THE BOOK OF BUTTER 



CHAPTER I 

 HISTORY OF BUTTER 



An understanding of butter demands a brief account of 

 its history. It would be a fascinating adventure to explore 

 the subject in detail, but only an outline, compiled from 

 Hayward,^ is possible here. Even this brief view, it is 

 hoped, will be sufficient to stimulate the reader's interest 

 in the development of human practices. 



1. Early history. — Butter is one of the oldest as 

 v/ell as one of the most universal articles of diet. The 

 Hindoos used it as a food 2000 to 1400 years B.C. It 

 is known that the Scythians and Greeks used butter in 

 450 B.C. A little later there is a record of the Persians 

 making and using it. In the early centuries butter was 

 employed in many ways. The Hindoos offered it as 

 a sacrifice in their worship. The Greeks and Romans 

 did not eat it, but used it as a remedy for injuries to 

 the skin. It was considered by them that the soot of 

 burned butter was unusually good for sore eyes. The 

 Romans also used it as an ointment for the skin and the 

 hair. This practice was common in Macedonia, and it is 



' Hayward, Harry, Facts Concerning the History, Com- 

 merce, and Manufacture of Butter, U. S. Dept. of Agri., B.A.I., 

 Cir. 56, 1904. For a few of the pictures of ancient churns, see 

 Cyclo. Amer. Agri., Vol. 3, p. 202-3. 

 B 1 



