The best milk is that which is moderate in thickness, quantity, colour,
smell, and taste. It is a proper way to try the quality of the milk, by
pouring a little of it upon the nail of the thumb and observing it in
the sun; for, when upon turning the nail, it neither runs off too slowly
nor too quickly, it is good milk. You may also try it thus: by pouring
some milk into a glass vessel, and putting some runnet into it, then
squeezing them together with your fingers, allow it to coagulate, and
observe whether the cheesy part be less than the serous; for such milk
is unsuitable, and also the opposite kind is of difficult digestion. The
best kind is that which has a moderate proportion of each.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This Section is taken from Oribasius (Synops. v, 3), and
Aëtius (iv, 3.)
The method of trying the quality of the milk here recommended is
mentioned by Aëtius, Barytus (ap. Geopon. xviii, 20), Dioscorides,
Avicenna, Haly Abbas, and Alsaharavius. According to Avicenna, a child
ought not to be allowed to take suck oftener than twice or thrice in the
day. See, in particular, Haly Abbas (Pract. i, 21), and Alsaharavius
(Pract. xxx, 3.)