By powerful boiling at a strong fire without smoke, the serous part of
the milk is separated from the caseous, and is then strained through
a sieve or piece of rag carefully, and to the serous part is added a
moderate quantity of honey, or of vinegar and honey, or salts; and it is
given to evacuate the bowels in the quantity of two sextarii to adults,
and to younger persons not less than a sextarius. And milk thickened by
ignited pebbles or iron may be given with advantage for dysenteries and
alvine discharges.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The method of preparing the schiston is thus described by
Pliny: “Medici speciem unam addidere lactis generibus, quod schiston
appellavere. Id fit hoc modo: fictili novo fervet caprinum maxime,
ramisque ficulneis recentibus miscetur, additis totidem cyathis mulsi,
quot sint heminæ lactis. Cum fervet, ne circumfundatur, præstat cyathus
argenteus cum frigida aqua demissus ita ne quid infundat: ablatum deinde
igni refrigeratione dividitur et discedit serum a lacte.” (Hist. Nat.
xxviii, 33.) The same process is briefly described by Dioscorides (ii,
77.) Pliny recommends the whey thus prepared for epilepsy, melancholy,
paralysis, leprosy, elephantiasis, and arthritis. This preparation of
milk is often noticed by the ancient authors on medicine. It evidently
consisted of the whey of the milk, separated from the cheese by a
peculiar process.
The melca was a preparation from milk, and is mentioned by our author in
the Fourth Book § 27. It also appears to have been a sort of curds and
whey, or _du lait caillé_ of the French, prepared by pouring hot vinegar
upon milk. The process is minutely described in the Geoponics (xviii.)
The oxygal, or lac acidum, consisted of the caseous part of the milk,
separated from the whey by a very complicated process, which is fully
described by Columella. (xii, 8.) It is said by Galen to possess very
refrigerant properties.
The aphrogala, or spuma lactis, appears to have been milk reduced to a
state of foam by violent agitation.