Chapter IV: THAT the Rest of the morbifick Humours, whether Crude,

_Aqueous_, or _Serous_, lurking behind in the _Body_, be in due manner discharg’d.

BUT more particularly; The CURE may be begun with a gentle _Evacuation of the Belly_, and, if Strength and other Circumstances shall permit, with repeated _VENÆSECTIONS_[32], or _Blood-letting_ in the _Foot_, not only for removing the _Plenitude_, but also for resolving the _Obstructions_ of the _MENSTRUA_.

AND because the HUMOURS are _Thick_ and _Frigid_, proper _warming_ and _attenuating_, or preparing and purging _Medicines_ are to be used in their Turns; or _rarefying_ and _inciding Matters_ may be mixed with the _Purgatives_. As also in Case the HUMOURS lodge about the _Ventricle_ and _Mesentery_, a gentle VOMIT may be convenient.

BUT because divers _Parts_ suffer _OBSTRUCTIONS_ in this sickly _Affection_, proper _Aperitives_ are to be made use of; and _Those_ chiefly, which have a _natural Affinity_ with every respective _affected Part_: As for Example; _Hepaticks_, for the _LIVER_; _Spleneticks_, for the _SPLEEN_; _Uterines_, for the _WOMB_, &c. Wherefore the _Physician_ ought to weigh and consider well, whether the _Veins_ about the _VENTRICLE_ and _MESENTERY_, or _LIVER_ and _SPLEEN_, be most _obstructed_; since the most special Regard must be had to the _Part most affected_.

IN the _Beginning_, such _Medicines_ as serve best to open the _Obstructions_ of the _MESENTERY_, _SPLEEN_, and _LIVER_, sparingly mix’d with such as provoke the _MENSTRUA_ or _MONTHS_, are to be discreetly used: But afterwards, in _Progress_ of the CURE, the _Uterines_ may (by Degrees) be prudentially _augmented_.

HOWEVER, at last it often happens, that tho’ the _grosser HUMOURS_ are evacuated: yet some _watry, serous Humours_ remain in the Circuit of the Body, too much refrigerating and infesting it still; which are most conveniently remov’d by _Sudorificks_.

BUT because the compleat _CURE_ of this _Disease_ requires some Length of Time, I would advise proper _Preparatives, Purgatives_, and _Corroboratives_, to be exhibited by Turns; as also the very _Form_ and _Composition_ of the _MEDICINES_ to be varied in their Courses, for the preventing of _Nauseousness_.

THE _Patient’s REGIMEN_, must likewise be well prescrib’d, and curiously _regulated_; especially her DIET. She ought to live upon Victuals of the best _Nutrition_, and easiest _Concoction_, carefully avoiding all _others_ that are not so agreeable: Especially such as are of a _frigid or humid Quality_; such as _Pot-herbs_, _Garden-Fruits_, _Milk_ _Fish_, &c. She may drink generous _Wine_, or good _Ale_ cautiously abstaining from all _small Drinks_, and other such like noxious _Liquids_, as much as possible.

MOREOVER, _Motion_ and _Exercise_ are very convenient, not only in the _Beginning_, but also in the _Declension_ of this _DISEASE_; especially by strongly _Chafing_ and _Rubbing_, with warm _Flannels_, every Morning in _Bed_.

BUT _Sleep_ is not to be too much indulged, especially not in the _Mornings_; altho’ _she_ be _Then_ more propense to it, by reason of the abundance of _VAPOURS_ ascending to the _Brain_.

LASTLY, to perfect and confirm this _CURE_, I would recommend[33] _Hippocrates_’s sound Advice to the _Patient_; which is to the following _Purpose_, of _marrying_ betimes for the sake of _Health_, and to prevent all the future ill Consequences of this growing _Malady_.

“EGO, _inquit, Autor sum, ut Virgines hoc malo affectæ quàm celerrimè viris conjungantur; iisq; cohabitent: Si enim conceperint, convalescent. Si verò in pubertate hoc malo non corripiantur, tum paulo post eas invadit._”

UPON which excellent _Sentence_, the two following _Observations_ may, (I hope) appositely here follow and take place, _viz._

I. _Quod etiam Ratione & Experientiâ confirmatur[34]: Venere etenim Uterus & partes circa Uterum incalescunt, viæq; aperiuntur & laxantur, ut sanguis Menstruus postea faciliùs ad Uterum confluere & per eundem effluere possit._

II. _Rectissimè etiam dictum, convalescent, si concipiant; quia Sanguis, qui præter Naturam antea retinebatur, jam in Fœtûs Formationem absumitur; & si quid vitiosorum humorum in Utero cumulatum sit, id post partum evacuatur._

I have thought it proper to insist the _more_ upon this HEAD; because I know _none_ else among all the _Indispositions_ of Life, which can properly be accounted _peculiar_ to VIRGINS.

SOME however may think perhaps, that I had a fair Opportunity in this _Place_, to introduce the various _Diseases_ and _Symptoms_ of the _WOMB_, _VAGINA_, and _PUDENDUM_; the divers _Symptoms_ of the MENSTRUOUS FLUX, together with _Those_ which are incident to all _Women_ after PUBERTY.

WHICH _Objection_ I humbly beg leave briefly to answer, that a _twofold Reason_ dissuaded me from undertaking to treat of _Those Heads_ in this Place.

I. BECAUSE _They_ are _common_ to all WOMEN in general, and incident to the _Wife_, or _Widow_, as well as to the _Virgin_; wherefore, I hope, another _Place_ in this _BOOK_ may be assigned to _Them_, more proper and convenient than _This_, without any _Digression_.