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.

CHAP. XVII.
Of PAINS in the Hips, Loins, &c.

ALTHOUGH these PAINS (in general Terms) are the Effects of the Compression of the extended Womb, hanging on, and bearing too much upon the neighbouring Parts, by its Gravity and Weight: Yet the particular Cause of such SYMPTOMS (in my Opinion) is Two-fold; and proceeds either from the Abundance of Blood lodging in the Veins of those Parts; or from the growing Foetus, so extending the Ligaments of the Womb, as to oblige the neighbouring Parts to sympathize. From hence the broad Ligaments cause the PAINS of the Back and Loins, answering to the Reins, to which Parts they are strongly fixed; as the round Ones affect the Groins, Hips, and Thighs, where they terminate. Which Ligaments are sometimes so violently extended, especially in the first Time of Pregnancy, that (by the Concurrence of any slight procatarctick Cause) they have been often known to break.

THE Cure of these SYMPTOMS, in the first Case above-mentioned, depends chiefly upon cautious Phlebotomy, and good Repose in Bed; and in the Second, upon proper Swathes, Unguents, &c.