This Whey, or that water which is plentifully gathered in the making the Cow-milk Cheeses, though it affords varieties of Profit to mankind, whether they give it their Hogs to fatten them, or use it themselves for their daily drink, especially in Summer time, or apply it to other uses as we see daily done, yet do not I see any better benefit than that which it yields to the Curriers. For they put in it some old Iron, and when the solution is made, they moisten with that water the hide already perfect (or ready dressed) and when ’tis dry they moisten it therewithal again, and this they do three or four times, until it hath gotten a fixt colour, blacker than a Coal. They do also sometimes administer some of it unto Children (with good success) to kill and expel the Worms: Nay more, they are likewise wont to make a Bath thereof very profitable for those that are troubled with the Scabs or Itch, because it hath gotten a drying force from the ♂, and thereupon it makes the skin smooth and hard: and seeing that the Country Fellows, and Labourers can do so much with it, what hinders but that we may institute such a curing more perfect, and that on this wise.
Take sweet Cow-milk, or (which is better) Goats-milk, two measures, boil it over the Fire, put thereinto while it is yet warm ʒ j. or ʒ ij. of Spirit of Salt, mix it well, and you shall see the coagulum or curd presently separate from the whey; out of which, Cheeses may be made by expression, which are far better than others, by reason of the addition of the Spirit of Salt, whereto if you add some Cummine, Carraway, or some spices, they are yet better and more to be preferred. The Whey here separated is of a grateful savour, and by reason of the admixtion of the Spirit of Salt, is somewhat acidish, and a most certain and most safe loosner or absterger, being administred to Infants that are troubled with the Worms, or even to Elder ones that are feeble. How many Infants have we observed to die unexpectedly after they have been for some while and often afflicted with a burning Fever, the Convulsion fits, and other such like effects, and meerly because we will not perswade our selves that they have the worms, & so forbear the using any remedies to purge them out? Now in such a case this whey is exceedingly excellent, being used after this manner.
Take of the most subtile filings of steel as much as will lie upon a knife’s point, mix it with as much honey as is sufficient, and give it the Children: and for their ordinary drink, let them use the said Whey, and so by this means, that filings being dissolved by the Whey kills the Worms, in the ventricle or stomach and drives them out, and verily is a most excellent Medicament; especially if taken two or three days; nor have I hitherto met with a nobler, than this is. And so there will redound some profit to Children and Infants too, by this our way of making Cheese, for which we owe immortal thanks to the Great and Glorious God.
Besides this, I have likewise observed the excellent use of this Whey, in the administration of my Panacea of Antimony, if there be taken a draught or two thereof, at the end of the Purgation; for it gently carries off the reliques that stick to the intestines.
He likewise that is so minded, may before his dropping in the Spirit of Salt, add some Anise-seed or Fennel-seed to the milk as it boils, thereby to correct its Flatulency or Windiness.
And I do most curteously intreat the well-minded Reader to take it in good part, that I have been so prolix in declaring the virtues of our Whey; necessity it self, and the love of my neighbour forbad my concealing of them: For very many Infants are killed with the Fever, and Epilepsy, or Convulsion-fits, and so suddenly die, for no other cause but our not meeting with the Worms, which their bodies are full of, being ignorant of convenient remedies.
Now then to return again to our Cheese, and to demonstrate the most eminent benefit, both of it, and of our water which is thence separated; we are first of all to know, that even it is also able to tinge (some) subjects with a certain colour, not with such a black colour, indeed, as the Whey of Milk, prepared as aforesaid, dyes the Curriers Hides with, but with a yellow colour, and more durable than that which is given to the hide, for that we therewith extract a Tincture out of ♀ and other aureous Subjects, and with the Tincture, do sometimes anoint (or tinge) Luna. If now the water abound with such virtues; what virtues will not the Cheese it self abound withal? And like as our Cheeses are diversly impregnated with spices, so are they of different savour, and price, and more or less wholsome. But now if that virtue which is in ♃ is also added to our Cheeses, there will proceed from thence admirable Cheeses; and this, that Philosopher was minded to point at, who writes that by the help of the Saturnine net, he is able even in a clear night to extract the little Fish Eschineis out of the Sea.
The Ultimate (or extream) letters of this word Eschineis i. and s. if conjoined together, so as that the letter z. be thereof made, and then the word read backward, it will sound in the German tongue the same with Zienesch, (viz.) the ashes of Tin; but yet let not any one perswade himself that those ashes of Tin are such as are made by means of the (bare) fire, but are prepared by the benefit of the spirit of Nitre.
Saturn does not only claim (or merit) the praises of being a husbandman, but also of being a good fisher, and hunter, as (among other writers) Basil Valentine doth egregiously shew.
When ☉, ☽, ♃, and ♂ pursue (or hunt) the wild beasts, ♄ is bound to carry the net: NB. the hunting dogs here are Salts, the hare that is caught, is much like the colour of the hares skin, being stript of the same, he will yield excellent flesh, which the Princes can as little want as the Subjects can. See the foregoing Figure of the Hares and Hounds, with a Flaming Heart, and the word VENUS.