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 Sect. II. Of Weakness in newly-born Infants.

Weakness is an accident that many children bring into the world

along with them, and is often occasioned by the labour of the
mother; by the violence and length whereof they suffer so much, that
they are born with great weakness, and many times it is difficult to
know whether they are alive or dead, their body appearing so
senseless and their face so blue and livid, that they seem to be quite
choked; and even after some hours, their showing any signs of life is
attained with weakness, that it looks like a return from death, and
that they are still in a dying condition.
Cure.—Lay the infant speedily in a warm blanket, and carry it to
the fire, and then let the midwife take a little wine in her mouth and
spout it into its mouth, repeating it often, if there be occasion. Let
her apply linen to the breast and belly dipped in wine, and let the
face be uncovered, that it may breathe the more freely; also, let the
midwife keep its mouth a little open, cleanse the nostrils with small
linen tents dipped in white wine, that it may receive the smell of it;
and let her chafe every part of its body well with warm cloths, to
bring back its blood and spirits, which, being retired inwards,
through weakness, often puts it in danger of being choked. By the
application of these means, the infant will gradually recover strength,
and begin to stir its limbs by degrees, and at length to cry; and
though it be but weakly at first, yet afterwards, as it breathes more
freely, its cry will become strong.

Sect. III. Of the Fundament being closed up in a newly-

born Infant.

Another defect that new-born infants are liable to is, to have their
fundaments closed up; by which they can never evacuate the new
excrements engendered by the milk they suck, nor that which was
amassed in their intestines before birth, which is certainly mortal
without a speedy remedy. There have been some female children
who have had their fundaments quite closed, and yet have voided the
excrements of the guts by an orifice, which nature, to supply that
defect, had made within the neck of the womb.
Cure.—Here we must take notice, that the fundament is closed two
ways: either by a single skin, through which one may discover some
black and blue marks, proceeding from the excrements retained,
which, if one touch with the finger, there is a softness felt within, and
thereabout it ought to be pierced; or else it is quite stopped by a thick
fleshy substance, in such sort that there appears nothing without by
which its true situation may be known. When there is nothing but the
single skin which makes the closure, the operation is very easy, and
the children may do very well; for then an aperture or opening may
be made with a small incision-knife, cross ways, that it may the
better receive a round form, and that the place may not afterwards
grow together, taking care not to prejudice the sphincter or muscles
of the rectum. The incision being thus made, the excrements will
certainly have issue. But if, by reason of their long stay in the belly,
they become so dry that the infant cannot void them, then let a
clyster be given to moisten and bring them away; afterwards put a
linen tent into the new-made fundament, which, at first, had best be
anointed with honey of roses, and towards the end, with a drying
cicatrizing ointment, such as unguentum album, or ponphilex,
observing to cleanse the infant of its excrements, and dry it again as
soon and as often as it evacuates them, that so the aperture may be
prevented from turning into a malignant ulcer.
But if the fundament be stopped up in such a manner, that neither
mark nor appearance of it can be seen or felt, then the operation is
much more difficult; and even when it is done, the danger is much
greater, that the infant will not survive it. Then if it be a female, and
it sends forth its excrements by the way I have mentioned before, it is
better not to meddle, than, by endeavouring to remedy an
inconvenience, run an extreme hazard of the infant’s death. But
when there is no vent for the excrements, without which death is
unavoidable, then the operation is justifiable.
Operation.—Let the operator, with a small incision-knife that hath
but one edge, enter into the void place, and turning the back of it
upwards, within half a finger’s breadth from the child’s anus, which
is the place where he will certainly find the intestine; let him thrust it
forward, that it may be open enough to give free vent to the matter
there contained, being especially careful of the sphincter; after
which, let the wound be dressed according to the method directed.

Sect. IV. Of the Thrush, or Ulcers in the Mouth of the

Infant.

This thrush is a distemper that children are very subject to, and it
arises from bad milk, or from foul humour in the stomach; for
sometimes, though there be not ill humour in the milk itself, yet it
may corrupt the child’s stomach because of its weakness, or some
other indisposition; in which, acquiring an acrimony instead of being
well digested, there arise from thence biting vapours, which, forming
a thick viscosity, do thereby produce this distemper.
Cure.—It is often difficult, as physicians tell us, because it is seated
in hot and moist places, where the putrefaction is easily augmented;
and because the remedies applied cannot lodge there, being soon
washed with spittle. But if it arises from too hot quality in the nurse’s
milk, care must be taken to temper and cool, prescribing her cool
diet, bleeding and purging her also, if there be occasion.
Take lentiles husked, powder them, and lay a little of them upon
the child’s gums. Or take bdellium flower half an ounce, and with oil
of roses make a liniment. Also wash the child’s mouth with barley
and plantain water, and honey of roses, or syrup of dry roses, mixing
with them a little verjuice of lemons, as well to loosen and cleanse
the vicious humours which cleave to the inside of the child’s mouth,
as to cool those parts which are already over-heated. This may be
done by means of a small fine rag fastened to the end of a little stick,
and dipped therein, whereby the ulcers may be gently rubbed, being
careful not to put the child in too much pain, lest an inflammation
make the distemper worse. The child’s body must also be kept open,
that the humours being carried to the lower parts, the vapours may
not ascend, as it is usual for them to do when the body is costive, and
the excrements too long retained.
If the ulcers appear malignant, let such remedies be used to do
their work speedily, that the evil qualities that cause them being
thereby instantly corrected, their malignity may be prevented; and in
this case touch the ulcers with plantain water, sharpened with the
spirits of vitriol; for the remedy must be made sharp according to the
malignity of the distemper. It will be necessary to purge these ill
humours out of the whole habit of the child, by giving half an ounce
of succory with rhubarb.

Sect. V. Of Pains in the Ears, Inflammation, Moisture, &c.

The brain in infants is very moist, and hath many excrements

which nature cannot send out at the proper passages; they get often
to the ears, and there cause pains, flux of blood, with inflammation,
and matter with pain; this in children is hard to be known, as they
have no other way to make it known but by constant crying; you will
perceive them ready to feel their ears themselves, but will not let
others touch them if they can prevent it; and sometimes you may
discern the parts above the ears to be very red.
These pains, if let alone, are of dangerous consequences, because
they may bring forth watchings and epilepsy; for the moisture breeds
worms there, and fouls the spongy bones, and by degrees causes
incurable deafness.
Cure.—Allay the pain with convenient speed, but have a care of
using strong remedies. Therefore only use warm milk about the ears,
with the decoction of poppy tops, or oil of violets: to take away the
moisture, use honey of roses, and let aquamollis be dropped into the
ears; or take virgin honey, half an ounce; red wine two ounces; alum,
saffron, saltpetre, each a drachm; mix them at the fire; or drop in
hemp seed oil with a little wine.

Sect. VI. Of Redness, and Inflammation of the Buttocks,

Groin, and the Thighs of a Young Child.

If there be no care taken to change and wash the child’s bed as

soon as it is fouled with the excrements, and to keep the child very
clean, the acrimony will be sure to cause redness, and beget a
smarting in the buttocks, groin, and thighs of the child, which, by
reason of the pain will afterwards be subject to inflammations, which
follow the sooner, through the delicacy and tenderness of their skin,
from which the outward skin of the body is in a short time separated
and worn away.
Cure.—First, keep the child cleanly: and, secondly, take off the
sharpness of its urine. As to keeping it cleanly, she must be a sorry
nurse that needs to be taught how to do it; for if she lets it have but
dry, clean, and warm beds, and clothes, as often and as soon as it has
fouled and wet them, either by its urine or excrements, it will be
sufficient. And as to taking off the sharpness of the child’s urine, that
must be done by the nurse’s taking a cool diet, that her milk may
have the same quality; and therefore she ought to abstain from all
things that may tend to heat it.
But besides these cooling and drying remedies are requisite to be
applied to the inflamed parts; therefore let the parts be bathed with
plantain water, with a fourth of lime-water added to it, each time the
child’s excrements are wiped off; and if the pain be very great, let it
only be fomented with lukewarm milk. Some kind of drying powder,
or a little milldust strewed upon the parts affected, may be proper
enough, and is used by many women. Also, unguentum album, or
diapampholigos, spread upon a small piece of leather, in form of a
plaster, will not be amiss.
But the chief thing must be the nurse’s taking great care to wrap
the inflamed parts with fine rags when she opens the child, that
those parts may not gather and be pained by rubbing together.

Sect. VII. Of Vomiting in young Children.

Vomiting in children proceeds sometimes from too much milk,

and sometimes from bad milk, and as often from a moist loose
stomach; for as dryness retains, so looseness lets go. This is, for the
most part, without danger in children; and they that vomit from their
birth are the lustiest; for the stomach not being used to meat, and
milk being taken too much, crudities are easily bred, or the milk is
corrupted; and it is better to vomit these up than to keep them in;
but if vomiting last long, it will cause an atrophy, or consumption, for
want of nourishment.
Cure.—If this be from too much milk, that which is emitted is
yellow and green, or otherwise ill-coloured and stinking; in this case,
mend the milk, as has been shown before; cleanse the child with
honey of roses, and strengthen its stomach with syrup of milk and
quinces made into an electuary. If the humours be hot and sharp,
give the syrup of pomegranates, currants, and coral; and apply to the
bowels the plaster of bread, the stomach cerate, or bread dipped in
hot wine; or oil of mastich, quinces, mint, wormwood, each half an
ounce; of nutmegs, by expression, half a drachm; chemical oil of
mint, three drops. Coral hath an occult property to prevent vomiting,
and is therefore hung about the neck.

Sect. VIII. Of breeding Teeth in young Children.

This is a very great yet necessary evil in all children, having a

variety of symptoms joined with it. They begin to come forth, not all
at once, but one after the other, about the sixth or seventh month;
the fore-teeth coming first, then the eye-teeth, and, last of all, the
grinders. The eye-teeth cause more pain to the child than any of the
rest, because they have a deep root, and a small nerve which hath
communication with that which makes the eye move.
In the breeding of the teeth, first they feel an itching in their gums,
then they are pierced as with a needle, and pricked by the sharp
bones, whence proceed great pains, watching, inflammation of the
gums, fever, looseness, and convulsions, especially when they breed
their eye-teeth.
The signs when children breed their teeth are these.
1. It is known by the time, which is usually about the seventh
month.
2. Their gums are swelled, and they feel a great heat there, with an
itching, which makes them put their fingers into their mouths to rub
them, a moisture also distils from the gums into the mouth, because
of the pains they feel there.
3. They hold the nipple faster than before.
4. The gums are white when the teeth begin to come; and the
nurse, in giving them suck, finds the mouth hotter, and that they are
much changed, crying every moment, and cannot sleep, or but very
little at a time.
 The fever that follows breeding of teeth comes from choleric
humours, inflamed by watching, pain, and heat. And the longer teeth
are breeding, the more dangerous it is; so that many, in the breeding
of them, die of fevers and convulsions.
Cure.—Two things are to be regarded:—one is, to preserve the
child from the evil accidents that may happen to it by reason of the
great pain; the other, to assist, as much as may be, the cutting of the
teeth, when they can hardly cut the gums themselves.
For the first of these, viz. the preventing those accidents of the
child, the nurse ought to take great care to keep a good diet and to
use all things that may cool and temper milk, that so a fever may not
follow the pain of the teeth. And to prevent the humour from falling
too much upon the inflamed gums, let the child’s belly be kept always
loose by gentle clysters, if it be bound; though oftentimes there is no
need of them, because they are at those times usually troubled with a
looseness; and yet, for all that, clysters may not be improper.
As to the other, which is to assist in cutting the teeth; that the
nurse must do from time to time by mollifying and loosening them,
and by rubbing them with the fingers dipped in butter or honey; or
let the child have a virgin-wax candle to chew upon; or anoint the
gums with the mucilage of quince made with mallow-waters, or with
the brains of a hare; also foment the cheeks with the decoction of
althœa, and camomile flower and dill, or with the juice of mallows
and fresh butter. If the gums are inflamed, add juice of nightshade
and lettuce. I have already said, the nurse ought to take a temperate
diet: I shall now only add, that barley-broth, water-gruel, raw eggs,
prunes, lettuce, and endive, are good for her; but let her avoid salt,
sharp, biting, and peppered meats and wine.

Sect. IX. Of the Flux of the Belly, or Looseness in Infants.

It is very common for infants to have the flux of the belly, or

looseness, especially upon the least indisposition: nor is it to be
wondered at, seeing their natural moistness contributes so much
thereto; and even if it be so extraordinary violent, such are in a better
state of health than those that are bound. The flux, if violent,
proceeds from divers causes: as, 1. From breeding of the teeth, and it
is then commonly attended with a fever, in which the concoction is
hindered, and the nourishment corrupted. 2. From watching. 3.
From pain. 4. From stirring up the humours by a fever. 5. When they
suck or drink too much in a fever. Sometimes they have a flux
without breeding of teeth, from inward cold in the guts or stomach
that obstructs concoction. If it be from the teeth, it is easily known;
for the signs in breeding of teeth will discover it. If it be from
external cold, there are signs of other causes. If from a humour
flowing from the head, there are signs of a catarrh, and the
excrements are frothy. If crude and raw humours are voided, and
there be wind, belching, and phlegmatic excrements; or if they be
yellow, green, and stink, the flux is from a hot sharp humour. It is
best in breeding of teeth when the belly is loose, as I have said
before: but if it be too violent, and you are afraid it may end in a
consumption, it must be stopped; and if the excrements that are
voided be black, and attended with a fever, it is very bad.
Cure.—The remedy in this case is principally with respect to the
nurse, and the condition of the milk must be chiefly observed; the
nurse must be cautioned that she eat no green fruit, nor things of
hard concoction. If the child suck not, remove the flux with such
purges as leave the cooling quality behind them, as syrup of honey or
roses, or a clyster. Take the decoction of millium, myrobalans, of
each two or three ounces, with an ounce or two of syrup of roses, and
make a clyster. After cleansing, if it proceed from a hot cause, give
syrup of dried roses, quinces, myrtles, with a little sanguis draconis.
Also anoint with oil of roses, myrtles, mastich, each two drachms;
with oil of myrtles and wax make an ointment. Or take red roses and
moulin, of each a handful; cypress roots two drachms; make a bag,
boil it in red wine, and apply it to the belly. Or, use the plaster of
bread, or stomach ointment. If the cause be cold, and the excrements
white, give syrup of mastich and quinces, with mint-water. Use
outwardly mint, mastich, cummin; or take rose seeds an ounce;
cummin, aniseeds, each two drachms; with oil of mastich,
wormwood, and wax, make an ointment.

Sect. X. Of the Epilepsy and Convulsions in Children.

 This is a distemper that is often fatal to young children, and
frequently proceeds from the brain, as when the humours that cause
it are bred in the brain, originating either from the parents, or from
vapours and bad humours that twitch the membranes of the brain: it
is also sometimes caused by other distempers, and by bad diet:
likewise the toothache, when the brain consents, causes it, and so
does a sudden fright. As to the distemper itself, it is as manifest and
well enough known where it is; and as to the cause whence it comes,
you may know by the signs of the disease whether it come from bad
milk, or worms, or teeth; if these are all absent, it is certain that the
brain is first affected; if it comes from the small-pox or measles, it
ceaseth when they come forth, if nature be strong enough.
Cure.—For the remedy of this grievous and often mortal
distemper, give the following powder, to prevent it, to a child as soon
as it is born: take male peony roots, gathered in the decrease of the
moon, a scruple; with leaf gold make a powder; take peony roots a
drachm; peony seeds, misteltoe of the oak, elk’s hoofs, amber, each a
scruple; musk, two grains; make a powder. The best part of the cure
is taking care of the nurse’s diet, which must be regular, by all
means. If it be from corrupt milk provoke a vomit; to do which, hold
down the tongue, and put a quill, dipped in sweet almonds, down the
throat. If it come from the worms, give such things as will kill the
worms. If there be a fever, with respect to that also, give coral
smaraged with elk’s hoof. In the fit, give epileptic water, as lavender
water, and rub with oil of amber, or hang a peony root, and elk’s hoof
smaraged, about the child’s neck.
As to a convulsion, it is when the brain labours to cast out that
which troubles it: the manner is in the narrow of the back, and
fountain of the nerves; it is a stubborn disease, and often kills.
Wash the body, when in the fit, with decoction of althea, lily roots,
peony and camomile flowerets, and anoint it with goose grease, orris,
lilies, foxes, turpentine, mastich, storax, and calamint. The sun-
flower is also very good, boiled in water, to wash the child.
 PROPER AND SAFE REMEDIES
FOR
CURING ALL THOSE DISTEMPERS
THAT ARE PECULIAR
TO THE FEMALE SEX.

CHAPTER I.
The Diseases of the Womb.

I have already said, that the womb is the field of generation; and if
this field be corrupted, it is vain to expect any fruit, though it be ever
so well sown. It is therefore not without reason that I intend in this
chapter to set down the several distempers to which the womb is
obnoxious, with proper and safe remedies against them.

Sect. I. Of the Hot Distemper of the Womb.

This distemper consists in excess of heat; for as heat of the womb

is necessary for conception, so if it be too much, it nourisheth not the
seed, but disperseth its heat and hinders the conception. This
preternatural heat is sometimes from the birth, and causes
barrenness; but if it be accidental, it is from hot causes, that bring
the heat and the blood to the womb; it arises from internal and
external medicines, and from too much hot meat, drink, and
exercise. Those that are troubled with this distemper have but few
menses, and those are yellow, black, burnt, or sharp; are subject to
headache, and abound with choler; and when the distemper is strong
upon them, they have but few terms, which are out of order, being
bad and hard to flow, and in time they become hypochondriacs, and
for the most part barren, having sometimes a frenzy of the womb.
Cure.—The remedy is to use coolers, so that they offend not the
vessels that must open the flux of the terms. Therefore, take the
following inwardly, succory, endive, violets, water lilies, sorrel,
lettuce, saunders, and syrups and conserve made thereof. Also take
conserve of succory, violets, water lilies, burrage, each an ounce;
conserve of roses, half an ounce, diamargation frigid, diatriascancal,
each half a drachm; and with syrup of violets, or juice of citrons,
make an electuary. For outward applications, make use of ointment
of roses, violets, water lilies, gourd, venus, narvel, applied to the back
and loins.
Let the air be cool, her garments thin, and her food endive, lettuce,
succory, and barley. Give her no hot meats, nor strong wine, unless
mixed with water. Rest is good for her, she may sleep as long as she
pleases.

Sect. II. Of the Cold Distemper of the Womb.

This distemper is the reverse of the foregoing, and equally an

enemy to generation, being caused by a cold quality abounding to
excess, and proceeds from a too cold air, rest, idleness, and cooling
medicines. The terms are phlegmatic, thick, and slimy, and do not
flow as they should; the womb is windy, and the seed crude and
waterish. It is the cause of obstructions, and barrenness, and hard to
be cured.
Cure.—Take galengal, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, each two
drachms; ginger, cubebs, nedory, cardamum, each an ounce; grains
of paradise, long pepper, each half an ounce; beat them, and put
them into six quarts of wine for eight days; then add sage, mint,
balm, mother-wort, of each three handfuls: let them stand eight days
more, then pour off the wine, and beat the herbs and the spice, and
then pour off the wine again, and distil them. Or you may use this:
take cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, mace, ginger, cubebs, cardamum,
grains of paradise, each an ounce and a half; galengal six drachms,
long pepper half an ounce, zedoary five drachms, bruise them, and
add six quarts of wine; put them into a cellar nine days, daily stirring
them; then add of mint two handfuls, and let them stand fourteen
days; pour off the wine, and bruise them, and then pour on the wine
again, and distil them. Also anoint with oil of lilies, rue, angelica,
bays, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and nutmeg. Let her diet and air be
warm, her meat of easy concoction, seasoned with aniseed, fennel,
and thyme; and let her avoid raw fruits and milk diet.

Sect. III. Of the Inflation of the Womb.

The inflation of the womb is a stretching of it by wind, called by

some a windy mole; the wind proceeds from a cold matter, whether
thick or thin, contained in the veins of the womb by which the heat
thereof is overcome, and which either flows thither from other parts,
or is gathered there by cold meats and drinks. Cold air may be a
producing cause of it also, as women that lie-in are exposed to it. The
wind is contained either in the cavity of the vessels of the womb, or
between the tunicles, and may be known by a swelling in the region
of the womb, which sometimes reaches to the navel, loins, and
diaphragm, and rises and abates as the wind increaseth or
decreaseth. It differs from the dropsy, in that it never swells so high.
That neither physician nor midwife may take it for conception, let
them observe the signs of the pregnant woman laid down in a former
part of this work; and if any sign be wanting, they may suspect it to
be an inflation; of which this is a further sign, that in conception the
swelling is invariable; also if you strike upon the belly, in an inflation,
there will be a noise, but not so in case there be a conception. It also
differs from a mole, because in that there is a weight and hardness in
the abdomen, and when the patient moves from one side to the other
she feels a great weight which moveth; but not so in this. If the
inflation continue without the cavity of the womb, the pain is greater
and more extensive, nor is there any noise, because the wind is more
pent up.
Cure.—This distemper is neither of a long continuance, nor
dangerous, if looked after in time; and if it be in the cavity of the
womb, is more easily expelled. To which purpose give her
diaphnicon, with a little castor, and sharp clysters that expel the
wind. If this distemper happen to a woman in travail, let her not
purge after delivery, nor bleed, because it is from a cold matter; but if
it come after child-bearing, and her terms come down sufficiently,
and she has fulness of blood, let the saphæna vein be opened; after
which let her take the following electuary: take conserve of betony
and rosemary, of each an ounce and a half; candied eringoes, citron
peel candied, each half an ounce; diacinium, diaganel, each a
drachm; oil of aniseed six drops; and with syrup of citrons make an
electuary. For outward application make a cataplasm of rue,
mugwort, camomile, dill, calamint, new pennyroyal, thyme, with oil
of rue, keir, and camomile. And let the following clyster, to expel the
wind, be put into the womb; take angus castus, cinnamon, each two
drachms; boil them in wine to half a pint. She may likewise use
sulphur, Bath and Spa waters, both inward and outward, because
they expel wind.

Sect. IV. Of the Straitness of the Womb, and its Vessels.

This is another effect of the womb, which is a very great

obstruction to the bearing of children, hindering both the flow of the
menses and conception, and is seated in the vessels of the womb, and
the neck thereof. The causes of this straitness are thick and rough
humours, that stop the mouth of the veins and arteries. These
humours are bred either by gross or too much nourishment, when
the heat of the womb is so weak that it cannot attenuate the
humours, which, by reason thereof, either flow from the whole body,
or are gathered into the womb. Now, the vessels are made straiter or
closer several ways: sometimes by inflammation, schirrous, or other
tumours; sometimes by compressions, scars, or by flesh and
membranes that grow after a wound. The signs by which this is
known are, the stoppage of the terms, not conceiving, and crudities
abounding in the body, which are all shown by particular signs; for if
there is a wound, or the secundine pulled out by force, phlegm comes
from the wound; if stoppage of the terms be from an old obstruction
by humours, it is hard to be cured; if it be only from the disorderly
use of astringents, it is more curable; if it be from a schirrous, or
other tumours, that compress or close the vessel, the disease is
incurable.
Cure.—For the cure of that which is curable, obstructions must be
taken away, phlegm must be purged, and she may be let blood, as
will be hereafter directed in the stoppage of the terms. Then use the
following medicine: take of aniseed and fennel seed, each a drachm;
rosemary, pennyroyal, calamint, betony flowers, each an ounce;
saffron, half a drachm, with wine. Or take asparagus roots, parsley
roots, each an ounce; pennyroyal, calamint, each a handful; wall-
flowers, gilly-flowers, each two handfuls; boil, strain, and add syrup
of mugwort an ounce and a half. For a fomentation, take pennyroyal,
mercury, calamint, marjoram, mugwort, each two handfuls;
rosemary, bays, camomile-flowers, each a handful; boil them in
water, and foment the groin and bottom of the abdomen; or let her
sit up to the navel in a bath, and then anoint about the groin with oil
of rue, lilies, dill, &c.

Sect. V. Of the Falling of the Womb.

This is another evil effect of the womb, which is both very

troublesome, and also an hinderance to conception. Sometimes the
womb falleth to the middle of the thighs, nay, almost to the knees,
and may be known then by its hanging out. Now, that which causeth
the womb to change its place is, that the ligaments, by which it is
bound to the other parts, are not in order; for there are four
ligaments, two above, broad and membranous, that come from the
peritoneum, and two below, that are nervous, round and hollow; it is
also bound to the great vessels by veins and arteries, and to the back
by nerves; but the place is changed when it is drawn another way, or
when the ligaments are loose, and it falls down by its own weight. It
is drawn on one side when the menses are hindered from flowing,
and the veins and arteries are full, namely, those that go to the
womb. If it be a mole on one side, the liver and spleen cause it; by the
liver veins on the right side, and the spleen on the left, as they are
more or less filled. Others are of opinion, it comes from the solution
of the connection of the fibrous neck and parts adjacent; and that it
is from the weight of the womb descending; this we deny not; but the
ligaments must be loose or broken. But women in a dropsy could not
be said to have the womb fallen down, if it came only from looseness;
but in them it is caused by the saltness of the water, which dries
more than it moistens. Now, if there be a little tumour, within or
without the privities, like a skin stretched, or a weight felt upon the
privities, it is nothing else but a descent of the womb; but if there be
a tumour like a goose’s egg, and a hole at the bottom, and there is at
first a great pain in the parts to which the womb is fastened, as the
loins, the bottom of the abdomen, and the os sacrum, it proceeds
from the breaking or stretching of the ligaments; and a little after,
the pain is abated, and there is an impediment in walking, and
sometimes blood comes from the breach of the vessels, and the
excrements and urine are stopped, and then a fever and convulsion
ensueth, oftentime proving mortal, especially if it happen to
pregnant women.
Cure.—For the cure of this distemper, first put up the womb,
before the air alter it, or it be swollen or inflamed: and for this
purpose give a clyster to remove the excrements, and lay her upon
her back, with her legs abroad, and her thighs lifted up, and head
down; then take the tumour in your hand, and thrust it in without
violence; if it be swelled by alteration and cold, foment it with a
decoction of mallows, althæa, lime, fenugreek, camomile flowers, bay
berries, and anoint it with oil of lilies, and hen’s grease. If there be an
inflammation, do not put it up, but fright it in, by putting a red hot
iron before it and making a show as if you intended to burn it; but
first sprinkle upon it the powder of mastich, frankincense, and the
like; thus, take frankincense, mastich, each two drachms; sarcocol,
steeped in milk, a drachm; pomegranate flowers, sanguis draconis,
each half a drachm. When it is put up, let her lie with her legs
stretched, and one upon the other, for eight or ten days and make a
pessary in the form of a pear, with cork or sponge, and put it into the
womb, dipped in sharp wine, or juice of acacia, with powder of
sanguis, with galbanum and bdellium. Apply also a cupping-glass,
with a great flame, under the navel or paps, or to both kidneys, and
lay this plaster to the back: take opoponax, two ounces; storax liquid,
half an ounce; mastich, frankincense, pitch, bole, each two drachms;
then with wax make a plaster; or, take laudanum, a drachm and a
half; mastich, and frankincense, each half a drachm; wood aloes,
cloves, spike, each half a drachm; ash-coloured ambergris, four
grains; musk, half a scruple; make two round plasters to be laid on
each side of the navel: make a fume of snails’ skins salted, or of
garlic, and let it be taken in by the funnel. Use also astringent
fomentations of bramble leaves, plantain, horse tails, myrtles, each
two handfuls; worm-seed, two handfuls; pomegranate flowers, half
an ounce; boil them in wine and water. For an injection take comfrey
root an ounce; rupture work, two drachms; yarrow, mugwort, each
half an ounce; boil them in red wine, and inject with a syringe. To
strengthen the womb, take hartshorn, bays, of each a drachm; myrrh,
half a drachm; make a powder for two doses, and give it with sharp
wine. Or, you may take zedoary, parsnip seed, crabs’ eyes prepared,
each a drachm; nutmeg, half a drachm; and give a drachm in
powder; but astringents must be used with great caution, lest by
stopping the menses, a worse mischief follow. To keep it in its place,
make rollers and ligatures as for a rupture; and put pessaries into the
bottom of the womb, that may force it to remain. Let the diet be such
as has drying, astringent, and glueing qualities, as rice, starch,
quinces, pears, and green cheese; but let the summer fruits be
avoided; and let her wine be astringent and red.
 CHAPTER II.
OF DISEASES RELATING TO WOMEN’S
MONTHLY TERMS.

Sect. I. Of Women’s Monthly Terms in General.

That divine Providence, which with a wisdom peculiar to itself has

appointed woman to conceive, and to bear and bring forth children,
has provided for the nourishment of children during their recess in
the womb of their mother, by that redundancy of the blood which is
natural to all women; and which, flowing out at certain periods of
time (when they are not pregnant), are from thence called terms and
menses, from their monthly flux of excrementitious and unprofitable
blood. Now, that the matter flowing forth is excrementitious, is to be
understood only with respect to the redundancy and overplus
thereof, being an excrement only with respect to its quality; for as to
its quality, it is as pure and incorrupt as any blood in the veins; and
this appears from the final cause of it, which is the propagation and
conservation of mankind; and also, from the generation of it, being
the superfluity of the last aliment of the fleshy parts. If any ask, if the
menses be not of a hurtful quality, how can they cause such
venomous effects? If they fall upon trees and herbs, they make one
barren and mortify the other. I answer, this malignity is contracted
in the womb; for the woman wanting native heat to digest the
superfluity, sends it to the matrix, where seating itself till the mouth
of the womb be dilated, it becomes corrupt and mortified; which may
easily be, considering the heat and moistness of the place; and so this
blood being out of its proper vessels, offends in quality.

Sect. II. Of Terms coming out of order, either before or

after the usual Time.
 Having, in the former part of this work, treated of the suppression
and overflow of the monthly terms, I shall content myself with
referring the reader thereto, and proceed to speak of their coming
out of order, either before or after the usual time.
Both these proceed from an ill constitution of body. Every thing is
beautiful in its order, in nature, as well as in mortality; and if the
order of nature be broke it shows the body to be out of order. Of each
of these effects briefly.
When the monthly terms come before their time, showing a
depraved excretion, and flowing sometimes twice a month, the cause
is in the blood, which stirs up the expulsive faculty of the womb, or
else in the whole body, and is frequently occasioned by the person’s
diet, which increases the blood too much, making it too sharp or too
hot. If the retentive faculty of the womb be weak, and the expulsive
faculty strong, and of a quick sense, it brings them forth the sooner.
Sometimes they flow sooner by reason of a fall, stroke, or some
violent passion, which the parties themselves can best relate. If it be
from heat, thin and sharp humours, it is known by the distemper of
the whole body. The looseness of the vessels, and weakness of the
retentive faculty, is known from a moist and loose habit of the body.
It is more troublesome than dangerous. If it proceed from a sharp
blood, let her temper it by a good diet and medicines. To which
purpose, let her use baths of iron water, that correct the distemper of
the bowels, and then evacuate. If it proceed from the retentive
faculty, and looseness of the vessels, it is to be corrected with gentle
astringents.
As to the menses flowing after the usual time, the causes are,
thickness of the blood and the smallness of its quantity, with the
straitness of the passage, and the weakness of the expulsive faculties.
Either of these singly may stop the menses, but if they all concur,
they render the distemper worse. If the blood abounds not in such a
quantity as may stir up nature to expel it, its purging must
necessarily be deferred till there be enough. And if the blood be thick,
the passage stopped, and the expulsive faculty weak, the menses
must needs be out of order, and the purging of them retarded.
For the cure of this, if the quantity of blood be small, let her use a
larger diet, and very little exercise. If the blood be thick and foul, let
it be made thin, and the humours mixed therewith be evacuated. It is
good to purge after the menses have done flowing, and to use
calamint; and indeed the oftener she purges the better. She may also
use fumes and pessaries, apply cupping-glasses without scarification
to the inside of the thighs, and rub the legs and scarify the ancles,
and hold the feet in warm water four or five days before the menses
come down. Let her also anoint the bottom part of her abdomen with
things proper to provoke the terms.

Remedies for Disorders in Women’s Paps.

Make a cataplasm of bean meal and salad oil, and lay it to the place
affected. Or anoint with the juice of papilaris. This must be done
when the paps are very sore.
If the paps be hard and swelled, take a handful of rue, colewort
roots, horehound and mint; if you cannot get all these conveniently,
any two will do; pound the handful in honey, and apply it once every
day till healed.
If the nipples be stiff and sore, anoint twice a day with Florence oil
till healed.
If the paps be flappy and hanging, bruise a little hemlock, and
apply it to the breast for three days; but let it not stand above seven
hours. Or, which is safer, rusæ juice well boiled, with a little smapios
added thereto, and anoint.
If the paps be hard and dead, make a plate of lead pretty thin, to
answer the breasts; let this stand nine hours each day, for three days.
Or sassafras bruised, and used in like manner.

Receipt for Procuring Milk.

Drink arpleni, drawn as tea, for twenty-one days. Or eat aniseeds.

Also the juice of arbor vitæ, a glassful once a day for eleven days, is
very good, for it quickens the memory, strengthens the body, and
causeth milk to flow in abundance.

Directions for Drawing of Blood.

 Drawing of blood was at first invented for good and salutary
purposes, although often abused and misapplied. To bleed in the left
arm removes long-continued pains and head-aches. It is also good
for those who have got falls and bruises.
Bleeding is good for many disorders, and generally proves a cure,
except in some very extraordinary cases; and in these cases bleeding
is hurtful.
If a woman be pregnant, to draw a little blood will give her ease,
good health and a lusty child.
Bleeding is a most certain cure for no less than twenty-one
disorders, without any outward or inward applications; and for many
more, with application of drugs, herbs and flowers.
When the moon is on the increase, you may let blood at any time,
day or night; but when she is on the decline, you must bleed only in
the morning.
Bleeding may be performed from the month of March to
November. No bleeding in December, January, or February, unless
an occasion require it. The months of March, April, and November,
are the three chief months of the year for bleeding in; but it may be
performed with safety from the 9th of March to the 19th of
November.
To prevent the dangers that may arise from the unskilful drawing
of blood, let none open a vein but a person of experience and
practice. There are three sorts of people you must not let draw blood:
first, ignorant and inexperienced pretenders. Secondly, those who
have bad sight and trembling hands, whether skilled or unskilled.
For when the hand trembles, the lancet is apt to startle from the vein,
and the flesh be thereby damaged, which may hurt, canker, and very
much torment the patient. Thirdly, let no woman bleed you, but such
as has gone through a course of midwifery at college; for those who
are unskilful may cut an artery, to the great damage of the patient.
Besides, what is still worse, those pretended bleeders, who take it up
at their own hand, generally keep unedged and rusty lancets, which
will prove hurtful even in a skilful hand. Accordingly, you ought to be
cautious in choosing your physician: a man of learning knows what
vein to open for each disorder; he knows how much blood to take as
soon as he sees the patient; and he can give you suitable advice
concerning your disorder.

FORM OF A MALE CHILD IN

THE WOMB.

EXPLANATION.

A The uterus, as stretched to

near its full extent, containing
the fœtus entangled in the funis.
—B. B. The superior part of the
ossa ilium.—C. C. The actebula.
D. D. The remaining posterior
parts of the ossa ischium.—E.
The coccyx.—F. The inferior part
of the rectum.—G. G. The vagina
stretched on each side.—H. The
os uteri, stretching to its full
extent.—I. I. Part of the vesica
urinaria.—K. K. The placenta at
the superior and posterior parts
of the uterus.—L. The
Membranes.—M. The funis
umbilicalis.
 ARISTOTLE’S BOOK OF PROBLEMS,
WITH OTHER
ASTRONOMERS, ASTROLOGERS, AND
PHYSICIANS,
CONCERNING
THE STATE OF MAN’S BODY.

Q. Among all living creatures, why hath man only his countenance
lifted up towards heaven? A. 1. From the will of the Creator. But,
although this answer be true, yet it seemeth not to be of force,
because that so all questions might be easily resolved. Therefore, 2. I
answer, that, for the most part, every workman doth make his first
work worse, and then his second better; so God creating all other
animals before man gave them their face looking down to the earth;
and then secondly, he created man, unto whom he gave an upright
shape, lifted unto heaven, because it is drawn from divinity, and is
derived from the goodness of God, who maketh all his works both
perfect and good. 3. Man only among all living creatures, is ordained
to the kingdom of heaven and therefore hath his face elevated and
lifted up to heaven, because that, despising earthly and worldly
things, he ought often to contemplate on heavenly things. 4. That the
reasonable man is like unto angels, and finally ordained towards
God; and therefore he hath a figure looking upward. 5. Man is a
microcosm, that is, a little world, and therefore he doth command all
other living creatures, and they obey him. 6. Naturally there is unto
every thing and every work that form and figure given which is fit
and proper for its motion; as unto the heavens roundness, to the fire
a pyramidical form, that is, broad beneath and sharp towards the
top, which form is most apt to ascend; and so man has his face
towards heaven, to behold the wonders of God’s works.
 Q. Why are the heads of men hairy? A. The hair is the ornament of
the head, and the brain is purged of gross humours by the growing of
the hair, from the highest to the lowest, which pass through the pores
of the exterior flesh, become dry, and converted into hair. This
appears to be the case from the circumstance that in all man’s body
there is nothing drier than the hair, for it is drier than the bones; and
it is well known that some beasts are nourished with bones, as dogs,
but they cannot digest feathers or hair, but void them undigested,
being too hot for nourishment. 2. It is answered, that the brain is
purged in three different ways; of superfluous watery humours by the
eyes, of choler by the nose, and of phlegm by the hair; which is the
opinion of the best physicians.
Q. Why have men longer hair on their heads than any other living
creatures? A. Arist. de. Generat. Anim. says, that men have the
moistest brains of all living creatures, from which the seed
proceedeth which is converted into the long hair of the head. 2. The
humours of men are fat, and do not become dry easily; and therefore
the hair groweth long on them. In beasts, the humours easily dry,
and therefore the hair groweth not so long.
Q. Why doth the hair take deeper root in man’s skin than in that of
any other living creatures? A. Because it has greater store of
nourishment in man, and therefore grows more in the inward parts
of man. And this is the reason why in other creatures the hair doth
alter and change with the skin, and not in man, unless by a scar or
wound.
Q. Why have women longer hair than men? A. 1. Because women
are moister and more phlegmatic than men; and therefore there is
more matter for hair in them, and, by consequence, the length also of
their hair. And, furthermore, this matter is more increased in women
than men from their interior parts, and especially in the time of their
monthly terms, because the matter doth then ascend, whereby the
humour which breedeth the hair doth increase. 2. Because women
want beards; so the matter of the beard doth go into that of the hair.
Q. Why have some women soft hair and some hard? A. 1. The hair
hath proportion with the skin; of which some is hard, some thick,
some subtle and soft, and some gross; therefore the hair which grows
out of a thick gross skin, is thick and gross; that which groweth out of
a subtle and fine skin is fine and soft; when the pores are open, then
cometh forth much humour, and therefore hard hair is engendered;
and when the pores are strait, then there doth grow soft and fine
hair. This doth evidently appear in men, because women have softer
hair than they; for in women the pores are shut and strait, by reason
of their coldness. 2. Because for the most part, choleric men have
harder and thicker hair than others, by reason of their heat, and
because their pores are always open, and therefore they have beards
sooner than others. For this reason also, those beasts which have
hard hair are the boldest, because such have proceeded from heat
and choler, examples of which we have in the bear and boar; and
contrariwise, those beasts that have soft hair are fearful, because
they are cold, as the hare and the hart. 3. From the climate where a
man is born; because in hot regions hard and gross hair is
engendered, as appears in the Ethiopians, and the contrary is the
case in cold countries towards the north.
Q. Why have some men curled hair and some smooth? A. From the
superior degree of heat in some men, which makes the hair curl and
grow upward: this is proved by a man’s having smooth hair when he
goes into a hot bath, and it afterwards becomes curled. Therefore,
keepers of baths have often curled hair, as also Ethiopians and
choleric men. But the cause of the smoothness is the abundance of
moist humours.
Q. Why have not women beards? A. Because they want heat; which
is the case with some effeminate men, who are beardless from the
same cause, and have complexions like women.
Q. Why doth the hair grow on those who are hanged? A. Because
their bodies are exposed to the sun, which by its heat doth dissolve
all moisture into the fume or vapour of which the hair doth grow.
Q. Why is the hair of the beard thicker and grosser than elsewhere;
and the more men are shaven, the harder and thicker it groweth? A.
Because by so much as the humours or vapours of any liquid are
dissolved and taken away, so much the more doth the humour
remaining draw to the same; and therefore, the more the hair is
shaven, the thicker the humours gather which engenders the hair,
and cause it to wax hard.
Q. Why are women smoother and fairer than men? A. Because in
women much of the humidity and superfluity, which are the matter
and cause of the hair of the body, is expelled with their monthly
terms; which superfluity, remaining in men, through vapours passes
into hair.
Q. Why doth man, above all other creatures, wax hoary and gray?
A. Because man hath the hottest heart of all living creatures; and,
therefore, nature being most wise, lest a man should be suffocated
through the heat of his heart, hath placed the heart which is most
hot, under the brain, which is most cold; to the end that the heat of
the heart may be tempered by the coldness of the brain; and
contrariwise, that the coldness of the brain may be qualified by the
heat of the heart; and thereby there might be a temperature in both.
A proof of this is, that of all living creatures man hath the worst
breath when he comes to full age. Furthermore, man doth consume
nearly half his time in sleep, which doth proceed from the great
excess of coldness and moisture in the brain, and from his wanting
natural heat to digest and consume that moisture, which heat he
hath in his youth, and therefore in that age it is not gray, but in old
age when heat faileth; because then the vapours ascending from the
stomach remain undigested and unconsumed for want of natural
heat, and thus putrefy, of which putrefaction of humours the
whiteness doth follow which is called grayness or hoariness.
Whereby it doth appear, that hoariness is nothing else but a
whiteness of hair, caused by a putrefaction of the humours about the
roots of the hair, through the want of natural heat in old age.
Sometimes all grayness is caused by the naughtiness of the
complexion, which may happen in youth; sometimes through over
great fear and care, as appeareth in merchants, sailors, and thieves.
Q. Why doth red hair grow white sooner than hair of any other
colour? A. Because redness is an infirmity of the hair; for it is
engendered of a weak and infirm matter, that is of matter corrupted
with the flowers of the woman; and therefore it waxes white sooner
than any other.
Q. Why do wolves grow grisly? A. To understand this question,
note the difference between grayness and grisliness: grayness is
caused through defect of natural heat, but grisliness through
devouring and heat. The wolf being a devouring animal beast, he
eateth gluttonously without chewing, and enough at once for three
days; in consequence of which, gross vapours are engendered in the
wolfs body, which cause grisliness. Grayness and grisliness have this
difference; grayness is only in the head, but grisliness all over the
body.
Q. Why do horses grow grisly and gray? A. Because they are for the
most part in the sun, and heat naturally causes putrefaction;
therefore the matter of air doth putrefy, and in consequence they are
quickly peeled.
Q. Why are not women bald? A. Because they are cold and moist,
which are the causes that the hair remaineth; for moistness doth give
nutriment to the hair, and coldness doth bind the pores.
Q. Why are not blind men naturally bald? A. Because the eye hath
moisture in it, and that moisture which should pass through by the
substance of the eyes doth become a sufficient nutriment for the hair,
and therefore they are seldom bald.
Q. Why doth the hair stand on end when men are afraid? A.
Because in time of fear the heat doth go from the outward parts of
the body into the inward to help the heart, and so the pores in which
the hair is fastened are shut up; after which stopping and shutting up
of the pores, the standing up of the hair doth follow.
 Of the Head.
Q. Why is a man’s head round? A. Because it contains in it the
moistest parts of the living creature; and also that the brain may be
defended thereby, as with a shield.
Q. Why is the head not absolutely long, but somewhat round? A.
To the end that the three creeks and cells of the brain might the
better be distinguished: that is, the fancy in the forehead, the
discoursing or reasonable part in the middle, and memory in the
hindermost part.
Q. Why doth a man lift up his head towards the heavens when he
doth imagine? A. Because the imagination is the fore part of the head
or brain, and therefore it lifteth up itself, that the creeks or cells of
the imagination may be opened, and that the spirits which help the
imagination, and are fit for that purpose, having their concourse
thither, may help the imagination.
Q. Why doth a man, when he museth or thinketh of things past,
look towards the earth? A. Because the cell or creek which is behind,
is the creek or chamber of the memory; and therefore that looketh
towards the heavens when the head is bowed down, and so that cell
is open, to the end that the spirits which perfect the memory should
enter in.
Q. Why is not the head fleshy, like other parts of the body? A.
Because the head would be too heavy, and would not stand steadily.
Also, a head loaded with flesh betokens an evil complexion.
Q. Why is the head subject to aches and griefs? A. By reason that
evil humours, which proceed from the stomach, ascend up to the
head and disturb the brain, and so cause pain in the head: sometimes
it proceeds from overmuch filling the stomach, because two great
sinews pass from the brain to the mouth of the stomach, and
therefore these two parts do always suffer grief together.
Q. Why have women the headache oftener than man? A. By reason
of their monthly terms, which men are not troubled with; and by
which a moist, unclean, and venomous fume is produced, that seeks
passage upwards, and so causes the headache.
Q. Why is the brain white? A. 1. Because it is cold, and coldness is
the mother of white. 2. Because it may receive the similitude and
likeness of all colours, which the white colour can best do, because it
is most simple.
Q. Why are all the senses in the head? A. Because the brain is
there, on which all the senses depend, and are directed by it; and
consequently, it maketh all the spirits to feel, and governeth all the
membranes.
Q. Why cannot a person escape death if the brain or heart be hurt?
A. Because the brain and heart are the two principal parts which
concern life; and, therefore, if they be hurt, there is no remedy left
for cure.
Q. Why is the brain moist? A. Because it may easily receive an
impression, which moisture can best do, as it appeareth in wax,
which doth easily receive the print of the seal when soft.
Q. Why is the brain cold? A. 1. Because that by this coldness it may
clear the understanding of man, and make it subtle. 2. That by the
coldness of the brain the heat of the heart may be tempered.
 Of the Eyes.
Q. Why have you one nose and two eyes? A. Because light is more
necessary for us than smelling; and therefore it doth proceed from
the goodness of Nature, that if we receive any hurt or loss of one eye,
the other may remain.
Q. Why have children great eyes in their youth, which become
small as they grow up? A. It proceeds from the want of fire, and from
the assemblage and meeting together of the light and humour; the
eyes being lightened by the sun, which doth lighten the easy humour
thereof and purge them; and, in the absence of the sun, those
humours become dark and black, and the sight not so good.
Q. Why does the blueish gray eye see badly in the day-time, and
well in the night? A. Because grayness is light and shining of itself,
and the spirits with which we see are weakened in the day-time and
strengthened in the night.
Q. Why are men’s eyes of divers colours? A. By reason of diversity
of humours. The eye hath four coverings and three humours. The
first covering is called consolidative, which is the outermost, strong
and fat. The second is called a horny skin or covering, of the likeness
of a horn; which is a clear covering. The third, uvea, of the likeness of
a black grape. The fourth is called a cobweb. The first humour is
called abungines, from its likeness unto the white of an egg. The
second glarial; that is, clear, like unto crystalline. The third,
vitreous; that is, clear as glass. And the diversity of humours causeth
the diversity of the eye.
Q. Why are men who have but one eye good archers? and why do
good archers commonly shut one eye? And why do such as behold
the stars look through a trunk with one eye? A. This matter is
handled in the perspective arts; and the reason is, as it doth appear
in The Book of Causes, because that every virtue and strength united
and knit together is stronger than when dispersed and scattered.
Therefore all the force of seeing dispersed in two eyes, the one being
shut, is gathered into the other; and so the light is fortified in him;
and by consequence he doth see better and more certainly with one
eye being shut, than when both are open.
Q. Why do those that drink and laugh much shed most tears? A.
Because that while they drink and laugh without measure, the air
which is drawn in doth not pass out through the wind-pipe, and so
with force is directed and sent to the eyes, and by their pores passing
out, doth expel the humours of the eyes; which humour being so
expelled brings tears.
Q. Why do such as weep much, urine but little? A. Because the
radical humidity of a tear and of urine are of one and the same
nature; and therefore, where weeping doth increase, urine
diminishes. And that they are of one nature is plain to the taste,
because they are both salt.
Q. Why do some that have clear eyes see nothing? A. By reason of
the oppilation and naughtiness of the sinews with which we see; for
the temples being destroyed, the strength of the light cannot be
carried from the brain to the eye.
Q. Why is the eye clear and smooth like glass? A. 1. Because the
things which may be seen are better beaten back from a smooth
thing than otherwise, that thereby the sight should strengthen. 2.
Because the eye is moist above all parts of the body, and of a waterish
nature; and as the water is clear and smooth, so likewise is the eye.
Q. Why do men and beasts who have their eyes deep in their head
see best far off? A. Because the force and power by which we see is
not dispersed in them, and doth go directly to the thing which is
seen. Thus, when a man doth stand in a deep ditch or well, he doth
see in the day-time the stars of the firmament; because then the
power of the sight and of the beams are not scattered.
Q. Wherefore do those men who have eyes far out in their head not
see far distant? A. Because the beams of the sight which pass from
the eye are scattered on every side, and go not directly unto the thing
that is seen, and therefore the sight is weakened.
Q. Why are many beasts born blind, as lions’ whelps and dogs’
whelps? A. Because such beasts are not yet of perfect ripeness and
maturity, and the course of nutriment doth not work in them. Thus,
the swallow, whose eyes, if they were taken out when they are young
in their nest, would grow in again. And this is the case in many
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