II. IF from too long retain’d SEED; the Patient is to be suppos’d regular in her natural Flux, as she is Calid and Sanguine, either from high Living, or want of Exercise: In this the Symptoms are all more severe and dangerous, than in the other Case, and upon the declension of the Paroxysm, or the Fits going off, a certain Humour flows from the Pudendum, occasion’d by the Constriction made in the Womb.

III. IF from corrupted Humours, the Patient not only Purges regularly, but also enjoys her Husband: Hence in this Case, I would conclude that she either labours, or has labour’d under some Uterine Distemper, such as a Satyriasis, Pruritus, Furor, Gonorrhæa, Fluor Muliebris, Ulcers, Impostumes, a former Suppression, or Irregularity of the Menstrua, or the like: As also many Learned Men agree that a Præternatural Situation[[241]], namely, the Womb’s ascending to the superior Parts, compressing the Liver and Diaphragma, and consequently the Lungs, Heart, or Stomach, may induce various Suffocations; Which, I think, is also confirm’d by Reason and Experience. For——

WHO knows not that the Ligaments of the Womb, may be so relaxed and extended, that it may fall down to the very Knees, as I have seen it? And who may not thence conceive that in the same Laxity of the Ligaments, the Womb may be as well driven upwards by Winds, Vapours, or too much gross Blood in the Ligaments; or by ungrateful Odours approaching the Womb, as it may also be attracted by pleasant and grateful Smells at the Nose? Not that I mean here, by the by, that the Womb is capable of Smelling, and therefore shuns disagreeable Fœtors; but only that its Spirits and Heat, especially in Those, who abound with deprav’d Humours, are attracted either way by agreeable Odours, or fragrant Smells.

NOW in this Case, the Womb may be plainly found by the Touch, ascended in the Form of a round Ball; Which however may be easily brought down, and replaced in its natural Posture, by any skilful experienced Hand, previously well anointed with the Oil of Spike, Spikenard, White Lillies, or the like. Again farther, to prevent its Return, some nauseous Smells, may be apply’d to the Nose, or the Reverse to the Pudendum; as also the superiour Parts of the Body may be tyed strait with proper Bands or Ligaments.

BUT more particularly, as to the proper Diagnosticks of the imminent Paroxysm, or approaching Fit of Suffocation, these are, Grumblings in the Abdomen, a Distention and Pulsation in the Back and Hypochondriacks, a Weariness of the whole Body, an Imbecillity of the Legs, Belching, Nauseating, Gaping, a pale Face, and a sad Countenance; attended at last with the aforesaid Sense of Strangulation, as if the Patient was a-swallowing a Ball, &c. As also I have known some Women to have been taken with a long Fit of Laughter upon this occasion, others with that of Crying; as probably some may confusely act both at once.

HOWEVER, It is to be observ’d in this place, that, as the Distemper is not equally violent in All, nor always attended by the same, or the same number of Symptoms; so neither are the Fits equally long or frequent, but invade and seize the Patient according to the quick or slow gathering of the Morbifick Humours, which are also sooner or later discussed: Which Humorous Particles in our Bodies, like as in intermitting Fevers, have their due Times of Digestion, Accumulation, and Exaltation; which Height as soon as they have arrived to, they suddenly, and as it were in a Moment, break out into Action: Or else These Humours may lye dormant in the Body, until by some Procatarctick, or External Cause, they are exagitated, and set at Work.

NOW this Agitation of Humours depends not only upon the Course of the Sun and Moon, but also sometimes more particularly upon the Change of the Air, and the Motion of the Sea. As to the Solar and Lunar Influences upon the Animal Machine, they are already abundantly set forth[[242]], wherefore I shall resume Nothing of them in this place: And as to the Efficiency of the Air, I would observe it to be always most considerable about the Two Equinoxes; as at these Seasons the most impetuous Winds and violent Storms happen; and that continually the most severe at Noon and Midnight; that is to say, when the Sun is in our Zenith, or in the Nadir, viz. in the vertical Point over our Heads, or the quite opposite under[[243]] our Feet. These Changes however come a little before the Vernal Equinox, but follow the Autumnal; because of the various Distances of the Moon in its Perigæum and Apogæum.

MOREOVER, at these Seasons, and indeed at all Times, the Air swells or rises highest, at New and Full Moon, from the conjunct Power of both the Planets: Hence the diligent Mariners and Husbandmen always observe the Weather to change, and Winds to rise upon these Occasions; and, not only so, but also, a constant and certain Recourse of Winds and Weather to happen at certain Seasons of the Year; and that from some certain necessary Natural Cause, which always acts in the same manner.

As to the Motion of the Sea, its Efficacy upon the Animal Fabrick, may be easily comprehended, considering only what is said; together with this Truth, that, at all Seasons, the Air is highest, and the Winds strongest, when the Tide of the Flood is at its highest Ascent. For as the Sea swells, so the Ambient Air in 25 Hours, is twice raised to a considerable great Height, from the Attraction of the Moon approaching the Meridian: And the same swelling of the Air must necessarily follow, as often as the Sun comes to the Meridian of any place, either above or below the Horizon; tho’ (as aforesaid) it is always highest at New and Full Moon: And lowest of all, when the Moon is but half Full; the Planets then drawing each a contrary way: As it is middling, during the Time between the dimidiated Orbs of the Moon, and the New and Full Moon[[244]].

CONSIDERING then that the Ambient Air and the surrounding Sea are both fluid Bodies, and that the Changes of the One agree so exactly with the Tide of the Other, we may rationally conclude, that they are both (in a great measure) subject to the same Laws of Motion[[245]]. Hence it is, that, the great Physician[[246]] says, that the Fluxes and Refluxes of both these Elements are so ordain’d, by the Wise Councell of the Almighty Creator, to keep them from Stagnations and Corruptions, which would be noxious to all Creatures, that by these means are preferred in a better Condition. Which is also confirm’d by Experience, from that, in clear and open places such Valetudinarians as are ready to Die, recover their Health, and the Soundest Constitution in moist close places, grows Sick.