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The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child. cover

The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

Chapter 42: CHAP. XVI. Of WATCHINGS.
By John Maubray
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A practical medical manual addressing illnesses and reproductive conditions affecting females across life stages, outlining causes, symptoms, degrees of danger, prevention, and treatment. It combines theoretical discussion of embryology, fetal development, membranes, and the afterbirth with guidance on infant nutrition and care. A large portion presents midwifery technique and recommended qualifications, giving step-by-step directions for normal, difficult, and preternatural births and for postnatal diet and regimen for mother and child. Separate chapters consider virgin-specific disorders, menstrual and related afflictions, and the physiological aspects of sexual intercourse, blending clinical observation with procedural instruction for both practitioners and informed readers.

CHAP. XVI.
Of WATCHINGS.

THIS Symptom is nothing else, more than an immoderate Exercitation of the Senses, from too great a Motion of the Animal Spirits: Proceeding from some acrimonious and siccid Vapours of the Humours, ascending to the Brain, and there disturbing the Spirits, by exciting their vehement Motion; which so exagitates the Senses, that the vigilant restless Woman gets either none at all, or but very short Sleep.

THIS watchful Affection is distinguished by a siccid, or calid and siccid Intemperature; attended sometimes with a Melancholick, Bilous, or Pituitous, Saltish Matter; which is either essentially lodg’d in the Head, or communicated to it from the Mouth of the Stomach, or the Veins of the whole Body.

SOME have been so overtaken with this SYMPTOM, that they have not only continued Awake for some Days and Nights, but also Weeks and Months: Insomuch that Hercules Saxon[72] relates of his own Father, that He, being melancholick, suffer’d such like Watchings, without the least Sleep, seven Months long.

HOWEVER in the Child-bearing Woman, the least Degree of such immoderate WATCHING[73] is dangerous; insomuch that it often occasions Deliriums, and Convulsions, by the continual Stretch and Tension of the Fibres.

HOWEVER the Cure of this SYMPTOM may (I hope) be well perform’d both by external and internal Means; externally, by proper Lotions, Inunctions, and Frictions; internally, by proper Soporiferous Medicines adapted to the Quality of the Intemperature.