[Sca-cooks] The mystery soap ingredient in context

[Decker, Terry D.]

I think in this context "aluminic casini" should be translated as "rock alum
of Cassino."  Which means this is probably aluminum potassium sulfate or
aluminum sodium sulfate, commonly extracted from alumina ores and made into
styptic pencils.  There are several mines in Italy that have been operating
since at least the 16th Century.

The town of Casinium, located where the Abbey of Monte Cassino now stands,
has the remains of a amphitheater made of "opus reticul alum" or "major
veined alum," which means more alum per ton and suggests that alum was mined
in the vicinity.

The "blue vitriol" is a hydrous solution of copper sulfate.

That the recipe is a hair soap is interesting, because alum and copper
sulfate are used in some modern shampoos.

Bear


> Thanks to the people giving it a try so far (even those 
> playing monopoly
> with the soap ingredients...sigh... :-) .)
> 
> 
> ******************
> The Secretes of the reverend Maister Alexis of Piemont
> containying excellente remedies against diverse
> diseases Imprinted at London by Johng Kyngston for
> John Wight 1580
> 
> 
> p. 52 A very exquisite sope, made of diverse thinges.
> 
> Take aluminic casini, three ounces, quick lime one
> part, strong lie that will beare and egge swimmyng
> between two waters, three pottles, a pot of common
> oyle, mingle all well together, puttyng to it the
> white of an egge well beaten, and a dishe full of the
> meale or floure of amylum, and an unce of romaine or
> blewe vitriol well beaten into powder and mixe it
> continually for the space of 4 hours, then let it
> stand by the space of a daie, and it will be right and
> perfect, finally take it out and cut it in peeces :
> after sette it to drie two daies in the winde, but not
> in the sunne, occupie always of this sope when you
> will washe your heade, for it is very holesome, and
> maketh faire haire.
>