§ 372. The total Suppression of the Lochia, the Discharges after Labour, which proves a Cause of the most violent Disorders, should be treated exactly in the same Manner: but if unhappily hot Medicines have been given, in order to force them down, the Case will very generally prove a most hopeless one.
§ 373. If the Milk-fever run very high, the Barley Ptisan directed [§ 371], and Glysters, with a very light Diet, consisting only of Panada, or made of some other farinaceous Substances, and very thin, very generally remove it.
§ 374. Delicate infirm Women, who have not all the requisite and necessary Attendance they want; and such as from Indigence are obliged to work too soon, are exposed to many Accidents, which frequently arise from a Want of due Perspiration, and an insufficient Discharge of the Lochia; and hence, the Separation of the Milk in their Breasts being disturbed, there are milky Congestions, or Knots as it were, which are always very painful and troublesome, and especially when they are formed more inwardly. They often happen on the Thighs, in which Case the Ptisan [Nº. 58] is to be drank, and the Pultices [Nº. 59] must be applied. These two Remedies gradually dissipate and remove the Tumour, if that may be effected without Suppuration. But if that proves impossible, and Pus, or Matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon must open the Abscess, and treat it like any other.
§ 375. Should the Milk coagulate, or curdle as it were, in the Breast, it is of the utmost Importance immediately to attenuate or dissolve that Thickness, which would otherwise degenerate into a Hardness and prove a Scirrhus; and from a Scirrhus in Process of Time a Cancer, that most tormenting and cruel Distemper.
This horrible Evil however may be prevented by an Application to these small Tumours, as soon as ever they appear, For this Purpose nothing is more effectual than the Prescriptions [Nº. 57] and [60]; but under such menacing Circumstances, it is always prudent to take the best Advice, as early as possible.
From the Moment these hard Tumours become excessively and obstinately so, and yet without any Pain, we should abstain from every Application, all are injurious; and greasy, sharp, resinous and spirituous ones speedily change the Scirrhus into a Cancer. Whenever it becomes manifestly such, all Applications are also equally pernicious, except that of [Nº. 60]. Cancers have long been thought and found incurable; but within a few Years past some have been cured by the Remedy [Nº. 57]; which nevertheless is not infallible, though it should always be tried. [84]
§ 376. The Nipples of Women, who give Milk, are often fretted or excoriated, which proves very severely painful to them. One of the best Applications is the most simple Ointment, being a Mixture of Oil and Wax melted together; or the Ointment [Nº. 66]. Should the Complaint prove very obstinate, the Nurse ought to be purged, which generally removes it.