§3.21Γίνεται οὖν ἡ πυετία γάλα ἔχον ἐν ἑαυτῷ τυρόν· ἐκ δὲ τῆς τοῦ ζῴου θερμότητος πεττομένου τοῦ γάλακτος γίνεται.
Rennet, then, is milk containing curd in itself; and it is formed when milk is concocted by the heat of the animal.
Ἔχει δὲ πυετίαν τὰ μὲν μηρυκάζοντα πάντα, τῶν δ’ ἀμφωδόντων δασύπους.
All ruminating animals have rennet, and of those with teeth in both jaws, the hare has it.
Βελτίων δ’ ἐστὶν ἡ πυετία ὅσῳ ἂν ᾖ παλαιοτέρα· συμφέρει γὰρ πρὸς τὰς διαρροίας ἡ τοιαύτη μάλιστα καὶ ἡ τοῦ δασύποδος· ἀρίστη δὲ πυετία ἡ τοῦ νεβροῦ.
Rennet is better the older it is; for such rennet, and especially that of the hare, is very useful against diarrheas; and the best rennet is that of the fawn.
Διαφέρει δὲ τὸ πλέον ἱμᾶσθαι γάλα ἢ ἔλαττον τῶν ἐχόντων γάλα ζῴων κατά τε τὰ μεγέθη τῶν σωμάτων καὶ τὰς τῶν ἐδεσμάτων διαφοράς, οἷον ἐν Φάσει μέν ἐστι βοίδια μικρὰ ὧν ἕκαστον βδάλλεται γάλα πολύ, αἱ δ’ Ἠπειρωτικαὶ βόες αἱ μεγάλαι βδάλλονται ἑκάστη ἀμφορέα καὶ τούτου τὸ ἥμισυ κατὰ τοὺς δύο μαστούς· ὁ δὲ βδάλλων ὀρθὸς ἕστηκεν, μικρὸν ἐπικύπτων, διὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι ἂν ἐφικέσθαι καθήμενος.
And the fact that more or less milk is drawn from animals that have milk differs according to the size of their bodies and the differences of their food. For instance, in Phasis there are small cows, each of which yields a large quantity of milk, but the large Epeirot cows yield, each of them, an amphora and a half from their two breasts; and the milker stands upright, bending over a little, because he would not be able to reach if he were sitting.
Γίνεται δ’ ἔξω ὄνου καὶ τἆλλα μεγάλα ἐν τῇ Ἠπείρῳ τετράποδα, μέγιστοι δ’ οἱ βόες καὶ οἱ κύνες.
Other four-legged animals also grow large in Epeiros, except the ass, and the cows and dogs are the largest.
Νομῆς δὲ δέονται τὰ μεγάλα πλείονος· ἀλλ’ ἔχει πολλὴν ἡ χώρα τοιαύτην εὐβοσίαν, καὶ καθ’ ἑκάστην ὥραν ἐπιτηδείους τόπους.
And large animals require more pasture; but the country has plenty of such rich pasture, and suitable places for each season.
Μέγιστοι δ’ οἵ τε βόες εἰσὶ καὶ τὰ πρόβατα τὰ καλούμενα Πυρρικά, τὴν ἐπωνυμίαν ἔχοντα ταύτην ἀπὸ Πύρρου τοῦ βασιλέως.
The cows and the sheep called Pyrrhic are the largest, having this name from King Pyrrhus.
Τῆς δὲ τροφῆς ἡ μὲν σβέννυσι τὸ γάλα, οἷον ἡ Μηδικὴ πόα, καὶ μάλιστα τοῖς μηρυκάζουσιν· ποιεῖ δὲ πολὺ ἕτερα, οἷον κύτισος καὶ ὄροβοι, πλὴν κύτισος μὲν ὁ ἀνθῶν οὐ συμφέρει (πίμπρησι γάρ), οἱ δὲ ὄροβοι ταῖς κυούσαις οὐ συμφέρουσι (τίκτουσι γὰρ χαλεπώτερον).
Of food, some puts an end to milk, such as Median grass, and especially for ruminants; but other foods produce a lot of it, such as cytisus and vetches, except that cytisus when in flower is not beneficial (for it causes bloating), and vetches are not beneficial to pregnant animals (for they make parturition more difficult).
Ὅλως δὲ τὰ φαγεῖν δυνάμενα τῶν τετραπόδων, ὥσπερ καὶ πρὸς τὴν κύησιν συμφέρει, καὶ βδάλλεται πολὺ τροφὴν ἔχοντα.
In general, four-legged animals that are able to eat well yield a lot of milk when they have plenty of food, just as it is also beneficial for their pregnancy.
Ποιεῖ δὲ γάλα καὶ τῶν φυσωδῶν ἔνια προσφερόμενα, οἷον καὶ κυάμων πλῆθος ὀῒ καὶ αἰγὶ καὶ βοῒ καὶ χιμαίρᾳ· ποιεῖ γὰρ καθιέναι τὸ οὖθαρ.
Some flatulent foods also produce milk when consumed, such as a large quantity of beans for sheep, goats, cows, and she-goats; for they cause the udder to drop.
Σημεῖον δὲ τοῦ γάλα πλεῖον γενήσεσθαι, ὅταν πρὸ τοῦ τόκου τὸ οὖθαρ βλέπῃ κάτω.
And it is a sign that there will be more milk when the udder looks downward before birth.
Γίνεται δὲ πολὺν χρόνον γάλα πᾶσι τοῖς ἔχουσιν, ἂν ἀνόχευτα διατελῇ καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ἔχωσι, μάλιστα δὲ τῶν τετραπόδων πρόβατον· ἀμέλγεται γὰρ μῆνας ὀκτώ.
Milk is produced for a long time in all animals that have it, if they continue without mating and have suitable food, especially among four-legged animals, the sheep; for it is milked for eight months.
Ὅλως δὲ τὰ μηρυκάζοντα γάλα πολὺ καὶ χρήσιμον εἰς τυρείαν ἀμέλγεται.
In general, ruminating animals yield a lot of milk, and such as is useful for cheese-making.
Περὶ δὲ Τορώνην αἱ βόες ὀλίγας ἡμέρας πρὸ τοῦ τόκου διαλείπουσι, τὸν δ’ ἄλλον χρόνον πάντα ἔχουσι γάλα.
Around Torone, cows cease to have milk only a few days before giving birth, and during all other times they have milk.
Τῶν δὲ γυναικῶν τὸ πελιδνότερον γάλα βέλτιον τοῦ λευκοῦ τοῖς τιτθευομένοις· καὶ αἱ μέλαιναι τῶν λευκῶν ὑγιεινότερον ἔχουσιν.
Among women, darker milk is better than white for those who are being nursed; and dark-complexioned women have healthier milk than fair ones.
Τροφιμώτατον μὲν οὖν τὸ πλεῖστον ἔχον τυρόν, ὑγιεινότερον δὲ τοῖς παιδίοις τὸ ἔλαττον.
Now, that which has the most curd is the most nourishing, but that which has less is healthier for children.
§3.22Σπέρμα δὲ προΐενται πάντα τὰ ἔχοντα αἷμα.
All red-blooded animals discharge semen.
Τί δὲ συμβάλλεται εἰς τὴν γένεσιν καὶ πῶς, ἐν ἄλλοις λεχθήσεται.
But what it contributes to generation and how, will be discussed in other places.
Πλεῖστον δὲ κατὰ τὸ σῶμα ἄνθρωπος προΐεται.
Man discharges the most in proportion to his body.
Ἔστι δὲ τῶν μὲν ἐχόντων τρίχας γλίσχρον, τῶν δ’ ἄλλων ζῴων οὐκ ἔχει γλισχρότητα.
And that of those with hair is sticky, but in other animals it has no stickiness.
Λευκὸν δὲ πάντων· ἀλλ’ Ἡρόδοτος διέψευσται γράψας τοὺς Αἰθίοπας προΐεσθαι μέλαιναν τὴν γονήν.
It is white in all; but Herodotus is mistaken in writing that the Ethiopians discharge black semen.
Τὸ δὲ σπέρμα ἐξέρχεται μὲν λευκὸν καὶ παχύ, ἂν ᾗ ὑγιεινόν, θύραζε δ’ ἐλθὸν λεπτὸν γίνεται καὶ μέλαν.
Semen comes out white and thick if it is healthy, but on coming outside it becomes thin and dark.
Ἐν δὲ τοῖς πάγοις οὐ πήγνυται, ἀλλὰ γίνεται πάμπαν λεπτὸν καὶ ὑδατῶδες καὶ τὸ χρῶμα καὶ τὸ πάχος· ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ θερμοῦ πήγνυται καὶ παχύνεται.
In freezing cold it does not coagulate, but becomes altogether thin and watery in both color and thickness; but by heat it is coagulated and thickened.
Καὶ ὅταν ἐξίῃ χρονίσαν ἐν τῇ ὑστέρᾳ, παχύτερον ἐξέρχεται, ἐνίοτε δὲ ξηρὸν καὶ συνεστραμμένον.
And when it comes out after remaining long in the uterus, it comes out thicker, and sometimes dry and twisted.
Καὶ τὸ μὲν γόνιμον ἐν τῷ ὕδατι χωρεῖ κάτω, τὸ δ’ ἄγονον διαχεῖται.
And the fertile semen sinks in water, but the infertile is dissolved.
Ψευδὲς δ’ ἐστὶ καὶ ὃ Κτησίας γέγραφε περὶ τῆς γονῆς τῶν ἐλεφάντων.
What Ctesias has written about the semen of elephants is also false.