Anonymous
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Title& The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher
'ontaining his 'omplete (asterpiece an Family Physician) his
E*perience (iwife, his Book of Problems an his +emarks on
Physiognomy

Author& Anonymous
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%anguage& English
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A:n marriage an at what age young men an !irgins are capable of
it& an why so much esire it" Also, how long men an women are
capable of it"A
There are !ery few, e*cept some professional ebauchees, who will not
reaily agree that B(arriage is honourable to all,B being oraine by
;ea!en in Paraise) an without which no man or woman can be in a
capacity, honestly, to yiel obeience to the first law of the creation,
B8ncrease an (ultiply"B An since it is natural in young people to
esire the embraces, proper to the marriage be, it beho!es parents to
look after their chilren, an when they fin them inclinable to
marriage, not !iolently to restrain their inclinations Cwhich, instea
of allaying them, makes them but the more impetuousD but rather pro!ie
such suitable matches for them, as may make their li!es comfortable)
lest the crossing of those inclinations shoul precipitate them to
commit those follies that may bring an inelible stain upon their
families" The inclination of mais to marriage may be known by many
symptoms) for when they arri!e at puberty, which is about the fourteenth
or fifteenth year of their age, then their natural purgations begin to
flow) an the bloo, which is no longer to augment their boies,
abouning, stirs up their mins to !enery" E*ternal causes may also
incline them to it) for their spirits being brisk an inflame, when
they arri!e at that age, if they eat har salt things an spices, the
boy becomes more an more heate, whereby the esire to !eneral
embraces is !ery great, an sometimes almost insuperable" An the use of
this so much esire enjoyment being enie to !irgins, many times is
followe by ismal conseEuences) such as the green weesel colonet,
short$breathing, trembling of the heart, etc" But when they are marrie
an their !eneral esires satisfie by the enjoyment of their husbans,
these istempers !anish, an they become more gay an li!ely than
before" Also, their eager staring at men, an affecting their company,
shows that nature pushes them upon coition) an their parents
neglecting to pro!ie them with husbans, they break through moesty an
satisfy themsel!es in unlawful embraces" 8t is the same with brisk
wiows, who cannot be satisfie without that bene!olence to which they
were accustome when they ha their husbans"
At the age of 3/, the menses, in !irgins, begin to flow) then they are
capable of concei!ing, an continue generally until //, when they cease
bearing, unless their boies are strong an healthful, which sometimes
enables them to bear at 4F" But many times the menses procee from some
!iolence one to nature, or some morbific matter, which often pro!es
fatal" An, hence, men who are esirous of issue ought to marry a woman
within the age aforesai, or blame themsel!es if they meet with
isappointment) though, if an ol man, if not worn out with iseases an
incontinency, marry a brisk, li!ely maien, there is hope of him ha!ing
chilren to G0 or H0 years"
;ippocrates says, that a youth of 3F, or between that an 3G, ha!ing
much !ital strength, is capable of begetting chilren) an also that the
force of the procreating matter increases till /F, F0, an FF, an then
begins to flag) the see, by egrees, becoming unfruitful, the natural
spirits being e*tinguishe, an the humours rie up" Thus, in general,
but as to ini!iuals, it often falls out otherwise" =ay, it is
reporte by a creible author, that in 7welan, a man was marrie at
300 years of age to a girl of I0 years, an ha many chilren by her)
but his countenance was so fresh, that those who knew him not, imagine
him not to e*cee F0" An in 'ampania, where the air is clear an
temperate, men of H0 marry young !irgins, an ha!e chilren by them)
which shows that age in them oes not hiner procreation, unless they be
e*hauste in their youths an their yars be shri!elle up"
8f any woul know why a woman is sooner barren than a man, they may be
assure that the natural heat, which is the cause of generation, is more
preominant in the man than in the woman) for since a woman is more
moist than a man, as her monthly purgations emonstrate, as also the
softness of her boy) it is also apparent that he oes not much e*cee
her in natural heat, which is the chief thing that concocts the humours
in proper aliment, which the woman wanting grows fat) whereas a man,
through his nati!e heat, melts his fat by egrees an his humours are
issol!e) an by the benefit thereof are con!erte into see" An this
may also be ae, that women, generally, are not so strong as men, nor
so wise or pruent) nor ha!e so much reason an ingenuity in orering
affairs) which shows that thereby the faculties are hinere in
operations"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 88
A;ow to beget a male or female chil) an of the Embryo an perfect
Birth) an the fittest time for the copula"A
When a young couple are marrie, they naturally esire chilren) an
therefore aopt the means that nature has appointe to that en" But
notwithstaning their enea!ours they must know that the success of all
epens on the blessing of the Gos& not only so, but the se*, whether
male or female, is from their isposal also, though it cannot be enie,
that seconary causes ha!e influence therein, especially two" First, the
general humour, which is brought by the arteria praeparantes to the
testes, in form of bloo, an there elaborate into see, by the
seminifical faculty resiing in them" 7econly, the esire of coition,
which fires the imagination with unusual fancies, an by the sight of
brisk, charming beauty, may soon inflame the appetite" But if nature be
enfeeble, some meats must be eaten as will conuce to affor such
aliment as makes the see aboun, an restores the e*haustion of nature
that the faculties may freely operate, an remo!e impeiments
obstructing the procreating of chilren" Then, since iet alters the
e!il state of the boy to a better, those subject to barrenness must eat
such meats as are juicy an nourish well, making the boy li!ely an
full of sap) of which faculty are all hot moist meats" For, accoring to
Galen, see is mae of pure concocte an winy superfluity of bloo,
whence we may conclue, that there is a power in many things, to
accumulate see, an also to augment it) an other things of force to
cause esire, as hen eggs, pheasants, woococks, gnat$snappers,
blackbirs, thrushes, young pigeons, sparrows, partriges, capons,
almons, pine nuts, raisins, currants, strong wines taken sparingly,
especially those mae of the grapes of 8taly" But erection is chiefly
cause by scuraum, eringoes, cresses, crysmon, parsnips, artichokes,
turnips, asparagus, canie ginger, acorns bruise to power an rank
in muscael, scallion, sea shell fish, etc" But these must ha!e time to
perform their operation, an must be use for a consierable time, or
you will reap but little benefit from them" The act of coition being
o!er, let the woman repose herself on her right sie, with her hea
lying low, an her boy eclining, that by sleeping in that posture,
the cani, on the right sie of the matri*, may pro!e the place of
conception) for therein is the greatest generati!e heat, which is the
chief procuring cause of male chilren, an rarely fails the
e*pectations of those that e*perience it, especially if they o but keep
warm, without much motion, leaning to the right, an rinking a little
spirit of saffron an juice of hissop in a glass of (alaga or Alicant,
when they lie own an arise, for a week"
For a female chil, let the woman lie on her left sie, strongly
fancying a female in the time of procreation, rinking the ecoction of
female mercury four ays from the first ay of purgation) the male
mercury ha!ing the like operation in case of a male) for this concoction
purges the right an left sie of the womb, opens the receptacles, an
makes way for the seminary of generation" The best time to beget a
female is, when the moon is in the wane, in %ibra or AEuaries" A!icenne
says, that when the menses are spent an the womb cleanse, which is
commonly in fi!e or se!en ays at most, if a man lie with his wife from
the first ay she is purge to the fifth, she will concei!e a male) but
from the fifth to the eighth a female) an from the eighth to the
twelfth a male again& but after that perhaps neither istinctly, but
both in an hermaphroite" 8n a wor, they that woul be happy in the
fruits of their labour, must obser!e to use copulation in ue istance
of time, not too often nor too selom, for both are alike hurtful) an
to use it immoerately weakens an wastes the spirits an spoils the
see" An this much for the first particular"
The secon is to let the reaer know how the chil is forme in the
womb, what accients it is liable to there, an how nourishe an
brought forth" There are !arious opinions concerning this matter)
therefore, 8 shall show what the learne say about it"
(an consists of an egg, which is impregnate in the testicles of the
woman, by the more subtle parts of the man@s see) but the forming
faculty an !irtue in the see is a i!ine gift, it being abunantly
imbue with !ital spirit, which gi!es sap an form to the embryo, so
that all parts an bulk of the boy, which is mae up in a few months
an graually forme into the likely figure of a man, o consist in, an
are aumbrate thereby Cmost sublimely e*presse, Psalm c***i*"& B8 will
praise Thee, : %or, for 8 am fearfully an wonerfully mae"BD
Physicians ha!e remarke four ifferent times at which a man is frame
an perfecte in the womb) the first after coition, being perfectly
forme in the week if no flu* happens, which sometimes falls out
through the slipperiness of the hea of the matri*, that slips o!er like
a rosebu that opens suenly" The secon time of forming is assigne
when nature makes manifest mutation in the conception, so that all the
substance seems congeale, flesh an bloo, an happens twel!e or
fourteen ays after copulation" An though this fleshy mass abouns with
inflame bloo, yet it remains unistinguishable, without form, an may
be calle an embryo, an compare to see sown in the groun, which,
through heat an moisture, grows by egrees to a perfect form in plant
or grain" The thir time assigne to make up this fabric is when the
principal parts show themsel!es plain) as the heart, whence procee the
arteries, the brain, from which the ner!es, like small threas, run
through the whole boy) an the li!er, which i!ies the chyle from the
bloo, brought to it by the !ena porta" The two first are fountains of
life, that nourish e!ery part of the boy, in framing which the faculty
of the womb is bruise, from the conception of the eighth ay of the
first month" The fourth, an last, about the thirtieth ay, the outwar
parts are seen nicely wrought, istinguishe by joints, from which time
it is no longer an embryo, but a perfect chil"
(ost males are perfect by the thirtieth ay, but females selom before
the forty$secon or forty$fifth ay, because the heat of the womb is
greater in proucing the male than the female" An, for the same reason,
a woman going with a male chil Euickens in three months, but going with
a female, rarely uner four, at which time its hair an nails come
forth, an the chil begins to stir, kick an mo!e in the womb, an then
the woman is trouble with a loathing for meat an a greey longing for
things contrary to nutriment, as coals, rubbish, chalk, etc", which
esire often occasions abortion an miscarriage" 7ome women ha!e been so
e*tra!agant as to long for hob nails, leather, horse$flesh, man@s flesh,
an other unnatural as well as unwholesome foo, for want of which thing
they ha!e either miscarrie or the chil has continue ea in the womb
for many ays, to the imminent haJar of their li!es" But 8 shall now
procee to show by what means the chil is maintaine in the womb, an
what posture it there remains in"
The learne ;ippocrates affirms that the chil, as he is place in the
womb, has his hans on his knees, an his hea bent to his feet, so that
he lies roun together, his hans upon his knees an his face between
them, so that each eye touches each thumb, an his nose betwi*t his
knees" An of the same opinion in this matter was Bartholinus" 'olumbus
is of opinion that the figure of the chil in the womb is roun, the
right arm bowe, the fingers uner the ear, an about the neck, the hea
bowe so that the chin touches the breast, the left arm bowe abo!e both
breast an face an proppe up by the bening of the right elbow) the
legs are lifte upwars, the right so much that the thigh touches the
belly, the knee the na!el, the heel touches the left buttock, an the
foot is turne back an co!ers the secrets) the left thigh touches the
belly, an the leg lifte up to the breast"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 888
AThe reason why chilren are like their parents) an that the
(other@s imagination contributes thereto) an whether the man or
the woman is the cause of the male or female chil"A
8n the case of similitue, nothing is more powerful than the imagination
of the mother) for if she fi* her eyes upon any object it will so
impress her min, that it oftentimes so happens that the chil has a
representation thereof on some part of the boy" An, if in act of
copulation, the woman earnestly look on the man, an fi* her min on
him, the chil will resemble its father" =ay, if a woman, e!en in
unlawful copulation, fi* her min upon her husban, the chil will
resemble him though he i not beget it" The same effect has imagination
in occasioning warts, stains, mole$spots, an artes) though inee they
sometimes happen through frights, or e*tra!agant longing" (any women, in
being with chil, on seeing a hare cross the roa in front of them,
will, through the force of imagination, bring forth a chil with a hairy
lip" 7ome chilren are born with flat noses an wry mouths, great
blubber lips an ill$shape boies) which must be ascribe to the
imagination of the mother, who has cast her eyes an min upon some
ill$shape creature" Therefore it beho!es all women with chil, if
possible, to a!oi such sights, or at least, not to regar them" But
though the mother@s imagination may contribute much to the features of
the chil, yet, in manners, wit, an propension of the min, e*perience
tells us, that chilren are commonly of the conition with their
parents, an possesse of similar tempers" But the !igour or isability
of persons in the act of copulation many times cause it to be otherwise)
for chilren begotten through the heat an strength of esire, must
nees partake more of the nature an inclination of their parents, than
those begotten at a time when esires are weaker) an, therefore, the
chilren begotten by men in their ol age are generally weaker than,
those begotten by them in their youth" As to the share which each of the
parents has in begetting the chil, we will gi!e the opinions of the
ancients about it"
Though it is apparent that the man@s see is the chief efficient being
of the action, motion, an generation& yet that the woman affors see
an effectually contributes in that point to the procreation of the
chil, is e!ince by strong reasons" 8n the first place, seminary
!essels ha been gi!en her in !ain, an genital testicles in!erte, if
the woman wante seminal e*crescence, for nature oes nothing in !ain)
an therefore we must grant, they were mae for the use of see an
procreation, an place in their proper parts) both the testicles an
the receptacles of see, whose nature is to operate an affor !irtue to
the see" An to pro!e this, there nees no stronger argument, say they,
than that if a woman o not use copulation to eject her see, she often
falls into strange iseases, as appears by young men an !irgins" A
secon reason they urge is, that although the society of a lawful be
consists not altogether in these things, yet it is apparent the female
se* are ne!er better please, nor appear more blythe an jocun, than
when they are satisfie this way) which is an inucement to belie!e they
ha!e more pleasure an titulation therein than men" For since nature
causes much elight to accompany ejection, by the breaking forth of the
swelling spirits an the swiftness of the ner!es) in which case the
operation on the woman@s part is ouble, she ha!ing an enjoyment both by
reception an ejection, by which she is more elighte in"
;ence it is, they say, that the chil more freEuently resembles the
mother than the father, because the mother contributes more towars it"
An they think it may be further instance, from the eneare affection
they bear them) for that, besies their contributing seminal matters,
they fee an nourish the chil with the purest fountain of bloo, until
its birth" Which opinion Galen affirms, by allowing chilren to
participate most of the mother) an ascribes the ifference of se* to
the ifferent operations of the menstrual bloo) but this reason of the
likeness he refers to the power of the see) for, as the plants recei!e
more nourishment from fruitful groun, than from the inustry of the
husbanman, so the infant recei!es more abunance from the mother than
the father" For the see of both is cherishe in the womb, an then
grows to perfection, being nourishe with bloo" An for this reason it
is, they say, that chilren, for the most part, lo!e their mothers best,
because they recei!e the most of their substance from their mother) for
about nine months she nourishes her chil in the womb with the purest
bloo) then her lo!e towars it newly born, an its likeness, o clearly
show that the woman affors see, an contributes more towars making
the chil than the man"
But in this all the ancients were !ery erroneous) for the testicles, so
calle in women, affor not only see, but are two eggs, like those of
fowls an other creatures) neither ha!e they any office like those of
men, but are inee the o!aria, wherein the eggs are nourishe by the
sanguinary !essels ispose throughout them) an from thence one or more
as they are fecunate by the man@s see is separate an con!eye into
the womb by the o!aucts" The truth of this is plain, for if you boil
them the liEuor will be of the same colour, taste an consistency, with
the taste of birs@ eggs" 8f any object that they ha!e no shells, that
signifies nothing& for the eggs of fowls while they are on the o!ary,
nay, after they are fastene into the uterus, ha!e no shell" An though
when they are lai, they ha!e one, yet that is no more than a efence
with which nature has pro!ie them against any outwar injury, while
they are hatche without the boy) whereas those of women being hatche
within the boy, nee no other fence than the womb, by which they are
sufficiently secure" An this is enough, 8 hope, for the clearing of
this point"
As for the thir thing propose, as whence grow the kin, an whether
the man or the woman is the cause of the male or female infant$$the
primary cause we must ascribe to Go as is most justly ;is ue, who is
the +uler an ,isposer of all things) yet ;e suffers many things to
procee accoring to the rules of nature by their inbre motion,
accoring to usual an natural courses, without !ariation) though inee
by fa!our from on high, 7arah concei!e 8saac) ;annah, 7amuel) an
EliJabeth, -ohn the Baptist) but these were all e*traorinary things,
brought to pass by a ,i!ine power, abo!e the course of nature" =or ha!e
such instances been wanting in later ays) therefore, 8 shall wa!e them,
an procee to speak of things natural"
The ancient physicians an philosophers say that since these two
principles out of which the boy of man is mae, an which reners the
chil like the parents, an by one or other of the se*, !iJ", see
common to both se*es an menstrual bloo, proper to the woman only) the
similitue, say they, must nees consist in the force of !irtue of the
male or female, so that it pro!es like the one or the other, accoring
to the Euantity affore by either, but that the ifference of se* is
not referre to the see, but to the menstrual bloo, which is proper to
the woman, is apparent) for, were that force altogether retaine in the
see, the male see being of the hottest Euality, male chilren woul
aboun an few of the female be propagate) wherefore, the se* is
attribute to the temperament or to the acti!e Eualities, which consists
in heat an col an the nature of the matter uner them$$that is, the
flowing of the menstruous bloo" But now, the see, say they, affors
both force to procreate an to form the chil, as well as matter for its
generation) an in the menstruous bloo there is both matter an force,
for as the see most helps the maternal principle, so also oes the
menstrual bloo the potential see, which is, says Galen, bloo well
concocte by the !essels which contain it" 7o that the bloo is not only
the matter of generating the chil, but also see, it being impossible
that menstrual bloo has both principles"
The ancients also say that the see is the stronger efficient, the
matter of it being !ery little in Euantity, but the potential Euality of
it is !ery strong) wherefore, if these principles of generation,
accoring to which the se* is mae were only, say they, in the menstrual
bloo, then woul the chilren be all mostly females) as were the
efficient force in the see they woul be all males) but since both ha!e
operation in menstrual bloo, matter preominates in Euantity an in the
see force an !irtue" An, therefore, Galen thinks that the chil
recei!es its se* rather from the mother than the father, for though his
see contributes a little to the natural principle, yet it is more
weakly" But for likeliness it is referre rather to the father than to
the mother" #et the woman@s see recei!ing strength from the menstrual
bloo for the space of nine months, o!erpowers the man@s in that
particular, for the menstrual bloo rather cherishes the one than the
other) from which it is plain the woman affors both matter to make an
force an !irtue to perfect the conception) though the female@s be fit
nutriment for the male@s by reason of the thinness of it, being more
aapte to make up conception thereby" For as of soft wa* or moist clay,
the artificer can frame what he intens, so, say they, the man@s see
mi*ing with the woman@s an also with the menstrual bloo, helps to
make the form an perfect part of man"
But, with all imaginary eference to the wisom of our fathers, gi!e me
lea!e to say that their ignorance of the anatomy of man@s boy ha!e le
them into the paths of error an ran them into great mistakes" For their
hypothesis of the formation of the embryo from commi*ture of bloo being
wholly false, their opinion in this case must of necessity be likewise"
8 shall therefore conclue this chapter by obser!ing that although a
strong imagination of the mother may often etermine the se*, yet the
main agent in this case is the plastic or formati!e principle, accoring
to those rules an laws gi!en us by the great 'reator, who makes an
fashions it, an therein etermines the se*, accoring to the council of
his will"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8?
AThat (an@s 7oul is not propagate by their parents, but is infuse
by its 'reator, an can neither ie nor corrupt" At what time it is
infuse" :f its immortality an certainty of its resurrection"A
(an@s soul is of so i!ine a nature an e*cellency that man himself
cannot comprehen it, being the infuse breath of the Almighty, of an
immortal nature, an not to be comprehene but by ;im that ga!e it" For
(oses, relating the history of man, tells us that BGo breathe into his
nostrils the breath of life, an he became a li!ing soul"B =ow, as for
all other creatures, at ;is wor they were mae an ha life, but the
creature that Go ha set o!er ;is works was ;is peculiar workmanship,
forme by ;im out of the ust of the earth, an ;e conescene to
breathe into his nostrils the breath of life, which seems to enote both
care an, if we may so term it, labour, use about man more than about
all other li!ing creatures, he only partaking an participating of the
blesse i!ine nature, bearing Go@s image in innocence an purity,
whilst he stoo firm) an when, by his fall, that li!ely image was
eface, yet such was the lo!e of the 'reator towars him that he foun
out a way to restore him, the only begotten son of the Eternal Father
coming into the worl to estroy the works of the e!il, an to raise up
man from that low conition to which sin an his fall ha reuce him,
to a state abo!e that of the angels"
8f, therefore, man woul unerstan the e*cellency of his soul, let him
turn his eyes inwarly an look unto himself an search iligently his
own min, an there he shall see many amirable gifts an e*cellent
ornaments, that must nees fill him with woner an amaJement) as
reason, unerstaning, freeom of will, memory, etc", that clearly show
the soul to be escene from a hea!enly original, an that therefore it
is of infinite uration an not subject to annihilation"
#et for its many operations an offices while in the boy it goes uner
se!eral enominations& for when it enli!ens the boy it is calle the
soul) when it gi!es knowlege, the jugment of the min) an when it
recalls things past, the memory) when it iscourses an iscerns,
reason) when it contemplates, the spirit) when it is the sensiti!e part,
the senses" An these are the principal offices whereby the soul
eclares its powers an performs its actions" For being seate in the
highest parts of the boy it iffuses its force into e!ery member" 8t is
not propagate from the parents, nor mi*e with gross matter, but the
infuse breath of Go, immeiately proceeing from ;im) not passing from
one to another as was the opinion of Pythagoras, who hel a belief in
transmigration of the soul) but that the soul is gi!en to e!ery infant
by infusion, is the most recei!e an orthoo* opinion" An the learne
o likewise agree that this is one when the infant is perfecte in the
womb, which happens about the twenty$fourth ay after conception)
especially for males, who are generally born at the en of nine months)
but in females, who are not so soon forme an perfecte, through efect
of heat, until the fiftieth ay" An though this ay in either case
cannot be truly set own, yet ;ippocrates has gi!en his opinion, that it
is so when the chil is forme an begins to mo!e, when born in ue
season" 8n his book of the nature of infants, he says, if it be a male
an be perfect on the thirtieth ay, an mo!e on the se!entieth, he will
be born in the se!enth month) but if he be perfectly forme on the
thirty$fifth ay, he will mo!e on the se!entieth an will be born in the
eighth month" Again, if he be perfectly forme on the forty$fifth ay,
he will mo!e on the ninetieth an be born in the ninth month" =ow from
these paring of ays an months, it plainly appears that the ay of
forming being ouble, makes up the ay of mo!ing, an the ay, three
times reckone, makes up the ay of birth" As thus, when thirty$fi!e
perfects the form, if you ouble it, makes se!enty the ay of motion)
an three times se!enty amounts to two hunre an ten ays) while
allowing thirty ays to a month makes se!en months, an so you must
consier the rest" But as to a female the case is ifferent) for it is
longer perfecting in the womb, the mother e!er going longer with a girl
than with a boy, which makes the account iffer) for a female forme in
thirty ays oes not mo!e until the se!entieth ay, an is born in the
se!enth month) when she is forme on the fortieth ay, she oes not mo!e
till the eightieth an is born in the eighth month) but, if she be
perfectly forme on the forty$fifth ay she mo!es on the ninetieth, an
the chil is born in the ninth month) but if she that is forme on the
si*tieth ay, mo!es on the one hunre an tenth ay, she will be born
in the tenth month" 8 treat the more largely of lo!e that the reaer may
know that the reasonable soul is not propagate by the parents, but is
infuse by the Almighty, when the chil has its perfect form, an is
e*actly istinguishe in its lineaments"
=ow, as the life of e!ery other creature, as (oses shows, is in the
bloo, so the life of man consists in the soul, which although subject
to passion, by reason of the gross composures of the boy, in which it
has a temporary confinement, yet it is immortal an cannot in itself
corrupt or suffer change, it being a spark of the ,i!ine (in" An that
e!ery man has a peculiar soul plainly appears by the !ast ifference
between the will, jugment, opinions, manners, an affections in men"
This ,a!i obser!es when he says& BGo hath fashione the hearts an
mins of men, an has gi!en to e!ery one his own being an a soul of its
own nature"B ;ence 7olomon rejoice that Go ha gi!en him a soul, an a
boy agreeable to it" 8t has been ispute among the learne in what
part of the boy the soul resies) some are of opinion its resience is
in the mile of the heart, an from thence communicates itself to e!ery
part, which 7olomon CPro!" i!" .ID seems to confirm when he says& B>eep
thy heart with all iligence, for out of it are the issues of life"B But
many curious physicians, searching the works of nature in man@s anatomy,
o affirm that its chief seat is in the brain, from whence procee the
senses, the faculties, an actions, iffusing the operations of the soul
through all parts of the boy, whereby it is enli!ene with heat an
force to the heart, by the arteries, coroities, or sleepy arteries,
which part upon the throat) which, if they happen to be broken or cut,
they cause barrenness, an if stoppe an apople*y) for there must
necessarily be ways through which the spirits, animal an !ital, may
ha!e intercourse an con!ey nati!e heat from the soul" For though the
soul has its chief seat in one place, it operates in e!ery part,
e*ercising e!ery member which are the soul@s instruments, by which she
isco!ers her power" But if it happen that any of the original parts are
out of tune, its whole work is confuse, as appears in iiots an ma
men) though, in some of them, the soul, by a !igorous e*ertion of its
power, reco!ers its innate strength an they become right after a long
esponency in min, but in others it is not reco!ere again in this
life" For, as fire uner ashes, or the sun obscure from our sight by
thick clous, affor not their nati!e lustre, so the soul, o!erwhelme
in moist or morbi matter, is arkene an reason thereby o!ercloue)
an though reason shines less in chilren than it oes in such as are
arri!e at maturity, yet no man must imagine that the soul of an infant
grows up with the chil, for then woul it again ecay) but it suits
itself to nature@s weakness, an the imbecility of the boy wherein it
is place, that it may operate the better" An as the boy is more
capable of reco!ering its influence, so the soul oes more an more
e*ert its faculties, ha!ing force an enowment at the time it enters
the form of a chil in the womb) for its substance can recei!e nothing
less" An thus much to pro!e that the soul oes not come from the
parents, but is infuse by Go" 8 shall ne*t pro!e its immortality an
emonstrate the certainty of our resurrection"
:F T;E 8((:+TA%8T# :F T;E 7:<%
That the soul of man is a ,i!ine ray, infuse by the 7o!ereign 'reator,
8 ha!e alreay pro!e, an now come to show that whate!er immeiately
procees from ;im, an participates of ;is nature, must be as immortal
as its original) for, though all other creatures are enowe with life
an motion, they yet lack a reasonable soul, an from thence it is
conclue that their life is in their bloo, an that being corruptible
they perish an are no more) but man being enowe with a reasonable
soul an stampe with a ,i!ine image, is of a ifferent nature, an
though his boy is corruptible, yet his soul being of an immortal nature
cannot perish) but at the issolution of the boy returns to Go who
ga!e it, either to recei!e rewar or punishment" =ow, that the boy can
sin of itself is impossible, because wanting the soul, which is the
principle of life, it cannot act nor procee to anything either goo or
e!il) for coul it o so, it might e!en sin in the gra!e" But it is
plain that after eath there is a cessation) for as eath lea!es us so
jugment will fin us"
=ow, reason ha!ing e!iently emonstrate the soul@s immortality, the
;oly 7criptures o abunantly gi!e testimony of the truth of the
resurrection, as the reaer may see by perusing the 3/th an 35th
chapters of -ob an Fth of -ohn" 8 shall, therefore, lea!e the further
iscussion of this matter to i!ines, whose pro!ince it is, an return
to treat of the works of nature"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?
A:f (onsters an (onstrous Births) an the se!eral reasons thereof,
accoring to the opinions of the Ancients" Also, whether the
(onsters are enowe with reasonable 7ouls) an whether the ,e!ils
can engener) is here briefly iscusse"A
By the ancients, monsters are ascribe to epra!e conceptions, an are
esignate as being e*cursions of nature, which are !icious in one of
these four ways& either in figure, magnitue, situation, or number"
8n figure, when a man bears the character of a beast, as i the beast
in 7a*ony" 8n magnitue, when one part oes not eEualise with another)
as when one part is too big or too little for the other parts of the
boy" But this is so common among us that 8 nee not prouce a
testimony"
18llustration& There was a (onster at +a!enna in 8taly of this kin, in
the year 3F3."6
8 now procee to e*plain the cause of their generation, which is either
i!ine or natural" The i!ine cause procees from Go@s permissi!e will,
suffering parents to bring forth abominations for their filthy an
corrupt affections, which are let loose unto wickeness like brute
beasts which ha!e no unerstaning" Wherefore it was enacte among the
ancient +omans that those who were in any way eforme, shoul not be
amitte into religious houses" An 7t" -erome was grie!e in his time
to see the lame an the eforme offering up spiritual sacrifices to Go
in religious houses" An >eckerman, by way of inference, e*clues all
that are ill$shapen from this presbyterian function in the church" An
that which is of more force than all, Go himself commane (oses not to
recei!e such to offer sacrifice among his people) an he also reners
the reason %e!iticus, **ii" .H, B%est he pollute my sanctuaries"B
Because of the outwar eformity, the boy is often a sign of the
pollution of the heart, as a curse lai on the chil for the
incontinency of its parents" #et it is not always so" %et us therefore
uly e*amine an search out the natural cause of their generation, which
Caccoring to the ancients who ha!e i!e into the secrets of natureD is
either in the mother or in the agent, in the see, or in the womb"
The matter may be in efault two ways$$by efect or by e*cess& by
efect, when the chil has only one arm) by e*cess, when it has four
hans or two heas" 7ome monsters are begotten by a woman@s unnatural
lying with beasts) as in the year 340I, there was a monster begotten by
a woman@s generating with a og) which from the na!el upwars ha the
perfect resemblance of its mother& but from its na!el ownwars it
resemble a og"
18llustration6
The agent or womb may be in fault three ways) firstly, the formati!e
faculty, which may be too strong or too weak, by which is procure a
epra!e figure) seconly, to the instrument or place of conception, the
e!il confirmation or the isposition whereof will cause a monstrous
birth) thirly, in the imaginati!e power at the time of conception)
which is of such a force that it stamps the character of the thing
imagine on the chil" Thus the chilren of an aulteress may be like
her husban, though begotten by another man, which is cause through the
force of imagination that the woman has of her own husban at the act
of coition" An 8 ha!e hear of a woman, who, at the time of conception,
beholing the picture of a blackamoor, concei!e an brought forth an
Ethiopian" 8 will not trouble you with more human testimonies, but
conclue with a stronger warrant" We rea CGen" ***" I3D how -acob
ha!ing agree with %aban to ha!e all the spotte sheep for keeping his
flock to augment his wages, took haJel ros an peele white streaks on
them, an lai them before the sheep when they came to rink, which
coupling together there, whilst they behel the ros, concei!e an
brought forth young"
18llustration&
BWhere chilren thus are born with hairy coats
;ea!en@s wrath unto the kingom it enotesB6
Another monster representing a hairy chil" 8t was all co!ere with hair
like a beast" That which mae it more frightful was, that its na!el was
in the place where its nose shoul stan, an its eyes place where the
mouth shoul ha!e been, an its mouth place in the chin" 8t was of the
male kin, an was born in France, in the year 3F5G, at a town calle
Arles in Pro!ence, an li!e a few ays, frightening all that behel it"
8t was looke upon as a forerunner of esolations which soon after
happene to that kingom, in which men to each other were more like
brutes than human creatures"
There was a monster born at =aJara in the year 3FI0" 8t ha four arms
an four legs"
The imagination also works on the chil, after conception, of which we
ha!e a pregnant instance"
A worthy gentlewoman in 7uffolk, who being with chil an passing by a
butcher who was killing his meat, a rop of bloo sprung on her face,
whereupon she sai her chil woul ha!e a blemish on its face, an at
the birth it was foun marke with a re spot"
18llustration6
%ikewise in the reign of ;enry 888, there was a woman eli!ere of a
chil ha!ing two heas an four arms, an the boies were joine at the
back) the heas were so place that they looke contrary ways) each ha
two istinct arms an hans" They woul both laugh, both speak, an
both cry, an be hungry together) sometimes the one woul speak an the
other keep silence, an sometimes both speak together" They li!e
se!eral years, but one outli!e the other three years, carrying the ea
one Cfor there was no parting themD till the sur!i!or fainte with the
buren, an more with the stench of the ea carcase"
18llustration6
8t is certain that monstrous births often happen by means of unue
copulation) for some there are, who, ha!ing been long absent from one
another, an ha!ing an eager esire for enjoyment, consier not as they
ought, to o as their circumstances eman" An if it happen that they
come together when the woman@s menses are flowing, an notwithstaning,
procee to the act of copulation, which is both unclean an unnatural,
the issue of such copulation oes often pro!e monstrous, as a just
punishment for oing what nature forbis" An, therefore, though men
shoul be e!er so eager for it, yet women, knowing their own conition,
shoul at such times positi!ely refuse their company" An though such
copulations o not always prouce monstrous birth, yet the chilren,
thus begotten, are generally hea!y, ull, an sluggish, besies
efecti!e in their unerstanings, lacking the !i!acity an lo!eliness
with which chilren begotten in proper season are enowe"
18llustration6
18llustration6
8n Flaners, between Antwerp an (echlin, in a !illage calle <thaton, a
chil was born which ha two heas, four arms, seeming like two girls
joine together, ha!ing two of their arms lifte up between an abo!e
their heas, the thighs being place as it were across one another,
accoring to the figure on p" I5" ;ow long they li!e 8 ha no account
of"
By the figure on p" /0 you may see that though some of the members are
wanting, yet they are supplie by other members"
8t remains now that 8 make some inEuiry whether those that are born
monsters ha!e reasonable souls, an are capable of resurrection" An
here both i!ines an physicians are of opinion that those who,
accoring to the orer of generations euce from our first parents,
procee by mutual means from either se*, though their outwar shape be
eforme an monstrous, ha!e notwithstaning a reasonable soul, an
conseEuently their boies are capable of resurrection, as other men@s
an women@s are) but those monsters that are not begotten by men, but
are the prouct of women@s unnatural lusts in copulating with other
creatures shall perish as the brute beasts by whom they were begotten,
not ha!ing a reasonable soul nor any breath of the Almighty infuse into
them) an such can ne!er be capable of resurrection" An the same is
also true of imperfect an aborti!e births"
7ome are of opinion that monsters may be engenere by some infernal
spirit" :f this min was Aigus Fariur, speaking of a eforme monster
born at 'raconia) an ;ieronimus 'aramnus wrote of a mai that was got
with chil by the e!il, she thinking it ha been a fair young man" The
like also is recore by ?icentius, of the prophet (erlin, that he was
begotten by an e!il spirit" But what a repugnance it woul be both to
religion an nature, if the e!ils coul beget men) when we are taught
to belie!e that not any was e!er begotten without human see, e*cept the
7on of Go" The e!il then being a spirit an ha!ing no corporeal
substance, has therefore no see of generation) to say that he can use
the act of generation effectually is to affirm that he can make
something out of nothing, an conseEuently to affirm the e!il to be
Go, for creation belongs to Go only" Again, if the e!il coul assume
to himself a human boy an enli!en the faculties of it, an cause it to
generate, as some affirm he can, yet this boy must bear the image of
the e!il" An it borers on blasphemy to think that Go shoul so far
gi!e lea!e to the e!il as out of Go@s image to raise his own
iabolical offspring" 8n the school of =ature we are taught the
contrary, !iJ", that like begets like) therefore, of a e!il cannot man
be born" #et, it is not enie, but the e!ils, transforming themsel!es
into human shapes, may abuse both men an women, an, with wicke
people, use carnal copulation) but that any unnatural conjunction can
bring forth a human creature is contrary to nature an all religion"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?8
A:f the happy state of matrimony, as it is appointe by Go, the
true felicity that rebouns thereby to either se*) an to what en
it is oraine"A
Without oubt the uniting of hearts in holy welock is of all conitions
the happiest) for then a man has a secon self to whom he can re!eal his
thoughts, as well as a sweet companion in his labours, toils, trials,
an ifficulties" ;e has one in whose breast, as in a safe cabinet, he
can confie his inmost secrets, especially where reciprocal lo!e an
in!iolable faith is centre) for there no care, fear, jealousy, mistrust
or hatre can e!er interpose" For base is the man that hateth his own
fleshK An truly a wife, if rightly consiere, as Aam well obser!e,
is or ought to be esteeme of e!ery honest man as BBone of his bone an
flesh of his flesh,B etc" =or was it the least care of the Almighty to
orain so near a union, an that for two causes) the first, for the
increase of posterity) the secon, to restrain man@s wanering esires
an affections) nay, that they might be yet happier, when Go has joine
them together, he Bblesse them,B as in Gen" ii" An ancient writer,
contemplating this happy state, says, in the economy of Lenophon, Bthat
the marriage be is not only the most pleasant, but also profitable
course of life, that may be entere on for the preser!ation an increase
of posterity" Wherefore, since marriage is the most safe, an elightful
situation of man he oes in no ways pro!ie amiss for his own
tranEuillity who enters into it, especially when he comes to maturity of
years"B
There are many abuses in marriage contrary to what is oraine, the
which in the ensuing chapter 8 shall e*pose to !iew" But to procee&
7eeing our blesse 7a!iour an ;is holy apostles eteste unlawful
lusts, an pronounce those to be e*clue the kingom of hea!en that
pollute themsel!es with aultery an whoring, 8 cannot concei!e what
face people ha!e to colour their impieties, who hating matrimony, make
it their stuy how they may li!e licentiously& for, in so oing, they
take in themsel!es torment, enmity, isEuietue, rather than certain
pleasure, not to mention the haJar of their immortal soul) an certain
it is that mercenary lo!e Cor as the wise man calle it harlot$smilesD
cannot be true an sincere an therefore not pleasant, but rather a net
lai to betray such as trust in them with all mischief, as 7olomon
obser!es of the young man !oi of unerstaning, who turne asie to the
harlot@s house, Bas a bir to the snare of the fowler, or as an o* to
the slaughter, till a art was struck through his li!er"B =or in this
case can they ha!e chilren, those enearing pleges of conjugal
affection) or if they ha!e, they will rather reoun to their shame than
comfort, bearing the oious bran of bastars" ;arlots, likewise are
like swallows, flying in the summer season of prosperity) but the black
stormy weather of a!ersity coming, they take wing an fly into other
regions$$that is, seek other lo!ers) but a !irtuous, chaste wife, fi*ing
her entire lo!e upon her husban, an submitting to him as her hea an
king, by whose irections she ought to steer in all lawful courses,
will, like a faithful companion, share patiently with him in all
a!ersities, run with cheerfulness through all ifficulties an angers,
though e!er so haJarous, to preser!e an assist him, in po!erty,
sickness, or whatsoe!er misfortunes befall him, acting accoring to her
uty in all things) but a prou, imperious harlot will o no more than
she lists, in the sunshine of prosperity) an like a horse$leech, e!er
cra!ing, an ne!er satisfie) still seeming isplease, if all her
e*tra!agant cra!ings be not answere) not regaring the ruin an misery
she brings on him by those means, though she seems to oat upon him,
use to confirming her hypocrisy with crocoile tears, !ows an
swoonings, when her cully has to epart awhile, or seems but to eny
immeiate esires) yet this lasts no longer than she can gratify her
appetite, an prey upon his fortune"
=ow, on the contrary, a lo!ing, chaste an e!en$tempere wife, seeks
what she may to pre!ent such angers, an in e!ery conition oes all
she can to make him easy" An, in a wor, as there is no content in the
embraces of a harlot, so there is no greater joy in the reciprocal
affection an enearing embraces of a lo!ing, obeient, an chaste wife"
=or is that the principal en for which matrimony was oraine, but that
the man might follow the law of his creation by increasing his kin an
replenishing the earth) for this was the injunction lai upon him in
Paraise, before his fall" To conclue, a !irtuous wife is a crown an
ornament to her husban, an her price is abo!e all rubies& but the
ways of a harlot are eceitful"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?88
A:f Errors in (arriages) Why they are, an the 8njuries cause by
them"A
By errors in marriage, 8 mean the unfitness of the persons marrying to
enter into this state, an that both with respect to age an the
constitution of their boies) an, therefore, those who esign to enter
into that conition ought to obser!e their ability an not run
themsel!es into incon!eniences) for those that marry too young may be
sai to marry unseasonably, not consiering their inability, nor
e*amining the forces of nature) for some, before they are ripe for the
consummation of so weighty a matter, who either rashly, of their own
accor, or by the instigation of procurers or marriage$brokers, or else
force thereto by their parents who co!et a large ower take upon them
this yoke to their prejuice) by which some, before the e*piration of a
year, ha!e been so enfeeble, that all their !ital moisture has been
e*hauste) which ha not been restore again without great trouble an
the use of meicines" Therefore, my a!ice is& that it is not con!enient
to suffer chilren, or such as are not of age, to marry, or get
chilren"
;e that proposes to marry, an wishes to enjoy happiness in that state,
shoul choose a wife escene from honest an temperate parents, she
being chaste, well bre, an of goo manners" For if a woman has goo
Eualities, she has portion enough" That of Alcmena, in Plautus, is much
to the purpose, where he brings in a young woman speaking thus&$$
B8 take not that to be my owry, which
The !ulgar sort o wealth an honour call)
That all my wishes terminate in this&$$$$
8@ll obey my husban an be chaste withall)
To ha!e Go@s fear, an beauty in my min,
To o those goo who are !irtuously incline"B
An 8 think she was in the right, for such a wife is more precious than
rubies"
8t is certainly the uty of parents to bring up their chilren in the
ways of !irtue, an to ha!e regar to their honour an reputation) an
especially to !irgins, when grown to be marriageable" For, as has been
note, if through the too great se!erity of parents, they may be crosse
in their lo!e, many of them throw themsel!es into the unchaste arms of
the first alluring tempter that comes in the way, being, through the
softness an fle*ibility of their nature, an the strong esire they
ha!e after what nature strongly incites them to, easily inuce to
belie!e men@s false !ows of promise marriage, to co!er their shame& an
then too late, their parents repent of their se!erity which has brought
an inelible stain upon their families"
18llustration&
'onception
First (onth
7econ (onth
Thir (onth
Fourth (onth6
18llustration&
Fifth (onth
7i*th (onth
7e!enth (onth
Eighth (onth
=inth (onth6
Another error in marriage is, the ineEuality of years in the parties
marrie) such as for a young man, who, to a!ance his fortune, marries a
woman ol enough to be his granmother& between whom, for the most part,
strife, jealousies, an issatisfaction are all the blessings which
crown the genial be, is being impossible for such to ha!e any chilren"
The like may be sai, though with a little e*cuse, when an ol oting
wiower marries a !irgin in the prime of her youth an her !igour, who,
while he !ainly tries to please her, is thereby wee to his gra!e"
For, as in green youth, it is unfit an unseasonable to think of
marriage, so to marry in ol age is just the same) for they that enter
upon it too soon are soon e*hauste, an fall into consumptions an
i!ers other iseases) an those who procrastinate an marry
unseemingly, fall into the like troubles) on the other sie ha!ing only
this honour, if ol men, they become young cuckols, especially if their
wi!es ha!e not been traine up in the paths of !irtue, an lie too much
open to the importunity an temptation of lew an ebauche men" An
thus much for the errors of rash an inconsierate marriages"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?888
AThe :pinion of the %earne concerning 'hilren concei!e an born
within 7e!en (onths) with Arguments upon the 7ubject to pre!ent
7uspicion of 8ncontinency, an bitter 'ontest on that Account" To
which are ae +ules to >now the ,isposition of (an@s Boy by the
Genital Parts"A
(any bitter Euarrels happen between men an their wi!es upon the man@s
supposition that the chil comes too soon, an by conseEuence, that he
coul not be the father) whereas, it is the want of unerstaning the
secrets of nature which brings the man into that error) an which, ha
he known, might ha!e cure him of his suspicion an jealousy"
To remo!e which, 8 shall enea!our to pro!e, that it is possible, an
has been freEuently known, that chilren ha!e been born at se!en months"
Paul, the 'ounsel, has this passage in the 35th Book of Pleaings, !iJ"&
B8t is now a recei!e truth, that a perfect chil may be born in the
se!enth month, by the authority of the learne ;ippocrates) an
therefore, we must belie!e that a chil born at the en of the se!enth
month in lawful matrimony may be lawfully begotten"B
Galen is of opinion that there is no certain time set for the bearing of
chilren) an that from Pliny@s authority, who makes mention of a woman
that went thirteen months with chil) but as to what concerns the
se!enth month, a learne author says, B8 know se!eral marrie people in
;ollan that ha twins born in the se!enth month, who li!e to ol age,
ha!ing lusty boies an li!ely mins" Wherefore their opinion is absur,
who assert that a chil at se!en months cannot be perfect an long
li!e) an that it cannot in all parts be perfect until the ninth
month"B Thereupon the author procees to tell a passage from his own
knowlege, !iJ"& B:f late there happene a great isturbance among us,
which ene not without blooshe) an was occasione by a !irgin, whose
chastity ha been !iolate, escening from a noble family of unspotte
fame" 7e!eral charge the fact upon the -uge, who was presient of a
city in Flaners, who firmly enie it, saying he was reay to take his
oath that he ne!er ha any carnal copulation with her, an that he woul
not father that, which was none of his) an farther argue, that he
!erily belie!e it was a chil born in se!en months, himself being many
miles istant from the mother of it when it was concei!e" <pon which
the juges ecree that the chil shoul be !iewe by able physicians
an e*perience women, an that they shoul make their report" They
ha!ing mae iligent inEuiry, all of them with one min, conclue the
chil, without iscussing who was the father, was born within the space
of se!en months, an that it was carrie in the mother@s womb but
twenty$se!en weeks an some o ays) but if she shoul ha!e gone full
nine months, the chil@s parts an limbs woul ha!e been more firm an
strong, an the structure of the boy more compact) for the skin was
!ery loose, an the breast bone that efens the heart, an the gristles
that lay o!er the stomach, lay higher than naturally they shoul be,
not plain, but crooke an sharp, rigi or pointe, like those of a
young chicken hatche in the beginning of spring" An being a female, it
wante nails upon the joints of the fingers) upon which, from the
masculous cartilaginous matter of the skin, nails that are !ery smooth
o come, an by egrees haren) she ha, instea of nails, a thin skin
or film" As for her toes, there were no signs of nails upon them,
wanting the heat which was e*pane to the fingers from the nearness of
the heart" All this was consiere, an abo!e all, one gentlewoman of
Euality that assiste, affirming that she ha been the mother of
nineteen chilren, an that i!ers of them ha been born an li!e at
se!en months, though within the se!enth month" For in such cases, the
re!olution of the month ought to be obser!e, which perfects itself in
four bare weeks, or somewhat less than twenty$eight ays) in which space
of the re!olution, the bloo being agitate by the force of the moon,
the courses of women flow from them) which being spent, an the matri*
cleanse from the menstruous bloo which happens on the fourth ay,
then, if a man on the se!enth ay lie with his wife, the copulation is
most natural, an then the conception is best& an the chil thus
begotten may be born in the se!enth month an pro!e !ery healthful" 7o
that on this report, the suppose father was pronounce innocent) the
proof that he was 300 miles istant all that month in which the chil
was begotten) as for the mother she strongly enie that she knew the
father, being force in the ark) an so, through fear an surprise, was
left in ignorance"B
As for coition, it ought not to be use unless the parties be in health,
lest it turn to the isa!antage of the chilren so begotten, creating
in them, through the abunance of ill humours, i!ers languishing
iseases" Wherefore, health is no better iscerne than by the genitals
of the man) for which reasons miwi!es, an other skilful women, were
formerly wont to see the testicles of chilren, thereby to conjecture
their temperature an state of boy) an young men may know thereby the
signs an symptoms of eath) for if the cases of the testicles be loose
an feeble, which are the proofs of life, are fallen, but if the secret
parts are wrinkle an raise up, it is a sign that all is well, but
that the e!ent may e*actly answer the preiction, it is necessary to
consier what part of the boy the isease possesseth) for if it chance
to be the upper part that is afflicte, as the hea or stomach, then it
will not so then appear by the members, which are unconnecte with such
grie!ances) but the lower part of the boy e*actly sympathising with
them, their li!eliness, on the contrary, makes it apparent) for nature@s
force, an the spirits that ha!e their intercourse, first manifest
themsel!es therein) which occasions miwi!es to feel the genitals of
chilren, to know in what part the gulf is resiing, an whether life or
eath be portene thereby, the symptoms being strongly communicate to
the !essels, that ha!e their intercourse with the principal seat of
life"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8L
A:f the Green$7ickness in ?irgins, with its causes, signs an
cures) together with the chief occasions of Barrenness in Women,
an the (eans to remo!e the 'ause, an rener them fruitful"A
The green$sickness is so common a complaint amongst !irgins, especially
those of a phlegmatic comple*ion, that it is easily iscerne, showing
itself by iscolouring the face, making it look green, pale, an of a
usty colour, proceeing from raw an inigeste humours) nor oth it
only appear to the eye, but sensibly affects the person with ifficulty
of breathing, pains in the hea, palpitation of the heart, with unusual
beatings an small throbbings of the arteries in the temples, back an
neck, which often cast them into fe!ers when the humour is o!er !icious)
also loathing of meat an the istention of the hypochonriac part, by
reason of the inorinate efflu*ion of the menstruous bloo of the
greater !essels) an from the abunance of humours, the whole boy is
often trouble with swellings, or at least the thighs, legs an ankles,
all abo!e the heels) there is also a weariness of the boy without any
reason for it"
The Galenical physicians affirm, that this istemper procees from the
womb) occasione by the gross, !icious an rue humours arising from
se!eral inwar causes) but there are also outwar causes which ha!e a
share in the prouction of it) as taking col in the feet, rinking of
water, intemperance of iet, eating things contrary to nature, !iJ", raw
or burnt flesh, ashes, coals, ol shoes, chalk, wa*, nutshells, mortar,
lime, oatmeal, tobacco pipes, etc", which occasion both a suppression of
the menses an obstructions through the whole boy) therefore, the first
thing necessary to !inicate the cause, is matrimonial conjunction, an
such copulation as may pro!e satisfactory to her that is afflicte, for
then the menses will begin to flow accoring to their natural an ue
course, an the humours being isperse, will soon waste themsel!es) an
then no more matter being amitte to increase them, they will !anish
an a goo temperament of boy will return) but in case this best remey
cannot be ha soon enough, then let bloo in the ankles, an if she be
about si*teen, you may likewise o it in the arm, but let her be ble
sparingly, especially if the bloo be goo" 8f the isease be of any
continuance, then it is to be eraicate by purging, preparation of the
humour being first consiere, which may be one by the !irgin@s
rinking the ecoction of guaiacum, with ittany of erete) but the best
purge in this case ought to be mae of aloes, agaric, senna, rhubarb)
an for strengthening the bowels an remo!ing obstructions, chaly$beate
meicines are chiefly to be use" The iet must be moerate, an sharp
things by all means a!oie"
An now, since barrenness aily creates iscontent, an that iscontent
brees inifference between man an wife, or, by immeiate grief,
freEuently casts the woman into one or another istemper, 8 shall in the
ne*t place treat thereof"
:F BA++E==E77"
Formerly, before women came to the marriage$be, they were first
searche by the mi$wife, an those only which she allowe of as
fruitful were amitte" 8 hope, therefore, it will not be amiss to show
you how they may pro!e themsel!es an turn barren groun into fruitful
soil" Barrenness is a epri!ation of the life an power which ought to
be in the see to procreate an propagate) for which en men an women
were mae" 'auses of barrenness may be o!er much col or heat, rying up
the see an corrupting it, which e*tinguishes the life of the see,
making it waterish an unfit for generation" 8t may be cause also, by
the not flowing or o!er$flowing of the courses by swellings, ulcers, an
inflammation of the womb, by an e*crescence of flesh growing about the
mouth of the matri*, by the mouth of the matri* being turne up to the
back or sie by the fatness of the boy, whereby the mouth of the matri*
is close up, being presse with the omentum or caul, an the matter of
the see is turne to fat) if she be a lean an ry boy, an though she
o concei!e, yet the fruit of her boy will wither before it come to
perfection, for want of nourishment" :ne main cause of barrenness is
attribute to want of a con!enient moerating Euality, which the woman
ought to ha!e with the man) as, if he be hot, she must be col) if he be
ry, she must be moist) as, if they be both ry or both moist of
constitution, they cannot propagate) an yet, simply consiering of
themsel!es, they are not barren, for she who was before as the barren
fig$tree being joine to an apt constitution becomes as the fruitful
!ine" An that a man an woman, being e!ery way of like constitution,
cannot create, 8 will bring nature itself for a testimony, who hath mae
man of a better constitution than woman, that the Euality of the one,
may moerate the Euality of the other"
78G=7 :F BA++E==E77"
8f barrenness procees from o!ermuch heat, if she is a ry boy, subject
to anger, has black hair, Euick pulse, an her purgations flow but
little, an that with pain, she lo!es to play in the courts of ?enus"
But if it comes by col, then the signs are contrary to the abo!e
mentione" 8f through the e!il Euality of the womb, make a suffumigation
of re styra*, myrrh, cassia$woo, nutmeg, an cinnamon) an let her
recei!e the fumes into her womb, co!ering her !ery close) an if the
oour so recei!e passes through the boy to the mouth an nostrils,
she is fruitful" But if she feels not the fumes in her mouth an
nostrils, it argues barrenness one of these ways$$that the spirit of the
see is either e*tinguishe through col, or issipate through heat" 8f
any woman be suspecte to be unfruitful, cast natural brimstone, such as
is igge out of mines, into her urine, an if worms bree therein, she
is not barren"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
Barrenness makes women look young, because they are free from those
pains an sorrows which other women are accustome to" #et they ha!e not
the full perfection of health which other women enjoy, because they are
not rightly purge of the menstruous bloo an superfluous see, which
are the principal cause of most uterine iseases"
First, the cause must be remo!e, the womb strengthene, an the spirits
of the see enli!ene" 8f the womb be o!er hot, take syrup of succory,
with rhubarb, syrup of !iolets, roses, cassia, purslain" Take of eni!e,
water$lilies, borage flowers, of each a hanful) rhubarb, mirobalans, of
each three rachms) make a ecoction with water, an to the straining of
the syrup a electuary !iolets one ounce, syrup of cassia half an
ounce, manna three rachms) make a potion" Take of syrup of mugwort one
ounce, syrup of maien$hair two ounces, pul!$elect triasan one rachm)
make a julep" Take prus" salt, elect" ros" mesua, of each three rachms,
rhubarb one scruple, an make a bolus) apply to the loins an pri!y
parts fomentations of the juice of lettuce, !iolets, roses, malloes,
!ine lea!es an nightshae) anoint the secret parts with the cooling
unguent of Galen"
8f the power of the see be e*tinguishe by col, take e!ery morning two
spoonfuls of cinnamon water, with one scruple of mithriate" Take syrup
of calamint, mugwort an betony, of each one ounce) waters of
pennyroyal, fe!erfew, hyssop an sage, of each two ounces) make a julep"
Take oil of anisee two scruples an a half) iacimini,
iacliathiiamosei an iagla$ongoe, of each one rachm, sugar four
ounces, with water of cinnamon, an make loJenges) take of them a rachm
an a half twice a ay, two hours before meals) fasten cupping glasses
to the hips an belly" Take of styra* an calamint one ounce, mastick,
cinnamon, nutmeg, lign, aloes, an frankincense, of each half ounce)
musk, ten grains, ambergris, half a scruple) make a confection with
rosewater, i!ie it into four eEual parts) one part make a pomatum
oeration to smell at if she be not hysterical) of the secon, make a
mass of pills, an let her take three e!ery other night& of the thir
make a pessary, ip it in oil of spikenar, an put it up) of the
fourth, make a suffumigation for the womb"
8f the faculties of the womb be weakene, an the life of the see
suffocate by o!er much humiity flowing to those parts& take of betony,
marjoram, mugwort, pennyroyal an balm, of each a hanful) roots of alum
an fennel, of each two rachms) anisee an cummin, of each one rachm,
with sugar an water a sufficient Euantity) make a syrup, an take three
ounces e!ery morning"
Purge with the following things) take of the iagniium, two grains,
spicierum of castor, a scruple, pill foeit two scruples, with syrup of
mugwort, make si* pills" Take apeo, iagem" iamoser, iamb" of each one
rachm) cinnamon, one rachm an a half) clo!es, mace an nutmeg, of
each half a rachm) sugar si* ounces, with water of fe!erfew) make
loJenges, to be taken e!ery morning" Take of ecoction of sarsaparilla
an !irga aurea, not forgetting sage, which Agrippa, wonering at its
operation, has honoure with the name of Asacra herbaA, a holy herb" 8t
is recore by ,oonoeus in the A;istory of PlantsA, lib" ii" cap" GG,
that after a great mortality among the Egyptians, the sur!i!ing women,
that they might multiply Euickly, were commane to rink the juice of
sage, an to anoint the genitals with oil of anisee an spikenar" Take
mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, styra* an amber, of each one rachm) clo!es,
lauanum, of each half a rachm) turpentine, a sufficient Euantity)
trochisks, to smooth the womb" Take roots of !alerian an elecampane, of
each one poun) galanga, two ounces) origan la!ener, marjoram, betony,
mugwort, bay lea!es, calamint, of each a hanful) make an infusion with
water, in which let her sit, after she hath her courses"
8f barrenness procee from ryness, consuming the matter of the see)
take e!ery ay almon milk, an goat@s milk e*tracte with honey, but
often of the root satyrion, canie, an electuary of iasyren" Take
three wethers@ heas, boil them until all the flesh comes from the
bones, then take melilot, !iolets, camomiles, mercury, orchia with their
roots, of each a hanful) fenugreek, linsee, !alerian roots, of each
one poun) let all these be ecocte in the aforesai broth, an let the
woman sit in the ecoction up to the na!el"
8f barrenness be cause by any proper effect of the womb, the cure is
set own in the secon book" 7ometimes the womb pro!es barren where
there is no impeiment on either sie, e*cept only in the manner of the
act) as when in the emission of the see, the man is Euick an the woman
is slow, whereby there is not an emission of both sees at the same
instant as the rules of conception reEuire" Before the acts of coition,
foment the pri!y parts with the ecoction of betony, sage, hyssop an
calamint an anoint the mouth an neck of the womb with musk an ci!et"
The cause of barrenness being remo!e, let the womb be strengthene as
follows) Take of bay berries, mastic, nutmeg, frankincense, nuts,
lauanum, giapanum, of each one rachm, styracis liEui, two scruples,
clo!es half a scruple, ambergris two grains, then make a pessary with
oil of spikenar"
Take of re roses, lapiiis hoematis, white frankincense, of each half
an ounce" ,ragon@s bloo, fine bole, mastic, of each two rachms)
nutmeg, clo!es, of each one rachm) spikenar, half a scruple, with oil
of wormwoo) make a plaster for the lower part of the belly, then let
her eat canie eringo root, an make an injection only of the roots of
satyrion"
The aptest time for conception is instantly after the menses ha!e
cease, because then the womb is thirsty an ry, apt both to raw the
see an return it, by the roughness of the inwar surface, an besies,
in some, the mouth of the womb is turne into the back or sie, an is
not place right until the last ay of the courses"
E*cess in all things is to be a!oie" %ay asie all passions of the
min, shun stuy an care, as things that are enemies to conception, for
if a woman concei!e uner such circumstances, howe!er wise the parents
may be, the chilren, at best, will be but foolish) because the mental
faculties of the parents, !iJ", the unerstaning an the rest Cfrom
whence the chil eri!es its reasonD are, as it were, confuse through
the multiplicity of cares an thought) of which we ha!e e*amples in
learne men, who, after great stuy an care, ha!ing connection with
their wi!es, often beget !ery foolish chilren" A hot an moist air is
most suitable, as appears by the women in Egypt, who often bring forth
three or four chilren at one time"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L
A?irginity, what it is, in what it consists, an how !itiate)
together with the :pinions of the %earne about the 'hange of 7e*
in the Womb, uring the :peration of =ature in forming the Boy"A
There are many ignorant people that boast of their skill in the
knowlege of !irginity, an some !irgins ha!e unergone harsh censures
through their ignorant conclusions) 8 therefore thought it highly
necessary to clear up this point, that the towering imaginations of
conceite ignorance might be brought own, an the fair se* Cwhose
!irtues are so illustriously bright that they e*cite our woner an
comman our imitationD, may be free from the calumnies an etractions
of ignorance an en!y) an so their honour may continue as unspotte, as
they ha!e kept their persons uncontaminate an free from efilement"
?irginity, in a strict sense, signifies the prime, the chief, the best
of anything) an this makes men so esirous of marrying !irgins,
imagining some secret pleasure is to be enjoye in their embraces, more
than in those of wiows, or of such as ha!e been lain with before,
though not many years ago, a !ery great personage thought ifferently,
an to use his own e*pression&$$BThe getting a maienhea was such a
piece of rugery, that it was fitter for a coal hea!er than a
prince"B136 But this was only his opinion, for 8 am sure that other men
think ifferently"
The curious inEuirers into the secrets of =ature, ha!e obser!e, that in
young maiens in the Asinus puorisA, or in what is calle the neck of
the womb, is that wonerful prouction usually calle the AhymenA, but
in French Abouton e roseA, or rosebu, because it resembles the
e*pane bu of a rose or a gilly flower" From this the wor AefloroA,
or, eflower, is eri!e, an hence taking away !irginity is calle
eflowering a !irgin, most being of the opinion that the !irginity is
altogether lost when this membrane is fracture an estroye by
!iolence) when it is foun perfect an entire, howe!er, no penetration
has been effecte) an in the opinion of some learne physicians there
is neither hymen nor e*pane skin which contains bloo in it, which
some people think, flows from the rupture membrane at the first time of
se*ual intercourse"
=ow this Aclaustrum !irginaleA, or flower, is compose of four little
bus like myrtle berries, which are full an plump in !irgins, but hang
loose an flag in women) an these are place in the four angles of the
Asinus puorisA, joine together by little membranes an ligatures, like
fibres, each of them situate in the testicles, or spaces between each
bu, with which, in a manner, they are proportionately istene, an
when once this membrane is lacerate, it enotes A,e!irginationA" Thus
many ignorant people, fining their wi!es efecti!e in this respect on
the first night, ha!e immeiately suspecte their chastity, concluing
that another man ha been there before them, when inee, such a rupture
may happen in se!eral ways accientally, as well as by se*ual
intercourse, !iJ" by !iolent straining, coughing, or sneeJing, the
stoppage of the urine, etc", so that the entireness or the fracture of
that which is commonly taken for a woman@s !irginity or maienhea, is
no absolute sign of immorality, though it is more freEuently broken by
copulation than by any other means"1.6
An now to say something of the change of the se*es in the womb" The
genital parts of the se*es are so unlike each other in substance,
composition, situation, figure, action an use that nothing is more
unlike to each other than they are, an the more, all parts of the boy
Cthe breasts e*cepte, which in women swell, because =ature oraine
them for suckling the infantD ha!e an e*act resemblance to each other,
so much the more o the genital parts of one se* iffer, when compare
with the other, an if they be thus ifferent in form, how much more are
they so in their use"
The !enereal feeling also procees from ifferent causes) in men from
the esire of emission, an in women from the esire of reception" All
these things, then, consiere 8 cannot but woner, he as, how any one
can imagine that the female genital organs can be change into the male
organ, since the se*es can be istinguishe only by those parts, nor
can 8 well impute the reason for this !ulgar error to anything but the
mistake of ine*pert miwi!es, who ha!e been ecei!e by the faulty
conformation of those parts, which in some males may ha!e happene to
ha!e such small protrusions that they coul not be seen, as appears by
the e*ample of a chil who was christene in Paris uner the name of
A8!anA, as a girl, an who afterwars turne out to be a boy, an on the
other han, the e*cessi!e tension of the clytoris in newly$born female
infants may ha!e occasione similar mistakes" Thus far Pliny in the
negati!e, an notwithstaning what he has sai, there are others, such
as Galen, who assert the affirmati!e" BA man,B he says, Bis ifferent
from a woman, only by ha!ing his genitals outsie his boy, whereas a
woman has them insie her"B An this is certain, that if =ature ha!ing
forme a male shoul con!ert him into a female, she has nothing else to
o but to turn his genitals inwar, an again to turn a woman into a man
by a contrary operation" This, howe!er, is to be unerstoo of the chil
whilst it is in the womb an not yet perfectly forme, for =ature has
often mae a female chil, an it has remaine so for a month or two, in
its mother@s womb) but afterwars the heat greatly increasing in the
genital organs, they ha!e protrue an the chil has become a male, but
ne!ertheless retaine some things which o not befit the masculine se*,
such as female gestures an mo!ements, a high !oice, an a more
effeminate temper than is usual with men) whilst, on the other han, the
genitals ha!e become in!erte through col humours, but yet the person
retaine a masculine air, both in !oice an gesture" =ow, though both
these opinions are supporte by se!eral reasons, yet 8 think the latter
are nearer the truth, for there is not that !ast ifference between the
genitals of the two se*es as Pliny asserts) for a woman has, in a way,
the same ApuenaA as a man, though they o not appear outwarly, but
are in!erte for the con!enience of generation) one being soli an the
other porous, an that the principal reason for changing se*es is, an
must be attribute to heat or col, which operates accoring to its
greater or lesser force"
F::T=:TE7&
136 Attribute to George 8? CTranslatorD"
1.6 A young man was once trie at +utlan AssiJes for !iolating a
!irgin, an after close Euestioning, the girl swearing positi!ely in the
matter, an naming the time, place an manner of the action, it was
resol!e that she shoul be e*amine by a skilful surgeon an two
miwi!es, who were to report on oath, which they i, an eclare that
the membranes were intact an unlacerate, an that, in their opinion,
her boy ha not been penetrate" This ha its ue effect upon the jury,
an they acEuitte the prisoner, an the girl afterwars confesse that
she swore it against him out of re!enge, as he ha promise to marry
her, an ha afterwars ecline"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L8
A,irections an 'autions for (iwi!es) an, first, what ought to be
the Eualifications of a miwife"A
A miwife who wishes to acEuit herself well in her employment, ought
certainly not to enter upon it rashly or una!isely, but with all
imaginable caution, remembering that she is responsible for any mischief
which may happen through her ignorance or neglect" =one, therefore,
shoul unertake that uty merely because of their age or because they
themsel!es ha!e ha many chilren, for, in such, generally, many things
will be foun wanting, which she shoul possess" 7he ought to be neither
too ol nor too young, neither !ery fat, nor so thin, as to be weak, but
in a goo habit of boy) not subject to illness, fears, nor suen
frights) well$mae an neat in her attire, her hans small an smooth,
her nails kept well$trimme an without any rings on her fingers whilst
she is engage in her work, nor anything upon her wrists that may
obstruct her" An to these ought to be ae acti!ity, an a ue amount
of strength, with much caution an iligence, nor shoul she be gi!en to
rowsiness or impatience"
7he shoul be polite an affable in her manners, sober an chaste, not
gi!en to passion, liberal an compassionate towars the poor, an not
greey of gain when she attens the rich" 7he shoul ha!e a cheerful an
pleasant temper, so that she may be the more easily able to comfort her
patients uring labour" 7he must ne!er be in a hurry, though her
business may call her to some other case, lest she shoul thereby
enanger the mother or the chil"
7he ought to be wary, pruent, an intelligent, but abo!e all, she ought
to be possesse by the fear of Go, which will gi!e her both Bknowlege
an iscretion,B as the wise man says"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L88
AFurther ,irections to (iwi!es, teaching them what they ought to
o, an what to a!oi"A
7ince the uties of a miwife ha!e such a great influence on the
well$oing or the contrary of both women an chilren, in the first
place, she must be iligent in gaining all such knowlege as may be
useful to her in her practice, an ne!er to think herself so perfect,
but that it may be possible for her to a to her knowlege by stuy an
e*perience" 7he shoul, howe!er, ne!er try any e*periments unless she
has trie them, or knows that they can o no harm) practising them
neither upon rich nor poor, but freely saying what she knows, an ne!er
prescribing any meicines which will procure abortion, e!en though
reEueste) for this is wicke in the highest egree, an may be terme
murer" 8f she be sent for to people whom she oes not know, let her be
!ery cautious before she goes, lest by attening an infectious woman,
she runs the anger of injuring others, as sometimes happens" =either
must she make her welling a recei!ing$house for big$bellie women to
ischarge their loa, lest it get her a ba name an she by such means
loses her practice"
8n attening on women, if the birth happens to be ifficult, she must
not seem to be an*ious, but must cheer the woman up an o all she can
to make her labour easy" 7he will fin full irections for this, in the
secon part of this book"
7he must ne!er think of anything but oing well, seeing that e!erything
that is reEuire is in reainess, both for the woman an for recei!ing
the chil, an abo!e all, let her keep the woman from becoming unruly
when her pains come on, lest she enanger her own life, an the chil@s
as well"
7he must also take care not to be hurrie o!er her business but wait
Go@s time for the birth, an she must by no means allow herself to be
upset by fear, e!en if things shoul not go well, lest that shoul make
her incapable of renering that assistance which the woman in labour
stans in nee of, for where there is the most apparent anger, there
the most care an pruence are reEuire to set things right"
An now, because she can ne!er be a skilful miwife who knows nothing
but what is to be seen outwarly, 8 o not think it will be amiss but
rather !ery necessary, moestly to escribe the generati!e parts of
women as they ha!e been anatomise by learne men, an to show the use
of such !essels as contribute to generation"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L888
AThe E*ternal, an 8nternal :rgans of Generation in Women"A
8f it were not for the public benefit, especially for that of the
professors an practitioners of the art of miwifery, 8 woul refrain
from treating the secrets of =ature, because they may be turne to
riicule by lasci!ious an lew people" But as it is absolutely
necessary that they shoul be known for the public goo, 8 will not omit
them because some may make a wrong use of them" Those parts which can be
seen at the lowest part of the stomach are the Afissure magnaA, or the
Agreat cleftA, with its AlabiaA or lips, the A(ons ?enerisA, or (ountain
of ?enus, an the hair" These together are calle the ApuenaA, or
things to be ashame of because when they are e*pose they cause a woman
ApuorA, or shame" The Afissure magnaA reaches from the lower part of
the Aos pubisA, to within an inch of the AanusA, but it is less an
closer in !irgins than in those who ha!e borne chilren, an has two
lips, which grow thicker an fuller towars the pubis, an meeting on
the mile of the Aos pubisA, form that rising hill which is calle the
A(ons ?enerisA, or the ;ill of ?enus"
=e*t come the A=ymphaeA an the A'litorisA, the former of which is a
membrany an moist substance, spongy, soft an partly fleshy, of a re
colour an in the shape of two wings, which are joine at an acute angle
at their base, proucing a fleshy substance there which co!ers the
clitoris, an sometimes they e*ten so far, that an incision is reEuire
to make room for a man@s instrument of generation"
The A'litorisA is a substance in the upper part of the i!ision where
the two wings meet, an the seat of !enereal pleasure, being like a
man@s ApenisA in situation, substance, composition an power of
erection, growing sometimes to the length of two inches out of the boy,
but that ne!er happens e*cept through e*treme lustfulness or some
e*traorinary accient" This AclitorisA consists of two spongy an
skinny boies, containing a istinct original from the Aos pubisA, its
tip being co!ere with a tener skin, ha!ing a hole or passage like a
man@s yar or ApenisA, although not Euite through, in which alone, an
in its siJe it iffers from it"
The ne*t things are the fleshy knobs of the great neck of the womb, an
these knobs are behin the wings an are four in number, resembling
myrtle berries, an being place Euarangularly one against the other,
an here the orifice of the blaer is inserte, which opens into the
fissures, to e!acuate the urine, an one of these knobs is place before
it, an closes up the passage in orer to secure it from col, or any
suchlike incon!enience"
The lips of the womb, which appear ne*t, isclose its neck, if they are
separate, an two things may be obser!e in them, which are the neck
itself an the AhymenA, or more properly, the Aclaustrum !irginaleA, of
which 8 ha!e spoken before" By the neck of the womb we must unerstan
the channel that lies between the abo!e$mentione knobs an the inner
bone of the womb, which recei!es the penis like a sheath, an so that it
may be more easily ilate by the pleasure of procreation, the substance
is sinewy an a little spongy" There are se!eral fols or pleats in this
ca!ity, mae by tunicles, which are wrinkle like a full blown rose" 8n
!irgins they appear plainly, but in women who are use to copulation
they isappear, so that the inner sie of the neck of the womb appears
smooth, but in ol women it is more har an gristly" But though this
channel is sometimes crooke an sinks own yet at the times of
copulation, labour, or of the monthly flow, it is erecte or istene,
which o!ertension occasions the pain in chilbirth"
The hymen, or Aclaustrum !irginaleA, is that which closes the neck of
the womb, an is broken by the first act of copulation) its use being
rather to check the unue menstrual flow in !irgins, rather than to
ser!e any other purpose, an usually when it is broken, either by
copulation, or by any other means, a small Euantity of bloo flows from
it, attene with some little pain" From this some obser!e that between
the fols of the two tunicles, which constitute the neck of the womb
there are many !eins an arteries running along, an arising from, the
!essels on both sies of the thighs, an so passing into the neck of the
womb, being !ery large) an the reason for this is, that the neck of the
blaer reEuires to be fille with great !igour, so as to be ilate, in
orer that it may lay hol of the penis better) for great heat is
reEuire in such motions, an that becomes more intense by the act of
friction, an consumes a consierable amount of moisture, for supplying
which large !essels are absolutely necessary"
Another cause of the largeness of the !essels is, that menses make their
way through them, which often occasions pregnant women to continue
menstruating& for though the womb be shut up, yet the passages in the
neck of the womb through which these !essels pass, are open" 8n this
case, we may further obser!e, that as soon as the ApuenaA are
penetrate, there appear two little pits or holes which contain a
secretion, which is e*pelle uring copulation, an gi!es the woman
great pleasure"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L8?
AA escription of the Fabric of the Womb, the preparing ?essels an
Testicles in Women" Also of the ,ifferent an Ejaculatory ?essels"A
The womb is joine to its neck in the lower part of the A;ypogastriumA
where the hips are the wiest an broaest, as they are greater an
broaer there than those of men, an it is place between the blaer
an the straight gut, which keeps it from swaying, an yet gi!es it
freeom to stretch an ilate, an again to contract, as nature
reEuires" 8ts shape is somewhat roun an not unlike a gour, growing
smaller an more acute towars one en, being knit together by its
own ligaments) its neck likewise is joine by its own substance an by
certain membranes that fasten into the Aos sacrumA an the share$bone"
8ts siJe !aries much in ifferent women, an the ifference is
especially great between those who ha!e borne chilren an those who
ha!e ha none" 8ts substance e*cees a thumb@s breath in thickness, an
so far from ecreasing conception, it rather increases) an in orer to
strengthen it it is interwo!en with fibres which cross it from sie to
sie, some of which are straight an some wining, an its proper
!essels are !eins, arteries an ner!es" Amongst these there are two
small !eins which pass into the womb from the spermatic !essels, an two
larger ones from the neck& the mouth of these !eins pierces as far as
the inwar ca!ity"
18llustration& Position of a 'hil in the Womb just before eli!ery"6
18llustration& The action of Euickening6
The womb has two arteries on both sies of the spermatic !essels an the
hypogastric, which accompany the !eins) an besies these, there are
se!eral little ner!es in the form of a net, which e*ten throughout it,
from the bottom of the ApuenaA) their chief function is sensibility
an pleasure, as they mo!e in sympathy between the hea an the womb"
8t may be further note that the womb is occasionally mo!eable by means
of the two ligaments that hang on either sie of it, an often rises an
falls" The neck of the womb is e*tremely sensiti!e, so that if it be at
any time out of orer through o!er fatness, moisture or rela*ation, it
thereby becomes subject to barrenness" With pregnant women, a glutinous
matter is often foun at the entrance to the womb so as to facilitate
the birth) for at the time of eli!ery, the mouth of the womb is opene
as wie as the siJe of the chil reEuires, an ilates eEually from top
to bottom"
The spermatic !essels in women, consist of two !eins an two arteries,
which iffer from those of men only in siJe an the manner of their
insertion) for the number of !eins an arteries is the same as in men,
the right !ein issuing from the trunk of the hollow !ein escening an
besies them there are two arteries, which flow from the aorta"
These !essels are narrower an shorter in women than in men) but it must
be notice that they are more intertwine an contorte than in men, an
shrink together by reason of their shortness that they may, by their
looseness, be better stretche out when necessary& an these !essels in
women are carrie in an obliEue irection through the lesser bowels an
testicles but are i!ie into two branches half way" The larger goes to
the stones an forms a wining boy, an wonerfully inoculates the
lesser branches where it isperses itself, an especially at the higher
part of the bottom of the womb, for its nourishment, an that part of
the courses may pass through the !essels) an seeing that women@s
testicles are situate near the womb, for that cause those !essels o
not fall from the peritoneum, nor o they make so much passage as in
men, as they o not e*ten to the share$bone"
The stones of woman, commonly calle AtesticlesA, o not perform the
same function as in men, for they are altogether ifferent in position,
siJe, temperature, substance, form an co!ering" They are situate in
the hollow of the muscles of the loins, so that, by contracting greater
heat, they may be more fruitful, their office being to contain the o!a
or eggs, one of which, being impregnate by the man@s see engeners the
chil" They are, howe!er, ifferent from those of the male in shape,
because they are smaller an flatter at each en, an not so roun or
o!al) the e*ternal superficies is also more uneEual, an has the
appearance of a number of knobs or kernels mi*e together"
There is a ifference, also, in the substance, as they are much softer
an more pliable, an not nearly so compact" Their siJe an temperature
are also ifferent for they are much coler an smaller than in men, an
their co!ering or enclosure is likewise Euite ifferent) for as men@s
are wrappe in se!eral co!ers, because they are !ery penulous an woul
be easily injure unless they were so protecte by nature, so women@s
stones, being internal an thus less subject to being hurt, are co!ere
by only one membrane, an are likewise half co!ere by the peritoneum"
The ejaculatory !essels are two small passages, one on either sie,
which o not iffer in any respect from the spermatic !eins in
substance" They rise in one place from the bottom of the womb, an o
not reach from their other e*tremity either to the stones or to any
other part, but are shut up an impassable, an ahere to the womb as
the colon oes to the blin gut, an wining half way about) an though
the testicles are not close to them an o not touch them, yet they are
fastene to them by certain membranes which resemble the wing of a bat,
through which certain !eins an arteries passing from the en of the
testicles may be sai to ha!e their passages going from the corners of
the womb to the testicles, an these ligaments in women are the
AcremastersA1I6 in men, of which 8 shall speak more fully when 8 come to
escribe the male parts of generation"
F::T=:TE7&
1I6 (uscles by which the testicles are rawn up"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?
AA ,escription of the <se an Action of the se!eral Generati!e
Parts in Women"A
The e*ternal parts, commonly calle the ApuenaA, are esigne to co!er
the great orifice an to recei!e the man@s penis or yar in the act of
se*ual intercourse, an to gi!e passage to the chil an to the urine"
The use of the wings an knobs, like myrtle berries, is for the security
of the internal parts, closing the orifice an neck of the blaer an
by their swelling up, to cause titillation an pleasure in those parts,
an also to obstruct the in!oluntary passage of the urine"
The action of the clitoris in women is similar to that of the penis in
men, !iJ", AerectionA) an its lower en is the glans of the penis, an
has the same name" An as the AglansA of man are the seat of the
greatest pleasure in copulation, so is this in the woman"
The action an use of the neck on the womb is the same as that of the
penis, !iJ", erection, brought about in ifferent ways& first, in
copulation it becomes erect an mae straight for the passage of the
penis into the womb) seconly, whilst the passage is fille with the
!ital bloo, it becomes narrower for embracing the penis) an the uses
of this erection are twofol&$$first, because if the neck of the womb
were not erecte, the man@s yar coul fin no proper passage to the
womb, an, seconly, it hiners any amage or injury that might ensue
through the !iolent striking of the ApenisA uring the act of
copulation"
The use of the !eins that pass through the neck of the womb, is to
replenish it with bloo an !igour, that so, as the moisture is consume
by the heat engenere by se*ual intercourse, it may be renewe by those
!essels) but their chief business is to con!ey nutriment to the womb"
The womb has many properties belonging to it& first, the retention of
the impregnate egg, an this is conception, properly so calle)
seconly, to cherish an nourish it, until =ature has fully forme the
chil, an brought it to perfection, an then it operates strongly in
e*pelling the chil, when the time of its remaining has e*pire,
becoming ilate in an e*traorinary manner an so perfectly remo!e
from the senses that they cannot injuriously affect it, retaining within
itself a power an strength to eject the foetus, unless it be renere
eficient by any accient) an in such a case remeies must be applie
by skilful hans to strengthen it, an enable it to perform its
functions) irections for which will be gi!en in the secon book"
The use of the preparing !essels is this) the arteries con!ey the bloo
to the testicles) some part of it is absorbe in nourishing them, an in
the prouction of these little blaers Cwhich resemble eggs in e!ery
particularD, through which the A!asa preparantiaA run, an which are
absorbe in them) an the function of the !eins is to bring back
whate!er bloo remains from the abo!e mentione use" The !essels of this
kin are much shorter in women than in men, because they are nearer to
the testicles) this efect is, howe!er, mae goo by the many intricate
winings to which those !essels are subject) for they i!ie themsel!es
into two branches of ifferent siJe in the mile an the larger one
passes to the testicles"
The stones in women are !ery useful, for where they are efecti!e, the
work of generation is at an en" For though those blaers which are on
the outer surface contain no see, as the followers of Galen an
;ippocrates wrongly belie!e, yet they contain se!eral eggs, generally
twenty in each testicle) one of which being impregnate by the animate
part of the man@s see in the act of copulation, escens through the
o!iucts into the womb, an thus in ue course of time becomes a li!ing
chil"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?8
A:f the :rgans of Generation in (an"A
;a!ing gi!en a escription of the organs of generation in women, with
the anatomy of the fabric of the womb, 8 shall now, in orer to finish
the first part of this treatise, escribe the organs of generation in
men, an how they are fitte for the use for which =ature intene them"
The instrument of generation in men Ccommonly calle the yar, in %atin,
ApenisA, from ApenoA, to hang, because it hangs outsie the bellyD, is
an organic part which consists of skin, tenons, !eins, arteries, sinews
an great ligaments) an is long an roun, an on the upper sie
flattish, seate uner the Aos pubisA, an oraine by =ature partly for
the e!acuation of urine, an partly for con!eying the see into the
womb) for which purpose it is full of small pores, through which the
see passes into it, through the A!esicula seminalisA,1/6 an ischarges
the urine when they make water) besies the common parts, !iJ", the two
ner!ous boies, the septum, the urethra, the glans, four muscles an the
!essels" The ner!ous boies Cso calleD are surroune with a thick
white, penetrable membrane, but their inner substance is spongy, an
consists chiefly of !eins, arteries, an ner!ous fibres, interwo!en like
a net" An when the ner!es are fille with animal !igour an the
arteries with hot, eager bloo, the penis becomes istene an erect)
also the neck of the A!esicula urinalisA,1F6 but when the influ* of
bloo ceases, an when it is absorbe by the !eins, the penis becomes
limp an flabby" Below those ner!ous boies is the urethra, an whene!er
they swell, it swells also" The penis has four muscles) two shorter ones
springing from the A'o* eni*A an which ser!e for erection, an on that
account they are calle AerectoresA) two larger, coming from Asphincters
aniA, which ser!e to ilate the urethra so as to ischarge the semen,
an these are calle ilatantes, or wieners" At the en of the penis is
the AglansA, co!ere with a !ery thin membrane, by means of which, an
of its ner!ous substance, it becomes most e*tremely sensiti!e, an is
the principal seat of pleasure in copulation" The outer co!ering of the
AglansA is calle the ApreputiumA CforeskinD, which the -ews cut off in
circumcision, an it is fastene by the lower part of it to the AglansA"
The penis is also pro!ie with !eins, arteries an ner!es"
The AtesticuliA, stones or testicles Cso calle because they testify one
to be a manD, turn the bloo, which is brought to them by the spermatic
arteries into see" They ha!e two sorts of co!ering, common an proper)
there are two of the common, which enfol both the testes" The outer
common coat, consists of the AcuticulaA, or true skin, an is calle the
scrotum, an hangs from the abomen like a purse) the inner is the
Amembrana carnosaA" There are also two proper coats$$the outer calle
AcliotroesA, or !irginales) the inner AalbugiiaA) in the outer the
cremaster is inserte" The AepiiemesA, or AprostataeA are fi*e to the
upper part of the testes, an from them spring the A!asa eferentiaA, or
AejaculatoriaA, which eposit the see into the A!esicule seminalesA
when they come near the neck of the blaer" There are two of these
A!esiculaeA, each like a bunch of grapes, which emit the see into the
urethra in the act of copulation" =ear them are the AprostataeA, about
the siJe of a walnut, an joine to the neck of the blaer" (eical
writers o not agree about the use of them, but most are of the opinion
that they prouce an oily an sloppy ischarge to besmear the urethra so
as to efen it against the pungency of the see an urine" But the
!essels which con!ey the bloo to the testes, from which the see is
mae, are the Aarteriae spermaticaeA an there are two of them also"
There are likewise two !eins, which carry off the remaining bloo, an
which are calle A!enae spermaticaeA"
F::T=:TE7&
1/6 7eminal !esicle"
1F6 <rinary !esicle"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?88
AA wor of A!ice to both 7e*es, consisting of se!eral ,irections
with regar to 'opulation"A
As =ature has a mutual esire for copulation in e!ery creature, for the
increase an propagation of its kin, an more especially in man, the
lor of creation an the masterpiece of =ature, in orer that such a
noble piece of i!ine workmanship shoul not perish, something ought to
be sai concerning it, it being the founation of e!erything that we
ha!e hitherto been treating of, since without copulation there can be no
generation" 7eeing, therefore, so much epens upon it, 8 ha!e thought
it necessary, before concluing the first book, to gi!e such irections
to both se*es, for the performance of that act, as may appear
efficacious to the en for which nature esigne it, but it will be one
with such caution as not to offen the chastest ear, nor to put the fair
se* to the blush when they rea it"
8n the first place, then, when a marrie couple from the esire of
ha!ing chilren are about to make use of those means that =ature has
pro!ie for that purpose, it is well to stimulate the boy with
generous restorati!es, that it may be acti!e an !igorous" An the
imagination shoul be charme with sweet music, an if all care an
thoughts of business be rowne in a glass of rosy wine, so that their
spirit may be raise to the highest pitch of arour, it woul be as
well, for troubles, cares or saness are enemies to the pleasures of
?enus" An if the woman shoul concei!e when se*ual intercourse takes
place at such times of isturbance, it woul ha!e a ba effect upon the
chil" But though generous restorati!es may be employe for in!igorating
nature, yet all e*cess shoul be carefully a!oie, for it will check
the briskness of the spirits an make them ull an langui, an as it
also interferes with igestion, it must necessarily be an enemy AtoA
copulation) for it is foo taken moerately an that is well igeste,
which enables a man to perform the ictates of =ature with !igour an
acti!ity, an it is also necessary, that in their mutual embraces they
meet each other with eEual arour, for, if not, the woman either will
not concei!e, or else the chil may be weak boily, or mentally
efecti!e" 8, therefore, a!ise them to e*cite their esires mutually
before they begin their conjugal intercourse, an when they ha!e one
what nature reEuires, a man must be careful not to withraw himself from
his wife@s arms too soon, lest some suen col shoul strike into the
womb an occasion miscarriage, an so epri!e them of the fruits of
their labour"
An when the man has withrawn himself after a suitable time, the woman
shoul Euietly go to rest, with all calmness an composure of min, free
from all an*ious an isturbing thoughts, or any other mental worry" An
she must, as far as possible, a!oi turning o!er from the sie on which
she was first lying, an also keep from coughing an sneeJing, because
as it !iolently shakes the boy, it is a great enemy to conception"
9 9 9 9 9
A
P+8?ATE %::>8=G$G%A77
F:+ T;E
FE(A%E 7EL
9 9 9 9 9
PA+T 88
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8
ATreating of the se!eral (alaies incient to the womb, with proper
remeies for the cure of each"A
The womb is place in the AhypogastriumA, or lower part of the boy, in
the ca!ity calle the Apel!isA, ha!ing the straight gut on one sie to
protect it against the harness of the backbone, an the blaer on the
other sie to protect it against blows" 8ts form or shape is like a
!irile member, with this e*ception, that the man@s is outsie, an the
woman@s insie"
8t is i!ie into the neck an boy" The neck consists of a har fleshy
substance, much like cartilage, an at the en of it there is a membrane
place trans!ersely, which is calle the hymen" =ear the neck there is a
prominent pinnacle, which is calle the oor of the womb, because it
preser!es the Amatri*A from col an ust" The Greeks calle it
AclitorisA, an the %atins Apraeputium muliebreA, because the +oman
women abuse these parts to satisfy their mutual unlawful lusts, as 7t"
Paul says, +omans 3" .4"
The boy of the womb is where the chil is concei!e, an this is not
altogether roun, but ilates itself into two angles) the outwar part
is full of sinews, which are the cause of its mo!ements, but insie it
is fleshy" 8t is wrongly sai, that in the ca!ity of the womb there are
se!en i!ie cells or receptacles for the male see, but anatomists
know that there are only two, an also that those two are not i!ie by
a partition, but only by a line or suture running through the mile of
it"
At the bottom of the ca!ity there are little holes calle
AcotyleonesA, which are the ens of certain !eins or arteries, an
ser!e breeing women to con!ey nourishment to the chil, which is
recei!e by the umbilical an other !eins, to carry the courses to the
Amatri*A"
As to menstruation, it is efine as a monthly flow of ba an useless
bloo, an of the super$abunance of it, for it is an e*crement in
Euality, though it is pure an incorrupt, like the bloo in the !eins"
An that the menstruous bloo is pure in itself, an of the same Euality
as that in the !eins, is pro!e in two ways"$$First, from the final
object of the bloo, which is the propagation an preser!ation of
mankin, that man might be concei!e) an that, being begotten, he might
be comforte an preser!e both in an out of the womb, an all allow
that it is true that a chil in the matri* is nourishe by the bloo"
An it is true that when it is out of it, it is nourishe by the same)
for the milk is nothing but the menstruous bloo mae white in the
breast" 7econly, it is pro!e to be true by the way it is prouce, as
it is the superfluity of the last aliment of the fleshy parts"
The natural en of man an woman@s being is to propagate" =ow, in the
act of conception one must be an acti!e agent an the other passi!e, for
if both were similarly constitute, they coul not propagate" (an,
therefore, is hot an ry, whilst woman is col an moist& he is the
agent, an she the passi!e or weaker !essel, that she may be subject to
the office of the man" 8t is necessary that woman shoul be of a col
constitution, because a reunancy of =ature for the infant that epens
on her is reEuire of her) for otherwise there woul be no surplus of
nourishment for the chil, but no more than the mother reEuires, an the
infant woul weaken the mother, an like as in the !iper, the birth of
the infant woul be the eath of the parent"
The monthly purgations continue from the fifteenth to the forty$si*th or
fiftieth year) but a suppression often occurs, which is either natural
or morbi& the courses are suppresse naturally uring pregnancy, an
whilst the woman is suckling" The morbi suppression remains to be
spoken of"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 88
A:f the +etention of the 'ourses"A
The suppression of the menstrual perios, is an interruption of that
accustome e!acuation of bloo, which comes from the matri* e!ery month,
an the part affecte is the womb"
'A<7E"
The cause of this suppression is either e*ternal or internal" The
e*ternal cause may be heat or ryness of air, want of sleep, too much
work, !iolent e*ercise, etc", whereby the substance is so consume, an
the boy so e*hauste that nothing is left o!er to be got ri of, as is
recore of the AmaJons who, being acti!e an constantly in motion, ha
their courses !ery little, if at all" :r it may be brought about by col
which is !ery freEuent, as it !itiates an thickens the bloo, an bins
up the passages, so that it cannot flow out"
The internal cause is either instrumental or material) in the womb or in
the bloo" 8n the womb, it may be in !arious ways) by humours, an
abscesses an ulcers, by the narrowness of the !eins an passages, or by
the aipose membrane in fat boies, pressing on the neck of the matri*,
but then they must ha!e hernia, Jirthilis, for in men the membrane oes
not reach so low) by too much col or heat, the one !itiating the
action, an the other consuming the matter through the wrong formation
of the uterine parts) by the neck of the womb being turne asie, an
sometimes, though rarely, by a membrane or e*crescence of the flesh
growing at the mouth or neck of the womb" The bloo may be in fault in
two ways, in Euantity an in Euality) in Euantity, when it is so
consume that no surplus is left o!er, as in !iragoes or !irile women,
who, through their heat an natural strength, consume it all in their
last nourishment) as ;ippocrates writes of Prethusa, for when her
husban praise her o!ermuch, her courses were suppresse, her !oice
change an she got a bear with a manly face" But 8 think, rather that
these must be AGynophagiA, or woman$eaters, rather than women$breeers,
because they consume one of the principles of generation, which gi!es a
being to the worl, !iJ", the menstruous bloo" The bloo may likewise
be lost, an the courses checke by nosebleeing, by bleeing piles, by
ysentery, commonly calle the blooy flu*, by many other ischarges,
an by chronic iseases" 7econly, the matter may be !itiate in
Euality, an if it be sanguineous, sluggish, bilious or melancholy, an
any of these will cause an obstruction in the !eins"
78G=7"
7igns which manifest the isease are pains in the hea, neck, back an
loins) weariness of the whole boy Cbut especially of the hips an legs,
because the womb is near those partsD) palpitation of the heart" The
following are particular signs&$$8f the suppression arises from a col,
the woman becomes hea!y, sluggish, pale an has a slow pulse) ?enus@
combats are neglecte, the urine is thick, the bloo becomes watery an
great in Euantity, an the bowels become constipate" 8f it arises from
heat, the signs are just the opposite" 8f the retention be natural an
arises from conception, this may be known by rinking hyromel, i"e",
water an honey, after supper, before going to be, by the effect which
it has) for if after taking it, she feels a heating pain about the na!el
an the lower parts of the abomen, it is a sign that she has concei!e,
an that the suppression is natural"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
The whole boy is affecte by any isorer of the womb, an especially
the heart, the li!er an the brain, an there is a singular sympathy
between the womb an those three organs" Firstly, the womb communicates
with the heart by the meiation of those arteries which come from the
aorta" ;ence, when menstruation is suppresse, fainting, swooning, a
!ery low pulse, an shortness of breath will ensue" 7econly, it
communicates with the li!er by the !eins eri!e from the hollow !ein"
:bstructions, jaunice, ropsy, inuration of the spleen will follow"
Thirly, it communicates with the brain by the ner!es an membranes of
the back) hence arise epilepsy, maness, fits of melancholy, pains in
the back of the hea, unaccountable fears an inability to speak" 8 may,
therefore, well agree with ;ippocrates that if menstruation be
suppresse, many angerous iseases will follow"
'<+E"
8n the cure of this, an of all the other following cases, 8 shall
obser!e the following orer&$$The cures will be taken from surgical,
pharmaceutical an iuretical means" The suppression has a plethoric
effect, an must be remo!e by the e!acuation) therefore we begin with
bleeing" 8n the mile of the menstrual perio, open the li!er !ein,
an two ays before, open the saphena in both feet) if the repletion is
not !ery great apply cupping glasses to the legs an thighs, although
there may be no hope of remo!ing the suppression" As in some women, the
cotyleones are so close up that nothing but copulation will open them,
yet it will be well to relie!e the woman as much as possible by opening
the hemoroi !eins by applying a leech" After bleeing let the place be
prepare an mae fle*ible with syrup of stychas, calamint, betony,
hyssop, mugwort, horehoun, fumitary, maienhair" Bathe the parts with
camomiles, pennyroyal, sa!ias, bay$lea!es, juniper$berries, rue,
marjoram, fe!erfew" Take a hanful each of nep, maienhair, succory an
betony lea!es an make a ecoction, an take three ounces of it, syrup
of maienhair, mugwort an succory, half an ounce of each" After she
comes out of her bath, let her rink it off" Purge with APill agaric,
fleybany, corb, feriaeA" 8n this case, Galen recommens Apilulae of
caberica coloEuintiaA) for, as they are goo for purging the ba
humours, so also they open the passages of the womb, an strengthen it
by their aromatic Eualities"
8f the stomach be o!er$loae, let her take an emetic, yet such a one as
may work both ways, lest if it only works upwars, it shoul check the
humours too much" Take two rachms of trochisks of agaric, infuse this
in two ounces of o*ymel in which issol!e one scruple an a half of
Aelectuary issarumA, an half an ounce of Abeneic la*itA" Take this as
a purge"
After the humour has been got ri of, procee to more suitable an
stronger remeies" Take a rachm an a half of trochisk of myrrh) ten
grains of musk with the juice of smallage) make twel!e pills an take
si* e!ery morning, or after supper, on going to be" Take half an ounce
of cinnamon, two rachms each of smirutium, or rogos, !alerin
aristolochia) two scruples each of astrumone root an saffron) two
rachms of spec" iambia) four scruples of trochisk of myrrh) two
scruples tartari !itriolari) make half into a power) make loJenges with
mugwort water an sugar, an take one rachm of them e!ery morning) or
mi* a rachm of the power with one rachm of sugar, an take it in
white wine" Take two rachms each of prepare steel an spec" hair) one
scruple each of bora* an spec" of myrrh, with sa!ine juice) make it up
into eighty$eight loJenges an take three e!ery other ay before inner"
Take one scruple of castor, half a rachm of wil carrot see with syrup
of mugwort, an make four pills, take them in the morning fasting, for
three ays following, before the usual time of purging" Take fi!e
rachms each of agaric, aristolochia, an juice of horehoun) si*
rachma each of rhubarb, spikenar, anisee, guianum, asafoetia,
mallow$root, gentian, of the three peppers an of liEuorice& make an
electuary with honey, an take three rachms for a ose" For phlegmatic
constitutions nothing can be better than the ecoction of guaiacum woo
with a little isclaim, taken fasting in the morning, for twel!e ays
consecuti!ely, without proucing sweating"
Treat the lower parts of the boy to suffumigating, pessaries, ointments
an injections) for fumigating use cinnamon, nutmeg, the berries of the
bay tree, mugwort, galbanum, molanthium, amber, etc" (ake pessaries of
figs an the bruise lea!es of og@s mercury, rolle up in lint, an if
a stronger one is reEuire, make one of myrrh, opopana*, ammoniac,
galbanum, sagepanum, mithriate, agaric, coloEuintia, tec" (ake
injections of a ecoction of origane mugwort, og@s mercury, betony, an
eggs) inject into the womb with a female syringe" Take half an ounce
each of oil of almons, lilies, capers, camomiles) two rachms each of
lauanum an oil of myrrh) make a sal!e with wa*, with which anoint the
place) make injections of fenugreek, camomiles, melilot, ill, marjoram,
pennyroyal, fe!erfew, juniper berries an calamint) but if the
suppression arises from a lack of matter, then the courses ought not to
be brought on until the spirits be raise an the amount of bloo
increase) or if it arises from affections of the womb itself, as ropsy
or inflammation, then particular care must be use) but 8 will not lay
stress on this here, but will mention the remeies in their orer"
8f the retention comes from repletion or fullness, if the air be hot an
ry, take moerate e*ercise before meals, an !ery light iet an
rinks, an with your foo take garen sa!ory$$thyme an origane, if it
arises from emptiness an efect of matter& if the weather be moist an
moerately hot, a!oi e*ercise an late hours) let your foo be
nourishing an easy of igestion, such as raw eggs, lamb, chickens,
almons, milk an the like"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 888
A:f E*cessi!e (enstruation"A
The learne say, that truth is manifeste by comparing contraries, an
so, as 8 ha!e abo!e spoken of the suppression of menstruation, it is now
necessary that 8 shoul treat of e*cessi!e menstruation, which is no
less angerous than the former" This immoerate monthly flow is efine
as a sanguineous ischarge, as it consists merely of bloo, wherein it
iffers from the false courses or whites, of which 8 shall speak further
on" 7econly, it is sai to procee from the womb) for there are two
ways in which the bloo issues forth) one by the internal !eins of the
boy of the womb Can this is properly calle the monthly flowD, the
other is by those !eins which terminate in the neck of the matri*, which
Aetius calls haemorrhois of the womb" 8n Euantity, ;ippocrates sai, it
shoul be about eighteen ounces, an they shoul last about three ays&
an when the faculties of the boy are weakene by their flow, we may
take it that the ischarge is inorinate" 8n boies which aboun in
gross humours, this immoerate flow sometimes unburens nature of her
loa an ought not to be checke without a physician@s a!ice"
'A<7E"
The cause is either internal or e*ternal" The internal cause is
threefol) in the substance, the instrument or the power" The matter,
which is the bloo, may be !itiate in two ways) first, by the heat of
the constitution, climate or season, heating the bloo, whereby the
passages are ilate, an the power weakene so that it cannot retain
the bloo" 7econly, by falls, blows, !iolent motions, rupture of the
!eins, etc" The e*ternal cause may be the heat of the air, hea!y
burens, unnatural chilbirth, etc"
78G=7"
8n this e*cessi!e flow the appetite is lessene, conception is checke
an all the functions weakene) the feet swell, the colour of the face
changes, an the whole boy is weakene" 8f the flow comes from the
rupture of a !ein, the boy is sometimes col, the bloo flows out in
streams, suenly, an causes great pain" 8f it arises from heat, an
the orifice of the !ein is ilate, there is little or no pain, but yet
the bloo flows faster than it oes when cause by erosion, but not so
fast as it oes in a rupture" 8f cause by erosion, the woman feels a
scaling of the passage, an it iffers from the other two, in so much
as it oes not flow so Euickly or so freely as they o" 8f it is cause
by weakness of the womb, the woman feels a islike for se*ual
intercourse" %astly, if it procees from the efecti!e Euality of the
bloo let some of it rop into a cloth, an when it is ry, you may
juge, of the Euality by the colour" 8f it be passionate it will be
yellow) if melancholy, it will be black, an if phlegmatic, it will be
waterish an whitish"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
8f con!ulsions are joine to the flow, it is angerous, because that
intimates that the noble parts are affecte, con!ulsions cause by
emptiness are ealy" 8f they continue long, they will be !ery ifficult
to cure, an it was one of the miracles which our 7a!iour 'hrist
wrought, to cure a woman of this isease of twel!e years staning"
To conclue, if the flow be e*cessi!e, many iseases will follow, which
will be almost impossible to cure) the bloo, being consume together
with the innate heat, either morbi, ropsical, or paralytical iseases
will follow"
'<+E"
The cure consists in three particulars" First, in e*pelling an
carrying away the bloo" 7econly, in connecting an remo!ing the
flu*ibility of the matter" Thirly, in incorporating the !eins an
faculties" For the first, to get ri of the superfluous bloo, open a
!ein in the arm, an raw off as much bloo as the strength of the
patient will allow) not all at one time, but at inter!als, for by those
means the spirits are less weakene, an the reaction so much the
greater"
Apply cupping glasses to the breasts an also o!er the li!er, an to
correct the fle*ibility of the matter, purgati!e means, moerate by
astringents, may be employe"
8f it is cause by erosion, an salt phlegm, prepare with syrup of
!iolets, wormwoo, roses, citron peel, succory, etc" Then make the
following purge&$$mirabolans, half an ounce) trochisks of agaric, one
rachm) make a ecoction with the plantain$water, an a syrup of roses
la*" three ounces, an make a raught"
8f cause by any mental e*citement, prepare the boy by syrup of roses,
myrtles, sorrel an parsley, mi*e with plantain$water, knot$grass an
eni!e" Then purge with the following raught&$$Take one rachm each of
the !oi of mirabolans, an rhubarb, cinnamon fifteen grains) infuse for
a night in eni!e water) a to the straine water half an ounce of pulp
of tamarins an of cassia, an make a raught" 8f the bloo be
waterish as it is in ropsical subjects an flows out easily on account
of its thinness, it will be a goo plan to raw off the water by purging
with agaric, elaterium an coloEuintia" 7weating is also useful in this
case, as by it the no*ious matter is carrie off, an the motion of the
bloo to other parts" To prouce sweating, employ carus water, an
mithriate, or a ecoction of guaiacum an sarsaparilla" Gum guaiacum is
also a great proucer of perspiration, an sarsaparilla pills, taken
e!ery night before going to be are also highly to be recommene" 8f
the bloo pours out, without any e!il Euality in itself, then
strengthening means only shoul be employe, which is a thing to be one
in cases of inorinate ischarge"
Take one scruple of ol" ammoniac, one rachm of treacle, half an ounce
of conser!e of roses an make an electuary with syrup of myrtle, or if
the ischarge be of long staning take two rachms of matri*, one rachm
of olilanum troch" e carbara, a scruple of balustium) make into a
power an form into pills with syrup of Euinces, an take one before
e!ery meal" Take two scruples each of troch" echambee, scoriaferri,
coral an frankincense) poun these to a fine power, an make into
loJenges with sugar an plantain water" Asses@ ung is also appro!e
of, whether taken inwarly with syrup of Euinces or applie outwarly
with steele water" Galen by sening the juice of it into the womb by
means of a syringe for four ays consecuti!ely, cure this immeiate
flow, which coul not be checke in any other way" %et the patient take
one scruple an a half of pilon in water before going to be) make a
fumigation for the womb of mastic, frankincense an burnt frogs, aing
the hoof of a mule" Take an ounce each of the juice of knot$grass,
comfoly an Euinces) a rachm of camphor) ip a piece of silk or cotton
into it an apply it to the place" Take half an ounce each of oil of
mastic, myrtle, an Euinces) a rachm each of fine bole an troch"
ecaras, an a sufficient Euantity of ragon@s bloo, make an ointment
an apply it before an behin" Take an ounce an a half each of
plantain, shepher@s purse an re rose lea!es) an ounce of rie mint,
an three ounces of bean flour) boil all these in plantain water an
make two plasters&$$apply one before an one behin" 8f the bloo flows
from those !eins which are terminate at the neck of the matri*, then it
is not calle an unue ischarge of the AmensesA, but haemorrhois of
the womb" The same remey, howe!er, will ser!e for both, only the
instrumental cure will be a little ifferent) for in uterine
haemorrhois, the ens of the !eins hang o!er like teats, which must
be remo!e by cutting, an then the !eins close with aloes, fine bole,
burnt alum, myrrh, mastic, with comfoly$juice an knot grass, lai upon
it like a plaster"
18llustration& APosition of the Embryos in a plural conceptionA6
18llustration& Process of ,eli!ery"6
The air shoul be col an ry, an all motion of the boy shoul be
prohibite" ;er iet shoul consist of pheasants, partriges, grouse,
rabbits, cal!es@ feet, etc", an her rink shoul be mi*e with the
juice of pomegranates an Euinces"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8?
A:f the Weeping of the Womb"A
The weeping of the womb is an unnatural flow of bloo, coming from it in
rops, like tears, an causing !iolent pains in it, an occurring at no
fi*e perio or time" By some it is suppose to be prouce by the
e*cessi!e flow of the courses, as they flow copiously an freely) this
is continue, though only little at a time, an accompanie by great
pain an ifficulty of passing it, an on this account it is compare
to the strangury"
The cause is in the power, instrument or matter) in the power, on
account of its being enfeeble so that it cannot e*pel the bloo, an
which, remaining there, makes that part of the womb grow har, an
istens the !essels, an from that, pains in the womb arise" 8n the
instrument, from the narrowness of the passage" %astly, it may be the
matter of the bloo which is at fault, an which may be in too great
Euantities) or the Euality may be ba, so that it is thick an gross an
cannot flow out as it ought to o, but only in rops" The signs will
best be ascertaine by the patient@s own account, but there will be
pains in the hea, stomach an back, with inflammation, ifficulty of
breathing an e*coriation of the matri*" 8f the patient@s strength will
permit it, first open a !ein in the arm, rub the upper parts an let a
cor be fastene tightly roun the arm, so that the force of the bloo
may be carrie backwar) then apply such things as may rela* the womb,
an assuage the heat of the bloo, as poultices mae of bran, linsee,
mallows, og@s mercury an artiple*" 8f the bloo be !iscous an thick,
a mugwort, calamint, ictain an betony to it, an let the patient
take about the siJe of a nutmeg of ?enic treacle, an syrup of mugwort
e!ery morning) make an injection of aloes, og@s mercury, linsee,
grounsel, mugwort, fenugreek, with sweet almon oil"
7ometimes it is cause by win, an then bleeing must not be ha
recourse to, but instea take one ounce of syrup of fe!erfew) half an
ounce each of honey, syrup of roses, syrup of stachus) an ounce each of
calamint water, mugwort, betony an hyssop, an make a julep" 8f the
pain continues, use this purge&$$Take a rachm of spec" ;itrae, half an
ounce of iacatholicon, one ounce of syrup of roses an la*ati!e, an
make a raught with a ecoction of mugwort an the four corial flowers"
8f it procees from weakness, she must be strengthene, but if from
grossness of bloo, let the Euality of it be altere, as 8 ha!e shown in
the preceing chapter" %astly, if her bowels are confine, mo!e them by
an injection of a ecoction of camomiles, betony, fe!erfew, mallows,
linsee, juniper$berries, cumminsee, anisee, melilot, an a to it
half an ounce of iacatholicon) two rachms of hiera piera, an ounce
each of honey an oil an a rachm an a half of sol" nitre" The patient
must abstain from salt, aci an winy foo"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?
AThe false 'ourses, or Whites"A
From the womb, not only the menstruous bloo procees, but many
e!acuations, which were summe up by the ancients uner the title of
Arhoos gunaikeiosA,146 which is the istillation of a !ariety of corrupt
humours through the womb, which flow from the whole boy or a part of
it, !arying both in courses an colour"
'A<7E"
The cause is either promiscuously in the whole boy, by a cacochymia) or
weakness of it, or in some of its parts, as in the li!er, which by a
weakness of the bloo proucing powers, cause a prouction of corrupt
bloo, which then is reish" 7ometimes, when the fall is sluggish in
its action, an oes not get ri of those superfluities engenere in
the li!er, the matter is yellowish" 7ometimes it is in the spleen when
it oes not cleanse the bloo of the regs an rejecte particles, an
then the matter which flows forth is blackish" 8t may also come from a
col in the hea, or from any other ecaye or corrupte member, but if
the ischarge be white, the cause lies either in the stomach or loins"
8n the stomach, by some crue substance there, an !itiate by grief,
melancholy or some other mental isturbance) for otherwise, if the
matter were only crue phlegm an noways corrupt, being taken into the
li!er it might be con!erte into the bloo) for phlegm in the !entricle
is calle nourishment half igeste) but being corrupt, though sent into
the li!er it cannot be turne into nutriment, for the secon ecoction
in the stomach cannot correct that which the first corrupte) an
therefore the li!er sens it to the womb, which can neither igest nor
reject it, an so it is !oie out with the same colour which it ha in
the !entricle" The cause may also be in the !eins being o!erheate
whereby the spermatical matter flows out because of its thinness" The
e*ternal causes may be moistness of the air, eating ba foo, anger,
grief, sloth, too much sleep, costi!eness"
The signs are boily isturbances, shortness of breathing, an foul
breath, a istaste for foo, swollen eyes an feet, an low spirits)
ischarges of ifferent colours, as re, black, green, yellow an white
from the womb" 8t iffers from the flowing of the courses an from too
abunant menstruation, in so far as it keeps no certain perio, an is
of many colours, all of which spring from bloo"
8f the flu* be phlegmatic, it will last long an be har to cure, but if
sickness or iarrhoea super!ene, it carries off the humour an cures the
isease" 8f it is abunant it oes not last so long, but it is more
angerous, for it will cause a cleft in the neck of the womb, an
sometimes also an e*coriation of the matri*) if melancholy, it must be
angerous an obstinate" The flu* of the haemorrhois, howe!er, assists
the cure"
8f the matter which flows out be reish, open a !ein in the arm) if
not, apply ligatures to the arms an shoulers" Galen boasts that he
cure the wife of Brutus, who was suffering from this isease, by
rubbing the upper part with honey"
8f it is cause by the brain, take syrup of betony an marjoram" Gi!e as
a purgati!e APill" coch"A or AAgaricA) make nasalia of sage, or hyssop
juice, betony, flagella, with one rop of oil of AElect" ,ianth" +osat"
,iambrae, iamosci ulusA, one rachm of each, an make loJenges to be
taken e!ery morning an e!ening" AAuri Ale*anrinaA, half a rachm at
night on going to be" 8f these things ha!e no effect, try suffumigation
an plasters, as they are prescribe abo!e"
8f it arises from cruities of the stomach or from a col, isorere
li!er, take a ecoction of Alignum sanctumA e!ery morning, purge with
Apill e agaric, e hermaact, e hiera, iacolinthis, foeti$agrigatioA)
take two rachms of elect" aromet$roses, one scruple each of rie
citron peel, nutmeg, long pepper) one rachm of raglanga) half a
scruple each of Afantalum albumA, ling, aloes) si* ounces of sugar, with
mint water& make loJenges of it, an take them before meals" 8f there be
repletion besies the rigiity of the li!er, purging by means of an
emetic is to be recommene, for which take three rachms of the
electuary iasatu" Galen allows iuretical remeies, such as AaEua
petrofolmaA"
8f the ischarge be angry, treat it with syrup of roses, !iolets, eni!e
an succory) gi!e a purge of mirabolans, manna, rhubarb, an cassia"
Take two rachms of rhubarb, one of anisee, an one scruple an a half
of cinnamon) infuse them into si* ounces of syrup of prunes, an a one
ounce of straine manna, an take it in the morning as reEuire" Take
one rachm each of the following rugs& Aiatonlanton, iacorant,
iartho, abbaris, yacyomeiA, four ounces of sugar, an make into
loJenges with plantain water" 8f the gall be sluggish, an oes not stir
the bowels, gi!e warm injections of a ecoction of the four mollifying
herbs, with honey of roses an aloes"
8f the flow be bilious, treat the patient with syrup of maien$hair)
epithynium, polypoy, borage, buglos, fumitary, hart@s tongue an
syrups, bisantius, which must be mae without !inegar, else it will
assist the isease instea of nature, for melancholy is increase by the
use of !inegar, an both ;ippocrates, 7il!ius an A!enJoar reject it as
injurious for the womb, an therefore not to be use internally in
uterine iseases" APilulae sumariae, pilulae lu" elupina, laJuli
iosenaA an Aconfetio hamecA are purges of bile" Take two ounces of
poune prunes, one rachm of senna, a rachm an a half each of
epithimium, polypoy an fumitary, an an ounce of sour ates, an make
a ecoction with eni!e water) take four ounces of it an a three
rachms of hamesech an three of manna" :r take a scruple each of Apil"
inic" foeti, agarici, trochis atiA) one scruple of rhubarb pills, si*
grains of lapis laJuli, make into pills with epithimium, an take them
once a week" Take three rachms of elect" loetificans" Galen three
rachms, a rachm each of Aiamargaritum, calimi, iamosci ulusA) a
rachm of conser!e of borage, !iolets an burglos) one rachm of canie
citron peel, se!en ounces of sugar, an make into loJenges with rose
water"
%astly let the womb be cleanse of all corrupt matter, an then be
strengthene" 8n orer to purify it, make injections of the ecoction of
betony, fe!erfew, spikenar, bismust, mercury an sage, an a two
ounces each of sugar an sweet almon oil) pessaries may also be mae of
silk or cotton, softene in the juice of the abo!e mentione herbs"
#ou must prepare trochisks, thus, to strengthen the womb" Take one ounce
each of mugwort, fe!erfew, myrrh, amber, mace, stora*, ling aloes an
re roses, an make loJenges or troches with mucilage of tragacanth)
throw one of them on to hot coals an fumigate the womb with re wine,
in which mastic, fine bole, malustia an re roots ha!e been ecocte)
anoint the matri* with oil of Euinces an myrtles, an apply a plaster
to it, for the womb) an let the woman take Aiamosum ulcoA, AaractA,
an AslemoticumA e!ery morning"
A rying iet is recommene as best, because in these cases the boy
abouns with phlegmatic an crue humours" :n this account, ;ippocrates
a!ises the patient to go to be supperless" ;er foo shoul consist of
partriges, pheasant an grouse, roaste rather than boile, too much
sleep must be prohibite whilst moerate e*ercise is !ery a!isable"
F::T=:TE7&
146 The female flowing"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?8
AThe 7uffocation of the (other"A
This, which if simply consiere, will be foun to be merely the cause
of an effect, is calle in English, Bthe suffocation of the mother,B not
because the womb is strangle, but because by its retraction towars the
miriff an stomach, which presses it up, so that the instrumental cause
of respiration, the miriff, is suffocate, an acting with the brain,
cause the animating faculty, the efficient cause of respiration, also to
be interrupte, when the boy growing col, an the action weakene, the
woman falls to the groun as if she were ea"
7ome women remain longer in those hysterical attacks than others, an
+abbi (oses mentions some who lay in the fit for two ays" +ufus writes
of one who continue in it for three ays an three nights, an re!i!e
at the en of the three ays" An 8 will gi!e you an e*ample so that we
may take warning by the e*ample of other men" Paroetus mentions a
7panish woman who was suenly seiJe with suffocation of the womb, an
was thought to be ea" ;er friens, for their own satisfaction, sent
for a surgeon in orer to ha!e her opene, an as soon as he began to
make an incision, she began to mo!e, an come to herself again with
great cries, to the horror an surprise of all those present"
8n orer that the li!ing may be istinguishe from the ea, ol writers
prescribe three e*periments" The first is, to lay a feather on the
mouth, an by its mo!ements you may juge whether the patient be ali!e
or ea) the secon is, to place a glass of water on the breast, an if
it mo!es, it betokens life) the thir is, to hol a bright, clean,
looking$glass to the mouth an nose, an if the glass be imme with a
little moisture on it, it betokens life" These three e*periments are
goo, but you must not epen upon them too much, for though the feather
an the glass o not mo!e, an the looking$glass continues bright an
clear, yet it is not a necessary conseEuence that she is ea" For the
mo!ement of the lungs, by which breathing is prouce, may be checke,
so that she cannot breathe, an yet internal heat may remain, which is
not e!ient by the motion of the breast or lungs, but lies hien in the
heart an arteries"
E*amples of this we fin in flies an swallows, who seem ea to all
outwar appearances, breathless an inanimate, an yet they li!e by that
heat which is store up in the heart an inwar arteries" At the
approach of summer, howe!er, the internal heat, being restore to the
outer parts, they are then brought to life again, out of their sleeping
trance"
Those women, therefore, who apparently ie suenly, an from no !isible
cause, shoul not be burie until the en of three ays, lest the li!ing
be burie instea of the ea"
'<+E"
The part affecte is the womb, of which there are two motions$$natural
an symptomatic" The natural motion is, when the womb attracts the male
see, or e*pels the infant, an the symptomatical motion, of which we
are speaking, is a con!ulsi!e rawing up of the womb"
The cause is usually in the retention of the see, or in the suppression
of the menses, which causes a repletion of the corrupt humours of the
womb, from which a winy refrigeration arises, which prouces a
con!ulsion of the ligaments of the womb" An just as it may arise from
humiity or repletion, so also, as it is a con!ulsion, it may be cause
by ryness or emptiness" %astly also, it may arise from abortion or from
ifficult chilbirth"
78G=7"
:n the approach of suffocation of the womb the face becomes pale, there
is a weakness of the legs, shortness of breathing, frigiity of the
whole boy, with a spasm in the throat, an then the woman falls own,
bereft of sense an motion) the mouth of the womb is close up, an
feels har when touche with the finger" When the paro*ysm or the fit is
o!er, she opens her eyes, an as she feels an oppression of the stomach,
she tries to !omit" An lest any one shoul be ecei!e into taking one
isease for another, 8 will show how it may be istinguishe from those
iseases which most resemble it"
8t iffers from apople*y, as it comes without the patient crying out) in
hysterical fits also the sense of feeling is not altogether estroye
an lost, as it is in apople*y) an it iffers from epilepsy, as the
eyes are not istorte, an there is spongy froth from the mouth" That
con!ulsi!e motion also, which is freEuently accompanie by symptoms of
suffocation, is not uni!ersal, as it is in epilepsy, but there is some
con!ulsion, but that without any !iolent agitation" 8n syncope both
breathing an the pulse fail, the face grows pale, an the woman faints
suenly) but in hysterical attacks there are usually both breathing
an pulse, though these are inistinct) the face is re an she has a
forewarning of the approaching fit" 8t cannot, howe!er, be enie that
syncope may accompany this feeling of suffocation" %astly, it can be
istinguishe from lethargy by the pulse, which is rapi in the former,
but weak in the latter"
'<+E"
8n the cure of this affection, two things must be taken care of&$$A8n
the first placeA, nature must be stimulate to e*pel these hurtful
humours which obscure the senses, so that the woman may be brought back
from that sleepy fit" A7econlyA, uring the inter!als of the attack,
proper remeies must be employe, in orer to remo!e the cause"
To stimulate nature, apply cupping$glasses to the hips an na!el& apply
ligatures to the thighs, rub the e*tremities with salt, mustar an
!inegar, an shout an make a great noise in her ears" ;ol asafoetia
to the nose, or sacopenium steepe in !inegar) make her sneeJe by
blowing castor$power, white pepper an hellebore up her nose) hol
burnt feathers, hair, leather, or anything else with a strong, stinking
smell uner her nose, for ba oours are unpleasant to nature, an the
animal spirits so stri!e against them, that the natural heat is restore
by their means" The brain is sometimes so oppresse, that it becomes
necessary to burn the outer skin of the hea with hot oil, or with a hot
iron, an strong injections an suppositories are useful" Take a hanful
each of sage, calamint, horehoun, fe!erfew, marjoram, betony an
hyssop) half an ounce of anisee) two rachma each of coloEuintia,
white hellebore an salgem) boil these in two Euarts of water till
reuce to half) a two ounces of castor oil an two rachms of hiera
piera an make an injection of it" :r take two ounces of boile honey,
half a scruple of spurge, four grains of coloEuint, two grains of
hellebore an rachm of salt) make a suppository" ;ippocrates mentions a
hysterical woman who coul only be relie!e of the paro*ysms by pouring
col water on her& yet this is a strange cure, an shoul only be
aministere in the heat of summer, when the sun is in the tropic of
'ancer"
8f it be cause by the retention an corruption of the see, let the
mi$wife take oil of lilies, marjoram an bay lea!es, an issol!e two
grains of ci!et in them, an the same Euantity of musk, an at the
moment of the paro*ysm let her ip her finger into the mi*ture an put
it into the neck of the womb, an tickle an rub it with it"
When the fit is o!er, procee to remo!e the cause" 8f it arises from
suppression of the menses, look in 'hapter L8, p" 30., for the cure" 8f
it arises from the retention of the see, a goo husban will aminister
the cure, but those who cannot honourably obtain that remey, must use
such means as will ry up an iminish the see, as iaciminum,
iacalaminthes, etc" The see of the agnus castus is highly !alue as a
raught, whether taken inwarly, applie outwarly or use as a
suffumigation" 8t was hel in high esteem by the Athenian women, for by
its means they remaine as pure !essels an preser!e their chastity, by
only strewing it on the be on which they lay, an hence the name of
Aagnus castusA, which was gi!en to it, as enoting its effects" (ake an
issue on the insie of each leg, four inches below the knee, an then
make loJenges of two scruples of agric, half a scruple each of wil
carrot see an ligne aloes) three rachms of washe turpentine, an
make a bolus with a conser!e of flowers" Eight rachms of castor taken
in white wine are !ery useful in this case, or you may make pills of it
with og@s tooth, an take them on going to be" Take an ounce of white
briony root rie an cut up like carrots, put it into a little wine an
place it on the fire, an rink when warm" Take one scruple each of
myrrh, castor an asafoetia) four grains each of saffron an rue$see,
an make eight pills an take two e!ery night on going to be"
Galen, from his own e*perience, recommens powere agaric, of which he
freEuently ga!e one scruple in white wine" Put a hea of bruise garlic
on the na!el at be time, an fasten it with a swathing ban" (ake a
girle for the waist of galbanum, an also a plaster for the stomach,
an put ci!et an musk on one part of it, which must be applie to the
na!el" Take two rachms each of pul!is beneict, an of troches of
agaric, a sufficient Euantity of mithriate, an make two pessaries, an
that will purge the matri* of win an phlegm) foment the pri!ate parts
with sala oil in which some fe!erfew an camomiles ha!e been boile"
Take a hanful of roselea!es an two scruples of clo!es, sew them in a
little cloth an boil them for ten minutes in malmsey) then apply them,
as hot as they can be borne, to the mouth of the womb, but o not let
the smell go up her nose" A ry iet must still be ahere to an the
moerate use of ?enus is a!isable" %et her eat anisee biscuits
instea of brea, an roast meat instea of boile"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?88
A:f the ,escening or Falling of the Womb"A
The escent of the womb is cause by a rela*ation of the ligatures,
whereby the matri* is carrie backwar, an in some women it protrues
to the siJe of an egg, an there are two kins of this, istinguishe by
a escening an a precipitation" The escening of the womb is, when it
sinks own to the entrance of the pri!ate parts, an appears either !ery
little or not at all, to the eye" 8ts precipitation is when it is turne
insie out like a purse, an hangs out between the thighs, like a
cupping glass"
'A<7E"
This is either e*ternal or internal" The e*ternal cause is ifficult
chilbirth, !iolent pulling away, or ine*perience in rawing away the
chil, !iolent coughing, sneeJing, falls, blows, an carrying hea!y
burens" The internal cause, is generally the flow of too much moisture
into these parts, which hiners the operation of the womb, whereby the
ligaments by which the womb is supporte are rela*e" The particular
cause, howe!er, lies in the retention of the AsemenA, or in the
suppression of the monthly courses"
78G=7"
The principal gut an the blaer are often so crushe, that the passage
of both e!acuations is hinere" 8f the urine flows out white an thick,
an the miriff is interfere with, the loins suffer, the pri!ate parts
are in pain, an the womb escens to them, or else comes clean out"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
8f an ol woman is thus affecte, the cure is !ery ifficult, because it
weakens the womb, an therefore, though it may be put back into its
proper place, yet it is apt to get isplace again, by a !ery slight
amount of illness" An also with younger women, if this isease is
in!eterate, an if it is cause by putrefaction of the ner!es, it is
incurable"
'<+E"
The womb, being place by nature between the straight gut an the
blaer, ought not to be put back again until the powers of both are
e*cite" =ow that nature is relie!e of her buren, let the woman be
lai on her back so that her legs may be higher than her hea) let her
feet be rawn up towars her pri!ate parts, an her knees sprea open"
Then apply oil of sweet almons an lilies, or a ecoction of mallows,
beet, fenugreek an linsee, to the swelling) when the inflammation is
reuce, let the miwife rub her han with oil of mastic, an restore
the womb to its proper place" When the matri* is up, the patient@s
position must be change" ;er legs must be put out Euite straight an
lai together, an apply si* cupping glasses to her breast an na!el"
Boil fe!erfew, mugwort, re rose lea!es an comfrey in re wine) make a
suffumigation for the matri*, an apply sweet scents to her nose" When
she comes out of her bath, gi!e her an ounce of syrup of fe!erfew with a
rachm of og@s tooth CAmithriateAD" Take three rachms each of
lauanum an mastic, an make a plaster for the na!el of it, an then
make pessaries of asafoetia, saffron, comfrey, an mastic, aing a
little castor oil"$$Parius in such cases makes his pessaries only of
cork, shape like a small egg) he co!ere them with wa* an mastic
issol!e together, an fastening them to a threa, he put them into the
womb"
The immeiate anger being now remo!e an the matri* returne to its
natural place the remote cause must be got ri of" 8f she be of full
habit of boy open a !ein, after preparing her with syrup of betony,
calamint, hyssop an fe!erfew" Gi!e a purge, an if the stomach be
oppresse with any crue matter relie!e it by emetics an by suorifics
of lignum sanctum an sassafras taken twenty ays consecuti!ely, which
ry up the superfluous moisture, an conseEuently suppress the cause of
the isease"
The air shoul be hot an ry, an her iet hot an attenuating" %et her
abstain from ancing, jumping, sneeJing, as well as from all mental an
boily emotions, eat sparingly, not rink much, an be moerate in her
sleep"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?888
A:f the 8nflammation of the Womb"A
The phlegmon, or inflammation of the matri*, is a humour which affects
the whole womb, an is accompanie by unnatural heat, by obstruction an
by an accumulation of corrupt bloo"
'A<7E"
The cause of this affection is suppression of the courses, fullness of
boy, the immoerate use of se*ual intercourse, freEuent hanling the
genitals, ifficult chil$birth, !iolent motions of the boy, falls,
blows, to which may be ae, the use of strong pessaries, whereby the
womb is freEuently inflame, cupping glasses, also, fastene to the
ApubisA an AhypogastriumA, raw the humours of the womb"
78G=7"
The signs are pains in the lower parts of the boy an hea, humours,
sickness, colness in the knees, throbbing in the neck, palpitation of
the heart" :ften, also, there is shortness of breath because of the
heart which is close to the miriff, an the breasts sympathising with
the swollen an painful womb" Besies this, if the front of the matri*
be inflame, the pri!ates suffer, an the urine is suppresse, or only
flows with ifficulty" 8f the hiner part be inflame, the loins an
back suffer, an the bowels are !ery costi!e) if the right sie be
inflame, the right hip suffers, an the right leg is hea!y an mo!es
slowly, so that at times she seems almost lame" 8f, howe!er, the left
sie of the womb be inflame, then the left hip suffers an the left leg
is weaker than the right" 8f the neck of the womb is affecte, by
putting her finger in, the miwife feels that its mouth is contracte
an close up, an that it is har roun it"
'<+E"
8n the cure, first of all, let the humours which flow to the womb be
e*pelle" To effect this, after the bowels ha!e been loosene by cooling
clysters bleeing will be necessary" Therefore, open a !ein in the arm,
if she is not with chil) the ay after strike the saphena in both feet,
fasten ligatures an cupping glasses to the arm, an rub the upper part"
Purge gently with cassia, rhubarb, senna an myrobalan" Take one rachm
of senna, a scruple of anisee, myrobalan, half an ounce, with a
sufficient Euantity of barley water" (ake a ecoction an issol!e syrup
of succory in it, an two ounces of rhubarb) poun half an ounce of
cassia with a few rops of oil of anisee an make a raught" At the
commencement of the isease, anoint the pri!ate parts an loins with oil
of roses an Euinces& make plasters of plantain, linsee, barley meal,
melilot, fenugreek, white of eggs, an if the pain be intense, a little
lauanum) foment the genitals with a ecoction of poppy$heas, purslace,
knot$grass an water$lilies" (ake injections of goat@s milk, rose water,
clarifie whey an honey of roses" When the isease is on a ecline, use
injections of sage, linsee, mugwort, pennyroyal, horehoun, fenugreek,
an anoint the lower parts of the stomach with oil of camomiles an
!iolets"
Take four ounces each of lily an mallow roots, a hanful of og@s
mercury, a hanful an a half each of mugwort, fe!erfew, camomile
flowers an melilot, bruise the herbs an roots, an boil them in a
sufficient Euantity of milk) then a two ounces each of fresh butter,
oil of camomiles an lilies, with a sufficient Euantity of bran, make
two plasters, an apply one before an the other behin"
8f the tumour cannot be remo!e, but seems incline to suppurate, take
three rachms each of fenugreek, mallow roots, boile figs, linsee,
barley meal, o!e@s ung an turpentine) half a rachm of eer@s suet,
half a scruple of opium an make a plaster of wa*"
Take bay lea!es, sage, hyssop, camomiles, an mugwort, an make an
infusion in water"
Take half a hanful of wormwoo an betony an half a pint each of white
wine an milk, boil them until reuce to half) then take four ounces of
this ecoction an make an injection, but you must be careful that the
humours are not brought own into the womb" Take three rachms each of
roast figs, an bruise og@s mercury) three rachms each of turpentine
an uck@s grease, an two grains of opium) make a pessary with wa*"
The room must be kept cool, an all motions of the boy, especially of
the lower parts, must be prohibite" Wakefulness is to be recommene,
for humours are carrie inwar by sleep, an thus inflammation is
increase" Eat sparingly, an rink only barley water or clarifie whey,
an eat chickens an chicken broth, boile with eni!e, succory, sorrel,
bugloss an mallows"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8L
A:f 7cirrhous Tumours, or ;arness of the Womb"A
A AscirrhusA, or a har unnatural swelling of the matri* is generally
prouce by neglecte, or imperfectly cure phlegm, which, insensibly,
hiners the functions of the womb, an preisposes the whole boy to
listlessness"
'A<7E"
:ne cause of this isease may be ascribe to want of jugment on the
part of the physician, as many empirics when attening to inflammation
of the womb, chill the humour so much that it can neither pass backwar
nor forwar, an hence, the matter being conense, turns into a har,
stony substance" :ther causes may be suppression of the menses,
retention of the A%ocheinA, commonly calle the after purging) eating
ecaye meat, as in the isorere longing after the ApleiaA to which
pregnant women are often subject" 8t may, howe!er, also procee from
obstructions an ulcers in the matri* or from some e!il affections of
the stomach or spleen"
8f the bottom of the womb be affecte, she feels, as it were, a hea!y
buren representing a mole,1G6 yet iffering from it, in that the
breasts are attenuate, an the whole boy grows less" 8f the neck of
the womb be affecte, no outwar humours will appear) its mouth is
retracte an feels har to the touch, nor can the woman ha!e se*ual
intercourse without great pain"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
'onfirme scirrhus is incurable, an will turn to cancer or incurable
ropsy, an when it ens in cancer it pro!es fatal, because as the
innate heat of these parts is almost smothere, it can harly be
restore again"
'<+E"
Where there is repletion, bleeing is a!isable, therefore open a !ein
in one arm an in both feet, more especially if the menses are
suppresse"
Treat the humours with syrup of borage, succory mae with a poultice,
an then take the following pills, accoring to the patient@s strength"
;iera piera si* rachms, two an a half rachms each of black hellebore
an polypoy) a rachm an a half each of agaric, lapis laJuli, sal
8niae, coloEuintia, mi* them an make two pills" After purging,
mollify the harness as follows&$$the pri!y parts an the neck of the
womb with an ointment of ecalthea an agrippa) or take two rachms each
of opopana*, bellium, ammoniac an myrrh, an half a rachm of saffron)
issol!e the gum in oil of lilies an sweet almon an make an ointment
with wa* an turpentine" Apply iacatholicon ferellia below the na!el,
an make infusions of figs, mugwort, mallows, pennyroyal, althea, fennel
roots, melilot, fenugreek an the four mollifying herbs, with oil of
ill, camomiles an lilies issol!e in it" Take three rachms of gum
bellium, put the stone pyrites on the coals, an let her take the fumes
into her womb" Foment the pri!y parts with a ecoction of the roots an
lea!es of ane wort" Take a rachm each of gum galbanum an opopana*,
half an ounce each of juice of ane wort an mucilage of fenugreek, an
ounce of cal!e@s marrow, an a sufficient Euantity of wa*, an make a
pessary" :r make a pessary of lea only, ip it in the abo!e mentione
things, an put it up"
The atmosphere must be kept temperate, an gross an salt meats such as
pork, bull beef, fish an ol cheese, must be prohibite"
F::T=:TE7&
1G6 A(oleA& BA somewhat shapeless, compact fleshy mass occurring in the
uterus, ue to the retention an continue life of the whole or a part
of the foetal en!elopes, after the eath of the foetus Ca Amaternal or
true moleAD) or being some other boy liable to be mistaken for this, or
perhaps a polypus or false mole"B CAWhitney@s 'entury ,ictionaryA"D
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L
A:f ,ropsy of the Womb"A
<terine ropsy is an unnatural swelling, cause by the collection of
win or phlegm in the ca!ity, membranes or substance of the womb, on
account of the want of innate heat an of sufficient alimentation, an
so it turns into an e*crescence" The causes are, too much col an
moisture of the milt an li!er, immoerate rinking, eating
insufficiently cooke meat, all of which by causing repletion, o!erpower
the natural heat" 8t may likewise be cause by unue menstruation, or by
any other immoerate e!acuation" To these may be ae abortions,
subcutaneous inflammations an a harene swelling of the womb"
78G=7"
The signs of this affection are as follows&$$The lower parts of the
stomach, with the genitals, are swollen an painful) the feet swell, the
natural colour of the face is lost, the appetite becomes epra!e, an
there is a conseEuent hea!iness of the whole boy" 8f the woman turns
o!er in be a noise like flowing water is hear, an sometimes water is
ischarge from the womb" 8f the swelling is cause by win an the
stomach feels hot, it souns like a rum) the bowels rumble, an the
win escapes through the neck of the womb with a murmuring noise" This
affection may be istinguishe from true conception in many ways, as
will be shown in the chapter on AconceptionA" 8t is istinguishe from
common ropsy, by the lower parts of the stomach being most swollen"
Again, it oes not appear so injurious in this bloo$proucing
capability, nor is the urine so pale, nor the face so altere" The upper
parts are also not so reuce, as in usual ropsy"
P+:G=:7T8'7"
This affection foretells the ruin of the natural functions, by that
peculiar sympathy it has with the li!er, an that, therefore,
AkathyriaA, or general ropsy will follow"
'<+E"
8n the cure of this isease, imitate the practice of ;ippocrates, an
first mitigate the pain with fomentations of melilot, og@s mercury,
mallows, linsee, camomiles an althoea" Then let the womb be prepare
with syrup of stoebis, hyssop, calamint, mugwort, with istille water,
a ecoction of eler, marjoram, sage, origan, spearage, pennyroyal, an
betony" Purge with senna, agaric, rhubarb, an claterium" Take spicierum
hier, a scruple each of rhubarb, agaric loJenges, an make into pills
with iris juice"
When iseases arise from moistness, purge with pills, an in those
affections which are cause by emptiness or ryness, purge by means of a
raught" Apply cupping glasses to the stomach an also to the na!el,
especially if the swelling be flatulent" Put a seton on to the insie of
each leg, the with of a han below the knee" Take two rachms each of
sparganium, iambrae, iamolet, iacaliminti, iacinamoni, myrrh
loJenges, an a poun of sugar) make these into loJenges with betony
water, an take them two hours before meals" Apply a little bag of
camomiles, cummin an melilot boile in oil of rue, to the bottom of the
stomach as hot as it can be borne) anoint the stomach an the pri!ates
with unguent agripp, an unguent aragon" (i* iris oil with it, an co!er
the lower part of the stomach with a plaster of bay berries, or a
cataplasm mae of cummin, camomiles, briony root, aing cows@ an
goats@ ung"
:ur moern meical writers ascribe great !irtues to tobacco$water,
injecte into the womb by means of a clyster" Take a hanful each of
balm of southernwoo, origanum, wormwoo, calamint, bay berries an
marjoram, an four rachms of juniper berries) make a ecoction of these
in water, an use this for fomentations an infusions" (ake pessaries of
stora*, aloes, with the roots of ictam, aristolochia an gentian, but
instea of this you may use the pessary prescribe at the en of 'hapter
L?88" %et her take aromatic electuary, isatyrion an canie eringo
roots, e!ery morning"
The air must be hot an ry, moerate e*ercise is to be taken an too
much sleep prohibite" 7he may eat the flesh of partriges, larks,
grouse, hares, rabbits, etc", an let her rink ilute urine"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L8
A:f (oles1H6 an False 'onceptions"A
This isease may be efine as an inarticulate shapeless piece of flesh,
begotten in the womb as if it were true conception" 8n this efinition
we must note two things& C3D because a mole is sai to be inarticulate
or jointless, an without shape, it iffers from monstrosities which are
both AformataA an AarticulataA) C.D it is sai to be, as it were a true
conception, which makes a ifference between a true conception, an a
mole, an this ifference hols goo in three ways" First, in its genus,
because a mole cannot be sai to be an animal& seconly, in the species,
because it has not a human figure an has not the character of a man)
thirly, in the ini!iual, for it has no affinity to the parent, either
in the whole boy, or in any particular part of it"
'A<7E"
There is a great ifference of opinion amongst learne writers as to the
cause of this affection" 7ome think, that if the woman@s see goes into
the womb, an not the man@s, that the mole is prouce thereby" :thers
eclare that it springs from the menstruous bloo, but if these two
things were grante, then !irgins, by ha!ing their courses or through
nocturnal pollutions, might be liable to the same things, which none
ha!e e!er been yet" The true cause of this fleshy mole is ue both to
the man an from the menstruous bloo in the woman both mi*ing together
in the ca!ity of the womb" =ature fining herself weak there Can yet
wishing to propagate her speciesD, labours to bring forth a efecti!e
conception rather than nothing an instea of a li!ing creature prouces
a lump of flesh"
78G=7"
The signs of a mole are these" The AmensesA are suppresse, the appetite
becomes epra!e, the breasts swell an the stomach becomes inflate an
har" 7o far the symptoms in a pregnant woman an in one that has a mole
are the same, but now this is how they iffer" The first sign of
ifference is in the mo!ements of a mole" 8t may be felt mo!ing in the
womb before the thir month, whereas an infant cannot be so felt) yet
this motion cannot procee from any intelligent power in the mole, but
from the capabilities of the womb, an of the seminal !igour,
istribute through the substance of the mole, for it oes not li!e an
animal, but a !egetable life, like a plant" A7econlyA, in a mole the
stomach swells suenly, but in true conception it is first contracte,
an then rises by egrees" AThirlyA, if the stomach is presse with the
han, the mole gi!es way, an returns to its former position as soon as
the han is remo!e" But a chil in the womb oes not mo!e immeiately
though presse with the han, an when the han is remo!e it returns
slowly or not at all" A%astlyA, no chil continues in the womb more than
ele!en months, but a mole continues for four or fi!e years, more or
less, sometimes accoring as it is fastene to the matri*) an 8 ha!e
known a mole pass away in four or fi!e months" 8f, howe!er, it remains
until the ele!enth month, the woman@s legs grow weak an the whole boy
wastes away, but the stomach still increases, which makes some women
think that they are ropsical, though there is no reason for it, for in
ropsy the legs swell an grow big, but in a mole they wither an fall
away"
'<+E"
8n the school of ;ippocrates we are taught that bleeing causes
abortion, by taking all the nourishment which shoul preser!e the life
of the embryo" 8n orer, therefore, that this faulty conception may be
epri!e of that nourishing sap by which it li!es, open the li!er !ein
an saphena in both feet, apply cupping glasses to the loins an sies
of the stomach, an when that has been one, let the uterine parts be
first softene, an then the e*pulsi!e powers be stimulate to get ri
of the buren"
8n orer to rela* the ligatures of the mole, take three hanfuls of
mallows with their roots, two hanfuls each of camomiles, melilot,
pellitory of the wall, !iolet lea!es, og@s mercury, fennel roots,
parsley, an one poun each of linsee an fenugreek) boil them in oil
an let the patient sit in it up to her na!el" When she comes out of her
bath, she shoul anoint her pri!ate parts an loins with the following
ointment&$$BTake one ounce each of oil of camomiles, lilies an sweet
almons& half an ounce each of fresh butter, lauanum an ammoniac, an
make an ointment with oil of lilies" :r, instea of this, you may use
unguentum agrippae or ialthea" Take a hanful of og@s mercury an
althea roots) half a hanful of flos brochae ursini) si* ounces of
linsee an barley meal" Boil all these together in honey an water an
make a plaster, an make pessaries of gum galbanum, bellium, ammoniac,
figs, pig@s fat an honey"
After the ligaments of the mole are loosene, let the e*pulsi!e powers
be stimulate to e*pel the mole, an for oing this, all those rugs may
be use which are aapte to bring on the courses" Take one ounce of
myrrh loJenges, half an ounce each of castor, astrolachia, gentian an
ittany an make them into a power, an take one rachm in four ounces
of mugwort water" Take calamint, pennyroyal, betony, hyssop, sage,
horehoun, !alerian, maer an sa!ine) make a ecoction in water an
take three ounces of it, with one an a half ounces of fe!erfew" Take
three scruples each of mugwort, myrrh, gentian an pill" coch") a rachm
each of rue, pennyroyal an opopana*, an the same of asafoetia,
cinnamon, juniper$berries an borage, an make into pills with sa!ine
juice, to be taken e!ery morning" (ake an infusion of hyssop, bay
lea!es, bay berries, calamint, camomiles, mugwort an sa!ine" Take two
scruples each of sacopenium, mugwort, sa!ine, clo!es, nutmeg, bay
berries) one rachm of galbanum) one scruple each of hiera piera an
black hellebore, an make a pessary with turpentine"
But if these meicaments are not procurable, then the mole must be
pulle out by means of an instrument calle the Apes gryphisA,156 which
may be one without much anger if it be performe by a skilful surgeon"
After she has been eli!ere of the mole Cbecause the woman will ha!e
lost much bloo alreayD, let the flow of bloo be stoppe as soon as
possible"
Apply cupping glasses to the shoulers an ligatures to the arms, an if
this be not effecti!e, open the li!er !ein in the arm"
The atmosphere of the room must be kept tolerably ry an warm, an she
must be put on a ry iet, to soothe the system) she must, howe!er,
rink white wine"
F::T=:TE7&
1H6 A(oleA& BA somewhat shapeless, compact fleshy mass occurring in the
uterus, ue to the retention an continue life of the whole or a part
of the foetal en!elopes, after the eath of the foetus CAa maternal or
true moleAD) or being some other boy liable to be mistaken for this, or
perhaps a polypus or false mole"B CAWhitney@s 'entury ,ictionaryA"D
156 AGriffin@s clawA, a peculiar hooke instrument"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L88
A:f 'onception an its 7igns, an ;ow a Woman may know whether it
be (ale or Female"A
8gnorance often makes women the mureresses of the fruit of their own
boy, for many, ha!ing concei!e an fining themsel!es out of orer,
an not rightly knowing the cause, go to the shop of their own conceit
an take whate!er they think fit, or else Cas the custom isD they sen
to the octor for a remey, an he, not percei!ing the cause of their
trouble, for nothing can be iagnose accurately by the urine,
prescribes what he thinks best) perhaps some iuretic or cathartic,
which estroy the embryo" Therefore ;ippocrates says, it is necessary
that women shoul be instructe in the signs of conception, so that the
parent as well as the chil may be sa!e from anger" 8 shall,
therefore, lay own some rules, by which e!ery woman may know whether
she is pregnant or not, an the signs will be taken from the woman, from
her urine, from the chil an from e*periments"
78G=7"
The first ay after conception, she feels a slight Eui!ering an
chilliness throughout her boy) there is a tickling of the womb an a
little pain in the lower parts of her stomach" Ten or twel!e ays after
she feels giy an her eyes im an with circles roun them) the
breasts swell an grow har, with some pain an pricking in them, whilst
the stomach rises an sinks again by egrees, an there is a harness
about the na!el" The nipples grow re, the heart beats unusually
strongly, the natural appetite abates, an the woman has a cra!ing after
strange foo" The neck of the womb is contracte, so that it can
scarcely be felt when the finger is put in" An the following is an
infallible sign) she is alternately in high spirits an melancholy) the
monthly courses cease without any apparent cause, the e!acuations from
the bowels are retaine unusually long, by the womb pressing on the
large gut, an her esire for se*ual intercourse is iminishe" The
surest sign is taken from the infant, which begins to mo!e in the womb
in the thir or fourth month, an not in the manner of a mole, mentione
abo!e, from sie to sie like a stone, but gently, as may be percei!e
by applying the han col upon the stomach"
78G=7 TA>E= F+:( T;E <+8=E"
The best writers affirm that the water of a pregnant woman is white an
has little specks in it, like those in a sunbeam, ascening an
escening in it, of an opal colour, an when the seiment is isturbe
by shaking the urine, it looks like care wool" 8n the mile of
gestation it turns yellow, then re an lastly black, with a re film"
At night on going to be, let her rink water an honey, an if
afterwars she feels a beating pain in her stomach an about the na!el,
she has concei!e" :r let her take the juice of carius, an if she
brings it up again, that is a sign of conception" Throw a clean neele
into the woman@s urine, put it into a basin an let it stan all night"
8f it is co!ere with re spots in the morning, she has concei!e, but
if it has turne black an rusty, she has not"
78G=7 TA>E= F+:( T;E 7EL, T: 7;:W W;ET;E+ 8T BE A (A%E :+ FE(A%E"
8f it is a male, the right breast swells first, the right eye is
brighter than the left, the face is high$coloure, because the colour is
such as the bloo is, an as the male is concei!e of purer bloo an of
more perfect see than the female, re specks in the urine, an making a
seiment, show that a male has been concei!e, but if they are white, a
female" Put the urine of the woman into a glass bottle, let it stan
tightly stoppere for two ays, then strain it through a fine cloth,
an you will fin little animals in it" 8f they are re, it is a male,
but if white, it is a female"
The belly is rouner an lies higher with a boy than with a girl, an
the right breast is harer an plumper than the left, an the right
nipple reer, an the woman@s colour is clearer than when she has
concei!e a girl"
To conclue, the most certain sign to gi!e creit to, is the motion of
the chil, for the male mo!es in the thir month, an the female not
until the fourth"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L888
A:f <ntimely Births"A
When the fruit of the womb comes forth before the se!enth month Cthat
is, before it comes to maturityD, it is sai to be aborti!e) an, in
effect, the chilren pro!e aborti!e, that is, o not li!e, that are born
in the eighth month" Why chilren born in the se!enth or ninth month
shoul li!e, an not those born in the eighth, may seem strange, an yet
it is true" The cause of it is ascribe by some to the planet uner
which the chil is born) for e!ery month, from conception to birth, is
go!erne by its own planet, an in the eighth month 7aturn preominates,
which is ry an col) an colness, being an utter enemy to life,
estroys the natural constitution of the chil" ;ippocrates gi!es a
better reason, !iJ"&$$The infant, being e!ery way perfect an complete
in the se!enth month, wants more air an nourishment than it ha before,
an because it cannot obtain this, it tries for a passage out" But if it
ha!e not sufficient strength to break the membranes an to come out as
oraine by nature, it will continue in the womb until the ninth month,
so that by that time it may be again strengthene" But if it returns to
the attempt in the eighth month an be born, it cannot li!e, because the
ay of its birth is either past or is to come" For in the eighth month
A!icunus says, it is weak an infirm, an therefore on being brought
into the col air, its !itality must be estroye"
'<+E"
<ntimely births may be cause by col, for as it causes the fruit of the
tree to wither an fall before it is ripe, so it nips the fruit of the
womb before it comes to perfection, or makes it aborti!e)$$sometimes by
humiity, which weakens its power, so that the fruit cannot be retaine
until the proper time" 8t may be cause by ryness or emptiness, which
rob the chil of its nourishment, or by an al!ine ischarge, by bleeing
or some other e!acuation, by inflammation of the womb, an other se!ere
isease" 7ometimes it is cause by joy, anger, laughter an especially
by fear, for then the heat forsakes the womb, an goes to the heart, an
so the col sinks into the womb, whereby the ligaments are rela*e, an
so abortion follows" :n this account, Plato recommene that the woman
shoul a!oi all temptations to e*cessi!e joy an pleasure, as well as
all occasions for fear an grief" Abortion may also be cause by the
pollution of the air by filthy oours, an especially by the smell of
the smoulering wick of a canle, an also by falls, blows, !iolent
e*ercise, jumping, ancing, etc"
78G=7"
7igns of coming abortion are a falling away of the breast, with a flow
of watery milk, pains in the womb, hea!iness in the hea, unusual
weariness in the hips an thighs, an a flowing of the courses" 7igns
enoting that the fruit is ea in the womb are sunken eyes, pains in
the hea, frights, paleness of the face an lips, gnawing at the
stomach, no mo!ements of the infant) colness an looseness of the
mouth of the womb" The stomach falls own, whilst watery an blooy
ischarges come from the womb"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L8?
A,irections for Pregnant Women"A
The pre!ention of untimely births consists in remo!ing the
aforementione causes, which must be effecte both before an after
conception"
Before conception, if the boy be too hot, ry or moist, employ such
treatment as to counteract the symptoms) if the bloo be !itiate purify
it, if plethoric, open the li!er !ein) if gross, reuce it) if too thin
strengthen an nourish it" All the iseases of the womb must be remo!e
as 8 ha!e shown"
After conception, let the atmosphere be kept temperate, o not sleep too
much, a!oi late hours, too much boily e*ercise, mental e*citement,
lou noises an ba smells, an sweet smells must also be a!oie by
those who are hysterical" +efrain from all things that may pro!oke
either urine or menstruation, also salt, sour, an winy foo, an keep
to a moerate iet"
8f the bowels are confine, relie!e the stomach with injections mae of
a ecoction of mallows an !iolets, with sugar an sala oil) or make a
broth with borage, buglos, beetroot, an mallows, an a a little manna
to it" 8f, on the other han, she be trouble with looseness of the
bowels, o not check it with meical a!ice, for all the uterine flu*es
ha!e some ba Eualities in them, which must be e!acuate before the
ischarge is stoppe"
A cough is another thing to which pregnant women are freEuently liable,
an which causes them to run great anger of miscarrying, by the shock
an continual rain upon the !ein" To pre!ent this sha!e off the hair
from the coronal commissures, an apply the following plaster to the
place"
Take half an ounce of resin, a rachm of lauanum, a rachm each of
citron peel, lignaloes an galbanum, with a sufficient Euantity of
liEui an ry styra*" ,issol!e the gum in !inegar an make a plaster,
an at night let her inhale the fumes of these loJenges, thrown upon
bright coals" Take also a rachm an a half each of frankincense, styra*
power an re roses& eight rachms of sanrich, a rachm each of
mastic, benjamin an amber) make into loJenges with turpentine, an
apply a cautery to the nape of the neck" An e!ery night let her take
the following pills&$$;alf an ounce each of hypocisties, terrae
sigilatae an fine bole) two rachms each of bistort, alcatia, styra*
an calamint, an one rachm of clo!es, an make into pills with syrup
of myrtles"
8n pregnant women, a corrupt matter is generate which, flowing to the
!entricle, spoils the appetite an causes sickness" As the stomach is
weak, an cannot igest this matter, it sometimes sens it to the bowels
which causes a flu* of the stomach, which greatly as to the weakness
of the womb" To pre!ent all these angers the stomach must be
strengthene by the following means&$$Take one rachm each of lignaloes
an nutmeg) a scruple each of mace, clo!es, mastic, lauanum) an ounce
of oil of spikenar) two grains of musk, half an ounce each of oil of
mastic, Euinces an wormwoo, an make into an ointment for the stomach,
to be applie before meals" 8nstea of this, howe!er, you may use
cerocum stomachile Galeni" Take half an ounce each of conser!e of
borage, buglos an atthos) two rachms each of confection of hyacinths,
canie lemon peel, specierum, iamarg, pulo" e genunis& two scruples
each of nutmeg an iambra) two rachma each of peony roots an
iacoratum, an make into an electuary with syrup of roses, which she
must take twice a ay before meals" Another affection which troubles a
pregnant woman is swelling of the legs, which happens uring the first
three months, by the superfluous humours escening from the stomach an
li!er" To cure this, take two rachms of oil of roses, an one rachm
each of salt an !inegar) shake them together until the salt is
issol!e, an anoint the legs with it hot, rubbing it well in with the
han" 8t may be one without anger uring the fourth, fifth an si*th
months of pregnancy) for a chil in the womb is compare to an apple on
the tree" For the first three months it is a weak an tener subject,
like the apple, to fall away) but afterwars, when the membranes become
strengthene, the fruit remains firmly fastene to the womb, an not
subject to mischances, an so it remains, until the se!enth month, until
when it is near the time, the ligaments are again rela*e Clike the
apple that is almost ripeD"
They grow looser e!ery ay, until the appointe time for eli!ery) if,
therefore, the boy is in real nee of purging, the woman may o it
without anger in the fourth, fifth or si*th month, but neither before
nor after that unless in the case of some !iolent illness, in which it
is possible that both mother an chil may perish" Apply plasters an
ointments to the loins in orer to strengthen the fruit in the womb"
Take one rachm each of gum Arabic, galangale, bistort, hypocisti an
stora*, a rachm an a half each of fine bole, nutmeg, mastic, balaust,
ragon@s bloo an myrtle berries, an a sufficient Euantity of wa* an
turpentine an make into a plaster" Apply it to the loins in the winter,
an remo!e it e!ery twenty$four hours, lest the loins shoul become
o!erheate by it" 8n the interim, anoint the pri!ate parts an loins
with Acountess@ balsamA but if it be summer time an the loins hot, the
following plaster will be more suitable" Take a poun of re roses, two
rachms each of mastic an re 7aners, one rachm each of bole ammoniac
an re coral, two rachms an a half each of pomegranate see an
prepare corianer see, two scruples of barberries, one ounce each of
oil of mastic an of Euinces, an plantain$juice"
Anoint the loins also with sanalwoo ointment, an once a week wash
them with two parts of rose$water an one of white wine mi*e together
an warme at the fire" This will assuage the heat of the loins, get ri
of the oil of the plaster from the pores of the skin, an cause the
fresh ointment or plaster to penetrate more easily, an to strengthen
the womb" 7ome think that a loa$stone lai upon the na!el, keeps a
woman from abortion" The same thing is also state of the stone calle
AaetitesA or eagle$stone, if it is hung roun the neck" 7amian stone has
the same !irtue"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?
A,irections for Women when they are taken in %abour, to ensure
their safe ,eli!ery, an ,irections for (iwi!es"A
;a!ing thus gi!en the necessary irections to pregnant women, how to
manage their health uring their pregnancy, 8 will now a what is
necessary for them to o, in orer that they may be safely eli!ere"
When the time of birth raws near, the woman must be sure to sen for a
skilful miwife, an that rather too soon than too late" 7he must ha!e a
pallet be reay to place it near the fire, so that the miwife an
those who are to help her, may be able to pass roun it, an gi!e
assistance on either sie, as may be reEuire" A change of linen must be
in reainess, an a small stool to rest her feet against, as she will
ha!e more power when her legs are bent, than when they are straight"
When e!erything is thus reay, an when the woman feels the pains coming
on, if the weather be not col, she shoul walk about the room, rest on
the be occasionally, waiting for the breaking of the waters, which is a
flui containe in one of the outwar membranes, an which flows out
thence, when the membrane is broken by the struggles of the chil" There
is no special time for this ischarge, though it generally takes place
about two hours before the birth" (o!ements will also cause the womb to
open an ilate, an when lying long in be will be uncomfortable" 8f
she be !ery weak she may take some mil corial to gi!e her strength, if
her pain will permit her) an if the labour be teious, she may be
re!i!e with chicken or mutton broth, or she may take a poache egg) but
she must be !ery careful not to eat to e*cess"
There are many postures in which women are eli!ere) some sitting in a
chair, supporte by others, or resting on the be) some again upon their
knees an resting on their arms) but the safest an most commoious way,
is in the be, an then the miwife ought to obser!e the following
rules&$$%et her lay the woman upon her back, with her hea a little
raise by means of a pillow, with similar supports for her loins an
buttocks, which latter shoul also be raise, for if she lies low, she
cannot be eli!ere so easily" Then let her keep her knees an thighs as
far apart as she can, her legs bent inwar towars each other, an her
buttocks, the soles of her feet an her heels being place upon a small
rest, place for the purpose, so that she may be able to strain the
stronger" 8n case her back shoul be !ery weak, a swathing ban shoul
be place uner it, the ban being ouble four times an about four
inches broa" This must be hel by two persons who must raise her up a
little e!ery time her pains come on, with steay hans an in e!en time,
but if they be not e*act in their mo!ements, they ha better lea!e her
alone" At the same time two women must hol her shoulers so that she
may strain out the foetus more easily) an to facilitate this let one
stroke or press the upper part of her stomach gently an by egrees" The
woman herself must not be ner!ous or ownhearte, but courageous, an
forcing herself by straining an holing her breath"
When eli!ery is near, the miwife must wait patiently until the chil@s
hea, or some limb, bursts the membranes, for if the miwife through
ignorance, or through haste to go to some other woman, as some ha!e
one, tears the membrane with her nails, she enangers both the woman
an the chil) for by lying ry an lacking that slipperiness which
shoul make it easy, it comes forth with se!ere pains"
When the hea appears, the miwife must hol it gently between her
hans, an raw the chil, whene!er the woman@s pains are upon her, but
at no other times) slipping her forefingers uner its armpits by
egrees, an not using a rough han in rawing it out, lest the tener
infant might become eforme by such means" As soon as the chil is
taken out, which is usually with its face ownwars,$$it shoul be lai
upon its back, that it may recei!e e*ternal respiration more freely)
then cut the na!el string about three inches from the boy, tying the
en which aheres to it with a silk string, as closely as you can) then
co!er the chil@s hea an stomach well, allowing nothing to touch its
face"
When the chil has been thus brought forth, if it be healthy lay it
asie, an let the miwife atten to the patient by rawing out the
afterbirth) an this she may o by wagging an stirring it up an own,
an afterwars rawing it out gently" An if the work be ifficult, let
the woman hol salt in her hans, close them tightly an breathe har
into them, an by that she will know whether the membranes are broken or
not" 8t may also be known by making her strain or !omit) by putting her
fingers own her throat, or by straining or mo!ing her lower parts, but
let all be one immeiately" 8f this shoul fail, let her take a raught
of eler water, or the yolk of a new lai egg, an smell a piece of
asafoetia, especially if she is trouble with a winy colic" 8f she
happen to take col, it is a great obstruction to the afterbirth) in
such cases the miwife ought to chafe the woman@s stomach gently, so as
to break, not only the win, but also to force the secunine to come
own" But if these shoul pro!e ineffectual, the miwife must insert her
han into the orifice of the womb an raw it out gently"
;a!ing thus iscusse common births, or such as are generally easy, 8
shall now gi!e irections in cases of e*tremity"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?8
AWhat ought to be one in cases of e*tremity, especially in women
who, in labour, are attacke by a flu* of bloo, con!ulsions an
fits of win"A
8f the woman@s labour be har an ifficult, greater care must be taken
than at other times" An, first of all, the situation of the womb an
her position in lying must be across the be, an she must be hel by
strong persons to pre!ent her from slipping own or mo!ing uring the
surgeon@s operations" ;er thighs must be put as far apart as possible,
an hel so, whilst her hea must rest upon a bolster, an her loins be
supporte in the same manner" After her rump an buttocks ha!e been
raise, be careful to co!er her stomach, belly an thighs with warm
clothes, to keep them from the col"
When the woman is in this position, let the operator put up his or her
han, if the neck of the womb be ilate, an remo!e the coagulate
bloo that obstructs the passage of the birth) an by egrees make way
gently, let him remo!e the infant tenerly, ha!ing first anointe his
han with butter or some harmless sal!e" An if the waters ha!e not come
own, they may then be let out without ifficulty" Then, if the infant
shoul attempt to come out hea foremost, or crosswise, he shoul turn
it gently, to fin the feet" ;a!ing one this, let him raw out one an
fasten it with ribbon an then put it up again, an by egrees fin the
other, bringing them as close together an as e!en as possible, an
between whiles let the woman breathe, an she shoul be urge to strain
so as to help nature in the birth, that it may be brought forth" An to
o this more easily, an that the hol may be surer, wrap a linen cloth
roun the chil@s thighs, taking care to bring it into the han face
ownwars"
8n case of flu* of bloo, if the neck of the womb be open, it must be
consiere whether the infant or the AsecunineA, generally calle the
afterbirth, comes first, an as the latter happens to o so
occasionally, it stops the mouth of the womb an hiners the birth, an
enangers both the woman@s an the chil@s life" 8n this case the
afterbirth must be remo!e by a Euick turn" They ha!e ecei!e many
people, who, feeling their softness, ha!e suppose that the womb was not
ilate, an by that means the woman an chil, or at least the latter,
ha!e been lost" When the afterbirth has been remo!e, the chil must be
sought for an rawn out, as irecte abo!e) an if the woman or the
chil ie in such a case, the miwife or the surgeon are blameless
because they ha!e use their best enea!ours"
8f it appears upon e*amination that the afterbirth comes first, let the
woman be eli!ere as Euickly as possible, because a great flow of bloo
will follow, for the !eins are opene, an on this account two things
ha!e to be consiere"
AFirstA&$$The manner in which the afterbirth a!ances, whether it be
much or little" 8f the former, an the hea of the chil appears first,
it may be guie an irecte towars the neck of the womb, as in the
case of natural birth, but if there appears any ifficulty in the
eli!ery, the best way is to look for the feet, an raw it out by them)
but if the latter, the afterbirth may be put back with a gentle han,
an the chil taken out first" But if the afterbirth has come so far
forwar that it cannot be put back, an the chil follows it closely,
then the afterbirth must be remo!e !ery carefully, an as Euickly as
may be, an lai asie without cutting the entrail that is fastene to
it) for you may be guie to the infant by it, which must be rawn out
by the feet, whether it be ali!e or ea, as Euickly as possible) though
this is not to be one e*cept in cases of great necessity, for in other
cases the afterbirth ought to come last"
8n rawing out a ea chil, these irections shoul be carefully
followe by the surgeon, !iJ"$$8f the chil be foun to be ea, its
hea appearing first, the eli!ery will be more ifficult) for it is an
e!ient sign that the woman@s strength is beginning to fail her, that,
as the chil is ea an has no natural power, it cannot be assisting in
its own eli!ery in any way" Therefore the most certain an the safest
way for the surgeon is, to put up his left han, sliing it into the
neck of the womb, an into the lower part of it towars the feet, as
hollow in the palm as he can, an then between the hea of the infant
an the neck of the womb" Then, ha!ing a forceps in the right han, slip
it up abo!e the left han, between the hea of the chil an the flat of
the han, fi*ing it in the bars of the temple near the eye" As these
cannot be got at easily in the occipital bone, be careful still to keep
the han in its place, an gently mo!e the hea with it, an so with the
right han an the forceps raw the chil forwar, an urge the woman to
e*ert all her strength, an continue rawing whene!er her pains come on"
When the hea is rawn out, he must immeiately slip his han uner the
chil@s armpits, an take it Euite out, an gi!e the woman a piece of
toaste white brea, in a Euarter of a pint of ;ippocras wine"
8f the former application fails let the woman take the following potion
hot when she is in be, an remain Euiet until she begins to feel it
operating"
Take se!en blue figs, cut them into pieces an a fi!e grains each of
fenugreek, motherwort an rue see, with si* ounces each of water of
pennyroyal an motherwort) reuce it to half the Euantity by boiling an
after straining a one rachm of troches of myrrh an three grains of
saffron) sweeten the liEuor with loaf sugar, an spice it with
cinnamon"$$After ha!ing reste on this, let her strain again as much as
possible, an if she be not successful, make a fumigation of half a
rachm each of castor, opopana*, sulphur an asafoetia, pouning them
into a power an wetting the juice of rue, so that the smoke or fumes
may go only into the matri* an no further"
8f this ha!e not the esire effect, then the following plaster shoul
be applie&$$Take an ounce an a half of balganum, two rachms of
colocynth, half an ounce each of the juice of motherwort an of rue, an
se!en ounces of !irgin bees@ wa*& poun an melt them together,
spreaing them on a cere$cloth so that they may sprea from the na!el to
the os pubis an e*tening to the flanks, at the same time making a
pessary of woo, enclosing it in a silk bag, an ipping it in a
ecoction of one rachm each of soun birthwort, sa!in colocinthis,
sta!escare an black hellebore, with a small sprig or two of rue"
But if these things ha!e not the esire effect, an the woman@s anger
increases, let the surgeon use his instruments to ilate an wien the
womb, for which purpose the woman must be place on a chair, so that she
may turn her buttocks as far from its back as possible, at the same time
rawing up her legs as close as she can an spreaing her thighs open as
wie as possible) or if she is !ery weak it may be better to lay her on
the be with her hea ownwars, her buttocks raise an both legs rawn
up" Then the surgeon may ilate the womb with his speculum matrices an
raw out the chil an the afterbirth together, if it be possible, an
when this is one, the womb must be well washe an anointe, an the
woman put back to be an comforte with spices an corials" This
course must be aopte in the case of ea chilren an moles,
afterbirths an false births, which will not come out of themsel!es, at
the proper time" 8f the aforementione instrument will not wien the
womb sufficiently, then other instruments, such as the rake@s bill, or
long pincers, ought to be use"
8f any inflammation, swelling or congeale bloo happens to be
contracte in the womb uner the film of these tumours, either before or
after the birth, let the miwife lance it with a penknife or any
suitable instrument, an sEueeJe out the matter, healing it with a
pessary ippe in oil of re roses"
8f the chil happens at any time to be swollen through col or !iolence,
or has contracte a watery humour, if it is ali!e, such means must be
use as are least injurious to the chil or mother) but if it be ea,
the humours must be let out by incisions, to facilitate the birth"
8f, as often happens, the chil is presente feet foremost, with the
hans spreaing out from the hips, the miwife must in such a case be
pro!ie with the necessary ointments to rub an anoint the chil with,
to help it coming forth, lest it shoul turn into the womb again,
holing both the infant@s arms close to the hips at the same time, that
it may come out in this manner) but if it pro!es too big, the womb must
be well anointe" The woman shoul also take a sneeJing power, to make
her strain) the attenant may also stroke her stomach gently to make the
birth escen, an to keep it from returning"
8t happens occasionally, that the chil presenting itself with the feet
first, has its arms e*tene abo!e its hea) but the miwife must not
recei!e it so, but put it back into the womb, unless the passage be
e*traorinarily wie, an then she must anoint both the chil an the
womb, an it is not safe to raw it out, which must, therefore, be one
in this manner"$$The woman must lie on her back with her hea low an
her buttocks raise) an then the miwife must compress the stomach an
the womb with a gentle han, an by that means put the chil back,
taking care to turn the chil@s face towars the mother@s back, raising
up its thighs an buttocks towars the na!el, so that the birth may be
more natural"
8f the chil happens to come out with one foot, with the arm e*tene
along the sie an the other foot turne backwars) then the woman must
be immeiately put to be an lai in the abo!e$escribe position) when
the miwife must immeiately put back the foot which appears so, an the
woman must rock herself from sie to sie, until she fins that the
chil has turne, but she must not alter her position nor turn upon her
face" After this she may e*pect her pains an must ha!e great assistance
an corials so as to re!i!e an support her spirits"
At other times it happens that the chil lies across in the womb, an
falls upon its sie) in this case the woman must not be urge in her
labour) therefore, the miwife when she fins it so, must use great
iligence to reuce it to its right form, or at least to such a form in
the womb as may make the eli!ery possible an most easy by mo!ing the
buttocks an guiing the hea to the passage) an if she be successful
in this, let the woman rock herself to an fro, an wait with patience
till it alters its way of lying"
7ometimes the chil hastens simply by e*paning its legs an arms) in
which, as in the former case, the woman must rock herself, but not with
!iolence, until she fins those parts fall to their proper station) or
it may be one by a gentle compression of the womb) but if neither of
them a!ail, the miwife must close the legs of the infant with her han,
an if she can get there, o the like by the arms, an so raw it forth)
but if it can be reuce of itself to the posture of a proper birth it
is better"
8f the infant comes forwar, both knees forwar, an the hans hanging
own upon the thighs, then the miwife must put both knees upwar, till
the feet appear) taking hol of which with her left han let her keep
her right han on the sie of the chil, an in that posture enea!our
to bring it forth" But if she cannot o this, then also the woman must
rock herself until the chil is in a more con!enient posture for
eli!ery"
7ometimes it happens that the chil presses forwar with one arm
e*tene on its thighs, an the other raise o!er its hea, an the feet
stretche out at length in the womb" 8n such case, the miwife must not
attempt to recei!e the chil in that posture, but must lay the woman on
the be in the manner aforesai, making a soft an gentle compression on
her belly, oblige the chil to retire) which if it oes not, then must
the miwife thrust it back by the shouler, an bring the arm that was
stretche abo!e the hea to its right station) for there is most anger
in these e*tremities) an, therefore, the miwife must anoint her hans
an the womb of the woman with sweet butter, or a proper pomatum, an
thrust her han as near as she can to the arm of the infant, an bring
it to the sie" But if this cannot be one, let the woman be lai on the
be to rest a while) in which time, perhaps, the chil may be reuce to
a better posture) which the miwife fining, she must raw tenerly the
arms close to the hips an so recei!e it"
8f an infant come with its buttocks foremost, an almost ouble, then
the miwife must anoint her han an thrust it up, an gently hea!ing up
the buttocks an back, stri!e to turn the hea to the passage, but not
too hastily, lest the infant@s retiring shoul shape it worse& an
therefore, if it cannot be turne with the han, the woman must rock
herself on the be, taking such comfortable things as may support her
spirits, till she percei!es the chil to turn"
8f the chil@s neck be bowe, an it comes forwar with its shoulers,
as it sometimes oth, with the hans an feet stretche upwars, the
miwife must gently mo!e the shoulers, that she may irect the hea to
the passage) an the better to effect it, the woman must rock herself as
aforesai"
These an other like methos are to be obser!e in case a woman hath
twins, or three chilren at a birth, which sometimes happens& for as
the single birth hath but one natural an many unnatural forms, e!en so
it may be in a ouble an treble birth"
Wherefore, in all such cases the miwife must take care to recei!e the
first which is nearest the passage) but not letting the other go, lest
by retiring it shoul change the form) an when one is born, she must be
speey in bringing forth the other" An this birth, if it be in the
natural way, is more easy, because the chilren are commonly less than
those of single birth, an so reEuire a less passage" But if this birth
come unnaturally, it is far more angerous than the other"
8n the birth of twins, let the miwife be !ery careful that the
secunine be naturally brought forth, lest the womb, being eli!ere of
its buren, fall, an so the secunine continue longer there than is
consistent with the woman@s safety"
But if one of the twins happens to come with the hea, an the other
with the feet foremost, then let the miwife eli!er the natural birth
first) an if she cannot turn the other, raw it out in the posture in
which it presses forwar) but if that with its feet ownwar be
foremost, she may eli!er that first, turning the other asie" But in
this case the miwife must carefully see that it be not a monstrous
birth, instea of twins, a boy with two heas, or two boies joine
together, which she may soon know if both the heas come foremost, by
putting up her han between them as high as she can) an then, if she
fins they are twins she may gently put one of them asie to make way
for the other, taking the first which is most a!ance, lea!ing the
other so that it o not change its position" An for the safety of the
other chil, as soon as it comes forth out of the womb, the miwife must
tie the na!el$string, as has before been irecte, an also bin, with a
large, long fillet, that part of the na!el which is fastene to the
secunine, the more reaily to fin it"
The secon infant being born, let the miwife carefully e*amine whether
there be not two secunines, for sometimes it falls out, that by the
shortness of the ligaments it retires back to the prejuice of the
woman" Wherefore, lest the womb shoul close, it is most e*peient to
hasten them forth with all con!enient spee"
8f two infants are joine together by the boy, as sometimes it
monstrously falls out, then, though the hea shoul come foremost, yet
it is proper, if possible, to turn them an raw them forth by the feet,
obser!ing, when they come to the hips, to raw them out as soon as may
be" An here great care ought to be use in anointing an wiening the
passage" But these sort of births rarely happening, 8 nee to say the
less of them, an, therefore, shall show how women shoul be orere
after eli!ery"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?88
A;ow chil$bearing Women ought to be orere after ,eli!ery"A
8f a woman has ha !ery har labour, it is necessary that she shoul be
wrappe up in a sheep@s skin, taken off before it is col, applying the
fleshy sie to her !eins an belly, or, for want of this, the skin of a
hare or coney, flaye off as soon as kille, may be applie to the same
parts, an in so oing, a ilation being mae in the birth, an the
melancholy bloo being e*pelle in these parts, continue these for an
hour or two"
%et the woman afterwars be swathe with fine linen cloth, about a
Euarter of a yar in breath, chafing the belly before it is swathe,
with oil of 7t" -ohn@s wort) after that raise up the matri* with a linen
cloth, many times fole& then with a linen pillar or Euilt, co!er the
flanks, an place the swathe somewhat abo!e the haunches, wining it
pretty stiff, applying at the same time a linen cloth to her nipples) o
not immeiately use the remeies to keep back the milk, by reason the
boy, at such a time, is out of frame) for there is neither !ein nor
artery which oes not strongly beat) an remeies to ri!e back the
milk, being of a issol!ing nature, it is improper to apply them to the
breasts uring such isorer, lest by oing so, e!il humours be
contracte in the breast" Wherefore, twel!e hours at least ought to be
allowe for the circulation an settlement of the bloo, an what was
cast on the lungs by the !ehement agitation uring labour, to retire to
its proper receptacles"
7ome time after eli!ery, you may take a restricti!e of the yolks of two
eggs, an a Euarter of a pint of white wine, oil of 7t" -ohn@s wort, oil
of roses, plantain an roses water, of each an ounce, mi* them together,
fol a linen cloth an apply it to the breast, an the pains of those
parts will be greatly ease"
7he must by no means sleep irectly after eli!ery) but about four hours
after, she may take broth, caule or such liEui !ictuals as are
nourishing) an if she be ispose to sleep it may be !ery safely
permitte" An this is as much, in the case of a natural birth, as ought
immeiately to be one"
But in case of an e*tremity or an unnatural birth, the following rules
ought to be obser!e&$$
8n the first place, let the$woman keep a temperate iet, by no means
o!ercharging herself after such an e*traorinary e!acuation, not being
rule by gi!ing creit to unskilful nurses, who amonish them to fee
heartily, the better to repair the loss of bloo" For that bloo is not
for the most part pure, but such as has been retaine in the !essels or
membrane better !oie, for the health of the woman, than kept, unless
there happen an e*traorinary flu* of the bloo" For if her nourishment
be too much, which curing, !ery often turns to imposthumes"
Therefore, it is reEuisite, for the first fi!e ays especially, that she
take moerately panao broth, poache eggs, jelly of chickens or cal!es@
feet or fresh barley broth) e!ery ay increasing the Euantity a little"
An if she inten to be a nurse to the chil, she may take something
more than orinary, to increase the milk by egrees, which must be of no
continuance, but rawn off by the chil or otherwise" 8n this case
likewise, obser!e to let her ha!e corianer or fennel sees boile in
barley broth) but by all means, for the time specifie, let her abstain
from meat" 8f no fe!er trouble her, she may rink now an then a small
Euantity of pure white wine or of claret, as also syrup of maienhea or
any other syrup that is of an astringent Euality, taken in a little
water well boile"
After the fear of fe!er or contraction of humour in the breast is o!er,
she may be nourishe more plentifully with the broth of capons, pullets,
pigeons, mutton, !eal, etc", which must not be until after eight ays
from the time of eli!ery) at which time the womb, unless some accient
bins, has purge itself" 8t will then likewise be e*peient to gi!e
col meats, but let it be sparingly, so that she may the better gather
strength" An let her, uring the time, rest Euietly an free from
isturbance, not sleeping in the ay time, if she can a!oi it"
Take of both mallows an pellitory of the wall a hanful) camomile an
melilot flowers, of each a hanful) anisee an fennel of each two
ounces) boil them in a ecoction of sheep@s hea an take of this three
Euarts, issol!ing in it common honey, coarse sugar an fresh butter an
aminister it clysterwise) but if it oes not penetrate well take an
ounce of catholicon"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ L?888
AAcute Pains after ,eli!ery"A
These pains freEuently afflict the woman no less than the pain of her
labour, an are, by the more ignorant, many times taken the one for the
other) an sometimes they happen both at the same instant) which is
occasione by a raw, crue an watery matter in the stomach, contracte
through ill igestion) an while such pains continue, the woman@s
tra!ail is retare"
Therefore, to e*pel fits of the cholic, take two ounces of oil of sweet
almons, an an ounce of cinnamon water, with three or four rops of
syrup of ginger) then let the woman rink it off"
8f this oes not abate the pain, make a clyster of camomile,
balm$lea!es, oil of oli!es an new milk, boiling the former in the
latter" Aminister it as is usual in such cases" An then, fomentation
proper for ispelling the win will not be amiss"
8f the pain prouces a griping in the guts after eli!ery, then take of
the root of great comfrey, one rachm, nutmeg an peach kernels, of each
two scruples, yellow amber, eight rachms, ambergris, one scruple)
bruise them together, an gi!e them to the woman as she is lai own, in
two or three spoonfuls of white wine) but if she be fe!erish, then let
it be in as much warm broth"
9 9 9 9 9
T;E
FA(8%# P;#78'8A=
9 9 9 9 9
BE8=G
';:8'E A=, APP+:?E,
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F:+ 7E?E+A% ,87EA7E7
8='8,E=TA% T: ;<(A= B:,8E7
9 9 9 9 9
AFor the Apople*y"A
Take man@s skull prepare, an power of male peony, of each an ounce
an a half, contrayer!a, bastar ittany, angelica, Je!ary, of each two
rachms, mi* an make a power, a thereto two ounces of canie
orange an lemon peel, beat all together to a power, whereof you may
take half a rachm or a rachm"
AA Power for the Epilepsy or Falling 7ickness"A
Take of opopana*, crue antimony, castor, ragon@s bloo, peony sees,
of each an eEual Euantity) make a subtle power) the ose, half a rachm
of black cherry water" Before you take it, the stomach must be prepare
with some proper !omit, as that of (ynficht@s emetic tartar, from four
grains to si*) if for chilren, salts of !itrol, from a scruple to half
a rachm"
AFor a ;eaache of %ong 7taning"A
Take the juice or power in istille water of hog lice an continue it"
AFor 7pitting of Bloo"A
Take conser!e of comfrey an of hips, of each an ounce an a half)
conser!e of re roses, three ounces) ragon@s bloo, a rachm) spices of
hyacinths, two scruples) re coral, a rachm) mi* an with syrup of
poppies make a soft electuary" Take the Euantity of a walnut, night an
morning"
AFor a %ooseness"A
Take ?enice treacle an iascorium, of each half a rachm, in warm ale
or water gruel, or what you like best, at night, going to be"
AFor the Blooy Flu*"A
First take a rachm of power of rhubarb in a sufficient Euantity of
conser!e of re roses, in the morning early) then at night, take of
tornifie or roaste rhubarb, half a rachm) iascorium, a rachm an a
half) liEui lauanum cyclomate, a scruple& mi* an make into a bolus"
AFor an 8nflammation of the %ungs"A
Take of cherious water, ten ounces) water of re poppies, three ounces)
syrup of poppies, an ounce) pearl prepare, a rachm) make julep, an
take si* spoonfuls e!ery fourth hour"
AAn :intment for the Pleurisy"A
Take oil of !iolets or sweet almons, an ounce of each, with wa* an a
little saffron, make an ointment, warm it an bathe it upon the parts
affecte"
AAn :intment for the 8tch"A
Take sulphur !i!e in power, half an ounce, oil of tartar per eliEuim,
a sufficient Euantity, ointment of roses, four ounces) make a liniment,
to which a a scruple of rhoium to aromatiJe, an rub the parts
affecte with it"
AFor +unning 7cab"A
Take two pouns of tar, incorporate it into a thick mass with
well$sifte ashes) boil the mass in fountain$water, aing lea!es of
groun$i!y, white horehoun, fumitory roots, sharp$pointe ock an of
flocan pan, of each four hanfuls) make a bath to be use with care of
taking col"
AFor Worms in 'hilren"A
Take wormsee, half a rachm, flour of sulphur, a rachm) mi* an make a
power" Gi!e as much as will lie on a sil!er threepence, night an
morning, in grocer@s treacle or honey, or to grown up people, you may
a a sufficient Euantity of aloe rosatum an so make them up into
pills) three or four may be taken e!ery morning"
AFor Fe!ers in 'hilren"A
Take crab$eyes, a rachm, cream of tartar, half a rachm) white
sugar$cany finely powere, weight of both) mi* all well together an
gi!e as much as will lie on a sil!er threepence, in a spoonful of
barley$water or sack whey"
AA Muieting =ight$,raught, when the 'ough is ?iolent"A
Take water of green wheat, si* ounces, syrup iascorium, three ounces,
take two or three spoonfuls going to be e!ery night or e!ery other
night"
AAn Electuary for the ,ropsy"A
Take best rhubarb, one rachm, gum lac, prepare, two rachms,
Jyloaloes, cinnamon, long birthwort, half an ounce each, best English
saffron, half a scruple) with syrup of chicory an rhubarb make an
electuary" Take the Euantity of a nutmeg or small walnut e!ery morning
fasting"
AFor a Tympany ,ropsy"A
Take roots of cher!il an canie eringo roots, half an ounce of each,
roots of butcher$broom, two ounces, grass$roots, three ounces, sha!ings
of i!ory an hartshorn, two rachms an a half each) boil them in two or
three pouns of spring water" Whilst the straine liEuor is hot, pour it
upon the lea!es of watercresses an goose$grass bruise, of each a
hanful, aing a pint of +henish wine" (ake a close infusion for two
hours, then strain out the liEuor again, an a to it three ounces of
magirtral water an earth worms an an ounce an a half of the syrup of
the fi!e opening roots" (ake an apoJen, whereof take four ounces twice a
ay"
AFor an 8nwar Bleeing"A
Take lea!es of plantain an stinging nettles, of each three hanfuls,
bruise them well an pour on them si* ounces of plantain water,
afterwars make a strong e*pression an rink the whole off" AProbatum
est"A
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GE=E+A% :B7E+?AT8:=7
AWorthy of =otice"A
W;E= #:< F8=,
A re man to be faithful, a tall man to be wise, a fat man to be swift
of foot, a lean man to be a fool, a hansome man not to be prou, a poor
man not to be en!ious, a kna!e to be no liar, an upright man not too
bol an hearty to his own loss, one that rawls when he speaks not to
be crafty an circum!enting, one that winks on another with his eyes not
to be false an eceitful, a sailor an hangman to be pitiful, a poor
man to buil churches, a Euack octor to ha!e a goo conscience, a
bailiff not to be a merciless !illain, an hostess not to o!er$reckon
you, an an usurer to be charitable$$$$
T;E= 7A#,
A#e ha!e foun a proigy"A
(en acting contrary to the common course of nature"
9 9 9 9 9
PA+T 88
9 9 9 9 9
T;E
ELPE+8E='E, (8,W8FE
9 9 9 9 9
8=T+:,<'T8:="
8 ha!e gi!en this Part the title of The E*perience (iwife, because it
is chiefly esigne for those who profess (iwifery, an contains
whate!er is necessary for them to know in the practice thereof) an
also, because it is the result of many years@ e*perience, an that in
the most ifficult cases, an is, therefore, the more to be epene
upon"
A miwife is the most necessary an honourable office, being inee a
helper of nature) which therefore makes it necessary for her to be well
acEuainte with all the operations of nature in the work of generation,
an instruments with which she works" For she that knows not the
operations of nature, nor with what tool she works, must nees be at a
loss how to assist therein" An seeing the instruments of operation,
both in men an women, are those things by which mankin is prouce, it
is !ery necessary that all miwi!es shoul be well acEuainte with them,
that they may better unerstan their business, an assist nature, as
there shall be occasion"
The first thing then necessary as introuctory to this treatise, is an
anatomical escription of the se!eral parts of generation both in men
an women) but as in the former part of this work 8 ha!e treate at
large upon these subjects, being esirous to a!oi tautology, 8 shall
not here repeat anything of what was then sai, but refer the reaer
thereto, as a necessary introuction to what follows" An though 8 shall
be necessitate to speak plainly so that 8 may be unerstoo, yet 8
shall o it with that moesty that none shall ha!e nee to blush unless
it be from something in themsel!es, rather than from what they shall
fin here) ha!ing the motto of the royal garter for my efence, which
is&$$B;oni soit Eui mal y pense,B$$BE!il be to him that e!il thinks"B
9 9 9 9 9
A
G<8,E T: ';8%,BEA+8=G
W:(E=
9 9 9 9 9
B::> 8
';APTE+ 8
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f the Womb"A
8n this chapter 8 am to treat of the womb, which the %atins call
Amatri*A" 8ts parts are two) the mouth of the womb an the bottom of it"
The mouth is an orifice at the entrance into it, which may be ilate
an shut together like a purse) for though in the act of copulation it
is big enough to recei!e the glans of the yar, yet after conception, it
is so close an shut, that it will not amit the point of a bokin to
enter) an yet again, at the time of a woman@s eli!ery, it is opene to
such an e*traorinary egree, that the chil passeth through it into the
worl) at which time this orifice wholly isappears, an the womb seems
to ha!e but one great ca!ity from the bottom to the entrance of the
neck" When a woman is not with chil, it is a little oblong, an of
substance !ery thick an close) but when she is with chil it is
shortene, an its thickness iminishe proportionably to its
istension) an therefore it is a mistake of anatomists who affirm, that
its substance wa*eth thicker a little before a woman@s labour) for any
one@s reason will inform him, that the more istene it is, the thinner
it must be) an the nearer a woman is to the time of her eli!ery the
shorter her womb must be e*tene" As to the action by which this inwar
orifice of the womb is opene an shut, it is purely natural) for were
it otherwise, there coul not be so many bastars begotten as there are,
nor woul any marrie women ha!e so many chilren" Were it in their own
power they woul hiner conception, though they woul be willing enough
to use copulation) for nature has attene that action with so pleasing
an elightful sensations, that they are willing to inulge themsel!es
in the use thereof notwithstaning the pains they afterwars enure, an
the haJar of their li!es that often follows it" An this comes to pass,
not so much from an inorinate lust in woman, as that the great ,irector
of =ature, for the increase an multiplication of mankin, an e!en all
other species in the elementary worl, hath place such a magnetic
!irtue in the womb, that it raws the see to it, as the loastone raws
iron"
The Author of =ature has place the womb in the belly, that the heat
might always be maintaine by the warmth of the parts surrouning it) it
is, therefore, seate in the mile of the hypogastrium Cor lower parts
of the belly between the blaer an the belly, or right gutD by which
also it is efene from any hurt through the harness of the bones, an
it is place in the lower part of the belly for the con!enience of
copulation, an of a birth being thrust out at full time"
8t is of a figure almost roun, inclining somewhat to an oblong, in part
resembling a pear) for being broa at the bottom, it graually
terminates in the point of the orifice which is narrow"
The length, breath an thickness of the womb iffer accoring to the
age an isposition of the boy" For in !irgins not ripe it is !ery
small in all its imensions, but in women whose terms flow in great
Euantities, an such as freEuently use copulation, it is much larger,
an if they ha!e ha chilren, it is larger in them than in such as ha!e
ha none) but in women of a goo stature an well shape, it is Cas 8
ha!e sai beforeD, from the entry of the pri!y parts to the bottom of
the womb usually about eight inches) but the length of the boy of the
womb alone, oes not e*cee three) the breath thereof is near about the
same, an of the thickness of the little finger, when the womb is not
pregnant, but when the woman is with chil, it becomes of a proigious
greatness, an the nearer she is to eli!ery, the more the womb is
e*tene"
8t is not without reason then, that nature Cor the Go of =atureD has
mae the womb of a membranous substance) for thereby it oes the easier
open to concei!e, is graually ilate by the growth of the foetus or
young one, an is afterwars contracte or close again, to thrust forth
both it an the after$buren, an then to retire to its primiti!e seat"
;ence also it is enable to e*pel any no*ious humours, which may
sometimes happen to be containe within it"
Before 8 ha!e one with the womb, which is the fiel of generation, an
ought, therefore, to be the more particularly taken care of Cfor as the
sees of plants can prouce no plants, nor sprig unless grown in groun
proper to e*cite an awaken their !egetati!e !irtue so likewise the see
of man, though potentially containing all the parts of the chil, woul
ne!er prouce so amissible an effect, if it were not cast into that
fruitful fiel of nature, the wombD 8 shall procee to a more particular
escription of its parts, an the uses for which nature has esigne
them"
The womb, then, is compose of !arious similar parts, that is of
membranes, !eins, arteries an ner!es" 8ts membranes are two an they
compose the principal parts of the boy, the outermost of which ariseth
from the peritoneum or caul, an is !ery thin, without it is smooth, but
within eEual, that it may the better clea!e to the womb, as it is
fleshier an thicker than anything else we meet with within the boy,
when the woman is not pregnant, an is interwo!en with all sorts of
fibres or small strings that it may the better suffer the e*tension of
the chil, an the water cause uring pregnancy, an also that it may
the easier close again after eli!ery"
The !eins an arteries procee both from the hypogastric an the
spermatic !essels, of which 8 shall speak by an by) all these are
inserte an terminate in the proper membranes of the womb" The
arteries supply it with foo an nourishment, which being brought
together in too great a Euantity, sweats through the substance of it,
an istils as it were a ew at the bottom of the ca!ity) from thence
procee the terms in ripe !irgins, an the bloo which nourisheth the
embryo in breeing women" The branches which issue from the spermatic
!essels, are inserte on each sie of the bottom of the womb, an are
much less than those which procee from the hypogastrics, those being
greater an beewing the whole substance of it" There are some other
small !essels, which arising the one from the other are conucte to the
internal orifice, an by these, those that are pregnant purge away the
superfluity of the terms when they happen to ha!e more than is use in
the nourishment of the infant& by which means nature has taken so much
care of the womb, that uring pregnancy it shall not be oblige to open
itself for passing away those e*crementitious humours, which, shoul it
be force to o, might often enanger abortion"
As touching the ner!es, they procee from the brain, which furnishes all
the inner parts of the lower belly in them, which is the true reason it
hath so great a sympathy with the stomach, which is likewise !ery
consierably furnishe from the same part) so that the womb cannot be
afflicte with any pain, but that the stomach is immeiately sensible
thereof, which is the cause of those loathings or freEuent !omitings
which happen to it"
But besie all these parts which compose the womb, it has yet four
ligaments, whose office it is, to keep it firm in its place, an pre!ent
its constant agitation, by the continual motion of the intestines which
surroun it, two of which are abo!e an two below" Those abo!e are
calle the broa ligaments, because of their broa an membranous
figure, an are nothing else but the prouction of the peritoneum which
growing out of the sies of the loins towars the !eins come to be
inserte in the sies of the bottom of the womb, to hiner the boy from
bearing too much on the neck, an so from suffering a precipitation as
will sometimes happen when the ligaments are too much rela*e) an o
also contain the testicles, an as well, safely conuct the ifferent
!essels, as the ejaculatories, to the womb" The lowermost are calle
roun ligaments, taking their origin from the sie of the womb near the
horn, from whence they pass the groin, together with the prouction of
the peritoneum, which accompanies them through the rings of the obliEue
an trans!erse muscles of the belly, by which they i!ie themsel!es
into many little branches resembling the foot of a goose, of which some
are inserte into the os pubis, the rest are lost an confoune with
the membranes which women an chilren feel in their thighs" These two
ligaments are long, roun an ner!ous, an pretty big in their
beginning near the matri*, hollow in their rise, an all along the os
pubis, where they are a little smaller an become flat, the better to be
inserte in the manner aforesai" 8t is by their means the womb is
hinere from rising too high" =ow, although the womb is hel in its
natural situation by means of these four ligaments, it has liberty
enough to e*ten itself when pregnant, because they are !ery loose, an
so easily yiel to its istension" But besies these ligaments, which
keep the womb, as it were, in a poise, yet it is fastene for greater
security by its neck, both to the blaer an rectum, between which it
is situate" Whence it comes to pass, that if at any time the womb be
inflame, it communicates the inflammation to the neighbouring part"
8ts use or proper action in the work of generation, is to recei!e an
retain the see, an euce from it power an action by its heat, for
the generation of the infant) an it is, therefore, absolutely necessary
for the conser!ation of the species" 8t also seems by accient to
recei!e an e*pel the impurities of the whole boy, as when women ha!e
abunance of whites, an to purge away, from time to time, the
superfluity of the bloo, as when a woman is not with chil"
7E'T" 88"$$A:f the ifference between the ancient an moern Physicians,
touching the woman@s contributing see for the Formation of the
'hil"A
:ur moern anatomists an physicians are of ifferent sentiments from
the ancients touching the woman@s contributing see for the formation of
the chil, as well as the man) the ancients strongly affirming it, but
our moern authors being generally of another jugment" 8 will not make
myself a party to this contro!ersy, but set own impartially, yet
briefly, the arguments on each sie, an lea!e the juicious reaer to
juge for himself"
Though it is apparent, say the ancients, that the see of man is the
principal efficient an beginning of action, motion an generation, yet
the woman affors see, an contributes to the procreation of the chil,
it is e!ient from hence, that the woman ha seminal !essels, which ha
been gi!en her in !ain if she wante seminal e*cretions) but since
nature forms nothing in !ain, it must be grante that they were forme
for the use of the see an procreation, an fi*e in their proper
places, to operate an contribute !irtue an efficiency to the see) an
this, say they, is further pro!e from hence, that if women at years of
maturity use not copulation to eject their see, they often fall into
strange iseases, as appears by young women an !irgins, an also it
appears that, women are ne!er better please than when they are often
satisfie this way, which argues, that the pleasure an elight, say
they, is ouble in women to what it is in men, for as the elight of men
in copulation consists chiefly in the emission of the see, so women are
elighte, both in the emission of their own an the reception of the
man@s"
But against this, all our moern authors affirm that the ancients are
!ery erroneous, inasmuch as the testicles in women o not affor see,
but are two eggs, like those of a fowl or other creatures) neither ha!e
they any such offices as in men, but are inee an o!arium, or
receptacle for eggs, wherein these eggs are nourishe, by the sanguinary
!essels isperse through them) an from hence one or more, as they are
fecunate by the man@s see, are con!eye into the womb by the
o!iucts" An the truth of this, say they, is so plain, that if you boil
them, the liEuor shall ha!e the same taste, colour an consistency with
the taste of bir@s eggs" An if it be objecte that they ha!e no
shells, the answer is easy) for the eggs of fowls while they are in the
o!ary, nay, after they ha!e fallen into the uterus, ha!e no shell& an
though they ha!e one when they are lai, yet it is no more than a fence
which nature has pro!ie for them against outwar injuries, they being
hatche without the boy, but those of women being hatche within the
boy ha!e no nee of any other fence than the womb to secure them"
They also further say, that there are in the generation of the foetus,
or young ones, two principles, Aacti!eA an Apassi!eA) the Aacti!eA is
the man@s see elaborate in the testicles out of the arterial bloo an
animal spirits) the Apassi!eA principle is the o!um or egg, impregnate
by the man@s see) for to say that women ha!e true see, say they, is
erroneous" But the manner of conception is this) the most spirituous
part of the man@s see, in the act of copulation, reaching up to the
o!arium or testicles of the woman Cwhich contains i!ers eggs, sometimes
fewerD impregnates one of them) which, being con!eye by the o!iucts to
the bottom of the womb, presently begins to swell bigger an bigger, an
rinks in the moisture that is so plentifully sent hither, after the
same manner that the see in the groun suck the fertile moisture
thereof, to make them sprout"
But, notwithstaning what is here urge by moern anatomists, there are
some late writers of the opinion of the ancients, !iJ", that women both
ha!e, an emit see in the act of copulation) an e!en women themsel!es
take it ill to be thought merely passi!e in the act wherein they make
such !igorous e*ertions) an positi!ely affirm, that they are sensible
of the emission of their see in that action, an that in it a great
part of the elight which they take in that act, consists" 8 shall not,
therefore, go about to take away any of their happiness from them, but
lea!e them in possession of their imaginary felicity"
;a!ing thus lai the founation of this work, 8 will now procee to
speak of conception, an of those things which are necessary to be
obser!e by women from the time of their conception, to the time of
their eli!ery"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 88
A:f 'onception) what it is) how women are to orer themsel!es after
'onception"A
7E'T8:= 8"$$AWhat 'onception is, an the Eualifications reEuisite
thereto"A
'onception is nothing but an action of the womb, by which the prolific
see is recei!e an retaine, that an infant may be engenere an
forme out of it" There are two sorts of conception& the one accoring
to nature, which is followe by the generation of the infant in the
womb) the other false an wholly against nature, in which the see
changes into water, an prouces only false conceptions, moles, or other
strange matter" =ow, there are three things principally necessary in
orer to a true conception, so that generation may follow, !iJ", without
i!ersity of se* there can be no conception) for, though some will ha!e
a woman to be an animal that can engener of herself, it is a great
mistake) there can be no conception without a man ischarge his see
into the womb" What they allege of pullets laying eggs without a cock@s
treaing them is nothing to the purpose, for those eggs shoul they be
set uner a hen, will ne!er become chickens because they ne!er recei!e
any prolific !irtue from the male, which is absolutely necessary to this
purpose, an is sufficient to con!ince us, that i!ersity of the se* is
necessary e!en to those animals, as well as to the generation of man"
But i!ersity of se*, though it be necessary to conception, yet it will
not o alone) there must also be a congression of the ifferent se*es)
for i!ersity of se* woul profit little if copulation i not follow" 8
confess 8 ha!e hear of subtle women, who, to co!er their sin an
shame, ha!e enea!oure to persuae some peasants that they were ne!er
touche by man to get them with chil) an that one in particular
pretene to concei!e by going into a bath where a man ha washe
himself a little before an spent his see in it, which was rawn an
sucke into her womb, as she pretene" But such stories as these are
only for such who know no better" =ow that these ifferent se*es shoul
be oblige to come to the touch, which we call copulation or coition,
besies the natural esire of begetting their like, which stirs up men
an women to it, the parts appointe for generation are enowe by
nature with a elightful an mutual itch, which begets in them a esire
to the action) without which, it woul not be !ery easy for a man, born
for the contemplation of i!ine mysteries, to join himself, by the way
of coition, to a woman, in regar to the uncleanness of the part an the
action" An, on the other sie, if the woman i but think of those
pains an incon!eniences to which they are subject by their great
bellies, an those haJars of life itself, besies the una!oiable pains
that atten their eli!ery, it is reasonable to belie!e they woul be
affrighte from it" But neither se* makes these reflections till after
the action is o!er, consiering nothing beforehan but the pleasure of
the enjoyment, so that it is from this !oluptuous itch that nature
obliges both se*es to this congression" <pon which the thir thing
followeth of course, !iJ", the emission of see into the womb in the act
of copulation" For the woman ha!ing recei!e this prolific see into her
womb, an retaine it there, the womb thereupon becomes epresse, an
embraces the see so closely, that being close the point of a neele
cannot enter into it without !iolence" An now the woman may be sai to
ha!e concei!e, ha!ing reuce by her heat from power into action, the
se!eral faculties which are containe in the see, making use of the
spirits with which the see abouns, an which are the instruments which
begin to trace out the first lineaments of the parts, an which
afterwars, by making use of the menstruous bloo flowing to it, gi!e
it, in time, growth an final perfection" An thus much shall suffice to
e*plain what conception is" 8 shall ne*t procee to show
7E'T" 88"$$A;ow a Woman ought to orer herself after 'onception"A
(y esign in this treatise being bre!ity, 8 shall bring forwar a little
of what the learne ha!e sai of the causes of twins, an whether there
be any such things as superfoetations, or a secon conception in a woman
Cwhich is yet common enoughD, an as to twins, 8 shall ha!e occasion to
speak of them when 8 come to show you how the miwife ought to procee
in the eli!ery of the women that are pregnant with them" But ha!ing
alreay spoken of conception, 8 think it now necessary to show how such
as ha!e concei!e ought to orer themsel!es uring their pregnancy, that
they may a!oi those incon!eniences, which often enanger the life of
the chil an many times their own"
A woman, after conception, uring the time of her being with chil,
ought to be looke upon as inispose or sick, though in goo health)
for chil bearing is a kin of nine months@ sickness, being all that
time in e*pectation of many incon!eniences which such a conition
usually causes to those that are not well go!erne uring that time) an
therefore, ought to resemble a goo pilot, who, when sailing on a rough
sea an full of rocks, a!ois an shuns the anger, if he steers with
pruence, but if not, it is a thousan to one but he suffers shipwreck"
8n like manner, a woman with chil is often in anger of miscarrying an
losing her life, if she is not !ery careful to pre!ent those accients
to which she is subject all the time of her pregnancy" All which time
her care must be ouble, first of herself, an seconly of the chil
she goes with for otherwise, a single error may prouce a ouble
mischief) for if she recei!es a prejuice, the chil also suffers with
her" %et a woman, therefore, after conception, obser!e a goo iet,
suitable to her temperament, custom, conition an Euality) an if she
can, let the air where she orinarily wells be clear an well tempere,
an free from e*tremes, either of heat or col) for being too hot, it
issipateth the spirits too much an causes many weaknesses) an by
being too col an foggy, it may bring own rheums an istillations on
the lungs, an so cause her to cough, which, by its impetuous motion,
forcing ownwars, may make her miscarry" 7he ought alway to a!oi all
nauseous an ill smells) for sometimes the stench of a canle, not well
put out, may cause her to come before time) an 8 ha!e known the smell
of charcoal to ha!e the same effect" %et her also a!oi smelling of rue,
mint, pennyroyal, castor, brimstone, etc"
But, with respect to their iet, women with chil ha!e generally so
great loathings an so many ifferent longings, that it is !ery
ifficult to prescribe an e*act iet for them" :nly this 8 think
a!isable, that they may use those meats an rinks which are to them
most esirable, though, perhaps, not in themsel!es so wholesome as some
others, an, it may be not so pleasant) but this liberty must be mae
use of with this caution, that what they esire be not in itself
unwholesome) an also that in e!erything they take care of e*cess" But,
if a chil$bearing woman fins herself not trouble with such longings
as we ha!e spoken of, let her take simple foo, an in such Euantity as
may be sufficient for herself an the chil, which her appetite may in a
great measure regulate) for it is alike hurtful to her to fast too long
as to eat too much) an therefore, rather let her eat a little an
often) especially let her a!oi eating too much at night, because the
stomach being too much fille, compresseth the iaphragm, an thereby
causeth ifficulty of breathing" %et her meat be easy of igestion, such
as the tenerest parts of beef, mutton, !eal, fowls, pullets, capons,
pigeons an partriges, either boile or roaste, as she likes best, new
lai eggs are also !ery goo for her) an let her put into her broth
those herbs that purify it, as sorrel, lettuce, succory an borage) for
they will purge an purify the bloo" %et her a!oi whate!er is hot
seasone, especially pies an bake meats, which being of hot igestion,
o!ercharge the stomach" 8f she esire fish let it be fresh, an such as
is taken out of ri!ers an running streams" %et her eat Euinces an
marmalae, to strengthen her chil& for which purpose sweet almons,
honey, sweet apples, an full ripe grapes, are also goo" %et her
abstain from all salt, sour, bitter an salt things, an all things that
ten to pro!oke the terms$$such as garlic, onions, mustar, fennel,
pepper an all spices e*cept cinnamon, which in the last three months is
goo for her" 8f at first her iet be sparing, as she increases in
bigness, let her iet be increase, for she ought to consier that she
has a chil as well as herself to nourish" %et her be moerate in her
rinking) an if she rinks wine, let it be rather claret than white
Cfor it will bree goo bloo, help the igestion, an comfort the
stomach, which is weakly uring pregnancyD) but white wine being
iuretic, or that which pro!okes urine, ought to be a!oie" %et her be
careful not to take too much e*ercise, an let her a!oi ancing, riing
in a coach, or whate!er else puts the boy into !iolent motion,
especially in the first month" But to be more particular, 8 shall here
set own rules proper for e!ery month for the chil$bearing woman to
orer herself, from the time she first concei!e, to the time of her
eli!ery"
A+ules for the First Two (onths"A
As soon as a woman knows, or has reason to belie!e, that she has
concei!e, she ought to abstain from all !iolent motions an e*ercise)
whether she walks afoot, or ries on horseback or in a coach, it ought
to be !ery gently" %et her also abstain from ?enery Cfor which, after
conception, she has usually no great inclinationD, lest there be a mole
or superfoetation, which is the aing of one embryo to another" %et her
beware not to lift her arms too high, nor carry great burens, nor
repose herself on har an uneasy seats" %et her use moerately goo,
juicy meat an easy of igestion, an let her wines be neither too
strong nor too sharp, but a little mingle with water) or if she be !ery
abstemious, she may use water wherein cinnamon has been boile" %et her
a!oi fastings, thirst, watchings, mourning, saness, anger, an all
other perturbations of the min" %et no one present any strange or
unwholesome thing to her, nor so much as name it, lest she shoul esire
it an not be able to get it, an so either cause her to miscarry, or
the chil to ha!e some eformity on that account" %et her belly be kept
loose with prunes, raisins or manna in her broth, an let her use the
following electuary, to strengthen the womb an the chil$$
BTake conser!e of borage, buglos an roses, each two ounces) an ounce of
balm) an ounce each of citron peel an shres, canie mirobalans, an
ounce each) e*tract of woo aloes a scruple) prepare pearl, half a
rachm) re coral an i!ory, of each a rachm) precious stones each a
scruple) canie nutmegs, two rachms, an with syrup of apples an
Euinces make an electuary"B
A%et her obser!e the following rules"A
BTake pearls prepare, a rachm) re coral an i!ory prepare, each half
a rachm, precious stones, each a scruple) yellow citron peel, mace,
cinnamon, clo!es, each half a rachm) saffron, a scruple) woo aloes,
half a scruple) ambergris, si* rachms) an with si* ounces of sugar
issol!e in rosewater make rolls"B %et her also apply strengtheners of
nutmeg, mace an mastich mae up in bags, to the na!el, or a toast
ippe in malmsey, or sprinkle with powere mint" 8f she happens to
esire clay, chalk, or coals Cas many women with chil oD, gi!e her
beans boile with sugar, an if she happens to long for anything that
she cannot obtain, let her presently rink a large raught of pure col
water"
A+ules for the Thir (onth"A
8n this month an the ne*t, be sure to keep from bleeing) for though it
may be safe an proper at other times, yet it will not be so at the en
of the fourth month) an yet if bloo aboun, or some inciental isease
happens which reEuires e!acuation, you may use a cupping glass, with
scarification, an a little bloo may be rawn from the shoulers an
arms, especially if she has been accustome to blee" %et her also take
care of lacing herself too straitly, but gi!e herself more liberty than
she use to o) for inclosing her belly in too strait a moul, she
hiners the infant from taking its free growth, an often makes it come
before its time"
A+ules for the Fourth (onth"A
8n this month also you ought to keep the chil$bearing woman from
bleeing, unless in e*traorinary cases, but when the month is passe,
bloo$letting an physic may be permitte, if it be gentle an mil, an
perhaps it may be necessary to pre!ent abortion" 8n this month she may
purge, in an acute isease, but purging may only be use from the
beginning of this month to the en of the si*th) but let her take care
that in purging she use no !ehement meicine, nor any bitter, as aloes,
which is isagreeable an hurtful to the chil, an opens the mouth of
the !essels) neither let her use coloEuintia, scammony nor turbith) she
may use cassia, manna, rhubarb, agaric an senna but yacioium
purgans is best, with a little of the electuary of the juice of roses"
A+ules for the Fifth, 7i*th an 7e!enth (onths"A
8n these months, chil$bearing women are trouble with coughs, cols,
heart$beating, fainting, watching, pains in the loins an hips, an
bleeing" The cough is from a sharp !apour that comes to the jaws an
rough artery from the terms, or the thin part of that bloo got less
into the reins of the breast) this enangers abortion, an strength
fails from watching& therefore, purge the humours that come to the
breast, with rhubarb an agaric, an strengthen the hea as in a
catarrh, an gi!e sweet leniti!es as in a cough" Palpitation an
faintness arises from !apours that go to it by the arteries, or from
bloo that abouns an cannot get out of the womb, but ascens an
oppresses the heart) an in this case corials shoul be use both
inwarly an outwarly" Watching, is from sharp ry !apours that trouble
the animal spirits, an in this case use frictions, an let the woman
wash her feet at be$time, an let her take syrup of poppies, rie
roses, emulsions of sweet almons, an white poppy see" 8f she be
trouble with pains in her loins an hips, as in those months she is
subject to be, from the weight of her chil as it grows big an hea!y,
an so stretches the ligaments of the womb an part ajacent, let her
hol it up with swathing bans about her neck" About this time also the
woman often happens to ha!e a flu* of bloo, either at the nose, womb or
haemorrhois, from plenty of bloo, or from the weakness of the chil
that takes it not in, or else from e!il humour in the bloo, that stirs
up nature an sens it forth" An sometimes it happens that the !essels
of the womb may be broken, either by some !iolent motion, fall, cough or
trouble of the min Cfor any of these will work that effectD, an this
is so angerous, that in such a case the chil cannot be well, but if it
be from bloo only, the anger is less, pro!ie it flows by the !eins
of the neck of the womb, for then it pre!ents plethora an takes not
away the nourishment of the chil) but if it procees from the weakness
of the chil, that raws it not in, abortion of the chil often follows,
or har tra!ail, or else she goes beyon her time" But if it flows from
the inwar !eins of the womb, there is more anger by the openness of
the womb, if it come from e!il bloo) the anger is alike from
cacochymy, which is like to fall upon both" 8f it arises from plethora,
open a !ein, but with great caution, an use astringents, of which the
following will o well&$$Take prepare pearls, a scruple) re coral, two
scruples) mace, nutmeg, each a rachm) cinnamon, half a rachm) make a
power, or with white sugar make rolls" :r gi!e this power in
broth&$$BTake re coral, a rachm) half a rachm precious stones) re
saner, half a rachm) bole, a rachm) scale earth an tormental roots,
each two scruples, with sugar of roses an (anus 'hristi) with pearl,
fi!e rachms) make a power"B #ou may also strengthen the chil at the
na!el, an if there be a cacochymy, alter the humours, an if you can o
it safely, e!acuate) you may likewise use amulets on her hans an about
her neck" 8n a flu* of haemorrhois, wear off the pain, an let her
rink hot wine with a toaste nutmeg" 8n these months the belly is also
subject to be boun, but if it be without any apparent isease, the
broth of a chicken or !eal, soen with oil, or with the ecoction of
mallows or marsh$mallows, mercury or linsee, put up in a clyster, will
not be amiss, but in less Euantity than is gi!en in other cases&$$!iJ"
of the ecoction, fi!e ounces, of common oil, three ounces, of sugar,
two ounces, an of cassia fistula, one ounce" But if she will not take a
clyster, one or two yolks of new lai eggs, or a little peas$pottage
warm, a little salt an sugar, an suppe a little before meat, will be
!ery con!enient" But if her belly be istene an stretche with win a
little fennel see an anisee reuce to a power an mi*e with honey
an sugar mae after the manner of an electuary, will be !ery well Also,
if thighs an feet swell let them be anointe with erphorinum Cwhich is
a liEui meicineD mae with !inegar an rose$water, mingle with salt"
A+ules for the Eighth (onth"A
The eighth month is commonly calle the most angerous) therefore the
greatest care an caution ought to be use, the iet better in Euality,
but no more, nor inee, so much in Euantity as before, but as she must
abate her iet, she must increase her e*ercise) an because then women
with chil, by reason that sharp humours alter the belly, are accustome
to weaken their spirits an strength, they may well take before meat, an
electuary of iarrhoen, or aromaticum rosatum or iamagarton) an
sometimes they may lick a little honey" As they will loathe, nauseate
their meat, they may take green ginger, canie with sugar, an the
rins of citron an oranges canie) an let them often use honey for
strengthening the infant" When she is not !ery far from her labour, let
her eat e!ery ay se!en roaste figs before her meat, an sometimes let
her lick a little honey" But let her beware of salt an powere meat,
for it is neither goo for her nor the chil"
A+ules for the =inth (onth"A
8n the ninth month let her ha!e a care of lifting any great weight, but
let her mo!e a little more, to ilate the parts, an stir up natural
heat" %et her take hee of stooping, an neither sit too much nor lie on
her sies, neither ought she to ben herself much enfole in the
umbilical ligaments, by which means it often perisheth" %et her walk an
stir often, an let her e*ercise be, rather to go upwars than
ownwars" %et her iet, now especially, be light an easy of igestion
an amask prunes with sugar, or figs with raisins, before meat, as also
the yolks of eggs, flesh an broth of chickens, birs, partriges an
pheasants) astringent an roaste meats, with rice, har eggs, millet
an such like other things are proper" Baths of sweet water, with
emollient herbs, ought to be use by her this month with some
intermission, an after the baths let her belly be anointe with oil of
sweet roses an of !iolets) but for her pri!y parts, it is better to
anoint them with the fat of hens, geese or ucks, or with oil of
lilies, an the ecoction of linsee an fenugreek, boile with oil of
linsee an marshmallows, or with the following liniment&$$
Take mallows an marshmallows, cut an shre, of each one ounce) of
linsee, one ounce) let them be boile from twenty ounces of water to
ten) then let her take three ounces of the boile broth, of oil of
almons an oil of flower$e$luce, of each one ounce) of eer@s suet,
three ounces" %et her bathe with this, an anoint herself with it, warm"
8f for fourteen ays before the birth, she o e!ery morning an e!ening
bathe an moisten her belly with muscaine an la!ener water, the chil
will be much strengthene thereby" An if e!ery ay she eat toaste
brea, it will hiner anything from growing to the chil" ;er pri!y
parts must be gently stroke own with this fomentation"
BTake three ounces of linsee, an one hanful each of mallows an
marshmallows slice, then let them be put into a bag an immeiately
boile"B %et the woman with chil, e!ery morning an e!ening, take the
!apour of this ecoction in a hollow stool, taking great hee that no
win or air come to her in$parts, an then let her wipe the part so
anointe with a linen cloth, an she may anoint the belly an groins as
at first"
When she has come so near to her time, as to be ten or fourteen ays
thereof, if she begins to feel any more than orinary pain let her use
e!ery ay the following&$$BTake mallows an marshmallows, of each a
hanful) camomiles, har mercury, maienhair, of each a hanful) of
linsee, four ounces) let them be boile in a sufficient Euantity of
water as to make a bath therewith"B But let her not sit too hot upon the
seat, nor higher than a little abo!e her na!el) nor let her sit upon it
longer than about half an hour, lest her strength languish an ecay,
for it is better to use it often than to stay too long in it"
An thus ha!e 8 shown how a chil$bearing woman ought to go!ern herself
each month uring her pregnancy" ;ow she must orer herself at her
eli!ery, shall be shown in another chapter, after 8 ha!e first shown
the intene miwife how the chil is first forme in the womb, an the
manner of its ecumbiture there"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 888
A:f the Parts proper to a 'hil in the womb) ;ow it is forme
there, an the manner of its 7ituation therein"A
8n the last chapter 8 treate of conception, showe what it was, how
accomplishe an its signs, an how she who has concei!e ought to orer
herself uring the time of her pregnancy" =ow, before 8 come to speak of
her eli!ery, it is necessary that the miwife be first mae acEuainte
with the parts proper to a chil in the womb, an also that she be shown
how it is forme, an the manner of its situation an ecumbiture there)
which are so necessary to her, that without the knowlege thereof, no
one can tell how to eli!er a woman as she ought" This, therefore, shall
be the work of this chapter" 8 shall begin with the first of these"
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f the Parts proper to a 'hil in the Womb"A
8n this section, 8 must first tell you what 8 mean by the parts proper
to a chil in the womb) an they are only those that either help or
nourish it) an whilst it is loge in that ark repository of nature,
an that help to clothe an efen it there an are cast away, as of no
more use, after it is born, an these are two, !iJ", the umbilicars, or
na!el !essels, an the secuninum" By the first it is nourishe, an by
the secon clothe an efene from wrong" :f each of these 8 shall
speak istinctly) an first,
A:f the <mbilicars, or =a!el ?essels"A
These are four in number, !iJ"&$$one !ein, two arteries, an the !essel
which is calle the urachos"
C3D The !ein is that on which the infant is nourishe, from the time of
its conception till the time of its eli!ery) till being brought into
the light of the worl, it has the same way of concocting the foo we
ha!e" This !ein ariseth from the li!er of the chil, an is i!ie into
two parts when it has passe the na!el) an these two are i!ie an
subi!ie, the branches being uphel by the skin calle AchorionA Cof
which 8 speak by an byD, an are joine to the !eins of the mother@s
womb, from whence they ha!e their bloo for the nourishment of the
chil"
C.D The arteries are two on each sie which procee from the back
branches of the great artery of the mother, an the !ital bloo is
carrie by those to the chil being reay concocte by the mother"
CID A ner!ous or sinewy prouction is le from the bottom of the
blaer of the infant to the na!el, an this is calle AurachosA, an
its use is, to con!ey the urine of the infant from the blaer to the
alantois" Anatomists o !ery much !ary in their opinion concerning this,
some enying any such thing to be in the eli!ery of the woman, an
others on the contrary affirming it) but e*perience has testifie there
is such a thing, for Bartholomew 'arbrolius, the orinary octor of
anatomy to the 'ollege of Physicians at (ontpellier in France, recors
the history of a mai, whose water being a long time stoppe, at last
issue out through the na!el" An -ohannes Fernelius speaks of the same
thing that happene to a man of thirty years of age, who ha!ing a
stoppage at the neck of the blaer, his urine issue out of his na!el
for many months together, an that without any prejuice at all to his
health, which he ascribes to the ill lying of his na!el, whereby the
urachos was not well rie" An ?olchier 'oitas Euotes such another
instance in a mai of thirty$four at =uremburg in Germany" These
instances, though they happen but selom, are sufficient to pro!e that
there is such a thing as anurachos in men"
These four !essels before mentione, !iJ", one !ein, two arteries an
the urachos, join near the na!el, an are unite by a skin which they
ha!e from the chorion an so become like a gut or rope, an are
altogether !oi of sensibility, an this is that which women call the
na!el$string" The !essels are thus joine together, that so they may
neither be broken, se!ere nor entangle) an when the infant is born
are of no use sa!e only to make up the ligament which stops the hole of
the na!el an for some other physical use, etc"
A:f the 7ecunine or After$birth"A
7etting asie the name gi!en to this by the Greeks an %atins, it is
calle in English by the name of secunine, after$birth or after$buren)
which are hel to be four in number"
C3D The AfirstA is calle placenta, because it resembles the form of a
cake, an is knit both to the na!el an chorion, an makes up the
greatest part of the secunine or after$birth" The flesh of it is like
that of the melt or spleen, soft, re an tening something to
blackness, an hath many small !eins an arteries in it& an certainly
the chief use of it is, for containing the chil in the womb"
C.D The AseconA is the chorion" This skin an that calle the amnios,
in!ol!e the chil roun, both abo!e an unerneath, an on both sies,
which the alantois oes not" This skin is that which is most commonly
calle the secunine, as it is thick an white garnishe with many small
!eins an arteries, ening in the placenta before name, being !ery
light an slippery" 8ts use is, not only to co!er the chil roun about,
but also to recei!e, an safely bin up the roots of the !eins an
arteries or na!el !essels before escribe"
CID The AthirA thing which makes up the secunine in the alantois, of
which there is a great ispute amongst anatomists" 7ome say there is
such a thing, an others that there is not" Those who will ha!e it to be
a membrane, say it is white, soft an e*ceeingly thin, an just uner
the placenta, where it is knit to the urachos, from which it recei!es
the urine) an its office is to keep it separate from the sweat, that
the saltness of it may not offen the tener skin of the chil"
C/D The AfourthA, an last co!ering of the chil is calle amnios) an
it is white, soft an transparent, being nourishe by some !ery small
!eins an arteries" 8ts use is, not only to enwrap the chil, but also
to retain the sweat of the chil"
;a!ing thus escribe the parts proper to a chil in the womb, 8 will
ne*t procee to speak of the formation of the chil therein, as soon as
8 ha!e e*plaine the har terms of the section, that those for whose
help it is esigne, may unerstan what they rea" A A!einA is that
which recei!es bloo from the li!er, an istributes in se!eral branches
to all parts of the boy" A=er!eA is the same with AsinewA, an is that
by which the brain as sense an motion to the boy" APlacentaA,
properly signifies AsugarA cake) but in this section it is use to
signify a spongy piece of flesh resembling a cake, full of !eins an
arteries, an is mae to recei!e a mother@s bloo appointe for the
infant@s nourishment in the womb" The AchorionA is an outwar skin which
compasseth the chil in the womb" The AamniosA is the inner skin which
compasseth the chil in the womb" The AalantoisA is the skin that hols
the urine of the chil uring the time that it abies in the womb" The
AurachosA is the !essel that con!eys the urine from the chil in the
womb to the AalantoisA" 8 now procee to
7E'T" 88"$$A:f the Formation of the 'hil in the Womb"A
To speak of the formation of the chil in the womb, we must begin where
nature begins, an, that is at the act of coition, in which the womb
ha!ing recei!e the generati!e see Cwithout which there can be no
conceptionD, the womb immeiately shuts up itself so close that the
point of a neele cannot enter the inwar orifice) an this it oes,
partly to hiner the issuing out of the see again, an partly to
cherish it by an inwar heat, the better to pro!oke it to action) which
is one reason why women@s bellies are so lank at their first conception"
The woman ha!ing thus concei!e, the first thing which is operati!e in
conception is the spirit whereof the see is full, which, nature
Euickening by the heat of the womb, stirs up the action" The internal
spirits, therefore, separate the parts that are less pure, which are
thick, col an clammy, from those that are more pure an noble" The
less pure are cast to the outsie, an with these see is circle roun
an the membrane mae, in which that see that is most pure is wrappe
roun an kept close together, that it may be efene from col an
other accients, an operate the better"
The first thing that is forme is the amnios) the ne*t the chorion) an
they enwrap the see roun like a curtain" 7oon after this Cfor the see
thus shut up in the woman lies not ileD, the na!el !ein is bre, which
pierceth those skins, being yet !ery tener, an carries a rop of bloo
from the !eins of the mother@s womb to the see) from which rop the
!ena ca!a, or chief !ein, procees, from which all the rest of the !eins
which nourish the boy spring) an now the see hath something to
nourish it, whilst it performs the rest of nature@s work, an also bloo
aministere to e!ery part of it, to form flesh"
This !ein being forme, the na!el arteries are soon after forme) then
the great artery, of which all the others are but branches) an then the
heart, for the li!er furnisheth the arteries with bloo to form the
heart, the arteries being mae of see, but the heart an the flesh, of
bloo" After this the brain is forme, an then the ner!es to gi!e sense
an motion to the infant" Afterwars the bones an flesh are forme) an
of the bones, first of all, the !ertebrae or chine bones, an then the
skull, etc" As to the time in which this curious part of nature@s
workmanship is forme, ha!ing alreay in 'hapter 88 of the former part
of this work spoken at large upon this point, an also of the
nourishment of the chil in the womb, 8 shall here only refer the reaer
thereto, an procee to show the manner in which the chil lies in the
womb"
7E'T" 888"$$A:f the manner of the 'hil@s lying in the Womb"A
This is a thing so essential for a miwife to know, that she can be no
miwife who is ignorant of it) an yet e!en about this authors
e*tremely iffer) for there are not two in ten that agree what is the
form that the chil lies in the womb, or in what fashion it lies there)
an yet this may arise in a great measure from the ifferent times of
the women@s pregnancy) for near the time of its eli!erance out of those
wining chambers of nature it oftentimes changes the form in which it
lay before, for another"
8 will now show the se!eral situations of the chil in the mother@s
womb, accoring to the ifferent times of pregnancy, by which those that
are contrary to nature, an are the chief cause of ill labours, will be
more easily concei!e by the unerstaning miwife" 8t ought, therefore,
in the first place to be obser!e, that the infant, as well male as
female, is generally situate in the mist of the womb) for though
sometimes, to appearance a woman@s belly seems higher on one sie than
the other, yet it is so with respect to the belly only, an not to her
womb, in the mist of which it is always place"
But, in the secon place, a woman@s great belly makes ifferent figures,
accoring to the ifferent times of pregnancy) for when she is young
with chil, the embryo is always foun of a roun figure, a little long,
a little oblong, ha!ing the spine moerately turne inwars, an the
thighs fole, an a little raise, to which the legs are so raise,
that the heels touch the buttocks) the arms are bening, an the hans
place upon the knees, towars which part of the boy, the hea is
turne ownwars towars the inwar orifice of the womb, tumbling as it
were o!er its hea so that then the feet are uppermost, an the face
towars the mother@s great gut) an this turning of the infant in this
manner, with its hea ownwars, towars the latter en of a woman@s
reckoning, is so orere by nature, that it may be thereby the better
ispose of its passage into the worl at the time of its mother@s
labour, which is not then far off Can inee some chilren turn not at
all until the !ery time of birthD) for in this posture all its joints
are most easily e*tene in coming forth) for by this means its arms an
legs cannot hiner its birth, because they cannot be bent against the
inner orifice of the womb an the rest of the boy, being !ery supple,
passeth without any ifficulty after the hea, which is har an big)
being passe the hea is incline forwar, so that the chin toucheth the
breast, in which posture, it resembles one sitting to ease nature, an
stooping own with the hea to see what comes from him" The spine of the
back is at that time place towars the mother@s, the hea uppermost,
the face ownwars) an proportionately to its growth, it e*tens its
members by little an little, which were e*actly fole in the first
month" 8n this posture it usually keeps until the se!enth or eighth
month, an then by a natural propensity an isposition of the upper
first" 8t is true there are i!ers chilren, that lie in the womb in
another posture, an come to birth with their feet ownwars, especially
if there be twins) for then, by their ifferent motions they o so
isturb one another, that they selom come both in the same posture at
the time of labour, but one will come with the hea, an another with
the feet, or perhaps lie across) but sometimes neither of them will come
right" But, howe!er the chil may be situate in the womb, or in
whate!er posture it presents itself at the time of birth, if it be not
with its hea forwars, as 8 ha!e before escribe, it is always against
nature, an the eli!ery will occasion the more pain an anger, an
reEuire greater care an skill from the miwife, than when the labour is
more natural"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8?
AA Guie for Women in Tra!ail, showing what is to be one when they
fall in %abour, in orer to their ,eli!ery"A
The en of all that we ha!e been treating of is, the bringing forth of a
chil into the worl with safety both to the mother an the infant, as
the whole time of a woman@s pregnancy may be terme a kin of labour)
for, from the time of the conception to the time of her eli!ery, she
labours uner many ifficulties, is subject to many istempers, an in
continual anger, from one affection or other, till the time of birth
comes) an when that comes, the greatest labour an tra!ail come along
with it, insomuch that then all the other labours are forgotten, an
that only is calle the time of her labours, an to eli!er her safely
is the principal business of the miwife) an to assist therein, shall
be the chief esign of this chapter" The time of the chil@s being reay
for its birth, when nature enea!ours to cast it forth, is that which is
properly the time of a woman@s labour) nature then labouring to be ease
of its buren" An since many chil$bearing women, Cespecially the first
chilD are often mistaken in their reckoning an so, when they raw near
their time take e!ery pain they meet with for their labour, which often
pro!es prejuicial an troublesome to them, when it is not so, 8 will in
the first section of this chapter, set own some signs, by which a woman
may know when the true time of her labour is come"
7E'T8:= 8"$$AThe 7igns of the true Time of a Woman@s %abour"A
When women with chil, especially of their first, percei!e any
e*traorinary pains in the belly, they immeiately sen for their
miwife, as taking it for their labour) an then if the miwife be not a
skilful an e*perience woman, to know the time of labour, but takes it
for grante without further inEuiry Cfor some such there areD, an so
goes about to put her into labour before nature is prepare for it, she
may enanger the life of both mother an chil, by breaking the amnios
an chorion" These pains, which are often mistaken for labour, are
remo!e by warm clothes lai to the belly, an the application of a
clyster or two, by which those pains which precee a true labour, are
rather furthere than hinere" There are also other pains incient to a
woman in that conition from the flu* of the belly, which are easily
known by the freEuent stools that follow them"
The signs, therefore, of labour, some few ays before, are that the
woman@s belly, which before lay high, sinks own, an hiners her from
walking so easily as she use to o) also there flow from the womb slimy
humours, which nature has appointe to moisten an smooth the passage
that its inwar orifice may be the more easily ilate when there is
occasion) which beginning to open at this time, suffers that slime to
flow away, which procees from the Glanules calle AprostataA" These
are signs preceing the labour) but when she is presently falling into
labour, the signs are, great pains about the region of the reins an
loins, which coming an retreating by inter!als, are answere in the
bottom of the belly by congruous throes, an sometimes the face is re
an inflame, the bloo being much heate by the enea!ours a woman
makes to bring forth her chil) an likewise, because uring these
strong throes her respiration is intercepte, which causes the bloo to
ha!e recourse to her face) also her pri!y parts are swelle by the
infant@s hea lying in the birth, which, by often thrusting, causes
those parts to escen outwars" 7he is much subject to !omiting, which
is a goo sign of goo labour an speey eli!ery, though by ignorant
people thought otherwise) for goo pains are thereby e*cite an
reouble) which !omiting is e*cite by the sympathy there is between
the womb an the stomach" Also, when the birth is near, women are
trouble with a trembling in the thighs an legs, not with col, like
the beginning of an ague fit, but with the heat of the whole boy,
though it must be grante, this oes not happen always" Also, if the
humours which then flow from the womb are iscoloure with the bloo,
which the miwi!es call AshowsA, it is an infallible mark of the birth
being near" An if then the miwife puts up her fingers into the neck of
the womb, she will fin the inner orifice ilate) at the opening of
which the membranes of the infant, containing the waters, present
themsel!es an are strongly force own with each pain she hath) at
which time one may percei!e them sometimes to resist, an then again
press forwar the finger, being more or less har an e*tene,
accoring as the pains are stronger or weaker" These membranes, with the
waters in them, when they are before the hea of the chil, miwi!es
call Athe gathering of the watersA, resemble to the touch of the fingers
those eggs which ha!e no shell, but are co!ere only with a simple
membrane" After this, the pains still reoubling the membranes are
broken by a strong impulsation of these waters, which flow away, an
then the hea of the infant is presently felt nake, an presents
itself at the inwar orifice of the womb" When these waters come thus
away, then the miwife may be assure the birth is !ery near, this being
the most certain sign that can be) for the Aamnios alantoisA, which
containe these waters, being broken by the pressing forwar of the
birth, the chil is no better able to subsist long in the womb
afterwars than a nake man in a heap of snow" =ow, these waters, if the
chil comes presently after them, facilitate the labour by making the
passage slippery) an therefore, let no miwife Cas some ha!e foolishly
oneD enea!our to force away the water, for nature knows best when the
true time of birth is, an therefore retains the waters till that time"
But if by accient the water breaks away too long before the birth, then
such things as will hasten it, may be safely aministere, an what
these are, 8 will show in another section"
7E'T" 88"$$A;ow a Woman ought to be orere when the time of her labour
is come"A
When it is known that the true time of her labour is come by the signs
lai own in the foregoing, of which those most to be relie upon are
pains an strong throes in the belly, forcing ownwars towars the
womb, an a ilation of the inwar orifice, which may be percei!e by
touching it with the finger, an the gathering of the waters before the
hea of the chil, an thrusting own the membranes which contain them)
through which, between the pains, one may in some manner with the finger
isco!er the part which presents itself Cas we ha!e sai beforeD,
especially if it be the hea of the chil, by its rounness an
harness) 8 say, if these things concur an are e!ient, the miwife may
be sure it is the time of the woman@s labour, an care must be taken to
get all those things that are necessary to comfort her at that time" An
the better to help her, be sure to see that she is not tightly lace)
you must also gi!e her one strong clyster or more, if there be occasion,
pro!ie it be one at the beginning, an before the chil be too
forwar, for it will be ifficult for her to recei!e them afterwars"
The benefit accruing therefrom will be, that they e*cite the gut to
ischarge itself of its e*crements, so that the rectum being emptie
there may be the more space for the ilation of the passage) likewise to
cause the pains to bear the more ownwar, through the enea!ours she
makes when she is at stool, an in the meantime, all other necessary
things for her labour shoul be put in orer, both for the mother an
the chil" To this en, some get a miwife@s) but a pallet be, gire,
is much the best way, place near the fire, if the season so reEuire,
which pallet ought to be so place, that there may be easy access to it
on e!ery sie, that the woman may be the more easily assiste, as there
is occasion"
8f the woman abouns with bloo, to blee her a little more may not be
improper, for thereby she will both breathe the better, an ha!e her
breasts more at liberty, an likewise more strength to bear own her
pains) an this may be one without anger because the chil being about
reay to be born, has no more nee of the mother@s bloo for its
nourishment) besies, this e!acuation oes many times pre!ent her ha!ing
a fe!er after eli!ery" Also, before her eli!ery, if her strength will
permit, let her walk up an own her chamber) an that she may ha!e
strength so to o, it will be necessary to gi!e her goo strengthening
things, such as jelly, broth, new lai eggs, or some spoonfuls of burnt
wine) an let her by all means hol out her pains, bearing them own as
much as she can, at the time when they take her) an let the miwife
from time to time touch the inwar orifice with her finger, to know
whether the waters are reay to break an whether the birth will follow
soon after" %et her also anoint the woman@s pri!ities with emollient
oil, hog@s grease, an fresh butter, if she fin they are har to be
ilate" %et the miwife, likewise, all the time be near the labouring
woman, an iligently obser!e her gestures, complaints, an pains, for
by this she may guess pretty well how far her labour a!anceth, because
when she changeth her orinary groans into lou cries, it is a sign that
the chil is near the birth) for at the time her pains are greater an
more freEuent" %et the woman likewise, by inter!als, rest herself upon
the be to regain her strength, but not too long, especially if she be
little, short an thick, for such women ha!e always worse labour if they
lie long on their bes in their tra!ail" 8t is better, therefore, that
she walk about her chamber as long as she can, the woman supporting her
uner the arms, if it be necessary) for by this means, the weight of the
chil causes the inwar orifices of the womb to ilate the sooner than
in be, an if her pains be stronger an more freEuent, her labour will
not be near so long" %et not the labouring woman be concerne at those
Eualms an !omitings which, perhaps, she may fin come upon her, for
they will be much for her a!antage in the issue, howe!er uneasy she may
be for a time, as they further her pains an throes by pro!oking
ownwar"
When the waters of the chil are reay an gathere Cwhich may be
percei!e through the membranes presenting themsel!es to the orificeD
to the bigness of the whole ilatation, the miwife ought to let them
break of themsel!es, an not, like some hasty miwi!es, who being
impatient of the woman@s long labour, break them, intening thereby to
hasten their business, when instea thereof, they retar it) for by the
too hasty breaking of these waters Cwhich nature esigne to make the
chil slip more easyD, the passage remains ry by which means the pains
an throes of the labouring woman are less efficacious to bring forth
the infant than they woul otherwise ha!e been" 8t is, therefore, much
the better way to let the waters break of themsel!es) after which the
miwife may with ease feel the chil by that part which first presents,
an thereby iscern whether it comes right, that is, with the hea
foremost, for that is the proper an most natural way of the birth" 8f
the hea comes right, she will fin it big, roun, har an eEual) but
if it be any other part, she will fin it rugge, uneEual, soft an
har, accoring to the nature of the part it is" An this being the true
time when a woman ought to be eli!ere, if nature be not wanting to
perform its office, therefore, when the miwife fins the birth thus
coming forwar let her hasten to assist an eli!er it, for it
orinarily happens soon after, if it be natural"
But if it happens, as it sometimes may, that the waters break away too
long before the birth, in such a case, those things which hasten nature
may safely be aministere" For which purpose make use of pennyroyal,
ittany, juniper berries, re coral, betony an fe!erfew, boile in
white wine, an gi!e a rachm of it, or it woul be much better to take
the juice of it when it is in its prime, which is in (ay, an ha!ing
clarifie it, make it into a syrup with ouble its weight of sugar, an
keep it all the year, to use when occasion calls for it) mugwort use in
the same manner is also goo in this case) also a rachm of cinnamon
power gi!en inwarly profits much in this case) an so oes tansey
broile an applie to the pri!ities) or an oil of it, so, mae an
use, as you were taught before" The stone AaetitesA hel to the
pri!ities, is of e*traorinary !irtue, an instantly raws away, both
chil an after$buren) but great care must be taken to remo!e it
presently, or it will raw forth womb an all) for such is the magnetic
!irtue of this stone that both chil an womb follow it as reaily as
iron oth the loa$stone or the loa$stone the north star"
There are many things that physicians affirm are goo in this case)
among which are an ass@s or horse@s hoof, hung near the pri!ities) a
piece of re coral hung near the sai place" A loa$stone helps !ery
much, hel in the woman@s left han) or the skin cut off a snake, girt
about the mile, ne*t to the skin" These things are mentione by
(iJalus, but setting those things asie, as not so certain,
notwithstaning (iJalus Euotes them, the following prescriptions are
!ery goo to speey eli!erance to women in tra!ail"
C3D A ecoction of white wine mae in sa!ory, an rank"
C.D Take wil tansey, or sil!er wee, bruise it, an apply to the
woman@s nostrils"
CID Take ate stones, an beat them to power, an let her take half a
rachm of them in white wine at a time"
C/D Take parsley an bruise it an press out the juice, an ip a linen
cloth in it, an put it so ippe into the mouth of the womb) it will
presently cause the chil to come away, though it be ea, an it will
bring away the after$buren" Also the juice of the parsley is a thing of
so great !irtue Cespecially stone parsleyD that being rank by a woman
with chil, it cleanseth not only the womb, but also the chil in the
womb, of all gross humours"
CFD A scruple of castorum in power, in any con!enient liEuor, is !ery
goo to be taken in such a case, an so also is two or three rops of
castorum in any con!enient liEuor) or eight or nine rops of spirits of
myrrh gi!en in any con!enient liEuor, gi!es speey eli!erance"
C4D Gi!e a woman in such a case another woman@s milk to rink) it will
cause speey eli!ery, an almost without pain"
CGD The juice of leeks, being runk with warm water, highly operates to
cause speey eli!ery"
CHD Take peony sees an beat them into a power, an mi* the power
with oil, with which oil anoint the pri!ities of the woman an chil) it
will gi!e her eli!erance speeily, an with less pain than can be
imagine"
C5D Take a swallow@s nest an issol!e it in water, strain it, an rink
it warm, it gi!es eli!ery with great spee an much ease"
=ote this also in general, that all that mo!e the terms are goo for
making the eli!ery easy, such as myrrh, white amber in white wine, or
lily water, two scruples or a rachm) or cassia lignea, ittany, each a
rachm) cinnamon, half a rachm, saffron, a scruple) gi!e a rachm, or
take bora* mineral, a rachm, an gi!e it in sack) or take cassia
lignea, a rachm) ittany, amber, of each a rachm) cinnamon, bora*, of
each a rachm an a half) saffron, a scruple, an gi!e her half a
rachm) or gi!e her some rops of oil of haJel in con!enient liEuor) or
two or three rops of oil of cinnamon in !er!ain water" 7ome prepare
the secunine thus&$$Take the na!el$string an ry it in an o!en, take
two rachms of the power, cinnamon a rachm, saffron half a scruple,
with the juice of sa!in make trochisks) gi!e two rachms) or wash the
secunine in wine an bake it in a pot) then wash it in eni!e water an
wine, take half a rachm of it) long pepper, galangal, of each half a
rachm) plantain an eni!e see, of each half a rachm) la!ener see,
four scruples) make a power, or take lauanum, two rachms) stora*,
calamite, benJoin, of each half a rachm) musk, ambergris each si*
grains, make a power or trochisks for a fume" :r use pessaries to
pro!oke the birth) take galbanum issol!e in !inegar, an ounce) myrrh,
two rachms, with oil of oat make a pessary"
AAn :intment For the =a!el"A
Take oil of keir, two ounces, juice of sa!ine an ounce, of leeks an
mercury, each half an ounce) boil them to the consumption of the juice)
a galbanum issol!e in !inegar, half an ounce, myrrh, two rachms,
stora* liEui a rachm, roun bitwort, sowbrea, cinnamon, saffron, a
rachm, with wa* make an ointment an apply it"
8f the birth be retare through the weakness of the mother, refresh
her by applying wine an soap to the nose, confect" alkermas" iamarg"
These things may be applie to help nature in her eli!ery when the
chil comes to the birth the right way, an yet the birth be retare)
but if she fins the chil comes the wrong way, an that she is not able
to eli!er the woman as she ought to be, by helping nature, an sa!ing
both mother an chil Cfor it is not enough to lay a woman if it might
be one any other way with more safety an ease, an less haJar to
woman an chilD, then let her sen speeily for the better an more
able to help) an not as 8 once knew a miwife o, who, when a woman she
was to eli!er ha har labour, rather than a man$miwife shoul be sent
for, unertook to eli!er the woman herself Cthough tol it was a man@s
businessD, an in her attempting it, brought away the chil, but left
the hea in the mother@s womb) an ha not a man miwife been presently
sent for, the mother ha lost her life as well as the chil) such
persons may rather be terme butchers than miwi!es" But supposing the
woman@s labour to be natural, 8 will ne*t show what the miwife ought to
o, in orer of her eli!ery"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?
A:f =atural %abour) What it is an what the (iwife is to o in
such %abour"A
7E'T8:= 8"$$AWhat =atural %abour is"A
There are four things which enominate a woman@s natural labour) the
first is, that it be at the full time, for if a woman comes before her
time, it cannot be terme natural labour, neither will it be so easy as
though she ha complete her nine months" The secon thing is, that it
be speey, an without any ill accient) for when the time of her birth
come, nature is not ilatory in the bringing it forth, without some ill
accient inter!ene, which reners it unnatural"
The thir is, that the chil be ali!e) for all will grant, that the
being eli!ere of a ea chil is !ery unnatural" The fourth is, that
the chil come right, for if the position of the chil in the womb be
contrary to that which is natural, the e!ent will pro!e it so, by making
that which shoul be a time of life, the eath both of the mother an
the chil"
;a!ing thus tol you what 8 mean by natural labour, 8 shall ne*t show
how the miwife is to procee therein, in orer to the woman@s
eli!ery" When all the foregoing reEuisites concur, an after the
waters be broken of themsel!es, let there rather a Euilt be lai upon
the pallet bestea than a feather be, ha!ing there$on linen an cloths
in many fols, with such other things as are necessary, an that may be
change accoring to the e*igency reEuiring it, so that the woman may
not be incommoe with the bloo, waters an other filth which are
!oie in labour" The be ought to be orere, that the woman being
reay to be eli!ere, shoul lie on her back upon it, ha!ing her boy
in a con!enient posture) this is, her hea an breast a little raise,
so that she may be between lying an sitting, for being so place, she
is best capable of breathing, an, likewise, will ha!e more strength to
bear her pains than if she lay otherwise, or sunk own in her be" Being
so place, she must sprea her thighs abroa, foling her legs a little
towars her buttocks, somewhat raise by a little pillow unerneath, to
the en that her rumps shoul ha!e more liberty to retire back) an let
her feet be staye against some firm thing) besies this, let her take
firm hol of some of the goo women attening her, with her hans, that
she may the better stay herself uring her pains" 7he being thus place
at her be, ha!ing her miwife at han, the better to assist as nature
may reEuire, let her take courage, an help her pains as best she can,
bearing them own when they take her, which she must o by holing her
breath, an forcing them as much as possible, in like manner as when she
goes to stool, for by such straining, the iaphragm, or miriff, being
strongly thrust ownwar, necessarily forces own the womb an the chil
in it" 8n the meantime, let the miwife enea!our to comfort her all she
can, e*horting her to bear her labour courageously, telling her it will
be Euickly o!er, an that there is no fear but that she will ha!e a
speey eli!ery" %et the miwife also, ha!ing no rings on her fingers,
anoint them with oil of fresh butter, an therewith ilate gently the
inwar orifice of the womb putting her finger ens into the entry
thereof, an then stretch them one from the other, when her pains take
her) by this means enea!ouring to help forwar the chil, an thrusting
by little an little, the sies of the orifice towars the hiner part
of the chil@s hea, anointing it with fresh butter if it be necessary"
When the hea of the infant is a little a!ance into the inwar
orifice, the miwife@s phrase is&$$B8t is crowneB) because it girs an
surrouns it just as a crown) but when it is so far that the e*tremities
begin to appear without the pri!y parts, then they say, BThe infant is
in the passageB) an at this time the woman feels herself as if it were
scratche, or pricke with pins, an is reay to imagine that the
miwife hurts her, when it is occasione by the !iolent istension of
those parts an the laceration which sometimes the bigness of the
chil@s hea causeth there" When things are in this posture, let the
miwife seat herself con!eniently to recei!e the chil, which will come
Euickly, an with her finger ens Cwhich she must be sure to keep close
pareD let her enea!our to thrust the crowning of the womb Cof which 8
ha!e spoken beforeD, back o!er the hea of the chil, an as soon as it
is a!ance as far as the ears, or thereabouts, let her take hol of the
two sies with her two hans, that when a goo pain comes she may
Euickly raw forth the chil, taking care that the na!el$string be not
entangle about the neck or any part, as sometimes it is, lest thereby
the after$buren be pulle with !iolence, an perhaps the womb also, to
which it is fastene, an so either cause her to floo or else break the
strings, both which are of ba conseEuence to the woman, whose eli!ery
may thereby be renere the more ifficult" 8t must also be carefully
obser!e that the hea be not rawn forth straight, but shaking it a
little from one sie to the other, that the shoulers may sooner an
easier take their places immeiately after it is past, without losing
time, lest the hea being past, the chil be stoppe there by the
largeness of the shoulers, an so come in anger of being suffocate
an strangle in the passage, as it sometimes happens, for the want of
care therein" But as soon as the hea is born, if there be nee, she may
slie her fingers uner the armpits, an the rest of the boy will
follow without any ifficulty"
As soon as the miwife hath in this manner rawn forth the chil, let
her put it on one sie, lest the bloo an water which follows
immeiately, shoul o it any injury by running into its mouth an nose,
as they woul o, if it lay on its back) an so enanger the choking of
it" The chil being thus born, the ne*t thing reEuisite is, to bring
away the after$buren, but before that let the miwife be !ery careful
to e*amine whether there be more chilren in the womb) for sometimes a
woman may ha!e twins that e*pecte it not) which the miwife may easily
know by the continuance of the pains after the chil is born, an the
bigness of the mother@s belly" But the miwife may be sure of it, if she
puts her han up to the entry of the womb, an fins there another
watery gathering, an the chil in it presenting to the passage, an if
she fin it so, she must ha!e a care of going to fetch the after$birth,
till the woman be eli!ere of all the chilren she is pregnant with"
Wherefore the first string must be cut, being first tie with a threa
three or four times ouble, an fasten the other en with string to the
woman@s thighs, to pre!ent the incon!enience it may cause by hanging
between the thighs) an then remo!ing the chil alreay born, she must
take care to eli!er her of the rest, obser!ing all the circumstances as
with the first) after which, it will be necessary to fetch away the
after$birth, or births" But of that 8 shall treat in another section,
an first show what is to be one to the new$born infant"
7E'T" 88"$$A:f the 'utting of the 'hil@s =a!el 7tring"A
Though this is accounte by many but as a trifle, yet great care is to
be taken about it, an it shows none of the least art an skill of a
miwife to o it as it shoul be) an that it may be so one, the
miwife shoul obser!e& C3D The time" C.D The place" CID The manner" C/D
The e!ent"
C3D The time is, as soon as e!er the infant comes out of the womb,
whether it brings part of the after$buren with it or not) for
sometimes the chil brings into the worl a piece of the amnios upon its
hea, an is what mi wi!es call the AcaulA, an ignorantly attribute
some e*traorinary !irtue to the chil so born) but this opinion is only
the effect of their ignorance) for when a chil is born with such a
crown Cas some call itD upon its brows, it generally betokens weakness
an enotes a short life" But to procee to the matter in han" As soon
as the chil comes into the worl, it shoul be consiere whether it is
weak or strong) an if it be weak, let the miwife gently put back part
of the natural an !ital bloo into the boy of the chil by its na!el)
for that recruits a weak chil Cthe !ital an natural spirits being
communicate by the mother to the chil by its na!el$stringD, but if the
chil be strong, the operation is neeless" :nly let me a!ise you, that
many chilren that are born seemingly ea, may soon be brought to life
again, if you sEueeJe si* or se!en rops of bloo out of that part of
the na!el$string which is cut off, an gi!e it to the chil inwarly"
C.D As to the place in which it shoul be cut, that is, whether it
shoul be cut long or short, it is that which authors can scarcely agree
in, an which many miwi!es Euarrel about) some prescribing it to be cut
at four fingers@ breath, which is, at best, but an uncertain rule,
unless all fingers were of one siJe" 8t is a recei!e opinion, that the
parts aapte to the generation are contracte an ilate accoring to
the cutting of the na!el$string, an this is the reason why miwi!es are
generally so kin to their own se*, that they lea!e a longer part of the
na!el$string of a male than female, because they woul ha!e the males
well pro!ie for the encounters of ?enus) an the reason they gi!e, why
they cut that of the female shorter is, because they belie!e it makes
them more acceptable to their husbans" (iJalus was not altogether of
the opinion of these miwi!es, an he, therefore, orere the na!el
string to be cut long both in male an female chilren) for which he
gi!es the following reason, that the instrument of generation follows
the proportion of it) an therefore, if it be cut too short in a female,
it will be a hinrance to her ha!ing chilren" 8 will not go about to
contraict the opinions of (iJalus) these, e*perience has mae
goo&$$That one is, that if the na!el$string of a chil, after it be
cut, be suffere to touch the groun, the chil will ne!er hol its
water, either sleeping or waking, but will be subjecte to an
in!oluntary making of water all its lifetime" The other is, that a piece
of a chil@s na!el$string carrie about one, so that it touch his skin,
efens him that wears it from the falling sickness an con!ulsions"
CID As to the manner it must be cut, let the miwife take a brown
threa, four or fi!e times ouble, of an ell long, or thereabouts, tie
with a single knot at each of the ens, to pre!ent their entangling) an
with this threa so accommoate Cwhich the woman must ha!e in reainess
before the woman@s labour, as also a goo pair of scissors, that no time
may be lostD let her tie the string within an inch of the belly with a
ouble knot, an turning about the en of the threa, let her tie two
more on the other sie of the string, reiterating it again, if it be
necessary) then let her cut off the na!el$string another inch below the
ligatures, towars the after$birth, so that there only remains but two
inches of the string, in the mist of which will be the knot we speak
of, which must be so close knit, as not to suffer a rop of bloo to
sEueeJe out of the !essels, but care must be taken, not to knit it so
strait, as to out it in two, an therefore the threa must be pretty
thick an pretty strait cut, it being better too strait than too loose)
for some chilren ha!e miserably lost their li!es, with all their bloo,
before it was isco!ere, because the na!el$string was not well tie,
therefore great care must be taken that no bloo sEueeJe through) for if
there o, a new knot must be mae with the rest of the string" #ou nee
not fear to bin the na!el$string !ery har because it is !oi of sense,
an that part which you lea!e, falls off in a !ery few ays, sometimes
in si* or se!en, or sooner, but ne!er tarries longer than eight or nine"
When you ha!e thus cut the na!el$string, then take care the piece that
falls off touch not the groun, for the reason 8 tol you (iJalus ga!e,
which e*perience has justifie"
C/D The last thing 8 mentione, was the e!ent or conseEuence, or what
follows cutting the na!el$string" As soon as it is cut, apply a little
cotton or lint to the place to keep it warm, lest the col enter into
the boy of the chil, which it most certainly will o, if you ha!e not
boun it har enough" 8f the lint or cotton you apply to it, be ippe
in oil of roses, it will be the better, an then put another small rag
three or four times ouble upon the belly) upon the top of all, put
another small bolster, an then swathe it with a linen swathe, four
fingers broa, to keep it steay, lest by mo!ing too much, or from being
continually stirre from sie to sie, it comes to fall off before the
na!el$string, which you left remaining, is fallen off"
8t is the usual custom of miwi!es to put a piece of burnt rag to it,
which we commonly call tiner) but 8 woul rather a!ise them to put a
little ammoniac to it, because of its rying Eualities"
7E'T" 888"$$A;ow to bring away the After$buren"A
A woman cannot be sai to be fairly eli!ere, though the chil be born,
till the after$buren be also taken from her) herein iffering from most
animals, who, when they ha!e brought forth their young, cast forth
nothing else but some water, an the membranes which containe them" But
women ha!e an after$labour, which sometimes pro!es more angerous than
the first) an how to bring it safely away without prejuice to her,
shall be my business to show in this section"
As soon as the chil is born, before the miwife either ties or cuts the
na!el$string, lest the womb shoul close, let her take the string an
win it once or twice about one or two fingers on her left han joine
together, the better to hol it, with which she may raw it moerately,
an with the right han, she may only take a single hol of it, abo!e
the left, near the pri!ities, rawing likewise with that !ery gently,
resting the while the forefinger of the same han, e*tene an
stretche forth along the string towars the entrance of the !agina,
always obser!ing, for the greater facility, to raw it from the sie
where the buren clea!es least) for in so oing, the rest will separate
the better) an special care must be taken that it be not rawn forth
with too much !iolence, lest by breaking the string near the buren, the
miwife be oblige to put the whole han into the womb to eli!er the
woman) an she nee to be a !ery skilful person that unertakes it, lest
the womb, to which the buren is sometimes !ery strongly fastene, be
rawn away with it, as has sometimes happene" 8t is, therefore, best to
use such remeies as may assist nature" An here take notice, that what
brings away the birth, will also bring away the after$birth" An
therefore, for effecting this work, 8 will lay own the following rules"
C3D <se the same means of bringing away the after$birth, that you mae
use of to bring away the birth) for the same care an circumspection are
neeful now that there were then"
C.D 'onsiering that the labouring woman cannot but be much spent by
what she has alreay unergone in bringing forth the infant, be
therefore sure to gi!e her something to comfort her" An in this case
goo jelly broths, also a little wine an toast in it, an other
comforting things, will be necessary"
CID A little hellebore in power, to make her sneeJe, is in this case
!ery proper"
C/D Tansey, an the stone aetites, applie as before irecte, are also
of goo use in this case"
CFD 8f you take the herb !er!ain, an either boil it in wine, or a syrup
with the juice of it, which you may o by aing to it ouble its weight
of sugar Cha!ing clarifie the juice before you boil itD, a spoonful of
that gi!en to the woman is !ery efficacious to bring away the secunine)
an fe!erfew an mugwort ha!e the same operation taken as the former"
C4D Ale*aners1306 boile in wine, an the wine rank, also sweet
ser!ile, sweet cicily, angelica roots, an musterwort, are e*cellent
remeies in this case"
CGD :r, if this fail, the smoke of marigols, recei!e up a woman@s
pri!ities by a funnel, ha!e been known to bring away the after$birth,
e!en when the miwife let go her hol"
CHD Boil mugwort in water till it be !ery soft, then take it out, an
apply it in the manner of a poultice to the na!el of the labouring
woman, an it instantly brings away the birth" But special care must be
taken to remo!e it as soon as they come away, lest by its long tarrying
it shoul raw away the womb also"
7E'T" 8?"$$A:f %aborious an ,ifficult %abours an how the (iwife is
to procee therein"A
There are three sorts of ba labours, all painful an ifficult, but not
all properly unnatural" 8t will be necessary, therefore, to istinguish
these"
The AfirstA of these labours is that when the mother an chil suffer
!ery much e*treme pain an ifficulty, e!en though the chil come right)
an this is istinguishably calle the laborious labour"
The AseconA is that which is ifficult an iffers not much from the
former, e*cept that, besies those e*traorinary pains, it is generally
attene with some unhappy accient, which, by retaring the birth,
causes the ifficulty) but these ifficulties being remo!e, it
accelerates the birth, an hastens the eli!ery"
7ome ha!e aske, what is the reason that women bring forth their
chilren with so much painN 8 answer, the sense of feeling is
istribute to the whole boy by the ner!es, an the mouth of the womb
being so narrow, that it must of necessity be ilate at the time of the
woman@s eli!ery, the ilating thereof stretches the ner!es, an from
thence comes the pain" An therefore the reason why some women ha!e more
pain in their labour than others, procees from their ha!ing the mouth
of the matri* more full of ner!es than others" The best way to remo!e
those ifficulties that occasion har pains an labour, is to show first
from whence they procee" =ow the ifficulty of labour procees either
from the mother, or chil, or both"
From the mother, by reason of the inisposition of the boy, or from
some particular part only, an chiefly the womb, as when the woman is
weak, an the mother is not acti!e to e*pel the buren, or from
weakness, or isease, or want of spirits) or it may be from strong
passion of the min with which she was once possesse) she may also be
too young, an so may ha!e the passage too narrow) or too ol, an then,
if it be her first chil, because her pains are too ry an har, an
cannot be easily ilate, as happens also to them which are too lean)
likewise those who are small, short or eforme, as crooke women who
ha!e not breath enough to help their pains, an to bear them own,
persons that are crooke ha!ing sometimes the bones of the passage not
well shape" The colic also hiners labour, by pre!enting the true
pains) an all great an acti!e pains, as when the woman is taken with a
great an !iolent fe!er, a great flooing, freEuent con!ulsions, blooy
flu*, or any other great istemper" Also, e*crements retaine cause
great ifficulty, an so oes a stone in the blaer& or when the
blaer is full of urine, without being able to !oi it, or when the
woman is trouble with great an painful piles" 8t may also be from the
passages, when the membranes are thick, the orifice too narrow, an the
neck of the womb not sufficiently open, the passages straine an
presse by tumours in the ajacent parts, or when the bones are too
firm, an will not open, which !ery much enangers the mother an the
chil) or when the passages are not slippery, by reason of the waters
ha!ing broken too soon, or membranes being too thin" The womb may also
be out of orer with regar to its ba situation or conformation, ha!ing
its neck too narrow, har an callous, which may easily be so naturally,
or may come by accient, being many times cause by a tumour, an
imposthume, ulcer or superfluous flesh"
As to har labour occasione by the chil, it is when the chil happens
to stick to a mole, or when it is so weak it cannot break the membranes)
or if it be too big all o!er, or in the hea only) or if the natural
!essels are twiste about its neck) when the belly is hyropsical) or
when it is monstrous, ha!ing two heas, or joine to another chil,
also, when the chil is ea or so weak that it can contribute nothing
to its birth) likewise when it comes wrong, or there are two or more"
An to all these !arious ifficulties there is oftentimes one more, an
that is, the ignorance of the miwife, who for want of unerstaning in
her business, hiners nature in her work instea of helping her"
;a!ing thus looke into the cause of har labour, 8 will now show the
inustrious miwife how she may minister some relief to the labouring
woman uner these ifficult circumstances" But it will reEuire jugment
an unerstaning in the miwife, when she fins a woman in ifficult
labour, to know the particular obstruction, or cause thereof, that so a
suitable remey may be applie) as for instance, when it happens by the
mother@s being too young an too narrow, she must be gently treate, an
the passages anointe with oil, hog@s lar, or fresh butter, to rela*
an ilate them the easier, lest there shoul happen a rupture of any
part when the chil is born) for sometimes the peritoneum breaks, with
the skin from the pri!ities to the funament"
But if the woman be in years with her first chil, let her lower parts
be anointe to mollify the inwar orifice, which in such a case being
more har an callous, oes not easily yiel to the istention of
labour, which is the true cause why such women are longer in labour, an
also why their chilren, being force against the inwar orifice of the
womb Cwhich, as 8 ha!e sai, is a little callousD are born with great
bumps an bruises on their heas"
Those women who are !ery small an mis$shape, shoul not be put to be,
at least until the waters are broken, but rather kept upright an
assiste to walk about the chamber, by being supporte uner the arms)
for by that means, they will breathe more freely, an men their pains
better than on the be, because there they lie all of a heap" As for
those that are !ery lean, an ha!e har labour from that cause, let them
moisten the parts with oil an ointments, to make them more smooth an
slippery, that the hea of the infant, an the womb be not so compresse
an bruise by the harness of the mother@s bones which form the
passage" 8f the cause be weakness, she ought to be strengthene, the
better to support her pains, to which en gi!e her goo jelly broths,
an a little wine with a toast in it" 8f she fears her pains, let her be
comforte, assuring her that she will not enure any more, but be
eli!ere in a little time" But if her pains be slow an small, or none
at all, they must be pro!oke by freEuent an pretty strong clysters)
let her walk about her chamber, so that the weight of the chil may help
them forwar" 8f she floo or ha!e strong con!ulsions she must then be
helpe by a speey eli!ery) the operation 8 shall relate in this
section of unnatural labours" 8f she be costi!e, let her use clysters,
which may also help to ispel colic, at those times !ery injurious
because attene with useless pains, an because such bear not ownwar,
an so help not to forwar the birth" 8f she fin an obstruction or
stoppage of the urine, by reason of the womb@s bearing too much on the
blaer, let her lift up her belly a little with her hans, an try if
by that she recei!es any benefit) if she fins she oes not, it will be
necessary to introuce a catheter into her blaer, an thereby raw
forth her urine" 8f the ifficulty be from the ill posture of the woman,
let her be place otherwise, in a posture more suitable an con!enient
for her) also if it procees from inispositions of the womb, as from
its obliEue situation, etc", it must be remeie, as well as it can be,
by the placing her boy accoringly) or, if it be a !icious
conformation, ha!ing the neck too har, too callous, too straight, it
must be anointe with oil an ointments, as before irecte" 8f the
membranes be so strong that the waters o not break in ue time, they
may be broken with the fingers, if the miwife be first well assure
that the chil is come forwar into the passage, an reay to follow
presently after) or else, by the breaking of the waters too soon, the
chil may be in anger of remaining ry a long time) to supply which
efect, you may moisten the parts with fomentations, ecoctions, an
emollient oils) which yet is not half so well as when nature oes her
work in her own time, with the orinary slime an waters" The membranes
sometimes o press forth with the waters, three or four fingers@ breath
out of the boy before the chil resembling a blaer full of water) but
there is no great anger in breaking them, if they be not alreay
broken) for when the case is so, the chil is always in reainess to
follow, being in the passage, but let the miwife be !ery careful not to
pull it with her han, lest the after$buren be thereby loosene before
its time, for it aheres thereto !ery strongly" 8f the na!el$string
happen to come first, it must presently be put up again, an kept so, if
possible, or otherwise, the woman must be immeiately eli!ere" But if
the after$buren shoul come first, it must not be put up again by any
means) for the infant ha!ing no further occasion for it, it woul be but
an obstacle if it were put up) in this case, it must be cut off, ha!ing
tie the na!el$string, an afterwars raw forth the chil with all
spee that may be, lest it be suffocate"
7E'T" ?"$$A:f Women labouring of a ea 'hil"A
When the ifficulty of labour arises from a ea chil, it is a great
anger to a mother an great care ought to be taken therein) but before
anything be one, the miwife ought to be well assure that the chil is
ea inee, which may be known by these signs"
C3D The breast suenly slacks, or falls flat, or bags own" C.D A great
colness possesses the belly of the mother, especially about the na!el"
CID ;er urine is thick, with a filthy stinking settling at the bottom"
C/D =o motion of the chil can be percei!e) for the trial whereof, let
the miwife put her han into warm water, an lay it upon the belly, for
that, if it is ali!e, will make it stir" CFD 7he is !ery subject to
reams of ea men, an affrighte therewith" C4D 7he has e*traorinary
longings to eat such things as are contrary to nature" CGD ;er breath
stinks, though not use so to o" CHD When she turns herself in her be,
the chil sways that way like a lump of lea"
These things being carefully obser!e, the miwife may make a jugment
whether the chil be ali!e or ea, especially if the woman take the
following prescription&$$BTake half a pint of white wine an burn it,
an a thereto half an ounce of cinnamon, but no other spices
whate!er, an when she has runk it, if her tra!ailing pains come upon
her, the chil is certainly ea) but if not, the chil may possibly be
either weak or sick, but not ea" This will bring her pains upon her if
it be ea, an will refresh the chil an gi!e her ease if it be
li!ing) for cinnamon refresheth an strengtheneth the chil"
=ow, if upon trial it be foun the chil is ea, let the mother o all
she can to forwar the eli!ery, because a ea chil can in no wise be
helpful therein" 8t will be necessary, therefore, that she take some
comfortable things to pre!ent her fainting, by reason of the putri
!apours arising from the ea chil" An in orer to her eli!ery let
her take the following herbs boile in white wine Cor at least as many
of them as you can getD, !iJ", ittany, betony, pennyroyal, sage,
fe!erfew, centaury, i!y lea!es an berries" %et her also take sweet
basil in power, an half a rachm at a time in white wine) let her
pri!ities also be anointe with the juice of the garen tansey" :r take
the tansey in the summer when it can most plentifully be ha, an before
it runs up to flower, an ha!ing bruise it well, boil it in oil until
the juice of it be consume" 8f you set it in the sun, after you ha!e
mi*e it with oil, it will be more effectual" This, an inustrious
miwife, who woul be prepare against all e!ents, ought to ha!e always
by her" As to the manner of her eli!ery, the same methos must be use
as are mentione in the section of natural labour" An here again, 8
cannot but commen the stone aetites, hel near the pri!ities, whose
magnetic !irtue reners it e*ceeingly necessary on this occasion, for
it raws the chil any way with the same facility that the loa$stone
raws iron"
%et the miwife also make a strong ecoction of hyssop with water, an
let the woman rink it !ery hot, an it will in a little time bring away
the ea chil"
8f, as soon as she is eli!ere of the ea chil, you are in oubt that
part of the afterbirth is left behin in the boy Cfor in such cases as
these many times it rots, an comes away piece$mealD, let her continue
rinking the same ecoction until her boy be cleanse"
A ecoction mae of herbs, muster$wort, use as you i the ecoction of
hyssop, works the effect" %et the miwife also take the roots of
polloum an stamp them well) warm them a little an bin them on the
sies of her feet, an it will soon bring away the chil either ea or
ali!e"
The following meicines also are such as stir up the e*pulsi!e faculty,
but in this case they must be stronger, because the motion of the chil
ceases"
Take sa!ine, roun birthwort, trochisks of myrrh, castor, cinnamon an
saffron, each half a rachm) make a power, gi!e a rachm"
:r she may purge first, an then apply an emollient, anointing her about
the womb with oil of lilies, sweet almons, camomiles, hen an
goose$grease" Also foment to get out the chil, with a ecoction of
mercury, orris, wil cucumbers, saecus, broom flowers" Then anoint the
pri!ities an loins with ointment of sow$brea" :r, take coloEuintia,
agaric, birthwort, of each a rachm) make a power, a ammoniacum
issol!e in wine, o*$gall, each two rachms" :r make a fume with an
ass@s hoof burnt, or gallianum, or castor, an let it be taken in with a
funnel"
To take away pains an strengthen the parts, foment with the ecoction
of mugwort, mallows, rosemary, with woo myrtle, 7t" -ohn@s wort, each
half an ounce, spermaceti two rachms, eer@s suet, an ounce) with wa*
make an ointment" :r take wa* si* ounces, spermaceti an ounce) melt
them, ip flu* therein, an lay it all o!er her belly"
8f none of these things will o, the last remey is to try surgery, an
then the miwife ought without elay to sen for an e*pert an able
man$miwife, to eli!er her by manual operation, of which 8 shall treat
more at large in the ne*t chapter"
F::T=:TE7&
1306 ;orse$parsley"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?8
A:f <nnatural %abour"A
8n showing the uty of a miwife, when the chil$bearing woman@s labour
is unnatural, it will be reEuisite to show, in the first place, what 8
mean by unnatural labour, for that women o bring forth in pain an
sorrow is natural an common to all" Therefore, that which 8 call
unnatural is, when the chil comes to the birth in a contrary posture to
that which nature oraine, an in which the generality of the chilren
come into the worl"
The right an natural birth is when the chil comes with its hea first)
an yet this is too short a efinition of a natural birth) for if any
part of the hea but the crown comes first, so that the boy follows not
in a straight line, it is a wrong an ifficult birth, e!en though the
hea comes first" Therefore, if the chil comes with its feet first, or
with the sie across, it is Euite contrary to nature, or to speak more
plainly, that which 8 call unnatural"
=ow, there are four general ways a chil may come wrong" C3D When any of
the foreparts of the boy first present themsel!es" C.D When by an
unhappy transposition, any of the hiner parts of the boy first present
themsel!es" CID When either of the sies, or, C/D the feet present
themsel!es first" To these, the ifferent wrong postures that a chil
can present itself in, may be reuce"
7E'T8:= 8"$$A;ow to eli!er a Woman of a ,ea 'hil by (anual
:peration"A
When manual operation is necessary, let the operator acEuaint the woman
of the absolute necessity there is for such an operation) an that, as
the chil has alreay lost its life, there is no other way left for the
sa!ing hers" %et him also inform her, for her encouragement, that he
oubts not, with the i!ine blessing, to eli!er her safely, an that
the pains arising therefrom will not be so great as she fears" Then let
him stir up the woman@s pains by gi!ing her some sharp clyster, to
e*cite her throes to bear own, an bring forth the chil" An if this
pre!ails not, let him procee with the manual operation"
First, therefore, let her be place across the be that he may operate
the easier) an let her lie on her back, with her hips a little higher
than her hea, or at least the boy eEually place, when it is necessary
to put back or turn the infant to gi!e it a better posture" Being thus
situate, she must fol her legs so as her heels be towars her
buttocks, an her thighs sprea, an so hel by a couple of strong
persons, there must be others also to support her uner her arms, that
the boy may not slie own when the chil is rawn forth) for which
sometimes great strength is reEuire" %et the sheets an blankets co!er
her thighs for ecency@s sake, an with respect to the assistants, an
also to pre!ent her catching col) the operator herein go!erning himself
as well with respect to his con!enience, an the facility an surety of
the operation, as to other things" Then let him anoint the entrance to
the womb with oil or fresh butter, if necessary, that with so more ease
he may introuce his han, which must also be anointe, an ha!ing by
the signs abo!e mentione, recei!e satisfaction that the chil is ea,
he must o his enea!ours to fetch it away as soon as he possibly can"
8f the chil offer the hea first, he must gently put it back until he
hath liberty to introuce his han Euite into the womb) then sliing it
along, uner the belly, to fin the feet, let him raw it forth by
them, being !ery careful to keep the hea from being locke into the
passage) an that it be not separate from the boy) which may be
effecte the more easily, because the chil being !ery rotten an
putrefie, the operator nee not be so minful to keep the breast an
face ownwars as he is in li!ing births" But if notwithstaning all
these precautions, by reason of the chil@s putrefaction, the hea
shoul be separate an left behin in the womb, it must be rawn forth
accoring to the irections which ha!e been gi!en in the thir section
of this chapter" But when the hea, coming first, is so far a!ance
that it cannot well be put back, it is better to raw it forth so, than
to torment the woman too much by putting it back to turn it, an bring
it by the feet) but the hea being a part roun an slippery, it may
also happen that the operator cannot take hol of it with his fingers by
reason of its moisture, nor put them up to the sie of it, because the
passage is fille with its bigness) he must, therefore, take a proper
instrument, an put it up as far as he can without !iolence, between the
womb an the chil@s hea Cfor the chil being ea before, there can be
no anger in the operationD, an let him fasten it there, gi!ing it hol
upon one of the bones of the skull, that it may not slie, an after it
is well fi*e in the hea, he may therewith raw it forth, keeping the
ens of the fingers of his left han flat upon the opposite sie, the
better to help to isengage it, an by wagging it a little, to conuct
it irectly out of the passage, until the hea be Euite born) an then,
taking hol of it with his hans only, the shoulers being rawn into
the passage, an so sliing the fingers of both hans uner the armpits,
the chil may be Euite eli!ere, an then the after$buren fetche, to
finish the operation, being careful not to pluck the na!el$string too
har lest it break, as often happens when it is corrupt"
8f the ea chil comes with the arm up to the shoulers so e*tremely
swelle that the woman must suffer too great !iolence to ha!e it put
back, it is then Cbeing first well assure the chil is eaD best to
take it off by the shouler joints, by twisting three or four times
about, which is !ery easily one by reason of the softness an
tenerness of the boy" After the arm is so separate, an no longer
possesses the passage, the operator will ha!e more room to put up his
han into the womb, to fetch the chil by the feet an bring it away"
But although the operator is sure the chil is ea in the womb, yet he
must not therefore presently use instruments because they are ne!er to
be use but when hans are not sufficient, an there is no other remey
to pre!ent the woman@s anger, or to bring forth the chil any other
way) an the juicious operator will choose that way which is the least
haJarous, an most safe"
7E'T" 88"$$A;ow a Woman must be ,eli!ere when the 'hil@s Feet come
first"A
There is nothing more ob!ious to those whose business it is to assist
labouring women, than that the se!eral unnatural postures in which
chilren present themsel!es at the birth are the occasions of most of
the ba labours an ill accients that happen to them in that conition"
An since miwi!es are often oblige, because of their unnatural
situations, to raw the chilren forth by the feet, 8 concei!e it to be
most proper first to show how a chil must be brought forth that
presents itself in that posture, because it will be a guie to se!eral
of the rest"
8 know inee in this case it is the a!ice of se!eral authors to change
the figure, an place the hea so that it may present to the birth, an
this counsel 8 shoul be !ery much incline to follow, coul they but
also show how it may be one" But it will appear !ery ifficult, if not
impossible to be performe, if we woul a!oi the anger that by such
!iolent agitations both the mother an the chil must be put into, an
therefore my opinion is, that it is better to raw forth by the feet,
when it presents itself in that posture, than to !enture a worse
accient by turning it"
As soon, therefore, as the waters are broken, an it is known that the
chil come thus an that the womb is open enough to amit the miwife@s
or operator@s han into it, or else by anointing the passage with oil or
hog@s grease, to enea!our to ilate it by egrees, using her fingers to
this purpose, spreaing them one from the other, after they are together
entere, an continue to o so until they be sufficiently ilate, then
taking care that her nails be well pare, no rings on her fingers an
her hans well anointe with oil or fresh butter, an the woman place
in the manner irecte in the former section, let her gently introuce
her han into the entrance of the womb, where fining the chil@s feet,
let her raw it forth in the manner 8 shall presently irect) only let
her first see whether it presents one foot or both, an if but one foot,
she ought to consier whether it be the right foot or the left, an also
in what fashion it comes) for by that means she will soon come to know
where to fin the other, which as soon as she knows an fins, let her
raw it forth with the other) but of this she must be specially careful,
!iJ", that the secon be not the foot of another chil) for if so, it
may be of the utmost conseEuence, for she may sooner split both mother
an chil, than raw them forth" But this may be easily pre!ente if she
but slie the han up by the first leg an thigh to the waist, an there
fining both thighs joine together, an escening from one an the
same boy" An this is also the best means to fin the other foot, when
it comes but with one"
As soon as the miwife has foun both the chil@s feet, she may raw
them forth, an holing them together, may bring them little by little
in this manner, taking afterwars hol of the arms an thighs, as soon
as she can come at them, rawing them so till the hips come forth" While
this is oing, let her obser!e to wrap the parts in a single cloth, so
that her hans being always greasy slie not in the infant@s boy, which
is !ery slippery, because of the !icious humours which are all o!er it)
which being one, she may take hol uner the hips, so as to raw it
forth to the beginning of the breast) an let her on both sies with her
han bring own the chil@s han along its boy, which she may easily
fin) an then let her take care that the belly an face of the chil be
ownwars) for if they shoul be upwars, there woul be the same anger
of its being stoppe by the chin, o!er the share$bone, an therefore, if
it be not so she must turn it to that posture) which may easily be one
if she takes a proper hol of the boy when the breasts an arms are
forth, in the manner we ha!e sai, an raw it, turning it in proportion
on that sie it most inclines to, till it be turne with the face
ownwars, an so, ha!ing brought it to the shoulers, let her lose no
time, esiring the woman at the same time to bear own, that so rawing
the hea at that instant may take its place, an not be stoppe in the
passage, though the miwife takes all possible care to pre!ent it" An
when this happens, she must enea!our to raw forth the chil by the
shoulers Ctaking care that she separate not the boy from the hea, as
8 ha!e known it one by the miwifeD, ischarging it by little an
little from the bones in the passage with the fingers of each han,
sliing them on each sie opposite the other, sometimes abo!e an
sometimes uner, till the work be ene) enea!ouring to ispatch it as
soon as possible, lest the chil be suffocate, as it will una!oiably
be, if it remain long in that posture) an this being well an
carefully effecte, she may soon after fetch away the after$birth, as 8
ha!e before irecte"
7E'T" 888"$$A;ow to bring away the ;ea of the 'hil, when separate
from the Boy, an left behin in the Womb"A
Though the utmost care be taken in bringing away the chil by the feet,
yet if it happen to be ea, it is sometimes so putri an corrupt, that
with the least pull the hea separates from the boy an remains alone
in the womb, an cannot be brought away but with a manual operation an
great ifficulty, it being e*tremely slippery, by reason of the place
where it is, an from the rounness of its figure, on which no hol can
well be taken) an so !ery great is the ifficulty in this case that
sometimes two or three !ery able practitioners in miwifery ha!e, one
after the other, left the operation unfinishe, as not able to effect
it, after the utmost inustry, skill an strength) so that the woman,
not being able to be eli!ere, perishe" To pre!ent which fatal
accient, let the following operation be obser!e"
When the infant@s hea separates from the boy, an is left alone
behin, whether owing to putrefaction or otherwise, let the operator
immeiately, without any elay, while the womb is yet open, irect up
his right han to the mouth of the hea Cfor no other hole can there be
haD, an ha!ing foun it let him put one or two of his fingers into it,
an the thumb uner its chin) then let him raw it little by little,
holing it by the jaws) but if that fails, as sometimes it will when
putrefie, then let him pull off the right han an slie up his left,
with which he must support the hea, an with the right han let him
take a narrow instrument calle a AcrochetA, but let it be strong an
with a single branch, which he must guie along the insie of his han,
with the point of it towars it, for fear of hurting the womb) an
ha!ing thus introuce it, let him turn it towars the hea to strike
either in an eyehole, or the hole of the ear, or behin the hea, or
else between the sutures, as he fins it most con!enient an easy) an
then raw forth the hea so fastene with the sai instrument, still
helping to conuct it with his left han) but when he hath brought it
near the passage, being strongly fastene to the instrument, let him
remember to raw forth his han, that the passage not being fille with
it, may be larger an easier, keeping still a finger or two on the sie
of the hea, the better to isengage it"
There is also another metho, with more ease an less harship than the
former) let the operator take a soft fillet or linen slip, of about four
fingers@ breath, an the length of three Euarters of an ell or
thereabouts, taking the two ens with the left han, an the mile with
the right, an let him so put it up with his right, as that it may be
beyon the hea, to embrace it as a sling oes a stone, an afterwars
raw forth the fillet by the two ens together) it will thus be easily
rawn forth, the fillet not hinering the least passage, because it
takes up little or no space"
When the hea is fetche out of the womb care must be taken that not the
least part of it be left behin, an likewise to cleanse the womb of the
after$buren, if yet remaining" 8f the buren be wholly separate from
the sie of the womb, that ought to be first brought away, because it
may also hiner the taking hol of the hea" But if it still aheres to
the womb, it must not be mele with till the hea be brought away) for
if one shoul enea!our to separate it from the womb, it might then
cause a flooing, which woul be augmente by the !iolence of the
operation, the !essels to which it is joine remaining for the most part
open as long as the womb is istene, which the hea causeth while it
is retaine in it, an cannot be close until this strange boy be
!oie, an this it oth by contracting an compressing itself
together, as has been more fully before e*plaine" Besies, the
after$birth remaining thus clea!ing to the womb uring the operation,
pre!ents it from recei!ing easily either bruise or hurt"
7E'T" 8?"$$A;ow to eli!er a Woman when the chil@s hea is presente to
the birth"A
Though some may think it a natural labour when the chil@s hea come
first, yet, if the chil@s hea present not the right way, e!en that is
an unnatural labour) an therefore, though the hea comes first, yet if
it be the sie of the hea instea of the crown, it is !ery angerous
both to the mother an the chil, for the chil@s neck woul be broken,
if born in that manner, an by how much the mother@s pains continue to
bear the chil, which is impossible unless the hea be rightly place,
the more the passages are stoppe" Therefore, as soon as the position of
the chil is known, the woman must be lai with all spee, lest the
chil shoul a!ance further than this !icious posture, an thereby
rener it more ifficult to thrust it back, which must be one, in orer
to place the hea right in the passage, as it ought to be"
To this purpose, therefore, place the woman so that her buttocks may be
a little higher than her hea an shoulers, causing her to lean a
little to the opposite sie to the chil@s ill posture) then let the
operator slie up his han, well anointe with oil, by the sie of the
chil@s hea) to bring it right gently, with his fingers between the
hea an the womb) but if the hea be so engage that it cannot be one
that way, he must then put up his han to the shoulers, that by so
thrusting them back a little into the womb, sometimes on the one sie,
an sometimes on the other, he may, little by little, gi!e a natural
position" 8 confess it woul be better if the operator coul put back
the chil by its shoulers with both hans, but the hea takes up so
much room, that he will fin much ao to put up one, with which he must
perform this operation, an, with the help of the finger$ens of the
other han put forwar the chil@s birth as in natural labour"
7ome chilren present their face first, ha!ing their hans turne back,
in which posture it is e*tremely ifficult for a chil to be born) an
if it continues so long, the face will be swelle an become black an
blue, so that it will at first appear monstrous, which is occasione as
well by the compression of it in that place, as by the miwife@s fingers
in hanling it, in orer to place it in a better posture" But this
blackness will wear away in three or four ays@ time, by anointing it
often with oil of sweet almons" To eli!er the birth, the same
operation must be use as in the former, when the chil comes first with
the sie of the hea) only let the miwife or operator work !ery gently
to a!oi as much as possible the bruising the face"
7E'T" ?"$$A;ow to ,eli!er a Woman when the 'hil presents one or both
;ans together with the ;ea"A
7ometimes the infant will present some other part together with its
hea) which if it oes, it is usually with one or both of its hans) an
this hiners the birth, because the hans take up part of that passage
which is little enough for the hea alone) besies that, when this
happens, they generally cause the hea to lean on one sie) an
therefore this position may be well style unnatural" When the chil
presents thus, the first thing to be one after it is percei!e, must
be, to pre!ent it from coming own more, or engaging further in the
passage) an therefore, the operator ha!ing place the woman on the be,
with her hea lower than her buttocks, must guie an put back the
infant@s han with his own as much as may be, or both of them, if they
both come own, to gi!e way to the chil@s hea) an this being one,
if the hea be on one sie, it must be brought into its natural posture
in the mile of the passage, that it may come in a straight line, an
then procee as irecte in the foregoing section"
7E'T" ?8"$$A;ow a Woman ought to be eli!ere, when the ;ans an Feet
of the 8nfant come together"A
There are none but will reaily grant, that when the hans an feet of
an infant present together, the labour must be unnatural, because it is
impossible a chil shoul be born in that manner" 8n this case,
therefore, when the miwife guies her han towars the orifice of the
womb she will percei!e only many fingers close together, an if it be
not sufficiently ilate, it will be a goo while before the hans an
feet will be e*actly istinguishe) for they are sometimes so shut an
presse together, that they seem to be all of one an the same shape,
but where the womb is open enough to introuce the han into it, she
will easily know which are the hans an which are the feet) an ha!ing
taken particular notice thereof, let her slie up her han an presently
irect it towars the infant@s breast, which she will fin !ery near,
an then let her gently thrust back the boy towars the bottom of the
womb, lea!ing the feet in the same place where she foun them" An then,
ha!ing place the woman in a con!enient posture, that is to say, her
buttocks a little raise abo!e her breast Can which situation ought
also to be obser!e when the chil is to be put back into the wombD, let
the miwife afterwars take hol of the chil by the feet, an raw it
forth, as is irecte in the secon section"
This labour, though somewhat troublesome, yet is much better than when
the chil presents only its hans) for then the chil must be Euite
turne about before it can be rawn forth) but in this they are reay,
presenting themsel!es, an there is little to o, but to lift an thrust
back the upper part of the boy, which is almost one of itself, by
rawing it by the feet alone"
8 confess there are many authors that ha!e written of labours, who woul
ha!e all wrong births reuce to a natural figure, which is, to turn it
that it may come with the hea first" But those that ha!e written thus,
are such as ne!er unerstoo the practical part, for if they ha the
least e*perience therein, they woul know that it is impossible) at
least, if it were to be one, that !iolence must necessarily be use in
oing it, that woul probably be the eath both of mother an chil in
the operation" 8 woul, therefore, lay own as a general rule, that
whene!er a chil presents itself wrong to the birth, in what posture so
e!er, from the shoulers to the feet, it is the way, an soonest one,
to raw it out by the feet) an that it is better to search for them, if
they o not present themsel!es, than to try an put them in their
natural posture, an place the hea foremost) for the great enea!ours
necessary to be use in turning the chil in the womb, o so much weaken
both the mother an the chil, that there remains not afterwars
strength enough to commit the operation to the work of nature) for,
usually, the woman has no more throes or pains fit for labour after she
has been so wrought upon) for which reason it woul be ifficult an
teious at best) an the chil, by such an operation mae !ery weak,
woul be in e*treme anger of perishing before it coul be born" 8t is,
therefore, much better in these cases to bring it away immeiately by
the feet, searching for them as 8 ha!e alreay irecte, when they o
not present themsel!es) by which the mother will be pre!ente a teious
labour, an the chil be often brought ali!e into the worl, who
otherwise coul harly escape eath"
7E'T" ?88"$$A;ow a Woman shoul be eli!ere that has twins, which
present themsel!es in ifferent postures"A
We ha!e alreay spoken something of the birth of twins in the chapter of
natural labour, for it is not an unnatural labour barely to ha!e twins,
pro!ie they come in the right position to the birth" But when they
present themsel!es in ifferent postures, they come properly uner the
enomination of unnatural labours) an if when one chil presents itself
in a wrong figure, it makes the labour angerous an unnatural, it must
nees make it much more so when there are se!eral, an rener it not
only more painful to the mother an chilren, but to the operator also)
for they often trouble each other an hiner both their births" Besies
which the womb is so fille with them, that the operator can harly
introuce his han without much !iolence, which he must o, if they are
to be turne or thrust back, to gi!e them a better position"
When a woman is pregnant with two chilren, they rarely present to the
birth together, the one being generally more forwar than the other) an
that is the reason that but one is felt, an that many times the miwife
knows not that there are twins until the first is born, an that she is
going to fetch away the afterbirth" 8n the first chapter, wherein 8
treate of natural labour, 8 ha!e showe how a woman shoul be eli!ere
of twins, presenting themsel!es both right) an before 8 close the
chapter of unnatural labour, it only remains that 8 show what ought to
be one when they either both come wrong or one of them only, as for the
most part it happens) the first generally coming right, an the secon
with the feet forwar, or in some worse posture" 8n such a case, the
birth of the first must be hastene as much as possible an to make way
for the secon, which is best brought away by the feet, without
enea!ouring to place it right, because it has been, as well as the
mother, alreay tire an weakene by the birth of the first, an there
woul be greater anger to its eath, than likelihoo of its coming out
of the womb that way"
But if, when the first is born naturally, the secon shoul likewise
offer its hea to the birth, it woul then be best to lea!e nature to
finish what she has so well begun, an if nature shoul be too slow in
her work, some of those things mentione in the fourth chapter to
accelerate the birth, may be properly enough applie, an if, after
that, the secon birth shoul be elaye, let a manual operation be
elaye no longer, but the woman being properly place, as has been
before irecte, let the operator irect his han gently into the womb
to fin the feet, an so raw forth the secon chil, which will be the
more easily effecte, because there is a way mae sufficiently by the
birth of the first) an if the waters of the secon chil be not broke,
as it often happens, yet, intening to bring it by its feet, he nee not
scruple to break the membranes with his fingers) for though, when the
birth of a chil is left to the operation of nature, it is necessary
that the waters shoul break of themsel!es, yet when the chil is
brought out of the womb by art, there is no anger in breaking them,
nay, on the contrary it becomes necessary) for without the waters are
broken, it will be almost impossible to turn the chil"
But herein principally lies the care of the operator, that he be not
ecei!e, when either the hans or feet of both chilren offer
themsel!es together to the birth) in this case he ought well to consier
the operation, of whether they be not joine together, or any way
monstrous, an which part belongs to one chil an which to the other)
so that they may be fetche one after the other, an not both together,
as may be, if it were not uly consiere, taking the right foot of one
an the left of the other, an so rawing them together, as if they
both belonge to one boy, because there is a left an a right, by which
means it woul be impossible to eli!er them" But a skilful operator
will easily pre!ent this, if, after ha!ing foun two or three of se!eral
chilren presenting together in the passage, an taking asie two of the
forwarest, a right an a left, an sliing his arm along the legs an
thighs up to the wrist, if forwar, or to the buttocks, if backwars, he
fins they both belong to one boy) of which being thus assure, he may
begin to raw forth the nearest, without regaring which is the
strongest or weakest, bigger or less, li!ing or ea, ha!ing first put
asie that part of the other chil which offers to ha!e the more way,
an so ispatch the first as soon as may be, obser!ing the same rules as
if there were but one, that is keeping the breast an face ownwars,
with e!ery circumstance irecte in that section where the chil comes
with its feet first, an not fetch the buren till the secon chil is
born" An therefore, when the operator hath rawn forth one chil, he
must separate it from the buren, ha!ing tie an cut the na!el$string,
an then fetch the other by the feet in the same manner, an afterwars
bring away the after$buren with the two strings as hath been before
showe" 8f the chilren present any other part but the feet, the
operator may follow the same metho as irecte in the foregoing
section, where the se!eral unnatural positions are fully treate of"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?88
A,irections for 'hil$bearing Women in their %ying$in"A
7E'T8:= 8"$$A;ow a Woman newly ,eli!ere ought to be orere"A
As soon as she is lai in her be, let her be place in it con!eniently
for ease an rest, which she stans in great nee of to reco!er herself
of the great fatigue she unerwent uring her tra!ail, an that she may
lie the more easily let her hans an boy be a little raise, that she
may breathe more freely, an cleanse the better, especially of that
bloo which then comes away, that so it may not clot, which being
retaine causeth great pain"
;a!ing thus place her in be, let her take a raught of burnt white
wine, ha!ing a rachm of spermaceti melte therein" The best !er!ain is
also singularly goo for a woman in this conition, boiling it in what
she either eats or rinks, fortifying the womb so e*ceeingly that it
will o it more goo in two ays, than any other thing oes in ouble
that time, ha!ing no offensi!e taste" An this is no more than what she
stans in nee of) for her lower parts being greatly istene until the
birth of the infant, it is goo to enea!our the pre!ention of an
inflammation there" %et there also be outwarly applie, all o!er the
bottom of her belly an pri!ities, the following anoyne an
cataplasm&$$Take two ounces of oil of sweet almons, an two or three
new lai eggs, yolks an whites, stirring them together in an earthen
pipkin o!er hot embers till they come to the consistence of a poultice)
which being sprea upon a cloth, must be applie to those parts
inifferently warm, ha!ing first taken away the closures Cwhich were put
to her presently after her eli!eryD, an likewise such clots of bloo
as were then left" %et this lie on for fi!e or si* hours, an then renew
it again when you see cause"
Great care ought to be taken at first, that if her boy be !ery weak,
she be not kept too hot, for e*tremity of heat weakens nature an
issol!es the strength) an whether she be weak or strong, be sure that
no col air comes near her at first) for col is an enemy to the
spermatic parts) if it get into the womb it increases the after pains,
causes swelling in the womb an hurts the ner!es" As to her iet, let it
be hot, an let her eat but little at a time" %et her a!oi the light
for the first three ays, an longer if she be weak, for her labour
weakens her eyes e*ceeingly, by a harmony between the womb an them"
%et her also a!oi great noise, saness an trouble of min"
8f the womb be foul, which may easily be percei!e by the impurity of
the bloo Cwhich will then easily come away in clots or stinking, or if
you suspect any of the after$buren to be left behin, which may
sometimes happenD, make her rink a fe!erfew, mugwort, pennyroyal an
mother of thyme, boile in white wine an sweetene with sugar"
Panao an new lai eggs are the best meat for her at first, of which
she may eat often, but not too much at a time" An let her nurse use
cinnamon in all her meats an rinks, for it generally strengthens the
womb"
%et her stir as little as may be until after the fifth, si*th, or
se!enth ay after her eli!ery, if she be weak) an let her talk as
little as possible, for that weakens her !ery much"
8f she goes not well to stool, gi!e a clyster mae only of the
ecoction of mallows an a little brown sugar"
When she hath lain in a week or more, let her use such things as close
the womb, of which knot$grass an comfrey are !ery goo, an to them you
may a a little polypoium, for it will o her goo, both lea!es an
root being bruise"
7E'T" 88"$$A;ow to remey those Accients which a %ying$in Woman is
subject to"A
8" The first common an usual accient that troubles women in their
lying$in is after$pains" They procee from col an win containe in
the bowels, with which they are easily fille after labour, because then
they ha!e more room to ilate than when the chil was in the womb, by
which they were compresse) an also, because nourishment an matter,
containe as well in them as in the stomach, ha!e been so confusely
agitate from sie to sie uring the pains of labour, by the throes
which always must compress the belly, that they coul not be well
igeste, whence the win is afterwars generate an, by conseEuence,
the gripes which the woman feels running into her belly from sie to
sie, accoring as the win mo!es more or less, an sometimes likewise
from the womb, because of the compression an commotion which the
bowels make" This being generally the case, let us now apply a suitable
remey"
3" Boil an egg soft, an pour out the yolk of it, with which mi* a
spoonful of cinnamon water, an let her rink it) an if you mi* in it
two grains of ambergris, it will be better) an yet !er!ain taken in
anything she rinks, will be as effectual as the other"
." Gi!e a lying$in woman, immeiately after eli!ery, oil of sweet
almons an syrup of maien$hair mi*e together" 7ome prefer oil of
walnuts, pro!ie it be mae of nuts that are !ery goo) but it tastes
worse than the other at best" This will lenify the insie of the
intestines by its unctuousness, an by that means bring away that which
is containe in them more easily"
I" Take an boil onions well in water, then stamp them with oil of
cinnamon, sprea them on a cloth, an apply them to the region of the
womb"
/" %et her be careful to keep her belly warm, an not to rink what is
too col) an if the pain pro!e !iolent, hot cloths from time to time
must be lai on her belly, or a pancake frie in walnut oil may be
applie to it, without swathing her belly too strait" An for the better
e!acuating the win out of the intestines, gi!e her a clyster, which
may be repeate as often as necessity reEuires"
F" Take bay$berries, beat them to a power, put the power upon a
chafing$ish of coals, an let her recei!e the smoke of them up her
pri!ities"
4" Take tar an bear@s grease, of each an eEual Euantity, boil them
together, an whilst it is boiling, a a little pigeon@s ung to it"
7prea some of this upon a linen cloth, an apply it to the !eins of the
back of her that is trouble with afterpains, an it will gi!e her
speey ease"
%astly, let her take half a rachm of bay$berries beaten into a power,
in a rachm of muscael or teat"
88" Another accient to which women in chil$be are subject is
haemorrhois or piles, occasione through the great straining in
bringing the chil into the worl" To cure this,
3" %et her be let bloo in the saphoena !ein"
." %et her use polypoium in her meat, an rink, bruise an boile"
I" Take an onion, an ha!ing mae a hole in the mile, of it, fill it
full of oil, roast it an ha!ing bruise it all together, apply it to
the funament"
/" Take a oJen of snails without shells, if you can get them, or else
so many shell snails, an pull them out, an ha!ing bruise them with a
little oil, apply them warm as before"
F" 8f she go not well to stool, let her take an ounce of cassia fistula
rawn at night, going to be) she nees no change of iet after"
888" +etention of the menses is another accient happening to women in
chil$be, an which is of so angerous a conseEuence, that, if not
timely remeie, it pro!es mortal" When this happens,
3" %et the woman take such meicines as strongly pro!oke the terms, such
as ittany, betony, pennyroyal, fe!erfew, centaury, juniper$berries,
peony roots"
." %et her take two or three spoonfuls of briony water each morning"
I" Gentian roots beaten into a power, an a rachm of it taken e!ery
morning in wine, are an e*traorinary remey"
/" The roots of birthwort, either long or roun, so use an taken as
the former, are !ery goo"
F" Take twel!e peony sees, an beat them into a !ery fine power, an
let her rink them in a raught of hot carus posset, an let her sweat
after" An if the last meicine o not bring them own the first time
she takes it, let her take as much more three hours after, an it selom
fails"
8?" :!erflowing of the menses is another accient inciental to
chil$be women" For which,
3" Take shepher@s purse, either boile in any con!enient liEuor, or
rie an beaten into a power, an it will be an amirable remey to
stop them, this being especially appropriate to the pri!ities"
." The flower an lea!es of brambles or either of them, being rie an
beaten into a power, an a rachm of them taken e!ery morning in a
spoonful of re wine, or in a ecoction of lea!es of the same Cwhich,
perhaps, is much betterD, is an amirable remey for the immoerate
flowing of the term in women"
?" E*coriations, bruises, an rents in the lower part of the womb are
often occasione by the !iolent istention an separation of the
caruncles in a woman@s labour" For the healing whereof,
As soon as the woman is lai, if there be only simple contusions an
e*coriations, then let the anoyne cataplasm, formerly irecte, be
applie to the lower parts to ease the pain, mae of the yolks an
whites of new lai eggs, an oil of roses, boile a little o!er warm
embers, continually stirring it until it be mi*e, an then sprea on a
fine cloth) it must be applie !ery warm to the bearing place for fi!e
or si* hours, an when it is taken away, lay some fine rags, ippe in
oil of 7t" -ohn@s wort twice or thrice a ay) also foment the parts with
barley water an honey of roses, to cleanse them from the e*crements
which pass" When the woman makes water, let them be efene with fine
rags, an thereby hiner the urine from causing smart or pain"
?8" The curing an clotting of the milk is another accient that
happens to women in chil$be, for in the beginning of chil$be, the
woman@s milk is not purifie because of the great commotions her boy
suffere uring her labour, which affecte all the parts, an it is then
affecte with many humours" =ow this clotting of the milk oes, for the
most part, procee from the breasts not being fully rawn, an that,
either because she has too much milk, an that the infant is too small
an weak to suck it all, or because she oth not esire to be a nurse,
for the milk in those cases remaining in the breasts after concoction,
without being rawn, loses its sweetness an the balsamic Eualities it
ha, an by reason of the heat it reEuires, an the too long stay it
makes there, is sours, curs an clots, in like manner as we see rennet
put into orinary milk to turn it into curs" The curing of the milk
may also be cause by ha!ing taken a great col, an not keeping the
breasts well co!ere"
But from what cause so e!er this curing of the milk procees, the most
certain remey is, to raw the breasts until it is emitte an rie"
But in regar that the infant by reason of weakness, cannot raw
strength enough, the woman being har marke when her milk is cure, it
will be most proper to get another woman to raw her breasts until the
milk comes freely, an then she may gi!e her chil suck" An that she
may not afterwars be trouble with a surplus of milk, she must eat such
iet as gi!e but little nourishment, an keep her boy open"
But if the case be such that the woman neither can nor will be a nurse,
it is necessary to apply other remeies for the curing of this
istemper) for then it will be best not to raw the breasts, for that
will be the way to bring more milk into them" For which purpose it will
be necessary to empty the boy by bleeing the arms, besies which, let
the humours be rawn own by strong clysters an bleeing at the foot)
nor will it be amiss to purge gently, an to igest, issol!e an
issipate the cure milk, four brans issol!e in a ecoction of sage,
milk, smallage an fennel, mi*ing with it oil of camomile, with which
oil let the breasts be well anointe" The following liniment is also
goo to scatter an issipate the milk"
AA %iniment to 7catter an ,issipate the (ilk"A
That the milk flowing back to the breast may without offence be
issipate, you must use this ointment&$$BTake pure wa*, two ounces,
linsee, half a poun) when the wa* is melte, let the liniment be mae,
wherein linen cloths must be clippe, an, accoring to their largeness,
be lai upon the breasts) an when it shall be isperse, an pains no
more, let other linen cloths be lai in the istille water of acorns,
an put upon them"
A=ote"A$$That the cloths ippe into istille water of acorns must be
use only by those who cannot nurse their own chilren) but if a
swelling in the breast of her who gi!es such o arise, from abunance of
milk, threatens an inflammation, let her use the former ointment, but
abstain from using the istille water of acorns"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?888
A,irections for the =urses, in orering =ewly$born 'hilren"A
When the chil@s na!el$string hath been cut accoring to the rules
prescribe, let the miwife presently cleanse it from the e*crements an
filth it brings into the worl with it) of which some are within the
boy, as the urine in the blaer, an the e*crements foun in the guts)
an the others without, which are thick, whitish an clammy, proceeing
from the sliminess of the waters" There are sometimes chilren co!ere
all o!er with this, that one woul think they were rubbe o!er with soft
cheese, an some women are of so easy a belief, that they really think
it so, because they ha!e eaten some while they were with chil" From
these e*crements let the chil be cleanse with wine an water a little
warme, washing e!ery part therewith, but chiefly the hea because of
the hair, also the fols of the groin, an the cos or pri!ities) which
parts must be gently cleanse with a linen rag, or a soft sponge ippe
in lukewarm wine" 8f this clammy or !iscous e*crement stick so close
that it will not easily be washe off from those places, it may be
fetche off with oil of sweet almon, or a little fresh butter melte
with wine, an afterwars well rie off) also make tents of fine rags,
an wetting them in this liEuor, clear the ears an nostrils) but for
the eyes, wipe them only with a ry, soft rag, not ipping it in the
wine, lest it shoul make them smart"
The chil being washe, an cleanse from the nati!e bloo an
impurities which atten it into the worl, it must in the ne*t place be
searche to see whether all things be right about it, an that there is
no fault nor islocation) whether its nose be straight, or its tongue
tie, or whether there be any bruise or tumour of the hea) or whether
the mol be not o!er shot) also whether the scrotum Cif it be a maleD be
not blown up an swelle, an, in short, whether it has suffere any
!iolence by its birth, in any part of its boy, an whether all the
parts be well an uly shape) that suitable remeies may be applie if
anything be foun not right" =or is it enough to see that all be right
without, an that the outsie of the boy be cleanse, but she must also
obser!e whether it ischargeth the e*crements containe within, an
whether the passage be open) for some ha!e been born without ha!ing been
perforate" Therefore, let her e*amine whether the conuits of the urine
an stool be clear, for want of which some ha!e ie, not being able to
!oi their e*crements, because timely care was not taken at first" As to
the urine all chilren, as well males as females, o make water as soon
as they are born, if they can, especially if they feel the heat of the
fire, an also sometimes !oi the e*crements, but not so soon as the
urine" 8f the infant oes not orure the first ay, then put into its
funament a small suppository, to stir it up to be ischarge, that it
may not cause painful gripes, by remaining so long in the belly" A sugar
almon may be proper for this purpose, anointe all o!er with a little
boile honey) or else a small piece of castile$soap rubbe o!er with
fresh butter) also gi!e the chil for this purpose a little syrup of
roses or !iolets at the mouth, mi*e with some oil of sweet almons,
rawn without a fire, anointing the belly also, with the same oil or
fresh butter"
The miwife ha!ing thus washe an cleanse the chil, accoring to the
before mentione irections, let her begin to swale it in swathing
clothes, an when she resses the hea, let her put small rags behin
the ears, to ry up the filth which usually engeners there, an so let
her o also in the fols of the armpits an groins, an so swathe it)
then wrap it up warm in a be with blankets, which there is scarcely any
woman so ignorant but knows well enough how to o) only let me gi!e
them this caution, that they swathe not the chil too tightly in its
blankets, especially about the breast an stomach, that it may breathe
the more freely, an not be force to !omit up the milk it sucks,
because the stomach cannot be sufficiently istene to contain it)
therefore let its arms an legs be wrappe in its be, stretche an
straight an swathe to keep them so, !iJ", the arms along its sies,
an its legs eEually both together with a little of the be between
them, that they may not be galle by rubbing each other) then let the
hea be kept steay an straight, with a stay fastene each sie of the
blanket, an then wrap the chil up in a mantle an blankets to keep it
warm" %et none think this swathing of the infant is neeless to set
own, for it is necessary it shoul be thus swale, to gi!e its little
boy a straight figure, which is most proper an ecent for a man, an
to accustom him to keep upon his feet, who otherwise woul go upon all
fours, as most animals o"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8L
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f Gripes an Pains in the, Bellies of #oung 'hilren"A
This 8 mention first, as it is often the first an most common istemper
which happens to little infants, after their birth) many chilren being
so trouble therewith, that it causes them to cry ay an night an at
last ie of it" The cause of it for the most part comes from the suen
change of nourishment, for ha!ing always recei!e it from the umbilical
!essel whilst in the mother@s womb, they come on a suen not only to
change the manner of recei!ing it, but the nature an Euality of what
they recei!e, as soon as they are born) for instea of purifie bloo
only, which was con!eye to them by means of the umbilical !ein, they
are now oblige to be nourishe by their mother@s milk, which they suck
with their mouths, an from which are engenere many e*crements,
causing gripes an pains) an not only because it is not so pure as the
bloo with which it was nourishe in the womb, but because the stomach
an the intestines cannot make a goo igestion, being unaccustome to
it" 8t is sometimes cause also by a rough phlegm, an sometimes by
worms) for physicians affirm that worms ha!e been bre in chilren e!en
in their mother@s belly"
A'ureA" The remey must be suite to the cause" 8f it procee from the
too suen change of nourishment, the remey must be to forbear gi!ing
the chil suck for some ays, lest the milk be mi*e with phlegm, which
is then in the stomach corrupt) an at first it must suck but little,
until it is accustome to igest it" 8f it be the e*crements in the
intestines, which by their long stay increase their pains, gi!e them at
the month a little oil of sweet almons an syrup of roses) if it be
worms, lay a cloth ippe in oil of wormwoo mi*e with o*$gall, upon
the belly, or a small cataplasm, mi*e with the power of rue, wormwoo,
coloEuintia, aloes, an the sees of citron incorporate with o*$gall
an the power of lupines" :r gi!e it oil of sweet almons an syrup of
roses) if it be worms, lay a cloth, ippe in oil of wormwoo mi*e with
o*$gall, upon the belly, or a small cataplasm mi*e with the power of
rue, wormwoo, coloEuintia, aloes, an the sees of citron incorporate
with o*$gall an the power of lupines" :r gi!e it oil of sweet almons
with sugar$cany, an a scruple of anisee) it purgeth new$born babes
from green cholera an stinking phlegm, an, if it be gi!en with
sugar$pap, it allays the griping pains of the belly" Also anoint the
belly with oil of ill, or lay pelitory stampe with oil of camomile to
the belly"
7E'T" 88"$$A:f Weakness 8n =ewly$born 8nfants"A
Weakness is an accient that many chilren bring into the worl along
with them, an is often occasione by the labour of the mother) by the
!iolence an length whereof they suffer so much, that they are born with
great weakness, an many times it is ifficult to know whether they are
ali!e or ea, their boy appearing so senseless, an their face so blue
an li!i, that they seem to be Euite choke) an e!en after some hours,
then$showing any signs of life is attene with weakness, that it looks
like a return from eath, an that they are still in a ying conition"
A'ureA" %ay the infant speeily in a warm blanket, an carry it to the
fire, an then let the miwife take a little wine in her mouth an spout
it into its mouth, repeating it often, if there be occasion" %et her
apply linen ippe in urine to the breast an belly, an let the face be
unco!ere, that it may breathe the more freely) also, let the miwife
keep its mouth a little open, cleanse the nostrils with small linen
tents1336 ipt in white wine, that so it may recei!e the smell of it)
an let her chafe e!ery part of its boy well with warm cloths, to bring
back its bloo an spirits, which being retire inwars through
weakness, often puts him in anger of being choke" By the application
of these means, the infant will graually reco!er strength, an begin to
stir its limbs by egrees, an at length to cry) an though it be but
weakly at first, yet afterwars, as it breathes more freely, its cry
will become more strong"
7E'T" 888"$$A:f the Funament being close up in a newly$born 8nfant"A
Another efect that new$born infants are liable to is, to ha!e their
funaments close up, by which they can neither e!acuate the new
e*crements engenere by the milk they suck, nor that which was amasse
in their intestines before birth, which is certainly mortal without a
speey remey" There ha!e been some female chilren who ha!e their
funaments Euite close, an yet ha!e !oie the e*crements of the guts
by an orifice which nature, to supply the efect, ha mae within the
neck of the womb"
A'ureA" ;ere we must take notice, that the funament is close two ways)
either by a single skin, through which one may isco!er some black an
blue marks, proceeing from the e*crements retaine, which, if one touch
with the finger, there is a softness felt within, an thereabout it
ought to be pierce) or else it is Euite stoppe by a thick, fleshy
substance, in such sort that there appears nothing without, by which its
true situation may be known" When there is nothing but the single skin
which makes the closure, the operation is !ery easy, an the chilren
may o !ery well) for then an aperture or opening may be mae with a
small incision$knife, cross$ways, that it may the better recei!e a roun
form, an that the place may not afterwars grow together, taking care
not to prejuice the sphincter or muscle of the rectum" The incision
being thus mae, the e*crements will certainly ha!e issue" But if, by
reason of their long stay in the belly, they become so ry that the
infant cannot !oi them, then let a clyster be gi!en to moisten an
bring them away) afterwars put a linen tent into the new$mae
funament, which at first ha best be anointe with honey of roses, an
towars the en, with a rying, cicatriJing ointment, such as unguentum
album or ponphile*, obser!ing to cleanse the infant of its e*crement,
an ry it again as soon an as often as it e!acuates them, that so the
aperture may be pre!ente from turning into a malignant ulcer"
But if the funament be stoppe up in such a manner, that neither mark
nor appearance of it can be seen or felt, then the operation is much
more ifficult, an, e!en when it is one, the anger is much greater
that the infant will not sur!i!e it" Then, if it be a female, an it
sens forth its e*crements by the way 8 mentione before, it is better
not to mele than, by enea!ouring to remey an incon!enience, run an
e*treme haJar of the infant@s eath" But when there is no !ent for the
e*crements, without which eath is una!oiable, then the operation is
justifiable"
A:perationA" %et the operator, with a small incision$knife that hath but
one ege, enter into the !oi place, an turning the back of it upwars,
within half a finger@s breath of the chil@s rump, which is the place
where he will certainly fin the intestines, let him thrust it forwar,
that it may be open enough to gi!e free !ent to matter there containe,
being especially careful of the sphincter) after which, let the woun
be resse accoring to the metho irecte"
7E'T" 8?"$$A:f the Thrush, or <lcers 8n the (outh of the 8nfant"A
The thrush is a istemper that chilren are !ery subject to, an it
arises from ba milk, or from foul humour in the stomach) for sometimes,
though there be no ill humour in the milk itself, yet it may corrupt the
chil@s stomach because of its weakness or some other inisposition) in
which, acEuiring an acrimony, instea of being well igeste, there
arise from it thrice biting !apours, which forming a thick !iscosity, o
thereby prouce this istemper"
A'ureA" 8t is often ifficult, as physicians tell us, because it is
seate in hot an moist places, where the putrefaction is easily
augmente) an because the remeies applie cannot loge there, being
soon washe with spittle" But if it arises from too hot Euality in the
nurse@s milk, care must be taken to temper an cool, prescribing her
cool iet, bleeing an purging her also, if there be occasion"
Take lentils, huske, power them, an lay a little of them upon the
chil@s gums" :r take bellium flowers, half an ounce, an with oil of
roses make a liniment" Also wash the chil@s mouth with barley an
plantain$water, an honey of roses, mi*ing with them a little !erjuice
of lemons, as well to loosen an cleanse the !icious humours which
clea!e to the insie of the infant@s mouth, as to cool those parts which
are alreay o!er$heate" 8t may be one by means of a small fine rag,
fastene to the en of a little stick, an ippe therein, wherewith the
ulcers may be gently rubbe, being careful not to put the chil in too
much pain, lest an inflammation make the istemper worse" The chil@s
boy must also be kept open, that the humours being carrie to the lower
parts, the !apours may not ascen, as is usual for them to o when the
boy is costi!e, an the e*crements too long retaine"
8f the ulcers appear malignant, let such remeies be use as o their
work speeily, that the e!il Eualities that cause them, being thereby
instantly correcte, their malignity may be pre!ente) an in this case,
touch the ulcers with plantain water, sharpene with spirits of !itriol)
for the remey must be mae sharp, accoring to the malignity of the
istemper" 8t will be necessary to purge these ill humours out of the
whole habit of the chil, by gi!ing half an ounce of succory an
rhubarb"
7E'T" ?"$$A:f Pains in the Ears, 8nflammation, (oisture, etc"A
The brain in infants is !ery moist, an hath many e*crements which
nature cannot sen out at the proper passages) they get often to the
ears, an there cause pains, flu* of bloo, with inflammation an matter
with pain) this in chilren is har to be known as they ha!e no other
way to make it known but by constant crying) you will percei!e them
reay to feel their ears themsel!es, but will not let others touch them,
if they can pre!ent) an sometimes you may iscern the parts about the
ears to be !ery re"
These pains, if let alone, are of angerous conseEuences, because they
may bring forth watchings an epilepsy) for the moisture brees worms
there, an fouls the spongy bones, an by egrees causes incurable
eafness"
A'ureA" Allay the pain with all con!enient spee, but ha!e a care of
using strong remeies" Therefore, only use warm milk about the ears,
with the ecoction of poppy tops, or oil of !iolets) to take away the
moisture, use honey of roses, an let aEua mollis be roppe into the
ears) or take !irgin honey, half an ounce) re wines two ounces) alum,
saffron, saltpetre, each a rachm, mi* them at the fire) or rop in
hemp see oil with a little wine"
7E'T" ?8"$$A:f +eness an 8nflammation of the Buttocks, Groin an the
Thighs of a #oung 'hil"A
8f there be no great care taken to change an wash the chil@s be as
soon as it is foule with the e*crements, an to keep the chil !ery
clean, the acrimony will be sure to cause reness, an beget a smarting
in the buttocks, groin an thighs of the chil, which, by reason of the
pain, will afterwars be subject to inflammations, which follow the
sooner, through the elicacy an tenerness of their skin, from which
the outwar skin of the boy is in a short time separate an worn away"
A'ureA" First, keep the chil cleanly, an seconly, take off the
sharpness of its urine" As to keeping it cleanly, she must be a sorry
nurse who nees to be taught how to o it) for if she lets it but ha!e
ry, warm an clean bes an cloths, as often an as soon as it has
foule an wet them, either by its urine or its e*crements, it will be
sufficient" An as to taking off the sharpness of the chil@s urine,
that must be one by the nurse@s taking a cool iet, that her milk may
ha!e the same Euality) an, therefore, she ought to abstain from all
things that may ten to heat it"
But besies these, cooling an rying remeies are reEuisite to be
applie to the inflame parts) therefore let the parts be bathe in
plantain$water, with a fourth of lime water ae to it, each time the
chil@s e*crements are wipe off) an if the pain be !ery great, let it
only be fomente with lukewarm milk" The power of a post to ry it, or
a little mill$ust strewe upon the parts affecte, may be proper
enough, an is use by many women" Also, unguentum album, or
iapompholigos, sprea upon a small piece of leather in form of a
plaster, will not be amiss"
But the chief thing must be, the nurse@s taking great care to wrap the
inflame parts with fine rags when she opens the chil, that these parts
may not gather an be paine by rubbing together"
7E'T" ?88"$$A:f ?omiting in #oung 'hilren"A
?omiting in young chilren procees sometimes from too much milk, an
sometimes from ba milk, an as often from a moist, loose stomach) for
as ryness retains so looseness lets go" This is, for the most part,
without anger in chilren) for they that !omit from their birth are
the lustiest) for the stomach not being use to meat, an milk being
taken too much, cruities are easily bre, or the milk is corrupte) an
it is better to !omit these up than to keep them in) but if !omiting
last long, it will cause an atrophy or consumption, for want of
nourishment"
A'ureA" 8f this be from too much milk, that which is emitte is yellow
an green, or otherwise ill$coloure an stinking) in this case, men
the milk, as has been shown before) cleanse the chil with honey of
roses, an strengthen its stomach with syrup of milk an Euinces, mae
into an electuary" 8f the humours be hot an sharp, gi!e the syrup of
pomegranates, currants an coral, an apply to the belly the plaster of
brea, the stomach cerate, or brea ippe in hot wine) or take oil of
mastich, Euinces, mint, wormwoo, each half an ounce) of nutmegs by
e*pression, half a rachm) chemical oil of mint, three rops" 'oral hath
an occult property to pre!ent !omiting, an is therefore hung about the
neck"
7E'T" ?888$$A:f Breeing Teeth in #oung 'hilren"A
This is a !ery great an yet necessary e!il in all chilren, ha!ing
!ariety of symptoms joine with it" They begin to come forth, not all
at once, but one after the other, about the si*th or se!enth month) the
fore$teeth coming first, then the eye$teeth, an last of all the
griners" The eye$teeth cause more pain to the chil than any of the
rest, because they ha!e a eep root, an a small ner!e which has
communication with that which makes the eye mo!e"
18llustration6
8n the breeing of the teeth, first they feel an itching in their gums,
then they are pierce as with a neele, an pricke by the sharp bones,
whence procee great pains, watching, inflammation of the gums, fe!er,
looseness an con!ulsions, especially when they bree their eye$teeth"
The signs when chilren bree their eye$teeth are these&
3" 8t is known by the time, which is usually about the se!enth month"
." Their gums are swelle, an they feel a great heat there with an
itching, which makes them put their fingers into their mouths to rub
them) a moisture also istils from the gums into the mouth, because of
the pain they feel there"
I" They hol the nipple faster than before"
/" The gums are white when the teeth begin to come, an the nurse, in
gi!ing them suck, fins the mouth hotter, an that they are much
change, crying e!ery moment, an cannot sleep, or but !ery little at a
time"
The fe!er that follows breeing of teeth comes from choleric humours,
inflame by watching, pain an heat" An the longer teeth are breeing,
the more angerous it is) so that many in the breeing of them, ie of
fe!ers an con!ulsions"
A'ureA" Two things are to be regare&$$one is, to preser!e the chil
from the e!il accients that may happen to it by reason of the great
pain) the other, to assist as much as may be, the cutting of the teeth,
when they can harly cut the gums themsel!es"
For the first of these, !iJ", the pre!enting of those accients to the
chil, the nurse ought to take great care to keep a goo iet, an to
use all things that may cool an temper her milk, that so a fe!er may
not follow the pain of the teeth" An to pre!ent the humour falling too
much upon the inflame gums, let the chil@s belly be always kept loose
by gentle clysters, if he be boun) though oftentimes there is no nee
of them, because they are at those times usually trouble with a
looseness) an yet, for all that, clysters may not be improper"
As to the other, which is to assist it cutting the teeth, that the nurse
must o from time to time by mollifying an loosening them, an by
rubbing them with her finger ippe in butter or honey) or let the chil
ha!e a !irgin$wa* canle to chew upon) or anoint the gums with the
mucilage of Euince mae with mallow$water, or with the brains of a hare)
also foment the cheeks with the ecoction of althoea, an camomile
flowers an ill, or with the juice of mallows an fresh butter" 8f the
gums are inflame, a juice of nightshae an lettuce" 8 ha!e alreay
sai, the nurse ought to take a temperate iet) 8 shall now only a,
that barley$broth, water$gruel, raw eggs, prunes, lettuce an eni!e,
are goo for her) but let her a!oi salt, sharp, biting an peppere
meats, an wine"
7E'T" 8L"$$A:f the Flu* of the Betty, or %ooseness in 8nfants"A
8t is !ery common for infants to ha!e the flu* of the belly, or
looseness, especially upon the least inisposition) nor is it to be
wonere at, seeing their natural moistness contributes so much thereto)
an e!en if it be e*traorinarily !iolent, such are in a better state of
health than those that are boun" The flu*, if !iolent, procees from
i!ers causes, as 3" From breeing of the teeth, an is then commonly
attene with a fe!er in which the concoction is hinere, an the
nourishment corrupte" ." From watching" I" From pain" /" From stirring
up of the humours by a fe!er" F" When they suck or rink too much in a
fe!er" 7ometimes they ha!e a flu* without breeing of teeth, from inwar
col in the guts or stomach that obstructs concoction" 8f it be from the
teeth, it is easily known) for the signs of breeing in teeth will
isco!er it" 8f it be from e*ternal col, there are signs of other
causes" 8f from a humour flowing from the hea there are signs of a
catarrh, an the e*crements are frothy" 8f crue an raw humours are
!oie, an there be win, belching, an phlegmatic e*crements, or if
they be yellow, green an stink, the flu* is from a hot an sharp
humour" 8t is best in breeing of teeth when the belly is loose, as 8
ha!e sai before) but if it be too !iolent, an you are afrai it may
en in a consumption, it must be stoppe) an if the e*crements that are
!oie be black, an attene with a fe!er, it is !ery ba"
A'ureA" The remey in this case, is principally in respect to the nurse,
an the conition of the milk must be chiefly obser!e) the nurse must
be cautione that she eat no green fruit, nor things of har concoction"
8f the chil suck not, remo!e the flu* with such purges as lea!e a
cooling Euality behin them, as syrup of honey or roses, or a clyster"
Take the ecoction of millium, myrobolans, of each two or three ounces,
with an ounce or two of syrup of roses, an make a clyster" After
cleansing, if it procee from a hot cause, gi!e syrup of rie roses,
Euinces, myrtles an a little sanguis raconis" Also anoint with oil of
roses, myrtles, mastich, each two rachms) with oil of myrtles an wa*
make an ointment" :r take re roses an moulin, of each a hanful)
cypress roots two rachms) make a bag, boil it in re wine an apply it
to the belly" :r use the plaster brea or stomach ointment" 8f the cause
be col, an the e*crements white gi!e syrup of mastich an Euinces,
with mint$water" <se outwarly, mint, mastich, cummin) or take rose
sees, an ounce, cummin, anisee, each two rachms) with oil of mastich,
wormwoo an wa*, make an ointment"
7E'T" L"$$A:f the Epilepsy an 'on!ulsions in 'hilren"A
This is a istemper that is often fatal to young chilren, an
freEuently procees from the brain, originating either from the parents,
or from !apours, or ba humours that twitch the membranes of the brain)
it is also sometimes cause by other istempers an by ba iet)
likewise, the toothache, when the brain consents, causes it, an so oes
a suen fright" As to the istemper itself, it is manifest an well
enough known where it is) an as to the cause whence it comes, you may
know by the signs of the isease, whether it comes from ba milk, or
worms, or teeth) if these are all absent, it is certain that the brain
is first affecte) if it come with the small$po* or measles, it ceaseth
when they come forth, if nature be strong enough"
A'ureA" For the remey of this grie!ous, an often mortal istemper,
gi!e the following power to pre!ent it, to a chil as soon as it is
born&$$Take male peony roots, gathere in the ecrease of the moon, a
scruple) with leaf gol make a power) or take peony roots, a rachm)
peony sees, mistletoe of the oak, elk@s hoof, man@s skull, amber, each
a scruple) musk, two grains) make a power" The best part of the cure is
taking care of the nurse@s iet, which must be regular, by all means" 8f
it be from corrupt milk, pro!oke a !omit) to o which, hol own the
tongue, an put a Euill ippe in sweet almons, own the throat" 8f it
come from the worms, gi!e such things as will kill the worms" 8f there
be a fe!er, with respect to that also, gi!e coral smaraga an elk@s
hoof" 8n the fit, gi!e epileptic water, as la!ener water, an rub with
oil of amber, or hang a peony root, an elk@s hoof smaraga, about the
chil@s neck"
As to a con!ulsion, it is when the brain labours to cast out that which
troubles it) the mariner is in the marrow of the back, an fountain of
the ner!es) it is a stubborn isease, an often kills"
Wash the boy, when in the fit, with ecoction of althoea, lily roots,
peony an camomile flowerets, an anoint it with man@s an goose@s
grease, oils of worms, orris, lilies, fo*es, turpentine, mastich, stora*
an calamint" The sun flower is also !ery goo, boile in water, to wash
the chil"
F::T=:TE7&
1336 Tent CAsurgicalAD" A bunch of some fibre such as sponge or
horsehair introuce into an opening, natural or artificial, to keep it
open, or increase its calibre"
9 9 9 9 9
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9 9 9 9 9
B::> 88
9 9 9 9 9
;a!ing finishe the first part of this book, an wherein, 8 hope, amply
mae goo my promise to the reaer, 8 am now come to treat only of those
istempers to which they are more subject when in a breeing conition,
an those that keep them from being so) together with such proper an
safe remeies as may be sufficient to repel them" An since amongst all
the iseases to which human nature is subject, there is none that more
iametrically opposes the !ery en of our creation, an the esign of
nature in the formation of ifferent se*es, an the power thereby gi!en
us for the work of generation, than that of sterility or barrenness
which, where it pre!ails, reners the most accomplishe miwife but a
useless person, an estroys the esign of our book) 8 think, therefore,
that barrenness is an effect that eser!es our first an principal
consieration"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8
A:f Barrenness) its se!eral >ins) with the proper +emeies for it)
an the 7igns of 8nsufficiency both in (en an Women"A
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f Barrenness in General"A
Barrenness is either natural or artificial"
=atural barrenness is when a woman is barren, though the instruments of
generation are perfect both in herself an in her husban, an no
preposterous or iabolical course use to it, an neither age, nor
isease, nor any efect hinering, an yet the woman remains naturally
barren"
=ow this may procee from a natural cause, for if the man an woman be
of one comple*ion, they selom ha!e chilren, an the reason is clear,
for the uni!ersal course of nature being forme of a composition of
contraries, cannot be increase by a composition of likes) an,
therefore, if the constitution of the woman be hot an ry, as well as
the man@s there can be no conception) an if, on the contrary, the man
shoul be of a col an moist constitution, as well as the woman, the
effect woul be the same) an this barrenness is purely natural" The
only way to help this is, for people, before they marry, to obser!e each
others constitution an comple*ion, if they esign to ha!e chilren" 8f
their comple*ions an constitutions be alike, they are not fit to come
together, for iscorant natures only, make harmony in the work of
generation"
Another natural cause of barrenness, is want of lo!e between man an
wife" %o!e is that !i!i principle that ought to inspire each organ in
the act of generation, or else it will be spiritless an ull) for if
their hearts be not unite in lo!e, how shoul their see unite to cause
'onceptionN An this is sufficiently e!ince, in that there ne!er
follows conception on a rape" Therefore, if men an women esign to ha!e
chilren, let them li!e so, that their hearts as well as their boies
may be unite, or else they may miss their e*pectations"
A thir cause of natural barrenness, is the letting !irgins bloo in the
arm before their natural courses are come own, which is usually in the
fourteenth an fifteenth year of their age) sometimes, perhaps before
the thirteenth, but ne!er before the twelfth" An because usually, they
are out of orer, an inispose before their purgations come own,
their parents run to the octor to know what is the matter) an he, if
not skille, will naturally prescribe opening a !ein in the arm,
thinking fullness of bloo the cause) an thus she seems reco!ere for
the present& an when the young !irgin happens to be in the same
isorer, the mother applies again to the surgeon, who uses the same
remey) an by these means the bloo is so i!erte from its proper
channel, that it comes not own the womb as usual, an so the womb ries
up, an she is for e!er barren" To pre!ent this, let no !irgin bloo in
the arm before her courses come own well) for that will bring the bloo
ownwars, an by that means pro!oke the AmenstruaA to come own"
Another cause of natural barrenness, is ebility in copulation" 8f
persons perform not that act with all the bent an arour that nature
reEuires, they may as well let it alone) for frigiity an colness
ne!er prouces conception" :f the cure of this we will speak by an by,
after 8 ha!e spoken of acciental barrenness, which is occasione by
some morbific matter or infirmity in the boy, either of the man or of
the woman, which being remo!e they become fruitful" An since, as 8
ha!e before note, the first an great law of creation, was to increase
an multiply, an barrenness is in irect opposition to that law, an
frustrates the en of our creation, an often causes man an wife to
ha!e har thoughts one of another, 8 shall here, for the satisfaction of
well meaning people, set own the signs an causes of insufficiency both
in men an women) premising first that when people ha!e no chilren,
they must not presently blame either party, for neither may be in fault"
7E'T" 88"$$A7igns an 'auses of 8nsufficiency in (en"A
:ne cause may be in some !iciousness of the yar, as if the same be
crooke, or any ligaments thereof istorte an broken, whereby the ways
an passages, through which the see shoul flow, come to be stoppe or
!itiate"
Another cause may be, too much weakness of the yar, an tenerness
thereof, so that it is not strong enough erecte to inject see into the
womb) for the strength an stiffness of the yar !ery much conuces to
conception, by reason of the forcible injection of the see"
Also, if the stones ha!e recei!e any hurt, so that they cannot e*ercise
the proper gift in proucing see, or if they be oppresse with an
inflammation, tumour, woun or ulcer, or rawn up within the belly, an
not appearing outwarly"
Also, a man may be barren by reason of the efect of see, as first, if
he cast forth no see at all, or less in substance than is neeful" :r,
seconly, if the see be !icious, or unfit for generation) as on the one
sie, it happens in boies that are gross an fat, the matter of it
being efecti!e) an on the other sie, too much leanness, or continual
wasting or consumption of the boy, estroys see) nature turning all
the matter an substance thereof into the nutriment of the boy"
Too freEuent copulation is also one great cause of barrenness in men)
for it attracteth the seminal moisture from the stones, before it is
sufficiently prepare an concocte" 7o if any one, by aily
copulation, o e*haust an raw out all their moisture of the see, then
o the stones raw the moist humours from the superior !eins unto
themsel!es) an so, ha!ing but a little bloo in them, they are force
of necessity to cast it out raw an unconcocte, an thus the stones are
!iolently epri!e of the moisture of their !eins, an the superior
!eins, an all the other parts of the boy, of their !ital spirits)
therefore it is no woner that those who use immoerate copulation are
!ery weak in their boies, seeing their whole boy is epri!e of the
best an purest bloo, an of the spirit, insomuch that many who ha!e
been too much aicte to that pleasure, ha!e kille themsel!es in the
!ery act"
Gluttony, runkenness, an other e*cesses, o so much hiner men from
fruitfulness, that it makes them unfit for generation"
But among other causes of barrenness of men, this also is one, an makes
them almost of the nature of eunuchs, an that is the incision or the
cutting of the !eins behin their ears, which in case of istempers is
oftentimes one) for, accoring to the opinions of most physicians an
anatomists, the see flows from the brain by those !eins behin the
ears, more than any part of the boy" From whence it is !ery probable,
that the transmission of the see is hinere by the cutting of the
!eins behin the ears, so that it cannot escen to the testicles, or
may come thither !ery crue an raw"
7E'T" 888"$$A7igns an 'auses of 8nsufficiency or Barrenness in Women"A
Although there are many causes of the barrenness of women, yet the chief
an principal are internal, respecting either the pri!y parts, the womb
or menstruous bloo"
Therefore, ;ippocrates saith Cspeaking as well of easy as ifficult
conception in womenD the first consieration is to be ha of their
species) for little women are more apt to concei!e than great, slener
than gross, white an fair than ruy an high coloure, black than wan,
those that ha!e their !eins conspicuous, than others) but to be !ery
fleshy is e!il, an to ha!e great swelle breasts is goo"
The ne*t thing to be consiere is, the monthly purgations, whether they
ha!e been uly e!ery month, whether they flow plentifully, are of a goo
colour, an whether they ha!e been eEual e!ery month"
Then the womb, or place of conception, is to be consiere" 8t ought to
be clean an soun, ry an soft, not retracte or rawn up) not prone
or escening ownwar) nor the mouth thereof turne away, nor too
close shut up" But to speak more particularly&$$
The first parts to be spoken of are the ApuenaA, or pri!ities, an the
womb) which parts are shut an enclose either by nature or against
nature) an from hence, such women are calle AimperforateA) as in some
women the mouth of their womb continues compresse, or close up, from
the time of their birth until the coming own of their courses, an
then, on a suen, when their terms press forwar to purgation, they are
moleste with great an unusual pains" 7ometimes these break of their
own accor, others are issecte an opene by physicians) others ne!er
break at all, which bring on isorers that en in eath"
All these AAetiusA particularly hanles, showing that the womb is shut
three manner of ways, which hiners conception" An the first is when
the ApuenaA grow an clea!e together" The secon is, when these
certain membranes grow in the mile part of the matri* within" The
thir is, when Cthough the lips an bosom of the ApuenaA may appear
fair an openD, the mouth of the womb may be Euite shut up" All which
are occasions of barrenness, as they hiner the intercourse with man,
the monthly courses, an conception"
But amongst all causes of barrenness in women, the greatest is in the
womb, which is the fiel of generation) an if this fiel is corrupt, it
is in !ain to e*pect any fruit, be it e!er so well sown" 8t may be unfit
for generation by reason of many istempers to which it is subject) as
for instance, o!ermuch heat an o!ermuch col) for women whose wombs are
too thick an col, cannot concei!e, because colness e*tinguishes the
heat of the human see" 8mmoerate moisture of the womb also estroys
the see of man, an makes it ineffectual, as corn sown in pons an
marshes) an so oes o!ermuch ryness of the womb, so that the see
perisheth for want of nutriment" 8mmoerate heat of the womb is also a
cause of barrenness for it scorcheth up the see as corn sown in the
rought of summer) for immoerate heat burns all parts of the boy, so
that no conception can li!e in the womb"
When unnatural humours are engenere, as too much phlegm, tympanies,
win, water, worms, or any other e!il humour abouning contrary to
nature, it causes barrenness as o all terms not coming own in ue
orer"
A woman may also ha!e acciental causes of barrenness Cat least such as
may hiner her conceptionD, as suen frights, anger, grief an
perturbation of min) too !iolent e*ercises, as leaping, ancing,
running, after copulation, an the like" But 8 will now a some signs,
by which these things may be known"
8f the cause of barrenness be in the man, through o!ermuch heat in the
see, the woman may easily feel that in recei!ing it"
8f the nature of the woman be too hot, an so unfit for conception, it
will appear by her ha!ing her terms !ery little, an the colour
inclining to yellowness) she is also !ery hasty, choleric an crafty)
her pulse beats !ery swift, an she is !ery esirous of copulation"
To know whether the fault is in the man or in the woman, sprinkle the
man@s urine upon a lettuce leaf, an the woman@s urine upon another, an
that which ries away first is unfruitful" Also take fi!e wheaten corns
an se!en beans, put them into an earthen pot, an let the party make
water therein) let this stan se!en ays, an if in that time they begin
to sprout, then the party is fruitful) but if they sprout not, then the
party is barren, whether it be the man or the woman) this is a certain
sign"
There are some that make this e*periment of a woman@s fruitfulness) take
myrrh, re stora* an some ooriferous things, an make a perfume of
which let the woman recei!e into the neck of the womb through a funnel)
if the woman feels the smoke ascen through her boy to the nose, then
she is fruitful) otherwise she is barren" 7ome also take garlic an
beer, an cause the woman to lie upon her back upon it, an if she feel
the scent thereof in her nose, it is a sign of her being fruitful"
'ulpepper an others also gi!e a great eal of creit to the following
e*periment" Take a hanful of barley, an steep half of it in the urine
of a man, an the other half in the urine of the woman, for the space of
twenty$four hours) then take it out, an put the man@s by itself, an
the woman@s by itself) set it in a flower$pot, or some other thing,
where let it ry) water the man@s e!ery morning with his own urine, an
the woman@s with hers, an that which grows first is the most fruitful)
but if they grow not at all, they are both naturally barren"
A'ureA" 8f the barrenness procees from stoppage of the menstrua, let
the woman sweat, for that opens the parts) an the best way to sweat is
in a hot$house" Then let the womb be strengthene by rinking a raught
of white wine, wherein a hanful of stinking arrach, first bruise, has
been boile, for by a secret magnetic !irtue, it strengthens the womb,
an by a sympathetic Euality, remo!es any isease thereof" To which a
also a hanful of !er!ain, which is !ery goo to strengthen both the
womb an the hea, which are commonly afflicte together by sympathy"
;a!ing use these two or three ays, if they come not own, take of
calamint, pennyroyal, thyme, betony, ittany, burnet, fe!erfew, mugwort,
sage, peony roots, juniper berries, half a hanful of each, or as many
as can be got) let these be boile in beer, an taken for her rink"
Take one part of gentian$root, two parts of centaury, istil them with
ale in an alembic after you ha!e bruise the gentian$roots an infuse
them well" This water is an amirable remey to pro!oke the terms" But
if you ha!e not this water in reainess, take a rachm of centaury, an
half a rachm of gentian$roots bruise, boile in posset rink, an
rink half a rachm of it at night going to be" 7ee of wil na!ew
beaten to power, an a rachm of it taken in the morning in white wine,
also is !ery goo) but if it answers not, she must be let bloo in the
legs" An be sure you aminister your meicines a little before the full
of the moon, by no means in the wane of the moon) if you o, you will
fin them ineffectual"
8f barrenness procee from the o!erflowing of the menstrua, then
strengthen the womb as you were taught before) afterwars anoint the
!eins of the back with oil of roses, oil of myrtle an oil of Euinces
e!ery night, an then wrap a piece of white baise about your !eins, the
cotton sie ne*t to the skin an keep the same always to it" But abo!e
all, 8 recommen this meicine to you" Take comfrey$lea!es or roots, an
clown wounwort, of each a hanful) bruise them well, an boil them in
ale, an rink a goo raught of it now an then" :r take cinnamon,
cassia lignea, opium, of each two rachms) myrrh, white pepper,
galbanum, of each one rachm) issol!e the gum an opium in white wine)
beat the rest into power an make pills, mi*ing them together e*actly,
an let the patient take two each night going to be) but let the pills
not e*cee fifteen grains"
8f barrenness procee from a flu* in the womb, the cure must be
accoring to the cause proucing it, or which the flu* procees from,
which may be known by signs) for a flu* of the womb, being a continual
istillation from it for a long time together, the colour of what is
!oie shows what humour it is that offens) in some it is re, an that
procees from bloo putrifie, in some it is yellow, an that enotes
choler) in others white an pale, an enotes phlegm" 8f pure bloo
comes out, as if a !ein were opene, some corrosion or gnawing of the
womb is to be feare" All these are known by the following signs&
The place of conception is continually moist with the humours, the face
ill$coloure, the party loathes meat an breathes with ifficulty, the
eyes are much swollen, which is sometimes without pain" 8f the offening
humour be pure bloo, then you must let bloo in the arm, an the
cephalic !ein is fittest to raw back the bloo) then let the juice of
plantain an comfrey be injecte into the womb" 8f phlegm be a cause,
let cinnamon be a spice use in all her meats an rinks, an let her
take a little ?enice treacle or mithriate e!ery morning" %et her boil
burnet, mugwort, fe!erfew an !er!ain in all her broths" Also, half a
rachm of myrrh, taken e!ery morning, is an e*cellent remey against
this malay" 8f choler be the cause, let her take burrage, buglos, re
roses, eni!e an succory roots, lettuce an white poppy$see, of each a
hanful) boil these in white wine until one half be waste) let her
rink half a pint e!ery morning to which half pint a syrup of chicory
an syrup of peach$flowers, of each an ounce, with a little rhubarb, an
this will gently purge her" 8f it procee from putrifie bloo, let her
be ble in the foot, an then strengthen the womb, as 8 ha!e irecte in
stopping the menstrua"
8f barrenness be occasione by the falling out of the womb, as sometimes
it happens, let her apply sweet scents to the nose, such as ci!et,
galbanum, stora*, calamitis, woo of aloes) an such other things as
are of that nature) an let her lay stinking things to the womb, such as
asafoetia, oil of amber, or the smoke of her own hair, being burnt) for
this is a certain truth, that the womb flies from all stinking, an to
all sweet things" But the most infallible cure in this case is) take a
common burock leaf Cwhich you may keep ry, if you please, all the
yearD, apply this to her hea an it will raw the womb upwars" 8n fits
of the mother, apply it to the soles of the feet, an it will raw the
womb ownwars" But see beaten into a power, raws the womb which way
you please, accoringly as it is applie"
8f barrenness in the woman procee from a hot cause, let her take whey
an clarify it) then boil plantain lea!es an roots in it, an rink it
for her orinary rink" %et her inject plantain juice into her womb with
a syringe" 8f it be in the winter, when you cannot get the juice, make a
strong ecoction of the lea!es an roots in water, an inject that up
with a syringe, but let it be bloo warm, an you will fin this
meicine of great efficacy" An further, to take away barrenness
proceeing from hot causes, take of conser!e of roses, col loJenges,
make a tragacanth, the confections of trincatelia) an use, to smell to,
camphor, rosewater an sauners" 8t is also goo to blee the basilica
or li!er !ein, an take four or fi!e ounces of bloo, an then take this
purge) take electuarium e epithymo e succo rosarum, of each two
rachms an a half) clarifie whey, four ounces) mi* them well together,
an take it in the morning fasting) sleep after it about an hour an a
half, an fast for four hours after) an about an hour before you eat
anything, rink a goo raught of whey" Also take lilywater, four
ounces) manragore water, one ounce) saffron, half a scruple) beat the
saffron to a power, an mi* it with waters, rink them warm in the
morning) use these eight ays together"
A7ome apparent +emey against Barrenness an to cause Fruitfulness"A
Take broom flowers, smallage, parsley see, cummin, mugwort, fe!erfew,
of each half a scruple) aloes, half an ounce) 8nian salt, saffron, of
each half a rachm) beat an mi* them together, an put it to fi!e
ounces of fe!erfew water warm) stop it up, an let it stan an ry in a
warm place, an this o, two or three times, one after the other) then
make each rachm into si* pills, an take one of them e!ery night before
supper"
For a purging meicine against barrenness, take conser!e of beneicta
la*, a Euarter of an ounce) epsillo three rachms, electuary e
rosarum, one rachm) mi* them together with fe!erfew water, an rink it
in the morning betimes" About three ays after the patient hath taken
this purge, let her be ble, taking four or fi!e ounces from the meian,
or common black !ein in the foot) an then gi!e for fi!e successi!e
ays, file i!ory, a rachm an a half, in fe!erfew water) an uring
the time let her sit in the following bath an hour together, morning an
night" Take mil yellow sapes, aucas, balsam woo an fruit, ash$keys,
of each two hanfuls, re an white behen, broom flowers, of each a
hanful) musk, three grains) amber, saffron, of each a scruple) boile
in water sufficiently) but the musk, saffron, amber an broom flowers
must be put into the ecoction, after it is boile an straine"
AA 'onfection !ery goo against Barrenness"A
Take pistachia, eringoes, of each half an ounce) saffron, one rachm)
lignum aloes, galengal, mace, coriophilla, balm flowers, re an white
behen, of each four scruples) syrup of confecte ginger, twel!e ounces)
white sugar, si* ounces, ecoct all these in twel!e ounces of balm
water, an stir them well together) then put in it musk an amber, of
each a scruple) take thereof the Euantity of a nutmeg three times a ay)
in the morning, an hour before noon an an hour after supper"
But if the cause of barrenness, either in man or woman, be through
scarcity or iminution of the natural see, then such things are to be
taken as o increase the see, an incite to stir up to !enery, an
further conception) which 8 shall here set own, an then conclue the
chapter concerning barrenness"
For this, yellow rape see bake in brea is !ery goo) also young, fat
flesh, not too much salte) also saffron, the tails of stincus, an long
pepper prepare in wine" But let such persons eschew all sour, sharp,
oughy an slimy meats, long sleep after meat, surfeiting an
runkenness, an so much as they can, keep themsel!es from sorrow,
grief, !e*ation an an*ious care"
These things following increase the natural see, stir up the !enery an
reco!er the see again when it is lost, !iJ", eggs, milk, rice, boile
in milk, sparrows@ brains, flesh, bones an all) the stones an piJJles
of bulls, bucks, rams an bears, also cocks@ stones, lambs@ stones,
partriges@, Euails@ an pheasants@ eggs" An this is an uneniable
aphorism, that whate!er any creature is aicte unto, they mo!e or
incite the man or the woman that eats them, to the like, an therefore
partriges, Euails, sparrows, etc", being e*tremely aicte to !enery,
they work the same effect on those men an women that eat them" Also,
take notice, that in what part of the boy the faculty that you woul
strengthen, lies, take that same part of the boy of another creature,
in whom the faculty is strong, as a meicine" As for instance, the
procreati!e faculty lies in the testicles) therefore, cocks@ stones,
lambs@ stones, etc", are proper to stir up !enery" 8 will also gi!e you
another general rule) all creatures that are fruitful being eaten, make
them fruitful that eat them, as crabs, lobsters, prawns, pigeons, etc"
The stones of a fo*, rie an beaten to a power, an a rachm taken in
the morning in sheep@s milk, an the stones of a boar taken in like
manner, are !ery goo" The heart of a male Euail carrie about a man,
an the heart of a female Euail carrie about a woman, causes natural
lo!e an fruitfulness" %et them, also, that woul increase their see,
eat an rink of the best, as much as they can) for Asine 'erere el
%ibero, friget ?enusA, is an ol pro!erb, which is, Bwithout goo meat
an rink, ?enus will be froJen to eath"B
Pottages are goo to increase the see) such as are mae of beans, peas,
an lupins, mi*e with sugar" French beans, wheat soen in broth,
anisee, also onions, stewe garlic, leeks, yellow rapes, fresh mugwort
roots, eringo roots confecte, ginger connecte, etc" :f fruits, haJel
nuts, cyprus nuts, pistachio, almons an marchpanes thereof" 7pices
goo to increase see are cinnamon, galengal, long pepper, clo!es,
ginger, saffron an asafoetia, a rachm an a half taken in goo wine,
is !ery goo for this purpose"
The weakness an ebility of a man@s yar, being a great hinrance to
procreation let him use the following ointment to strengthen it& Take
wa*, oil of bea!er$co, marjoram, gentle an oil of costus, of each a
like Euantity, mi* them into an ointment, an put it to a little musk,
an with it anoint the yar, cos, etc" Take of house emmets, three
rachms, oil of white safannum, oil of lilies, of each an ounce) poun
an bruise the ants, an put them to the oil an let them stan in the
sun si* ays) then strain out the oil an a to it euphorbium one
scruple, pepper an rue, of each one rachm, mustar see half a rachm,
set this altogether in the sun two or three ays, then anoint the
instrument of generation therewith"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 88
AThe ,iseases of the Womb"A
8 ha!e alreay sai, that the womb is the fiel of generation) an if
this fiel be corrupte, it is !ain to e*pect any fruit, although it be
e!er so well sown" 8t is, therefore, not without reason that 8 inten in
this chapter to set own the se!eral istempers to which the womb is
obno*ious, with proper an safe remeies against them"
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f the ;ot ,istemper of the Womb"A
The istemper consists in e*cess of heat) for as heat of the womb is
necessary for conception, so if it be too much, it nourisheth not the
see, but it isperseth its heat, an hiners the conception" This
preternatural heat is sometimes from the birth, an causeth barrenness,
but if it be acciental, it is from hot causes, that bring the heat an
the bloo to the womb) it arises also from internal an e*ternal
meicines, an from too much hot meat, rink an e*ercise" Those that
are trouble with this istemper ha!e but few courses, an those are
yellow, black, burnt or sharp, ha!e hair betimes on their pri!ities, are
!ery prone to lust, subject to heaache, an aboun with choler, an
when the istemper is strong upon them, they ha!e but few terms, which
are out of orer, being ba an har to flow, an in time they become
hypochonriacal, an for the most part barren, ha!ing sometimes a
phrenJy of the womb"
A'ureA" The remey is to use coolers, so that they offen not the
!essels that most open for the flu* of the terms" Therefore, take the
following inwarly) succory, eni!e, !iolets, water lilies, sorrel,
lettuce, sauners an syrups an conser!e mae thereof" Also take a
conser!e of succory, !iolets, water$lilies, burrage, each an ounce)
conser!e of roses, half an ounce, iamargation frigi, iatriascantal,
each half a rachm) an with syrup of !iolets, or juice of citrons, make
an electuary" For outwar applications, make use of ointment of roses,
!iolets, water$lilies, gour, ?enus na!el, applie to the back an
loins"
%et the air be cool, her garments thin, an her foo eni!e, lettuce,
succory an barley" Gi!e her no hot meats, nor strong wine, unless mi*e
with water" +est is goo for her, but she must abstain from copulation,
though she may sleep as long as she pleases"
7E'T" 88"$$A:f the 'ol ,istempers of the Womb"A
This istemper is the re!erse of the foregoing, an eEually an enemy to
generation, being cause by a col Euality abouning to e*cess, an
procees from a too col air, rest, ileness an cooling meicines" 8t
may be known by an a!ersion to !enery, an taking no pleasure in the act
of copulation when the see is spent) the terms are phlegmatic, thick
an slimy, an o not flow as they shoul) the womb is winy an the
see crue an waterish" 8t is the cause of obstructions an barrenness,
an is har to be cure"
A'ureA" Take galengal, cinnamon, nutmeg mace, clo!es, ginger, cububs,
caramom, grains of paraise, each an ounce an a half, galengal, si*
rachms, long pepper, half an ounce, Oeoary fi!e rachms) bruise them
an a si* Euarts of wine, put them into a cellar nine ays, aily
stirring them) then a of mint two hanfuls, an let them stan
fourteen ays, pour off the wine an bruise them, an then pour on the
wine again, an istil them" Also anoint with oil of lilies, rue,
angelica, cinnamon, clo!es, mace an nutmeg" %et her iet an air be
warm, her meat of easy concoction, seasone with ant$see, fennel an
thyme) an let her a!oi raw fruits an milk iets"
7E'T" 888"$$A:f the 8nflation of the Womb"A
The inflation of the womb is a stretching of it by win, calle by some
a winy mole) the win procees from a col matter, whether thick or
thin, containe in the !eins of the womb, by which the heat thereof is
o!ercome, an which either flows thither from other parts, or is
gathere there by col meats an rinks" 'ol air may be a proucing
cause of it also, as women that lie in are e*pose to it" The win is
containe either in the ca!ity of the !essels of the womb, or between
the tumicle, an may be known by a swelling in the region of the womb,
which sometimes reaches to the na!el, loins an iaphragm, an rises an
abates as the win increaseth or ecreaseth" 8t iffers from the ropsy,
in that it ne!er swells so high" That neither physician nor miwife may
take it for ropsy, let them obser!e the signs of the woman with the
chil lai own in a former part of this work) an if any sign be
wanting, they may suspect it to be an inflation) of which it is a
further sign, that in conception the swelling is in!ariable) also if you
strike upon the belly, in an inflation, there will be noise, but not so
in case there be a conception" 8t also iffers from a mole, because in
that there is a weight an harness of the belly, an when the patient
mo!es from one sie to the other she feels a great weight which mo!eth,
but not so in this" 8f the inflation continue without the ca!ity of the
womb, the pain is greater an more e*tensi!e, nor is there any noise,
because the win is more pent up"
A'ureA" This istemper is neither of a long continuance nor angerous,
if looke after in time) an if it be in the ca!ity of the womb it is
more easily e*pelle" To which purpose gi!e her iaphnicon, with a
little castor an sharp clysters that e*pel the win" 8f this istemper
happen to a woman in tra!ail let her not purge after eli!ery, nor
blee, because it is from a col matter) but if it come after
chil$bearing, an her terms come own sufficiently, an she has
fullness of bloo, let the saphoena !ein be opene, after which, let her
take the following electuary& take conser!e of betony an rosemary, of
each an ounce an a half) canie eringoes, citron peel canie, each
half an ounce) iacimium, iagenel, each a rachm) oil of anisee, si*
rops, an with syrup of citrons make an electuary" For outwar
application make a cataplasm of rue, mugwort, camomile, ill, calamint,
new pennyroyal, thyme, with oil of rue, keir an camomile" An let the
following clyster to e*pel the win be put into the womb& Take agnus
castus, cinnamon, each two rachms, boil them in wine to half a pint"
7he may likewise use sulphur, Bath an 7pa waters, both inwar an
outwar, because they e*pel the win"
7E'T" 8?"$$A:f the 7traitness of the Womb an its ?essels"A
This is another effect of the womb, which is a !ery great obstruction to
the bearing of chilren, hinering both the flow of the menses an
conception, an is seate in the !essel of the womb, an the neck
thereof" The causes of this straitness are thick an rough humours, that
stop the mouths of the !eins an arteries" These humours are bre either
by gross or too much nourishment, when the heat of the womb is so weak
that it cannot attenuate the humours, which by reason thereof, either
flow from the whole boy, or are gathere into the womb" =ow the !essels
are mae straiter or closer se!eral ways) sometimes by inflammation,
scirrhous or other tumours) sometimes by compressions, scars, or by
flesh or membranes that grow after a woun" The signs by which this is
known are, the stoppage of the terms, not concei!ing, an conities
abouning in the boy which are all shown by particular signs, for if
there is a woun, or the secunine be pulle out by force phlegm comes
from the woun) if stoppage of the terms be from an ol obstruction of
humours, it is har to be cure) if it be only from the isorerly use
of astringents, it is more curable) if it be from a scirrhous, or other
tumours that compress or close the !essel, the isease is incurable"
A'ureA" For the cure of that which is curable, obstructions must be
taken away, phlegm must be purge, an she must be let bloo, as will be
hereafter irecte in the stoppage of the terms" Then use the following
meicines& Take of anisee an fennel see, each a rachm) rosemary,
pennyroyal, calamint, betony flowers, each an ounce) castus, cinnamon,
galengal, each half an ounce) saffron half a rachm, with wine" :r take
asparagus roots, parsley roots, each an ounce) pennyroyal, calamint,
each a hanful) wallflowers, gilly$flowers, each two hanfuls) boil,
strain an a syrup of mugwort, an ounce an a half" For a fomentation,
take pennyroyal, mercury, calamint, marjoram, mugwort, each two
hanfuls, sage, rosemary bays, camomile$flowers, each a hanful, boil
them in water an foment the groin an the bottom of the belly) or let
her sit up to the na!el in a bath, an then anoint about the groin with
oil of rue, lilies, ill, etc"
7E'T" ?"$$A:f the falling of the Womb"A
This is another e!il effect of the womb which is both !ery troublesome,
an also a hinrance to conception" 7ometimes the womb falleth to the
mile of the thighs, nay, almost to the knees, an may be known then by
its hanging out" =ow, that which causeth the womb to change its place
is, that the ligaments by which it is boun to the other parts, are not
in orer) for there are four ligaments, two abo!e, broa an membranous,
roun an hollow) it is also boun to the great !essels by !eins an
arteries, an to the back by ner!es) but the place is change when it is
rawn another way, or when the ligaments are loose, an it falls own by
its own weight" 8t is rawn on one sie when the menses are hinere
from flowing, an the !eins an arteries are full, namely, those that go
to the womb" 8f it be a mole on one sie, the li!er an spleen cause it)
by the li!er !ein on the right sie, an the spleen on the left, as they
are more or less fille" :thers are of opinion, it comes from the
solution of the conne*ion of the fibrous neck an the parts ajacent)
an that it is from the weight of the womb escening) this we eny not,
but the ligaments must be loose or broken" But women with a ropsy coul
not be sai to ha!e the womb fallen own, if it came only from
looseness) but in them it is cause by the saltness of the water, which
ries more than it moistens" =ow, if there be a little tumour, within or
without the pri!ities, it is nothing else but a escent of the womb, but
if there be a tumour like a goose@s egg an a hole at the bottom an
there is at first a great pain in the parts to which the womb is
fastene, as the loins, the bottom of the belly, an the os sacrum, it
procees from the breaking or stretching of the ligaments) an a little
after the pain is abate, an there is an impeiment in walking, an
sometimes bloo comes from the breach of the !essels, an the e*crements
an urine are stoppe, an then a fe!er an con!ulsion ensueth,
oftentimes pro!ing mortal, especially if it happen to women with chil"
A'ureA" For the cure of this istemper, first put up the womb before the
air alter it, or it be swollen or inflame) an for this purpose gi!e a
clyster to remo!e the e*crements, an lay her upon her back, with her
legs abroa, an her thighs lifte up an her hea own) then take the
tumour in your han an thrust it in without !iolence) if it be swelle
by alteration an col, foment it with the ecoction of mallows,
althoea, lime, fenugreek, camomile flowers, bay$berries, an anoint it
with oil of lilies, an hen@s grease" 8f there be an inflammation, o
not put it up, but fright it in, by putting a re$hot iron before it
an making a show as if you intene to burn it) but first sprinkle upon
it the power of mastich, frankincense an the like) thus, take
frankincense, mastich, each two rachms) sarcocol steepe in milk,
rachm) mummy, pomegranate flowers, sanguisraconis, each half a rachm"
When it is put up, let her lie with her legs stretche, an one upon the
other, for eight or ten ays, an make a pessary in the form of a pear,
with cork or sponge, an put it into the womb, ippe in sharp wine, or
juice of acacia, with power of sanguis, with galbanum an bellium"
Apply also a cupping$glass, with a great flame, uner the na!el or paps,
or both kineys, an lay this plaster to the back) take opopana*, two
ounces, stora* liEui, half an ounce) mastich, frankincense, pitch,
bole, each two rachms) then with wa* make a plaster) or take lauanum,
a rachm an a half) mastich, an frankincense, each half a rachm, woo
aloes, clo!es, spike, each a rachm) ash$coloure ambergris, four
grains& musk, half a scruple) make two roun plasters to be lai on each
sie of the na!el) make a fume of snails@ skins salte, or of garlic,
an let it be taken in by the funnel" <se also astringent fomentations
of bramble lea!es, plantain, horse$tails, myrtles, each two hanfuls)
wormsee, two hanfuls) pomegranate flowers, half an ounce) boil them in
wine an water" For an injection take comfrey root, an ounce)
rupturewort, two rachms) yarrow, mugwort, each half an ounce) boil them
in re wine, an inject with a syringe" To strengthen the womb, take
hartshorn, bays, of each half a rachm) myrrh half a rachm) make a
power of two oses, an gi!e it with sharp wine" :r you may take
Oeoary, parsnip see, crabs@ eyes prepare, each a rachm, nutmeg, half
a rachm) an gi!e a rachm, in power) but astringents must be use
with great caution, lest by stopping the courses a worse mischief
follow" To keep in its place, make rollers an ligatures as for a
rupture) an put pessaries into the bottom of the womb, that may force
it to remain" %et the iet be such as has rying, astringent an glueing
Eualities, as rice, starch, Euinces, pears an green cheese) but let the
summer fruits be a!oie) an let her wine be astringent an re"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 888
A:f ,iseases +elating to Women@s (onthly 'ourses"A
7E'T8:= 8"$$A:f Women@s (onthly 'ourses in General"A
That i!ine Pro!ience, which, with a wisom peculiar to itself, has
appointe woman to concei!e by coition with man, an to bear an bring
forth chilren, has pro!ie for nourishment of chilren uring their
recess in the womb of their mother, by that reunancy of the bloo
which is natural to all women) an which, flowing out at certain perios
of time Cwhen they are not pregnantD are from thence calle AtermsA an
AmensesA, from their monthly flu* of e*crementitious an unprofitable
bloo" =ow, that the matter flowing forth is e*crementitious, is to be
unerstoo only with respect to the reunancy an o!erplus thereof,
being an e*crement only with respect to its Euantity) for as to its
Euality, it is as pure an incorrupt as any bloo in the !eins) an this
appears from the final cause of it, which is the propagation an
conser!ation of mankin, an also from the generation of it, being
superfluity of the last aliment of the fleshy parts" 8f any ask, if the
menses be not of hurtful Euality, how can they cause such !enomous
effects) if they fall upon trees an herbs, they make the one barren
an mortify the other& 8 answer, this malignity is contracte in the
womb, for the woman, wanting nati!e heat to igest the superfluity,
sens it to the matri*, where seating itself till the mouth of the womb
be ilate, it becomes corrupt an mortifie) which may easily be,
consiering the heat an moistness of the place) an so this bloo being
out of its proper !essels, offens in Euality"
7E'T" 88"$$A:f the Terms coming out of orer, either before or after the
usual Time"A
;a!ing, in the former part of this work, treate, of the suppression an
o!erflowing of the monthly terms, 8 shall content myself with referring
the reaer thereto, an procee to speak of their coming out of orer,
either before or after the usual time"
Both these procee from an ill constitution of boy" E!erything is
beautiful in its orer, in nature as well as in morality) an if the
orer of nature be broken, it shows the boy to be out of orer" :f each
of these effects briefly"
When the monthly courses come before their time, showing a epra!e
e*cretion, an flowing sometimes twice a month, the cause is in the
bloo, which stirs up the e*pulsi!e faculty of the womb, or else in the
whole boy, an is freEuently occasione by the person@s iet, which
increases the bloo too much, making it too sharp or too hot" 8f the
retenti!e faculty of the womb be weak, an the e*pulsi!e faculty strong,
an of a Euick sense, it brings them forth the sooner" 7ometimes they
flow sooner by reason of a fall, stroke or some !iolent passion, which
the parties themsel!es can best relate" 8f it be from heat, thin an
sharp humours, it is known by the istemper of the whole boy" The
looseness of the !essels an the weakness of the retenti!e faculty, is
known from a moist an loose habit of the boy" 8t is more troublesome
than angerous, but hiners conception, an therefore the cure is
necessary for all, but especially such as esire chilren" 8f it
procees from a sharp bloo, let her temper it by a goo iet an
meicines" To which purpose, let her use baths of iron water, that
correct the istemper of the bowels, an then e!acuate" 8f it procees
from the retenti!e faculty, an looseness of the !essels, it is to be
correcte with gentle astringents"
As to the courses flowing after the usual time, the causes are,
thickness of the bloo, an the smallness of its Euantity, with the
stoutness of the passage, an weakness of the e*pulsi!e faculties"
Either of these singly may stop the courses, but if they all concur,
they rener the istemper worse" 8f the bloo abouns not in such a
Euantity as may stir up nature to e*pel it, its purging must necessarily
be eferre, till there be enough" An if the bloo be thick, the
passage stoppe, an the e*pulsi!e faculty weak, the menses must nees
be out of orer an the purging of them retare"
For the cure of this, if the Euantity of bloo be small, let her use a
larger iet, an a !ery little e*ercise" 8f the bloo be thick an foul,
let it be mae thin, an the humours mi*e therewith, e!acuate" 8t is
goo to purge, after the courses ha!e one flowing, an to use calamint,
an, inee, the oftener she purges, the better" 7he may also use fumes
an pessaries, apply cupping glasses without scarification to the insie
of the thighs, an rub the legs an scarify the ankles, an hol the
feet in warm water four or fi!e ays before the courses come own" %et
her also anoint the bottom of her belly with things proper to pro!oke
the terms"
A+emeies for ,iseases in Women@s Paps"A
(ake a cataplasm of bean meal an sala oil, an lay it to the place
afflicte" :r anoint with the juice of papilaris" This must be one when
the papa are !ery sore"
8f the paps be har an swollen, take a hanful of rue, colewort roots,
horehoun an mint) if you cannot get all these con!eniently, any two
will o) poun the hanful in honey, an apply it once e!ery ay till
heale"
8f the nipples be stiff an sore, anoint twice a ay with Florence oil,
till heale" 8f the paps be flabby an hanging, bruise a little hemlock,
an apply it to the breast for three ays) but let it not stan abo!e
se!en hours" :r, which is safer, rusae juice, well boile, with a little
sinapios ae thereto, an anoint"
8f the paps be har an ea, make a plate of lea pretty thin, to
answer the breasts) let this stan nine hours each ay, for three ays"
:r sassafras bruise, an use in like manner"
A+eceipt for Procuring (ilk"A
,rink arpleui, rawn as tea, for twenty$one ays" :r eat of anisees"
Also the juice of arbor !itae, a glassful once a ay for ele!en ays, is
!ery goo, for it Euickens the memory, strengthens the boy, an causeth
milk to flow in abunance"
A,irections for ,rawing of Bloo"A
,rawing of bloo was first in!ente for goo an salutary purposes,
although often abuse an misapplie" To blee in the left arm remo!es
long continue pains an heaaches" 8t is also goo for those who ha!e
got falls an bruises"
Bleeing is goo for many isorers, an generally pro!es a cure, e*cept
in some e*traorinary cases, an in those cases bleeing is hurtful" 8f
a woman be pregnant, to raw a little bloo will gi!e her ease, goo
health, an a lusty chil"
Bleeing is a most certain cure for no less than twenty$one isorers,
without any outwar or inwar applications) an for many more with
application of rugs, herbs an flowers"
When the moon is on the increase, you may let bloo at any time ay or
night) but when she is on the ecline, you must blee only in the
morning"
Bleeing may be performe from the month of (arch to =o!ember" =o
bleeing in ,ecember, -anuary or February, unless an occasion reEuire
it" The months of (arch, April an =o!ember, are the three chief months
of the year for bleeing in) but it may be performe with safety from
the ninth of (arch to the nineteenth of =o!ember"
To pre!ent the angers that may arise from she unskilful rawing of
bloo, let none open a but a person of e*perience an practice"
There are three sorts of people you must not let raw bloo) first
ignorant an ine*perience persons" 7econly, those who ha!e ba sight
an trembling hans, whether skilful or unskille" For when the han
trembles, the lance is apt to start from the !ein, an the flesh be
thereby amage, which may hurt, canker, an !ery much torment the
patient" Thirly, let no woman blee, but such as ha!e gone through a
course of miwifery at college, for those who are unskilful may cut an
artery, to the great amage of the patient" Besies, what is still
worse, those pretene bleeers, who take it up at their own han,
generally keep unege an rusty lancets, which pro!e hurtful, e!en in a
skilful han" Accoringly you ought to be cautious in choosing your
physician) a man of learning knows what !ein to open for each isorer)
he knows how much bloo to take as soon as he sees the patient, an he
can gi!e you suitable a!ice concerning your isorer"
9 9 9 9 9
PA+T 888
A+87T:T%E@7 B::> :F P+:B%E(7
W8T; :T;E+
A7T+:(E+, A7T+:%:GE+7 A=,
P;#78'8A=7,
':='E+=8=G
T;E 7TATE :F (A=@7 B:,#"
M" Among all li!ing creatures, why hath man only his countenance lifte
up towars ;ea!en" A" 3" From the will of the 'reator" But although this
answer be true, yet it seemeth not to be of force, because that so all
Euestions might be easily resol!e" Therefore, ." 8 answer that, for the
most part, e!ery workman oth make his first work worse, an then his
secon betterK so Go creating all other animals before man ga!e them
their face looking own to the earth) an then seconly he create man,
unto whom he ga!e an upright shape, lifte unto hea!en, because it is
rawn from i!inity, an it is eri!e from the gooness of Go, who
maketh all his works both perfect an goo" I" (an only, among all
li!ing creatures, is oraine to the kingom of hea!en, an therefore
hath his face ele!ate an lifte up to hea!en, because that espising
earthly an worlly things, he ought often to contemplate on hea!enly
things" /" That the reasonable man is like unto angels, an finally
oraine towars Go) an therefore he hath a figure looking upwar" F"
(an is a microcosm, that is, a little worl, an therefore he oth
comman all other li!ing creatures an they obey him" 4" =aturally there
is unto e!erything an e!ery work, that form an figure gi!en which is
fit an proper for its motion) as unto the hea!ens, rounness, to the
fire a pyramiical form, that is, broa beneath an sharp towars the
top, which form is most apt to ascen) an so man has his face towars
hea!en to behol the woners of Go@s works"
M" Why are the heas of men hairyN A" The hair is the ornament of the
hea, an the brain is purge of gross humours by the growing of the
hair, from the highest to the lowest, which pass through the pores of
the e*terior flesh, become ry, an are con!erte into hair" This
appears to be the case, from the circumstance that in all man@s boy
there is nothing rier than the hair, for it is rier than the bones)
an it is well known that some beasts are nourishe with bones, as ogs,
but they cannot igest feathers or hair, but !oi them unigeste, being
too hot for nourishment" ." 8t is answere, that the brain is purge in
three ifferent ways) of superfluous watery humours by the eyes, of
choler by the nose, an of phlegm by the hair, which is the opinion of
the best physicians"
M" Why ha!e men longer hair on their heas than any other li!ing
creatureN A" Arist" e Generat" Anim" says, that men ha!e the moistest
brain of all li!ing creatures from which the see proceeeth which is
con!erte into the long hair of the hea" ." The humours of men are fat,
an o not become ry easily) an therefore the hair groweth long on
them" 8n beasts, the humours easily ry, an therefore the hair groweth
not so long"
M" Why oth the hair take eeper root in man@s skin than in that of any
other li!ing creaturesN A" Because it has greater store of nourishment
in man, an therefore grows more in the inwar parts of man" An this is
the reason why in other creatures the hair oth alter an change with
the skin, an not in man, unless by a scar or woun"
M" Why ha!e women longer hair than menN A" Because women are moister an
more phlegmatic than men, an therefore there is more matter for hair to
them, an, by conseEuence, the length also of their hair" An,
furthermore, this matter is more increase in women than men from their
interior parts, an especially in the time of their monthly terms,
because the matter oth then ascen, whereby the humour that breeeth
the hair, oth increase" ." Because women want bears) so the matter of
the bear oth go into that of the hair"
M" Why ha!e some women soft hair an some harN A" 3" The hair hath
proportion with the skin) of which some is har, some thick, some subtle
an soft, some gross) therefore, the hair which grows out of thick,
gross skin, is thick an gross) that which groweth out of a subtle an
fine skin, is fine an soft) when the pores are open, then cometh forth
much humour, an therefore har hair is engenere) an when the pores
are strait, then there oth grow soft an fine hair" This oth e!iently
appear in men, because women ha!e softer hair than they) for in women
the pores are shut an strait, by reason of their colness" ." Because
for the most part, choleric men ha!e harer an thicker hair than
others, by reason of their heat, an because their pores are always
open, an therefore they ha!e bears sooner than others" For this reason
also, beasts that ha!e har hair are bolest, because such ha!e
proceee from heat an choler, e*amples of which we ha!e in the bear
an the boar) an contrariwise, those beasts that ha!e soft hair are
fearful, because they are col, as the hare an the hart" I" From the
climate where a man is born) because in hot regions har an gross hair
is engenere, as appears in the Ethiopians, an the contrary is the
case is col countries towar the north"
M" Why ha!e some men curle hair, an some smoothN A" From the superior
egree of heat in some men, which makes the hair curl an grow upwar)
this is pro!e by a man@s ha!ing smooth hair when he goes into a hot
bath, an it afterwars becomes curle" Therefore keepers of baths ha!e
often curle hair, as also Ethiopians an choleric men" But the cause of
this smoothness, is the abunance of moist humours"
M" Why o women show ripeness by hair in their pri!y parts, an not
elsewhere, but men in their breastsN A" Because in men an women there
is abunance of humiity in that place, but most in women, as men ha!e
the mouth of the blaer in that place, where the urine is containe, of
which the hair in the breast is engenere, an especially that about
the na!el" But of women in general, it is sai, that the humiity of the
blaer of the matri*, or womb, is joine an meeteth in that lower
secret place, an therefore is issol!e an separate in that place
into !apours an fumes, which are the cause of hair" An the like oth
happen in other places, as in the hair uner the arms"
M" Why ha!e not women bearsN A" Because they want heat) which is the
case with some effeminate men, who are bearless from the same cause, to
ha!e comple*ions like women"
M" Why oth the hair grow on those that are hangeN A" Because their
boies are e*pose to the sun, which, by its heat oth issol!e all
moisture into the fume or !apour of which the hair oth grow"
M" Why is the hair of the bear thicker an grosser than elsewhere) an
the more men are sha!en, the harer an thicker it growethN A" Because
by so much as the humours or !apours of a liEui are issol!e an taken
away, so much the more oth the humour remaining raw to the same) an
therefore the more the hair is sha!en, the thicker the humours gather
which engener the hair, an cause it to wa* har"
M" Why are women smooth an fairer than menN A" Because in women much of
the humiity an superfluity, which are the matter an cause of the hair
of the boy, is e*pelle with their monthly terms) which superfluity,
remaining in men, through !apours passes into hair"
M" Why oth man, abo!e all other creatures, wa* hoary an grayN A"
Because man hath the hottest heart of all li!ing creatures) an
therefore, nature being most wise, lest a man shoul be suffocate
through the heat of his heart, hath place the heart, which is most hot,
uner the brain, which is most col) to the en that the heat of the
heart may be tempere by the colness of the brain) an contrariwise,
that the colness of the brain may be Eualifie by the heat of the
heart) an thereby there might be a temperature in both" A proof of this
is, that of all li!ing creatures man hath the worst breath when he comes
to full age" Furthermore, man oth consume nearly half his time in
sleep, which oth procee from the great e*cess of colness an moisture
in the brain, an from his wanting natural heat to igest an consume
that moisture, which heat he hath in his youth, an therefore, in that
age is not gray, but in ol age, when heat faileth) because then the
!apours ascening from the stomach remain unigeste an unconsume for
want of natural heat, an thus putrefy, on which putrefaction of humours
that the whiteness oth follow, which is calle grayness or hoariness"
Whereby it oth appear, that hoariness is nothing but a whiteness of
hair, cause by a putrefaction of the humours about the roots of the
hair, through the want of natural heat in ol age" 7ometimes all
grayness is cause by the naughtiness of the comple*ion, which may
happen in youth& sometimes through o!er great fear an care as appeareth
in merchants, sailors an thie!es"
M" Why oth re hair grow white sooner than hair of any other colourN A"
Because reness is an infirmity of the hair) for it is engenere of a
weak an infirm matter, that is, of matter corrupte with the flowers of
the woman) an therefore it wa*es white sooner than any other colour"
M" Why o wol!es grow grislyN A" To unerstan this Euestion, note the
ifference between grayness an grisliness) grayness is cause through
efect of natural heat, but grisliness through e!ouring an heat" The
wolf being a e!ouring beast, he eateth gluttonously without chewing,
an enough at once for three ays) in conseEuence of which, gross
!apours engenere in the wolf@s boy, which cause grisliness" Grayness
an grisliness ha!e this ifference) grayness is only in the hea, but
grisliness all o!er the boy"
M" Why o horses grow grisly an grayN A" Because they are for the most
part in the sun, an heat naturally causes putrefaction) therefore the
matter of hair oth putrefy, an in conseEuence they are Euickly peele"
M" Why o men get bal, an trees let fall their lea!es in winterN A"
The want of moisture is the cause in both, which is pro!e by a man@s
becoming bal through !enery, because by that he lets forth his natural
humiity an heat) an by that e*cess in carnal pleasure the moisture is
consume which is the nutriment of the hair" Thus, eunuchs an women o
not grow bal, because they o not part from this moisture) an
therefore eunuchs are of the comple*ion of women"
M" Why are not women balN A" Because they are col an moist, which are
the causes that the hair remaineth) for moistness oth gi!e nutriment to
the hair, an colness oth bin the pores"
M" Why are not blin men naturally balN A" Because the eye hath
moisture in it, an that moisture which shoul pass through by the
substance of the eyes, oth become a sufficient nutriment for the hair
an therefore they are selom bal"
M" Why oth the hair stan on en when men are afraiN A" Because in
time of fear the heat oth go from the outwar parts of the boy into
the inwar to help the heart, an so the pores in which the hair is
fastene are shut up, after which stopping an shutting up of the pores,
the staning up of the hair oth follow"
A:f the ;ea"A
M" Why is a man@s hea rounN A" Because it contains in it the moistest
parts of the li!ing creature& an also that the brain may be efene
thereby, as with a shiel"
M" Why is the hea not absolutely long but somewhat rounN A" To the en
that the three creeks an cells of the brain might the better be
istinguishe) that is, the fancy in the forehea, the iscoursing or
reasonable part in the mile, an memory in the hiner$most part"
M" Why oth a man lift up his hea towars the hea!ens when he oth
imagineN A" Because the imagination is in the fore part of the hea or
brain, an therefore it lifteth up itself, that the creeks or cells of
the imagination may be opene, an that the spirits which help the
imagination, an are fit for that purpose, ha!ing their concourse
thither, may help the imagination"
M" Why oth a man, when he museth or thinketh of things past, look
towars the earthN A" Because the cell or creek which is behin, is the
creek or chamber of the memory) an therefore, that looketh towars
hea!en when the hea is bowe own, an so the cell is open, to the en
that the spirits which perfect the memory shoul enter it"
M" Why is not the hea fleshy, like other parts of the boyN A" Because
the hea woul be too hea!y, an woul not stan steaily" Also, a hea
loae with flesh, betokens an e!il comple*ion"
M" Why is the hea subject to aches an griefsN A" By reason that e!il
humours, which procee from the stomach, ascen up to the hea an
isturb the brain, an so cause pain in the hea) sometimes it procees
from o!ermuch filling the stomach, because two great sinews pass from
the brain to the mouth of the stomach, an therefore these two parts o
always suffer grief together"
M" Why ha!e women the heaache oftener than menN A" By reason of their
monthly terms, which men are not trouble with, an by which a moist,
unclean an !enomous fume is prouce, that seeks passage upwars, an
so causes the heaache"
M" Why is the brain whiteN A" 3" Because it is col, an colness is the
mother of white" ." Because it may recei!e the similitue an likeness
of all colours, which the white colour can best o, because it is most
simple"
M" Why are all the senses in the heaN A" Because the brain is there, on
which all the senses epen, an are irecte by it) an, conseEuently,
it maketh all the spirits to feel, an go!erneth all the membranes"
M" Why cannot a person escape eath if the brain or heart be hurtN A"
Because the brain an heart are the two principal parts which concern
life) an, therefore, if they be hurt, there is no remey left for cure"
M" Why is the brain moistN A" Because it may easily recei!e an
impression, which moisture can best o, as it appeareth in wa*, which
oth easily recei!e the print of the seal when soft"
M" Why is the brain colN A" 3" Because that by this colness it may
clear the unerstaning of man an make it subtle" ." That by the
colness of the brain, the heat of the heart may be tempere"
A:f the Eyes"A
M" Why ha!e you one nose an two eyesN A" Because light is more
necessary to us than smelling) an therefore it oth procee from the
gooness of =ature, that if we recei!e any hurt or loss of one eye, the
other shoul remain"
M" Why ha!e chilren great eyes in their youth, which become small as
they grow upN A" 8t procees from the want of fire, an from the
assemblage an meeting together of the light an humour) the eyes, being
lightene by the sun, which oth lighten the easy humour thereof an
purge them& an, in the absence of the sun, those humours become ark
an black, an the sight not so goo"
M" Why oes the blueish grey eye see baly in the ay$time an well in
the nightN A" Because greyness is light an shining in itself, an the
spirits with which we see are weakene in the ay$time an strengthene
in the night"
M" Why are men@s eyes of i!erse coloursN A" By reason of i!ersity of
humours" The eye hath four co!erings an three humours" The first
co!ering is calle consoliati!e, which is the outermost, strong an
fat" The secon is calle a horny skin or co!ering, of the likeness of
a horn) which is a clear co!ering" The thir, u!ea, of the likeness of a
black grape" The fourth is calle a cobweb" The first humour is calle
AalbuginousA, from its likeness unto the white of an egg" The secon
glarial) that is, clear, like unto crystalline" The thir !itreous, that
is, clear as glass" An the i!ersity of humours causeth the i!ersity
of the eyes"
M" Why are men that ha!e but one eye, goo archersN an why o goo
archers commonly shut oneN An why o such as behol the stars look
through a trunk with one eyeN A" This matter is hanle in the
perspecti!e arts) an the reason is, as it oth appear in AThe Book of
'ausesA, because that e!ery !irtue an strength unite an knit
together, is stronger than when isperse an scattere" Therefore, all
the force of seeing isperse in two eyes, the one being shut, is
gathere into the other, an so the light is fortifie in him) an by
conseEuence he oth see better an more certainly with one eye being
shut, than when both are open"
M" Why o those that rink an laugh much, she most tearsN A" Because
that while they rink an laugh without measure the air which is rawn
in oth not pass out through the winpipe, an so with force is
irecte an sent to the eyes, an by their pores passing out, oth
e*pel the humours of the eyes) which humour being e*pelle, brings
tears"
M" Why o such as weep much, urine but littleN A" Because the raical
humiity of a tear an of urine are of one an the same nature, an,
therefore, where weeping oth increase, urine iminishes" An that they
are of one nature is plain to the taste, because they are both salt"
M" Why o some that ha!e clear eyes see nothingN A" By reason of the
oppilation an naughtiness of the sinews with which we see) for the
temples being estroye, the strength of the light cannot be carrie
from the brain to the eye"
M" Why is the eye clear an smooth like glassN A" 3" Because the things
which may be seen are better beaten back from a smooth thing than
otherwise, that thereby the sight shoul strengthen" ." Because the eye
is moist abo!e all parts of the boy, an of a waterish nature) an as
the water is clear an smooth, so likewise is the eye"
M" Why o men an beasts who ha!e their eyes eep in their hea best see
far offN A" Because the force an power by which we see is isperse in
them, an both go irectly to the thing which is seen" Thus, when a man
oth stan in a eep itch or well, he oth see in the aytime the stars
of the firmament) because then the power of the night an of the beams
are not scattere"
M" Wherefore o those men who ha!e eyes far out in their hea not see
far istantN A" Because the beams of the sight which pass from the eye,
are scattere on e!ery sie, an go not irectly unto the thing that is
seen, an therefore the sight is weakene"
M" Why are so many beasts born blin, as lions@ whelps an ogs@ whelps"
A" Because such beasts are not yet of perfect ripeness an maturity, an
the course of nutriment oth not work in them" Thus the swallow, whose
eyes, if they were taken out when they are young in their nest, woul
grow in again" An this is the case in many beasts who are brought forth
before their time as it were ea, as bear@s whelps"
M" Why o the eyes of a woman that hath her flowers, stain new glassN
An why oth a basilisk kill a man with his sightN A" When the flowers
o run from a woman, then a most !enomous air is istille from them,
which oth ascen into a woman@s hea) an she, ha!ing pain in her hea,
oth wrap it up with a cloth or hankerchief) an because the eyes are
full of insensible holes, which are calle pores, there the air seeketh
a passage, an infects the eyes, which are full of bloo" The eyes also
appear ropping an full of tears, by reason of the e!il !apour that is
in them) an these !apours are incorporate an multiplie till they
come to the glass before them) an by reason that such a glass is roun,
clear an smooth, it oth easily recei!e that which is unclean" ." The
basilisk is a !ery !enomous an infectious animal, an there pass from
his eyes !apours which are multiplie upon the thing which is seen by
him, an e!en unto the eye of man) the which !enomous !apours or humours
entering into the boy, o infect him, an so in the en the man ieth"
An this is also the reason why the basilisk, looking upon a shiel
perfectly well mae with fast clammy pitch, or any har smooth thing,
oth kill itself, because the humours are beaten back from the har
smooth thing unto the basilisk, by which beating back he is kille"
M" Why is the sparkling in cats@ eyes an wol!es@ eyes seen in the ark
an not in the lightN A" Because that the greater light oth arken the
lesser) an therefore, in a greater light the sparkling cannot be seen)
but the greater the arkness, the easier it is seen, an is more strong
an shining"
M" Why is the sight recreate an refreshe by a green colourN A"
Because green oth merely mo!e the sight, an therefore oth comfort it)
but this oth not, in black or white colours, because these colours o
!ehemently stir an alter the organ an instrument of the sight, an
therefore make the greater !iolence) an by how much the more !iolent
the thing is which is felt or seen the more it oth estroy an weaken
the sense"
A:f the =ose"A
M" Why oth the nose stan out further than any other part of the boy"
A" 3" Because the nose is, as it were, the sink of the brain, by which
the phlegm of the brain is purge) an therefore it oth stan forth,
lest the other parts shoul be efile" ." Because the nose is the
beauty of the face, an oth smell"
M" Why hath a man the worst smell of all creaturesN A" Because man hath
most brains of all creatures) an, therefore, by e*ceeing colness an
moisture, the brain wanteth a goo isposition, an by conseEuence, the
smelling instrument is not goo, yea, some men ha!e no smell"
M" Why ha!e !ultures an cormorants a keen smellN A" Because they ha!e a
!ery ry brain) an, therefore, the air carrying the smell, is not
hinere by the humiity of the brain, but oth presently touch its
instrument) an, therefore, !ultures, tigers an other ra!enous beasts,
ha!e been known to come fi!e hunre miles after ea boies"
M" Why i nature make the nostrilsN A" 3" Because the mouth being shut
we raw breath in by the nostrils, to refresh the heart" ." Because the
air which proceeeth from the mouth oth sa!our baly, because of the
!apours which rise from the stomach, but that which we breathe from the
nose is not noisome" I" Because the phlegm which oth procee from the
brain is purge by them"
M" Why o men sneeJeN A" That the e*pulsi!e !irtue an power of the
sight shoul thereby be purge, an the brain also from superfluities)
because, as the lungs are purge by coughing, so is the sight an brain
by sneeJing) an therefore physicians gi!e sneeJing meicaments to purge
the brain) an thus it is, such sick persons as cannot sneeJe, ie
Euickly, because it is a sign their brain is wholly stuffe with e!il
humours, which cannot be purge"
M" Why o such as are apoplectic sneeJe, that is, such as are subject
easily to bleeN A" Because the passages, or !entricles of the brain are
stoppe, an if they coul sneeJe, their apople*y woul be loose"
M" Why oes the heat of the sun pro!oke sneeJing, an not the heat of
the fireN A" Because the heat of the sun oth issol!e, but not consume,
an therefore the !apour issol!e is e*pelle by sneeJing) but the heat
of the fire oth issol!e an consume, an therefore oth rather hiner
sneeJing than pro!oke it"
A:f the Ears"A
M" Why o beasts mo!e their ears, an not menN A" Because there is a
certain muscle near the uner jaw which oth cause motion in the ear)
an therefore, that muscle being e*tene an stretche, men o not mo!e
their ears, as it hath been seen in i!ers men) but all beasts o use
that muscle or fleshy sinew, an therefore o mo!e their ears"
M" Why is rain prognosticate by the pricking up of asses@ earsN A"
Because the ass is of a melancholic constitution, an the approach of
rain prouceth that effect on such a constitution" 8n the time of rain
all beasts prick up their ears, but the ass before it comes"
M" Why ha!e some animals no earsN A" =ature gi!eth unto e!erything that
which is fit for it, but if she ha gi!en birs ears, their flying woul
ha!e been hinere by them" %ikewise fish want ears, because they woul
hiner their swimming, an ha!e only certain little holes through which
they hear"
M" Why ha!e bats ears, although of the bir kinN A" Because they are
partly birs in nature, in that they fly, by reason whereof they ha!e
wings) an partly they are hairy an seem to be of the nature of mice,
therefore nature hath gi!en them ears"
M" Why ha!e men only roun earsN A" Because the shape of the whole an
of the parts shoul be proportionable, an especially in all things of
one nature) for as a rop of water is roun, so the whole water& an so,
because a man@s hea is roun, the ears incline towars the same figure)
but the heas of beasts are somewhat long, an so the ears are rawn
into length likewise"
M" Why hath nature gi!en all li!ing creatures earsN A" 3" Because with
them they shoul hear" ." Because by the ear choleric superfluity is
purge) for as the hea is purge of phlegmatic superfluity by the nose,
so from choleric, by the ears"
A:f the (outh"A
M" Why hath the mouth lips to compass itN A" Because the lips co!er an
efen the teeth) for it woul be unseemly if the teeth were always
seen" Also, the teeth being of a col nature, woul be soon hurt if they
were not co!ere with lips"
M" Why has a man two eyes an but one mouthN A" Because a man shoul
speak but little, an hear an see much" An by hearing an the light we
see ifference of things"
M" Why hath a man a mouthN A" 3" Because the mouth is the gate an oor
of the stomach" ." Because the meat is chewe in the mouth, an prepare
an mae reay for the first igestion" I" Because the air rawn into
the hollow of the mouth for the refreshing of the heart, is mae pure
an subtle"
M" Why are the lips mo!eableN A" For the purpose of forming the !oice
an wors which cannot be perfectly one without them" For as without
Aa, b, cA, there is no writing, so without the lips no !oice can well be
forme"
M" What causes men to yawn or gapeN A" 8t procees from the thick fume
an !apours that fill the jaws) by the e*pulsion of which is cause the
stretching out an e*pansion of the jaws, an opening of the mouth"
M" Why oth a man gape when he seeth another o the sameN A" 8t procees
from the imagination" An this is pro!e by the similitue of the ass,
who by reason of his melancholy, oth retain his superfluity for a long
time, an woul neither eat nor piss unless he shoul hear another
oing the like"
A:f the Teeth"A
M" Why o the teeth only, amongst all ether bones, e*perience the sense
of feelingN A" That they may iscern heat an col, that hurt them,
which other bones nee not"
M" Why ha!e men more teeth than womenN A" By reason of the abunance of
heat an col which is more in men than in women"
M" Why o the teeth grow to the en of our life, an not the other
bonesN A" Because otherwise they woul be consume with chewing an
grining"
M" Why o the teeth only come again when they fall, or be taken out, an
other bones being taken away, grow no moreN A" Because other bones are
engenere of the humiity which is calle raical, an so they bree in
the womb of the mother, but the teeth are engenere of nutriti!e
humiity, which is renewe an increase from ay to ay"
M" Why o the fore$teeth fall in youth, an grow again, an not the
cheek teethN A" From the efect of matter, an from the figure) because
the fore$teeth are sharp, an the others broa" Also, it is the office
of the fore$teeth to cut the meat, an therefore they are sharp) an
the office of the others to chew the meat, an therefore they are broa
in fashion, which is fittest for that purpose"
M" Why o the fore$teeth grow soonestN A" Because we want them sooner in
cutting than the others in chewing"
M" Why o the teeth grow black in human creatures in their ol ageN A"
8t is occasione by the corruption of the meat, an the corruption of
phlegm with a choleric humour"
M" Why are colts@ teeth yellow, an of the colour of saffron, when they
are young, an become white when they grow upN A" Because horses ha!e
abunance of watery humours in them, which in their youth are igeste
an con!erte into grossness) but in ol age heat iminishes, an the
watery humours remain, whose proper colour is white"
M" Why i nature gi!e li!ing creatures teethN A" To some to fight with,
an for efence of their li!es, as unto wol!es an bears, unto some to
eat with, as unto horses, unto some for the forming of the !oices, as
unto men"
M" Why o horne beasts want their upper teethN A" ;orns an teeth are
cause by the same matter, that is, nutrimental humiity, an therefore
the matter which passeth into the horns turneth not into teeth,
conseEuently they want the upper teeth" An such beasts cannot chew
well) therefore, to supply the want of teeth, they ha!e two stomachs,
from whence it returns an they chew it again, then it goes into the
other to be igeste"
M" Why are some creatures brought forth with teeth, as kis an lambs)
an some without, as menN A" =ature oth not want in necessary things,
nor aboun in things superfluous) an therefore, because these beasts,
not long after they are fallen, o nee teeth, they are fallen with
teeth) but men, being nourishe by their mother, for a long time o not
stan in nee of teeth"
A:f the Tongue"A
M" Why is the tongue full of poresN A" Because the tongue is the means
whereby which we taste) an through the mouth, in the pores of the
tongue, oth procee the sense of tasting" Again, it is obser!e, that
frothy spittle is sent into the mouth by the tongue from the lungs,
moistening the meat an making it reay for igestion"
M" Why o the tongues of such as are sick of agues juge all things
bitterN A" Because the stomachs of such persons are fille with
choleric humours) an choler is !ery bitter, as appeareth by the gall)
therefore this bitter fume oth infect their tongues) an so the tongue,
being full of these tastes, oth juge e!erything bitter"
M" Why oth the tongue water when we hear sour an sharp things spoken
ofN A" Because the imaginati!e !irtue or power is of greater force than
the power or faculty of tasting) an when we imagine a taste, we
concei!e the power of tasting as a swan) there is nothing felt by the
taste, but by means of the spittle the tongue oth water"
M" Why o some persons stammer an lispN A" 7ometimes through the
moistness of the tongue an brain, as in chilren, who cannot speak
plainly nor pronounce many letters" 7ometimes it happeneth by reason of
the shrinking of certain sinews which go to the tongue, which are
corrupte with phlegm"
M" Why are the tongues of serpents an ma ogs !enomousN A" Because of
the malignity an tumosity of the !enomous humour which preominates in
them"
M" Why is a og@s tongue goo for meicine, an a horse@s tongue
pestiferousN A" By reason of some secret property, or that the tongue of
a og is full of pores, an so oth raw an take away the !iscosity of
the woun" 8t is obser!e that a og hath some humour in his tongue,
with which, by licking he oth heal) but the contrary effect is the lick
of a horse@s tongue"
M" Why is spittle whiteN A" By reason of the continual mo!ing of the
tongue, whereof heat is engenere, which oth make this superfluity
white) as seen in the froth of water"
M" Why is spittle unsa!oury an without tasteN A" 8f it ha a certain
eterminate taste, then the tongue woul not taste at all, but only ha!e
the taste of spittle, an coul not istinguish others"
M" Why oth the spittle of one that is fasting heal an imposthumeN A"
Because it is well igeste an mae subtle"
M" Why o some aboun in spittle more than othersN A" This oth procee
of a phlegmatic comple*ion, which oth preominate in them) an such are
liable to a Euotiian ague, which ariseth from the preominance of
phlegm) the contrary in those that spit little, because heat abouns in
them, which consumes the humiity of the spittle) an so the efect of
spittle is a sign of fe!er"
M" Why is the spittle of a man that is fasting more subtle than of one
that is fullN A" Because the spittle is without the !iscosity of meat,
which is wont to make the spittle of one who is full, gross an thick"
M" From whence procees the spittle of a manN A" From the froth of the
lungs, which accoring to the physicians, is the seat of the phlegm"
M" Why are beasts when going together for generation !ery full of froth
an foamN A" Because then the lights an heart are in greater motion of
lust) therefore there is engenere in them much frothy matter"
M" Why ha!e not birs spittleN A" Because they ha!e !ery ry lungs"
M" Why oth the tongue sometimes lose the use of speakingN A" 8t is
occasione by a palsy or apople*y, which is a suen effusion of bloo,
an by gross humours) an sometimes also by infection of Aspiritus
animatesA in the mile cell of the brain which hiners the spirits from
being carrie to the tongue"
A:f the +oof of the (outh"A
M" Why are fruits, before they are ripe, of a bitter an sour relish,
an afterwar sweetN A" A sour relish or taste procees from colness
an want of heat in gross an thick humiity) but a sweet taste is
prouce by sufficient heat) therefore in the ripe fruit humiity is
subtle through the heat of the sun, an such fruit is commonly sweet)
but before it is ripe, as humiity is gross or subtle for want of heat,
the fruit is bitter or sour"
M" Why are we better elighte with sweet tastes than with bitter or any
otherN A" Because a sweet thing is hot an moist, an through its heat
issol!es an consumes superfluous humiities, an by this humiity
immunicity is washe away) but a sharp, eager taste, by reason of the
col which preominates in it, oth bin o!ermuch, an prick an offen
the parts of the boy in purging, an therefore we o not elight in
that taste"
M" Why oth a sharp taste, as that of !inegar, pro!oke appetite rather
than any otherN A" Because it is col, an oth cool" For it is the
nature of col to esire to raw, an therefore it is the cause of
appetite"
M" Why o we raw in more air than we breathe outN A" Because much air
is rawn in that is con!erte into nutriment, an with the !ital spirits
is containe in the lungs" Therefore a beast is not suffocate as long
as it recei!es air with its lungs, in which some part of the air
remaineth also"
M" Why oth the air seem to be e*pelle an put forth, seeing the air is
in!isible, by reason of its !ariety an thinnessN A" Because the air
which is recei!e in us, is mingle with !apours an fumes from the
heart, by reason whereof it is mae thick, an so is seen" An this is
pro!e by e*perience, because that in winter, we see our breath, for the
colness of the air oth bin the air mi*e with fume, an so it is
thickene an mae gross, an by conseEuence is seen"
M" Why ha!e some persons stinking breathN A" Because of the e!il fumes
that arise from the stomach" An sometimes it oth procee from the
corruption of the airy parts of the boy, as the lungs" The breath of
lepers is so infecte that it woul poison birs if near them, because
the inwar parts are !ery corrupt"
M" Why are lepers hoarseN A" Because the !ocal instruments are
corrupte, that is, the lights"
M" Why o persons become hoarseN A" Because of the rheum escening from
the brain, filling the conuit of the lights) an sometimes through
imposthumes of the throat, or rheum gathering in the neck"
M" Why ha!e the females of all li!ing creatures the shrillest !oices,
the crow only e*cepte, an a woman a shriller an smaller !oice than a
manN A" By reason of the composition of the !eins an !ocal arteries the
!oice is forme, as appears by this similitue, that a small pipe
souns shriller than a great" Also in women, because the passage where
the !oice is forme is mae narrow an strait, by reason of col, it
being the nature of col to bin) but in men, the passage is open an
wier through heat, because it is the property of heat to open an
issol!e" 8t proceeeth in women through the moistness of the lungs, an
weakness of the heat" #oung an isease men ha!e sharp an shrill
!oices from the same cause"
M" Why oth the !oice change in men at fourteen, an in women at twel!e)
in men they begin to yiel see, in women when their breasts begin to
growN A" Because then the beginning of the !oice is slackene an
loosene) an this is pro!e by the similitue of the string of an
instrument let own or loosene, which gi!es a great soun, an also
because creatures that are gele, as eunuchs, capons", etc", ha!e
softer an slenerer !oices than others, by the want of their stones"
M" Why o small birs sing more an louer than great ones, as appears
in the lark an nightingaleN A" Because the spirits of small birs are
subtle an soft, an the organ conuit strait, as appeareth in a pipe)
therefore their notes following easily at esire, they sing !ery soft"
M" Why o bees, wasps, locusts an many other such like insects, make a
noise, seeing they ha!e no lungs, nor instruments of musicN A" Because
in them there is a certain small skin, which, when struck by the air,
causeth a soun"
M" Why o not fish make a sounN A" Because they ha!e no lungs, but only
gills, nor yet a heart, an therefore they nee not the rawing in of
the air, an by conseEuence they make no noise, because a !oice is a
percussion of the air which is rawing"
A:f the =eck"A
M" Why hath a li!ing creature a neckN A" Because the neck is the
supporter of the hea, an therefore the neck is in the mile between
the hea an the boy, to the intent that by it, an by its sinews,
motion an sense of the boy might be con!eye through all the boy) an
that by means of the neck, the heart, which is !ery hot, might be
separate from the brain"
M" Why o some creatures want necks, as serpents an fishesN A" Because
they want hearts, an therefore want that assistance which we ha!e
spoken of) or else they ha!e a neck in some inwar part of them, which
is not istinguishe outwarly"
M" Why is the neck full of bones an jointsN A" That it may bear an
sustain the hea the better" Also, because the back bone is joine to
the brain in the neck, an from thence it recei!es marrow, which is of
the substance of the brain"
M" Why ha!e some creatures long necks, as cranes, storks an such likeN
A" Because such birs seek their foo at the bottom of waters" An some
creatures ha!e short necks, as sparrows, hawks, etc", because such are
ra!enous, an therefore for strength ha!e short necks, as appeareth in
the o*, who has a short neck an strong"
M" Why is the neck hollow, an especially before, about the tongueN A"
Because there are two passages, whereof the one oth carry the meat to
the nutriti!e instrument, or stomach an li!er, which is calle by the
Greeks AAesophagusA) an the other is the winpipe"
M" Why is the artery mae with rings an circleN A" The better to bow
an gi!e a goo souning"
A:f the 7houlers an Arms"A
M" Why hath a man shoulers an armsN A" To lift an carry burens"
M" Why are the arms rounN A" For the swifter an speeier work"
M" Why are the arms thickN A" That they may be strong to lift an bear
burens, an thrust an gi!e a strong blow) so their bones are thick,
because they contain much marrow, or they woul be easily corrupte an
injure"
M" Why o the arms become small an slener in some iseases, as in ma
men, an such as are sick of the ropsyN A" Because all the parts of the
boy o suffer the one with the other) an therefore one member being in
grief, all the humours o concur an run thicker to gi!e succour an
help to the aforesai grief"
M" Why ha!e brute beasts no armsN A" Their fore feet are instea of
arms, an in their place"
A:f the ;ans"A
M" For what use hath a man hans, an an ape also, like unto a manN A"
The han is an instrument a man oth especially make use of, because
many things are one by the hans, an not by any other part"
M" Why are some men ambo$e*ter, that is, they use the left han as the
rightN A" By reason of the great heat of the heart, an for the hot
bowing of the same, for it is that which makes a man as nimble of the
left han as of the right"
M" Why are the fingers full of jointsN A" To be more fit an apt to
recei!e an keep what is put in them"
M" Why hath e!ery finger three joints, an the thumb but twoN A" The
thumb hath three, but the thir is joine to the arm, therefore is
stronger than the other fingers) an is calle polle* or polico, that
is, to e*cel in strength"
M" Why are the fingers of the right han nimbler than the fingers of the
leftN A" 8t proceeeth from the heat that preominates in those parts,
an causeth great agility"
A:f the =ails"A
M" From whence o nails proceeN A" :f the tumosity an humours, which
are resol!e an go into the e*tremities of the fingers) an they are
rie through the power of the e*ternal air, an brought to the harness
of horn"
M" Why o the nails of ol men grow black an paleN A" Because the heat
of the heart ecaying causeth their beauty to ecay also"
M" Why are men juge to be goo or e!il comple*ione by the colour of
the nailsN A" Because they gi!e witness of the gooness or baness of
their heart, an therefore of the comple*ion, for if they be somewhat
re, they betoken choler well tempere) but if they be yellowish or
black, they signify melancholy"
M" Why o white spots appear in the nailsN A" Through mi*ture of phlegm
with nutriment"
A:f the Paps an ,ugs"A
M" Why are the paps place upon the breastsN A" Because the breast is
the seat of the heart, which is most hot) an therefore the paps grow
there, to the en that the menses being con!eye thither as being near
the heat of the heart, shoul the sooner be igeste, perfecte an
con!erte with the matter an substance of the milk"
M" Why are the paps below the breasts in beasts, an abo!e the breast in
womenN A" Because woman goes upright, an has two legs only) an
therefore if her paps were below her breasts, they woul hiner her
going) but beasts ha!ing four feet pre!ents that incon!eniency"
M" Whether are great, small or mile$siJe paps best for chilren to
suckN A" 8n great ones the heat is isperse, there is no goo
igestion of the milk) but in small ones the power an force is strong,
because a !irtue unite is strongest) an by conseEuence there is a goo
igestion for the milk"
M" Why ha!e not men as great paps an breasts as womenN A" Because men
ha!e not monthly terms, an therefore ha!e no !essel epute for them"
M" Why o the paps of young women begin to grow about thirteen or
fifteen years of ageN A" Because then the flowers ha!e no course to the
teats, by which the young one is nourishe, but follow their orinary
course an therefore wa* soft"
M" Why hath a woman who is with chil of a boy, the right pap harer
than the leftN A" Because the male chil is concei!e in the right sie
of the mother) an therefore the flowers o run to the right pap, an
make it har"
M" Why oth it show weakness of the chil, when the milk oth rop out
of the paps before the woman is eli!ereN A" Because the milk is the
proper nutriment of the chil in the womb of its mother, therefore if
the milk run out, it is a token that the chil is not nourishe, an
conseEuently is weak"
M" Why o the harness of the paps betoken the health of the chil in
the wombN A" Because the flowers are con!erte into milk, an thereby
strength is signifie"
M" Why are women@s paps har when they be with chil, an soft at other
timesN A" Because they swell then, an are puffe, an the great
moisture which procees from the flowers oth run into the paps, which
at other seasons remaineth in the matri* an womb, an is e*pelle by
the place epute for that en"
M" By what means oth the milk of the paps come to the matri* or wombN
A" There is a certain knitting an coupling of the paps with the womb,
an there are certain !eins which the miwi!es o cut in the time of the
birth of the chil, an by those !eins the milk flows in at the na!el of
the chil, an so it recei!es nourishment by the na!el"
M" Why is it a sign of a male chil in the womb when the milk that
runneth out of a woman@s breast is thick, an not much, an of a female
when it is thinN A" Because a woman that goeth with a boy hath a great
heat in her, which oth perfect the milk an make it thick) but she who
goes with a girl hath not so much heat, an therefore the milk is
unigeste, imperfect, watery an thin, an will swim abo!e the water if
it be put into it"
M" Why is the milk white, seeing the flowers are re, of which it is
engenereN A" Because bloo which is well purge an concocte becomes
white, as appeareth in flesh whose proper colour is white, an being
boile, is white" Also, because e!ery humour which is engenere of the
boy, is mae like unto that part in colour where it is engenere as
near as it can be) but because the flesh of the paps is white, therefore
the colour of the milk is white"
M" Why oth a cow gi!e milk more abunantly than other beastsN A"
Because she is a great eating beast, where there is much monthly
superfluity engenere, there is much milk) because it is nothing else
but the bloo purge an trie"
M" Why is not milk wholesomeN A" 3" Because it cureth in the stomach,
whereof an e!il breath is bre" ." Because the milk oth grow sour in
the stomach, where e!il humours are bre, an infect the breath"
M" Why is milk ba for such as ha!e the heaacheN A" Because it is
easily turne into great fumosities, an hath much terrestrial substance
in it, the which ascening, oth cause the heaache"
M" Why is milk fit nutriment for infantsN A" Because it is a natural an
usual foo, an they were nourishe by the same in the womb"
M" Why are the white$meats mae of a newly milke cow gooN A" Because
milk at that time is !ery springy, e*pels fumosities, an, as it were,
purges at that time"
M" Why is the milk naught for the chil, if the woman gi!ing suck uses
carnal copulationN A" Because in time of carnal copulation, the best
part of the milk goes to the see !essels, an to the womb, an the
worst remain in the paps, which hurts the chil"
M" Why o physicians forbi the eating of fish an milk at the same
timeN A" Because they prouce a leprosy, an because they are
phlegmatic"
M" Why ha!e not birs an fish milk an papsN A" Because paps woul
hiner the flight of birs" An although fish ha!e neither paps nor
milk, the females cast much spawn, which the male touches with a small
gut, an causes their kin to continue in succession"
A:f the Back"A
M" Why ha!e beasts a backN A" 3" Because the back is the way an mien of
the boy from which are e*tene an sprea throughout, all the sinews
of the backbone" ." Because it shoul be a guar an efence for the
soft parts of the boy, as for the stomach, li!er, lights an such like"
I" Because it is the founation of all the bones, as the ribs, fastene
to the back bone"
M" Why hath the back bone so many joints or knots, calle AsponyliAN A"
Because the mo!ing an bening it, without such joints, coul not be
one) an therefore they are wrong who say that elephants ha!e no such
joints, for without them they coul not mo!e"
M" Why o fish ie after their back bones are brokenN A" Because in fish
the back bone is instea of the heart) now the heart is the first thing
that li!es an the last that ies) an when that bone is broken, fish
can li!e no longer"
M" Why oth a man ie soon after the marrow is hurt or perisheN A"
Because the marrow procees from the brain, which is the principal part
of a man"
M" Why ha!e some men the pilesN A" Those men are col an melancholy,
which melancholy first passes to the spleen, its proper seat, but there
cannot be retaine, for the abunancy of bloo) for which reason it is
con!eye to the back bone, where there are certain !eins which terminate
in the back, an recei!e the bloo" When those !eins are full of the
melancholy bloo, then the conuits of nature are opene, an the bloo
issues out once a month, like women@s terms" Those men who ha!e this
course of bloo, are kept from many infirmities, such as ropsy, plague,
etc"
M" Why are the -ews much subject to this iseaseN A" Because they eat
much phlegmatic an col meats, which bree melancholy bloo, which is
purge with the flu*" Another reason is, motion causes heat an heat
igestion) but strict -ews neither mo!e, labour nor con!erse much, which
brees a colness in them, an hiners igestion, causing melancholic
bloo, which is by this means purge out"
A:f the ;eart"A
M" Why are the lungs light, spongy an full of holesN A" That the air
may be recei!e into them for cooling the heart, an e*pelling humours,
because the lungs are the fan of the heart) an as a pair of bellows is
raise up by taking in the air, an shrunk by blowing it out, so
likewise the lungs raw the air to cool the heart, an cast it out, lest
through too much air rawn in, the heart shoul be suffocate"
M" Why is the flesh of the lungs whiteN A" Because they are in continual
motion"
M" Why ha!e those beasts only lungs that ha!e heartsN A" Because the
lungs be no part for themsel!es, but for the heart, an therefore, it
were superfluous for those creatures to ha!e lungs that ha!e no hearts"
M" Why o such creatures as ha!e no lungs want a blaerN A" Because
such rink no water to make their meat igest an nee no blaer for
urine) as appears in such birs as o not rink at all, !iJ", the falcon
an sparrow hawk"
M" Why is the heart in the mist of the boyN A" That it may import life
to all, parts of the boy, an therefore it is compare to the sun,
which is place in the mist of the planets, to gi!e light to them all"
M" Why only in men is the heart on the left sieN A" To the en that the
heat of the heart may mitigate the colness of the spleen) for the
spleen is the seat of melancholy, which is on the left sie also"
M" Why is the heart first engenere) for the heart oth li!e first an
ie lastN A" Because the heart is the beginning an original of life,
an without it no part can li!e" For of the see retaine in the matri*,
there is first engenere a little small skin, which compasses the see)
whereof first the heart is mae of the purest bloo) then of bloo not
so pure, the li!er) an of thick an col bloo the marrow an brain"
M" Why are beasts bol that ha!e little heartsN A" Because in a little
heart the heat is well unite an !ehement, an the bloo touching it,
oth Euickly heat it an is speeily carrie to the other parts of the
boy, which gi!e courage an bolness"
M" Why are creatures with a large heart timorous, as the hareN A" The
heart is isperse in such a one, an not able to heat the bloo which
cometh to it) by which means fear is bre"
M" ;ow is it that the heart is continually mo!ingN A" Because in it
there is a certain spirit which is more subtle than air, an by reason
of its thickness an rarefaction, seeks a larger space, filling the
hollow room of the heart) hence the ilating an opening of the heart,
an because the heart is earthly the thrusting an mo!ing ceasing, its
parts are at rest, tening ownwars" As a proof of this, take an acorn,
which, if put into the fire, the heat oth issol!e its humiity,
therefore occupies a greater space, so that the rin cannot contain it,
but puffs up, an throws it into the fire" The like of the heart"
Therefore the heart of a li!ing creature is triangular, ha!ing its least
part towars its left sie, an the greater towars the right) an oth
also open an shut in the least part, by which means it is in continual
motion) the first motion is calle AiastoleA, that is e*tening the
heart or breast) the other AsystoleA, that is, shutting of the heart)
an from these all the motions of the boy procee, an that of the
pulse which the physicians feel"
M" ;ow comes it that the flesh of the heart is so compact an knit
togetherN A" Because in thick compacte substances heat is commonly
recei!e an unite" An because the heart with its heat shoul moerate
the colness of the brain, it is mae of that fat flesh apt to keep a
strong heat"
M" ;ow comes the heart to be the hottest part of all li!ing creaturesN
A" 8t is so compacte as to recei!e the heat best, an because it shoul
mitigate the colness of the brain"
M" Why is the heart the beginning of lifeN A" 8t is plain that in it the
!ital spirit is bre, which is the heat of life) an therefore the heart
ha!ing two receptacles, !iJ", the right an the left the right hath more
bloo than spirits) which spirit is engenere to gi!e life an !i!ify
the boy"
M" Why is the heart long an sharp like a pyramiN A" The roun figure
hath an angle, therefore the heart is roun, for fear any poison or
hurtful matter shoul be retaine in it) an because that figure is
fittest for motion"
M" ;ow comes the bloo chiefly to be in the heartN A" The bloo in the
heart has its proper or efficient place, which some attribute to the
li!er) an therefore the heart oth not recei!e bloo from any other
parts but all other parts of it"
M" ;ow happens it that some creatures want a heartN A" Although they
ha!e no heart, yet they ha!e somewhat that answers for it, as appears in
eels an fish that ha!e the back bone instea of the heart"
M" Why oes the heart beat in some creatures after the hea is cut off,
as in birs an hensN A" Because the heart li!es first an ies last,
an therefore beats longer than other parts"
M" Why oth the heat of the heart sometimes fail of a suen, an in
those who ha!e the falling sicknessN A" This procees from the efect of
the heart itself, an of certain small skins with which it is co!ere,
which, being infecte an corrupte, the heart faileth on a suen)
sometimes only by reason of the parts ajoining) an therefore, when any
!enomous humour goes out of the stomach that turns the heart an parts
ajoining, that causeth this fainting"
A:f the 7tomach"A
M" For what reason is the stomach large an wieN A" Because in it the
foo is first concocte or igeste as it were in a pot, to the en that
which is pure shoul be separate from that which is not) an therefore,
accoring to the Euantity of foo, the stomach is enlarge"
M" ;ow comes it that the stomach is rounN A" Because if it ha angles
an corners, foo woul remain in them an bree ill$humours, so that a
man woul ne!er want agues, which humours are e!acuate an consume,
an not hi in any such corners, by the rounness of the stomach"
M" ;ow comes the stomach to be full of sinewsN A" Because the sinews can
be e*tene an enlarge, an so is the stomach when it is full) but
when empty it is rawn together, an therefore nature pro!ies the
sinews"
M" ;ow comes the stomach to igestN A" Because of the heat which is in
it, an comes from the parts ajoining, that is, the li!er an the
heart" For as we see in metals the heat of the fire takes away the rust
an ross from iron, the sil!er from tin, an gol from copper) so also
by igestion the pure is separate from the impure"
M" For what reason oth the stomach join the li!erN A" Because the li!er
is !ery hot, an with its heat helps igestion, an pro!okes appetite"
M" Why are we commonly col after innerN A" Because then the heat goes
to the stomach to further igestion, an so the other parts grow col"
M" Why is it hurtful to stuy soon after innerN A" Because when the
heat labours to help the imagination in stuy, it ceases from igesting
the foo, which remains unigeste) therefore people shoul walk
sometimes after meals"
M" ;ow cometh the stomach slowly to igest meatN A" Because it swims in
the stomach" =ow, the best igestion is in the bottom of the stomach,
because the fat escens not there) such as eat fat meat are !ery sleepy
by reason that igestion is hinere"
M" Why is all the boy wrong when the stomach is uneasyN A" Because the
stomach is knit with the brain, heart an li!er, which are the principal
parts in man) an when it is not well, the others are inispose"
Again, if the first igestion be hinere, the others are also
hinere) for in the first igestion is the beginning of the infirmity
in the stomach"
M" Why are young men sooner hungry than ol menN A" #oung men o igest
for three causes) 3" For growing) ." For restoring life) an I" For
conser!ation of life" Also, young men are hot an ry, an therefore the
heat oth igest more, an by conseEuence they esire more"
M" Why o physicians prescribe that men shoul eat when they ha!e an
appetiteN A" Because much hunger an emptiness will fill the stomach
with naughty rotten humours, which are rawn in instea of meat) for, if
we fast o!er night we ha!e an appetite to meat, but none in the morning)
as then the stomach is fille with naughty humours, an especially its
mouth, which is no true filling, but a eceitful one" An, therefore,
after we ha!e eaten a little, our stomach comes to us again) for the
first morsel, ha!ing mae clean the mouth of the stomach, oth pro!oke
the appetite"
M" Why o physicians prescribe that we shoul not eat too much at a
time, but little by littleN A" Because when the stomach is full, the
meat oth swim in it, which is a angerous thing" Another reason is,
that as !ery green woo oth put out the fire, so much meat chokes the
natural heat an puts it out) an therefore the best physic is to use
temperance in eating an rinking"
M" Why o we esire change of meals accoring to the change of times) as
in winter, beef, mutton) in summer light meats, as !eal, lamb, etc"N A"
Because the comple*ion of the boy is altere an change accoring to
the time of year" Another reason is, that this procees from the Euality
of the season& because the col in winter oth cause a better igestion"
M" Why shoul not the meat we eat be as hot as pepper an gingerN A"
Because as hot meat oth inflame the bloo, an ispose it to a leprosy,
so, on the contrary, meat too col oth mortify an chill the bloo" :ur
meat shoul not be o!er sharp, because it wastes the constitution) too
much sauce oth burn the entrails, an inclineth to too often rinking)
raw meat oth the same) an o!er sweet meats to constipate an cling the
!eins together"
M" Why is it a goo custom to eat cheese after inner, an pears after
all meatN A" Because, by reason of its earthliness an thickness it
teneth own towars the bottom of the stomach, an so put own the
meat) an the like of pears" =ote, that new cheese is better than ol,
an that ol soft cheese is !ery ba, an causeth the heaache an
stopping of the li!er) an the oler the worse" Whereof it is sai that
cheese igesteth all things but itself"
M" Why are nuts goo after cheese, as the pro!erb is, BAfter fish nuts,
an after flesh cheeseNB A" Because fish is of har igestion, an oth
easily putrefy an corrupt) an nuts are a remey against poison"
M" Why is it unwholesome to wait long for one ish after another, an to
eat of i!ers kins of meatN A" Because the first begins to igest when
the last is eaten, an so igestion is not eEually mae" But yet this
rule is to be note) ishes light of igestion, as chickens, kis, !eal,
soft eggs an such like, shoul be first eaten) because, if they shoul
be first ser!e an eaten an were igeste, they woul hiner the
igestion of the others) an the light meats not igeste woul be
corrupte in the stomach an kept in the stomach !iolently, whereof
woul follow belching, loathing, heaache, bellyache an great thirst"
8t is !ery hurtful too, at the same meal to rink wine an milk, because
they are proucti!e of leprosy"
M" Whether is meat or rink best for the stomachN A" ,rink is sooner
igeste than meat, because meat is of greater substance, an more
material than rink, an therefore meat is harer to igest"
M" Why is it goo to rink after innerN A" Because the rink will make
the meat reaier to igest" The stomach is like unto a pot which oth
boil meat, an therefore physicians o counsel to rink at meals"
M" Why is it goo to forbear a late supperN A" Because there is little
mo!ing or stirring after supper, an so the meat is not sent own to the
bottom of the stomach, but remaineth unigeste, an so brees hurts)
therefore a light supper is best"
A:f the Bloo"A
M" Why is it necessary that e!ery li!ing creature that hath bloo ha!e
also a li!erN A" Because the bloo is first mae in the li!er, its seat,
being rawn from the stomach by certain principal !eins, an so
engenere"
M" Why is the bloo reN A" 3" 8t is like the part in which it is mae,
!iJ", the li!er, which is re" ." 8t is likewise sweet, because it is
well igeste an concocte) but if it hath a little earthly matter
mi*e with it, that makes it somewhat salt"
M" ;ow is women@s bloo thicker than men@sN Their colness thickens,
bins, congeals, an joins together"
M" ;ow comes the bloo to all parts of the boy through the li!er, an
by what meansN A" Through the principal !eins, as the !eins of the hea,
li!er, etc", to nourish the boy"
A:f the <rine"A
M" ;ow oth the urine come into the blaer, seeing the blaer is shutN
A" 7ome say sweatings) others, by a small skin in the blaer, which
opens an lets in the urine" <rine is a certain an not eceitful
messenger of the health or infirmity of man" (en make white urine in the
morning, an before inner re, but after inner pale, an also after
supper"
M" Why is it hurtful to rink much col waterN A" Because one contrary
oth hiner an e*pel another) water is !ery col, an lying so in the
stomach, oth hiner igestion"
M" Why is it unwholesome to rink new wineN A" 3" 8t cannot be igeste)
therefore it causeth the belly to swell, an a kin of blooy flu*" ."
8t hiners making water"
M" Why o physicians forbi us to labour presently after innerN A" 3"
Because the motion hiners the !irtue an power of igestion" ."
Because stirring immeiately after inner causes the ifferent parts of
the boy to raw the meat to them, which often brees sickness" I"
Because motion makes the foo escen before it is igeste" An after
supper it is goo to walk a little, that the foo may go to the bottom
of the stomach"
M" Why is it goo to walk after innerN A" Because it makes a man well
ispose, an fortifies an strengthens the natural heat, causing the
superfluity of the stomach to escen"
M" Why is it wholesome to !omitN A" 8t purges the stomach of all naughty
humours, e*pelling them, which woul bree again if they shoul remain
in it) an purges the eyes an hea, clearing the brain"
M" ;ow comes sleep to strengthen the stomach an the igesti!e facultyN
A" Because in sleep the heat raws inwars, an helps igestion) but
when we awake, the heat returns, an is isperse through the boy"
A:f the Gall an 7pleen"A
M" ;ow come li!ing creatures to ha!e a gallN A" Because choleric humours
are recei!e into it, which through their aciity helps the guts to
e*pel superfluities) also it helps igestion"
M" ;ow comes the jaunice to procee from the gallN A" The humour of the
gall is bluish an yellow) therefore when its pores are stoppe the
humour cannot go into the sack thereof, but are mingle with the bloo,
wanering throughout all the boy an infecting the skin"
M" Why hath a horse, mule, ass or cow a gallN A" Though these creatures
ha!e no gall in one place, as in a purse or !essel, yet they ha!e one
isperse in small !eins"
M" ;ow comes the spleen to be blackN A" 8t is occasione by terrestrial
an earthy matter of a black colour" Accoring to physicians, the spleen
is the receptacle of melancholy, an that is black"
M" Why is he lean who hath a large spleenN A" Because the spleen raws
much water to itself, which woul turn to fat) therefore, men that ha!e
a small spleen are fat"
M" Why oes the spleen cause men to laugh, as says 8siorus) BWe laugh
with the spleen, we are angry with the gall, we are wise with the heart,
we lo!e with the li!er, we feel with the brain, an speak with the
lungsBN A" The reason is, the spleen raws much melancholy to it, being
its proper seat, the which melancholy procees from saness, an is
there consume) an the cause failing, the effect oth so likewise" An
by the same reason the gall causes anger, for choleric men are often
angry, because they ha!e much gall"
A:f 'arnal 'opulation"A
M" Why o li!ing creatures use carnal copulationN A" Because it is most
natural in them to get their like"
M" What is carnal copulationN A" 8t is a mutual action of male an
female, with instruments oraine for that purpose to propagate their
kin"
M" Why is this action goo in those that use it lawfully an moeratelyN
A" Because it eases an lightens the boy, clears the min, comforts the
hea an senses, an e*pels melancholy"
M" Why is immoerate carnal copulation hurtfulN A" Because it estroys
the sight, ries the boy, an impairs the brain, often causes fe!ers
an shortens life also"
M" Why oth carnal copulation injure melancholic or choleric men,
especially thin menN A" Because it ries the bones much which are
naturally so" :n the contrary, it is goo for the phlegmatic an
sanguine, because they aboun with that substance which by nature, is
necessarily e*pelle"
M" Why shoul not the act be use when the boy is fullN A" Because it
hiners igestion) an it is not goo for a hungry belly, because it
weakens"
M" Why is it not goo soon after a bathN A" Because then the pores are
open, an the heat isperse through the boy& for after bathing, it
cools the boy too much"
M" Why is it not proper after !omiting or loosenessN A" Because it is
angerous to purge twice a ay) for in this act the !eins are purge,
an the guts by the !omit"
M" Why is there such elight in the act of !eneryN A" Because this act
is such a contemptible thing in itself, that all creatures woul
naturally abhor it were there no pleasure in it) an therefore nature
reaily uses it, that all kins of li!ing things shoul be maintaine
an kept up"
M" Why o such as use it often take less elight in it than those who
come to it selomN A" 3" The passages of the see are o!er large an
wie) an therefore it makes no stay there, which woul cause the
elight" ." Through often e!acuation there is little see left, an
therefore no elight" I" Because such, instea of see there is cast out
bloo, unigeste an raw, or some other watery substance, which is not
hot, an therefore affors no elight"
A:f the 7ee of (an an Beasts"A
M" ;ow, an of what cometh the see of manN A" 7ome philosophers an
physicians say, it is superfluous humours) others say, that the see is
pure bloo, flowing from the brain, concocte an whitene in the
testicles) but sweat, urine, spittle, phlegm, choler, an the like, an
bloo isperse throughout the whole boy, come chiefly from the heart,
li!er an brain, because those parts are greatly weakene by casting
see) an therefore it appears that freEuent carnal copulation is not
goo"
M" Why is a man@s see white, an a woman@s reN A" 8t is white in men
by reason of great heat an Euick igestion, because it is rarefie in
the testicles) but a woman@s is re, because her terms corrupt the
unigeste bloo, an it hath its colour"
M" ;ow come females to ha!e monthly coursesN A" Because they are col in
respect of men, an because all their nourishment cannot be con!erte
into bloo, a great part of which turns to menses, which are monthly
e*pelle"
M" For what reason o the menses not come own in females before the age
of thirteenN A" Because young women are hot, an igest all their
nourishment"
M" For what reason o they lea!e off at about fiftyN A" Because nature
is then so e*hauste, they cannot e*pel them by reason of weakness"
M" Why ha!e not breeing women the mensesN A" Because that then they
turn into milk, an into the nourishment of the chil& for if a woman
with chil ha!e them, it is a sign that she will miscarry"
M" Why are they terme AmenstruaA, from the wor AmensisA, a monthN A"
Because it is a space of time that measures the moon, as she ens her
course in twenty$nine ays, an fourteen hours"
M" Why o they continue longer with some than others, as with some si*
or se!en, but commonly with all three aysN A" The first are col,
therefore they increase most in them, an conseEuently are longer
e*pelling) other women are hot, an therefore ha!e fewer an are sooner
e*pelle"
M" Are the menses which are e*pelle, an those by which the chil is
engenere, all oneN A" =o, because the one are unclean, an unfit for
that purpose) but the other !ery pure an clear, therefore the fittest
for generation"
M" Why ha!e not women their menses all one an the same time, but some
in the new moon, some in the full, an others at the waneN A" From their
se!eral comple*ions, an though all women Cin respect of menD are
phlegmatic, yet some are more sanguine than others, some more choleric)
an as the moon hath her Euarters, so ha!e women their comple*ions) the
first sanguine, the secon choleric"
M" Why o women easily concei!e after their mensesN A" Because the womb
being cleanse, they are better prepare for conception"
M" Why o women look pale when they first ha!e their menses upon themN
A" Because the heat goes from the outwar parts of the boy to the
inwar, to help nature to e*pel their terms, which epri!ation of heat
oth cause a paleness in the face" :r, because that flu* is cause of
raw humours, which, when they run, make the face colourless"
M" Why o they at that time abhor their meatN A" Because nature labours
more to e*pel their terms than igest) an, therefore, if they shoul
eat, their foo woul remain raw in the stomach"
M" Why are some women barren an o not concei!eN A" 3" 8t procees
sometimes from the man who may be of a col nature, so that his see is
unfit for generation" ." Because it is waterish, an so oth not stay in
the womb" I" By reason that the see of them both hath not a like
proportion, as if the man be melancholy an the woman sanguine, or the
man choleric an the woman phlegmatic"
M" Why o fat women selom concei!eN A" Because they ha!e a slippery
womb, an the see will not stay in it" :r, because the mouth of the
matri* is !ery strait, an the see cannot enter it, or, if it oes, it
is so !ery slowly that it grows col an unfit for generation"
M" Why o those of a hot constitution selom concei!eN A" Because the
see in them is e*tinguishe or put out, as water cast into fire)
whereof we fin that women who !ehemently esire the flesh selom
concei!e"
M" Why are whores ne!er with chilN A" By reason of i!ers sees, which
corrupt an spoil the instruments of conception, for it makes them so
slippery, that they cannot retain see" :r, else, it is because one
man@s see estroys another@s, so neither is goo for generation"
M" Why o women concei!e twinsN A" Because there are se!en cells or
receptacles in the womb) wherefore they may naturally ha!e so many
chilren at once as there falls see into these cells"
M" Why are twins but half men, an not so strong as othersN A" The see
that shoul ha!e been for one, is i!ie into two an therefore they
are weakly an selom li!e long"
A:f ;ermaphroites"A
M" ;ow are hermaphroites begottenN A" =ature oth always ten to that
which is best, an always inteneth to beget the male an not the
female, because the female is only for the male@s mate" Therefore the
male is sometimes begotten in all its principal parts) an, yet, through
the inisposition of the womb an object, an ineEuality of the sees,
when nature cannot perfect the male, she brings forth the female too"
An therefore natural philosophers say, that an hermaphroite is
impotent in the pri!y parts of a man, as appears by e*perience"
M" 8s an hermaphroite accounte a man or a womanN A" 8t is to be
consiere in which member he is fittest for copulation) if he be
fittest in the woman@s, then he is a woman) if in a man@s, then he is a
man"
M" 7houl he be baptiJe in the name of a man or a womanN A" 8n the
name of a man, because names are gi!en Aa placitumA, an therefore he
shoul be baptiJe, accoring to the worthiest name, because e!ery agent
is worthier than its patient"
A:f (onsters"A
M" ,oth nature make any monstersN A" 7he oth) if she i not, then
woul she be epri!e of her en" For of things possible, she oth
always propose to bring forth that which is most perfect an best) but
in the en, through the e!il isposition of the matter, not being able
to bring forth that which she intene, she brings forth that which she
can" As it happene in Albertus@s time, when in a certain !illage, a cow
brought forth a calf, half a man) then the countrymen suspecting a
shepher, woul ha!e burnt him with the cow) but Albertus, being skille
in astronomy, sai that this i procee from a certain constellation,
an so eli!ere the shepher from their hans"
M" Are they one or twoN A" To fin out, you must look into the heart, if
there be two hearts, there be two men"
M" Why are some chilren like their father, some like their mother, some
to both an some to neitherN A" 8f the see of the father wholly
o!ercome that of the mother the chil oth resemble the father) but if
the mother@s preominate, then it is like the mother) but if he be like
neither, that oth sometimes happen through the four Eualities,
sometimes through the influence of some hea!enly constellation"
M" Why are chilren oftener like the father than the motherN A" 8t
procees from the imagination of the mother in the act of copulation, as
appeare in a Eueen who ha her imagination on a blackamoor) an in the
Ethiopian Eueen who brought forth a white chil, because her imagination
was upon a white colour) as is seen in -acob@s skill in casting ros of
i!ers colours into the water, when his sheep went to ram"
M" Why o chilren born in the eighth month for the most part ie
Euickly, an why are they calle the chilren of the moonN A" Because
the moon is a col planet, which has ominion o!er the chil, an
therefore oth bin it with colness, which is the cause of its eath"
M" Why oth a chil cry as soon as it is bornN A" Because of the suen
change from heat to col& which col oth affect its tenerness" Another
reason is, because the chil@s soft an tener boy is wringe an put
together coming out of the narrow an strait passage of the matri*, an
especially, the brain being moist, an the hea being presse an
wrinkle together, is the cause that some humours istil by the eyes,
which are the cause of tears an weeping"
M" Why oth the chil put its fingers into its mouth as soon as it
cometh into the worlN A" Because that coming out of the womb it cometh
out of a hot bath, an entering into the col, puts them into its mouth
for want of heat"
A:f the 'hil in the Womb"A
M" ;ow is the chil engenere in the wombN A" The first si* ays the
see hath this colour of milk, but in the si* following a re colour,
which is near unto the isposition of the flesh) an then it is change
into a thick substance of bloo" But in the twel!e ays following, this
substance becomes so thick an roun that it is capable of recei!ing
shape an form"
M" ,oth the chil in the womb !oi e*crements or make waterN =o" Because
it hath not the first igestion which is in the stomach" 8t recei!es no
foo by the mouth, but by the na!el) therefore, makes no urine but
sweats, which is but little, an is recei!e in a skin in the matri*,
which at the birth is cast out"
A:f Abortion an <ntimely Birth"A
M" Why o women that eat unwholesome meats, easily miscarryN A" Because
they bree putrefie see, which the min abhorring oth cast it out of
the womb as unfit for the shape which is aapte to recei!e the soul"
M" Why oth wrestling an leaping cause the casting of the chil, as
some subtle women o on purposeN A" The !apour is burning, an oth
easily hurt the tener substance of the chil, entering in at the pores
of the matri*"
M" Why oth much joy cause a woman to miscarryN A" Because in the time
of joy, a woman is estitute of heat, an so a miscarriage oth follow"
M" Why o women easily miscarry when they are first with chil, !iJ",
the first, secon or thir monthN A" As apples an pears easily fall at
first, because the knots an ligaments are weak, so it is with a chil
in the womb"
M" Why is it har to miscarry in the thir, fourth, fifth an si*th
monthN A" Because the ligaments are stronger an well fortifie"
A:f ,i!ers (atters"A
M" Why has not a man a tail like a beastN A" Because man is a noble
creature, whose property is to sit) which a beast, ha!ing a tail,
cannot"
M" Why oes hot water freeJe sooner than colN A" ;ot water is thinner,
an gi!es better entrance to the frost"
M" Why is e!ery li!ing creature ull after copulationN A" By reason that
the act is filthy an unclean) an so e!ery li!ing creature abhors it"
When men o think upon it, they are ashame an sa"
M" Why cannot runken men juge of taste as well as sober menN A"
Because the tongue, being full of pores an spongy, recei!es more
moisture into it, an more in runken men than in sober) therefore, the
tongue, through often rinking, is full of ba humours, an so the
faculty of tasting is renere out of orer) also, through the
thickening of the taste itself, rink taken by runkars is not
presently felt" An by this may also be unerstoo why runkars ha!e
not a perfect speech"
M" Why ha!e melancholy beasts long earsN A" The ears procee from a ry
an col substance, calle gristle, which is apt to become bone) an
because melancholy beasts o aboun with this kin of substance, they
ha!e long ears"
M" Why o hares sleep with their eyes openN A" 3" They ha!e their eyes
staning out, an their eyelis short, therefore, ne!er Euite shut" ."
They are timorous, an as a safe$guar to themsel!es, sleep with their
eyes open"
M" Why o not crows fee their young till they be nine ays olN A"
Because seeing them of another colour, they think they are of another
kin"
M" Why are sheep an pigeons milN A" They want galls, the cause of
anger"
M" Why ha!e birs their stones inwarN A" Because if outwar, they woul
hiner their flying an lightness"
M" ;ow comes it that birs o not pissN A" Because that superfluity
which woul be con!erte into urine, is turne into feathers"
M" Why o we hear better in the night than by ayN A" Because there is a
greater Euietness in the night than in the ay, for the sun oth not
e*hale the !apours by night, but it oth in the ay, therefore the moon
is more fit than in the ay) an the moon being fit, the motion is
better recei!e, which is sai to be cause by a soun"
M" For what reason oth a man laugh sooner when touche in the armpits
than in any other part of the boyN A" Because there is in that place a
meeting of many sinews, an the mean we touch, which is the flesh, is
more subtle than in other parts, an therefore of finer feeling" When a
man is moerately an gently touche there the spirits that are
isperse run into the face an causes laughter"
M" Why o some women lo!e white men an some black menN A" 3" 7ome ha!e
weak sight, an such elight in black, because white oth hurt the sight
more than black" ." Because like elight in like) but some women are of
a hot nature, an such are elighte with black, because blackness
followeth heat) an others are of a col nature, an those are elighte
with white, because col prouces white"
M" Why o men incline to sleep after labourN A" Because, through
continual mo!ing, the heat is isperse to the e*ternal parts of the
boy, which, after labour, is gathere together in the internal parts,
there to igest) an from igestion, !apours arise from the heart to the
brain, which stop the passage by which the natural heat shoul be
isperse to the e*ternal part) an then, the e*ternal parts being col
an thick, by reason of the colness of the brain sleep is easily
procure" By this it appeareth that such as eat an rink too much, o
sleep much an long, because there are great store of humours an
!apours bre in such persons which cannot be consume an igeste by
the natural heat"
M" Why are such as sleep much, e!il ispose an ill$coloureN A"
Because in too much sleep moisture is gathere together, which cannot be
consume, an so it oth co!et to go out through the superficial parts
of the boy, an especially it resorts to the face, an therefore is the
cause of ba colours, as appeareth in such as are phlegmatic an who
esire more sleep than others"
M" Why o some imagine in their sleep that they eat an rink sweet
thingsN A" Because the phlegm rawn up by the jaws oth istil an rop
to the throat) an this phlegm is sweet after a sore sweat, an that
seemeth so to them"
M" Why o some ream in their sleep that they are in the water an
rowne, an some that they were in the water an not rowne)
especially such as are phlegmaticN A" Because when the phlegmatic
substance oth turn to the high parts of the boy, then many think they
are in the water an rowne) but when that substance raweth into the
internal parts, then they think they escape" Another reason may be,
o!ermuch repletion an runkenness& an therefore, when men are o!ermuch
fille with meat, the fumes an !apours ascen an gather together, an
they think they are rowne an strangle) but if they cannot ascen so
high then they seem to escape"
M" (ay a man procure a ream by an e*ternal causeN A" 8t may be one" 8f
a man speak softly in another man@s ear an awake him not, then of his
stirring of the spirits there are thunerings an buJJings in the hea,
which cause reamings"
M" ;ow many humours are there in a man@s boyN A" Four, whereof e!ery
one hath its proper place" The first is choler, calle by physicians
Afla!a bilisA, which is place in the li!er" The secon is melancholy,
calle Aatra bilisA, whose seat is in the spleen" The thir is phlegm,
whose place is in the hea" The fourth is bloo, whose place is in the
heart"
M" What conition an Euality hath a man of a sanguine comple*ionN A" 8t
is fair an beautiful) hath his hair for the most part smooth) is bol)
retaineth that which he hath concei!e) is shame$face, gi!en to music,
a lo!er of sciences, liberal, courteous, an not esirous of re!enge"
M" What properties o follow those of a phlegmatic comple*ionN A" They
are ull of wit, their hair ne!er curls, they are selom !ery thirsty,
much gi!en to sleep, ream of things belonging to water, are fearful,
co!etous, gi!en to heap up riches, an are weak in the act of !enery"
M" What are the properties of a choleric manN A" ;e is brown in
comple*ion, unEuiet, his !eins hien, eateth little an igesteth less,
reameth of ark an confuse things, is sa, fearful, e*ceeingly
co!etous, an incontinent"
M" What reams o follow these comple*ionsN A" Pleasant, merry reams o
follow the sanguine) fearful reams, the melancholic) the choleric ream
of chilren fighting an fire) the phlegmatic ream of water" This is
the reason why a man@s comple*ion is sai to be known by his reams"
M" What is the reason that if you co!er an egg o!er with salt, an let
it lie in it a few ays, all the meat within is consumeN A" A great
ryness of the salt consumes the substance of the egg"
M" Why is the melancholic comple*ion the worstN A" Because it procees
from the regs of the bloo, is an enemy to mirth an bringeth on age
appearance an eath, being col an ry"
M" What is the cause that some men ie joyful, an some in e*treme
griefN A" :!er$great joy oth o!ermuch heat the internal parts of the
boy) an o!ermuch grief oth rown an suffocate the heart, which
failing, a man ieth"
M" Why hath a man so much hair on his heaN A" The hair on his hea
procees from the !apours which arise from the stomach, an ascen to
the hea, an also of the superfluities which are in the brain) an
those two passing through the pores of the hea are con!erte into hair,
by reason of the heat an ryness of the hea" An because man@s boy is
full of humours, an he hath more brains than any other li!ing
creatures"
M" ;ow many ways is the brain purge an other hien places of the
boyN A" Four) the watery an gross humours are purge by the eyes,
melancholy by the ears, choler by the nose, an phlegm by the hair"
M" What is the reason that such as are !ery fat in their youth, are in
anger of ying on a suenN A" 7uch ha!e !ery small an close !eins, by
reason of their fatness, so that the air an the breath can harly ha!e
free course in them) an thereupon the natural heat wanting the
refreshment of air, is put out, an as it were, Euenche"
M" Why o garlic an onions grow after they are gathereN A" 8t
proceeeth from the humiity that is in them"
M" Why o men feel col sooner than womenN A" Because men, being more
hot than women, ha!e their pores more open, an therefore it oth sooner
enter into them than women"
M" Why are not ol men so subject to the plague as young men an
chilrenN A" They are col, an their pores are not so open as in youth)
an therefore the infecting air oth not penetrate so soon by reason of
their colness"
M" Why o we cast water in a man@s face when he swoonethN A" Because
through the colness of water the heat may run to the heart, an so gi!e
strength"
M" Why are those waters best an most elicate which run towars the
rising sunN A" Because they are soonest stricken with the sunbeams, an
mae pure an subtle, the sun ha!ing them uner it, an by that means
taking off the colness an gross !apours which they gather from the
groun they run through"
M" Why ha!e women such weak an small !oicesN A" Because their
instruments an organs of speaking, by reason of their colness, are
small an narrow) an therefore, recei!ing but little air, cause the
!oice to be effeminate"
M" Whereof oth it procee that want of sleep oth weaken the brain an
boyN A" (uch watching oth engener choler, the which being hot both
ry up an lessen the humours which ser!e the brain, the hea, an other
parts of the boy"
M" Wherefore oth !inegar so reaily staunch blooN A" From its col
!irtue, for all col is naturally bining, an !inegar being col, hath
the like property"
M" Why is sea$water salter in summer than in winterN A" From the heat of
the sun, seeing by e*periment that a salt thing being heate becometh
more salt"
M" Why o men li!e longer in hot regions than in colN A" Because they
may be more ry, an by that means the natural heat is better preser!e
in them than in col countries"
M" Why is well$water selom or e!er gooN A" All water which staneth
still in the spring an is ne!er heate by the sunbeams, is !ery hea!y,
an hath much matter in it, an therefore wanting the heat of the sun,
is naught"
M" Why o men sleep better an more at ease on the right sie than on
the leftN A" Because when they be on the left sie, the lungs o lie
upon an co!er the heart, which is on that sie uner the pap) now the
heart, the fountain of life, being thus occupie an hinere with the
lungs, cannot e*ercise its own proper operation, as being o!ermuch
heate with the lungs lying upon it, an therefore wanting the
refreshment of the air which the lungs o gi!e it, like the blowing of a
pair of bellows, is choke an suffocate, but by lying on the right
sie, those incon!eniences are a!oie"
M" What is the reason that ol men sneeJe with great ifficultyN A"
Because that through their colness their arteries are !ery narrow an
close, an therefore the heat is not of force to e*pel the col"
M" Why oth a runken man think that all things about him o turn rounN
A" Because the spirits which ser!e the sight are mingle with !apours
an fumes, arising from the liEuors he has runk) the o!ermuch heat
causeth the eye to be in continual motion, an the eye being roun,
causeth all things about it to seem to go roun"
M" Wherefore oth it procee, that brea which is mae with salt is
lighter than that which is mae without it, consiering that salt is
!ery hea!y of itselfN A" Although brea is !ery hea!y of itself, yet the
salt ries it an makes it light, by reason of the heat which it hath)
an the more heat there is in it, the better the brea is, an the
lighter an more wholesome for the boy"
M" Why is not new brea goo for the stomachN A" Because it is full of
moistness, an thick, hot !apours, which o corrupt the bloo, an hot
brea is blacker than col, because heat is the mother of blackness, an
because the !apours are not gone out of it"
M" Why o lettuces make a man sleepN A" Because they engener gross
!apours"
M" Why o the regs of wine an oil go to the bottom, an those of honey
swim uppermostN A" Because the regs of wine an oil are earthly, an
therefore go to the bottom) but honey is a liEui that cometh from the
stomach an belly of the bee) an is there in some sort putrefie an
mae subtle) on which account the regs are most light an hot, an
therefore go uppermost"
M" Why o cats@ an wol!es@ eyes shine in the night, an not in the ayN
A" The eyes of these beasts are by nature more crystalline than the eyes
of other beasts, an therefore o so shine in arkness) but the
brightness of the sun oth hiner them from being seen in the ay$time"
M" What is the reason that some men, if they see others ance, o the
like with their hans an feet, or by other gestures of the boyN A"
Because the sight ha!ing carrie an represente unto the min that
action, an juging the same to be pleasant an elightful, an
therefore the imagination raweth the like of it in conceit an stirs up
the boy by the gestures"
M" Why oes much sleep cause some to grow fat an some leanN A" Those
who are of ill comple*ion, when they sleep, o consume an igest the
superfluities of what they ha!e eaten, an therefore become fat" But
such as are of goo comple*ion, when they sleep are more col, an
igest less"
M" ;ow much, an from what cause o we suffer hunger better than thirstN
A" When the stomach hath nothing else to consume, it consumeth the
phlegm an humours which it fineth most reay an most at han) an
therefore we suffer hunger better than thirst, because the heat hath
nothing to refresh itself with"
M" Why oth the hair fall after a great sicknessN A" Where the sickness
is long, as in the ague, the humours of the hea are rie up through
o!ermuch heat, an, therefore, wanting nourishment, the hair falls"
M" Why oth the hair of the eyebrows grow long in ol menN A" Because
through their age the bones are thin through want of heat, an therefore
the hair oth grow there, by reason of the rheum of the eye"
M" Whereof proceeeth gapingN A" :f gross !apours, which occupy the
!ital spirits of the hea, an of the colness of the senses causing
sleepiness"
M" What is the reason that some flowers o open with the sun rising, an
shut with the sun settingN A" 'ol oth close an shut, as hath been
sai, but the heat of the sun oth open an enlarge" 7ome compare the
sun to the soul of the boy) for as the soul gi!eth life, so the sun
oth gi!e life, an !i!ificate all things) but col bringeth eath,
withering an ecaying all things"
M" Why oth grief cause men to grow ol an greyN A" Age is nothing else
but ryness an want of humours in the boy) grief then causeth
alteration, an heat ryness) age an greyness follow immeiately"
M" Why are gele beasts weaker than such as are not geleN A" Because
they ha!e less heat, an by that means less force an strength"
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M" Why is it esteeme, in the jugment of the most wise, the harest
thing to know a man@s selfN A" Because nothing can be known that is of
so great importance to man for the regulation of his conuct in life"
Without this knowlege, man is like the ship without either compass or
ruer to conuct her to port, an is tosse by e!ery passion an
prejuice to which his natural constitution is subjecte" To know the
form an perfection of man@s self, accoring to the philosophers, is a
task too har) an a man, says Plato, is nothing, or if he be anything,
he is nothing, but his soul"
M" Why is a man, though enowe with reason, the most unjust of all
li!ing creaturesN A" Because only man is esirous of honour) an so it
happens that e!ery one co!ets to seem goo, an yet naturally shuns
labour, though he attain no !irtue by it"
M" Why oth immoerate copulation o more hurt than immoerate letting
of blooN A" The see is full of nutriment, an better prepare for the
nurture of the boy, than the bloo) for the bloo is nourishe by the
see"
M" What is the reason that those that ha!e long yars cannot beget
chilrenN A" The see, in going a long istance, oth lose the spirit,
an therefore becomes col an unfit"
M" Why o such as are corpulent cast forth but little see in the act of
copulation, an are often barrenN A" Because the see of such goeth to
nourish the boy" For the same reason corpulent women ha!e but few
menses"
M" ;ow come women to be prone to !enery in the summer time an men in
the winterN A" 8n summer the man@s testicles hang own an are feebler
than in winter, or because hot natures become more li!ely in the col
season) for a man is hot an ry, an a woman col an moist) an
therefore in summer the strength of men ecays, an that of women
increases, an they grow li!elier by the benefit of the contrary
Euality"
M" Why is man the prouest of all li!ing creaturesN A" By reason of his
great knowlege) or, as philosophers say, all intelligent beings ha!ing
unerstaning, nothing remains that escapes man@s knowlege in
particular) or it is because he hath rule o!er all earthly creatures,
an all things seem to be brought uner his ominion"
M" Why ha!e beasts their hearts in the mile of their breasts, an man
his inclining to the leftN A" To moerate the col on that sie"
M" Why oth the woman lo!e the man best who has got her maienheaN A"
By reason of shame$faceness) Plato saith, shame$faceness oth follow
lo!e, or, because it is the beginning of great pleasure, which oth
bring a great alteration in the whole boy, whereby the powers of the
min are much elighte, an stick an rest immo!eable in the same"
M" ;ow come hairy people to be more lustful than any otherN A" Because
they are sai to ha!e greater store of e*crements an see as
philosophers assert"
M" What is the cause that the suffocation of the matri*, which happens
to women through strife an contention, is more angerous than the
etaining of the flowersN A" Because the more perfect an e*crement is in
its natural isposition, the worse it is when it is altere from that
isposition, an rawn to the contrary Euality) as is seen in !inegar,
which is sharpest when it is mae of the best wine" An so it happens
that the more men lo!e one another the more they fall into !ariance an
iscor"
M" ;ow come women@s boies to be looser, softer an less than man@s) an
why o they want hairN A" By reason of their menses) for with them their
superfluities go away, which woul prouce hair) an thereby the flesh
is fille, conseEuently the !eins are more hi in women than in men"
M" What is the reason that when we think upon a horrible thing, we are
stricken with fearN A" Because the conceit or imagination of things has
force an !irtue" For Plato saith, the fancy of things has some affinity
with things themsel!es) for the image an representation of col an
heat is such as the nature of things are" :r it is this, because when we
comprehen any reaful matter, the bloo runneth to the internal parts)
an therefore the e*ternal parts are col an shake with fear"
M" Why oth a raish root help igestion an yet itself remaineth
unigesteN A" Because the substance consisteth of i!ers parts) for
there are some thin parts in it, which are fit to igest meat, the which
being issol!e, there oth remain some thick an close substance in it,
which the heat cannot igest"
M" Why o such as clea!e woo, clea!e it easier in the length than
athwartN A" Because in the woo there is a grain, whereby, if it be cut
in length, in the !ery cutting, one part naturally separateth from
another"
M" What is the reason, that if a spear be stricken on the en, the soun
cometh sooner to one who staneth near, than to him who strikethN A"
Because, as hath been sai, there is a certain long grain in woo,
irectly forwar, fille with air, but on the other sie there is none,
an therefore a beam or spear being stricken on the en, the air which
is hien recei!eth a soun in the aforesai grain which ser!eth for its
passage) an, seeing the soun cannot go easily out of it is carrie
into the ear of him who is opposite) as those passages o not go from
sie to sie, a soun cannot be istinctly hear there"
M" Why are the thighs an cal!es of the legs of men flesh, seeing the
legs of beasts are not soN A" Because men only go upright) an therefore
nature hath gi!en the lower parts corpulency, an taken it away from the
upper) an thus she hath mae the buttocks, the thighs, an cal!es of
the legs fleshy"
M" Why are the sensible powers in the heart) yet if the hiner part of
the brain be hurt, the memory suffereth by it) if the forepart, the
imagination) if the mile, the cogitati!e partN A" 8t is because the
brain is appointe by nature to cool the bloo of the heart) whereof it
is, that in i!ers of its parts it ser!eth the powers an instruments
with their heart, for e!ery action of the soul oth not procee from one
measure of heat"
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M" Why oth the sun make a man black an irt white, wa* soft an irt
harN A" By reason of the isposition of the substance that oth suffer"
All humours, phlegm e*cepte, when heate abo!e measure, o seem black
about the skin) an irt, being full either of saltpetre, or salt
liEuor, when the sun hath consume its regs an filth, oth become
white again" When the sun hath stirre up an rawn the humiity of the
wa*, it is softene) but in the irt, the sun oth consume the humiity,
which is !ery much an makes it har"
M" Why are roun ulcers har to be cureN A" Because they are bre of a
sharp choler, which eats an gnaws) an because it oth run, ropping
an gnawing, it makes a roun ulcer) for which reason it reEuires ry
meicines, as physicians assert"
M" Why is honey sweet to all men, but to such as ha!e jauniceN A"
Because they ha!e much bitter choler all o!er their boies, which
abouns in the tongue) whence it happens when they eat honey the humours
are stirre, an the taste itself, by the bitterness of choler, causes
an imagination that the honey is bitter"
M" Why oth water cast on serpents, cause them to flyN A" Because they
are ry an col by nature, ha!ing but little bloo, an therefore fly
from e*cessi!e colness"
M" Why oth an egg break if roaste, an not if boileN A" When moisture
comes near the fire, it is heate !ery much, an so brees win, which
being put up in little room, forces its way out, an breaks the shell&
the like happens in tubs or earthen !essels when new wine is put into
them) too much phlegm breaks the shell of an egg in roasting) it is the
same with earthen pots too much heate) wherefore some people wet an egg
when they inten to roast it" ;ot water, by its softness, oth issipate
its humiity by little an little, an issol!es it through the thinness
an passages of the shell"
M" Why o men wink in the act of copulation, an fin a little
alteration in all other sensesN A" Because, being o!ercome by the effect
of that pleasure, they o comprehen it the better"
M" Why ha!e chilren gra!el breeing in their blaers, an ol men in
their kineys an !einsN A" Because chilren ha!e straight passages in
their kineys, an an earthly thick humour is thrust with !iolence by
the urine to the blaer, which hath wie conuits or passages, that
gi!e room for the urine an humour whereof gra!el is engenere, which
wa*es thick, an seats itself, as the manner of it is" 8n ol men it is
the re!erse, for they ha!e wie passages of the !eins, back an kineys,
that the urine may pass away, an the earthly humour congeal an sink
own) the colour of the gra!el shows the humour whereof the stone comes"
M" Why is it, if the stone o congeal an wa* har through heat, we use
not contrary things to issol!e it by colness, but light things, as
parsley, fennel an the likeN A" 8t is thought, to fall out by an
e*cessi!e scorching heat, by which the stones o crumble into san, as
in the manner of earthen !essels, which, when they are o!erheate or
roaste, turn to san" An by this means it happens that small stones
are a!oie, together with san, in making water" 7ometimes col rink
thrusts out the stone, the kineys being stretche an casting it out by
a great effort) thus easing the belly of its buren" Besies, it often
happens that immoerate heat of the kineys, or of the !eins of the back
Cthrough which the stone oth growD is Euenche with colness"
M" Why is the curing of an ulcer or bile in the kineys or blaer !ery
harN A" Because the urine being sharp, oth ulcerate the sore" <lcers
are worse to cure in the blaer than in the kineys, because urine
stays in the former, but runs away from the latter"
M" Why o chaff an straw keep water hot, but make snow colN A" Because
the nature of chaff wants a manifest Euantity) seeing, therefore that of
its own nature, it can easily be mingle, an consume by that which it
is anne*e onto, it easily assumes the same nature, an being put into
hot things, it is easily hot, heats again, an keeps hot) an on the
contrary, being mae col by the snow, an making the snow col it keeps
in its colness"
M" Why ha!e we oftentimes a pain in making waterN A" Because sharp
choler issuing out, an pricking the blaer of the urine, oth pro!oke
an stir up the whole boy to ease the part offene, an to e*pel the
humour moerately" This oth happen most of all unto chilren, because
they ha!e moist e*crements by reason of their often rinking"
M" Why ha!e some meicines of one kin contrary effects, as e*perience
pro!es) for mastich oth e*pel, issol!e an also knit) an !inegar
cools an heatsN A" Because there are some small in!isible boies in
them, not in confusion, but by interposition) as san moistene oth
clog together an seem to be but one boy, though inee there are many
small boies in san" An since this is so, it is not absur that the
contrary Eualities an !irtues shoul be hien in mastich, an that
nature hath gi!en that !irtue to these boies"
M" Why o nurses rock an mo!e their chilren when they woul rock them
to sleepN A" To the en that the humours being scattere by mo!ing, may
mo!e the brains) but those of more years cannot enure this"
M" Why oth oil, being runk, cause one to !omit, an especially yellow
cholerN A" Because being light, an ascening upwars it pro!oketh the
nutriment in the stomach, an lifteth it up) an so, the stomach being
grie!e, summoneth the ejecti!e !irtue to !omit, an especially choler,
because that is light an consisteth of subtle parts, an therefore the
sooner carrie upwar) for when it is mingle with any moist thing, it
runneth into the highest room"
M" Why oth not oil mingle with moist thingsN A" Because, being pliant,
soft an thick in itself, it cannot be i!ie into parts, an so cannot
be mingle) neither if it be put on the earth can it enter into it"
M" Why are water an oil froJen in col weather, an wine an !inegar
notN A" Because that oil being without Euality, an fit to be compoune
with anything, is col Euickly an so e*tremely that it is most col"
Water being col of nature, oth easily freeJe when it is mae coler
than its own nature" Wine being hot, an of subtle parts, suffereth no
freeJing"
M" Why o contrary things in Euality bring forth the same effectN A"
That which is moist is harene an boun alike by heat an col" 7now
an liEui o freeJe with col) a plaster an gra!el in the blaer are
mae ry with heat" The effect inee is the same, but by two i!ers
actions) the heat oth consume an eat the abunance of moisture) but
the col stopping an shutting with its o!er much thickness, oth wring
out the filthy humiity, like as a sponge wrung with the han oth cast
out the water which it hath in the pores an small passages"
M" Why oth a shaking or Eui!ering seiJe us oftentimes when any fearful
matter oth happen, as a great noise or a crack mae, the suen
ownfall of water, or the fall of a large treeN A" Because that
oftentimes the humours being igeste an consume by time an mae thin
an weak, all the heat !ehemently, suenly an sharply flying into the
inwar part of the boy, consumeth the humours which cause the isease"
7o treacle hath this effect, an many such like, which are hot an ry
when taken after conne*ion"
M" Why o steel glasses shine so clearlyN A" Because they are line in
the insie with white lea, whose nature is shining, an being put to
glass, which is luci an transparent, oth shine much more) an casts
its beams through its passages, an without the boy of the glass) an
by that means the glass is !ery shining an clear"
M" Why o we see oursel!es in glasses an clear waterN A" Because the
Euality of the sight, passing into the bright boies by reflection, oth
return again on the beam of the eyes, as the image of him who looketh on
it"
M" What is the reason that if you cast a stone in staning water which
is near the surface of the earth, it causes many circles, an not if the
water be eep in the earthN A" Because the stone, with the !ehemence of
the cast, oth agitate the water in e!ery part of it, until it come to
the bottom) an if there be a !ery great !ehemence in the throw, the
circle is still greater, the stone going own to the bottom causing many
circles" For, first of all, it oth i!ie the outermost an superficial
parts of the water in many parts, an so, always going own to the
bottom, again i!iing the water, it maketh another circle, an this is
one successi!ely until the stone resteth) an because the !ehemence of
the stone is slackene, still as it goes own, of necessity the last
circle is less than the first, because by that an also by its force the
water is i!ie"
M" Why are such as are eaf by nature, umbN A" Because they cannot
speak an e*press that which they ne!er hear" 7ome physicians o say,
that there is one knitting an uniting of sinews belonging to the like
isposition" But such as are umb by accient are not eaf at all, for
then there ariseth a local passion"
M" Why oth itching arise when an ulcer oth wa* whole an phlegm
ceasesN A" Because the part which is heale an mae soun oth pursue
the relic of the humours which remaine there against nature, an which
was the cause of the bile, an so going out through the skin, an
issol!ing itself, oth originally cause the itch"
M" ;ow comes a man to sneeJe oftener an more !ehemently than a beastN
A" Because he uses more meats an rinks, an of more ifferent sorts,
an that more than is reEuisite) the which, when he cannot igest as he
woul, he oth gather together much air an spirit, by reason of much
humiity) the spirits then !ery subtle, ascening into the hea, often
force a man to !oi them, an so pro!oke sneeJing" The noise cause
thereby procees from a !ehement spirit or breath passing through the
conuit of the nostrils, as belching oth from the stomach or farting by
the funament, the !oice by the throat, an a soun by the ear"
M" ;ow come the hair an nails of ea people to growN A" Because the
flesh rotting, withering an falling away, that which was hien about
the root of the hair oth now appear as growing" 7ome say that it grows
inee, because carcasses are issol!e in the beginning to many
e*crements an superfluities by putrefaction" These going out at the
uppermost parts of the boy by some passages, o increase the growth of
the hair"
M" Why oes not the hair of the feet soon grow greyN A" For this reason,
because that through great motion they isperse an issol!e the
superfluous phlegm that brees greyness" The hair of the secrets grows
!ery late, because of the place, an because that in carnal copulation
it issol!es the phlegm also"
M" Why, if you put hot burnt barley upon a horse@s sore, is the hair
which grows upon the sore not white, but like the other hairN A" Because
it hath the force of e*pelling) an oth ri!e away an issol!e the
phlegm, as well as all other unprofitable matter that is gathere
together through the weakness of the parts, or conity of the sore"
M" Why oth the hair ne!er grow on an ulcer or bileN A" Because man hath
a thick skin, as is seen by the thickness of his hair) an if the scar
be thicker than the skin itself, it stops the passages from whence the
hair shoul grow" ;orses ha!e thinner skins, as is plain by their hair)
therefore all passages are not stoppe in their wouns an sores) an
after the e*crements which were gathere together ha!e broken a passage
through those small pores the hair oth grow"
M" Why is Fortune painte with a ouble forehea, the one sie bal an
the other hairyN A" The balness signifies a!ersity, an hairiness
prosperity, which we enjoy when it pleaseth her"
M" Why ha!e some commene flatteryN A" Because flattery setteth forth
before our eyes what we ought to be, though not what we are"
M" Wherefore shoul !irtue be painte gireN A" To show that !irtuous
men shoul not be slothful, but iligent an always in action"
M" Why i the ancients say it was better to fall into the hans of a
ra!en than a flattererN A" Because ra!ens o not eat us till we be ea,
but flatterers e!our us ali!e"
M" Why ha!e choleric men bears before othersN A" Because they are hot,
an their pores large"
M" ;ow comes it that such as ha!e the hiccups o ease themsel!es by
holing their breathN A" The breath retaine oth heat the interior
parts of the boy, an the hiccups procees from col"
M" ;ow comes it that ol men remember well what they ha!e seen an one
in their youth, an forget such things as they see an o in their ol
ageN A" Things learne in youth take eep root an habitue in a person,
but those learne in age are forgotten because the senses are then
weakene"
M" What kin of co!etousness is bestN A" That of time when employe as
it ought to be"
M" Why is our life compare to a playN A" Because the ishonest o
occupy the place of the honest, an the worst sort the room of the goo"
M" Why o olphins, when they appear abo!e the water, enote a storm or
tempest approachingN A" Because at the beginning of a tempest there o
arise from the bottom of the sea, certain hot e*halations an !apours
which heat the olphins, causing them to rise up for col air"
M" Why i the +omans call Fabius (a*imus the target of the people, an
(arcellus the sworN A" Because the one aapte himself to the ser!ice
of the commonwealth, an the other was !ery eager to re!enge the
injuries of his country) an yet they were in the senate joine
together, because the gra!ity of the one woul moerate the courage an
bolness of the other"
M" Why oth the shining of the moon hurt the heaN A" Because it mo!es
the humours of the brain, an cannot afterwars issol!e them"
M" 8f water o not nourish, why o men rink itN A" Because water
causeth the nutriment to sprea through the boy"
M" Why is sneeJing gooN A" Because it purgeth the brain as milk is
purge by the cough"
M" Why is hot water lighter than colN A" Because boiling water has less
!entosity an is more light an subtle, the earthly an hea!y substance
being separate from it"
M" ;ow comes marsh an pon water to be baN A" By reason they are
phlegmatic, an o corrupt in summer) the fineness of water is turne
into !apours, an the earthiness oth remain"
M" Why are stuious an learne men soonest balN A" 8t procees from a
weakness of the spirits, or because warmth of igestion cause phlegm to
aboun in them"
M" Why oth much watching make the brain feebleN A" Because it increases
choler, which ries an e*tenuates the boy"
M" Why are boys apt to change their !oices about fourteen years of ageN
A" Because that then nature oth cause a great an suen change of
!oice) e*perience pro!es this to be true) for at that time we may see
that women@s paps o grow great, o hol an gather milk, an also those
places that are abo!e their hips, in which the young fruit woul remain"
%ikewise men@s breasts an shoulers, which then can bear great an
hea!y burens) also their stones in which their see may increase an
abie, an in their pri!y members, to let out the see with ease"
Further all the boy is mae bigger an ilate, as the alteration an
change of e!ery part oth testify, an the harshness of the !oice an
hoarseness) for the rough artery, the win pipe, being mae wie in the
beginning, an the e*terior an outwar part being uneEual to the
throat, the air going out the rough, uneEual an une!en pipe oth then
become uneEual an sharp, an after, hoarse, something like unto the
!oice of a goat, wherefore it has its name calle Bronchus" The same
oth also happen to them unto whose rough artery istillation oth
follow) it happens by reason of the rooping humiity that a slight
small skin fille uneEually causes the une!en going forth of the spirit
an air" <nerstan, that the winpipe of goats is such by reason of the
abunance of humiity" The like oth happen unto all such as nature hath
gi!en a rough artery, as unto cranes" After the age of fourteen they
lea!e off that !oice, because the artery is mae wier an reacheth its
natural e!enness an Euality"
M" Why o har ens, hollow an high places, sen back the likeness an
soun of the !oiceN A" Because that in such places also by reflection o
return back the image of a soun, for the !oice oth beat the air, an
the air the place, which the more it is beaten the more it oth bear,
an therefore oth cause the more !ehement soun of the !oice) moist
places, an as it were, soft, yieling to the stroke, an issol!ing it,
gi!e no soun again) for accoring to the Euantity of the stroke, the
Euality an Euantity of the !oice is gi!en, which is calle an echo"
7ome o ily fable that she is a goess) some say that Pan was in lo!e
with her, which without oubt is false" ;e was some wise man, who i
first esire to search out the cause of the !oice, an as they who lo!e,
an cannot enjoy that lo!e, are grie!e, so in like manner was he !ery
sorry until he foun out the solution of that cause) as Enymion also,
who first foun out the course of the moon, watching all night, an
obser!ing her course, an searching her motion, i sleep in the
aytime, an that she came to him when he was asleep, because she i
gi!e the philosopher the solution of the course herself" They say also
that he was a shepher, because that in the esert an high places, he
i mark the course of the moon" An they ga!e him also the pipe because
that the high places are blown with win, or else because he sought out
the consonancy of figures" Prometheus also, being a wise man, sought the
course of the star, which is calle the eagle in the firmament, his
nature an place) an when he was, as it were, waste with the esire of
learning, then at last he reste, when ;ercules i resol!e unto him all
oubts with his wisom"
M" Why o not swine cry when they are carrie with their snouts upwarsN
A" Because that of all other beasts they ben more to the earth" They
elight in filth, an that they seek, an therefore in the suen change
of their face, they be as it were strangers, an being amaJe with so
much light o keep that silence) some say the winpipe oth close
together by reason of the straitness of it"
M" Why o swine elight in irtN A" As physicians o say, they are
naturally elighte with it, because they ha!e a great li!er, in which
esire it, as Aristotle saith, the wieness of their snout is the case,
for he that hath smelling which oth issol!e itself, an as it were
stri!e with stench"
M" Why o many beasts when they see their friens, an a lion an a
bull beat their sies when they are angryN A" Because they ha!e the
marrow of their backs reaching to the tail, which hath the force of
motion in it, the imagination acknowleging that which is known to them,
as it were with the han, as happens to men, oth force them to mo!e
their tails" This oth manifestly show some secret force to be within
them, which oth acknowlege what they ought" 8n the anger of lions an
bulls, nature oth consent to the min, an causeth it to be greatly
mo!e, as men o sometimes when they are angry, beating their hans on
other parts) when the min cannot be re!enge on that which oth hurt,
it presently seeks out some other source, an cures the malay with a
stroke or blow"
M" ;ow come steel glasses to be better for the sight than any other
kinN A" Because steel is har, an oth present unto us more
substantially the air that recei!eth the light"
M" ;ow oth lo!e show its greater force by making the fool to become
wise, or the wise to become a foolN A" 8n attributing wisom to him that
has it not) for it is harer to buil than to pull own) an orinarily
lo!e an folly are but an alteration of the min"
M" ;ow comes much labour an fatigue to be ba for the sightN A"
Because it ries the bloo too much"
M" Why is goat@s milk reckone best for the stomachN A" Because it is
thick, not slimy, an they fee on woo an boughs rather than on grass"
M" Why o grief an !e*ation bring grey hairsN A" Because they ry,
which bringeth on greyness"
M" ;ow come those to ha!e most mercy who ha!e the thickest blooN A"
Because the bloo which is fat an thick makes the spirits firm an
constant, wherein consists the force of all creatures"
M" Whether it is harest, to obtain a person@s lo!e, or to keep it when
obtaineN A" 8t is harest to keep it, by reason of the inconstancy of
man, who is Euickly angry, an soon weary of a thing) har to be gaine
an slippery to keep"
M" Why o serpents shun the herb rueN A" Because they are col, ry an
full of sinews, an that herb is of a contrary nature"
M" Why is a capon better to eat than a cockN A" Because a capon loses
not his moisture by treaing of the hens"
M" Why is our smell less in winter than in summerN A" Because the air is
thick, an less mo!eable"
M" Why oes hair burn so EuicklyN A" Because it is ry an col"
M" Why is lo!e compare to a labyrinthN A" Because the entry an coming
in is easy, an the going out almost impossible or har"
9 9 9 9 9
PA+T 8?
,87P%A#8=G T;E 7E'+ET7 :F
=AT<+E
+E%AT8=G T:
P;#78:G=:(#
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8
7E'T8:= 3"$$A:f Physiognomy, showing what it is, an whence it is
eri!e"A
Physiognomy is an ingenious science, or knowlege of nature, by which
the inclinations an ispositions of e!ery creature are unerstoo, an
because some of the members are uncompoune, an entire of themsel!es,
as the tongue, the heart, etc", an some are of a mi*e nature, as the
eyes, the nose an others, we therefore say that there are signs which
agree an li!e together, which inform a wise man how to make his
jugment before he be too rash to eli!er it to the worl"
=or is it to be esteeme a foolish or ile art, seeing it is eri!e
from the superior boies) for there is no part of the face of man but
what is uner the peculiar influence or go!ernment, not only of the
se!en planets but also of the twel!e signs of Ooiac) an the
ispositions, !ices, !irtues an fatality, either of a man or woman are
plainly foretol, if the person pretening to the knowlege thereof be
an artist, which, that my reaers may hereby attain it 8 shall set these
things in a clearer light"
The reaer shoul remember that the forehea is go!erne by (ars) the
right eye is uner the omination of 7ol) the left is rule by the (oon)
the right ear is uner -upiter) the left, 7aturn, the rule of the nose
is claime by ?enus, which, by the way, is one reason that in all
unlawful !enereal encounters, the nose is too subject to bear the scars
that are gotten in those wars) an nimble (ercury, the significator of
eloEuence claims the ominion of the mouth, an that !ery justly"
Thus ha!e the se!en planets i!ie the face among them, but not with so
absolute a way but that the twel!e signs of the Ooiac o also come in
with a part Csee the engra!ingD an therefore the sign 'ancer presies
in the upper part of the forehea, an %eo attens upon the right
eyebrow, as 7aggittarius oes upon the right eye, an %ibra upon the
right ear, upon the left eyebrow you will fin AEuarius) an Gemini an
Aries taking care of the left ear) Taurus rules in the mile of the
forehea, an 'apricorn the chin) 7corpio takes upon him the protection
of the nose) ?irgo claims the preceence of the right cheek, Pisces the
left" An thus the face of man is cantone out amongst the signs an
planets) which being carefully attene to, will sufficiently inform
the artist how to pass a jugment" For accoring to the sign or planet
ruling so also is the jugment to be of the part rule, which all those
that ha!e unerstaning know easily how to apply"
18llustration6
8n the jugment that is to be mae from physiognomy, there is a great
ifference betwi*t a man an a woman) the reason is, because in respect
of the whole composition men more fully comprehen it than women o, as
may e!iently appear by the manner an metho we shall gi!e" Wherefore
the jugments which we shall pass in e!ery chapter o properly concern a
man, as comprehening the whole species, an but improperly the woman,
as being but a part thereof, an eri!e from the man, an therefore,
whoe!er is calle to gi!e jugment on such a face, ought to be wary
about all the lines an marks that belong to it, respect being also ha
to the se*, for when we behol a man whose face is like unto a woman@s
an we pass a jugment upon it, ha!ing iligently obser!e it, an not
on the face only, but on other parts of the boy, as hans, etc", in
like manner we also behol the face of a woman, who in respect to her
flesh an bloo is like unto a man, an in the isposure also of the
greatest part of the boy" But oes physiognomy gi!e the same jugment
on her, as it oes of a man that is like unto herN By no means, but far
otherwise, in regar that the conception of the woman is much ifferent
from that of a man, e!en in those respects which are sai to be common"
=ow in those common respects two parts are attribute to a man, an a
thir part to a woman"
Wherefore it being our intention to gi!e you an e*act account, accoring
to the rule of physiognomy of all an e!ery part of the members of the
boy, we will begin with the hea, as it hath relation only to man an
woman, an not to any other creature, that the work may be more ob!ious
to e!ery reaer"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 88
A:f the -ugment of Physiognomy"A
;air that hangs own without curling, if it be of a fair comple*ion,
thin an soft withal, signifies a man to be naturally faint$hearte, an
of a weak boy, but of a Euiet an harmless isposition" ;air that is
big, an thick an short withal, enotes a man to be of a strong
constitution, secure, bol, eceitful an for the most part, unEuiet an
!ain, lusting after beauty, an more foolish than wise, though fortune
may fa!our him" ;e whose hair is partly curle an partly hanging own,
is commonly wise or a !ery great fool, or else as !ery a kna!e as he is
a fool" ;e whose hair grows thick on his temples an his brow, one may
certainly at first sight conclue that such a man is by nature simple,
!ain, lu*urious, lustful, creulous, clownish in his speech an
con!ersation an ull in his apprehension" ;e whose hair not only curls
!ery much, but bushes out, an stans on en, if the hair be white or of
a yellowish colour, he is by nature prou an bol, ull of
apprehension, soon angry, an a lo!er of !enery, an gi!en to lying,
malicious an reay to o any mischief" ;e whose hair arises in the
corners of the temples, an is gross an rough withal, is a man highly
conceite of himself, incline to malice, but cunningly conceals it, is
!ery courtly an a lo!er of new fashions" ;e who hath much hair, that is
to say, whose hair is thick all o!er his hea, is naturally !ain an
!ery lu*urious, of a goo igestion, easy of belief, an slow of
performance, of a weak memory an for the most part unfortunate" ;e
whose hair is of a reish comple*ion, is for the most part, if not
always, prou, eceitful, etracting an full of en!y" ;e whose hair is
e*traorinarily fair, is for the most part a man fit for the most
praiseworthy enterprises, a lo!er of honour, an much more incline to
o goo than e!il) laborious an careful to perform whatsoe!er is
committe to his care, secret in carrying on any business, an
fortunate" ;air of a yellowish colour shows a man to be goo
conitione, an willing to o anything, fearful, shameface an weak of
boy, but strong in the abilities of the min, an more apt to remember,
than to a!enge an injury" ;e whose hair is of a brownish colour, an
curle not too much nor too little, is a well$ispose man, incline to
that which is goo, a lo!er of peace, cleanliness an goo manners" ;e
whose hair turns grey or hoary in the time of his youth, is generally
gi!en to women, !ain, false, unstable, an talkati!e" 1=ote" That
whate!er signification the hair has in men, it has the same in women
also"6
The forehea that riseth in a roun, signifies a man liberally merry, of
a goo unerstaning, an generally incline to !irtue" ;e whose
forehea is fleshy, an the bone of the brow jutting out, an without
wrinkles, is a man much incline to suits of law, contentious, !ain,
eceitful, an aicte to follow ill courses" ;e whose forehea is
!ery low an little, is of a goo unerstaning, magnanimous, but
e*tremely bol an confient, an a great pretener to lo!e an honour"
;e whose forehea seems sharp, an pointe up in the corners of his
temples, so that the bone seems to jut forth a little, is a man
naturally weak an fickle, an weak in the intellectuals" ;e whose brow
upon the temples is full of flesh, is a man of a great spirit, prou,
watchful an of a gross unerstaning" ;e whose brow is full of
wrinkles, an has as it were a seam coming own the mile of the
forehea, so that a man may think he has two foreheas, is one that is
of a great spirit, a great wit, !oi of eceit, an yet of a har
fortune" ;e who has a full, large forehea, an a little roun withal,
estitute of hair, or at least that has little on it is bol, malicious,
full of choler an apt to transgress beyon all bouns, an yet of a
goo wit an !ery apprehensi!e" ;e whose forehea is long an high an
jutting forth, an whose face is figure, almost sharp an peake
towars the chin, is one reasonably honest, but weak an simple, an of
a har fortune"
Those eyebrows that are much arche, whether in man or woman, an which
by freEuent motion ele!ate themsel!es, show the person to be prou,
high$spirite, !ain$glorious, bol an threatening, a lo!er of beauty,
an inifferently incline to either goo or e!il" ;e whose eyelis ben
own when he speaks to another or when he looks upon him, an who has a
kin of skulking look, is by nature a penurious wretch, close in all his
actions, of a !ery few wors, but full of malice in his heart" ;e whose
eyebrows are thick, an ha!e but little hair upon them, is but weak in
his intellectuals, an too creulous, !ery sincere, sociable, an
esirous of goo company" ;e whose eyebrows are fole, an the hair
thick an bening ownwars, is one that is clownish an unlearne,
hea!y, suspicious, miserable, en!ious, an one that will cheat an coJen
you if he can" ;e whose eyebrows ha!e but short hair an of a whitish
colour is fearful an !ery easy of belief, an apt to unertake
anything" Those, on the other sie, whose eyebrows are black, an the
hair of them thin, will o nothing without great consieration, an are
bol an confient of the performance of what they unertake) neither
are they apt to belie!e anything without reason for so oing"
8f the space between the eyebrows be of more than the orinary istance,
it shows the person to be har$hearte, en!ious, close, cunning,
apprehensi!e, greey of no!elties, of a !ain fortune, aicte to
cruelty more than lo!e" But those men whose eyebrows are at a lesser
istance from each other, are for the most part of a ull unerstaning)
yet subtle enough in their ealings, an of an uncommon bolness, which
is often attene with great felicity) but that which is most
commenable in them is, that they are most sure an constant in their
frienship"
Great an full eyes in either man or woman, show the person to be for
the most part slothful, bol, en!ious, a ba concealer of secrets,
miserable, !ain, gi!en to lying, an yet a ba memory, slow in
in!ention, weak in his intellectuals, an yet !ery much conceite of
that little knack of wisom he thinks himself master of" ;e whose eyes
are hollow in his hea, an therefore iscerns well at a great istance,
is one that is suspicious, malicious, furious, per!erse in his
con!ersation, of an e*traorinary memory, bol, cruel, an false, both
in wors an ees, threatening, !icious, lu*urious, prou, en!ious an
treacherous) but he whose eyes are, as it were, starting out of his
hea, is a simple, foolish person, shameless, !ery fertile an easy to
be persuae either to !ice or !irtue" ;e who looks stuiously an
acutely, with his eyes an eyelis ownwars, enotes thereby to be of a
malicious nature, !ery treacherous, false, unfaithful, en!ious,
miserable, impious towars Go, an ishonest towars men" ;e whose
eyes are small an con!eniently roun, is bashful an weak, !ery
creulous, liberal to others, an e!en in his con!ersation" ;e whose
eyes look asEuint, is thereby enote to be a eceitful person, unjust,
en!ious, furious, a great liar, an as the effect of all that is
miserable" ;e who hath a wanering eye an which is rolling up an own,
is for the most part a !ain, simple, eceitful, lustful, treacherous, or
high$mine man, an amirer of the fair se*, an one easy to be
persuae to !irtue or !ice" ;e or she whose eyes are twinkling, an
which mo!e forwar or backwar, show the person to be lu*urious,
unfaithful an treacherous, presumptuous, an har to belie!e anything
that is spoken" 8f a person has any greenness mingle with the white of
his eye, such is commonly silly, an often !ery false, !ain an
eceitful, unkin to his friens, a great concealer of his own secrets,
an !ery choleric" Those whose eyes are e!ery way rolling up an own,
or they who selom mo!e their eyes, an when they o, as it were, raw
their eyes inwarly an accurately fasten them upon some object, such
are by their inclinations !ery malicious, !ain$glorious, slothful,
unfaithful, en!ious, false an contentious" They whose eyes are aicte
to bloo$shot, are naturally prou, isainful, cruel, without shame,
perfiious an much incline to superstition" But he whose eyes are
neither too little nor too big, an incline to black, o signify a man
mil, peaceable, honest, witty, an of a goo unerstaning) an one
that, when nee reEuires, will be ser!iceable to his friens"
A long an thin nose, enotes a man bol, furious, angry, !ain, easy to
be persuae either to goo or e!il, weak an creulous" A long nose
e*tene, the tip of it bening ownwars, shows the person to be wise,
iscreet, secret an officious, honest, faithful an one that will not
be o!er$reache in bargaining"
A bottle$nose is what enotes a man to be impetuous in the obtaining of
his esires, also a !ain, false, lu*urious, weak an uncertain man) apt
to belie!e an easy to be persuae" A broa nose in the mile, an
less towars the en, enotes a !ain, talkati!e person, a liar, an one
of har fortune" ;e who hath a long an great nose is an amirer of the
fair se*, an well accomplishe for the wars of ?enus, but ignorant of
the knowlege of anything that is goo, e*tremely aicte to !ice)
assiuous in the obtaining what he esires, an !ery secret in the
prosecution of it) an though !ery ignorant, woul fain be thought !ery
knowing"
A nose !ery sharp on the tip of it, an neither too long nor too short,
too thick nor too thin, enotes the person, if a man, to be of a fretful
isposition, always pining an pee!ish) an if a woman, a scol, or
contentious, wee to her own humours, of a morose an ogge carriage,
an if marrie, a plague to her husban" A nose !ery roun at the en of
it, an ha!ing but little nostrils, shows the person to be munificent
an liberal, true to his trust, but withal, !ery prou, creulous an
!ain" A nose !ery long an thin at the en of it, an something roun,
withal, signifies one bol in his iscourse, honest in his ealings,
patient in recei!ing, an slow in offering injuries, but yet pri!ately
malicious" ;e whose nose is naturally more re than any other part of
his face, is thereby enote to be co!etous, impious, lu*urious, an an
enemy to gooness" A nose that turns up again, an is long an full at
the tip of it, shows the person that has it to be bol, prou, co!etous,
en!ious, lu*urious, a liar an ecei!er, !ain, glorious, unfortunate an
contentious" ;e whose nose riseth high in the mile, is pruent an
polite, an of great courage, honourable in his actions, an true to his
wor" A nose big at the en shows a person to be of a peaceable
isposition, inustrious an faithful, an of a goo unerstaning" A
!ery wie nose, with wie nostrils, enotes a man ull of apprehension,
an incline more to simplicity than wisom, an withal !ain,
contentious an a liar"
When the nostrils are close an thin, they enote a man to ha!e but
little testicles, an to be !ery esirous of the enjoyment of women, but
moest in his con!ersation" But he whose nostrils are great an wie, is
usually well hung an lustful) but withal of an en!ious, bol an
treacherous isposition an though ull of unerstaning, yet confient
enough"
A great an wie mouth shows a man to be bol, warlike, shameless an
stout, a great liar an as great a talker, also a great eater, but as to
his intellectuals, he is !ery ull, being for the most part !ery simple"
A little mouth shows the person to be of a Euiet an pacific temper,
somewhat reticent, but faithful, secret, moest, bountiful, an but a
little eater"
;e whose mouth smells of a ba breath, is one of a corrupte li!er an
lungs, is oftentimes !ain, wanton, eceitful, of inifferent intellect,
en!ious, co!etous, an a promise$breaker" ;e that has a sweet breath, is
the contrary"
The lips, when they are !ery big an blubbering, show a person to be
creulous, foolish, ull an stupi, an apt to be entice to anything"
%ips of a ifferent siJe enote a person to be iscreet, secret in all
things, juicious an of a goo wit, but somewhat hasty" To ha!e lips,
well coloure an more thin than thick, shows a person to be
goo$humoure in all things an more easily persuae to goo than e!il"
To ha!e one lip bigger than the other, shows a !ariety of fortunes, an
enotes the party to be of a ull, sluggish temper, but of a !ery
inifferent unerstaning, as being much aicte to folly"
When the teeth are small, an but weak in performing their office, an
especially if they are short an few, though they show the person to be
of a weak constitution, yet they enote him to be of a meek isposition,
honest, faithful an secret in whatsoe!er he is intruste with" To ha!e
some teeth longer an shorter than others, enotes a person to be of a
goo apprehension, but bol, isainful, en!ious an prou" To ha!e the
teeth !ery long, an growing sharp towars the en, if they are long in
chewing, an thin, enotes the person to be en!ious, gluttonous, bol,
shameless, unfaithful an suspicious" When the teeth look !ery brown or
yellowish, whether they be long or short, it shows the person to be of a
suspicious temper, en!ious, eceitful an turbulent" To ha!e teeth
strong an close together, shows the person to be of a long life, a
esirer of no!elties, an things that are fair an beautiful, but of a
high spirit, an one that will ha!e his humour in all things) he lo!es
to hear news, an to repeat it afterwars, an is apt to entertain
anything on his behalf" To ha!e teeth thin an weak, shows a weak,
feeble man, an one of a short life, an of a weak apprehension) but
chaste, shame$face, tractable an honest"
A tongue to be too swift of speech shows a man to be ownright foolish,
or at best but a !ery !ain wit" A stammering tongue, or one that
stumbles in the mouth, signifies a man of a weak unerstaning, an of a
wa!ering min, Euickly in a rage, an soon pacifie" A !ery thick an
rough tongue enotes a man to be apprehensi!e, subtle an full of
compliments, yet !ain an eceitful, treacherous, an prone to impiety"
A thin tongue shows a man of wisom an soun jugment, !ery ingenious
an of an affable isposition, yet somewhat timorous an too creulous"
A great an full !oice in either se* shows them to be of a great spirit,
confient, prou an wilful" A faint an weak !oice, attene with but
little breath, shows a person to be of goo unerstaning, a nimble
fancy, a little eater, but weak of boy, an of a timorous isposition"
A lou an shrill !oice, which souns clearly enotes a person
pro!ient, sagacious, true an ingenious, but withal capricious, !ain,
glorious an too creulous" A strong !oice when a man sings enotes him
to be of a strong constitution, an of a goo unerstaning, a nimble
fancy, a little eater, but weak of boy, an of a timorous isposition"
A strong !oice when a man sings, enotes him to be of a strong
constitution, an of a goo unerstaning, neither too penurious nor too
proigal, also ingenious an an amirer of the fair se*" A weak an
trembling !oice shows the owner of it to be en!ious, suspicious, slow in
business, feeble an fearful" A lou, shrill an unpleasant !oice,
signifies one bol an !aliant, but Euarrelsome an injurious an
altogether wee to his own humours, an go!erne by his own counsels"
A rough an hoarse !oice, whether in speaking or singing, eclares one
to be a ull an hea!y person, of much guts an little brains" A full
an yet mil !oice, an pleasing to the hearer, shows the person to be
of a Euiet an peaceable isposition Cwhich is a great !irtue an rare
to be foun in a womanD, an also !ery thrifty an secret, not prone to
anger, but of a yieling temper" A !oice beginning low or in the bass,
an ening high in the treble, enotes a person to be !iolent, angry,
bol an secure"
A thick an full chin abouning with too much flesh, shows a man
incline to peace, honest an true to his trust, but slow in in!ention,
an easy to be rawn either to goo or e!il" A peake chin an
reasonably full of flesh, shows a person to be of a goo unerstaning,
a high spirit an lauable con!ersation" A ouble chin shows a peaceable
isposition, but ull of apprehension, !ain, creulous, a great
supplanter, an secret in all his actions" A crooke chin, bening
upwars, an peake for want of flesh, is by the rules of physiognomy,
accoring to nature, a !ery ba man, being prou, impruent, en!ious,
threatening, eceitful, prone to anger an treachery, an a great thief"
The hair of young men usually begins to grow own upon their chins at
fifteen years of age, an sometimes sooner" These hairs procee from the
superfluity of heat, the fumes whereof ascen to their chin, like smoke
to the funnel of a chimney) an because it cannot fin an open passage
by which it may ascen higher, it !ents itself forth in the hairs which
are calle the bear" There are !ery few, or almost no women at all,
that ha!e hairs on their cheeks) an the reason is, that those humours
which cause hair to grow on the cheeks of a man are by a woman
e!acuate in the monthly courses, which they ha!e more or less,
accoring to the heat or colness of their constitution, an the age an
motion of the moon, of which we ha!e spoken at large in the first part
of this book" #et sometimes women of a hot constitution ha!e hair to be
seen on their cheeks, but more commonly on their lips, or near their
mouths, where the heat most abouneth" An where this happens, such
women are much aicte to the company of men, an of a strong an manly
constitution" A woman who hath little hair on her cheeks, or about her
mouth an lips, is of a goo comple*ion, weak constitution, shameface,
mil an obeient, whereas a woman of a more hot constitution is Euite
otherwise" But in a man, a bear well compose an thick of hair,
signifies a man of goo nature, honest, lo!ing, sociable an full of
humanity) on the contrary, he that hath but a little bear, is for the
most part prou, pining, pee!ish an unsociable" They who ha!e no
bears, ha!e always shrill an a strange kin of sEueaking !oices, an
are of a weak constitution, which is apparent in the case of eunuchs,
who, after they are epri!e of their !irility are transforme from the
nature of men into the conition of women"
Great an thick ears are a certain sign of a foolish person, or a ba
memory an worse unerstaning" But small an thin ears show a person to
be of a goo wit, gra!e, sweet, thrifty, moest, resolute, of a goo
memory, an one willing to ser!e his frien" ;e whose ears are longer
than orinary, is thereby signifie to be a bol man, unci!il, !ain,
foolish, ser!iceable to another more than to himself, an a man of small
inustry, but of a great stomach"
A face apt to sweat on e!ery motion, shows a person to be of a !ery hot
constitution, !ain an lu*urious, of a goo stomach, but of a ba
unerstaning, an a worse con!ersation" A !ery fleshy face shows the
person to be of a fearful isposition, but a merry heart, an withal
bountiful an iscreet, easy to be entreate, an apt to belie!e
e!erything" A lean face, by the rules of physiognomy, enotes the person
to be of a goo unerstaning, but somewhat capricious an isainful in
his con!ersation" A little an roun face, shows a person to be simple,
!ery fearful, of a ba memory, an a clownish isposition" A plump face,
full of carbuncles, shows a man to be a great rinker of wine, !ain,
aring, an soon into*icate" A face re or high coloure, shows a man
much incline to choler, an one that will be soon angry an not easily
pacifie" A long an lean face, shows a man to be both bol, injurious
an eceitful" A face e!ery way of a ue proportion, enotes an
ingenious person, one fit for anything an !ery much incline to what is
goo" :ne of a broa, full, fat face is, by the rules of physiognomy, of
a ull, lumpish, hea!y constitution, an that for one !irtue has three
!ices" A plain, flat face, without any rising shows a person to be !ery
wise, lo!ing an courtly in his carriage, faithful to his frien an
patient in a!ersity" A face sinking own a little, with crosses in it,
inclining to leanness, enotes a person to be !ery laborious, but
en!ious, eceitful, false, Euarrelsome, !ain an silly, an of a ull
an clownish beha!iour" A face of a hansome proportion, an more
inclining to fat than lean, shows a person just in his actions, true to
his wor, ci!il, an respectful in his beha!iour, of an inifferent
unerstaning, an of an e*traorinary memory" A crooke face, long an
lean, enotes a man enue with as ba Eualities as the face is with ill
features" A face broa about the brows, an sharper an less as it grows
towars the chin, shows a man simple an foolish in managing his
affairs, !ain in his iscourse, en!ious in his nature, eceitful,
Euarrelsome an rue in his con!ersation" A face well$coloure, full of
goo features, an of an e*act symmetry, an a just proportion in all
its parts, an which is elightful to look upon, is commonly the ine*
of a fairer min an shows a person to be well ispose) but withal
eclares that !irtue is not so impregnably seate there, but that by
strong temptations Cespecially by the fair se*D it may be supplante an
o!ercome by !ice" A pale comple*ion, shows the person not only to be
fickle, but !ery malicious, treacherous, false, prou, presumptuous, an
e*tremely unfaithful" A face well$coloure, shows the person to be of a
praiseworthy isposition an a soun comple*ion, easy of belief, an
respectful to his frien, reay to o a courtesy, an !ery easy to be
rawn to anything"
A great hea, an roun, withal, enotes the person to be secret, an of
great application in carrying on business, an also ingenious an of a
large imaginati!e faculty an in!ention) an likewise laborious,
constant an honest" The hea whose gullet stans forth an inclines
towars the earth, signifies a person thrifty, wise, peaceable, secret,
of a retire temper, an constant in the management of his affairs" A
long hea an face, an great, withal, enotes a !ain, foolish, ile an
weak person, creulous an !ery en!ious" To ha!e one@s hea always
shaking an mo!ing from sie to sie, enotes a shallow, weak person,
unstable in all his actions, gi!en to lying, a great ecei!er, a great
talker, an proigal in all his fortunes" A big hea an broa face,
shows a man to be !ery courageous, a great hunter after women, !ery
suspicious, bol an shameless" ;e who hath a !ery big hea, but not so
proportionate as it ought to be to the boy, if he hath a short neck an
crooke gullet is generally a man of apprehension, wise, secret,
ingenious, of soun jugment, faithful, true an courteous to all" ;e
who hath a little hea, an long, slener throat, is for the most part a
man !ery weak, yet apt to learn, but unfortunate in his actions" An so
much shall suffice with respect to jugment from the hea an face"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 888
A:f -ugments rawn from se!eral other parts of (an@s Boy"A
8n the boy of man the hea an feet are the principal parts, being the
ine* which hea!en has lai open to e!ery one@s !iew to make a jugment
therefrom, therefore 8 ha!e been the larger in my jugment from the
se!eral parts thereof" But as to the other parts, 8 shall be much more
brief as not being so ob!ious to the eyes of men) yet 8 woul procee in
orer"
The throat, if it be white, whether it be fat or lean, shows a man to be
!ain$glorious, timorous, wanton, an !ery much subject to choler" 8f the
throat be so thin an lean that the !eins appear, it shows a man to be
weak, slow, an a ull an hea!y constitution"
A long neck shows one to ha!e a long an slener foot, an that the
person is stiff an infle*ible either to goo or e!il" A short neck
shows one to be witty an ingenious, but eceitful an inconstant, well
skille in the use of arms, an yet cares not to use them, but is a
great lo!er of peace an Euietness"
A lean shouler bone, signifies a man to be weak, timorous, peaceful,
not laborious, an yet fit for any employment" ;e whose shouler bones
are of a great bigness is commonly, by the rule of physiognomy, a strong
man, faithful but unfortunate) somewhat ull of unerstaning, !ery
laborious, a great eater an rinker, an one eEually contente in all
conitions" ;e whose shouler bone seems to be smooth, is by the rule of
nature, moest in his look, an temperate in all his actions, both at
be an boar" ;e whose shouler bone bens, an is crooke inwarly, is
commonly a ull person an eceitful"
%ong arms, hanging own an touching the knees, though such arms are
rarely seen, enotes a man liberal, but withal !ain$glorious, prou an
inconstant" ;e whose arms are !ery short in respect to the stature of
his boy, is thereby signifie to be a man of high an gallant spirit,
of a graceful temper, bol an warlike" ;e whose arms are full of bones,
sinews an flesh, is a great esirer of no!elties an beauties, an one
that is !ery creulous an apt to belie!e anything" ;e whose arms are
!ery hairy, whether they be lean or fat, is for the most part a
lu*urious person, weak in boy an min, !ery suspicious an malicious
withal" ;e whose arms ha!e no hair on them at all, is of a weak
jugment, !ery angry, !ain, wanton, creulous, easily ecei!e himself,
yet a great ecei!er of others, no fighter, an !ery apt to betray his
earest friens"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ 8?
A:f Palmistry, showing the !arious -ugments rawn from the ;an"A
Being engage in this fourth part to show what jugment may be rawn,
accoring to physiognomy, from the se!eral parts of the boy, an coming
in orer to speak of the hans, it has put me uner the necessity of
saying something about palmistry, which is a jugment mae of the
conitions, inclinations, an fortunes of men an women, from the
!arious lines an characters nature has imprinte in their hans, which
are almost as serious as the hans that ha!e them"
The reaer shoul remember that one of the lines of the han, an which
inee is reckone the principal, is calle the line of life) this line
encloses the thumb, separating it from the hollow of the han" The ne*t
to it, which is calle the natural line, takes its beginning from the
rising of the forefinger, near the line of life, an reaches to the
table line, an generally makes a triangle" The table line, commonly
calle the line of fortune, begins uner the little finger, an ens
near the mile finger" The girle of ?enus, which is another line so
calle begins near the first joint of the little finger, an ens
between the fore$finger an the mile finger" The line of eath is that
which plainly appears in a counter line to that of life, an is calle
the sister line, ening usually as the other ens) for when the line of
life is ene, eath comes, an it can go no farther" There are lines in
the fleshy parts, as in the ball of the thumb, which is calle the mount
of ?enus) uner each of the fingers are also mounts, which are go!erne
by se!eral planets) an the hollow of the han is calle the plain of
(ars"
8 procee to gi!e jugment from these se!eral lines&$$8n palmistry, the
left han is chiefly to be regare, because therein the lines are most
!isible, an ha!e the strictest communication with the heart an brain"
8n the ne*t place, obser!e the line of life, an if it be fair, e*tene
to its full length, an not broken with an intermi*ture of cross lines,
it shows long life an health, an it is the same if a ouble line
appears, as there sometimes oes" When the stars appear in this line, it
is a signification of great losses an calamities) if on it there be the
figures of two :@s or a M, it threatens the person with blinness) if it
wraps itself about the table line, then oes it promise wealth an
honour to be attene by pruence an inustry" 8f the line be cut an
jagge at the upper en, it enotes much sickness) if this line be cut
by any lines coming from the mount of ?enus, it eclares the person to
be unfortunate in lo!e an business also, an threatens him with suen
eath" A cross below the line of life an the table line, shows the
person to be !ery liberal an charitable, one of a noble spirit" %et us
now see the signification of the table line"
The table line, when broa an of a li!ely colour, shows a healthful
constitution, an a Euiet contente min, an a courageous spirit, but
if it has crosses towars the little finger, it threatens the party with
much affliction by sickness" 8f the line be ouble, or i!ie into
three parts at any of the e*tremities, it shows the person to be of a
generous temper, an of a goo fortune to support it) but if this line
be forke at the en, it threatens the person shall suffer by jealousies
an oubts, an loss of riches gotten by eceit" 8f three points such as
these
9 9
9
are foun in it, they enote the person pruent an liberal, a lo!er of
learning, an of a goo temper, if it spreas towars the fore an
mile finger an ens blunt, it enotes preferment" %et us now see what
is signifie by the mile line" This line has in it oftentimes Cfor
there is scarce a han in which it !aries notD i!ers !ery significant
characters" (any small lines between this an the table line threaten
the party with sickness, an also gi!es him hopes of reco!ery" A half
cross branching into this line, eclares the person shall ha!e honour,
riches, an goo success in all his unertakings" A half moon enotes
col an watery istempers) but a sun or star upon this line, enotes
prosperity an riches) this line, ouble in a woman, shows she will ha!e
se!eral husbans, but no chilren"
18llustration6
The line of ?enus, if it happens to be cut or i!ie near the
forefinger, threatens ruin to the party, an that it shall befall him by
means of lasci!ious women an ba company" Two crosses upon the line,
one being on the forefinger an the other bening towars the little
finger, show the party to be weak, an incline to moesty an !irtue,
inee it generally enotes moesty in women) an therefore those who
esire such, usually choose them by this stanar"
The li!er line, if it be straight an crosse by other lines, shows the
person to be of a soun jugment, an a piercing unerstaning, but if
it be wining, crooke an bening outwar, it raws eceit an
flattery, an the party is not to be truste" 8f it makes a triangle or
Euarangle, it shows the person to be of a noble escent, an ambitious
of honour an promotion" 8f it happens that this line an the mile
line begin near each other, it enotes a person to be weak in his
jugment, if a man) but if a woman, in anger by har labour"
The plain of (ars being in the hollow of the han, most of the lines
pass through it, which reners it !ery significant" This plain being
crooke an istorte, threatens the party to fall by his enemies" When
the lines beginning at the wrist are long within the plain, reaching to
the brawn of the han, that shows the person to be much gi!en to
Euarrelling, often in broils an of a hot an fiery spirit, by which he
suffers much amage" 8f eep an long crosses be in the mile of the
plain, it shows the party shall obtain honour by martial e*ploits) but
if it be a woman, she shall ha!e se!eral husbans an easy labour with
her chilren"
The line of ,eath is fatal, when crosses or broken lines appear in it)
for they threaten the person with sickness an a short life" A cloue
moon appearing therein, threatens a chil$be woman with eath" A blooy
spot in the line, enotes a !iolent eath" A star like a comet,
threatens ruin by war, an eath by pestilence" But if a bright sun
appears therein, it promises long life an prosperity"
As for the lines of the wrist being fair, they enote goo fortune) but
if crosse an broken, the contrary"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?
A-ugments accoring to Physiognomy, rawn from the se!eral parts
of the Boy, from the ;ans to the Feet"A
A large an full breast, shows a man !aliant an courageous, but withal
prou an har to eal with, Euickly angry, an !ery apprehensi!e of an
injury) he whose breast is narrow, an which riseth a little in the
mile of it, is, by the best rule of physiognomy, of a clear spirit, of
a great unerstaning, goo in counsel, !ery faithful, clean both in
min an boy, yet as an enemy to this, he is soon angry, an incline
long to keep it" ;e whose breast is somewhat hairy, is !ery lu*urious,
an ser!iceable to another" ;e who hath no hair upon his breast, is a
man weak by nature, of a slener capacity an !ery timorous, but of a
lauable life an con!ersation, incline to peace, an much retire to
himself"
The back of the chin bone, if the flesh be anything hairy an lean, an
higher than any other part that is behin, signifies a man shameless,
beastly an withal malicious" ;e whose back is large, big an fat, is
thereby enote to be a strong an stout man, but of a hea!y
isposition, !ain, slow an full of eceit"
;e or she whose belly is soft o!er all the boy, is weak, lustful, an
fearful upon little or no occasion, of a goo unerstaning, an an
e*cellent in!ention, but little eaters, faithful, but of !arious
fortune, an meet with more a!ersity than prosperity" ;e whose flesh is
rough an har, is a man of strong constitution an !ery bol, but !ain,
prou an of a cruel temper" A person whose skin is smooth, fat an
white, is a person, curious, !ain$glorious, timorous, shame$face,
malicious, false, an too wise to belie!e all he hears"
A thigh, full of strong, bristly hair, an the hair incline to curl,
signifies one lustful, licentious, an fit for copulation" Thighs with
but little hair, an those soft an slener, show the person to be
reasonably chaste, an one that has no great esire to coition, an who
will ha!e but few chilren"
The legs of both men an women ha!e a fleshy substance behin, which are
calle cal!es, which nature hath gi!en them Cas in our book of li!ing
creatures we ha!e obser!eD, in lieu of those long tails which other
creatures ha!e penant behin" =ow a great calf, an he whose legs are
of great bone, an hair withal, enotes the person to be strong, bol,
secure, ull in unerstaning an slow in business, incline to
procreation, an for the most part fortunate in his unertakings"
%ittle legs, an but little hair on them, show the person to be weak,
fearful, of a Euick unerstaning, an neither lu*urious at be nor
boar" ;e whose legs o much aboun with hair, shows he has great store
in another place, an that he is lustful an lu*urious, strong, but
unstable in his resolution, an abouning with ill humours"
The feet of either men or women, if broa an thick with flesh, an long
in figure, especially if the skin feels har, they are by nature of a
strong constitution, an gross nutriment, but of weak intellect, which
reners the unerstaning !ain" But feet that are thin an lean, an of
a soft skin, show the person to be but weak of boy, but of a strong
unerstaning an an e*cellent wit"
The soles of the feet o aminister plain an e!ient signs, whereby the
isposition an constitution of men an women may be known, as o the
palms of their hans, as being full of lines, by which lines all the
fortunes an misfortunes of men an women may be known, an their
manners an inclinations mae plainly to appear" But this in general we
may take notice, as that many long lines an strokes o presage great
affliction, an a !ery troublesome life, attene with much grief an
toil, care, po!erty, an misery) but short lines, if they are thick an
full of cross lines, are yet worse in e!ery egree" Those, the skin of
whose soles is !ery thick an gross, are, for the most part, able,
strong an !enturous" Whereas, on the contrary, those the skin of whose
soles of their feet is thin, are generally weak an timorous"
8 shall now, before 8 conclue Cha!ing gi!en an account of what
jugments may be mae by obser!ing the se!eral parts of the boy, from
the crown of the hea to the soles of the feetD, gi!e an account of what
jugments may be rawn by the rule of physiognomy from things e*traneous
which are foun upon many, an which inee to them are parts of the
boy, but are so far from being necessary parts that they are the
eformity an buren of it, an speak of the habits of the boy, as they
istinguish persons"
A:f 'rooke an ,eforme Persons"A
A crooke breast an shouler, or the e*uberance of flesh in the boy
either of man or woman, signifies the person to be e*tremely
parsimonious an ingenious, an of a great unerstaning, but !ery
co!etous an scraping after the things of the worl, attene also with
a !ery ba memory, being also !ery eceitful an malicious) they are
selom in a meium, but either !irtuous or e*tremely !icious" But if
the person eforme hath an e*crescence on his breast instea of on the
back, he is for the most part of a ouble heart, an !ery mischie!ous"
A:f the i!ers (anners of going, an particular Posture both of (en an
Women"A
;e or she that goes slowly, making great steps as they go, are generally
persons of ba memory, an ull of apprehension, gi!en to loitering, an
not apt to belie!e what is tol them" ;e who goes apace, an makes short
steps, is most successful in all his unertakings, swift in his
imagination, an humble in the isposition of his affairs" ;e who makes
wie an une!en steps, an sielong withal, is one of a greey, sori
nature, subtle, malicious, an willing to o e!il"
A:f the Gait or (otion in (en an Women"A
E!ery man hath a certain gait or motion, an so in like manner hath
e!ery woman) for a man to be shaking his hea, or using any light motion
with his hans or feet, whether he stans or sits, or speaks, is always
accompanie with an e*tra!agant motion, unnecessary, superfluous an
unhansome" 7uch a man, by the rule of physiognomy is !ain, unwise,
unchaste, a etractor, unstable an unfaithful" ;e or she whose motion
is not much when iscoursing with any one, is for the most part wise an
well bre, an fit for any employment, ingenious an apprehensi!e,
frugal, faithful an inustrious in business" ;e whose posture is
forwars an backwars, or, as it were, whisking up an own, mimical,
is thereby enote to be a !ain, silly person, of a hea!y an ull wit,
an !ery malicious" ;e whose motion is lame an limping, or otherwise
imperfect, or that counterfeits an imperfection is enote to be
en!ious, malicious, false an etracting"
A-ugment rawn from the 7tature of (an"A
Physiognomy raws se!eral jugments also from the stature of man, which
take as followeth) if a man be upright an straight, incline rather to
leanness than fat, it shows him to be bol, cruel, prou, clamorous,
har to please, an harer to be reconcile when isplease, !ery
frugal, eceitful, an in many things malicious" To be of tall stature
an corpulent with it, enotes him to be not only hansome but !aliant
also, but of no e*traorinary unerstaning, an which is worst of all,
ungrateful an trepanning" ;e who is e*tremely tall an !ery lean an
thin is a projecting man, that esigns no goo to himself, an suspects
e!ery one to be as ba as himself, importunate to obtain what he
esires, an e*tremely wee to his own humour" ;e who is thick an
short, is !ain, en!ious, suspicious, an !ery shallow of apprehension,
easy of belief, but !ery long before he will forget an injury" ;e who is
lean an short but upright withal, is, by the rules of physiognomy, wise
an ingenious, bol an confient, an of a goo unerstaning, but of a
eceitful heart" ;e who stoops as he goes, not so much by age as custom,
is !ery laborious, a retainer of secrets, but !ery increulous an not
easy to belie!e e!ery !ain report he hears" ;e that goes with his belly
stretching forth, is sociable, merry, an easy to be persuae"
9 9 9 9 9
';APTE+ ?8
A:f the Power of the 'elestial Boies o!er (en an Women"A
;a!ing spoken thus largely of Physiognomy, an the jugment gi!en
thereby concerning the ispositions an inclinations of men an women,
it will be con!enient here to show how all these things come to pass)
an how it is that the secret inclinations an future fate of men an
women may be known from the consieration of the se!eral parts of the
boies" They arise from the power an ominion of superior powers to
unerstan the twel!e signs of the Ooiac, whose signs, characters an
significations are as follows&$$
18llustration6
AAriesA, the +am, which go!erns the hea an face"
ATaurusA, the Bull, which go!erns the neck"
AGeminiA, the Twins, which go!erns the hans an arms"
A'ancerA, the 'rab, go!erns the breast an stomach"
A%eoA, the %ion, go!erns the back an heart
A?irgoA, the ?irgin, go!erns the belly an bowels"
A%ibraA, the Balance, go!erns the !eins an loins"
A7corpioA, the 7corpion, go!erns the secret parts"
A7agittaryA, the 'entaur, go!erns the thighs"
A'apricornA, the Goat, go!erns the knees"
AAEuariusA, the Water$Bearer, go!erns the legs an ankles"
APiscesA, the Fish, go!erns the feet"
8t is here furthermore necessary to let the reaer know, that the
ancients ha!e i!ie the celestial sphere into twel!e parts, accoring
to the number of these signs, which are terme houses) as in the first
house, Aries, in the secon Taurus, in the thir Gemini, etc" An
besies their assigning the twel!e signs of the twel!e houses, they
allot to each house its proper business"
To the first house they gi!e the signification of life"
The secon house has the signification of wealth, substances, or riches"
The thir is the mansion of brethren"
The fourth, the house of parentage"
The fifth is the house of chilren"
The si*th is the house of sickness or isease"
The se!enth is the house of welock, an also of enemies, because
oftentimes a wife or husban pro!es the worst enemy"
The eighth is the house of eath"
The ninth is the house of religion"
The tenth is the signification of honours"
The ele!enth of frienship"
The twelfth is the house of affliction an woe"
=ow, astrologically speaking, a house is a certain place in the hea!en
or firmament, i!ie by certain egrees, through which the planets ha!e
their motion, an in which they ha!e their resience an are situate"
An these houses are i!ie by thirty egrees, for e!ery sign has so
many egrees" An these signs or houses are calle the houses of such
an such planets as make their resience therein, an are such as
elight in them, an as they are eposite in such an such houses are
sai to be either ignifie or ebilitate" For though the planets in
their se!eral re!olutions go through all the houses, yet there are some
houses which they are more properly sai to elight in" As for instance,
Aries an 7corpio are the houses of (ars) Taurus an %ibra of ?enus)
Gemini an ?irgo of (ercury) 7agittarius an Pisces are the houses of
-upiter) 'apricorn an AEuarius are the houses of 7aturn) %eo is the
house of the 7un) an 'ancer is the house of the (oon"
=ow to sum up the whole, an show how this concerns Physiognomy, is
this&$$as the boy of man, as we ha!e shown, is not only go!erne by the
signs an planets, but e!ery part is appropriate to one or another of
them, so accoring to the particular influence of each sign an planet,
so go!erning is the isposition, inclination, an nature of the person
go!erne" For such an such tokens an marks o show a person to be born
uner such an such a planet) so accoring to the nature, power an
influences of the planets, is the jugment to be mae of that person" By
which the reaer may see that the jugments rawn from physiognomy are
groune upon a certain !erity"