The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

by John Maubray

IF this Blood flows thro’ the Veins and Arteries, into the HEART, it occasions a SYNCOPE, which is a most severe Affection.

IF it ascends into the Brain, it occasions various Symptoms according to the Quality of the Blood, viz.——If it is Pituitous, it induces a Suffocation with SLEEP, resembling a LETHARGY: If it be Bilious, the AFFECTION is most furious, and the PATIENT is (as it were) almost Mad, tearing her self, pulling her Hair, renting her Cloaths, &c. If the Blood be sweet, she only fancies Amours, and meditates upon pleasing Chimeras: As, in fine, if Melancholick, it seizes her with a Sadness of Heart, and Dejection of Mind.

BUT as to the Second Cause, the retain’d Seed induces not only These, but more grievous Symptoms, since as soon as it is corrupted and refrigerated, it becomes the worst of Poyson[^[240]]: And as it reaches the principal debilitated Parts, it draws on the most dangerous sort of Suffocations; in which the Patient lies for Dead, the whole Body being extremely refrigerated, or benumb’d by this venenated Matter. Which Accident however may happen promiscuously to all Women, abounding with such morbifick Contents in the Womb, as sometimes falls out to Maids, but more commonly to Widows, whose Bodies as well as Wombs abound with pituitous Humours; as also sometimes to Pregnant Women of Cacochymical Habits, and to Puerperial Women not cleansing sufficiently.

I know by the way, that some modern Writers define the Case otherways, and will have Men to be also lyable to the same Distemper, which they alledge proceeds chiefly from the Blood and Spirits: But the Reason why I think they are exempted from it, at least from its Severities, is because, what they lose in Nocturnal Pollutions or otherways, is always ejected or thrown without Doors; whereas what the other Sex so emitts, may be still retain’d within; and consequently by a long Detention there, may be converted into Venom, or a Poysonous Humour.

HOWEVER, this happens more readily and frequently to Widows, than to Virgins, because in the one, the Passages are not only dilated, but also Nature is accustomed to such Emissions, as the other is yet wholly a Stranger to. Moreover——

AGAIN, this Affection may also proceed from too great an abundance of SEED in those, call’d the Seminal Vessels; tho’ not to such a dangerous Degree: In which Case, if the SEED be Acrimonious, a Convulsion may happen; if otherways, the Patient seems only to faint and fall away, with a sort of a grateful Indulgence, without any great Change of Countenance, or Alteration of Pulse; tho’ she often continues with her Eyes shut, Starting and Wakening (as it were) frequently: And as upon returning to herself, she falls a-sighing, so a little after, the Symptom recurs again.

FINALLY, as to the third Cause, Supposing this Affection to seize Women, who not only Purge regularly, but are also satiated with Virile Conversation; or, as it sometimes happens, to take Old Women: In these Cases, the Cause is undoubtedly very different from those mentioned, and proceeds either from Winds, Vapours, or putrid and corrupted Humours, contain’d in the Womb, and communicated by various Passages, to the Heart and Brain: And this Corruption may readily succeed in the Womb, because, as it is a part very different from any other of the Body, endued with peculiar Faculties, so if it be not well disposed, the vitious Humours may also corrupt in it, after a peculiar manner; if not in its own Cavity, in the Uterine Vessels, as most frequently happens.

UPON which, I observe that, if these Winds or Vapours are communicated to the Heart, thro’ the Veins and Arteries, the Suffocation happens with Palpitation: If to the Brain, with a Vertigo, a Tingling of the Ears, and a Suffusion from the Phantasms of the Eyes: Whereas, if the deprav’d Humours or Vapours, ascend there, thro’ the Nerves, various Convulsions happen; especially if the Brain abounds also with frigid Humours. And these, in short, according to the foresaid Authorities, are all the Proximous and immediate Causes of the Hysterick Passion.

HENCE I come now to touch upon the mediate Causes of the same Distemper, which may be easily conceiv’d by any who understands those of the suppressed Menstrua, Gonorrhæa, &c. which Cases I can by no means enter upon at this Time, for the reasons mentioned in the last preceding Chapter.

BUT from what is said (I hope) this Uterine Strangulation, together with all its Differences, may be easily distinguished by the ingenious Reader. However yet, because all its different Sorts have some degree of Affinity, with other diverse Symptoms, which no ways proceed from the Womb; I come now to propose some Signs of Distinction, first in general, and next in particular, viz.——