Part 3

The second kind of this disease is, where the animall facultie doth principally suffer; and it is that faculty whereby we do vnderstand, iudge, and remember things that are profitable or hurtfull vnto vs, whereby also we haue sense and do feele the qualities of things, and moue to and fro, & performe diuers other voluntary actions for the cõmoditie of the bodie. For nature had made vs but base creatures, if she had giuen vs onely the vitall facultie barely to liue, and the naturall to grow, and to supply the expence that is daily made of naturall moisture: If she had not withall giuen vs knowledg and vnderstanding of such things as we are subiect vnto, and abilitie to moue our bodies at our pleasure, to apprehend that which is profitable & to shun that which is offensiue, &c. And therefore as a facultie making most for the dignitie and vse of man, it is placed principally in the braine; from whence it disperseth his beames of influence into euery part of the bodie, according to the seuerall vses and necessitie of each part.

[Sidenote: _De motu musculorum lib. 2. cap. 7. 8._]

[Sidenote: _De ciuitate Dei lib. 4: Cosmoscrit. lib. 1. pag. 156._]

[Sidenote: _Medici parisienses in historia Martha. Brossier._

1. Sam. 21. 13. _Gal. lib quomodo deprehendũtur qui agrotare se fingunt. cap. 1._]

[Sidenote: _Epidemiorum 5. R. Scot. lib. 7: cap. 1._]

[Sidenote: _Lib: 16. cap. 4._]

This animall facultie hath this peculiar difference from the vitall and naturall faculties, that the functions of it are subiect vnto our wil, & may be intẽded remitted, or peruerted at our pleasure, otherwise thẽ in other faculties: For no man can make his pulse to beate as he list, or alter the naturall functions at his will and pleasure. But these animal functions may be abused both by our owne will, and by the violence of some disease, and by both, as _Galen_ testifieth, _lib. 2. de Symptomatum causis cap. 12_. That it may be abused by our owne will, he proueth also in another place, where he bringeth an instance of a seruant (_serui barbari_) who killed himselfe to anger his maister by holding of his breath. S. _Augustine_ saith that he knew a man that could make himselfe to sweate when he list, by his imagination only. _Cornelius Gemma_ saith, that he knew one that could weepe when he list: others that could make their bodies stiffe like an image, imitate the voyces of all kinde of creatures, raise a hickocke, and breake wind as often and in what manner they would. And S. _Augustine_ tels of one that would make a kinde of musicke that way. _Adrian Turnebus_ saw a rogue that gayned much money by shewing this feate, we do also daily see that some can counterfait madnes, some drunkennesse, some the falling sicknesse, some palsies and trembling, some can play the fooles and supply the roomes of innocents, some can make noyses & speake in their bellies or throates, as those which _Hyppocrates_ calleth _Eugastrimuthoi ventriloqui_, such as was the holy maid of Kent, and _Mildred_ of westwall, &c. And it is strange to see how young bodies will be bowed and writhed diuersly, as wee see in tumblers iuglers, and such like companions. Hereupon diuers haue counterfaited diseases as I once saw a poor fellow being arested for a smal debt coũterfaited a fit of the falling sicknes, with strange and violent motions: whereby the creditor in compassion was moued to release him. Being released he was well againe, and vnto his friendes seemed to confesse the cousonage: others haue counterfaited possessions, either vpon meere deceit or inticed therto through the conceite of some disease wherewith they haue beene troubled. But for this point I referre you to the histories of _Agnes Brigs_, _Rachel Pinder_, _Martha Brossier_, &c. _Ren. Scot_ tels of one that being blind, deafe, and dumbe, could reade any canonicall Scripture, but no Apocripha: But was discouered by inserting a leafe of Apocrapha: among the canonicall. Another faining her selfe to be possessed with a diuell, would answere to any question made in English, but vnderstood no latine. Diuers such like examples might bee procured to shew how the animall functions may be abused by our owne will. But against our willes this faculty doth suffer by consent in the suffocation of the Mother diuersly according to the varietie of offices or functions which it performeth.

[Sidenote: _Hebetudo mentis._]

[Sidenote: _Imprudentia obliuio._]

[Sidenote: _Sopor._]

[Sidenote: _Apoplexiæ._ _Epilepsia._]

[Sidenote: _Catalepsis._]

The functions of it are three, the first is called _Internall_ and principall sence which doth gouerne and direct all the rest by _Imagination_, _Reason_ and _Memory_: which if it bee hurt either by imminution or deprauation or total abolishment, then the inferior functions doe necessarily participate with the offence. They are hurt by Imminution when a man doth not _Conceiue_, _Iudge_, or remember so well as hee ought to doe, as in dulnesse or blockishnesse,[40] as wee call it in vndiscretion, foolishnes or want of iudgement, in obliuion or forgetfulnes, &c. They are abolished either in those drowsie affects which wee call _Caros_, _Coma_, _veternus_, _Lethargus_ &c. or in those astonishing _Symptoms_ wherein all the animall faculties are at once taken away, sometimes with a generall resolution or palsie, as in _Apoplexies_: sometimes with a generall conuulsion, as in the falling sicknes: sometimes with a _Stifnesse or congelation_ of the body, wherein they lie like an image in the same forme they were taken.

[40] _Hypp. de morbis muliebr. lib 1 et 2. Torpor occupat caput mẽs percellitur et improba fit non facile intelligit. De virginum morbis cor fatuum fit, ex fatuitate torpor._

_Gal. loc. affect. 6. 5. De composit. pharm. s. L. lib. 9. in fine_

_Rhasis continẽt 22. Egineta. li. 3. ca. 71._ _Ætius tetr. 4._ _Serr21 4. cap. 68. paschalius lib. 1: cap. 58._ _Valescus de Taran. Iacobus Syluius Altomam. Augeni. Aui. Fen. 21. 3. cap. 16. tract. 4: Idem._ _Petr. salius de catelepsi. pag. 384._

These internall sences are ouerthrowne either in part or in whole in this suffocatiõ of the mother: and thereupon it is likened vnto these former diseases: and this kind is accounted by _Auicen_ to be the most grieuous of all other, where the imagination and reason is hurt: and the other which holds them with conuulsions, contractions, &c. he accounts to bee the milder and the more vsuall. And therefore he saith that commonly they can remember what was done about them in their fit: vnlesse it be of this most grieuous kinde.

[Sidenote: _Insania. Delirium. Melancholia. Furor._]

The Internall sence is depraued when a man doth imagine, iudge, or remember thinges that are not as if they were, or things that are, otherwise then they are indeed. Whether they do it in cogitation alone, or do expresse it by word or deede. As we see in those fooles which we call naturals, in mad men, in melancholike men, in those that are furious, in such as do dote, in such as are distracted through loue, feare, griefe, ioye, anger, hatred, &c. In some of which they will laugh, crye, prattle, threaten, chide, or sing, &c. according to the disposition of the party or the cause of the affect.

[Sidenote: _Vigilia. Insomnium._]

These functions are also depraued in too much wakefulnesse through the commotion of the animall spirits, also in dreames, where somtimes besides the deprauation of the fantasie they wil walke, talke, laugh, crye, &c. And lastly in that disease which is called [41]_Saltus Sa^{ti} viti_, or _Saltuosa dispositio membrorum_ wherein they will daunce, and leape, and cannot endure to be quiet.

[41] _Saltus viti. F. Platerus de mentis alienatione. pag. 103_

This deprauation of the internall sences, is so ordinary in the fits of the Mother, as _Horatius Augenius Epistola_. 6. seemes to make it of the essence of this disease, that the imagination is ever depraued in it. But [42]_Hyppocrates_, _Galen_, _Auicen_, and most of the best Authors in our profession, do affirme that very often there happeneth an alienation of the minde in this disease, whereby sometimes they will waxe furious and raging depriued of their right iudgement and of rest.

[42] _Hippoccrat. de morbis virg. præ acutæ inflamatione infamis præ putredione clamat, &c De morbis muliebr. lib. 1. mente alienatur in hoc morbo et deliria fiunt furiousa dentibus frendet vigilabit anxia erit &c. Avicen loco citato facit accidere alienationem per communitatem cerebri, &c. Ætius garrula inquieta & iracunda fiunt. lib. 16. 7. 4. Hier. mercurialis morborum muliebr. lib. 4. c. 10. Iacobus Sylvius demensibus. Mathæus de grad. consilio. 806 8 c. 6 historiam narrat furiosi._

[Sidenote: _Priuatio visus Auditus. Gustus. Olfactus. Tactus._]

The second function of the animall facultie is the externall sensitive function; which giueth to the eye the facultie of seeing, to the eare of hearing, to the tongue of tasting, to the nose of smelling and to diuers parts of the bodie the power of feeling.

This function in all these kindes is diminished, depraued, or cleane abolished, but especially in this disease of the mother, we do obserue the offence which is done to the feeling facultie, when the parts are benummed or do not feele at all, or when they feele [43]paine and offence, or when they feele things falsely and otherwise then they are.

[43] _Iuxta receptam a medicis sententiam dolorem hic insero licet videatur potius ad simpls̃ ces corporis affectus referendus._

Concerning hearing, although [44]_Hyppoc. Rhasis_ and diuers others doe obserue that sometimes it is hindred: yet it seemes to be in the former kinde where the internall facultie doe suffer. For _Mercatus_ puts it as a difference from the falling sicknes, that in this suffocation of the matrix they doe commonly heare. The priuation of the other sences of seeing, tasting, smelling and feeling, are verie ordinarie in this disease, as you may obserue in the Histories following, and in these quotations.

[44] _Hyp: morb. muliebr. lib._ 0. _caligo ante oculos obuersatur et vertigo, oculi non acute vidẽt nilhil olfaciunt vocata non audit Rhasis 22. cont. in hac passione non audit quando datur in auribus eius vox terribilis. Ægineta loco citato. Instrumentorum sensus apprehensio &c. Auicen narrat plurimum eius quod fuit in ea nisi sit maxima et immoderata AEtius sensus et motus intercipiuntur. Gal. immobiles sine sensu sacẽt Horatius Angenius Epist. 6, Gal. de motu musc. lib. 2 cap. 6. et 8._

The third function is that which giues motion to the whole bodie. This motion serueth either for a voluntary vse onely, or for a naturall vse also. The motions for the voluntary vse are the free motions of the externall members of our bodies: as to bowe the whole bodie and the head by meanes of the backe, to apprehend with the hand, to stand and goe with the feete and legges, to chewe with the iawes, to open & shut the lips & eyelids, to moue the eies, &c. This functiõ is _diminished_ in that affect which we cal _lassitudo_, werines or vnweldines, wherein we are not able to move so strongly and nimbly as we should.

[Sidenote: _Paralysis._]

It is _abolished_, either by a _resolution_ or _palsie_ where the sound part drawes the sickly part, that is the part resolued, & depending draws the muscles & nerues &c. or by a _Spasmus_ or _contractiõ_ of them [45]where the sick part drawes the sound part, that is, the muscle which is affected, drawes the member which is wel.

[45] _Contractio. platerus. Gal. de causis morborũ lib. 2. cap. 7. et loc. affect. li. 34._

A resolution or palsie is either generall of both sides of the bodie [46]exempting the head, or of one side called _Hæmiplegia_, or yet more particular of the hand, legge, finger, &c. called [47]_parapligia_.

[46] _Petrus Salius pag. 401. tanquam leuis Apoplexiæ Fern. de part. morbis & sympt. li. 5. cap. 3._

[47] _Gal. prorhet com. 2. 50. et com. 3. 26. de victus rat. tom. 4. 27. de morb. vulg. com. 2. 56_ _Gybbus._ _Trismos._ _Tortura oris._ _Strabismus._ _Spasmus Cynicus._

A _Contraction_ or _Spasmus_ is also of like sortes, sometimes the bodie is held vpright and cannot be bowed any way in that affect which is called _Tetanos_, sometimes it is bowed forwardes _Emprostotonos_ sometimes backward _Opistotonos_, somtimes the back is crookt in some part of it, as in _Gibbo_, sometimes the iawes, lips, face, eyelids, &c. are contracted, wherby they make many strange faces and mouthes sometimes as though they laughed or wept, sometimes holding their mouthes open or awry, their eyes staring, &c. Sometimes the handes, armes, legges, fingers, toes, &c. are contracted, sometimes particular muscles in the sides, backe, armes, legs, &c. one or more at once, as in crampes.

[Sidenote: _Marcellus Doc natus. li. 2. ca. 4_]

[Sidenote: _Felix Platerus de motu deprauato. pag. 401._]

It is _depraued_ where the motions are immoderate, peruerse, inordinate, or indecẽt, as when they are _vnquiet_, & cannot abstaine frõ motions and gestures, casting their armes and legges to and fro, vp and downe, dauncing, capring, vawting, fencing, and in diuerse maners forming their motions. Also in _Convulsions_ of the members, where they are shaken and pulled by inordinate motions, as wee see in the falling sicknesse. Also in _trembling_, _palpitation_, _rigor_ where the teeth do chatter, horror where the haire standes vpright, stretching, yawning, gasping twinckling of the eyes, &c. These impediments and deprauations of motion are dayly obserued in vterne affects: as may appeare by these testimonies. _Hyppocrat. de morbi muliebr. lib. 1. Albas oculorum partes subuertit, dentibus frendet, & similis fit his qui herculeo morbo detinentur. Item fit cõuulsio fortis articulorum corporis, claudam facit aut impotentem præ rigore, alias atque alias seipsam iactabit. Horror. Erectæ ceruicis spiratio ipsam tenet, & quicquid ederit aut biberit ipsam molestat. Torpor occupat manus & inguina, & crura & poplites. Magnis pedumigitis conuelluntur gybbosa fit, de nat. muliebr. Gal. lib. de semine cap. 3. Tensiones lumborum & manuum, & pedum viduam apprehendebant loc. affect. 6. 5. Aliis crura & bracchia contrahuntur. Auicenna. minor suffocationum est quæ facit accidere spasmum & tetanum, sine nocumento in ratione & sensu. Quandoque claudit oculos & non aperit eos. Stridor dentium, percussio oculorum, & motus inuoluntarius lacertorum. Rhasis, Stridor dentium cum spasmo & torquedine extremitatum, dolores fortes adeo vt mulierem torquere faciant vndique & caput genibus implicari. &c. Mesue loco superius citato. Aetius. Oculi post multam grauitatem attolluntur, vterus paulatim laxatur & intellectum & sensum recipit. &c._

[Sidenote: _Suffocatio. Anthon. Guaynerius. cap. de suffocatione._]

[Sidenote: _Priuatio vocis._]

The animall motions which doe serue for naturall vse, haue their power from the animall facultie, but their vrging and prouoking and cause from the naturall, and are either _Respiration_, _Ingestion_, _or Excretion_. Respiration hath annexed vnto it voyce, and speach, this is diminished or abolished in _Suffocation_ or choaking, from whence this disease which we intreat of taketh his name, as from the most cõmon _Symptom_ which appeareth in it. In _difficulty_ of breathing. In priuation of _voyce and speach_.

[Sidenote: _Citæ respiratio, suspirium. Oscitatio. Singultus. Sternutatio, Ructus, Tusus. Deglutitio. Excretio._]

It is depraued when it is done immoderately or inordinately, whether it be voluntarie, or inuoluntarie, as in _shortnesse of breath_, _sighing_, _yawning_, _the hickock_, _sneesing_, _coughing_, _belching_, _vomiting_, _making of noyses_, _blowing_, _and reaching_, _&c._

_Ingestion, or swallowing_, is also hurt in this affect, when either they cannot swallow meate, or drinke at all, or with great difficultie.

_Excretion_ is also hurt in this case, by vomit, seege or vrine, &c. when either they cannot performe it being prouoked, or do it out of season, or more then is conuenient. &c.

These _Symptoms_ also appeare in the Suffocation of the Mother. _Hyppocrat. de nat. muliebri. Muta deprepentè fit. de morbis muliebr. lingua ipsius refrenatur & hanc non claram habet. Aliquibus etiam vocis priuatio. Spiritus sublimis it, et suffocatio et anhelatio densa ipsam corripit. De nat. muliebr. Tussis detinet & contabiscit & videtur peripnumonia esse, &c. Gal. 9. de compis. Pb. s.l. aliquibus vox intercipitur. loc. affect. 6. 5. aliæ interceptas habent spirationes aliæ suffocationes, &c. Hyppoc. de nat. muliebr. quicquid ederit aut biberit ipsam molestat. Auicen. Abscinditur loquela &c. Rhasis. Strictura anhelitus, squinantia, peripneumonia, apostema in gutture ex cõmunicatione Diaphragmatis cum matrice. Gal. Loco citato humiditas quædam ê locis muliebribus excurrit. &c. Rondalat. cap. 69. Hollerius. cap. 59. Syluius suspirium. Montagnana consilio. 225._

[Sidenote: _De morbis internis lib. 1. ca. 59. in scholiis._]

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

[Sidenote: _Aliam egregiã motuum cõvulsiuorũ ab vtero hystor. vide apud eundem. li. 10. obser. 116 Lib. 26. cap. 16._]

These motions as they belong to the animall facultie are principally hurt by _Resolution_, _contraction_, or _conuulsion_, according as the simple motions are, and therefore we shall not need to stand any longer vppon them in this place: as they belong vnto the naturall facultie, and do receyue offence in that respect shall be declared hereafter in the third general faculty. In the mean time let vs produce some examples of this 2. kind of _Suffocation_, where the animall faculty doth principally suffer: for examples many times do perswade more then doctrine. _Hollerius_ reporteth that the gouernour of _Roan_ in France had two daughters which were helde with these fits, in such sort as they would laugh an houre or two togither, and confessed that they could not refraine from laughing, although diuerse means to that end were vsed, both by entreaty, and by threates. He tels also of a gentlewoman _de Rochpot_, who being in these fits would raue, laugh, & weep, her eies being shut. _Forestus_ maketh mention of one _Alcida Theodorici at Alkmare_ a yong lusty maid who was held 24. houres in a most grieuous fit of the mother, wherin she lay as if she had beene halfe dead, hearing what was said about her, but could not speake, nor enioy her other senses. Sometimes she would bee pulled as if she had the falling sickenesse, sometimes would lie still as if she were in an _Apoplexie_, sometimes she would onely stirre her legges, the rest of her bodie being dull: and although she could not speake, yet she would crie and laugh by turnes, and then be sullen and dumpish, as if she were dead againe.

_Alexander Benedictus veronensis_ testifieth, that he saw a woman in a fit of the Mother, that was besides her selfe, and would sometimes laugh & sometimes crie. Those that attended her, applied Partrige feathers vpon coales vnto her nostrilles, and by chance through want of care there fell a great coale out of the Chafingdish into her bosome, where it burnt her, and made a great blister, but she perceyued it not vntill the next day, and then complained of her breasts. My selfe had a patient in this Citie yet liuing and in good health (whome I will name vnto any whome it may concerne) that endured a violent fitte of the Mother a whole day together: wherein shee had many strong conuulsions, and sometimes did lie as if she had beene dead. Insomuch as the midwiues would haue giuen her ouer, and imputed ignorance vnto mee that I woulde attempt any thing for her recouerie. But her husband being perswaded by me to make triall of some meanes which I had prescribed for her, shee was within three or foure houres deliuered of a childe; yet knew not of it, vntill shee was throughly recouered of her fit, which was fourteene or fifteene houres after, and then she asked her husband what was become of her great bellie. I could rehearse two other such like examples within this citie, which happened not many moneths since.

But we had of late a most rare example of this disease in an Essex Gentlewoman of good note, who being once frighted by squibs, fell into these fits of the Mother, which held her euery day, and whensoeuer else she did eate any comfortable meat, for the space of fifteene or sexteene yeares togither, with such violent conuulsions, as fiue or six strong men could scarce hold her downe. Sometimes her limbes would be contracted, sometimes perticular Muscles, which would cause swellings in diuerse parts of her bodie, sometimes she would be without all maner of sense. And being made beleeue by a stranger Physition that she was bewitched, her fits increased vpon her, and grew to be stronger than before.

_Bartholomeus Montagnana_ reciteth vp 31. seuerall _Symptoms_ of this disease which hee obserued in a Gentlewoman which was his patient. Conuulsions, swoundings, choaking in the throate, sadnesse and lamentation, coldnes ouer her whole bodie, dumbnesse, and yet could heare, drowsinesse, beating of the heart, trembling of the handes, contraction of the fingers, &c.

It were in vaine to heape vp many examples to this purpose, seeing our daily experience doth yeeld vs sufficient store of proofe of the varietie of these _Symptoms_ in the animall facultie.

_Cap. 5._

_Of that kind wherein the naturall facultie is offended._

The third kinde of this disease is, where the naturall facultie doth principally suffer. This facultie is of great necessitie for the maintenaunce of mankinde and according to the diuerse vses thereof is distinguished. For seeing that nature bringes vs not forth into the world perfect men, in that ripenesse and integritie, of all humaine actions which afterwards we attaine vnto, when wee come to full growth, it was meete to be prouided of such a facultie in our bodies as might encrease our stature, & strengthen the instruments of the whole body, for the better perfection of the actions thereof. And this is called _facultas auctrix_. Seeing also that wee are made of a fluxible moulde which wasteth and spendeth it selfe many wayes, whereby it standeth in neede of continuall refection and replie: Therefore it was meete to be furnished with such a facultie as might repaire the decay and expence of our substance, by yeelding continually apt matter for the nourishment of the bodie. And that is called _facultas altrix_. And thirdly seeing, notwithstanding our bodies are continually nourished with the best food, yet they must once die as well as other inferiour creatures doe: therefore God hath indued vs as well as other creatures with the facultie of generation: whereby wee may bee able to make our kind to continue as long as the world shall endure.

[Sidenote: _Gal. de tremor. palp. tis. &c. cap. 2. sensibus non exposita._]

These three naturall faculties haue diuerse others attending vpon them, as the faculties of _Attraction_, _Retention_, _Concoction_, _Expulsion_, _Alteration_, _Formation_, _&c._ Which I will for breuitie sake ouerpasse with their bare mention, because the _Symptoms_ of these faculties are not so euident to the beholders eye, nor so straunge as those of the vitall and animall faculties are, yet that these are also hurt in the suffocation of the Mother, appeareth both by dayly obseruation, and by the authorities of all both auncient and late physitions who haue written of this disease.

[Sidenote: Some of these are _Symptomata in qualitate mutata_, or _in excremento vitiato_: but because they are in the naturall parts, and arising from errors of that facultie, I haue inserted them here.]