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

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.