_Of the causes of this disease._
The causes of this disease and of the _Symptoms_ belonging therunto,
haue euer bin found hard to be described particularly: and especially
in a vulgar tongue, I hold it not meete to discourse to freely of
such matters, and therefore I doe craue pardon if I do but slenderly
ouerpasse some poynts which might be otherwise more largely stood vpon
The causes of this disease are either internall, or external. The
internall causes may be any thing contained within the bodie, as
spirit, blood, humors excrements, &c. whereby this part is apt to be
offended, but principally they are referred vnto these two, [50]blood,
and nature.
[50] _Gal. loc. affec. 6. cap. 5. Hollerius, de morbis internis.
lib. 1. cap. 59._
_Paschalius li. 1. cap. 57._
_Altomarus. ca. I 10. Item de vtero gerentibus. cap. 2._
_Jacobus Syluius de mensibus._
_Hor. Augen^{ius} epist. 6._
_Cardanus de causis, &c. morborum. cap. 114._
Blood is that humor wherwith we are nourished: without which the infant
in the mothers wombe could neither grow & increase in bignesse, nor
yet liue: and therefore it was necessarie that those that were fit for
generation, should be supplied with sufficient store of this humor,
for the vse of this part wherin the infãt is to be nourished, for
which cause there are large vaines & arteries deriued vnto it for the
conueyance of bloud thereunto, and there is greater provision thereof
made in womens bodies then in mens: least this part should bee forced
to withdraw nourishment from other parts of the bodie, and so leave
them weake and consuming.
[Sidenote: _Defectus._]
[Sidenote: _Hollerius et Rondelet loci citatis._]
[Sidenote: _Comment. 2 in lib. 1. Hypp de morb. muliebr._]
[Sidenote: _Lib. 4. cap. 22._]
[Sidenote: _2.loc. affect._]
But this prouision of nature is oftentimes defectiue: as when it
is cut off by violent causes, and the part left destitute of this
familiar humor, which should serue both for the comfort of the
infant, and of the part it selfe: which finding offence thereby doth
communicate it vnto the other partes with which it hath affinitie
according to _Hyppocrates_ doctrine. _1. Morborum muliebrium_, and
_Aristotle, de generat. animal. cap. 11. vteri euacuati sursum
ascendunt & præfocationes faciunt. Cordæus_ giues vs an example of one
who by chaunce cutting a vaine in her leg, whereupon she did bleede
plentifully, fell into a fit of the Mother, and by moist and nourishing
diet was recouered. The reason whereof _Hyppocrates_ referreth to the
ouerdrying of those parts through large euacuation of bloud, wherby
the matrix doth labour by such motion as it hath to supply it selfe
with moysture from other parts of the body: or as _Mercurialis_ doth
enterpret it, doth impart by communitie (as is aforesaid) the offensive
qualitie vnto the braine, and by that meanes procures convulsions,
&c. _Gallen_ refferreth it into the ouercooling of those parts which
necessarily must follow a large euacuation of bloud, which coldenesse
being very offensive vnto the nerues and neruous partes by consent and
compassion offendeth the braine also, and by that meanes may procure
the former _Symptoms_.
[Sidenote: _Excesses._]
[Sidenote: _Gal. loc. affect. 6_
_Pereda in paschalium lib. 1. cap. 58._
_Altomarus._
_Syluius._]
And as the want and scarsitie of bloud may procure this griefe, so the
abundance & excesse thereof doth more commonly cause it, where the
patients do want those monethly euacuatiõs which should discharge
their bodies of this superfluitie: as we see in strong and lustie
maidens, who hauing ease and good fare inough, haue their vaines filled
with plenty of bloud, which wanting sufficient vent distẽdeth them in
bulck and thicknes, and so contracteth them in their length, whereby
the matrix is drawne vpwards or sidewards, according as the repletion
is, whereupon followeth a compression of the neighbour parts, as of
the midrif which causeth shortnes of breath, by straightning the
instruments of respiration of their due scope.
But if this bloud wanting his proper vse doe degenerate into the nature
of an excrement, then it offendeth in qualitie as well as in excesse,
and being detayned in the bodie, causeth diuers kinds of _Symptoms_,
according to the qualitie and degree of the distemperature thereof.
[Sidenote: _Alteratio._]
[Sidenote: _Hypp. de morbis virginum._
_Altomarus Corruptio._]
[Sidenote: _Mercatus loco citato._]
This distemperature is either in manifest qualities, of heate,
colde, moisture, drines, according vnto which it is said to be,
_Melancholicke_, _Flegmaticke_, _Choloricke_, _&c._ producing
_Symptoms_ of the like nature, or in corruption and putrefactiõ of
this bloud which breedeth diuers strange kinds of distẽperatures,
according to the diuersity of the humor putrefied, the degree of
putrefaction or the condition of the cause or author thereof.
[Sidenote: _Rondelarius c. 69. Platerus._
_Pereda in pas. et alia._
_Valesius de Tarranta. lib. 6._
_Valesius testatur se deprehendisse circa vterũ
hystericarũ croceum humorem fatidissimũ &c. lib. 5. c. 15._
_Mathaus de grad. in 9. Rhasis. ca. 28. Item consilio 84._
_Mercatus._
_Gal._
_Avicen._
_Mercurialis._
_Bottonus locis citatis._
_Hercules Saxonia de plica. ca 14. et. 34._]
The other substance which most commonly is found culpable of this
disease, is nature or _sperma_: which besides the suspition of
superfluitie in some persons, may also receiue diuers sortes of
alteration, and likewise of corruption, able to worke most strange and
grieuous accidents in our bodies. For as it is a substance of greatest
perfection & puritie so long as it retayneth his natiue integritie: So
being depraued or corrupted, it passeth all the humors of our bodie,
in venom and malignitie. For it must needs be a vehement and an impure
cause that shal corrupt so pure a substance, which would easily resist
any weake assault: and a substance so pure and full of spirits as
this is, must needes proue most malitious vnto the bodie when it is
corrupted. And therefore it is compared to the venom of a serpent, a
Scorpion, a Torpido, a madde dogge, &c. which in a small quantitie is
able to destroy or depraue all the faculties of our bodies at once.
[Sidenote: _Syluius, &c._]
_Galen_ comparing the corruption of these two together, affirmeth that
although from the putrefaction of bloud, diuers most terrible accidents
doe arise, yet they are not so deadly as those which proceede from the
corruption of nature; and proueth it by this obseruation that diuers
women enioying the benefit of mariage, yet through the suppression
of their ordinary euacuation falling into this disease, had their
respiration and vitall faculties vntouched, although otherwise they
were most grieuously affected.
Others also hauing those ordinarie matters in good sorte, yet being
widdowes and taken with this grief haue felt decay in those faculties
as well as in the rest.
How these two substances by consent may affect the whole bodie
according to their seuerall natures, hath beene shewed before: But one
scruple remaineth here to be discussed, namely how this venemous matter
may lurke so long in our bodies in silence not shewing it self but at
certaine times only.
[Sidenote: _Loc. affect. 6. 5. Petrus Salius de affect. particu.
laribus pa. 326_]
[Sidenote: _Altomarus._]
[Sidenote: _Ga. loc. affect. 6 Felix Platerus de causis febrium. pag.
63. 65 66. &c. Mercatus. Fernel. patholog. li. 6, cap. 16_]
_Galen_ in the former place declareth this by the example of a mad
dogge, whose venom being receiued of us, although but by the foame
of his mouth, will remaine sometimes sixe moneths within our bodies
vndiscouered, and then hauing gotten more strength and ripenes vnto it
selfe, and opportunitie of conuaying his euil quallity vnto the parts,
breaketh forth to open view by diminishing or peruerting the faculties
of those parts. I had once a patient in Kent who feeding vpon a mad
hogge which hee had killed for couetousnesse sake, found himselfe
distempered therewith at the first, but within fiue or sixe moneths
after grew suddenly to be starke madde, and before his death, being
by Phisicke restored to some reasonable vnderstanding, he confessed
the eating of that hogge to haue beene the true cause of his disease.
Diuers reasons may be yeelded of this as well as of the fits of
intermittent agues of _Epilepsies_, of sweating, &c. which oftentimes
haue their due recourse by the yeare, moneth, weeke, day or houre,
according to the nature of the humor: which being crude expecteth his
concoction in our bodies and giues no signe of his presence vntill
such a proportion of it be digested and resolued into vapours, as for
the offẽce therof the part affected is not able to brooke and for
the weaknesse of the expulsiue facultie not able to auoide out of the
bodie: but filling the vaines, arteries, and the habit of the body, is
communicated to the principall parts; diminishing or deprauing their
functions so long, vntill that portion of vapours be discussed through
naturall heate: and ceasing againe so long vntill by fermentation and
concoction, another portion of the corrupt humor shall be digested.
[Sidenote: _Quia multum. Quia prauum. Quia insuetũ._]
The vniformitie of this humor and of the heate of concoction causeth
the vniformitie of fits. And this is the cause of the due periods or
circuites which oftentimes are obserued in this disease, whereof wee
haue spoken before: 2 according also to the condition of the part
affected, which seruing as an euacuatorie to the whole bodie, is
accustomed to such kind of humors and therefore can endure them better
then other parts can. And this is another cause why this humor giues
no signe of his presence vntill it may communicate with the principall
partes: which are soone offended either with the plenty of those
vapours, or with the malignity, or with the vnwonted and vnaccustomed
approach of them.
The externall causes of this disease are either such things as are
ordinary and necessary for our life and which we cannot shun, as our
meate and drink, motion and rest, sleepe and watching, euacuation
and perturbations of the minde: or such things as happen vnto vs
accidentally, and may bee shunned by vs, as bathes, ointments,
plaisters, cloathes, smelles or vapours, medicines, venus, noyses,
riding, swimming, sayling, wounds, contusions, falles, biting of
venomous beasts, &c. which may be also referred to the former kindes.
These and such like as they are the externall causes of all diseases,
our bodies being subiect to be hurt and offended by euery one of them:
so they are oftentimes accessary to this particular disease.
[Sidenote: _Fernel. li. 1. de morborũ causis._]
The aire which compasseth our bodies and which we breath into our
bodies is the occasion of many infirmities in vs, if either it be
distempered in quallitie or corrupted in substance, or suddenly
altered. And this may be the cause why women are more subiect vnto this
disease at one time of the yeare than at another, according to the
constitution of the ayre: as in the winter time, by reason of colde
and moyst weather the humors of our bodies are increased and made more
crude and grose, and our pores stopped, whereby expiration is hindered,
&c.
[Sidenote: _Mathaus de gradi. Mercat. Rondel. cap. 69_]
[Sidenote: _Hier. Mercuria_]
But especially wee doe obserue that breathing in of sweete sauours doth
commonly procure these fittes, either for that the matrix by a naturall
propertie is delighted with sweete sauoures, as the liuer and spleene
with sweete meates, or because the animall spirites of the braine
beeing thereby stirred vp to motion, doe by consent affect the matrix
with the like.
[Sidenote: _Plater. pa. 443_
_Iacobus Ruffius de muliebribus lib. 6. cap. 8_
_Syluius Guaynerius._]
And therefore wee doe especially forbid that they may not smell
vnto any sweet thing that are subiect vnto this griefe: but rather
vnto euill sauoures: which as _Platerus_ thinkes by stirring vp the
expulsiue facultie of the matrix, are a meanes of the shortening of the
fit.
Meate and drinke is the Mother of most diseases, whatsoeuer the Father
bee, for the constitution of the humors of our bodies is according to
that which feedes vs. And therefore it is reckoned as a principall
externall cause of diseases.
[Sidenote: _De nat. muliebri. Lib. 2. obseru. 28._
_Hypp. libro citato quicquid ederit aut liberit ipsam molestat_]
And _Hyppocrates_ in this disease forbids sweete and fatte meats (_a
dulcibus et pinguibus abstineat, donec sana sit_) _Forrestus_ telles vs
of a Bruers wife of _Delft_, who could neuer eate or drinke any thing
that was sweete or pleasant but her fit would take her a fresh, and
thereuppon was faine to mixe wormewood with euery thing that she did
eate or drinke.
[Sidenote: _Heurnius de morbis capitis pag. 310._]
The _Essex_ Gentlewoman of whome I spake before, could neuer take any
comfortable sustenance, but she was sure to haue a fit of the mother.
The reason of this may be the same which we haue alleaged of sweet
vapours.
The errours about euacuation are also an externall cause of diseases,
and doe breed an internall cause afterwardes.
[Sidenote: _Altomarus._]
[Sidenote: _Hollerius cap. 59. Rond. c. 69._]
As in this disease the want of due and monethly euacuation, or the
want of the benefit of marriage in such as haue beene accustomed or
are apt thereunto, breeds a congestiõ of humors about that part,
which increasing or corrupting in the place, causeth this disease.
And therefore we do obserue that maidens and widowes are most subiect
thereunto. Motion and rest being well ordered do preserue health,
but being disordered do breed diseases, especially to much rest and
slothfulnesse is a meanes of this griefe, by ingendering crudities
and obstructions in womens bodies, by dulling the spirits and cooling
naturall heate, &c. So likewise sleepe and watching, the one by
benumming, the other by dissipation of the spirits and natural heate,
may occasion this griefe.
[Sidenote: _Hinc Cicero Tusculanarum 3. perturbationes animi, morbos
appellat._]
Lastly the perturbations of the minde are oftentimes to blame both
for this and many other diseases. For seeing we are not maisters of
our owne affections, wee are like battered Citties without walles,
or shippes tossed in the Sea, exposed to all maner of assaults and
daungers, euen to the ouerthrow of our owne bodies.
We haue infinite examples among our [51]Historiographers, and
[52]Phisitions of such as haue dyed vpon ioy, griefe, loue, feare,
shame, and such like perturbations of the mind: and of others
that vpon the same causes haue fallen into grieuous diseases: as
[53]women deliuered of their children before their time, vpon feare,
anger, griefe, &c. others taken with the [54]Falling sickenesse,
[55]Apoplexies, [56]Madnesse, [57]Swounding, [58]Palsies, and diuerse
such like infirmities vpon the like causes.
[51] _Plinium. valer. max. Volateranum. Pontanum. Landum, Gellium,
Krantzium._
[52] **_Cornex lib. 1 consultat. med. cap. 3._
_Gal. 2. Sympt. causis cap. 5. de præcognit. ca. 6 Beniuenius._
[53] _Gal. in 5. Aphorism. 45. Amatus lusit. Cent. 3._
[54] _Gal. loc. affec. 5. de Grammatico Ioh. Montanus cõsilio.
50 Matheus de grad. de proprio filio. cap. de Epilepsia._
_Amatus lusit. cent. 2. cap. 90._
[55] _Procopius de bello Gothorum lib. 1. Amatus lusit. cent. 3._
[56] _Christoph. 'a Vega. li. 4. ca. 14 Corn. Celsus._
[57] _Gal. loco cita._
[58] _Aretæus lib. 5. cap. 7._
And concerning this disease whereof we doe intreate, [59]_Iohannes
Montanus_ tels vs of a patient of his, who fell into the fits of the
Mother vppon iealousie. [60]_Forrestus_ of another, who had her fits
whensoeuer shee was angred: and of another that vpon loue fell into
this disease. My selfe do know a Gentlewoman, who upon the sight of
one particular man would alwaies feele an vterin affect: and another
that vpon feare of being chidden, or seeing another in the fit of the
mother, would also fall into it her selfe.
[59] _Consilio 311._
[60] _Lib. 28. obser. 28. lib. 10. obseru. 30._
Cap. 7.
_Of the cure of this disease, so much as belongeth to the friends
and attendants to performe._
The signes of this disease, seeing they are drawne principally from the
causes and _Symptoms_ before declared shall not neede any particular
discourse, especially considering the vse of them belongeth properly
to the Physition, to direct him in his cure. And therefore I thinke
good to ease my selfe of this labour, which would bee altogether
vnprofitable to the reader.
[Sidenote: _Rondeltius Hollerius._]
Concerning the cure also I thinke it not meete to say more then may
concerne the friends and assistants vnto the patient to looke vnto:
referring Physitions workes vnto Physitions. There are some things
by the friendes to bee performed vnto the patient in regard of the
[61]presẽt fit, & some things in regard of the cause. In the fit
let the bodies bee kept [62]vpright, straight laced, and the belly &
throat held downe with ones hand. Let heed be taken that they hurt not
themselues by biting their fingers, striking their armes & legs against
hard things, &c. apply euil smels to their nostrils, and sweet smels
beneath [63]tie their legs hard with a garter for reuulsion sake, &c.
[61] _Valetius in Hollerium. c. 59 Valescius di Taranta. lib. 6._
[62] _Paschal. li. 1 ca. 57. Altomar._
[63] _Rhasis ad Almansor. cap. 28._
Out of the fit, in regard of _Externall_ causes, remoue from them all
occasions of breeding or increasing the disease: as sweet sauors,
pleasant meats and drinks, much rest and slouthfulnesse, &c. Also
if [64]discontinuance of any thing accustomed bee the cause of this
disease, bring it into custome againe: if want of any thing necessary
for their health, let it be supplied, [65]let their diet be sparing
and vpon cooling things, let them vse much fasting and prayer, and all
other meanes to pull downe their bodies: and contrariwise abstaine
from egges, wine, flesh, &c. If the perturbations of the mind be any
occasion hereof, let them haue their proper remedies, as anger and
iealousie are to be appeased by good counsell and perswasions: hatred
and malice by religious instructions, feare by incouragements, loue
[66]by inducing hatred, or [67]by permitting them to enioy their
desires, &c. _Galen_ boasteth that he did euery yeare cure many
diseases by this stratagem of moderating the perturbations of the mind
by the example of _Æsculapius_ who deuised many songs and ridiculous
pastimes for that purpose. To which end also other phisitions haue vsed
diuers sorts of fallacies to encounter the melancholike conceits of
their patients. _Cardan_ tels of a Gentlewoman, who finding her self
vexed with many grieuous _Symptoms_, imagined that the Diuell was the
author thereof, and by _Iosephus Niger_ was cured by procuring her son
to make her beleeue that he saw three diuels in her looking glasse,
& one great one to driue them out. Another like policie _Marcellus
Donatus_ tells vs of, which a Physition vsed towardes the Countesse
of _Mantua_, who being in that disease which we call _melancholia
Hyppocondriaca_ did verily beleeue that she was bewitched, and was
cured by conueying of nayles, needles, feathers, and such like things
into her close stoole when shee tooke physicke, making her beleeue that
they came out of her bodie. The like there he mentioneth also out of
_Trallian_, of a woman who did thinke that she had a serpent within
her, and was cured by the like meanes.
[64] _Hollerius nullum remedium melius marito. Valescus de taranta,
Syluius: si nubilis est nec monialis nubat si non libet aut non licet
nubere vtatur frigidis &c._
_Mat. Rochius de morb. mal. cap. 5._
_Guaynerius suppositio in hoc casu principatũ obtinet, &c._
[65] _Valetius in Holl. Cap. 59. istud genus demonii non eiicitur
nisi multo ieiunio._
_Paschali. Sinõ posit vti viro præcibus & ieiunio curabitur._
_Guaynerius. Curpus macerãtibus vtatur._
[66] _Auicen, Fen. 1 3. c. 1. 4. tract. 4. de Ylisco._
[67] _Aretæus. lib. 1. cap. 5. De sani tuend. lib. 1. cap. 11. De
subtilit. l. 19 De medica historia mirabili. lib. 2. cap. 1._
[Sidenote: _Lib de incant. adiuratione, &c._]
So that if we cannot moderate these perturbations of the minde, by
reason and perswasions, or by alluring their mindes another way, we may
politikely confirme them in their fantasies, that wee may the better
fasten some cure vpon them: as _Constantinus Affricanus_ (if it be
his booke which is inserted among _Galens_ workes, _De incantatione,
adiuratione &c._) affirmeth, and practized with good successe, vpon one
who was _impotens ad Venerem_, & thought himselfe bewitched therewith,
by reading vnto him a foolish medicine out of _Cleopatra_, made with a
crowes gall, and oyle: whereof the patient tooke so great conceit, that
vpon the vse of it he presently recouered his strength and abilitie
againe.
[Sidenote: _Si quis incantationem sibi prodesse confidat, qualisicũq;
sit, cum tamen suu. it. li. 1. proximé citato._]
[Sidenote: _4. Natural. 6._]
The like opinion is to bee helde of all those superstitious remedies
which haue crept into our profession, of Charmes, Exorcismes,
Cõstellations, Characters, Periapts, Amulets, Incense, Holie water,
clouts crossed and folded superstitiously, repeating of a certaine
number and forme of prayers or Aue Maries, offering to certaine
Saintes, pissing through the wedding Ring, and a hundred such like
toyes and gambols: which when they preuaile in the cure of diseases,
it is not for any supernaturall vertue in them, either from God or
from the diuell (although perhaps the Diuell may haue a collaterall
intent or worke therein, namely to drawe vs vnto superstition) but by
reason of the confident perswasion which melancholike and passionate
people may haue in them: according to the saying of _Auicen_, that
the confidence of the patient in the meanes vsed is oftentimes more
auailable to cure diseases then all other remedies whatsoeuer.
Another course hath beene taken sometimes in these cases, by remouing
the cause of these affections, or by inducing of other perturbations
of a diuerse nature. Whereby as (experience teacheth vs) most grieuous
diseases haue beene oftentimes cured beyond expectation.
A yong man falling out of fauour with his father, fell thereupon
into the fits of the falling sicknesse, and continued long and often
molested there with; vntill a reconciliation was wrought with his
father: who sending him a kind letter to that effect, the yong man was
presently deliuered from that fearefull disease.
A yong Maiden also vpon some passion of the minde, as it was credibly
reported, fell into these fits of the Mother, and being in one of them,
a Physition then present modestly put his hand vnder her cloathes to
feele a windie tumor which shee then had in her backe. But a Surgeon
there also present not contented with that maner of examination,
offered to take vp her cloathes, and to see it bare: whereupon the
Maid being greatly offended, tooke such indignation at it, as it did
put her presently out of her fit.
And it is no maruel that the affections of the mind doe beare such
rule in this disease, seeing we doe obserue that most commonly besides
the indisposition of the bodie: here is also some Melancholike or
capricious conceit ioyned withall of loue, feare, hatred, iealousie,
discontentment, witchcraft, poysoning, &c. which being by policie
or good instructions and perswasions remoued, the disease is easily
ouercome.
Other matters of gouernment of them either in the fit or out of the
fit, togither with the cure in regard of the internall causes, because
they are properly belonging to the Physition, I do purposely omit.