? Obs. [transl. med.L. lac virginis.] A chemical preparation having a milky appearance: a. A cosmetic preparation or wash for cleansing or purifying the face or skin (see quots.). Cf. LAC VIRGINIS 1.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, III. lxxiii. 604. Virgins milke is thus made with a filtre. Ibid. This virgins milke is good to heale ringwormes, and saucie and red faces.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens. (1713), 289/1. The Tincture [of Benjamin] made with the Alcohol of Wine, being mixt with a great deal of Water, makes a kind of Milk, which by some is call’d Virgins Milk, which serves for a Wash for the Face and Skin.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 187. This Tincture of Benjamin and Storax is call’d Virgin [sic] Milk.
1721. Bailey, Virgin’s milk, a sort of Chymical Composition, called Benjamin water.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 257/1. A solution of benzoin in alcohol, added to twenty parts of rose-water, forms the cosmetic called Virgin’s milk.
† b. (See quot.) Obs. rare–0.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Virgin’s Milk, is made of dissolving Saccharum Saturni [i.e., lead acetate] in a great deal of Water: It will turn white as Milk; whence the Name. [Hence in Bailey.]
