OF THE DROPSY IN THE WOMB.
The uterine dropsy is an unnatural swelling, by the gathering of the
wind and phlegm in the cavity, membranes, or substance of the womb, by
reason of the debility of the native heat and aliment received.
The causes are overmuch cold or moistness of the milt and liver,
immoderate drinking, eating of crude meats; all which, causing a
repletion, do suffocate the natural heat. It may be caused by the
overflowing of the menses, or by any other immoderate evacuation, and by
abortions, phlegmons and schirrosities of the womb.
_Signs._—The lower parts of the belly, with the genitals, are puffed up,
and pained; the feet swell, the natural colour of the face decays, and
the appetite is depraved. If she turns herself in the bed, a noise like
the flowing of water is heard. Water sometimes comes from the matrix. If
the swelling be caused by wind, the belly sounds like a drum; and the
wind breaks through the neck of the womb with a murmuring noise. It is
distinguished from a general dropsy, in that the lower parts of the
belly are most swelled.
_Prognostics._—This effect foretells the ruin of the natural functions,
by that singular consent the womb hath with the liver, and that
therefore general dropsy will follow.
_Cure._—Mitigate the pain with fomentation of melilot, mercury, mallows,
linseed, camomile, and althea; then let the womb be prepared with
hyssop, calamint, mugwort, with the decoction of elder, marjoram, sage,
pennyroyal, betony; purge with senna, agaric, and rhubarb. Take rhubarb,
and trochisks of agaric, of each one scruple: with juice of iros make
pills.
In diseases which have their rise from moisture, purge with pills. And
in these effects which are caused by emptiness or dryness, purge with a
potion. Fasten a cupping-glass to the belly, with a great fume, and also
the navel, especially if the swelling be flatulent: make an issue on the
inside of each leg, a hand-breadth below the knee. Apply to the bottom
of the belly, as hot as may be endured, a little bag of camomile,
cummin, and melilot, boiled in oil of rue; anoint the belly and secret
parts with unguent agrippa and unguent aragons; mingle therewith oil of
iros: cover the lower parts of the belly with the plaster of
bay-berries, or a cataplasm made of cummin, camomile, and briony roots.
Our moderns ascribe great virtues to tobacco-water distilled, and poured
into the womb by a metrenchyta. Take balm, southernwood, origen,
wormwood, calamint, bay-leaves, marjoram, of each one handful:
juniper-berries four drachms; with water make a decoction: of this may
be made fomentations and infusions: make pessaries of storax, aloes,
with the roots of dictau, aristolochia, and gentian.
The air must be hot and dry; moderate exercise. She may eat the flesh of
partridges, larks, chickens, mountain birds. Let her drink be thin wine.