Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ But amongest all the diseases wherevnto that sex is obnoxious, there is none comparable vnto this which is called The Suffocation of the mother, either for varietie, or for strangenesse of accidents. For whatsoeuer straunge accident may appeare in any of the principall functions of mans bodie, either animall, vitall, or naturall, the same is to bee seene in this disease, by reason of the communitie and consent which this part hath with the braine, heart, and liuer, the principall seates of these three functions ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ Galen comparing the corruption of these two together, affirmeth that although from the putrefaction of bloud, diuers most terrible accidents doe arise, yet they are not so deadly as those which proceede from the corruption of nature; Syluius, &c. and proueth it by this obseruation that diuers women enioying the benefit of mariage, yet through the suppression of their ordinary euacuation falling into this disease, had their respiration and vitall faculties vntouched, although otherwise they were most grieuously affected. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ But let vs consider a little the signes which some doe shew of a supernaturall power in these examples. For if they say there neede no such signes appeare, because the Diuill by witchcraft may inflict a naturall disease: then I ask them what they haue to doe with the Diuell, or with dispossessing of him, when he is not their present, but hath beene onely an externall cause of a disease, by kindling or corrupting the humours of our bodies; which disease as well as other will submit it selfe to physicall indications: as is shewed, cap. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ The externall causes of this disease are either such things as are ordinary and necessary for our life and which we cannot shun, as our meate and drink, motion and rest, sleepe and watching, euacuation and perturbations of the minde: or such things as happen vnto vs accidentally, and may bee shunned by vs, as bathes, ointments, plaisters, cloathes, smelles or vapours, medicines, venus, noyses, riding, swimming, sayling, wounds, contusions, falles, biting of venomous beasts, &c. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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 some10times through the dilatation of the Arterie there ariseth a 25tumour as bigge as ones fist. This Symptom is euerie where mentioned by our 26Authours in this disease and our dayly experience confirmeth it. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ The other substance which most commonly is found culpable of this disease, is nature or sperma: which besides the suspition of superfluitie in some persons, may also receiue diuers sortes of alteration, and likewise of corruption, able to worke most strange and grieuous accidents in our bodies. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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.Another diuersitie there is, in the order of these fits: for somtimes they keep due19 periods or circuits yearly or monthly, according to the falling sicknes, and sometime euery weeke, sometimes20 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ This animall facultie hath this peculiar difference from the vitall and naturall faculties, that the functi12ons 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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 naturall7 facultie, are 2. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ So being depraued or corrupted, it passeth all the humors of our bodie, in venom and malignitie. For it must needs be a vehement and an impure cause that shal corrupt so pure a substance, which would easily resist any weake assault: and a substance so pure and full of spirits as this is, must needes proue most malitious vnto the bodie when it is corrupted. And therefore it is compared to the venom of a serpent, a Scorpion, a Torpido, a madde dogge, &c. which in a small quantitie is able to destroy or depraue all the faculties of our bodies at once. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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 ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ Out of the fit, in regard of Externall causes, remoue from them all occasions of breeding or in24creasing the disease: as sweet sauors, pleasant meats and drinks, much rest and slouthfulnesse, &c. Also if 64discontinuance of any thing accustomed bee the cause of this disease, bring it into custome againe: if want of any thing necessary for their health, let it be supplied, 65let their diet be sparing and vpon cooling things, let them vse much fasting and prayer, and all other meanes to pull downe their bodies: and contrariwise abstaine from egges, wine, flesh, &c. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ For if it be true that one man cannot be perfect in euery arte and profession, and therefore in cases out of our owne callings, we do depend vpon those which haue beene trayned up in other particular subiects, beleeuing men in their owne professions: Why should we not prefer the iudgements of Phisitions in a question concerning the actions and passions of mans bodie (the proper subiect of that profession) before our owne conceites ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ Wherefore it behoueth vs as to be zealous in the truth, so to be wise in discerning truth from counterfaiting and naturall causes from supernaturall power. I doe not deny but that God doth in these dayes worke extraordinarily, for the deliuerance of his children, and for other endes best knowne vnto himselfe; and that among other, there may be both possessions by the Diuell, and obsessions and witchcraft, &c. and dispossession also through the Prayers and supplications of his seruants, which is the onely meanes left vnto vs for our reliefe in that case. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ Wherefore they must needes make him to be an internall cause, and to possesse the members and faculties of the bodie, and holde them to his vse: or else they vnderstand not what they say, when they doe peremptorily disclaime naturall meanes, and auouch that they speake certaine wordes, and performe certaine voluntarie motions vpon his incitation, and are hindred by him from speaking other wordes which they would faine vtter. And therefore to this end diuerse signes and Symptoms are alledged by them, as arguments of a supernaturall and extraordinarie power inhærent in the body. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ And therefore wee doe especially forbid that they may not smell vnto any sweet thing that are subiect vnto this griefe: but rather vnto euill sauoures: which as Platerus thinkes by stirring vp the expulsiue facultie of the matrix, are a meanes of the shortening of the fit.Meate and drinke is the Mother of most diseases, whatsoeuer the Father bee, for the constitution of the humors of our bodies is according to that which feedes vs. And therefore it is reckoned as a principall externall cause of diseases. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ But this prouision of nature is oftentimes defectiue: as when it is cut off by violent causes, and the part left destitute of this familiar humor, which should serue both for the comfort of the infant, and of the part it selfe: which finding offence thereby doth communicate it vnto the other partes with which it hath affinitie according to Hyppocrates doctrine. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ But it is no maruell though the common people and men also in other faculties verie excellent may bee deceyued by the rarenesse and straungenesse of these matters, which are hidden out of their Horizon amongest the deepest mysteries of our profession: Cosmocrit. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ The second argument of this is, that these Symptoms do yeeld vnto natural causes, and are both procured and also eased by such ordinary meanes, as other diseases are: and6 therefore they must needs be naturall.The strength of this argument is grounded vpon the very foundation of our profession which hath beene layd by7 Hyppocrates and8 Gallen long agoe and euer since confirmed by the practise and obseruations of all learned men; that diseases are cured by their contraries. I say contrary9 both vnto the disease, vnto the cause, and vnto the Symptom. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ That this disease doth oftentimes giue occasion vnto simple and vnlearned people, to suspect possession, witchcraft, or some such like supernaturall cause. The passiue condition of womankind is subiect vnto more diseases and of other1 sortes and natures then men are: and especially in regarde of that part2 from whence this disease which we speake of doth arise. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ And thirdly seeing, notwithstanding our bodies are continually nourished with the best food, yet they must once die as well as other inferiour18 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.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 Gal. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ According to the varietie of causes and diseases wherewith the wombe is offended, these Symptoms doe differ in nature, or in degree. 23A 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. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ If the perturbations of the mind be any occasion hereof, let them haue their proper remedies, as anger and iealousie are to be appeased by good counsell and perswasions: hatred and malice by religious instructions, feare by incouragements, loue 66by inducing hatred, or 67by permitting them to enioy their desires, &c. ”
Edward Jorden, A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother
“ A resolution or palsie is either generall of both sides of the bodie 46exempting the head, or of one side called Hæmiplegia, or yet more particular of the hand, legge, finger, &c. called 47parapligia.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. ”
