HERB - soap with stuff in it

[RAISYA@aol.com]

Jasmine,

This doesn't include any additions, but it's one of the earliest written
descriptions of soapmaking I've seen.  It's from a 12th century manuscript
called the MAPPAE CLAVICULA, translated by Cyril Stanley Smith and John G.
Hawthorne for the American Philosophical Society, July, 1974.  The manuscript
may be a copy of one as old as the 9th century, and it may be based on even
earlier writing.  Most of the manuscript concerns pigments and such, with some
surprising bits thrown in here and there, such as how to construct a battering
ram <G>.  I was looking for descriptions of polishing gemstones, and came
across this:

"280.  How soap is made from olive oil or tallow

	Spread well burnt ashes from good logs over woven wickerwork made of tiny
withies, or on a thin-meshed strong sieve, and gently pour hot water over them
so that it goes through drop by drop.  Collect the lye in a clean pot
underneath and strain it two or three times through the same askes, so that
the lye becomes strong and colored.  This is the first lye of the soapmaker.
After it has clarified well let it cook, and when it has boiled for a long
time and has begun to thicken, add enough oil and stir very well.  Now, if you
want to make the lye with lime, put a little good lime in it, but if you want
it to be without lime, let the above-mentioned lye boil by itself until it is
cooked down and reduced to thickness.  Afterwards, allow to cool in a suitable
place whatever has remained there of the lye or the watery stuff.  This
clarification is called the second lye of the soapmaker.  Afterwards, work
[your soap] with a little spade for 2, 3, or 4 days, so that it coagulates
well and is dewatered and lay it aside for use.  If you want to make [your
soap] out of tallow the process will be the same, though instead of oil put in
well-beated beef tallow and add a little wheat flour according to your
judgement, and let them cook to thickness, as was said above.  Now put some
salt in the second lye that I mentioned and cook it until it dries out, and
this will be the afronitrum for soldering."


I'm packing for an event, so I don't have time to check any of my other period
materials today, but I'll try to remember on Monday.  Hope this helps some!

Raisya
  
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