CHAP. I. Containing the Character of a Mid­wife; with some short Remarks on her Humour, Manners, and Con­duct in performing her Duty.

IN these Days there are many Wo­men that take upon 'em the know­ledge and practice of Midwifry, barely upon the priviledge of their [Page 2] Age. As if a Woman were more ex­pert in that Art for her Dottage, or Old-Age; or as if the mystery of it were obvious to any that has but liv'd some scores of Years: But by their fa­vour, I must be allow'd to acquaint 'em that the knowledge and dexterity of a good Midwife is not to be come at so cheap and easily as they imagine; the sacred Shrines of Knowledge are not so accessible, as to be Patent to every lazy Adventu­rer: no, the Understanding must be pe­culiarly instructed in that Affair, and then succeeding Experience and Practice must qualifie the Hand for perform­ing its Office. I've endeavour'd in this small Treatise to assist 'em in both; but before I proceed any further, there are some accessory qualities besides that of Knowledge and Dexterity, which are very graceful and desireable in a Mid­wife, which I cannot well pass by.

She ought to be neither too young, nor too Old, of a good habit of Body, her Hands small and gentile, with her Nails pared close, and without Rings, in the time of her Duty. She must be chearful, pleasant, strong, laborious, and inur'd to Fatigue; it being required that she should be [...]tirring at all hours, and abiding a long [Page 3] time together with her Patient.

She ought to be Courteous, Sober, Chaste; of an even patient Temper; not apt to repine or quarrel: she ought to be Wise and Silent, not apt to talk foolishly of what she sees in the Houses where she hath to do; to observe the Humour of her Patient, and endeavour to divert her with what she finds most agreeable. She ought to be a Woman of Understanding, capable to counsel, advise, and Comfort the Person in Labour; to bear her up under despondency, to fortify her against Fear, or Immoderate Repining. Lastly, she ought to be a Religious, Pious Wo­man, as the fittest Person to be about Peo­ple in that Extremity of Danger. Wo­men of no Principle are generally biass'd by Interest, or an imaginary Reputation. They love to engross all the Credit and Honour of an Operation to themselves; rather than any body should share with them in a Creditable Performance, they'll endanger the Life both of Mother and Child. But such Women who are ei­ther tender of their own own Souls, or of their Patients Lives, will be more willing to yield to any thing that may contribute to their Benefit. If the assist­ance of a Man-Surgeon be necessary to [Page 4] accomplish the work, they'll give 'em time­ly notice to send for him. One would think that it would justifie a Midwife's Know­ledge and Honesty to send for an Assistant in case of danger, more than if she con­fided too much in her own Capacity. To suffer either Woman or Child to die un­der her Hand, is a tarnish upon her Reputation. But to advise or counsel a poor Woman in case of Extremity to be Laid by a Man, and so save her Life, is a Laudable Action. Suppose she wav'd her imaginary Reputation to save their Lives, she'll be valued and esteem'd the more amongst all the good and Wise.

The cases in which they ought to call for Assistance are; when the Child pre­sents amiss, or the Birth comes wrong, either with, or without Pain. When Floodings happen with Blood (tho' there be little or no Pain.) When the Waters are broken, and the Child does not fol­low, whether at full time or not. In this last Case, 'tis absolutely necessary; for Convulsions, and many other dismal accidents may happen upon retarding the Delivery.

There are some froward and self-con­ceited Midwives, that stand not to per­swade the poor Women, that whenever [Page 5] a Man comes, one or both must neces­sarily die. By this means it sometimes comes to pass that a Man is not sent for, till the last Gasp, till the Woman be just a dying, or the Child dead already. But such as have ever experienc'd the bene­fit of being Laid by a Skillful Man-Mid­wife, won't be so easily scar'd by such in­considerable Bugbears. A Man expert in his Galling, if timely sent for, will deli­ver the Woman in a Moment, save her a great deal of Trouble and Pain▪ and by successful Operations, justifie the Merits of his Profession.

We have some Instances of publick Pu­nishment inflicted on such Midwives, in the Neighbouring Kingdom of France, for being accessory to the murther both of the Mother and Child. I remember a particular Example, when the King of France called a Midwife in Question for not calling for a Man's Assistance in a case of extream danger; the Crime was lookt upon as but one remove from murther; and the barbarous Woman for­bid publick Practice for ever.

CHAP. II. What preparatory offices are incum­bent on the Midwife, when the Woman is near the time of her Delivery.

WHen a Woman with Child is ap­prehensive of her approaching Labour, she ought to have her House and Family in Order, lest any occasional Disorder should disturb her in the time of her Lying-in; she ought to have h [...]r own Room clean and sweet; the Linnen about her Body clean, and what Linnen is necessary for other occasions got rea­dy, and in its proper place; that when her Pains come, they may not be hurry­ing and shuffling about from Room to Room, crying Where is this? or, Where is that? When all things within doors are put to rights, they ought to be quick in calling the Midwife, rather sooner, than later. Some Women have a trick of putting it off as long as ever they [Page 7] can before they send for the midwife▪ but the safer way is to send for her as soon as they find the least motion to a Delivery, for fear of a Surprisal. Her midwife being call'd, the next thing is to send for the Assistance of some sober, wise Women, among her Neighbours, such as have gone through the like hazard be­fore; but above all, take care there be no frightful, whimsical, resolute, head­strong, drunken, whispering, talkative, sluttish Women amongst them: Any of these Extreams is not not only unsuita­ble, and unbecoming, but highly per­nicious. One of such Women may do more harm than three modest, wise Women can do good.

CHAP. III Explaining a Midwife's Duty in time of Travel.

First know if she is in her full time, by asking her, and when you find her Pains growing, let her walk lei­surely up and down the Chamber for some [Page 8] time; afterwards she may lye down, keeping herself warm; then give her the following Draught, which may be repeat­ed every hour or two.

Take three or four Spoonfuls of Cin­namon-water, twenty drops of Spirit of Hartshorn, and half a dram of Borax, fine­ly powder'd; mix all together, and give it her to drink, when lying upon the Bed.

After that she may rise and walk a­gain, expecting the coming down of her Waters, and the opening of the Womb, and after a hour or two take the like quantity again, if her Pains don't prevent it.

As to the Posture of her Body; 'tis certain all Women are not alike easie in the same Posture. Some are best Deli­ver'd lying in their Beds, others sitting on a Chair or Stool, or on the side of the Bed; others on their Knees, being sup­ported by People under their Arms.

But if she be Delivered in her Bed, which I take to be the best way, let her be laid upon her Back, her Head lifted up a little higher with a Pillow; her Thighs and Knees must be a good way separa­ted, [Page 9] the one from the other, with her Legs bowed, and drawn up towards her Buttocks; the Soles of her Feet, and her Heels being held by two strong Wo­men.

Her own Personal Duty is to be of good Courage, to force her Pains down as much as she can, by stopping her Mouth, and keeping her Breath. And when her Pains come quick and strong, beginning at the Reins, and sliding down forwards to the Navel, and then to the Groins; and also inwardly at the bottom of the Belly down to the Neck of the Womb; 'tis a certain Sign that the Woman is in La­bour, or will miscarry. But for more Satisfaction, the midwife may put up her Hand, after having annointed it with fine Oil, Lard, ot Butter; and if she per­ceive the Inner Neck of the Womb to di­late it self, she ought to look for the De­livery, for that puts it beyond all doubt that Nature is pushing the Child forwards.

Therefore if she see the Birth come naturally, and the Pains grow thicker and faster, and feel the Womb opening its Orifice to make way for the Child, endeavouring its Exit, she ought to assist Nature, and withal encourage the Mother to strain and press with her Lower Parts; [Page 10] but with all possible Caution, so as not to over-act her part or anticipate Nature; for if she be so hasty as to widen the Passage with her Fingers, or to break the Membranes before the Birth be advan­ced, she creates a great deal of Mischief, in making the Waters to break and spend themselves, before the Child be come up to be benefited by it. The just con­sideration of such a Consequence ought to oblige all Midwives to wait till the Membranes burst of their own accord. Some, I warrant you, are in haste, and want to be gone to another Womans La­bour; and if the Membranes linger in bursting of their own accord, they'll tear 'em with their Nails rather than dance Attendance upon one Woman. Thus these unchristian Women endanger both the Life of Mother and Child, which is not half so much in their View as the Money. The preserving the Passages slippery and moist, facilitates the Birth, and lessens the poor Womans Pain; which cannot but receive Encrease, when the Waters design'd for moistning the pas­sage, are unseasonably let out.

If the Child present naturally, the Head comes first; then the Midwife must take it gently between her two Hands, and [Page 11] when the Pains return, slip down her Hands under the Arm-holes, and gently draw the Infant forth by degrees; but she must observe always to stay her Hand when the Pains begin to relent. This must be perform'd by a delicate tender Hand, lest the Child by any rough or harsh handling, should receive a deform'd shape of Body.

CHAP. IV Containing Directions to a midwife, what to do when the Child is just come into the World.

WHen the Child is come into the World, which is commonly with his Face downward, it must be sudden­ly turned upon its back, to prevent its being stifled for want of Air. Then let the Midwife pull out the Navel-string, leaving the length of Four Fingers; and tye it with a silk Thread as near the Belly as may be laid aside; while this is a doing, all Care must be had, that the Head and Stomach be well cover'd and [Page 12] that nothing come upon the Face.

The Midwife's next task is gently to draw forth the After-birth. If the Na­vel-string be not broken, it will easily conduct the Hand (by following it) to the place where the After-birth lies, which is generally between the Navel, and Small of the Woman's Belly. And indeed 'tis a great Conveniency to have this guide, upon which account I would advise all Midwives to be very cautious in handling the Navel-string, for fear they break it. As soon then as you have in­troduc'd your Hand into the Womb, to­wards its Fund, or Bottom, you will find the Burthen, which you may know by a great number of little unequal Risings, which are always made there by the Roots of the Umbilical Vessels, on the one side where they terminate, which makes it to be easily distinguishable from the Womb. If it still adhere to the Womb, you must put some of your Fin­gers between it and the Womb, endea­vouring by little and little to squeeze 'em in, till ye find it quite loose, and then draw it forth very carefully. But in all this Operation, you must carefully take notice not to scratch or scrape the least part of the Womb, for fear of crea­ting [Page 13] a Flooding, Inflammation, Gangrene, or Ulcers, which generally prove very fatal: As likewise not to draw it out till it be wholly, or most part of it separated, for fear of drawing forth the Womb along with it. Besides, the Company is gene­rally curious to see it, and if it be whole, not torn, or rent, it redounds to the cre­dit and reputation of the Midwife. There­fore I would advise all Midwives never to extract the Burthen, without putting up their Hand to separate it cleanly from the Womb.

This done, the Child may be held in a good Mothers Lap, and kept warm, whilst the Midwife is busied in taking Care of the Woman; to get her into Bed, and her Skirt ready, and her Closures, putting five double up to the Womb, to prevent the cold Air's entring in. Then she must lay her Legs a-cross, and so be left to fall asleep by degrees. If she be very Faintish, she may take a Dram of Confection Alkermes in Cinnamon-water, or Wine, or fine Oyl and Sugar-Candy, or Nutmeg and Sugar, or Oyl of Sweet Almonds, and Syrup of Maidenhair, or a little Gruel, or Cawdel.

The Woman being thus taken Care of, she must turn next to the Child; and ha­ving [Page 14] tyed up the Navel-string, she ought in the next place to cleanse the Infant, not only in the Face, but over the whole Body; then anoint the Groins, Hips, Buttocks, Thighs, and Joints, with Oyl of sweet Almonds, or fresh Butter and Beer, or Water and Lard, warm'd. This makes the Skin more firm, shuts up its Pores, securing 'em from the offence of the Circumambient Air. After the Child is thus well anointed, dried, and wrapt up, she may give it in a Spoon a little fine Oyl and Sugar, with a little Cinna­mon-water, or Sack and Sugar and Oyl; or Mithridate, taking the quantity of a Pease in Wine, with a little Spirit of Lavender. After that let it rest half an hour, then let it go to the Breast; or if you please, you may first give a Pap Spoonful of Gruel, or Cawdel, to make the Mouth slippery.

It many times happens that the Mother having two Children in her Belly, the one comes forth very well, and the other with a great deal of Difficulty; in which case, that which comes first is the strongest. The Midwife's Duty upon such Occasi­ons is, when the first is brought forth, to Cut the Navel-String, as was above directed, and tye it fast to the Womans Thigh with Tape, or Filleting; and then [Page 15] set about drawing forth the other In­fant; which must be gone about very Cautiously, observing all the Rules al­ready mentioned.

CHAP. V. How to manage the Woman when Delivered.

Having now conducted you through the different Circumstances of La­bour and Delivery; my next Business is to shew, how you are to treat the Wo­man when laid in the Straw.

You must apply a little Plaister of Gal­banum of the bigness of two or three Fingers Breadth to the Navel, in the mid­dle of which may be put two or three Grains of Musk, or Civet with Lint. This is good for stopping After-Pains.

The next Care is to be bad of the Breast. Some put upon 'em a round Cere­cloth of Diachylum cum Gummis. I would recommend the following.

[Page 16]Take Wax, Oyl of Myrrh, Honey, of each two Ounces, Wheat-Flower one Spoonful, melt these altogether, then make a Cerecloth.

Let them have holes in the middle for the Nipples to go through. 'Tis fitting likewise to wet the Nipples with the best Rectified Spirit of Wine.

In regulating the Conduct of a Woman in Childbed, respect must be had to her Condition and Quality; and for want of this Consideration many Women Perish. She that thinks to treat an ordinary Labouring Country Woman, like a Per­son of Quality, kills her outright; and she that pretends to govern a Person of Quality like an ordinary Country Wo­man, does the same to her. If ye give to one of these strong Stomacks, presently after their Delivery, any strong Broth, or Eggs, or a draught of Milk, they are like Mills that always grind, and empty as fast as you pour in; such little Cordials have no effect upon some, which perhaps would be too strong for a more delicate Consti­tution; for we find by daily Experience, that what gives one a Feaver, keeps ano­ther from it. And therefore Women in Childbed are to be governed according to their several respective Constitutions. As [Page 17] for the Women that are tenderly brought up, great Care must be taken in giving 'em no Meats that clog the Stomach, or are hard to be digested. For the first eight days of her Lying-in, boil'd Meat is more suited to her Condition than Roasted [...]uch as [...], the juice of Veal, or Capon, or Barly-water; with fine Sugar dissolv'd with the Juice of a Lemmon▪ or Cinnamon boil'd in it, or Coriander Seeds. If she drink Wine, let it be two thirds water, to one part wine; in the Morning White-wine, in the Afternoon Claret; now and then Almond-Milk is not amiss.

Some Women are so disturb'd in Child­bed, that they cannot sleep; such I wou [...]d advice to drink Barly-water, well bo [...], without straining, mixt with the Syrup of Cowslips, or Syrup of Poppies, or a little Dias [...]ordium, according as their Cir­cumstances may require.

CHAP. VI. How to know whether the Child in the Womb be dead or alive; if dead, how to perform her Office; with Directions in case of a Mola, or false Conception.

SOmetimes the Child is Dead in the Mothers Belly, in which case her Labour is much more difficult and ha­zardous than when alive; and therefore I have thought fit to give some Directions relating to it; and in the first place shall put you in some clearer Light, in or­der to know whether the Child be alive or dead, that so you may be able to proportionate your Endeavours to the Circumstances of the Patient.

The Child may be known to be a­live, if the Mother be at her full Rec­koning, and hath receiv'd no hurt; if she have had her Health well all the time of her going with Child; and if she feels it stir. But they must take care not [Page 19] to deceive themselves in framing a Judg­ment from its seeming to stir. I have delivered a Woman, whose Child had been dead above four hours, as was visi­ble by its Corruption, yet the Mother af­firm'd that she felt it stir but a very lit­tle before she was deliver'd. That ima­ginary Motion is distinguishable from the Real, by this, that in the former, it only swags from one side to another with­out brisking or leaping, as it does in the latter. This is easily perceivable.

When the Child is alive, he by his strugling disposes the Waters to a break­ing, if the Mother be willing to help down with her Pains; but when dead, the Waters are slow in breaking, and must be broken by the Hand of the Midwife, unless the Woman be very strong to help her self. If she find no Relief by hot and forcing Medicines, then to be sure the Child is dead, and re­course must be had to more than ordi­nary Assistance. If it hath not stirr'd in the Womb for a long time; if she feel a great Weight hanging upon her Womb about the time of the Birth; if she void stinking, corrupted Matter; if she have fainting, and cold Sweats, or floods much before she come at her full time; if the [Page 20] Waters broke four or five days before Delivery; if her Lips or top of the Nostrils be pale and cold; the Belly, tho' not sunk, yet softer; her Eyes sunk; with a great pain about the Navel and Loins, and a stinking Breath; if her Breasts flag, and her Countenance have a languishing Aspect; or her Colour turn'd into a tawny whiteness, and her Lower Belly, Feet, &c. cold. In all these Cases, there is just reason for sus­pecting that the Child is dead in her Womb. The which if it be, the Labour will be both long and dangerous, by reason of the dead Child's Inactivity, and the Mothers Weakness, in not being a­ble to thrust it out without some acces­sory help. In this case, the hand of a Surgeon is needful to draw it out, and that as speedily as may be; for if the Child continue dead for any time in this its dark Abode, the Mother is in a fair way of losing her Life.

A Mola is a Mass of Flesh without Bow­els or Bones, being an imperfect Concepti­on owing to the Fault of the Seed. And be­cause the extracting of a Mola, and a dead Child are much at one, as to the manner of Operation, I'll join 'em together. Here I must again give you notice, that [Page 21] whenever any such preternatural thing is lodg'd in the Womb, you ought to draw it out with all possible Speed; for if it con­tinue there for any time, it fastens to the Womb, and sticks there for many Years. As the worthy Ambrose Pareus tells us in the Story of the Pewterer's Wife, that had one for seventeen Years; whom he o­pened after her Death.

The manner of extracting all these Pre­ternatural things, is just the same as when the Burthen stays behind in a Na­tural Birth, and the Navel-string broke: So I conclude it needless to repeat the Di­rections I have already given upon that Head.

A False Conception, tho much less than a Mola, yet it often puts a Woman to a great deal of Trouble, and frequently in hazard of her Life, by reason of the great Floodings that attend it; for the Womb endeavouring to expel it, squeezes through the passage a very great discharge of Blood; and the passage is generally so narrow that a Man's Hand cannot well get in to assist it. As we find always that the Womb does not open, or dilate it self be­yond the Proportion of what it contains; and so it proves a difficult matter to get two Fingers in to help it forward, though [Page 22] in the mean while the Womb is not able to void it without Forreign Assistance.

'Tis true, a False Conception hath the same effect in stopping the Monthly Terms as the true; the Belly swells, the Breasts grow big, and both Colour and Ap­petite suffer the same alteration equally in both. But though they Jump in these generals, there are particular Signs that rid marches betwixt them. A false Con­ception hath no regular, nor periodical Motion, neither doth it stir from side to side, except it be press'd. The Belly is hard, the Feet apt to swell, and she her self becomes more heavy and unwieldy, and not so nimble or cliver as in a true Conception. The Breasts do not swell so much as in a true Conception, and the whole Body grows soft, and consumes away. A false Conception may be made in three Months, but a Child stirreth not till after three; 'tis very rare if it hap­pen sooner; in some 'tis near four Months before the Child quicken. The Birth of an Infant never exceeds the eleventh Month, whereas a false Conception may be hatch'd by Obstructions, and lodged there for many Years, nay as long as they live.

These false Conceptions are various; there be Moles of a Fleshy Substance engen­dred [Page 23] in the concavity of the Matrix, and adhering to its sides, but borrowing no­thing of its Substance. Others are windy, watry, or membranous, as a thin bag fill'd with Blood. Sometimes Moles ingender with the Infant, and deprive the Infant of its Nourishment. Some Children are almost Starv'd in such a condition, both for wan [...] room, and of the true Spirits of Life, which are anticipated by it.

When a Woman Evacuates of a false Conception from the latter end of the first to the end of the second or third Month, it may be call'd Expulsion; If what the Woman retains in a true conception, do quickly slide away again, 'tis call'd Effluxion; but when the Faetus is form'd and alive, and hurries out of the Womb before its time, as in the second, third, fourth, or sixth Month, 'tis call'd Aborti­on, or Miscarriage.

CHAP. VII. Of the different sorts of unnatural Labours, with the best Methods of assisting on such extraordinary oc­casions.

THere are many Operations full of difficulty and danger, which some forward Midwives are bold enough in undertaking, but for want of Industry, or necessary knowledge, cannot effect; and thus very often leave the poor Wo­man in a more Tragical condition, than than if they had not meddled with her.

I have met with several Instances of this nature. I was once sent for to a Gentlewoman, that through abuse of her Midwife was reduc'd to a deplorable condition. Her Midwife, it seems, was a topping, fine Woman, with her mi­nute Watch at her Side; she had so much business forsooth, such and such fine Ladies expected her, and she could not stay: Accordingly she press'd the poor woman to bear down with all her [Page 25] might: In fine, she was deliver'd in a hurry, some pieces of the Burthen were brought away, and some remain'd behind: But the sage Midwife being a wo­man of Reputation, and one that made a blustering Figure, perswaded them not to be be troubled at what re­main'd▪ affirming that it would come a­way of it self; that nothing more was to be done at that time, and if the woman would but have Patience, all would go well with her. When I was sent for, the woman was oppress'd with a violent Pain in her Head, and perpetually void­ed black, stinking, corrupted Humours. Immediately I put up my Hand, and brought away the bigness of a Turkey-Egg, of the Burthen, which smelt so ill as to annoy all the women in the Room. When this was taken away, she retriev­ed apace, and found herself much bene­fited in a very short time.

I was sent for another time to deliver a woman of an unnatural Birth. It seems the Child presented the Hand first thro' the Birth; and the Midwife resolving to have the honour of the Delivery to her self before I came, would not stay to put up the Arm again, but boldly ven­tur'd [Page 26] to twist it off, Then she grop'd for the Head, but could not find it. The poor woman Languishing cry'd out, Help, Help, Help. But the doughty Midwife encourag'd her to be patient, telling her all was well. When I came, I found the woman almost dead, and immediate­ly Delivered her. VVhen the Child came forth gasping, and its Arm off, I was frightned; but they presently resolv­ed my doubts, by telling that they had pulled it off three hours before I came.

The Method I use in such cases, which I always find successful, is this I gently introduce my Hand into the Entry of the VVomb, then I turn the Child, and bring it out by the Feet, or as they say, Foot­ling way, pulling it gently till the Hips are come forth. But in the interim, I wrap the parts in a single Napkin, for the viscous humours that surround 'em, pre­vent any sure hold of 'em. Then I bring down the Arms along the Child's Body, turning the head to the Share-bone, with the Face downwards. There are some Children that have the Head so big, that when the whole Body is born, yet that stops in the Passage. In that case I en­deavour gently to disengage it from the Bones in the Passage, with my Fingers. [Page 27] All the Operation I dispatch as soon as possibly I can, for fear the Child should be suffocated; which would certainly ensue, if it remain'd long in that Po­sture.

I was sent for to another woman in her Labour, where I met with this unna­tural Symptom, that the Child's Head thrust the Neck of the Womb forth before it. Women troubled with a bear­ing down of the Womb before they Con­ceive, and whose womb is very moist, are very much subject to this Accident, by reason of the previous Relaxation of the Ligaments. In this case, I only lay my Hand on each side of the Head, and for­bear to pull, or draw hastily, for fear the womb should fall out, as it is very apt to do. I waited patiently till the Child ad­vanc'd of it self, and the Woman had forc'd it out by her own pressure.

I remember of another Case not very common, which it may be worth your while to take notice of. I was sent for to a woman that had linger'd in her Labour for five or six days. VVhen I came and examin'd her Condition, I found the Child's Head in the Passage presenting towards a regular Birth; but the woman was very little, and 'twas her first Child, [Page 28] which occasion'd a narrowness in the Pas­sage. Besides, she was stricken in Years, and her VVomb depriv'd of its youthful Moisture. VVhen I seriously weigh'd all these Indications, I thought it neces­sary to foment the womb with white-wine and Oyl of Roses, with a Spunge, as often, and as hot as she could bear it. I gave Cordials inwardly, and some sweat­ing Powders. These things were so effe­ctual in dilating the womb, that by the blessing of God I drew forth a fine boy, and sav'd the poor Mother.

Another time I was sent for to a wo­man that was in a very sad Condition. The Midwife had brought the Head of the Child into the VVorld, and the womb closed about the Neck, and hindred the egress of the rest. This Accident may happen through the Laziness of the Mid­wife in losing Time, and not drawing forth the Child when 'tis upon the move, or not keeping touch with the Mothers Endeavours. Sometimes indeed the Head is small, and disproportionate to the rest of the body; the Shoulders large and broad; so they stick in the passage unless forwarded by help of Art. In this case, I use to put my fingers first under one Arm, then under the other, and so for­ward [Page 29] 'em by degrees, but withal very gently and cautiously, and observing the Mothers endeavours; all which if right manag'd, will make a quick Birth. But I must again caution you to make as much use as you can of the Woman's own pressure, for if ye discourage or prevent her bearing down, all her pains will van­ish; and so the Child Perish lock'd up in the Passage.

Sometimes both Hands come forth first together, and leave the rest of the Body in Prison. I remember a remark­able Instance of such a thing, which I shall give you a Circumstantial Account of. I was call'd for in great haste to at­tend a Woman in Labour; the Midwife said they ought to have sent for no Body; That she would finish the work her self, having brought part of the Child to the World already, and the rest would quick­ly follow if they would but have Pati­ence. She added, that 'twas not a Ser­geons Province, 'twas hers; that if Dr. Chamberlain came, or any Body else, she would not quit her stool, nor yield her [...]ce to any Body. I came▪ and was a­maz'd to see the Midwife so resolute and confident of her own undertakings; I said nothing, but retir'd into the next [Page 30] Room at the desire of the Gentlewo­man's Mother and Husband. The Mid­wife continu'd tugging and sweating, and after all she began to see that all her endeavours were in vain; so she starts up, and drank a good draught of Cinna­mon Water instead of the Poor Gen­tlewoman; This gave her a little assur­ance, so she bluntly cry'd, I care not, He may come, if he will. So I was call'd in, and found the Midwife a little softer in her temper, but the poor Woman almost spent. However, I was willing to satisfy my own Curiosity, and to try if I could do her any service. I examin'd how Cases stood with her, and found that that part which the Midwife cry'd was alrea­dy come into the World was the two hands, which she had almost lugg'd off. I presently alter'd the Posture of the Wo­man laying her Hips a little higher than her Head. The Head of the Child lay partly on the sharebone and towards the right Groyn. I caus'd her therefore to lean a little to the opposite side, in order to recover the right Posture. By this means, thro▪ Gods Blessing, I put the two hands back and brought the Head to­wards the Birth. This gave me some hopes; so I encourag'd the Woman to [Page 31] forward her pains as much as possible; and gave her as much of the Cinnamon Water as her goodly Midwife had pleas'd to leave, and mix'd it with some drops of the Spirit of Hartshorn. This done, 'twas not long before I brought the Child fairly into the World, but it was Dead, and both Arms and Breast so Prodigiously mortified that all the Women stood in Amazement. But the Mother is still a­live and Healthy; I have laid her twice since of live Children— In such Cases as this is, I would advise all Women to send for assistance as speedily as they can, because many Women and Children are Murdered after this manner.

Another sort of unnatural Labour is, when both Hands and Feet come toge­ther. 'Tis altogether impossible the Child should be Born so; therefore some method of recovering the right Posture must be thought of. I ve met with such a Case; when the Midwife has pull'd and lugg'd with all her force and might, but still in vain. At length she bid 'em send for a Man, but withal confidently af­firm'd that no Man in the World could do more than she did. When I came, I found that her lugging and pulling had so fix'd the Child in the passage that I [Page 32] was hardly able to put it back. But wi [...] much ado I turn'd it; and gave the Woman a good Spoonful of my Elixir, which immediately brought her pains up­on her a fresh. I brought the Child out by the Feet, tho' the Midwife had al­most twisted both a Leg and an Arm off. The Mother and Child came both through.

Sometimes the Knees present to the Birth, with the Legs folded up to the Buttocks; as I perceiv'd once in a Wo­man by putting up my hand, and finding the part that presented hard and round, and much smaller than the Head. Imme­diately I turn'd the Child to a right po­sture [...] the Head foremost, and gently bath'd the Womb with a Spunge wet in Oyl of Lillies warm: Thus by Gods help I got the Child into the World alive, and [...] mother safe.

Another time I met with the Shoul­ders and Back presenting first; but con­tinued in my wonted course of putting the Child back, and turning the Head to­wards the Birth; and thus brought forth a live Child.

I deliver'd a VVoman once, when the Child advanc'd its breech foremost, tho' it often voided the ordure by its Funda­ment: [Page 33] I gently slid up my Hand on each side the Buttocks, and introduc'd 'em by degrees into the Groins, and so by wag­ging it from side to side, I disengag'd it; and brought it out by the Feet and Legs, and sav'd both its own, and its Mother's Life.

Sometimes the Navel-string comes first; then ye must endeavour to put the Child back, and turn it, till ye get hold of the Feet, and then convey it gently through the Passage.

If the Burthen offer first, or comes quite forth, 'tis a sign that the Child is dead, or near to Death. It is generally accompany'd with great Flooding, which is also a very ill Sign. In this case ye must never venture to thrust it back, but fetch it away the very Moment ye discover it, and then conduct the Child out by the Feet. And take this for a general Rule, that in all Floodings ye ought to be as quick as possible in bringing the Child in­to the World; for if ye delay, Convulsi­ons may happen, and then both Mother and Child are in great danger.

I remember to have met with a pretty odd Circumstance, which I think it not im­proper to insert here. A Gentlewoman going with her first Child, by hearkening [Page 34] to extravagant Advice, had almost run the Risque of her own, and her Child's Life. She had all over her a great many Child-bearing Spots, brown, rough Tubercles; I have seen such a thing happen to Women with Child upon their Foreheads, Tem­ples, or Cheeks, many times as large as a Fingers breadth or more; they are so plaguy troublesome, that tho' taken a­way, they commonly return again. After Delivery, indeed they use to vanish of their own accord. But this Patient was so extreamly afflicted, that I never saw a Woman in the like Condition. I directed her to the following Ointment.

Take one Dram of Sperma Ceti, half an Ounce of Ointment of Roses, two Drams of the Spirit of Vinegar. Melt all over the Fire; and use it Night and Morning after the Skin is well cleansed.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Cesarean Section, or Cutting the Child out of the Mother's Womb.

WHen the Woman dies, and the Child is alive in her Belly, we some­times open her up, and take out the Child. Some foolish People talk of performing this Operation upon living Women, in a dangerous Labour, to save the Child's Life; and therefore would call it Cesarean Section, in imitation of Cesar's Birth: 'tis true there would be some pretext of ex­cuse to make Martyrs of poor Women to bring a second Cesar, or some great and new Prophet, into our Western World; but 'tis not known that ever there was any Law, Christian, or Civil, which counte­nanc'd the Martyrdom of the Mother to save the Child. Some Country Gossips will tell you they know such yet living, whose Sides have been opened to make way for the Child: But such Stories as [Page 36] these, are only fit Entertainment for Fools and Children.

A Surgeon must never practise this cru­el Operation whilst the Mother is alive; but when she is dead, he ought not to neglect it, and what he does, he must do it quickly, because delay will certainly be the Death of the Child. The Greeks were acquainted with this Operation, and call'd it Embriulie. Most Authors would have it made on the left side of the Belly, it be­ing more free from the Liver, which is on the right. Some are for opening just in the middle of the Belly, between the two right Muscles, because in this place there is only the covering and the white Line to cut. To dispatch then with more ease and speed, the Surgeon having plac'd himself, the dead Body may be a little rais'd. Let him take a good sharp Incisi­on-Knife, make one or two stroaks into the Peritonaeum, and then gently take out the Child.

CHAP. IX. Of the Various Symptoms happening to Women in Childbed, and the Me­thods of Cure.

THE Womb may be fitly compared to a rough Sea, in which the Child floats for the space of nine Months. The Labour of Delivery, is the only Port, but full of dangerous Rocks. The Woman, after she has arriv'd at the desired Port of Delivery, and has disengag'd her self of her Loading, has yet much need of help to defend her self against a great many In­conveniencies, which may ensue upon her Travel.

In the first place she must keep a Tem­perate Diet, having a great care not to over-fill her self after so great an Evacua­tion. Indeed her Diet must be like that of Wounded Persons: Neither are Nurses Tales to be believed, who exhort 'em to fill after so great an emptiness, telling them that the loss of Blood must be re­stor'd. [Page 38] These are mere Fooleries; for that Blood which she has lost, is but unneces­sary and useless Blood, dam'd up in the Womb for the space of nine Months; the Efflux of which, must needs be conducive to Health. Her Nourishment therefore for the first Days must be but slender, for fear of falling into a Feaver; and hastening the Milk too fast into the Breasts, where 'tis in danger of Curding, or Apostemati­sing. Upon this account, she ought to confine her self for some time to Panada's, Broths, Gellies, Potch'd Eggs, &c. If she be very strong and hearty and can Nurse her Child, she may feed a little more plen­tifully, and drink often Barly Water, wherein some Coriander, or Caraway, or Fennel Seeds may be boil'd. This will partly add to the Childs Health, keeping it free of Gripes, Throws, and sowre Belchings.

Some Women after Delivery are trou­bled with a Tentigo, when the Clitoris encreases to an over great measure; 'tis a Nervous piece of Flesh, which the Lips or Wings of the Privities do embrace, and which undergoes Erection in the Act of Venery. In some 'tis as big as the Neck of a Goose, and hangs below the Orifice of the Privities. Sometimes this may be [Page 39] occasion'd by the Midwife's hurting the part. Or it may become loose and porous, by often handling, which may cause a great concourse of Humours, and so the Nervous Body is enlarged to an extraor­dinary bigness. I have oftentimes cur'd this Symptom by cutting it away, but so as to avoid Inflammation.

Some are troubled with Hemorrhoids of the Womb, which are little Protuberan­cies like those of the Fundament, produ­ced in the Neck of the VVomb by the a­bundance of Feculent Blood that resorts thither, where the Veins end. They are cur'd by revulsion of Humours, by miti­gating, asswaging Insessions; and Purging, if other Circumstances do not forbid.

Oftentimes the VVoman receives pre­judice from the Bruises and Rents of the outward parts of the VVomb, occasion'd by hard Labour. The Childs Head in pas­sing makes a violent Distention and Sepa­ration of the four Caruncles. And those parts having once given way to an Infant, are ever after easily relax'd and extend­ed, and so every Travel comes with less pain than the preceding. Sometimes it happens, that the Midwife's Nails have scratch'd and rent the parts, through Care­lesness and Inadvertency. But whenever [Page 40] such Contusions, or Rents happen, they must not be neglected, lest they degene­rate into malignant Ulcers.

After pains are the common Bane of the Welfare of Women in Childbed. They say, they are not so much troubled with 'em of their first Child, as of the fol­lowing. But that is no certain Rule. Ex­perience confirms, that they happen in­differently after first or last Labours, ac­cording as their various Dispositions are. Let the Nurse lay on a Galbanum Plaister, and keep the Belly very hot; and then give her some Cinnamon Water with Mi­thridate, and a few drops of the Spirit of Hartshorn, or liquid Laudanum. This will very often carry off their Gripings, Collicks, and other After-pains. Commonly they go away of themselves in 2 or 3 Days time. If they be sharp and obstinate, and threa­ten to continue longer, you must give frome one Ounce to two or three of Aqua Bryoniae Composita, with some drops of the Spirit of Hartshorn, and a Dram of Con­fectio Alkermes. Some give this same Draught to hasten and facilitate the Birth, or to bring away the After-birth and cleanse the Womb.

As to the Lochia which flow from the Womb in Childbed; Galen says, They [Page 41] are only Vicious Humours, and the resi­due of the Blood with which the Child was nourished in the Womb; which flows out when the Womb is open'd by the Birth. Perhaps 'tis the same Blood as us'd to be purg'd out every Month before Con­ception. It may proceed from a Wound made by loosening the Burthen from the Womb; for when it comes first away, they appear very red; the third Day they disco­lour, and are less bloody; and gradually decay every Day as the Vessels close, till at length they turn very Pale and Green. To bring these Lochia well down, ye must keep the Woman free from any diversion by Looseness, or any strong Passions of the Mind, as great Fear, or Grief, or Anger, or Swoonings; these, or great Colds, or Astringents, produce the worst and most dangerous Symptoms that can befall a Woman after Delivery. You may give her Spirit of Hartshorn in every thing she takes: Let her drink Broths, or Gellies, boil'd with Maidenhair, or Pelli­tory of the Wall, or Camomile Flowers. It is equally dangerous, whether there happen too great an abundance of the Lochia, or if they be suppress'd unseason­ably. I have seen when the Floodings [Page 42] have been excessive, that Convulsions, Syn­cope's, and Fainting Fits have ensued, her Legs and Thighs swell'd, and after all become Hydropick. I have oft times let Blood in such a case with very good suc­cess: and then gave half an Ounce of Conserve of Roses, and two Drams of Diascordium, and thirty drops of Liquid Laudanum made into an Electuary, with a strong Decoction of Oak-Barks boil'd in Spring Water, with some sticks of Cin­namon in it, to drink for a Day or two. Give the Electuary twice a Day.

Another Inconvenience that Women in Childbed are liable to, is the Relaxation of the Matrix. It may proceed from great Fluxes which fall down upon the Ligaments, causing them to wax loose; or from the Woman's straining her self in Travel before her Time, or from the Midwife's putting up her Hand into the Womb, and tearing down she knows not what: Sometimes Women with Child by lacing themselves too strait, cause a conflux of Wind in those parts, which makes a Sense as if it were the Head of the Child, and hinders her to stand up­right, [Page 43] or go. You must keep her loose with Lenitive Electuary, foment the part with a strong Decoction of Oak­bark in Red Wine, or Smiths Water; or Fume with Mastich upon a hot Iron, that the Smoak may go up her Body, Morning and Night.

CHAP. I. Of the Parts serving for Generation in Women.

I Shall begin this Description of the In­struments of Generation in Women, by the Spermatick Preparatory Ves­sels; some of which agree pretty [Page 45] much with those in Men, as the Sperma­tick Vessels, the Stones, and the Vasa de­ferentia, but differ in some remarkable Circumstances. In Women the Sperma­tick Vessels are shorter, by reason of the shortness of the Passage: They have more Wreathings, Windings, and Turnings, where they make the Corpus Varicosum a­bout the Testicle, that the Seed may have a sufficient stay for its due preparation. Secondly, they differ in their Insertion. In Women they go not whole to the Te­sticles as in a Man, but are divided in the mid-way, whence the greater part goes to the Testicles, to form the Corpus Varicosum; the lesser part to the Womb, into whose Sides they are disseminated, to nourish the Womb, and the Child therein. By these Vessels some part of the Menstrual Blood may be purg'd forth in such as are not with Child. The second is distributed to the Vas deferens, or Trum­pet of the Womb. The third creeps a­long the Sides of the Womb, insinuating it self among the Hypogastrick Veins, with which and the Arteries they are joyn'd by Anastomoses. The Spermatick Veins receive the Hypogastrick Arteries, as they pass by the Sides of the Vterus, that the Blood might be the better elabo­rated. [Page 46] They are intermix'd with many wonderful Anastamoses for the preparati­on of Seed; for if you blow up the Sper­matick Vein, both the right and left Ves­sels of the Womb are blown up. From hence ye may understand the Mutual Communication among all the Vessels of the Matrix, as hath been observ'd by Fal­lopius, Platerus, Riolanus, Dr. Tyson, Mr. Cooper, and others.

The Testicles in Women, are plac'd within the Hypogastrium, in some about two Inches above the bottom of the Ma­trix. Their Figure is more broad and flat on the fore and hinder parts; they are al­so more hollow and fuller of Spermatick Juice. You may find 'em conglomerated or gather'd into a knob of divers little Ker­nels, or Bladders, more or less, which contain the thick Seed. In Men the Te­sticles have four Membranes, or Coats, but in Women only one; they are in a closer warmer place, and so do not need so thick a covering. This single Coat is call'd by some Dartos; but where they receive the Seminal Vessels, they are half covered over with the Peritonaeum, and are knit to the Sides of the Vterus by the two upper Ligaments, which are loose and Membranous, and out of which, in [Page 47] the time of Coition, the Seed is thrown. They have no Parastatae, nor any Crema­sters, but are stay'd by the broad lateral Ligaments, call'd the Batts Wings. Their use is to make, elaborate, and perfect the Seed.

The Vasa deferentia in Women, spring from the lower part of the Testicles, and are either inserted with very short passages into the bottom of the Womb, or disse­minated at the Trumpets of the Womb. They pass by the Membranous Ligaments to the Matrix. Their use is partly to carry the Seed to the Trumpets of the Womb, to be there further perfected and better elaborated, and then reserve it for use.

These Tubae Fallopianae, so call'd from their likeness to a Trumpet of War, and found out by Fallopius, are two in num­ber, one on each side, of a nervous, thick, white, and hard substance, of a long round Figure, hollow within. Now as the Vesicae seminales, are in Men to preserve the Seed, such are these blind Passages in Women, through which the concocted Seed is carried, and here laid up as in a Storehouse, where 'tis also better digest­ed, by the vertue of the Testicles; from [Page 48] whence 'tis sent by the Cornua into the Cavity of the Womb.

The Vterus, Matrix or Womb, the re­ceptacle both of the Seed and the Child, has its Situation in the middle of the Hy­pogastrium, Call'd Pelvis, The Basin, by the Os Sacrum and the Flank Bones, be­tween the Intestinum Rectum and the Bladder. In Virgins tho of a big stature, it does not exceed the magnitude of a Wallnut. But in Women with Child it dilates it self to such a Capacity as to con­tain the Child. Nature made it at first small, to embrace, clasp round and cher­ish the Seed, which is but very little in Quantity. The substance of the Womb is Membranous, that it may be distended or contracted as need shall require. 'Tis full of wrinkles, which in Women im­pregnated are extended, to widen the Womb; but after the Child is gone and in Old Age they are Contracted again. The fundus or Bottom is deriv'd from the Spermatick Vessels, or those by which the Vassa Praeparantia are constituted; as also from the Hemorrhoidal Branch, whence is the great consent between the Womb and the Spleen. In Women not with Child, the Menstrual Blood always flows through the Arteries. What is not [Page 49] thus evacuated returns back again to the heart, by the Veins which are join'd to the Arteries. In the time of flowing they are opened and gape. They re­semble Cups or Saucers, call'd, Acetabula or Cotyledones. To these, when a Wo­man is with Child, the Placenta is join'd, which receive the Blood for its Nourish­ment. The Womb is furnish'd with ma­ny Nerves from the Par Vagum, and the Nerves of the Os Sacrum, which run all along the Mouth of the Womb and the Vulva, for quickning the Sense of Pleasure. The use of the Womb is to attract receive, retain, preserve and cherish the Seed in order to Conception; and after Conception to contain and nourish the Faetus till the time of Birth. The Cavity of the Neck is rough, by reason of the wrinkles whose edges tend inwards, least the Seed when thrown in should slip out again; as we see in Barren Women, whose slipperiness prevents Conception. At the upper part near the Vulva is the insertion of the Bladder; to sight it is like a straw. Thence the Urine is voided by the Meatus Vrinarius, which is short and straight but dilatable, so as to give Pas­sage to a large stone. It is cover'd with­out by a fleshy Muscle, call'd Spincter.

[Page 50]The Membrane call'd Hymen, is a Sign or Note of Virginity, because 'tis not to be found in any but Virgins. That there is such a thing 'tis not to be doubted, we have such great Authorities for it. But in Sickly young Girls, or such as are of a wanton temper, 'tis not so perfect as in a Healthy young Maid, that is Vertuous in Thought and in Deed. It was taken no­tice of as an undoubted Sign of Virginity among the Hebrews, as Moses has at large declar'd, Deut. 22. It is situated in the Neck of the Womb, just behind the In­sertion of the Neck of the Bladder, or a little more inwards; This membrane goes cross the Cavity like a Diaphragma or Midriff. In the first coition Pain and Bloodshed ensues upon breaking it. Its use is to defend the Internal Parts.

As to the Vulva or External Parts, the more Noted are the Pubes or Mons Vene­ris, which is the part where the hair grows and is properly term'd the Privity; a soft substance, partly skin, partly spon­gy flesh plac'd upon a Portion of hard fat. The like of which is not to be seen in the whole Body.

CHAP. II. Of the Membranes enfolding the Child in the Womb.

THE first thing bred in the Womb after Conception, is the membranes enfold­ing the Child, which are but two in human kind, viz. The Amnios and Chorion; to which Last belongs the Placenta or Womb-Cake. All these together make what we call the Secundine or After-Birth; 'tis so call'd by reason 'tis the second Habitation of the Child next to the Womb, and also because it comes away by a second Birth after the Child or the first Birth. The Amnios from its softness and thinness is the first membrane; 'tis call'd also Agnina, Indusium, Charta Virginea. It is the thinnest of the Tunicles, white, soft and transparent and furnish'd with some few veins and Arteries which are disperst within its foldings. It com­passes the Child immediately, and cleaves almost every where to the Chorion, especi­ally [Page 52] at the ends. It is united to it at the middle above the Placenta, where the Vasa Vmbilicalia, or Navel-string, comes forth. But 'tis easily separated from it. It contains within it plenty of humidity and humours, in which the child swims, that by its floating therein, it might be the lighter, and less burthen­some to the Mother, and might avoid stri­king against any of the Neighbouring hard parts; and that the Membranes be­ing broke, and the humour running out at the time of Birth, the child's way thro the Neck of the womb, might be render­ed smooth, slippery and easy. When this humour flows out, the Midwives call it, the breaking of the waters

Part of the Amnios does now and then hang about the head of the child; thence the Infant is said to be born with a cawl: Some take this for a presage of Good, some of Evil; some of Short Life, some of Long; but it has relation to none of these things; for it hath been found on the head of both happy and miserable, short and long liv'd persons.

Chorion is the Second membrane, and compasses the child like a circle. It im­mediately compasses the former, and lies beneath it, whose inner and hollow part [Page 53] [...]t covers and invellops, extending it self according to the magnitude thereof. It is with some difficulty separated from the Amnios, and strongly bears up and unites the Vessels to the Placenta; that side next to the child is smooth and slippery, except where it is fastned to the Placenta, which is for the most part on the upper and foreside. The Placenta Vteri, or Womb-Cake, because of its shape, called also Hepar Vteri, the Womb-Liver, from its Nature and Office; is a round Mass of Flesh, furnished with Divers Vessels, through which the Child receives its Nu­triment; it is in Number but one, even in those who bear two or more Children at once; so many Cells are inserted in­to it in Divers places; its magnitude is various, yet it is generally found about ten or twelve Inches Diameter. It's constitu­ted of an Infinite Number of little Fibres, with congealed Blood interposed, but its Parenchyma is not every where alike, for in some parts it is glandulous and thicker, being variously Interwoven with Capil­lary Veins, joyn'd together by va­rious Anastomoses, through which the Blood in the Child runs back out of the Arteries into the Veins, to nourish the Child, as the true Liver does in grown Per­sons. [Page 54] This Blood it sucks out of the Veins of the Womb, and prepares it for use. It sends it through the greater Umbili­cal Vein to the Liver of the Child, that so it may be carried to the Heart; out of which it is sent, by the Arteries, into the whole Body of the Child for Nourish­ment: Vena Vmbilicalis passing through the two Coats of the Peritonaeum, is in­serted into the Liver by a cleft going thro the Navel; it is variously rouled or twisted about, that its length might not prove troublesome. From the Navel, it goes over the right and left sides of the Throat and Neck, turning it self back at the hinder part of the head, and so over the middle of the Forehead to the Pla­centa; sometimes it encompasses the Neck like a Chain. The Child being born, this Navel-string must be tyed with a strong thread, wound often about, the distance of two or three Inches from the belly of the Infant; three Inches from the bind­ing, it must be cut off; afterwards the Navel is to be carefully look'd to, till it is dry, and falls off of its own accord.

It is plain that Urine is not voided by the Urachus, by a Child in the Womb, as the Ancients have imagined; but it is certainly voided by its Yard into the [Page 55] Membrane Amnios; whence it is, that it is so full of water: a great part of it in some remains in the Bladder, which is the Cause that always New-born Chil­dren are for the first day continually Pis­sing.

CHAP. III. Of the manner of generating the In­fant in the Womb, and its gradu­al Nourishment and Encrease from the first Minute of Conception to the Hour of Birth.

WHen the Womb, that by Injoy­ment Naturally receives Seed for Generation, as a Load-Stone attracts Iron, or as Heat Straws or Feathers; hath now by its Virtue lock'd it up, from the first Day until the Sixth or Seventh, there arise very many and small Fibres or Hairs; The Vital Spirits giving down Seed towards conception and form, distinguishing the chiefest Members by the Tenth Day, be­ing [Page 56] let in by certain Veins of the Secun­dine, to which the Matrix is fixed, the Blood is imported, and of which the Na­vel is generated▪ But at the very same time three small spots, not unlike to curds of Milk, arise where the Liver, Heart, and Brain have their places; then presently a Vein directed by the Navel attracts the thicker Blood Confused with the Seed, and makes it fit for Nourishment. In the other Branches are generated those Tex­tures, or rather Webs of Veins: So from the Aorta, or great Arterial Pulsation Veins are derived, diffusing the Vital Spirits through the whole Body; the Heart is the Fountain and Original of Vi­tal Heat, without which no Creature or Member can thrive. Within the time aforesaid also is generated the highest and chiefest part of this Noble structure, the Brain; for the whole mass of Seed being filled with the Animal Spirits, that Con­tracts a great part of the general moi­sture, and includes it in a certain con­cavity wherein the Brain may be formed; but as to the out-side, it is inveloped with a certain covering, which being toasted and dried with heat, is brought into a Bony substance and becomes a Scull. As Veins have their Original from the Li­ver, [Page 57] Arteries from the Heart, so also Nerves from the Brain. All these Parts are di­stinctly form'd by the Eighteenth Day of the first Month from the very conception, and are then called a Child, which the An­cients have comprehended in these two Verses.

Hyppocrates gives this Account, viz. If you account the Days double from the time of conception, you will find them quick­en; and the time of quickening being tri­pled, makes up the Day of the Birth. As for Example, if the Infant be formed in For­ty five Days it will stir in Ninety Days, which is the third of the time that it lies hid in the Womb; for in the Ninth Month it will come forth and make haste to the Birth; although Females are often times Born in the tenth Month. So much for the formation, increase and perfection of the Infant, according to the account of days and times.

CHAP. IV. Of the Causes of Barrenness and the means to prevent it.

THE Womb is undoubtedly the No­blest Member of the Body; it de­serves by far the highest Character, and is esteem'd as such by all Mankind. 'Tis true, some unlucky wretches have the impudence to Curse their Parents, and Blaspheme against the Womb that hatch'd 'em. But their Example is no subject of Imitation. They're only a gang of youth­ful conceited Sparks▪ that love to see themselves appear gay in their Blooming Feathers, and scorn all Subjection to Old Age. Patience is the best remedy for this distemper. Let their ruffling Spi­rits take their course; 'tis in vain to of­fer to check 'em, tho' their wickedness do oft-times cause the grave tears to drop. Nothing but time will change the Scene; after they have run on for some time in their Carreer, they'll begin to relent, and wish to themselves that they had not tak­en [Page 59] up with the trifling flatteries of youth, or behav'd so unnaturally to the Vertuous Womb that bare 'em, or been so forget­ful of their own Original. We are all the Fruit of the Womb, and the whole World is govern'd by its fertile Product; And therefore 'tis a duty Incumbent up­on us to advance the fertility of the womb as much as possible, and assist 'em in the removal of the Impediments that block it up, and condemn it to an empty Bar­renness Fertility was anciently so much esteem'd by our forefathers, that when ever the Daughter of a Family was brought to Bed of a Child; then all without doors and within, with one consent, cry'd, Heavens and the great God have bless'd our Family by sending a Child amongst us; We all Praise him as most wonderful for his mercy towards us.

But there is no Necessity of amassing Arguments for the encouragement of Fertility, or aggravating the curse of Barrenness; I could appeal to every Womans thoughts what a blessing it is to have Children, tho' with inexpressi­ble Pain and Labour, and how uneasie and bitter it is to be depriv'd of 'em by the shutting up of their Womb, tho' at­tended with all the agreeable Circumstan­ces [Page 60] of Health, Pleasure and Freedom from Trouble. How unhappy was a Fair La­dy, no less than an Emperess, that com­plain'd passionately of her Misfortune, saying; there could be no greater Subject of Regreat than to die without Children.

A Woman that is fit for bearing of Children should be of a good Tempera­ment, of a regular Life and Conversati­on; whatever is sit in general for the welfare and healthy Constitution of the Body is conducive to fertility. Hippocrates takes notice of eights things that are good for making the Body fair and full. The first is to be merry and enjoy con­tent and ease of mind. The second is to sleep moderately, eat Meat of good Nour­ishment, go warm in Apparrel; to use moderate Exercise and keep good Com­pany; but above all to be accustom'd to changes of Air, not to keep lock'd up in a Chamber, and closely confin'd, which murders Health. Those that have in their youth been expos'd to the schocks of wind or weather, are less liable to be hurt by an occasional accident; whereas we see it the misfortune of such as have been long accustom'd to Niceties, and a De­licate tender way of living, that they are apt to be offended by the Sun, the Wind, [Page 61] the Morning or Evening Air; they're frequently out of Tune, always stuffing their Guts with slops, having their Chamber Windows adorn'd like an Apo­thecaries Shop with Pill-Boxes and Gal­ly-Pots. And in end they flip off the Stage of a sudden, without any Posteri­ty to succeed 'em.

The Signs and Causes of Barrenness are attributed either to Age, or Evil temperature of the Body, or vicious confor­mation of the Womb. Sometimes the Vagina or Neck is so narrow, that it can­not make way for the entrance of the Yard. It knocks in vain at the Door, and meets with such resistance in the anti-chamber as obliges it to retire. No con­ception can be without the entrance of the Yard, and the consequent emission of Seed; 'Tis true indeed, a false conception may arise from the abundance of the Mo­ther's Seed in the Womb; but a true con­ception cannot be without the Man's. The Orifice or Vagina may be shut up by some Tumor or Callosity, or by abun­dance of ill humors that joyn together, and make as it were a compress of the part.

Sometimes there is no defect in the Vagina; the inward Orifice opens regu­larly [Page 62] enough to give way for passing the Seed; yet Women Nevertheless continue Barren; if their Womb be cold, and the Seed be not receiv'd with some well­come warth, then it slips out again for want of kind Entertainment. Or if the Womb be moist, by reason of the Seed's being choak'd and extinguish'd in the prevailing moisture, which is commonly accompany'd with a cold temperature; or if the Womb be too dry and hot, for then the Seed is burnt up and exhal'd. 'Tis the moderate and temperate consti­tution that is bless'd with many Chil­dren.

Some Women have their parts so un­ctuous and slippery, that the Womb does not retain and embrace the Seed, but suf­fers it to slip out again. This may come by the frequent running of the whites. Some likewise who are Hectick, Hydro­pick, Feaverish, or Sickly, are not apt to conceive.

VVe ought to endeavour to remove all these hindrances by their respective cures, and so bring such Women from under the Malediction of Barrenness. VVe have daily instances of Women that having con­tinued for some time Barren, do become fertile; Nature it self oft-times vanquish­es [Page 63] the difficulties that stood in the way, as in the Queen, Mother of France, that was Barren for two Years together, and then bore their present Monarch Lewis the Fourteenth.

If there be a Narrowness in the Neck of the Womb, or Orifice, it may hinder Conception. The Signs are the Stoppage of the Courses follow'd with a depressing weighty pain; for the Passage being so narrow, she cannot receive the Man, or his Seed, and is depriv'd of the Benefit of Coition; neither can the Flowers have a free passage, but being beat back, retire to the Womb, where they create a sense of weight, and would obstruct Concep­tion, tho the Passage should happen to be enlarg'd.—I have sometimes met with a spongy luxuriant Flesh, of a Brawny Substance, in those parts. I have had ve­ry good success, by ordering Insessions, and Fomentations in these Cases.

In a word, whoever would remove Barrenness, must endeavour to find out the Cause of it, and apply the respective Re­medies; as, whether it proceeds from any fault in either Instruments of Generation, or in the Seed; or from an undue pro­portion and mixture of the two; or from Obstructions in the Womb, or its Cold­ness, [Page 64] Heat, and other irregular Conditi­ons.

CHAP. V. Directions how a Woman shall know when she has Conceiv'd; what Con­duct she ought to observe during the Time of her being with Child, so as to prevent Miscarriage.

I Have thought fit to joyn the Signs of Conception and Abortion together, that Women as soon as ever they have observ'd themselves with Child, may take care to avoid all the Causes of Abor­tion.

First, 'Tis thought a credible Sign of Conception, if the Woman either the tenth Day after Coition, or sooner per­ceive her Terms, be they Whites, or Reds, with Pains and Giddiness in her Head, and a Mist over the Sight, and afterwards the Apples of the Eyes lessened, the Eyes swell'd, and swarthy; the Breasts grown big and hard with pain, and the Nipples [Page 65] grown red: If she be troubled with a great loathing of Meat and Drink, with Longings after various Meats, and a con­tinual Vomiting, sowre Belchings, sudden Joy follow'd by sudden Grief, a shooting pain about the Back and Belly. The Cour­ses stop when a Woman has Conceiv'd: The Urine becomes White, with a Cloud swimming at the top, wherein are to be seen many Atomes; which in the first Month do commonly sink to the bot­tom; and if ye shake it, it seems like Wool.

If the Courses flow often out of the Womb in the time of Childbearing; 'tis an Argument of an Unhealthy Child; where, by the bye, 'tis to be remark'd, that the fattest Women generally bear weakest Infants.

Abortion, or Miscarriage, is when a Woman brings forth an Untimely Birth; which may proceed from divers Causes, as from a sudden Fright, or Fall; from Run­ning, Leaping, or using immoderate Ex­ercise; from unreasonable Watchings, great Wrath, over much Fear, Grief, or Sorrow; from longing for that which is not to be had, unsatiable Copulation and Lust, unusual Fatness against Nature, &c. Syncope's, or Swoonings, Blows, or such [Page 66] like External Accidents, are common Causes; as also a Flux of the Womb, which is a very dangerous Symptom, and signi­fies that the Vessels and Membranes of the Womb are broken, and Abortion just at hand. If Blood either pure or watery come from her, 'tis a Sign likewise that the Ligaments wherewith the Child is fa­stened to the Womb, are broken asunder, which makes the Mouth of the Womb open, and alters the Situation of the Child; thus it rolls down towards the Gate, and the Woman bending her Strength, the Child is unseasonably expell'd, to her own great danger.

To prevent such Tragical Consequen­ces, I would have all Women endeavour to qualifie and temperate their Humour. Upon every Surprize, let her lie down upon her Bed, and indeavour to forget what's past; let her by all means see to keep her self cleanly and dry; let her be chearful, and avoid all violent Motion; abstain from all Mourning, Sighing, and extraordinary Grief, not rising up too sud­denly, nor leaping, or over-reaching with her Arms; let her Company be agreeable, her Diet frugal and moderate. She must be very careful to abstain from gross Meats, or such as are of difficult Dige­stion. [Page 67] In the Morning let her Eat variety of Gruels, Panado's, Broths, and such like; and at Night the same. At Dinner, let her please her self, and take what she likes best, provided it be not heavy, or indigestible; Mutton, Veal, Rabbets, &c. are convenient Food for her.

Above all, let her be careful of avoiding Costiveness, nothing is more likely to oc­casion a Miscarriage. To prevent this Inconveniency, let her take half an Ounce of Lenitive Electuary, with half a Dram of Sal Prunel, or Cremor Tartari; mix 'em very well, and let her take it before Din­ner; it gently opens and loosens the Bowels, and is a noble thing in many o­ther cases. If often taken, it prevents breeding the Stone, and Melancholly Feavers: It may be taken also at Night, works very gently and pleasantly, and re­quires no Confinement.

If her Blood be exalted and high, let her take seven or eight Ounces of Blood from the Arm: If she be weak, I would recommend to her the following Prescrip­tion, which I value as a Jewel, and have always found very successful in such Cases.

[Page 68]Take a Quart of fine Caraway Water two Ounces of fine Rhubarb, an Ounce of the Syrop of Clove-Gilliflowers. Mix altogether in a bottle, and shake it three or four times a Day for one Week, then strain it off as ye make use of it; take two or three Spoonfuls.

Some that are very weak may take it once in two Days all the time of their be­ing with Child. I value it as an incom­parable Medicine. If ye please, ye may distil the following Water.

Take of fresh Eringo Roots one Pound, Dates half a Pound, Sweet Almonds four Ounces, bruise and pound 'em all to a Pulp: Then add Nutmegs three Ounces Mace half an Ounce, Barly and Cinna­mon water, of each a Quart; Canary and Balm-water, of each a Quart; mix and distil, adding to every Quart, when drawn off, four Ounces of fine powder'd Sugar: This daily taken, nourishes the Child in the VVomb, and prevents Mis­carriages.

The following Decoction of Rhubarb, is very good in such cases.

[Page 69]Take two Ounces of Rhubarb, four Ounces of Corants bruis'd, three Ounces of the Roots of Sorrel, half an Ounce of sweet Fennel-seed, three Pound of Foun­tain-water, boyl all to two Pound; then strain and add of white Sugar clarified, three Ounces. You may take from two Spoonfuls to three, in Milk Water, or White-wine, or Ale.

If in case of a sudden Indisposition, ye prove Feaverish and Bound, and cannot get the abovementioned things made, ye may send to the Apothecaries for one Ounce of Diaprunum Lenitive, and ten Grains of Sal Prunellae; and take the one half of it going to Bed, and the other half next Morning; drink warm Ale after it. 'Tis a delicate thing to cool and loosen the Belly; to quench Thirst, and refresh the Body in Consumptions, Hectick Feavers, &c. if taken often.

On the other hand 'tis as bad to have too great a Looseness as to be Bound too long. For once or twice a Day is suffi­cient. If therefore ye be subject to be o­ver loose, you may at Night take half an Ounce of Conserve of Red Roses, with half a Dram of Diascordium; and qualify [Page 70] your Drink with a piece of Steel made red hot.

I would recommend the following Ele­ctuary for stopping of Vomiting, expel­ling Wind, removing the Cholick, and in general against all cold Diseases in the Head; which is also very effectual in stopping a Looseness, and strengthening the Child in the Mothers Womb.

Take Conserve of Red Roses, Green Ginger preserved, of each two Ounces: Spirit of Vitriol two Drams: Work 'em very well in a Mortar, then add half an Ounce of the Powder of Cinnamon, one Dram of the Powder of Cloves, and as much of the Syrup of Violets, as is neces­sary for the Consistency of an Electuary. Take one Dram of it as often as ye have occasion; now and then a Draught of Cinnamon-water upon it, is extraordina­ry good.

If the Woman with Child be troubled with a Singultus, or Hickup; Take three Grains of Musk powder'd in a Glass Mor­tar. Add to it two Ounces of strong Cin­namon-water, and ten or fifteen Grains of the Oyl of Cloves, and take a Spoonful of it at a time, till it be stop'd.

[Page 71]The Sugar of Tormentil, is extraordi­nary good for strengthening and fastening the Foetus in the Womb, if taken twice or thrice a Day, in half an Ounce or more of Distill'd Milk-water: 'Tis made after this manner.

Take of Tormentil Roots powder'd one Ounce and a half, Cinnamon Powder half an Ounce, of white Sugar-candy one Pound, Cinnamon-water one Pint; add all together, put 'em in an Earthen Pan over the Fire, stirring it gently with a Silver Spoon, till it become dry: Keep it for use in a Gallypot ty'd down close. If you will, you may take a Dram of Con­fectio Alkermes with it, or the Syrup of the Juice of Alkermes.

The following is also very useful; 'tis call'd, Pulvis Griseus, or the Gray Pow­der.

Take Crabs-Eyes, Sage, of each two Ounces finely powder'd, white Chalk one Ounce, Nutmegs powder'd two Drams. Mix all very well in a Mortar, and tie it down in a Glass. 'Tis an ad­mirable thing against Looseness, pains of the Stomach, tho never so vehement, and [Page 72] Heart-burning. You may take half a Dram, or a Dram in Barly Cream, or Milk, twice a Day. Ye may give to a Child as much as will lie upon a Six-pence.

If she be troubled with Swooning, or Fainting Fits, the following Corallated Powder is admirable good.

Take of Red Coral finely powder'd, Sugar treble refin'd, of each two Ounces, Oyl of Cinnamon ten Drops, or Powder of Cinnamon two Drams finely powder'd, and mix'd in a Mortar very well. Then take half a Dram, or a Dram in any Cor­dial Water.

If she be troubled with Coughs, Asth­ma's, Obstructions of the Lungs, &c. which are all very apt to procure Aborti­on; she may make use of the following Powder.

Take fine Benjamin an Ounce and an half, Sulphur Vive three Ounces, Anni­see [...]s one Ounce, Sugar of Roses two Ounces; powder all very finely, then mix 'em: The Dose is half a Dram twice a Day, in a soft boil'd Egg, Morning and [Page 73] Night: Or ye may take it three times a Day, in Syrup of Hyssop, or Liquorice. Or,

Take Spanish Juice of Liquorice slic'd thin, three Ounces, put it in two Pound of Canary, let it be shak'd three or four times a day; then add Elecampain-Roots slic'd one Ounce: After one Week, ye may take from three to four Spoonfuls often. If ye please ye may add to it some Syrup of Hyssop, or some Syrup of Ju­jubes. I have seen wonderful success with it.

Sometimes Women with Child are ve­ry subject to Pains in the Stomach, and loathing of Meat: I use to give on such occasions, the following Electuary.

Take Conserve of Clovegilliflowers, and Conserve of Red Roses, of each two Ounces, Syrup of Citron one Ounce, Cloves in gross Powder, one Ounce; mix it in a Mortar for an Electuary. You may take the quantity of a Nutmeg in a morn­ing, and as much at Night.

As to the Fluxes, of whatever sort, that may occasion Abortion, or Miscarriage, I advise you to take fifteen or thirty drops [Page 74] of Laudanum Liquidum Cydoniatum in a Glass of Canary going to Bed, and repeat it often: It wonderfully eases all Pains, procures Sleep, stops all Fluxes in a short time, removes Colick Pains, or any sort of Disturbance in the Body, and comforts the Spirits. Or she may take two or three Spoonfuls of a Pearl Cordial, or the same quantity of the Syrup of Corals, which I choose to prepare after this man­ner.

Take of Juice of Limons, or Lime-Juice, or extraordinary good Vinegar, one Pint, white Sugar-candy finely pow­dered, one Pound; gently melt it over the Fire, and add of the Powder of Red Corals finely powder'd, two Ounces; then continue still to keep it stirring with a Silver Spoon till quite cold. Give a Spoon­ful or two Morning and Evening. It stops Fluxes of all sorts, as the Bloody-Flux, the Running, call'd Gonorrhoea; spit­ting of Blood, &c. In a word, it may be call'd a general Syrup for all Weaknesses, and may be taken in soft Ale, or Small-Beer.

Upon Flooding, (or even in Women with Child) I have let Blood very often [Page 75] with good success, and have given this Syrup of Corals with some drops of Lau­danam Liquidam, and so set 'em to Bed to lie as still as they can. In some Constitu­tions, eight Grains of Pilulae de Styrace, or the Pills of Storax, are very successful; they stop Coughs, or Fluxes, and may be given every Night, or every other Night: 'Tis to be had at most Apotheca­ries ready prepar'd; so I shall not give my self the trouble to transcribe its Compo­sition. I could easily give a thousand Re­cipe's, but I mention nothing but what I have often prov'd to be successful.

For the Whites, and all sorts of Weak­nesses that may occasion Miscarriage, you may purge once or twice, as the Conditi­on of the Patient requires; and then give the following Receipt.

Take of the whitest and best Isinglass cut into bits, and well bruis'd, two Oun­ces, and a Pint or two of Water; put all over the Fire, let it simmer, then take it off, cover it close all Night: The next Day boil it gently till it be all dissolv'd. Then strain it, and add one Pint of New Milk, and an Ounce or two of white Sugar-candy powder'd and melted in the Milk over the Fire gently; then mix all [Page 67] together. This makes an excellent Gelly. Ye may take half a Pint, or a Pint, Night and Morning, in distill'd Milk-water, for a Fortnight together, or longer. If ye will ye may every time add Powder of Cin­namon, as much as a Six-pence will hold.