16 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT 



a butt was used. This arrangement was subsequently changed 

 to a stick carrying a querl consisting of several radial spokes. 

 These were the prototypes of our dash churns in which the 

 dasher terminates in a cross or in a perforated round board 

 or perforated tin cone, fitting closely into the vertical churn. 

 It is evident, therefore, that the two systems of butter-making 

 by stirring or swinging the milk and by beating or dashing it 

 with a dasher, are of very ancient origin. 



Concerning the early history of the uses of butter Hay- 

 ward 1 reports the following: 



"In early times butter was employed in many ways. The 

 Hindoos used it for the greatest and holiest sacrifices in their 

 worship. The Greeks and Romans did not use butter as a 

 food, but as the standard remedy for injuries to the skin. The 

 soot of burned butter was regarded as a specific remedy for sore 

 eyes. The Romans also used it as an ointment to enrich the 

 skin and as a dressing for the hair. In the time of Alexan- 

 der I. certain of the Macedonians annointed themselves with 

 milk oil; and Galen records that in many cold regions people 

 used butter in the bath. Historians speak of butter used as 

 a remedy for wounded elephants, .and within a century butter 

 was used in large quantities in Scotland and North England 

 for smearing sheep, also as oil for lamps. Besides being applied 

 externally, it was used internally for various troubles. In 

 Spain, as late as the seventeenth century, butter was to be found 

 in the medicine shops fcr external use only. In the middle of 

 the previous century "A medicinal and economic treatment of 

 butter" sets forth in derail the value and use of butter as a 

 remedy. In rural districts in Germany at the present time 

 fresh, unsalted butter is much used as a cooling salve for burns. 



"Aside from its use ;is a food, a cosmetic, and a medicine, 

 the use or possession of butter was long regarded as indicating 

 wealth, and so served to distinguish the rich from the common 

 people. Evidences of this still exist. In both Chilas and Darel 

 a practice exists of storing- up butter in the ground. Butter so 

 stored is left a number of years, and, to insure its not being 



1 Hayward, Facts Concerning the History, Etc. of Butter, U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 B. A. I. Circular No. 56, 1904. 



