Transcriber’s notes The content of this book has been preserved in its original form as far as possible. However, because some of the scanned text was indistinct and difficult to interpret, the transcription is a ‘best guess’ in some places. The text has many anomalies with regard to punctuation, capitalisation and use of italics. The Middle English language has archaic uses of ‘u’ ‘v’ ‘i’ and ‘j’ as well as the long ‘s’ (replaced with a normal ‘s’ in this transcription). In keeping with the era, the spelling is non-standard and uses space-saving contractions (equivalent to present-day use of an apostrophe to indicate omitted letters). Some of the marks denoting a contraction were indistinct, but in this transcription all are represented by a tilde (~) above the word. The text contains many sidenotes and footnotes, some of which were impossible to differentiate with certainty. Three footnotes (19, 20, 52) lacked identifiable anchor markers within the text, so markers have been inserted at ‘best guess’ locations and the respective footnotes identified with two asterisks. In this plain text version, italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and superscripted text is preceded by a caret (^). Sidenotes precede the relevant paragraphs, and footnotes follow the paragraphs. A short table of contents (that was not present in the original) has been added to the transcription to assist readers. A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE OF A DISEASE _CALLED THE_ Suffocation of the _Mother_. Written vppon occasion which hath beene of late taken thereby, to suspect possession of an euill spirit, or some such like supernaturall power. _Wherein is declared that diuers strange_ actions and passions of the body of man, which in _the common opinion, are imputed to the Diuell, haue their true naturall causes, and do accompanie this disease_. By EDVVARD IORDEN _Doctor in Physicke_. [Illustration] LONDON. Printed by _Iohn Windet_, dwelling at the Signe of _the Crosse Keyes at Powles Wharfe_. 1603. [Illustration: MVSEVM BRITAN NICVM ] Contents Preface Cap.1. That this disease doth oftentimes giue occasion vnto simple and vnlearned people, to suspect possession, witchcraft, or some such like supernaturall cause. Cap.2. What this disease is, and by what means it causeth such varietie of Symptoms. Cap.3. Of the kinds of this disease, and first of that wherein the vitall facultie is offended. Cap.4. Of that kind of this disease wherein the animall facultie is offended. Cap.5. Of that kind wherein the naturall facultie is offended. Cap.6. Of the causes of this disease. Cap.7. Of the cure of this disease, so much as belongeth to the friends and attendants to performe. [Illustration] TO THE RIGHT WOR shipfull the President and Fellowes of the _Colledge of Phisitions in_ London.