It remained as a traveller’s curiosity until 1784, when Dr. John Grieve,
a surgeon, one of the many Scotchmen who have from time to time entered
the Russian service, wrote to the Royal Society of Edinburgh (who
published his communication in their “Transactions,” Vol. I., 1788). “An
account of the Method of making a Wine, called by the Tartars Koumiss,
with observations on its use in Medicine,” and, especially, he thought
that, “with the superaddition of a fermented spirit, it might be of
essential service in all those disorders where the body is defective
either in nourishment or strength.” And he further proved the benefit of
the milk-wine on three patients, two consumptive, and one syphilitic,
sending them to the Steppes among the Tartars, whence they returned
stout, and in perfect health. From time to time, until the middle of this
century, phthisical patients were sent to Tartary to undergo this milk
cure; but life among these nomad tribes, with its filth and privations,
was hardly congenial to a sick man, so that although some returned cured,
others came back only to die.
But, in 1858, Dr. Postnikof started an establishment for the cure of
diseases by fermented mare’s milk, at Samàra, in Eastern Russia, and a
similar establishment, about forty-five miles distant, was started by the
late Dr. Tchembulatof, both of which have been extremely well patronised,
as their places were well ordered, and the Koumiss was prepared in a
cleanly manner. So successful were they, that the Russian Government,
in 1870, started a place of their own for the cure of sick soldiers
belonging to the Kazan district. Here are beds for 100 soldiers and 20
officers.
The curative effect of fermented mare’s milk set people thinking
whether the milk of cows, which is much more easy to procure, would not
answer the same purpose. It was tried, and a new drink was given to the
civilized world, as also a new name, which was coined expressly for
it—GALAZYENE, from γάλα, milk, and ζῦμη, a ferment. It can be obtained in
London from the large dairies.
Dr. Polubensky gives the following formula for fermenting cow’s milk.
“An oak churn, such as is used for churning butter, has a bottle of
fermented cow’s or mare’s milk, five days old, poured into it in the
morning. A tumbler and a half of warm milk (of a temperature of about 90°
Fahr.), in which half an ounce of cane, still better milk, sugar has been
dissolved, and a bottle of skimmed cow’s milk, are then added.
“The addition of the sugar is made for the purpose of remedying the small
amount of lactine in cow’s milk; the water is added to make the milk,
which is rich in casein, thinner, and thus to facilitate its agitation
and emulsion. Skim milk is used because it contains less fat, an excess
of which interferes with fermentation. The mixture is then beaten up
during half an hour, to prevent the curdling of the casein, and is
then laid aside for three hours. (This is effected at an ordinary room
temperature of 60° Fahr.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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