Part 2

_Petrus Forrestus_ maketh mention of another maid of 22. yeares old, which dwelt with a Burgermaster of _Delft_ in _Holland_, who falling in loue with a yong man, fell also into these fits of the Mother: which held her many houres together with such violent horrible accidents, as hee neuer sawe the like: her whole body being pulled to and fro with convulsiue motions, her belly sometimes lifted vp, and sometimes depressed, a roaring noise heard within her, with crying and howling, a distortion of her armes and handes: insomuch as those about her thought her to be possessed with a diuell, and out of all hope of recouery. He being called vnto her in Ianuarie 1565. applied conuenient remedies as there he setteth downe, and in a short time restored her to her health againe.

[Sidenote: _Thaddæus Dumus miscall: cap 9._]

[Sidenote: _Lib. 28. obseru. 26:_]

Many more such like examples might bee produced both out of authenticall writers in our profession and out of our own experiences, which yet do liue (were it not that late examples would bee offensiue to rehearse:) but these may suffice to show how easily men vnexperienced in those extraordinarie kinds of diseases, may mistake the causes of them: when through admiration of the vnwonted and grieuous accidents they behold, they are caried vnto Magicall and Metaphysicall speculations. But the learned Phisition who hath first beene trained vp in the study of Philosophy, and afterwards confirmed by the practise and experience of all manner of naturall diseases, is best able to discerne what is naturall, what not naturall, what preternaturall, and what supernaturall, the three first being properly subiect to his profession: and therefore they doe wrong vnto the faculty of Phisicke, and vnto them selues, and oftentimes vnto others, who neglecting that light which wee might yeeld them, doe runne headlong and blindefold into many errors and absurdities. For preuention whereof I haue breefly set downe what the doctrine of Phisitions is concerning this disease of the Mother, which of all other is most subiect vnto misconstruction. For that as _Forrestus_ saieth it is a harde matter to discerne in what maner the Mother may occasion such strange and manifold accidents.

Cap. 2.

_What this disease is, and by what means it causeth such varietie of Symptoms._

[Sidenote: _Cardamus de causis sig. 13 locis morborum cap. 114._

_Altomarus cap. 110. Guaynerius cap. de suffo: matricis._]

[Sidenote: _Æesius tetr: 4 Serm. 4. cap. 68 P. Ægineta lib. 3. cap. 71. Victor Trincavel. lib: 5. sect. 3 cap. 9._]

This disease is called by diuerse names amongst our Authors. _Passio Hysterica_, _Suffocatio_, _Præfocatio_, and _Strangulatus vteri_, _Caducus matricis_, _&c._ In English the Mother, or the Suffocation of the Mother, because most commonly it takes them with choaking in the throat: and it is _an affect of the Mother or wombe wherein the principal parts of the bodie by consent do suffer diuersly according to the diuersitie of the causes and diseases wherewith the matrix is offended._

I call it an _affect_ in a large signification to comprehend both _morbum_ and _Symptoma_. For sometimes it is either of them, and somtimes both. For in regard the actions of expulsion or retention in the _Mother_ are hurt. It may be called a _Symptoma in actione læsa_: in regard of the humor to be expelled which corrupteth and putrifieth to a venemous malignitie. It is likewise a _Symptom in excremento vteri mutato_. And in regard of the perfrigeration of the Mother, and so of the whole bodie. It is also a _Symptom_[11] _in qualitate tangibili mutata_, not _morbus ex intẽperie_:[12] because it is suddenly inflicted & suddenly remoued. But in regard of the rising of the Mother wherby it is somtimes drawn vpwards or sidewards aboue his natural seate, compressing the neighbour parts, & so consequently one another. It may be said to be _morbus in situ_, in respect of the compression it selfe, causing suffocatiõ and difficultie of breathing. It may be[13] _causa morbi in forma_ by causing _coarctation_ of the instruments of breathing. And sometimes these are complicated and[14] together with a venemous vapour, arising from this corrupt humor vnto diuers parts of the bodie, there will be an euill position of the matrix also: either because the ligaments, vaines and arteries beeing obstructed:[15] by those vapours are shortened of their wonted length, and so draw vp the part higher then it should be, or[16] for that the matrix being grieuously anoyed with the malignity of those vapours doth contract it selfe and rise vp by a locall motion towards the midrif.

[11] _Albert. Bottonus cap. 39._

[12] _Gal. locorum affectorum 3. cap. 7._

_Petrus Salius pag. 467._

_Altomarus cap. 110._

_Horatius Angenius Epist. 6_

[13] _Gal. de causis morb. cap. 7_

[14] _Altomarus citato. Rondelesius methodo curand. morb. cap. 69. matheus de grad. in 9 Rhasis. cap. 28_

[15] _Mercatus lib 2. cap 3._

[16] _Matheus de grad. in 9. Rhasis cap. 28. Hor. Angenius sibi offensum fugiens vt et iucundum insequens._

[Sidenote: _Galen. 6. loc. affert. cap. 5. Auicen. Fen. 21 3. cap. 16. tract 4. initium est ex matrice et peruenit ad communitatẽ fortem cordis et cerebri &c. Horatius Angenius Epistola 6._]

[Sidenote: _Petrus solius diuersus pag. 400_]

[Sidenote: _Mercat. pa. 170_]

[Sidenote: _Merca. pa. 174_]

I say of the _Mother_ or wombe because although the wombe many times in this disease doe suffer but secondarily, yet the other parts are not affected in this disease but from the Mother: (_Radix suffocationum vterus_) which finding it selfe anoyed by some vnkind humor, either within it selfe, or in the vessels adioyning or belonging vnto it, doth by a naturall instinct which is ingrafted in euery part of the body for his owne preseruation, endeuour to expell that which is offensiue: in which conflict if either the passage be obstructed, or the humor inobedient or malignant, or the functions of the wombe any way depraued, the offence is communicated from thence vnto the rest of the body. The principall part of the body are the seates of the three faculties, which do gouerne the whole body. The braine of the animall, the hart of the vitall, the liuer of the naturall; although some other parts are plentifully endewed with some of these faculties, as the stomacke, entrailes, vaines, spleene, &c. with naturall faculties, the instruments of respiration[17] with animall and naturall. These parts are affected in this disease, and do suffer in their functions as they are diminished, depraued, or abolished,[18] according to the nature & plenty of the humor, and the temperament and scituation of the Mother: and that _diuersly_: For somtimes the instruments of respiration alone doe suffer, sometimes the heart alone, sometimes two or three faculties together, sometimes successiuely one after another, sometimes one part suffereth both a resolution and a conuulsion in the same fit, or when as it suffereth in one part and not in another, as we see oftentimes sense and motion to bee taken away and yet hearing and memorie to remaine, the speech failing and respiration good. Sometimes respiration, sense, and motion do altogether faile, and yet the pulse remaine good: So that the varietie of those fits is exceeding great, wherein the principall parts of the body doe diuersly suffer.

[17] _Gal. de difficultate respirãd: lib. 1. cap. 7. Trincauel. li. 4. cap. 12. Felix platerus ca. de respira. defectis. Gal. de sympt. differentiis Cap 2. 3._

[18] _Gal. 5. loc. affect. 6 Mercatus pag. 173._

[Sidenote: _Gabr. Fallopius de med. purg. Cap. 17. et 23. via euacuationis._]

Another diuersitie there is, in the order of these fits: for somtimes they keep due[19] periods or circuits yearly or monthly, according to the falling sicknes, and sometime euery weeke, sometimes[20] euery day, &c. I know a gentlewomã in this towne, who for 2. yeares together neuer missed a fit of the Mother in the afternoone. The like is hereafter mentioned in the Essex gentlewo. who for 16. years altogether had euery day a fit of the Mother at a certaine houre. _D. Argent_ and I had another patient, in whome for 10. weeks together we obserued a fit of the mother euery saturday. I adde _by consent of the Mother_ to distinguish those _Symptoms_ or diseases from such as are caused originally by the part affected. For being procured but by consent, they endure no longer thẽ the fits of the mother do continue. The consent or communitie by which the matrix hath with those principal parts of the body is easily perceiued, if wee consider the anatomy of that part, & the diuers waies whereby it may and doth communicate with them. The fũctions of this part, besides that which is commõ to all other for their nutriment deriued from the naturall facultie, are 2. the one respecting the preseruatiõ of the whole body, as it is an _Emunctory_ of diuers superfluities which do abound in that sex. The other for the propagation of mankind, where it is to be conceiued and nourished vntill it be able to appeare in the world. In regard of these offices this part hath neede of great varietie of prouision, according as the vses are manifold. The substance is neruous, for the great necessitie it hath of sence and motion.

[19] **_Ætius lib. 26. cap. 70_

P. Agineta. lib. 3. cap. 71.

Rhasis cont. lib. 22. mesue sum. 4. part. 4. sect. 1 cap. 8._

[20] **_Auicen Fen. 213. cap. 16. tract 4. quandoque sunt period. eius tardi, quandoque accidit omni die._

[Sidenote: _Constant. Varelius lib. 4. cap. 3_]

It is also _Porous_ for the better entertaining of the vitall spirits and the necessitie it hath of distention and contraction.

[Sidenote: _Gasparus Bauhinus historia anatom. p. 71._]

It is tied vnto diuers partes of the body that it might the better beare the weight of an infant: backwards by little strings vnto the lower gut, vnto the loines and _os sacrum_: forwardes vnto the necke of the bladder and _os pubis_ by certaine membranes deriued from the _peritoneum_: on each side it is tyed vnto _ossa illii_ by a ligament growing from the muscles of the loynes. It receiueth also for the former vses, vaines from the liuer, arteries from the hart, and nerues from the braine and backe, which are all inserted into the substance of the part, to deriue vnto it the benefit of those 3. faculties, both for the proper vse of the part, and for the vse of propagation and to discharge the whole bodie of diuers superfluities, which otherwise would be an occasion of many infirmities in them.

Now according to this description let vs consider how by consent, the principall partes of the bodie may bee affected from the matrix.

[Sidenote: _Fernel. pathologiæ li. 6. ca. 16_]

[Sidenote: _Forestus lib. 10 obseru: 115: in scholsis._]

The partes of our bodie doe suffer by consent[21] two manner of wayes. The one is when they doe recyue some offensiue thing from another parte which is [22]called _Communitas non absoluta_. And this is either a qualitie as in venemous and infectious diseases, where the malignitie creeping from one part to another doth alter the qualitie of the parts as it goeth, and at the last is communicated to the principall parts, as the head, heart, liuer, longs, &c. or a substance which either by manifest conducts, as vaines, nerues, arteries, &c. or by insensible pores (as _Hyppocrates_ saith, our bodies are transpirable, and transmeable) is conuaied from one part to another: whether it be a vapour or a humor, as wee doe commonly obserue in the fits of feuers, where a vapour arising from the part affected, disperseth it selfe through the whole body, and affecteth the sensiue parts with colde or heate, the motiue parts with trembling, the vitall parts with fainting, sounding, inequalitie of pulse, &c. the naturall parts with deiection of appetite, subuersion of the stomacke, &c. vntill nature haue ouercome and discussed it. In these Feuers also many times humors are so plentifully sent vp vnto the braine, as by custome or long continuance they breede some proper affect there.

[21] _Trincauel. l. 3 Sect. 2. cap. 2._

[22] _Auicen. Fẽ. 1. 3. tract. 2. ca. 6 Montagnana consil. 226_

[Sidenote: _Gal: locorum affect: 1: cap: 6_]

[Sidenote: _Rondeletius cap 69. Trincauell loco citato:_]

The other kinde of communitie is that which they call _Communitas absoluta_, wherein the part consenting receiueth nothing from the other, but yet is partaker of his griefe: either for _similitude_ of substance or function, which causeth mutuall compassion: as all neruous partes haue with the braine: whereby if any Nerue or neruous part bee hurt or pricked, the braine suffreth a convulsion, or _for neighbourhood_ and vicinitie, whereby one part may offend another, by compression or incumbencie: as in the prolapse of the Mother, the bladder or fundament is oftentimes offended in their naturall excretion. And in this disease which we haue in hand by the locall motion of it vpwardes, the midriffe is straightned of his scope, whereby the lunges doe faile in their dutie, or by _reason of connexion or continuitie_ which it hath with other parts, by Vaines, Nerues, Arteries, Membranes, Ligaments, &c. whereby the offence is easily imparted vnto other partes. Or lastly by priuation of some _facultie or matter_, whereof the part hath neede. As in the obstruction of the _Spina Dorsi_ there followeth a resolution or palsie of the legges or armes, by reason that the animall facultie that should giue sence or motion to the part is intercepted and hindered in his passage. Likewise in a resolution of the Muscles of the brest, as in a wound of that part, or in swounding the voice is taken away, because the matter of it which is breath, is either not sufficiently made, or is carried another way, or not competently impelled to the organs of voyce.

All these manner of wayes hath the Matrix by consent to impart her offence vnto other parts. For there wãteth no corruption of humor, vapour, nor euill qualitie, where this part is ill affected, to infect other partes withall, there wantes no oportunitie of conueyance or passage vnto any part, by reason of the large Vaynes, Arteries, and Nerves, which are deriued vnto it, with which it hath great affinitie and similitude of substance, besides the connexion it hath with the heart, liuer, braine, and backe. It is linked also in neighborhoode with diuerse partes of great vse, as the bladder, guttes, midriffe, &c. which are likely to bee warmed when this part doth burne. _According to the varietie of causes and diseases wherewith the wombe is offended_, these _Symptoms_ doe differ in nature, or in degree. [23]A plentifull matter produceth a vehement _Symptom_: a corrupt matter according to the degree of corruption, and the qualitie of the humor corrupted, causeth like accidents. The diseases also of the Mother being cõplicated with the former corrupt humors do yeeld varietie of _Symptoms_: as the rising of the Mother, which alwayes causeth shortnes of breath: [24]Empostumes of the Mother according to the place where they are bred, and the quality of them, doe also bring a difference in _Symptoms_. And thus much for explanation of the definition.

[23] _Mercatus pag. 165._

[24] _Mathæus de gradi. & Auicenna locis citatis._

Cap. 3.

_Of the kinds of this disease, and first of that wherein the vitall facultie is offended._

[Sidenote: _Affectus corporis vel excretionum vitiæ._]

Now I come to the kinds and sorts of this disease, which may bee reduced vnto three principall heades, according as euerie part of the bodie belongeth vnto some of the three principall functions which do gouerne the bodie of man. Not that euerie _Symptom_ in this disease doth hurt some of the three functions, for some are onely molestations or deformities, as sudden Collickes, windie humors, noyses, alteration of colour, &c. But because euerie part may well bee mustred vnder some of these generals: and we doe seldome see any hystericall affect wherein some one or mo of the functions are not affected. These functions as they are distinct in office, so they possesse in our bodies seuerall seats and haue seuerall instruments belonging vnto them.

[Sidenote: _Trincauel. li. 4 cap. 24._]

[Sidenote: _De partium morbis et symp. lib. 5: cap. 12._]

1 The vitall function which by preseruing naturall heat in a due temperature, maintaineth the coniunction of soule and bodie togither, hath his principall mansion in the heart, and from thence by his Arteries conueyeth vitall spirites vnto euery member. So as without this wee could not liue: and therefore it is accounted the principallest function, because the rest receyue their being from this, and this fayling they must needes all cease. This function is performed by the motion of the heart, and Arteries, which in this affect of the Mother is drawne into consent as it is either diminished, abolished, or depraued. The deprauation of this motion is either when it is too fast and quick, or when it beates disorderly. The pulse in this disease is oftentimes too quicke, although it bee weake withall: but seeing it brings no great offence with it, the patient doth seldome complaine thereof. The greater offence is when it beates disorderly, and keepes no equall nor orderly stroke, but either trembleth and daunceth in the motion, or else is violently impelled: insomuch as it doth not onely remoue ones hande being applied to some part where the Arteries are great and near to the skinne (as lately appeared in a noble Gentleman of this lande now dead) but as _Fernelius_ testifieth, hath sometimes displaced the ribbes, and sometimes broken them through the violent motion of the heart.

This _Symptom_ is called the palpitation or beating of the heart, or Arteries whereof _Maximillian_ the Emperour died, as _Crato_ reporteth, and wherewith _Charles_ the fift was oftentimes molested, as _Vesalius_ writeth. It is chiefly to bee perceyued where the Arteries are great & neare the skin: as vnder the left ribbes towards the backe, and in the necke: as you may obserue in Maides that haue the greene sicknesse, by the shaking and quiuering of their ruffes, if they sit close to their neckes: where sometimes through the dilatation of the Arterie there ariseth a [25]tumour as bigge as ones fist. This _Symptom_ is euerie where mentioned by our [26]Authours in this disease and our dayly experience confirmeth it.

[25] _Aneurisms. Fernel. loco citato._

[26] _Petrus Salius pag. 429. Skinckius de cordis palpit. obs. 211, item 218, 222. Forestus lib. 17 obs. 8._

This motion of the heart and Arteries in this affect of the Mother is oftentimes diminished either in part or to sense totally. In part, where the pulse in this disease is weake, slow, obscure, intermittent, &c. and the whole bodie accordingly feeble and slow in euery action, for want of influence of vitall facultie from the heart. It is totally diminished in that _Symptom_ which is called _Syncope_ or swounding, the very image of death, where the pulse is [27]scarcely or not at all perceyued; the breath or respiration cleane gone: by reason that the heart wanting his motion, hath no neede of the helpe of the lungs to refresh it withall, all the faculties of the body fayling, it self lying like a dead corpse three or foure houres togither, and [28]sometimes two or three whole dayes without sense, motion, breath, heate, or any signe of life at all (like as wee see Snakes and other creatures to lie all the winter, as if they were dead, vnder the earth) insomuch as diuerse [29]errors haue beene committed in laying foorth such for dead, which haue afterwards beene found to haue life in them, and haue risen vp in their burials, whereupon there haue beene lawes enacted, as [30]_Mercurialis_ reporteth, that no woman which was subiect to this disease should be buried vntil she had beene three dayes dead. Or as [31]_Alexander Benedictus_ of _Bolonia_ sayth 72. houres, which commeth to the same reckoning. [32]_Petrus Bayrus_ setteth downe diuerse reasons why they should not be buried before three dayes bee ended, besides the experience of some (as hee saith) that haue beene found aliue in their graues after they had beene buried. I will refer the reader for the reasons to the author himself, and to [33]_Forrestus_ in his obseruations. [34]_Plinie_ maketh mention out of _Heraclides_, of a woman who for seuen dayes together lay for dead in a fit of the mother, and was restored againe to life: which (saieth [35]_Marcellus Donatus_) is not to be thought a fabulous tale, seeing it is not repugnant to the rules of Philosophie and Phisicke. And [36]_Galen_ making mention of the verie same hystorie vnder the name of _Apnæa_, discourseth of the reasons of it.

[27] _Gal. loc. affect. 6.c 5. pulsum vix perceptibilem habent &c Item de composit. pharmac. s.l. lib. 9. in finit._

[28] _Antho. Guaynerius. cap. de suffoc. matricĩs. Albert. Bottonus loco infra citato. Gal. loco citato. Altomarus loco citato._

[29] _Ambros. paræus li. 24.c. 10_

[30] _De morbis muliebr: lib. 4. cap. 22. Iacobus Syluius de mensibus mulierum._

[31] _De morbis medicandis. lib. 10. cap. 10._

[32] _Practica lib. 2. cap. 17._

[33] _Lib. 10. obser. 79. in scholiis._

[34] _Histor. nat. lib. 7. cap. 52._

[35] _De medica hysteria mirabili. lib. 4. ca. 11_

[36] _6. Locorum affect. cap. 5._

[37]_Rabbi Moses_ an ancient Author in Physicke, reporteth also of a woman, that in the fitte of the mother, did lie six dayes without sense and motion, her Arteries being waxt hard, and she readie to be buried, and yet recouered.

[38]_Bottonus_ a late professor of Physicke in Padua, reporteth of a woman that beeing giuen ouer for dead in a fit of the Mother, was by such conclusions as he tried, discouered to be yet aliue, and recouered her former health againe by such remedies as he prescribed.

[39]_Forestus_ of _Alkmar_ in north _Holland_, but lately dead, setteth downe the like example of another, that lay in that maner 24. houres, and was by him restored to health againe.

[37] _Ioh. Schinckius refert ex pictorio. obseruat. med. lib 4. cap. 288._

[38] _De morbis muliebribus cap. 43._

[39] _Obseru. li. 10. in scholiis ad obseruat. 79. Iacobus Ruffius testatur se plures huius mod. vidiss. muliebr. lib. 6. cap. 8._

[Sidenote: _De hominis generat. cap. 46._]

The like also he citeth out of _Leouellus_, in that place, of one that lay with her eyes shut, and dumb a whole day, and by conuenient remedies was deliuered from her fit, and could rehearse all that was done about her in the time of her fit. But the most pitifull example of all other in this kinde, is that which _Ambrose Paræe_ reporteth of _Vesalius_ a worthie Physition, & for anatomicall dissections much renowned, who being called to the opening of a Gentlewoman in Spaine, which was thought to be dead through the violence of one of these fits, began to open her, and at the second cut of the knife she cried out, and stirred her limbes, shewing manifest signes of life to remaine. The beholders were exceedingly amazed at the sight, and blamed the Physition much for it: who though hee tooke her for dead, yet tooke he great apprehension of sorrow for that accident, that he estranged himselfe. After through griefe and remorse of conscience for his error, pretended (as others say) a pilgrimage for the absenting of himselfe, and therein died. Many more examples to this end could I produce out of _Authenticall_ writers, and late experiences, if it were free for mee to mention them: but these may suffice to shew how wonderfully the vitall facultie is ouerthrowne in this disease, and withall respiration, sense, motion, and all the functions of the bodie by reason of this.

_Cap._ 4.

_Of that kind of this disease wherein the animall facultie is offended._