Hippocrates, who often makes mention of milk as a medicine, and as an article of food, states that it sometimes occasions the formation of stones in the bladder (de Aer., Aquis et Locis, 24); and this opinion was adopted by all the ancient authorities on medicine. Milk, he says, is bad for those who are subject to headach, for those in fever, or who have flatulency of the bowels, with rumbling or thirst; also for those who are bilious and have bloody discharges from the bowels. He recommends it in consumption, and during convalescence from protracted fevers. (Aph. v, 64.)
According to Galen, the thickest milk of all, and the fattest, is that of cows; the most liquid and least fat is that of the camel; and after it that of the mare, and then of the ass; the milk of goats is of a middle consistence, and that of sheep thicker than it. It is clear, he adds, that thick milk contains more cheese, and liquid more whey. Liquid milk, therefore, is more laxative than thick; and, on the contrary, thick milk is more nutritious than liquid. He mentions that whey, either alone or with a certain mixture of salt, may often be used as an excellent laxative medicine. He states that if a goat or any other animal eat of scammony or spurge, her milk will be rendered purgative. He says that milk is most beneficial in complaints of the chest, but most injurious in diseases of the head and hypochondrium. He, and all the ancient authorities after him, state that milk is apt to hurt the teeth.
Celsus calls milk a wholesome and nutritious article of food; but says that it is apt to disagree with the stomach, and to prove flatulent. The learned Varro says of milk: “Est omnium rerum quas cibi causa capimus liquentium maxime alibile, et id ovillum, inde caprinum.” (De R. R. ii, 11.)
Aristotle arranges the milk of the camel, the mare, and the ass, in the same order, with respect to consistence, as Galen. (H. A. iv, 20.) Pliny, evidently having in view this passage of Aristotle, says that the milk of camels is the thinnest, then that of the mare, and that the milk of asses is the thickest. This is going further than he was justified by his authority. He remarks that the milk of cows gives the most cheese. (Hist. Nat. xi, 41.)
Dioscorides calls milk nutritious, laxative and flatulent. His account of its properties is interesting. (ii, 74.)
All the Greek authorities subsequent to Galen evidently copy from him. Seth says that the longer milk is kept the worse it becomes. When properly digested, he adds, it moistens the body, induces soundness thereof, and is useful in complaints of the chest.
According to Haly Abbas, the milk of cows is the thickest of all, and the most nutritious; that of camels the thinnest, and the least nutritious; goat’s milk is intermediate between them; the milk of sheep, intermediate between that of cows and goats; and the milk of asses, between that of goats and of camels. (Theor. v, 26.) Rhases enumerates them in a considerably different order; he says that the milk of cows is the thickest, and that of asses the thinnest, while that of goats is intermediate. (Ad Mansor. iii, 15.) Averrhoes calls the milk of asses and of goats the best. See also Serapion (ex Animalibus, 457); and Avicenna (ii, 2, 434.)
The following remarks of Macrobius seem to us very acute and pertinent; and, if well founded, they ought to operate as a powerful consideration to every healthy mother to suckle her own offspring: “Quamobrem non frustra creditum est, sicut valeat ad fingendas corporis et animi similitudines vis et natura seminis, non secus ad eandem rem lactis quoque ingenia et proprietates valere. Neque in hominibus id solum, sed in pecudibus quoque animadversum. Nam si ovium lacte hædi, aut caprarum agni forsitan alantur: constat ferme in his lanam duriorem, in illis pilum gigni teneriorem.” (Saturn. v, 11.)
The Galactophagi, a Scythian nation who lived principally upon mare’s milk, are made mention of by Homer (Iliad, xiii), and by Stobæus (Sermo, v.) Eustathius says that they made much use of a preparation from milk, called oxygala. (Ad Iliad, u. s.)
Aristotle calls butter the fat of milk, which has concreted to the consistence of oil. (Hist. Animal.) Hecatæus, in Athenæus, calls it the oil of milk. (Deipnos. x.) Dioscorides says that it is used for condiments instead of oil, and in confectionary instead of suet.