Essay on the virtues and efficacy of Dr. Sibly's lunar tincture, in all diseases peculiar to the female sex / [E. Sibly].

  • Sibly, E. (Ebenezer), 1751-1800
Date:
between 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essay on the virtues and efficacy of Dr. Sibly's lunar tincture, in all diseases peculiar to the female sex / [E. Sibly]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ESSAY ON THE VIRTUES AND EFFICACY OF Dr- SIBLY’S LUNAR TINCTURE, IN ALL DISEASES PECULIAR TO THE FEMALE SEX. THOUGH Nature has made an evident distinction between the male and female in their structure and design, as well as in bodily strength and vigour, whereby they are unfitted for hard and laborious employments, yet the modern style of bringing up young Ladies, by confining them almost entirely to their apartments, keeping them on a poor low diet, by using artificial means to make them spare and delicate, has contributed more to their pre¬ judice, than all the incidental diseases to which they are subject. These refinements in a female education, besides destroying their ruddy complexion, (which is often the design of it) relaxes their solids, impoverishes their blood, weakens their minds, and disorders all the functions of their bodies, whereby they are often rendered incapable of conception, and denied the felicity of becoming mothers. And this is not all; for too much confinement to par¬ ticular attitudes, gestures, and positions, frequently impairs the organs of the stomach, and brings on indigestion, flatulency, liead-ache, and the whole train of nervous disorders, which a freedom of bodily exercise, and fresh air, might have wholly prevented. Girls, like the tendrils of a vine, demand our tenderest care; and instead of being withheld, should be encouraged to romp, skip, and play, and to indulge in all the innocent diversions, as gay and blithesome as the playful lambs; which would exhilarate their spirits, promote digestion, stimulate their blood and juices; and at the proper time bring on a free and easy discharge of the needful regularity of the sex. When that season is arrived, the constitution of every female undergoes a considerable change; and the greatest care is then necessary, since the future health and happiness of every woman depend, in a great measure, upon her conduct at this period. It is the duty of mothers, and of those who are entrusted with the education of girls, to instruct them early in the conduct and management of themselves at this critical moment of their lives. False modesty, inattention and ignorance of what is beneficial or hurtful at this time, are the sources of many diseases and misfortunes, which a little atten¬ tion might have prevented : nor is care less necessary in the 'subsequent returns of this discharge. Taking improper food, violent agitations of the mind, or catching cold at this period, is often sufficient to ruin the health, or to render the female for ever after incapable of procreation. If a girl, about this time of life, be confined to the house, kept constantly sitting, and neither allowed to romp about, nor be employed in any active business or amuse¬ ment which gives exercise to the body, she becomes weak, relaxed, and puny : her blood not being duly prepared, she looks pale and wan; her health, spirits, and vigour decline; and she sinks into a valetudinary for life. Such is the fate of numbers of those unhappy females who, either from too much indul¬ gence of their own narrow circumstances, are at this critical period denied the benefit of exercise and free air. A lazy indolent indisposition proves like¬ wise very hurtful to girls at this period. We seldom meet with complaint 4cCc HISTORICAL MEDICAL