THEprecedingChaptercontains a general Account of the sundry variousHysterick Passions, together with their respectiveSymptoms, as they affect the chief and PrincipalPartsof theBody; whence I might descend to a greatVarietyofparticulars; but as neither my presentTimenorDesignwill permit my entring uponThesein this place, I shall content my self with treating ofThisONE; which as it is the chief and most dangerous of all theUterine Affections, so ’tis the mostUniversalandCommon.
ITcomprehends, in short, many various severe, and even wonderfulSymptomsin it self; whence I conclude, that, he who sufficiently understands thepresent CaseorCondition, may easily comprehend all the other Circumstances, belonging to the foregoinggeneral Head; Since with whatever difference ofSymptoms, orDiagnostick Signs, they may appear, theCausesandEffectsare originally of the sameNature: ForThisis the veryAffectionwhichGalen[235]call’d theωνὶξ ὑσεικὴ, that is, theHysterick Passion, and he might as well have said thegrand Hysterick Passion: TheLatinscall itStrangulatio, orSuffocatio, orPræfocatio Uterina; because in theFit, theWomanseems to beSuffocatedorStrangledby theWomb. But to the Purpose,——
HOWEVERvariously and copiously the Ancients have defin’d thisEvil, I think the few following Words, may properly explain it,viz.This Suffocation is a Distemper of all the Natural, Vital, and Animal Actions, proceeding many different ways, from an ill or disaffectedWomb.
I say manydifferent ways, according to the manydifferent Sortsof theAFFECTION; becauseOneis, when theSymptomsof thelæs’d Natural Facultyonly appear; in which thePATIENTlabours underInflations, and frequentRumblingsof theBELLY,Murmurings,Belchings,Painsof theStomach,Anxiety,Uneasiness, and sometimesVomitings.AnotherdifferentAFFECTIONis, when thevital Facultyis læs’d or indisposed, in which thePATIENTis not only taken withHeart-Beatings, but also withFaintingsandSwooning-Fits, with a small, frequent, and unequalPULSE. AThirdis when theAnimal Facultyis læs’d or disaffected, which may happen many ways; and in thisConditiontheWomanis depriv’d ofMotionand allexternal Sense, however she retains the principalFunctions, together with herPULSEandBREATH.
AGAIN, farther yet, there isanother Sortof thisHysterickAFFECTION, in which theMotionis deprav’d, turning to variousConvulsionsof theLegs,Arms,Teeth,Lips,Eyes, and so of the whole Body. As also moreover, there is stillONE, or aFifthdifferentSortof thisSuffocation, in which all theFaculties of Lifeare seemingly abolished; so far, that (according to common Sense and Apprehension) thePATIENTdiffers in Nothing from adead Person. Hence it has often happen’d, that suchWomen(upon a mistake) have been imprudentlyburied(forDEAD,) and sometimes had the good Fortune to return from theirGravesto theirHousesagain; whereof many learnedAuthorsgive us remarkableInstances[236].
BUTif it should be ask’d, in short, how it is possible for theWomantolive, after she has lost both herPULSEand herBREATH? I can only refer the Curious toGalen, who has fully answer’d thatQuestion[237](according also to the Sentiment ofHeraclydes)viz.——That tho’ the Refrigeration of the whole Body, and its principal Parts, is so great as to intercept both the Pulse and the Breath; Yet the Woman, no less than other Animals, such as Snails and others of that kind, which live in strict obscurity, may have Transpiration sufficient, thro’ the whole Circuit of the Body, to defendLIFE[238].
IFso, then, that there are so many differentSortsofUTERINE STRANGULATIONS, there must also (of Consequence) be as many peculiarCauses: Which, tho’ all takeOriginfrom theWomb, yet do not arise to this Pitch, unlesstwo other Causesconcur with it. Viz.ONEfrom thePart affected;ANOTHERfrom thePassages, thro’ which theWombcommunicates thisAFFECTIONto it.But in short, theprincipal immediate CausesareTHREE[239]viz.retain’d Menstruous Blood,vitiated Seed,and putrid Humours, orcorrupted Matter, contain’d in any part of theWomb; which immediate, and concurringCauses, I come now to Speak to,viz.——
ASto theFirstthen, I think theretain’dBLOOD, is not sufficient of it self to induce thisAFFECTION, because we know, many to be free from it, who yet labour under thesuppress’dMENSTRUA; wherefore theImbecillityof thePrincipal Partsadmitting theHumours, must concur with theLatitudeof thePassages, thro’ which theBloodis communicated to them: WhichThreeconspiring together, theSuffocationof course succeeds with Aggravation.
IFthisBloodflows thro’ theVeinsandArteries, into theHEART, it occasions aSYNCOPE, which is a most severeAffection.
IFit ascends into theBrain, it occasions variousSymptomsaccording to theQualityof theBlood,viz.——If it isPituitous, it induces aSuffocationwithSLEEP, resembling aLETHARGY: If it beBilious, theAFFECTIONis most furious, and thePATIENTis (as it were) almostMad, tearing her self, pulling herHair, renting herCloaths,&c.If theBloodbesweet, she only fanciesAmours, and meditates uponpleasingChimeras: As, in fine, ifMelancholick, it seizes her with aSadnessofHeart, andDejectionofMind.
BUTas to theSecondCause, theretain’dSeedinduces not onlyThese, but more grievousSymptoms, since as soon as it iscorruptedandrefrigerated, it becomes the worst ofPoyson[240]: And as itreaches the principal debilitatedParts, it draws on the most dangeroussortofSuffocations; in which thePatientlies for Dead, the wholeBodybeing extremely refrigerated, or benumb’d by thisvenenated Matter. Which Accident however may happen promiscuously toall Women, abounding with suchmorbifick Contentsin theWomb, as sometimes falls out toMaids, but more commonly toWidows, whoseBodiesas well asWombsabound withpituitousHumours; as also sometimes toPregnant WomenofCacochymical Habits, and toPuerperial Womennotcleansingsufficiently.
I know by the way, that some modernWritersdefine theCaseotherways, and will haveMento be also lyable to the sameDistemper, which they alledge proceeds chiefly from theBloodandSpirits: But theReasonwhy I thinktheyare exempted from it, at least from itsSeverities, is because, what theyloseinNocturnal Pollutionsor otherways, is always ejected or thrownwithout Doors; whereas what theotherSexsoemitts, may be still retain’dwithin; and consequently by a longDetentionthere, may be converted intoVenom, or aPoysonous Humour.
HOWEVER, this happens more readily and frequently toWidows, than toVirgins, because in theone, the Passages are not only dilated, but also Nature is accustomed to suchEmissions, as theotheris yet wholly a Stranger to. Moreover——
AGAIN, thisAffectionmay also proceed from too great anabundanceofSEEDin those, call’d theSeminal Vessels; tho’ not to such a dangerous Degree: In whichCase, if theSEEDbeAcrimonious, aConvulsionmay happen; if otherways, thePatientseems only to faint and fall away, with a sort of a gratefulIndulgence, without any great Change ofCountenance, or Alteration ofPulse; tho’ she often continues with herEyesshut, Starting and Wakening (as it were) frequently: And as upon returning to herself, she fallsa-sighing, so a little after, theSymptomrecurs again.
FINALLY, as to thethird Cause, Supposing thisAffectionto seizeWomen, who not only Purge regularly, but are also satiated withVirile Conversation; or, as it sometimes happens, to takeOld Women: In theseCases, theCauseis undoubtedly very different from those mentioned, and proceeds either fromWinds,Vapours, or putrid and corruptedHumours, contain’d in theWomb, and communicated by variousPassages, to theHeartandBrain: And thisCorruptionmay readily succeed in theWomb, because, asitis a part very different from any other of theBody, endued with peculiarFaculties, so if it be not well disposed, the vitiousHumoursmay also corrupt in it, after a peculiar manner; if not in its ownCavity, in theUterine Vessels, as most frequently happens.
UPONwhich, I observe that, if theseWindsorVapoursare communicated to theHeart, thro’ theVeinsandArteries, theSuffocationhappens withPalpitation: If to theBrain, with aVertigo, aTingling of the Ears, and aSuffusionfrom thePhantasms of the Eyes: Whereas, if the deprav’dHumoursorVapours, ascend there, thro’ theNerves, variousConvulsionshappen; especially if theBrainabounds also withfrigid Humours. Andthese, in short, according to the foresaidAuthorities, are all the Proximous andimmediate Causesof theHysterick Passion.
HENCEI come now to touch upon themediate Causesof the sameDistemper, which may be easily conceiv’d by any who understandsthoseof thesuppressedMenstrua,Gonorrhæa,&c.whichCasesI can by no means enter upon at this Time, for the reasons mentioned in the last precedingChapter.
BUTfrom what is said (I hope) thisUterineStrangulation, together with all its Differences, may be easily distinguished by the ingeniousReader. However yet, because all itsdifferent Sortshave some degree ofAffinity, with other diverseSymptoms, which no ways proceed from theWomb;I come now to propose someSignsofDistinction, first ingeneral, and next inparticular, viz.——
THEgeneralSignsthen areThree, by which I think, theHysterickmay be readily distinguished from all otherAffections, namely,——
I.ITis aMuliebrian Disease, and that only familiar to some of the moredelicate Women: When therefore we know, from thePatientherself, or from those about her, that she is obnoxious to thisAffection; theHystericSymptomsalso appearing, we need not suspect any other Distemper. II.Hysterical Womencomplain frequently of theirWombsbeing ill-disposed, and out of order. As, III.Theyare most commonly helped and freed from theParoxysm, by holdingFœtidsto theNose, andSuaveolentsto thePudendum; which holds good in no otherAffection. But more particularly——
THISDistemperdiffers from aSyncope, in that, aSyncopeisprecipitant, and seizes thePatientall at once, tho’ ’tis but of shortDuration; Whereas inthis, some evidentSignsof an approachingParoxysmalways precede, and the Evil continues sometimes for several Hours and perhaps Days: Inthat, thePulseis quickly abolish’d, or at least seeminglyceases; inthis, it remains, howeversmall, except in the aforementioned extremeFit: Inthatof aSyncope,cold Sweatsappear, and theCountenancechangespale; and when theHeartis severely affected, it may be probably conjoin’d with theHysterickAffection.
NOWThis Distemperdiffers also from anEpilepsy: For inThattheConvulsive Motionsare not always join’d with it, or if they be, they are not souniversal, affecting onlyoneorother Member: InEpilepticks, thePulseis greater than ordinary; but inHystericks, it is theReverse: InthatthePatientfoams at the Mouth, and loses the principalFunctionsof Life, especially theMemory; inthistheyfoam not, neither commonly lose anyinternalSense; but only awake likethosewho have been asleep.
THISAffectiondiffers again from theApoplexy, in that thePartsare not so muchaffected, nor their feeling so much abolished; inthatthere is no continualSnoaring, and thePulseis only diminished and depraved, which inApoplecticsmost commonly remains entire: In short, theoneis preceded, as well as accompany’d with diverseSymptoms; whereas theotherassails thePatientsuddenly, without any previous Notice orSignification.
AGAINtheHystericksdiffer from aLethargy; in thatThisis attended with aFever;Thatnot at all: InThisthePulseis raised higher and is stronger; inThatit falls always lower, and is weaker.
MOREOVER, there are diverseExperiments, mentioned byAuthors, to distinguish aPatientin the extremeFitof thisPassion, from a Person actuallyDead: Such asLint,Feathers, orburnt Paperbeing held to theMouth; if moved, thePatientbreathes. AGlass of Waterbeing set upon theBreast; if stirred, there is someMotionandDilatationstill in theBreast. Or, in fine, aLooking-Glasswell wiped, being held to theirMouths, if infected, thePatientis still and certainlyalive.
HOWEVER, allThese Things, I look upon to be merelytriflinganduncertainin this Case; because, supposing theWomannot to breathe, as has been hinted; How then can sheexpireso much from herLungs, as tomove a Feather, orinfect a Glass? Or, how can herBreasthave any such aMotion, as to moveWater in a Glass? Considering well, what has been already said, that it is only byinternal Transpiration, that she draws theBreath of Life; which is neither effected by theMotionof theBreast, nor theLungs; but rather by a certain obscure and latentMotionof theHeart, and the internalArteries: In such manner, as someAnimals, living inCells of Obscurity, seem to be refrigerated, or benumb’d andDeadthe wholeWinter-Season.
BUTin thisCase, the morecertain Methodis, to try thePatientwith properSternutatories, such as are otherways useful in all suchParoxysms, for ifalive, she will be quickly mov’d bySternutation: As when theBodybegins to send forth aCadaverous Smell, it is a certainSignthat theinnate Heatis extinct with theLife, and that theBodyis no more supported by theSoul. Wherefore the safest and surest way is, not toburysuchPersons, before theExpiration of 72 Hours, reckoning from the beginning of theFit: Because, if in this Time, which is theCrisis, orTermof theCircuitof all theHumoursin the Body, they do notrevive, there is no more Room left forHopes.
INthe next place, I come to mark theDiagnosticks, whereby it may be best distinguished, which of the before-mentionedimmediate Causes, givesRiseto theHYSTERICK PASSIONin anyWomanlabouring under the sameMalady. And, I.IFit proceeds from theMenstruous Blood, in thisCondition, theNatural Coursemust needs be suppress’d, either in whole or in part: And the Difference of theQualityof thisBLOOD, is evident from the foregoingSymptoms.
II.IFfrom too longretain’dSEED; thePatientis to be suppos’d regular in hernatural Flux, as she isCalidandSanguine, either fromhigh Living, orwant of Exercise: InthistheSymptomsare all more severe and dangerous, than in theother Case, and upon the declension of theParoxysm, or theFitsgoing off, a certainHumourflows from thePudendum, occasion’d by theConstrictionmade in theWomb.
III.IFfrom corruptedHumours, thePatientnot onlyPurgesregularly, but also enjoys herHusband:Hence in thisCase, I would conclude that she either labours, or has labour’d under someUterine Distemper, such as aSatyriasis,Pruritus,Furor,Gonorrhæa,Fluor Muliebris,Ulcers,Impostumes, a formerSuppression, orIrregularityof theMenstrua, or the like: As also manyLearned Menagree that aPræternatural Situation[241], namely, theWomb’sascending to thesuperior Parts, compressing theLiverandDiaphragma, and consequently theLungs,Heart, orStomach, may induce variousSuffocations; Which, I think, is also confirm’d byReasonandExperience. For——
WHOknows not that theLigamentsof theWomb, may be so relaxed and extended, that it may fall down to the veryKnees, as I have seen it? And who may not thence conceive that in the sameLaxityof theLigaments, theWombmay be as well driven upwards byWinds,Vapours, or too much grossBloodin theLigaments; or by ungratefulOdoursapproaching theWomb, as it may also be attracted by pleasant and gratefulSmellsat theNose? Not that I mean here, by the by, that theWombis capable ofSmelling, and therefore shuns disagreeableFœtors; but only that itsSpiritsandHeat, especially inThose, who abound with deprav’dHumours, are attracted either way by agreeableOdours, or fragrantSmells.
NOWin thisCase, theWombmay be plainly found by theTouch, ascended in the Form of a roundBall; Which however may be easily brought down, and replaced in itsnatural Posture, by any skilful experiencedHand, previously well anointed with theOilofSpike,Spikenard,White Lillies, or the like. Again farther, to prevent itsReturn, some nauseousSmells, may be apply’d to theNose, or theReverseto thePudendum; as also the superiourPartsof the Body may be tyed strait with properBandsorLigaments.
BUTmore particularly, as to the properDiagnosticksof the imminentParoxysm, or approachingFitofSuffocation, these are,Grumblingsin theAbdomen, aDistentionandPulsationin theBackandHypochondriacks, aWearinessof the whole Body, anImbecillityof theLegs,Belching,Nauseating,Gaping, apale Face, and asad Countenance; attended at last with the aforesaid Sense ofStrangulation, as if thePatientwas a-swallowing aBall,&c.As also I have knownsome Womento have been taken with a longFitofLaughterupon this occasion,otherswith that ofCrying; as probablysomemay confuselyact bothat once.
HOWEVER, It is to be observ’d in this place, that, as theDistemperis not equally violent inAll, nor always attended by thesame, or the same number ofSymptoms; so neither are theFitsequally long or frequent, but invade and seize thePatientaccording to the quick or slow gathering of theMorbifick Humours, which are also sooner or later discussed: WhichHumorous Particlesin our Bodies, like as in intermittingFevers, have their due Times ofDigestion,Accumulation, andExaltation; whichHeightas soon as they have arrived to, they suddenly, and as it were in a Moment, break out intoAction: Or elseThese Humoursmay lye dormant in the Body, until by someProcatarctick, orExternal Cause, they are exagitated, and set atWork.
NOWthisAgitationofHumoursdepends not only upon theCourseof theSunandMoon, but also sometimes more particularly upon theChangeof theAir, and theMotionof theSea. As to theSolarandLunar Influencesupon theAnimal Machine, they are already abundantly set forth[242], wherefore Ishall resume Nothing ofthemin this place: And as to theEfficiencyof theAir, I would observe it to be always most considerable about theTwo Equinoxes; as at theseSeasonsthe most impetuousWindsand violentStormshappen; and that continually the most severe atNoonandMidnight; that is to say, when theSunis in ourZenith, or in theNadir,viz.in thevertical Pointover ourHeads, or the quiteoppositeunder[243]ourFeet. TheseChangeshowever come a little before theVernal Equinox, but follow theAutumnal; because of the variousDistancesof theMoonin itsPerigæumandApogæum.
MOREOVER, at theseSeasons, and indeed at all Times, theAirswells or rises highest, atNewandFullMoon, from the conjunct Power of both thePlanets: Hence the diligentMarinersandHusbandmenalways observe theWeatherto change, andWindsto rise upon these Occasions; and, not only so, but also, a constant and certainRecourseofWindsandWeatherto happen at certainSeasonsof the Year; andthatfrom some certain necessaryNatural Cause, which always acts in the same manner.
As to theMotionof theSea, its Efficacy upon theAnimal Fabrick, may be easily comprehended, considering only what is said; together with this Truth, that, at allSeasons, theAiris highest, and theWindsstrongest, when theTideof theFloodis at its highest Ascent. For as theSeaswells, so theAmbientAirin 25 Hours, is twice raised to a considerable greatHeight, from theAttractionof theMoonapproaching theMeridian: And the same swelling of theAirmust necessarily follow, as often as theSuncomes to theMeridianof any place, either above or below theHorizon; tho’ (as aforesaid) it is alwayshighestatNewandFullMoon: Andlowestof all, when theMoonis but halfFull; thePlanetsthen drawing each a contrary way: As it ismiddling, during the Time between the dimidiatedOrbsof theMoon, and theNewandFullMoon[244].
CONSIDERINGthen that theAmbientAirand the surroundingSeaare bothfluid Bodies, and that theChangesof theOneagree so exactly with theTideof theOther, we may rationally conclude, that they are both (in a great measure) subject to the sameLawsofMotion[245]. Hence it is, that, the greatPhysician[246]says, that theFluxesandRefluxesof both theseElementsare so ordain’d, by the WiseCouncellof the AlmightyCreator, to keep them fromStagnationsandCorruptions, which would be noxious to allCreatures, that by these means are preferred in a better Condition. Which is also confirm’d byExperience, from that, in clear and open places suchValetudinariansas are ready toDie, recover theirHealth, and theSoundest Constitutionin moist close places, growsSick.
FROMthe whole, it is evident, that theMotionsof theAirat the flowing of theSea, upon theNewandFullMoon, and in theÆquinoxes, change theFabrickof theAnimal Bodies: But theseChangesare always most remarkable in those ofweakandsickly Constitutions; whereas those ofStrongandHealthy Bodiesmore readily repel or evade theirInfluences. Hence it is that ourBodiesso muchSympathize, and so manifestlycorrespondwith theCœlestials, as the Experience of a great many IngeniousAuthorstestify[247]: And hence again it is that theHysterick, no less than anyotherPatient,keeps Time strictly with theseSuperiour Bodies, as theRegisterof a vast many Examples, and even dailyExperienceit self teaches for Truth. Now having thus far prosecuted theDiagnosticks, as well with respect to theTimesandSeasonsof theParoxysms, as to theSignsandSymptomsof theDistemper, I come at length to——
THEPrognosticksof thisUterineSuffocatioN, which I shall but briefly hint upon; andFirst, observe, that where theHumoursovercharge theBody, and are implicated among themselves; in thisCasetheFitsdo not always keep theirLegitimate Times, nor theirproper Insults, but are sometimes morefrequent, moresharp, and morediuturnal; in like manner, as aConcourseofWindsexcites the most violentStorms, according to thePoet[248],
“Unà Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis“Africus, & vastos volvunt ad Littora Fluctus:
“Unà Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis“Africus, & vastos volvunt ad Littora Fluctus:
“Unà Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis“Africus, & vastos volvunt ad Littora Fluctus:
“Unà Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis
“Africus, & vastos volvunt ad Littora Fluctus:
So aConcourseandConfluxionofHumours, must needs aggravate theDistemper; but more especially, when the afflictedPATIENTis taken with aComplicationofDistempers, such as when theHYSTERICKFITis join’d with aSyncope, or severeConvulsions, &c.thentheCaseis most dangerous.[249]
—— —— ——“Nam corpore in Uno“Frigida cum Calidis Pugnant, Humentia Siccis,“Mollia cum duris, Sine pondere habentia pondus.
—— —— ——“Nam corpore in Uno“Frigida cum Calidis Pugnant, Humentia Siccis,“Mollia cum duris, Sine pondere habentia pondus.
—— —— ——“Nam corpore in Uno“Frigida cum Calidis Pugnant, Humentia Siccis,“Mollia cum duris, Sine pondere habentia pondus.
—— —— ——“Nam corpore in Uno
“Frigida cum Calidis Pugnant, Humentia Siccis,
“Mollia cum duris, Sine pondere habentia pondus.
These Things, consisting in theCorruptionandInflammation, or in theQuantityandQualityof thepeccantHUMOURS, concur with theother Causes, above defin’d, that theCirculationsof theDistemperare either shorter or longer, more frequent or more rare, or more safe or more dangerous in the Event.
SECONDLY, I observe in this place, that, if theDistemperdoes not carry off thePATIENT, as often happens in the foregoingCondition, it commonly degenerates at last into anApoplexy, orPalsy,Stupidity, or deepMelancholy, &c. Wherefore I come nowfinallyto treat of the Method of itsCure; which is twofold,Onein theAccessorFIT, andanotherin theInterval. Then as to theFirst——
INtheFIT,RevulsiveandRepressing Remediesare most apposite, together withCorroborativesfor theHEARTandVENTRICLE, as well as for theWombit self. But becauseRevulsivesare of many and different kinds, they are to be discreetly us’d, according to the Nature of theCausefrom whence theEvilproceeds: For if suppressedBloodbe theCause, in thatCase,Galenagrees withHippocratesthat anInferiour Vene-Sectionis convenient, and that even tho’ aSyncopejoin theSUFFOCATION, because theOneis but the Effect of theOther[250]: Remembring always that suchBleedingsmust be done with great Prudence and Caution, because of the presentProstrationof theStrengthandSpirits, andRefrigerationof thePATIENT’s whole Body.
WHEREASif thePAROXYSMproceeds fromvenenatedSEED, or depravedHumours, noVEINis to be open’d; but instead ofThat, I would lay theWomansupine in herBED, for breathing the freer, and loose all herLaces,Garters, &c. Then if StrongSternutatories,Fœtid Smells,Vellicationof herEars,Nostrils,Pilorumve Pudendi, did not help herCondition; I would usedolorifick Ligatures, andFrictionsofTHIGHS,LEGS, andFEET; or applyCupping GlasseswithoutScarificationto theTHIGHSandGROINit self: As also properLiniments,Clysters,Suppositories,Pessaries, &c. are convenient Means: And sometimesSuffumigationsofGALBANUM,ASSAFOETIDA,Old Leather,Cloth,Sulphur,Partridge Feathers,Horse-TettersorWarts, &c. Or (which is reckon’dBestof all) a few of thePATIENT’sHairsof herHead, burnt, and held to herNOSE. Or, while I should often tickle theNOSTRILSwith aFeather, or myFingerdipp’d in the sharpestVinegar,Oleum Succini, or the like, I would anoint thePALLETwithTriacle,Mithridate, or such other Things dissolv’d in pleasantWINE.
HOWEVER, in suchCases, as well as in all others,à mitioribus adhibitis, progrediendum est ad valentiora; I say, we are tobegin with the more gentle, and proceed gradually to the more strong and powerfulREMEDIES; using all proper Means with the utmost Prudence and Discretion, andthatonly according to the absolute Necessity and imminent Danger of theincident Case. Now moreover, I would add forsuchas lose bothPULSEandBREATH, that some of the aboveREMEDIESare not only requisite; but also, according to the excellentHoratius Augenius, a little generousWINEwithNutmeg,CinnamonandCloves, addingfive GrainsofMUSK, is altogether proper forthisPATIENT[251]: Tho’ forothers, who have not quite lost allSenseandMotion, nothing is perhaps more pernicious than theUSEof suchOdoriferous Matters, since I have known severalWomento have been immediatelysuffocated, even by the verySmellofMUSK,CIVET,AMBER, &c. But when the SickPATIENTlies (as above) fordead, if suchOdourscan excite theWOMB, they can likewise move theArteries, and give Hopes ofRecovery;upon which occasion also, I would apply hotSear-Clothsto theRegionsof theHEARTandWOMB: Or, if I suspected theHEADto abound withfrigid Humours, I would moreover applyVesicatoriesbehind theEARS, or anIssue, ordrawing Plaisterto theNAPEof theNeck, always cherishing theSTOMACHwith properFomentations: As also according to some, theHoofof anELK, is a presentREMEDYin all suchSuffocationsorFITSof the Mother[252].
BYthe above-mentioned, which are all the most prevalentMeansin theACCESS, we will now suppose thePATIENTto berecover’d; in whichCase, the next step needful, is to guard against, and prevent theReturnof theFIT, and consequently toCuretheDISEASE; which can only be effected by removing theCause, whatever it may be: AndThis, in my Opinion, may be most effectually perform’d in manner following,viz.——
IFtheDistemperproceeds from thesuppressedBLOODorMENSTRUA, This is by properMeansto be reduced to itsNatural CourseandCondition. If from a retain’dSeminal Matterin theUterine Vessels, theCuredepends chiefly upon a properRegimenofDietandExercise; frequent gentlePurges, and repeated inferiourVenæ-Sections: Whereas if already collected and venenated in theWOMB, and theBodyconsequentlyrefrigerated, noVEINmay properly be touch’d or open’d; but in thisCase, as if theEvilproceeded fromvitious putridHUMOURS, it is to be evacuated in the same manner, as inother Conditionsof thehumid Intemperatureof theWOMB; always corroborating and fortifying the more affected or debilitatedParts.
NOWthis Method ofCure, in short, being taken from the wisest of theAncients[253], I shall farther addonesingular and essentialSteptowards the perfecting of it; namely, if it be so, that the most severe and dangerousSymptomsof thisDISTEMPERproceed from theRetentionof thevitiatedSEED; then of Course and without Controversy, theHYSTERICK PASSIONmust needs be most familiar toWIDOWSandmarriageableVIRGINS; to whom I must finally say,Let them Marry.
Si tales etenim pruriginosas, Connubio destinari contingat, ac Semen subdito virili Pessulo elici, in usumq, procreandæ Sobolis depromi, protinus illas efflorescere videas, ac faciem roseo, nitidóq; colore perfundi, blandas denique atque Amabiles, minúsq; tetricas ac morosas. Quod etiam docetGALENUS,Exemplo viduæ cujusdam, quæ multo Semine effuso, à Symptomatibus integrè est liberata[254]. Itaq; dico, tales dissuetæ maturæve viro sunt tempestive elocandæ.In fine,MARRIAGEwill very much help such indisposed Persons, according to the WiseJudgment,AdviceandDirectionof the best AntientWRITERS.