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

FROM the whole, it is evident, that the Motions of the Air at the flowing of the Sea, upon the New and Full Moon, and in the Æquinoxes, change the Fabrick of the Animal Bodies: But these Changes are always most remarkable in those of weak and sickly Constitutions; whereas those of Strong and Healthy Bodies more readily repel or evade their Influences. Hence it is that our Bodies so much Sympathize, and so manifestly correspond with the Cœlestials, as the Experience of a great many Ingenious Authors testify[^[247]]: And hence again it is that the Hysterick, no less than any other Patient, keeps Time strictly with these Superiour Bodies, as the Register of a vast many Examples, and even daily Experience it self teaches for Truth. Now having thus far prosecuted the Diagnosticks, as well with respect to the Times and Seasons of the Paroxysms, as to the Signs and Symptoms of the Distemper, I come at length to——

THE Prognosticks of this Uterine SuffocatioN, which I shall but briefly hint upon; and First, observe, that where the Humours overcharge the Body, and are implicated among themselves; in this Case the Fits do not always keep their Legitimate Times, nor their proper Insults, but are sometimes more frequent, more sharp, and more diuturnal; in like manner, as a Concourse of Winds excites the most violent Storms, according to the Poet[^[248]],

“Unà Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis

“Africus, & vastos volvunt ad Littora Fluctus:

So a Concourse and Confluxion of Humours, must needs aggravate the Distemper; but more especially, when the afflicted PATIENT is taken with a Complication of Distempers, such as when the HYSTERICK FIT is join’d with a Syncope, or severe Convulsions, &c. then the Case is most dangerous.[^[249]]

—— —— —— “Nam corpore in Uno

“Frigida cum Calidis Pugnant, Humentia Siccis,

“Mollia cum duris, Sine pondere habentia pondus.

These Things, consisting in the Corruption and Inflammation, or in the Quantity and Quality of the peccant HUMOURS, concur with the other Causes, above defin’d, that the Circulations of the Distemper are either shorter or longer, more frequent or more rare, or more safe or more dangerous in the Event.

SECONDLY, I observe in this place, that, if the Distemper does not carry off the PATIENT, as often happens in the foregoing Condition, it commonly degenerates at last into an Apoplexy, or Palsy, Stupidity, or deep Melancholy, &c. Wherefore I come now finally to treat of the Method of its Cure; which is twofold, One in the Access or FIT, and another in the Interval. Then as to the First——