em for ten minutes in malmsey; then apply them,
as hot as they can be borne, to the mouth of the womb, but do not let
the smell go up her nose. A dry diet must still be adhered to and the
moderate use of Venus is advisable. Let her eat aniseed biscuits
instead of bread, and roast meat instead of boiled.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VII

_Of the Descending or Falling of the Womb._

The descent of the womb is caused by a relaxation of the ligatures,
whereby the matrix is carried backward, and in some women it protrudes
to the size of an egg, and there are two kinds of this, distinguished by
a descending and a precipitation. The descending of the womb is, when it
sinks down to the entrance of the private parts, and appears either very
little or not at all, to the eye. Its precipitation is when it is turned
inside out like a purse, and hangs out between the thighs, like a
cupping glass.

CAUSE.

This is either external or internal. The external cause is difficult
childbirth, violent pulling away, or inexperience in drawing away the
child, violent coughing, sneezing, falls, blows, and carrying heavy
burdens. The internal cause, is generally the flow of too much moisture
into these parts, which hinders the operation of the womb, whereby the
ligaments by which the womb is supported are relaxed. The particular
cause, however, lies in the retention of the _semen_, or in the
suppression of the monthly courses.

SIGNS.

The principal gut and the bladder are often so crushed, that the passage
of both evacuations is hindered. If the urine flows out white and thick,
and the midriff is interfered with, the loins suffer, the private parts
are in pain, and the womb descends to them, or else comes clean out.

PROGNOSTICS.

If an old woman is thus affected, the cure is very difficult, because it
weakens the womb, and therefore, though it may be put back into its
proper place, yet it is apt to get displaced again, by a very slight
amount of illness. And also with younger women, if this disease is
inveterate, and if it is caused by putrefaction of the nerves, it is
incurable.

CURE.

The womb, being placed by nature between the straight gut and the
bladder, ought not to be put back again until the powers of both are
excited. Now that nature is relieved of her burden, let the woman be
laid on her back so that her legs may be higher than her head; let her
feet be drawn up tow