HENCE it is that I can scarce find any Part of the Body, which may not be affected by the Indispositions of the Womb; the Heart, the Diaphragm, the Head, the Brain, and consequently all the Organs of Sense and Motion, the Liver, the Spleen, the Ventricle, the Mesentery, the Belly, the Bladder, the Rectum, the Back, the Loins, the Thighs, the Legs, the Arms, &c. All which Parts are from thence subject to innumerable various Symptoms, which commonly come and go by Periods, after the manner of Convulsive, or Epileptick Fits, to which the Hysterical have also a very near Relation; in that the Circulation and Recourse of all the Three, and some more such, Distempers agree exactly, sometimes with the Course of the Moon, and Sun, and sometimes with the very Motion of the Sea; and as these vary, so the Fits of either Affection come on quicker or slower[[231]].

THESE Things are also most Judiciously made out by the excellent Dr. Mead, saying, that, the New and Full-Moon being of equal Power, this sort of Distempers sometimes reign in the one, and sometimes in the other, as the Body happens to be more or less fitted and adapted to receive the Influence; and as the abounding Humours are more fitted for this, than that period of the Planet[[232]]. And the same Author of great Experience, gives us an Account of a certain Boy of a Year old, who every Flood-Tide, was taken with Convulsive Fits, and every Ebb came to himself again[[233]]. Which Influence of the Sea, no doubt depends upon the Moon’s approaching our Vertical Point, or that directly opposite, as the Flood encreases and comes to its Height, Moreover again,——

CONSIDERING the Womb, not only as the Center, in which the vitious Humours are accumulated from all the other Parts, but also as the Pump of the Body, we may readily conclude that as long as it regularly ejects the Menstruous Blood, it does at the same time duly evacuate together with it, all those Humours of whatsoever sort they be: Whereas we may easily conceive that whatever obstructs or impedes the Womb in any of its natural Functions, may occasion various Symptoms to the Woman: However the most of these, as well as the most dangerous, take their Origin from the Retention of the Seed and the suppression of the Menstrua.

THE Menstruous Blood flowing in a natural Course to the Uterine Veins, when its Passage is so obstructed, that it cannot break forth; whether in Virgins, because of the Astriction of the Orifices; or in Widows, because of the Thickness of the Blood, or of any other gross viscid Humour; in these Cases, it must of course regorge thro’ the Branches of the Vena Cava and the great Artery, to the Head, Heart, Liver, and Veins of the Midriff; whence of Consequence proceed various Symptoms in all these and their dependent Parts: Which notwithstanding, I take the too long retain’d SEED to occasion the more dangerous and severe Symptoms to the Woman.

BUT in Case of either of These, namely, either the Seminal, or the Menstruous Matter, beginning to corrupt, and consequently to acquire malignant Qualities, then they produce divers most severe and dreadfull Symptoms; and that not only in different Patients, but also sometimes in one and the same Woman; and not only at different Times, but also sometimes at one and the same Time: However these Things always happen, according to the different Quantity and Quality of the corrupted Humours, as well as according to the Constitution of the Womb, in which the Corruption succeeds. Again more particularly——

IF the Malignant Vapours arising hence, penetrate to the Heart, (the principal Organ of Life, as well as of the Circulation of the Blood) I would observe, that, they occasion vellicating Palpitations, as also a Dejection of Spirits, and Anxiety of Mind, attended with frequent Lypothymies and Syncopes: If to the Diaphragm and Lungs, a Difficulty of Breathing, attended (as it were) with Suffocations or Strangulations.

IF the Matter ascends to the Head, and diffuse it self thro’ the external Parts, diverse grievous Pains assail the Woman, and that very differently; insomuch, that, sometimes the whole Head is (as it were) tortured, and sometimes but in Part; sometimes on the right, and sometimes on the left Side; sometimes in the hind Part of the Head, or Crown, and sometimes in the Fore-Head or about the Eyes: Whereas if it tend to the Brain, and distribute it self among the Organs of Sense and Motion, both the internal and external Senses must needs suffer accordingly; upon which the poor Patient is not only taken with an Aphonia for Want of Speech, but also with a Helpless or Senseless Stupidity; and moreover, not only seiz’d with a Resolution or Debility of Hands and Feet, but also with Trembling and Convulsive Fits.

IF the same ascends to the Liver, the whole Habit or Constitution of the Body is perverted: For as the vitious Humours are easily communicated from the Womb by the Veins to the Liver, so the affected Liver again readily diffuses its Infection by the Veins to the whole Body. If to the Spleen and Mesentery, Murmurings, Pains and Torments arise in the Belly; which are commonly attended with a Pain in the left Side and left Breast, extending it self to the Jugulum, or fore-part of the Neck, Difficulty of Breathing, frequent Belchings, a siccid bound Belly, and all the other Symptoms which usually are the Concomitants of the Hypocondriack Affection.

IF to the Ventricle, thence proceed Fastidy, Pica, Vomitings, Pains and Gnawings of the Stomach, Sobbings, Yawnings, Belchings, &c. But, and if the said Matter distributes it self thro’ the whole Circuit of the Body, then the Patient is frequently seiz’d, sometimes with a sudden red, and sometimes with a pale Colour; as also sometimes with a sudden Heat, and Ardour in her Face, which she commonly perceives or feels to vanish and go off as suddenly: Again she is sometimes also taken with sudden Cold, and sometimes with as sudden hot Fits.

FROM all which, it evidently appears, how justly Galen says[[234]], that the Hysterick Passion (under one Appellation) comprehends innumerable various Symptoms: Even so many, that at least (I think) they cannot be possibly comprehended in this Volume, which extorts another Apology from me in this Place; namely and plainly, that as I have no Ambition to be accounted any extraordinary Person of great Learning or Reading; so I far less desire to set up or give my self out for One of Universal Practice or Experience: And as at the Beginning, I only design’d this Book for the immediate Service of Midwives, and the common Good of WOMEN and their CHILDREN, the Poor, I mean in general, as well as the Rich; So I am yet resolv’d, rather, to stifle or restrain my Inclinations for the present time, and suppress what might be otherways pertinently added on these Subjects, than to put it out of the reach of the Purchase of either of THOSE. I say, for these reasons, I shall not undertake at this time to enter upon every particular Head or Branch of the HYSTERICKS; only that I may not be censur’d as Churlish or Peevish to the more delicate LADIES, and tenderly constituted Women, who always labour and suffer most under these Distempers, I shall however yet endeavour to discuss particularly the most dangerous, as well as the most common Case, belonging to this general Topick; and not only so, but, according to my Ability, I shall also endeavour in it, if possible in a few words, to include and comprehend all the rest of these Female Indispositions: And that to the Purpose, and under the Title, following, viz.——