It is manifest, that every Part of the Milk exerts an Effect proper
to it self; the fat Part, from which the Butter is formed, preserves
from the Stone, which affords an evident Reason why Stones taken from
the human Body, upon Distillation, afford so small a Portion of Oyl;
whence I am of Opinion, that the Stone is most commonly generated in
the Kidneys and Bladder, when the Blood is not sufficiently stocked
with oily Particles. Upon this Principle it is easy to see why all oily
Substances, as Oyl of Sweet Almonds, taken plentifully, is a Remedy
in the Stone; for the oily Particles (as _Hoffman_ observes in his
Notes upon _Poterius_) by their Hooks hinder the Saline _Spicula_ from
uniting so as to form an hard Substance. It is known in the Chymistry,
that Oyl resists Crystallization; and many Artists that are minded to
have beautiful Crystals, add rectified Spirit of Wine to their Lye, in
order to absorb the Oyl. Upon the same Principles, the Precipitation
of the earthy Particles, and the lodging thereof in the Membranes of
the Joints, so as to form chalky Knots, are prevented. _Poterius_ tells
us of a Woman of Sixty, who was so reduced in her Flesh and Strength,
that she was scarce sensible of Pain, who by the Help of Goat’s Milk,
was in three Months Time restored to a State of perfect Health,
notwithstanding a great Decay of Strength and Flesh, an Hectick Fever,
and a Stone; she took at first but four Ounces of the Milk, which was
at length increased to eight; at the End of fifteen Days she voided
some oblong and Very hard Stones, upon which she began to recover.
She continued the Use of the Milk for a Month, at which Time the
Fever left her, her Appetite returned, and she began to gather Flesh.
She was alive and hearty in the Sixty Eighth Year of her Age, when
_Poterius_ gave his Account. Although in this Case the oily Particles
of the Blood might contribute much to lubricate the Passages, yet
probably the serous Part of the Goats Milk, impregnated with a nitrous
abstersive Salt, attenuated the thicker Humours, and irritated the
nervous membranous Parts to discharge the Stones. It is observable that
after taking plentifully of Milk, the Urine is not only thin and watry,
but made also in large Quantities. This fat Substance in the Milk also
loosens the Bowels and softens Pain, it resists corrosive Poisons, in
as much as it sheaths and anoints the sharp _Spicula_ thereof. Many
Empiricks, to shew the Force of their Antidotes (which are generally
good for nothing) to the ignorant Multitude, having lined their
Stomachs well with Butter, or Oyl, either of Olive or Sweet Almonds,
will securely swallow Mercury and even Arsenick, and afterwards
taking the pretended Specifick, cheat the poor People of their Money.
_Poterius_ experienced the good Effects of Milk, plentifully taken, to
break the Force of Poyson; for a Woman, who being very dry, had drank
_Aqua Fortis_ instead of Wine, was relieved from the immediate Danger
of Death by drinking plentifully of Steeled Milk, with a Dram of Wax, a
little Nutmeg, and _Terra Lemnia_. _Tulpius_, in his Observations takes
Notice, that _Goldsmiths_, while they handle Mercury and Antimony, keep
in their Mouths a bit of Bread thick buttered, or take fat Broths, to
guard against their mischievous _Effluvia_. Milk, by reason of its
Oiliness, is one of the best, temperate, and nourishing of Foods;
nothing exceeds it in consumptive Cases. These Particles admirably
temper any Sharpness in the Body, and are serviceable where the Kidneys
are ulcerated, and to scorbutick People, especially if the Juice of
Cresses or Scurvygrass be added to it, and taken two Hours before
Meals. It is of great Service in Dysenteries, where there is great
Sharpness in the first Passages, and chiefly after the Use of absorbent
Medicines. Upon the same Account it eases Pains in the Eyes, and the
serous Part of the Milk helps much to dilute the Salts; dropt into the
Ear, it asswages Pains there, especially when it is attended with a
buzzing Noise.