Healths improvement: or, Rules comprizing and discovering the nature, method, and manner of preparing all sorts of food used in this nation. Written by that ever famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: corrected and enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and fellow of the Colledg of Physitians in London.

CHAP. XIIII. (Book 14)

Of Milk. (Book 14)

FOrasmuch as childrens stomacks, and old mens bo∣dies, and consumed mens natures be so weak, that not onely all flesh and fish, but also the fruits of the earth are burdensome to their tender and weak bowels: God tendring the growing of the one, the preservation of the other, and the restoring of the third, hath there∣fore appointed Milk; which the youngest child, the weariest old man, and such as sickness hath consumed may easily digest. If we would define or describe what Milk is, it seemeth to be nothing but white blood, or∣rather the abundant part of blood, whited in the breasts of such creatures as are ordained by nature to give suck; appointed properly for children and sucking little ones, but accidentally for all men, sick either of consuming diseases or old age. That womens Milk is fittest for young children, it may easily be proved by the course of nature, which converteth the superfluity of blood in a woman bearing her child within her to the brests, for no other purpose, then that she should nourish her own babe. For truly nothing is so unperfect, defectuous, naked, deformed, and filthy as a man, when he is newly born into the world through a straite and outstreatched passage; defiled with blood, replenished with corrupti∣on, more like to a slain then a living creature, whom no body would vouchsafe to take up and look on, much less to wash, kiss, and embrace it, had not nature inspired an inward love in the mother towards her own, and in such as be the mothers friends.

Hence it cometh that mothers yet hot & sweating with travail, trembling still for their many and extream throws, forget not their new-born Babes, but smile up∣on them in their greatest weakness, heaping labour upon labour, changing the nights trouble with the dayes un∣quietness; suffering it to taste no other milk, then that wherewith in their bellies it was maintained. This doth a kind and natural mother (if she be of a sound and in∣different strong constitution) for her child; and thus did Eve, Sara, Rebecca, and Rachel; yea all women which truely loved their children, and were both able and willing to feed their own. There be many reasons why mothers should be afraid to commit their children to starnge women. First because no Milk can be so na∣tural unto them as their own. Secondly because it is to be feared, lest their children may draw ill qualities from their Nurses both of body and mind, as it fell out in Iu∣piter, whom whilst his Mother committed to Aega * 1.1(Olens daughter and Pans wife) to be nursed by her, the Country woman living only upon goats milk, could not but be of a strong lascivious nature, which left such an impression in the child, that growing once to the age of a stripling, he was in love with every fair wench, lay with his own Sister, forced his own Neices, left no fair woman unassaulted, if either bygold, or entreaty, or craft, and transforming himself he could obtain her love. Nay when he was full of womens company, he loved boys and abused himself unnaturally in companying with beasts. The like also is recorded of Aegysthus, who being fed in a Shepheards Cottage only with goats Milk, waxed there∣upon so goatish and lecherous, that he defiled not onely * 1.2Agamemnons bed, but also neighed (in a manner) at eve∣ry mans wife.

Nevertheless if the Mothers weakness be such that

she cannot, or her frowardness such, that she will not nurse her own Child; then another must be taken su∣table to the Childs constitution: for a fine and dainty Child requireth a Nurse like to it self; and the Child of strong and clownish Parents, must have a Nurse of a strong and clownish Diet. For as Lambs sucking, she∣goats bear course wool, and Kids sucking Ewes bear soft hair, so fine Children degenerate by gross womans milk, losing or lesning that excellency of nature, wit, and complexion, which from their Parents they first obtain∣ed. Neither is womens Milk best onely for young and tender infants, but also for men and women of riper years, fallen by age or by sickness into compositions.

* 1.3 Best I mean in the way of nourishment, for otherwise Asses Milk is best, for some Cowes, Milk and for others Goats milk; because the one cleanses, the other loosens, and the third strengtheneth more then the rest. Goatsmilk is also better for weak stomacks, because they feed on boughs more then grass. Sheeps-milk is sweeter, thicker and more nourishing, yet less agreeable to the stomack, because it is fatter. Cows-milk is most medicinable, be∣cause with us it looseneth the body, though in Arcadia it stayeth the belly, and cureth consumptions better then * 1.4any other milk. Finally the milk ofany beast chewing the cud (as Goats, Sheep, and Kine) is very ill for rhumes, murs, coughes, fevers, headache, stoppings and inflama∣tions of any inward part; for sore eyes also, and shaking of sinews. Avicen saith, that their Milk is hurtfull to young men, because they are cholerick; to sore eyes, headaches, agues, and rhumes, because it is full of vapors: to convul∣sions and cramps, by reason of repletion: to resolution or palsies, by over moistning; to the stone and obstructi∣ons, because the cheesy part of it is very gross.

Of Beasts not chewing the Cud Camels milk is the

sweetest and thinest of all other; Mares milk the next, and Asses milk of a middle temper: not so thin, but that it nourisheth much; nor so thick, as that easily it will curdle. All milk is thinnest in the Spring, and thickest in Sommer, because then the wheyish part is resolved by sweat; and all meats then obtain a dryer faculty.

Signes of the best Milk.

There be four wayes in women and beasts to know the most nourishing and substantial milk: namely by the colour, smell, consistence, and taste. For the best milk is of a pearl-colour, neither blue, transparent, nor gray, but white clear and confused; the consistence of it is neither thin nor thick, hanging like a row of pearls up∣on ones nail (if it be milked on it) not overhastily run∣ning of. In taste it is not soure, bitter, salt, sweet, sharp, nor strong, but sweet yet not in excess, and pleasant after * 1.5an extraordinary kind of pleasantness: yet Galen af∣firmeth, that if milk could be tasted when it is first con∣cocted in the veins and breasts, it would seem sweeter then hony it self.

The smell likewise of it is pure and fragrant, though proper to it self, and void of loathsomness.

Causes of good Milk.

Also it is much material to the goodness of milk, to have speciall regard to the Diet of those creatures whose milk we use, or chuse for our children. Galen reporteth that a friends child of his, having lost his good Nurse by an untimely death, was put out to another: who in time of dearth being forced to feed chiefly upon fruit, and roots, and Acorne bread, infected her child (as she her self was infected) with much grevious and filthy scabs. And I pray you what else is the cause, that many children nursed in the Country are so subject to frets, sharpness of urine and the stone; but that their Nurses

for the most part eat rye bread strong of the leaven, and hard cheese, and drink nothing but muddy and new Ale? It is also recorded, that a young man sick of a Consumption, used the milk of a goat to his great good, so long as it fed in his own field; but afterward feeding in another field where store of Scammony grew, and some wild spourge, he fell into a deadly scowring and felt no nourishment.

Furthermore care is to be taken of their health, that give us milk; for as an unclean and pocky nurse (which woful experience dayly proveth) infecteth most sound and lively children; so likewise a clean sound and health∣ful nurse recovereth a sickly and impotent child. Nay (which is more) no man can justly doubt, that a childs mind is answerable to his nurses milk and manners; for what made Iupiter and Aegystus so lecherous, but that * 1.6they were chiefly fed with goats milk? What made Romulus and Polyphemus so cruel, but that they were * 1.7nursed by She-wolves? What made Pelias (Tyrus and Neptunes son) so bruitish, but that he was nursed by an unhappy mare? Is it any marvel also, that Giles the Abbot (as the Saint-register writeth) continued so long * 1.8the love of a solitary life in woods and deserts when three years together he suckt a Doe? What made Dr. Cajus in his last sickness so peevish and so full of frets at Cambridge, when he suckt one woman (whom I spare to name) froward of conditions and of bad diet; and contrariwise so quiet and well, when he suckt another of contrary disposition? verily the diversity of their milks and conditions, which being contrary one to the other, wrought also in him that sucked them contrary effects.

Now having shewed what milk is best, and how to be chosen, let us consider how it is to be taken and used

of us. First therefore if any naturally loath it (as Pe∣trus * 1.9Aponensis did from the day of his birth) it cannot possibly give him any good nourishment, but perhaps very much hurt in offending nature. If contrariwise any * 1.10with Philinus love nothing else, or with the poor Bizo∣nians can get no other meat, or with the Tartarians and Arabians feed most often and willingly on milk: let them all remember these three lessons.

How Milk is to be eaten and used, in time of health.

First that they drink or eat the milk of no horned beast unsodden, for so will it not easily curdle nor engen∣der wind: but Womens milk, Asses milk, and Mares milk, need no other fire to prepare it, for it will never curdle into any hard substance. Secondly to be sure that milk shall not curdle, season it with salt, suger, or hony, and neither drink any wine or soure thing upon it, nor mingle it with other meats, but eat it upon an empty stomack, and fast an hour after it. Thirdly exercise not presently upon it, neither sleep upon any milk taken from beasts chewing the cud, and when you have eaten it wash your teeth clean, for there is no greater enemy unto them then milk it self, which therefore nature hath chiefly ordained for them, who never had or have * 1.11lost their teeth. And truely (as Marcilius Ficinus no∣teth) Milk is not to be used of young men, who have sound teeth given them for stronger meat, but of such as either have none at all, or very few and weak ones; or though they have strong teeth, want ability and strength to set them a grinding as it falleth out in them that are fallen into Fever Hecticks. Wherefore when Poppaea * 1.12wife to Domitius Nero carried 500 she Asses (shod with gold) continually about with her, to bath her body in their milk once a week, and to drink of it every day, to make her skin clear and smooth without wrinckles:

she left it rather a monument of her pride, then a memo∣rial of her wisdome; for nature taught her a better meat, though Art could not appoint her a finer Bath. If she had taken it (as the Arcadians do Cow-milk) in the * 1.13spring time onely, for a month or six weeks together once in the morning, to cleanse and purge the body of bad humours, it had been good and warrantable by phy∣sick: but to use it continually in health could not less corrupt her, then Goats milk did my Lady Penruddock, of whose cruel and terrible end, caused by the lest worms of all other, perpetually engendred betwixt the skin and the flesh, through superfluity of nourishment arising from the long continuance of Goats milk; I will not here reherse, it being fresh enough in their memories that best knew her & most loved her. The like may I say of Cow milk so generally used of us, that being now and then taken of sound men (not subject nor distempered with hot diseases) it nourisheth plentifully, encreaseth the brain, fatneth the body, restoreth flesh, asswageth sharp∣ness of urine, giveth the face a lively and good colour, en∣creaseth lust, keepeth the body soluble, ceaseth extream coughing, and openeth the brest; as for children and old men they may use it dayly without offence, yea ra∣ther for their good and great benefit.

What Milk is best in sickness and consumptions.

Concerning them that be sick, There are few diseases to which milk is not offensive being inwardly taken, ex∣cept the Consumptions of the solid parts called Maras∣mus, the Consumption of flesh, called Atrophia, and the Consumption of the lungs and breathing parts call∣ed Phthisis. For recovery of the first, Cammels milk is preferred before all others, because it is most moist and thin. The second sort is best recovered by sucking milk from a womans brest, as most familiar to our livers and 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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blood, needing no preparation (for it is onely blood dis∣coloured) but onely application unto the flesh.

The chusing of a good Nurse.

The Nurse must be young, clear of skin, of a kind∣ly smell, pure complexion, good temperature, wholesom and moderat diet, much sleep, little anger, neither too i∣dle nor too toiling, no wine bibber, no eater of hot spices, no ordinary wanton, and void of all diseases; such a nurse is sooner wished for then found; yet such a one is to be chosen either for sound children or sick Persons, lest drawing corruption in so fine a meat as milk is, our con∣sumptions be encreased so much the more, by how much poison given with drink is more dangerous.

Asses milk.

The third sort of Consumptions, wherein the flesh accidentally decayeth through exulceration of the lungs and breathing parts, is especially to be cured by Asses milk; for which Cammels milk is unfit, because it is too thin and moist; as also womans milk, because it wholly nourisheth and nothing cleanseth; whereas Asses milk is both meat and medicin, cleansing and nou∣rishing alike, not so thin as to hinder expectoration, not so thick as to cause condensation of the matter putrified, but being of a middle temper and consistence, and con∣sequently most proper for that disease. Neither are all Asses of alike goodness; for a young Asses milk is of the thinnest, an old Asses milk is too thick and dry, but one of a middle age is best for that purpose. Having gotten such a one, every morning (four or five hours be∣fore you use her milk) shut her from her foal, and curry her well and clean, lest her skin growing scurvy and foul ill vapours be augmented inwardly for want of expirati∣on: then feed her with grinded malt, straw-dryed, ming∣led

with a little sweet fennel seed, aniseed, or carraway seed, which she will eat with great pleasure, and digest into a sweet and wholesome blood: an hour after that, milk her as neer the patient as conveniently you can, that he may drink her milk ere the air hath altered it, for if it be once cold it is never wholesome; this is to be done twise a day, morning and evening upon an empty stomach, neither eating nor drinking ought after it for two hours; you may sweeten it also with sugar-candy, sugar of roses, or fine maiden hony, and it will be the more effectual. Assoon as the Ass is milked, turn her and her foal into fine leaze, wherein store of Cowslaps, Trifoil, Cinqfoil, Elecampana, Burnet Filipendula, Mead∣tansy, Horsetail, Plantain, Lambs-tongue, Seabiouse, and Lung-wort groweth. In winter feed her with the sweetest hay growing in the finest and best meddows If Asses milk cannot be conveniently obtained for the Lung-consumption, nor womens milk for the Liver-consumption before specified, use the milk of a meetly young reddish and sound Cow, feeding in the like leaze or upon the sweetest hay: but beware (as commonly fools do not) that you feed them not with new and much less with soure grains; for it maketh their milk strong, windy, and unwholesome, especially for such as be weak and much consumed; likewise remember to rub and stroke down your Cow every morning, and her milk will be both sweeter and more nourishing. Thus much of Milk, what it is, how it is made; for whom and for what diseases it is convenient, how it is to be prepa∣red and used, how many kinds thereof are wholesome for mans body, what milk is fittest for sound men, and what for them that be sick: so there resteth no more but to wonder at Plinies credulity, who as constantly (upon hear-say) avoucheth, mares feeding neer the river

* 1.14 Astaces in Pontus to give all black Milk; as Cardan re∣porteth blew snows to be common near the Straits of Magellane.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ex Higyno.
• * 1.2

  Ovid. in rem. amor.
• * 1.3

  Beasts milk.
• * 1.4

  Plin. l 6. c. 30.
• * 1.5

  4 de sac. simpl. cap. 17.
• * 1.6

  Politianus in Nutricia.
• * 1.7

  Syl. p••et. l. 14 Aelian. lib. 12. var. hist.
• * 1.8

  Marulus. lib. 4 cap. 2.
• * 1.9

  Jo. Mat. a Grad. c. de appetitu.
• * 1.10

  Athen. l. 2. c. 2 Guagninus in Tart. Cael. l▪ b ••8. cap. 2. A. L.
• * 1.11

  Lib. de san. tu.
• * 1.12

  plin l. 11. c 41:
• * 1.13

  Plin. l. 25 c. 7.
• * 1.14

  Plin. l. 2. c. 67. Card. lib. 1. de rer▪ var.