Chap. XXI Of Pessaries
These three kinds of compositions, that is, malagmas, plaisters, and troches, are extensive and various in their uses. But there are other things also useful: as those, which are applied below to females: the Greeks call them pessiEK. The manner of them is this: the composition is received in soft wool, and this wool put into the vagina.
1. Pessary for evacuating blood.
For evacuating blood, to two of the small kind of figs called cauneæ52 is added nitre p. i. *. Or the seed of garlick is powdered, and a little myrrh added and mixed with susine ointment53. Or the pulp of a wild cucumber is diluted in woman’s milk.
2. For softening the womb.
To soften the womb, the yolk of an egg, and fenugreek, and rose oil, and saffron are mixed together. Or of elaterium p. iii. *. as much salt, and stavesacre p. vi. *. are incorporated with honey.
3. Boethus’s for the same.
There is another invented by Boethus, which contains saffron, turpentine resin, each p. iv. *. myrrh p. iii. *. rose oil p. i. *. veal suet p. iii. *. wax p. ii. *. mixed together.
4. Numenius’s for an inflammation.
The best composition against an inflammation of the womb, is that of Numenius, which contains saffron p. iii. *. wax p. i. *. butter p. viii. *. goose fat p. xii. *. two boiled yolks of eggs, with less than a cyathus of rose oil.
5. For expelling a dead fœtus.
If a fœtus has died within the womb, that it may be the more easily expelled, the bark of pomegranates must be rubbed down with water, and then made use of.
6. For hysterick fits.
If a woman from an hysterick disorder is subject to fits, snails together with their shells must be burnt and powdered, and then honey added to them.
7. For conception.
If a woman does not conceive54, lions fat must be softened with rose oil.