Aristotle's works:: Containing the Master-piece, Directions for Midwives, and Counsel and Advice to Child-bearing Women with Various Useful Remedies — Aristotle — John Shaqi
Aristotle's works:: Containing the Master-piece, Directions for Midwives, and Counsel and Advice to Child-bearing Women with Various Useful Remedies
Aristotle · en
_Prognostics._—With the evil quality of the womb, the whole body stands
charged, but especially the heart, the liver, and the brain; and betwixt
the womb and these three principal parts there is a singular concert:
First, the womb communicates to the heart by those arteries which come
from the aorta. Hence, the terms being suppressed, will ensue faintings,
swoonings, intermission of pulse, cessation of breath. Secondly, it
communicates to the liver by the veins derived from the hollow vein.
Hence will follow obstructions, jaundice, dropsies, hardness of spleen.
Thirdly, it communicates to the brain by the nervous membrane of the
back: hence will arise epilepsies, frenzies, melancholy passion, pain in
the after parts of the head, fearfulness, and inability of speaking.
Hippocrates says, if the months be suppressed, many dangerous diseases
will follow.
_Cure._—The suppression is a plethoric effect, and must be taken away by
evacuation; and therefore we begin with the phlebotomy. In the midst of
the menstrual period open the liver vein; and for the reservation of the
humour, two days before the evacuation, open the saphena in both feet;
if the repletion be not great, apply cupping-glasses to the legs and
thighs, although there should be no hopes of removing the suppression.
As in some the cotiledones are so closed, it will be convenient, as much
as may be, to ease nature of her burden, by opening the hemorrhoid veins
with a leech. After bleeding, let the humours be prepared and made
flexible with syrup of calamint, betony, hyssop, mugwort, horehound,
fumitory, maiden-hair. Bathe with camomile, pennyroyal, savin,
bay-leaves, juniper-berries, rue, marjoram, feverfew. Take of the leaves
of maiden-hair, succory, and betony, of each a handful, make a
decoction; take thereof three ounces. Syrup of maiden-hair, mugwort, and
succory; mix of each half an ounce. After she comes out of the bath, let
her drink it off. Purge with pill de agarice, fley-bang, corb, feriæ.
Galen commends pilulæ de caberica, coloquintida; as they purge the
humour of offending, and open the womb, and strengthen the faculty by
their aromatical quality.
If the stomach be overcharged, let her take a vomit, such a one as may
work both ways, lest working only upward, it should too much turn back
the humour.