be prepared for her drinke Compound Medicines But because the ancient Physicians have many times beene accustomed to use compound medicines not without praise in restraining and stopping this unnaturall Flux wee will hereafter also bring forth some of them An Electuary First of all you shall prepare an Electuary of which you shall give halfe a dram every day in the morning when the stomacke is empty to the woman which is grieved with this Flux dissolved in red Wine wherein Steele hath been quench'd Take roots of Comfrey Plantane as much as sufficeth Let them being boiled well be brayed in a Mortar and let them be straind a thorow strainer made of horse-haires Take of the Paste of Comfrey two drams of the roots of Plantane one dram and a halfe Sugar one pound dissolve the Sugar in raine-water or water wherin Iron red-hot hath been quenched or temper them together in Plantan-water in which Lapis Haematites hath beene dissolved untill it be red and boile all being mixed together with a little and easie fire and when they are are boiled and cooled a little put to them these simples following Take Sanguis Draconis Succus Acaciae seed of Sumach Terra Sigillata Amber Harts-horne burned and washed of each one dram Pearles prepared foure scruples red Corall prepared one dram and a halfe Spodium Lapis Haematites Parsley-seed of each two scruples mixe them being beaten to powder and make an Electuary in a dry Forme to be divided into Morsells Another Electuary Or prepare another Electuary in this manner Take old conserve of Roses one ounce Diacydonion cum saccharo sine speciebus three ounces Diarrhodon specierum Abbatis Coralls red prepared and powdred foure scruples Pearles prepared one dram Trochiskes de Carabe de Terra Sigillata of each two scruples Spodium Lapis Haematites Mumia of each of them halfe a dram Temper them with syrup of Pomegranates and make a gilded Electuary of which let the quantity of a Chesse-nut be taken every day morning and evening and let it be drunke being dissolved in red-Wine wherein Steele red-hot hath been quenched Also the Party may take these Pills following seven of them taken every morning when the stomake is empty as yet fasting Take Mumia Frankincense Masticke Harts-horne burned and washed of each halfe a dram the Runnet of a Hare or Kid foure scruples Temper them with Plantane-water in which Gum Arabick may be dissolved and let Pills be formed of it Also Mesue doth commend in this case Pilulae de Bdellio Majores and Minores to be taken one dram at a time Notwithstanding also these Pills following do profit Take Terra Sigillata Bole-Armeniacke prepared Galls Sanguis Draconis Runner of a Kid of each one dram Camphire two scruples mixe them and let Pills be made with syrup of Myrtles a dram to be taken at a time There is also no lesse consideration and respect to be had of the cure to to be used outwardly than of the inward hitherto handled and intreated of for there are many things which applyed outwardly doe wonderfully profit for the curing of these Fluxes But first of all such a bath or fomentation is to be prepared A Bathe or Fomentation Take Cauda Equina or Horse-taile leaves of the Mulberry-tree of the Peare-tree of Sloes of Services of the Medler-tree the inward barkes of the Oke red Roses Virga Pastoris or Fullers Teasell of each two handfulls Galls Myrtles of each one pound Medlers Services Acorne-cups of each two pound mixe them together and let a bathe or fomentation be made of all of them in water wherein Iron red-hot hath beene quenched If it be not convenient to use this bathe or fomentation you shall prepare such a Fume to be received by a Tunnell A Fume Take Colophonie halfe an ounce Spodium Bole-Armeniacke Blatta Byzantina blacke Poppie Henbane of each two drams mixe them and make a grosse powder Or else you must use this experiment very well approved Take the barks of the Pitch-tree used of the Curriers already in their worke one pound the inward parts or inward kernells of Galls bunches of Grapes dried let these being mixed together boile in water wherein red-hot Steele hath beene quenched and let the woman convey that fomentation into the Matrix by a Tunnel and that being done let her eat a Morsell for to comfort her of the Electuary before prescribed Also Vnguentum Comitissae is approved the which because it is knowne unto the Apothecaries It was not needfull to set it downe But if that cannot be gotten you may profitably use this Vnguent following prepared in this manner Take oile of Myrtles foure ounces juyce of the greater Plantane two ounces powder of Masticke two drams Sumach-seed Succus Acaciae Hypocistidos Myrtles Terra Sigillata Bole-Armeniack of each two ounces and a halfe Spodium Barley burned red Roses of each one dram Mingle them with Waxe so much as sufficeth and let an Vnguent be made of it A soft oynment Also such a soft ointment very profitable may be made Take the juyce of Comfrey of both the kindes of Plantane Cinquefolie or five-finger-grasse of each a like a little Vinegar mixe all things together and lay Linnen-clothes moistned in them upon the belly and loynes Or you shall prepare another in this forme Take Succus Acaciae Hypocistidos Psidia Another soft oynment Terra Sigillata Trochiskes de Carabe Colophonie of each halfe an ounce mingle them together and let a powder be made of them which you shall use in manner of a Cataplasme tempered with the juyce of Plantane applyed to the fore-parts and hinder-parts Also such a Plaister not unprofitable may be made Take the powder of Harts-horne burnt A Plaister Paper burned the drosse of Iron of each one ounce Acorne-cups two ounces mixe them make a powder with which tempered with the white of an Egge a little Vinegar and Plantane-water let a plaister be made A certain other plaister shall be prepared in this manner Take Masticke Olibanum Mumia Sanguis Draconis of each one ounce Flea-beane burnt Allome roots of Wal-woort or Asse-eare Psidia Pomegranate-flowers of each equall parts of all of them being beaten to powder halfe an ounce Earth-wormes pounded Frankincense of each two drams Mixe them together and make a Plaister of them with the white of an Egge a little Vinegar and Plantane-water Againe let another Plaister be thus made to be used after the manner of a soft ointment Take the juyce of Plantane mixed with Vinegar steepe leather of a Cowes hide in that Mâ—â—ture Afterward boile it and dip a cloth sometimes folded together in that decoction and apply it in manner of a soft ointment But if you shall use all these things in vaine at last you shall use these Pessaries Pessaries having wonderfull power to bind Take Triphera Magna Micleta Athanasia of each one dram Hypocisthidos Succus Acaciae Bole Armeny Sanguis Draconis roots of Comfrey
Let all these things be mingled together with oile of odoriferous Spike and let Trochiskes be made of them with the which let the woman in the morning being fasting and in the evening about to goe to bed receive a fume underneath Also it will be profitable to annoint the privie parts with this unguentum following An Vnguent Take Styrax Calamita one dramme Saffron Masticke Ladanum Myrrh of each one dram Temper them with oyle of Spike and Roses and white Waxe so much as may suffice and a Liniment be made Likewise the braines rosted of Hares will do good in this case But some do use the grease of Duckes Geese Hennes Harts and the like to which they doe mixe the sorts of simples before prescribed and make Trochiskes convenient to make a Suffumigation Likewise you may use these fumes following Suffumigation Take Pure Ladanum one ounce Styrax Calamita Olibanum of each one dram Lignum Aloes dry Savine of each one dram and a halfe Amber three graines Muske six graines Let all these things be mixed and beaten to powder and let Trochisks be made with a hot Pestle of which being cast upon the coales let a fume be made underneath thorow a Tunnell Likewise Pessaries may be made of the Masse or Lumpe of them Or otherwise Take Ladanum one dram Styrax Calamita halfe an ounce Cloves Lignum Aloes red Roses of each two drams Amber halfe a scruple Muske sixe graines let all these things be pounded and let Trochiskes be made of them in the manner aforesaid Some of these also may be dissolved with Rose-water and the mouth of the Matrix may be washed with it Of these also Pessaries may be prepared Here is also another thing very profitable Take red Roses halfe an ounce Frankincense Masticke Myrrh Sanguis Draconis Bole-Armeniacke Myrtles of each two drams Styrax Calamita halfe an ounce Ladanum halfe an ounce Amber Muske Lignum Aloes Cloves Artificiall Balsamum Spick-Nard of each halfe a scruple Those things that are to be powdred let them be beaten to powder and let Trochiskes be made in the aforesaid manner and let a Suffumigation be made thorow a Tunnell with one dram of it It hath beene received for a truth of some acient Writers that women which did often eate the roots of Aristolochia with rosted Veale should almost certainely conceive malechidren Pessaries But many of the later Physicians doe counsell to apply these Pessaries underneath the seventh day after the issuing forth of the Flowers for to rectifie conception Take of the root of Gentian Saffron Myrtles Aloes of each two drams Line-seede Oyle so much as sufficeth And let a Pessarie be made with them which they say will cause Conception within a few daies after it hath beene used But Galen counselleth to drinke Castoreum which is new and any kind of Peper taken the weight of twelve Barley cornes in Malmesey being mixed with the juyce of Penny-royall The same Galen reporteth that the Matrix of a Hare being dryed and beaten to powder taken in Malmesey to be approved of some But it is certaine that the Fumes or Suffumigations before prescribed to be most approved of many later Physicians Also while wee make mention of these things wee desire that all men should know that wee have nothing to doe with the Sorceries and divellish Arts of some old Witches concerning this matter But let it suffice to have spoken hitherto of those things by which sterility may be averted and fruitfulnesse furthered It remaineth also to speake a few words of those things which are to be ministred inwardly Inward helps of fruitfulnesse For because the fruitfulnesse of man and wife may be hindred very much for want of desire to be acquainted with Venus and by impotency and disability of ingendring and effecting Conception and also by infirmity of the seeds caused either by the defect of Nature or by the inchantments of evill arts Wee will declare how all these things are to be amended in the prescript formes of these medicines following But first let such a powder be made profitable and commodious for this matter A powder Take the stones of a Foxe Castoreum the Matrix of a Hare dryed of each two drams Galangal Long-peper of each two drams Sugar equall to all in weight Mix them and make a powder of which one spoonefull is to be taken every day morning and evening with Malmesey An Electuary Also an Electuary very much approved is very profitable for men and women to be taken every day in the morning fasting and in the evening when they are about to goe to bed the weight of a Filberd-nut shall be prepared in this manner Take the Testicles or stones of a Foxe cleansed six ounces red Cicers Mints Satyrion wild Rocket the roote of Acorus wilde Carrot the root of Gladiolus or Sword-grasse Bawme Cresses Ozimus Penny-royall Vrtica Fennell of each two ounces Let all things be made very cleane and being sodden in Sheeps-milke let them be very well pounded in a Morter and let them be reserved for the preparation of this Electuary following Next take the Braines of Pigeons Hens Cocks Sparrowes Drakes Phesans Stones of a Ball of a lecherous Goat of Bores stones of each three ounces Let these likewise be boiled in Sheeps-milke and being decocted let them be incorporated with a little fresh Butter with the yolkes of Egs and let them be successively dried on the fire in Pans Which being done Take sweete Almonds Filberd-nuts kernells of common Nuts Pine-apple-kernells all of them being made very cleane and dried a little on the fire of each one ounce the pith of the Indian Nut fat Dates of each one ounce and a halfe Let all these things be cut into small pieces and beaten to as fine powder as may be at last take the dry Pissle of a Bull Rocket-seed of each halfe an ounce the seeds of Anise Baucia Sperage of the Ash-tree Parsley Stone-parsley Radish of each two drams Long-peper Ginger of each three drams the roots of both kinds of Satyrion of each halfe a dramme the taile of the Fishes named Scinci five drams the taile of the Fish named Lacertus one dram and a halfe Let all these things be beaten to a most fine powder And all things being prepared confect and forme the Electuary with sixe pound of Sugar mixed with two pound of the Paste of the aforesaid things or with foure pound of clarfied Hony and two pound and a halfe of the aforesaid Paste Such an Vnguent also may be prepared for the same use with which the secrets and loynes may be annointed Take Oile made of the Egs of Pismires or Ants of the Oile of Castoreum of a Foxe Costus Galangal Elder of each halfe an ounce Petroleon Oile of odoriferous Spike of each two drams the roots of Peper Pellitory Euphorbium Castoreum of each halfe a dram seed of Rocket of an Onion of each one dram decoct all these things mixed with white
Waxe and Hens grease so much as is sufficient and make an ointment of them Let such a water be made for the same purpose A Water Take Anâ—s figges five ounces Indian-nuts the Fishes named Scinci brought from beyond the Seas the taile of the Fish named Lacertus sweet Almonds Pine-apple-kernells Rocket-seed of each one ounce Vrtica the roots of both the kindes of Satyrion Hermodactili Peper long and blacke of each two ounces Muske one scruple the best white Wine wine sublimated of each one equall Measure Let them all be mixed and infused and haxing beene set out to the Sune fouretene daies let them be distilled If you will use this water take halfe an ounce with one ounce of the Electuary Diassatyrion and drinke them mixed together morning and evening very hot Also these Pills are approved taken in the evening Take of the seede of Rocket Radish stone-Parsley Pills Vrtica Satyrion of each one dram stones of a Fox pissle of a Bull of each two drams the taile of the Fishes named Scinci and the Fishe Lacertus of each one dram braines of Cocke Sparrowes Drakes Cocks Pigeons of each halfe an ounce Peper Galangal long-peper of each a dram and a halfe roots of both kinds of Satyrion halfe an ounce Euphorbium Castoreum of each one scruple Let all be beaten to powder let them be incorporated with Hony and let Pillls be made of them Take the quantity of two or one dram Another Electuary for the same purpose to be taken morning evening Another Electuary the quantity of a Chesse-nut shall be prepared in this manner Take Satyrion-rootes halfe a pound Dates foure ounces Mints Ginger candi'd or green-Ginger Iujubae of each three drams Let all things be mingled together and sodden in Sheeps-milke and pounded in a Morter as is accustomed which being done afterward take Cock-stones stones of a Weather or of a Bull or of a Goat Let those things be decocted in Sheeps-milk with a little fresh Butter and the yolkes of two Egges let them be dried in a Pipkin on the fire orderly After which things take clarified Hony two pound and a halfe of the Sugar named Tabarzeth as much as sufficeth Let all these things be decocted in due order and these powders following be mingled with them being boiled take the Pissle of a Bull of a Goat Rocket-seed of each one dram and a halfe Galangal Zedoaria of each one ounce Cinamome Ginger long-peper seed of the Ash-tree of each six drams seed of Mercury seed of Mallowes of each halfe an ounce the pith of the Indian Nut Pine-apple-kernells cleansed sweet Almonds of each one dram Let all these things be brought to a powder and let them be mixed to the decoction before prescribed and let an Electuary be made of them And now also let these things be sufficient to have beene spoken concerning medicines to be received inwardly for the cure of barrennesse sterility CHAP. VIII Of the Suffocation and choking of the Matrix and of the causes and cure of the same IT remaineth also to speak a few things hereafter concerning the most especiall diseases of the Matrix which have greatest force to procure and cause sterility and also to hinder conception and generation such as are principally the Suffocation and Precipitation or falling downe of the Matrix the immoderate issuing of the Termes and the stopping of the same But we will speake first of the first What the suffocation of the Matrix is Wee say that the Suffocation of the Matrix is not naturall but that it is a forced and constrained ascending and rising up of the Matrix or Mother towards Diaphragma or the Midriffe whereby it commeth to passe that the passages of the aire are stopped the Lungs and Arteries of the heart being pressed and thrust together and the Lungs is prohibited and barred from amplifying and inlarging it selfe as it should which passion proceedeth from windy and divers vapors arising from corrupt matter And by this sicknesse the breathing is hindred the braine is molested the Heart is restrained of his free liberty the Lungs is crowded together the senses and motions doe cease the Spirits are intercepted the members of the body doe deny to doe their office whereby it falleth out that faintings of the faculties of life doe happen sudden swoonings doe overwhelme the diseased and sometime doe deprive them of life the Heart being suffocated for which effect it is supposed that it is therefore called in Latine Suffocatio The Causes We cannot say that there are any other causes of this Malady but the stopping of the Termes contrary to the course of Nature or corrupted seede or else other depraved and evill humours inclosed in the Matrix being dissolved into winds vapors and so forcing the Matrix to be heaved and lifted upward The signes of this disease are two-fold The Signes one of the sickenesse present by the fit which is present the other of the disease to come taken from the tokens of the fit to come But the tokens of the present sickenesse taken by the Present fit are these signes The women doe hardly fetch their breath Signes of the present fit the Pulse of the Arteries is seldome their hands are continually laid upon their belly above the Navell for to depresse and keepe downe the Matrix rising upward the habite and forme of the body is bending downward the colour is pale when you speake they make no answer the understanding is quicke and lively without any voyce at all there is no motion of the body and indeed nothing else but a similitude of present death But whether life doth remaine still in the body or not in this extreme passion of the present fit we may finde out by these experiments and trialls Let feathers or cleane wooll be put to the mouth of her which is afflicted with this grievous fit the which if they be blowne away or at least be moved it shall be certaine that there is life remaining in the body Moreover it shall be a more certaine thing to place a glasse full of water upon her breast for life remaining as yet must needs thrust and extend it selfe out and so moving of the water must follow Or else a cleane and smooth looking-glasse is to be put to her mouth and nostrills and if life be not departed you shall see the glasse stained by the hot breath Which experiment seemeth to be most probable of all Some doe declare that a certaine woman was afflicted with this fit three whole daies and nights and at last to have returned to her selfe being supposed to have beene dead Wee have seene the same thing to have happened in some women for one naturall day that is foure and twenty houres together through suffocation of the Matrix Signes of a future fit But these signes goe before a fit which shall follow that is to say paine of the head dimnesse of the eyes a continuall