In the first place, let the-woman keep a temperate
diet, by no means overcharging herself after such
an extraordinary evacuation, not being ruled by giving
credit to unskilful nurses, who admonish them to feed
heartily, the better to repair the loss of blood.
For that blood is not for the most part pure, but
such as has been retained in the vessels or membrane
better voided, for the health of the woman, than kept,
unless there happen an extraordinary flux of the blood.
For if her nourishment be too much, which curding,
very often turns to imposthumes.
Therefore, it is requisite, for the first five days
especially, that she take moderately panado broth,
poached eggs, jelly of chickens or calves’ feet
or fresh barley broth; every day increasing the quantity
a little.
And if she intend to be a nurse to the child, she
may take something more than ordinary, to increase
the milk by degrees, which must be of no continuance,
but drawn off by the child or otherwise. In this
case likewise, observe to let her have coriander or
fennel seeds boiled in barley broth; but by all means,
for the time specified, let her abstain from meat.
If no fever trouble her, she may drink now and then
a small quantity of pure white wine or of claret,
as also syrup of maidenhead or any other syrup that
is of an astringent quality, taken in a little water
well boiled.
After the fear of fever or contraction of humour in
the breast is over, she may be nourished more plentifully
with the broth of capons, pullets, pigeons, mutton,
veal, etc., which must not be until after eight
days from the time of delivery; at which time the
womb, unless some accident binds, has purged itself.
It will then likewise be expedient to give cold meats,
but let it be sparingly, so that she may the better
gather strength. And let her, during the time,
rest quietly and free from disturbance, not sleeping
in the day time, if she can avoid it.
Take of both mallows and pellitory of the wall a handful;
camomile and melilot flowers, of each a handful; aniseed
and fennel of each two ounces; boil them in a decoction
of sheep’s head and take of this three quarts,
dissolving in it common honey, coarse sugar and fresh
butter and administer it clysterwise; but if it does
not penetrate well take an ounce of catholicon.
* * * *
*
Acute Pains after
Delivery.
These pains frequently afflict the woman no less than
the pain of her labour, and are, by the more ignorant,
many times taken the one for the other; and sometimes
they happen both at the same instant; which is occasioned
by a raw, crude and watery matter in the stomach, contracted
through ill digestion; and while such pains continue,
the woman’s travail is retarded.
Therefore, to expel fits of the cholic, take two ounces
of oil of sweet almonds, and an ounce of cinnamon
water, with three or four drops of syrup of ginger;
then let the woman drink it off.
