SALIVARY GLANDS AND PANCREAS. 655 



by t.ho expectoration of simple mucus. After this, the cough diminished in severity, and the 

 expectoration became easy ; but the sputa were no longer mucous, but were composed of a 

 liquid, which had all the physical characters of genuine milk. This continued for fifteen 

 days; the quantity of milk expectorated amounting to three ounces or more in the twenty- 

 four hours. The breasts gradually diminished in size : and by the time that the expectoration 

 ceased, they had regained their natural dimensions. The same complete obstacle to the 

 flow of milk from the nipples recurred after the births of four children successively, with 

 the same sequela?. After the sixth, she had the same symptoms of fever, but this time 

 they were not followed by bronchitis or the expectoration of milk ; she had in their stead 

 copious sweatings, which, with other severe symptoms, reduced her to a cachectic state, and 

 terminated fatally in a fortnight."* 



860. Of the quantity of Milk ordinarily secreted by a good Nurse, it is 

 impossible to gain any definite idea; as the amount which can be artificially 

 drawn, affords no criterion of that which is secreted at the time of the draught 

 ( 626). The quantity which can be squeezed from either breast at any one 

 time, and which, therefore, must have been contained in its tubes and reser- 

 voirs, is about two ounces. The amount secreted is greatly influenced by 

 the mental and physical condition of the female, and also by the quantity and 

 character of the ingesta. In regard to the influence of the mental state upon 

 this secretion, ample details have already been given (Chap. ix.). With 

 respect to the physical state most favourable to the production of an ample 

 supply of this important fluid, it may be stated generally, that sound health, 

 a vigorous but not plethoric constitution, regular habits, moderate but not 

 fatiguing exercise, and an adequate but not excessive amount of nutritious 

 food, furnish the conditions most required. It is seldom that stimulating 

 liquors, which are so commonly indulged in, are anything but prejudicial ; but 

 the unmeasured condemnation of them in which some writers have indulged, 

 is certainly injudicious; as experience amply demonstrates the improvement 

 in the condition both of mother and infant, which occasionally results from the 

 moderate employment of them. 



861. The influence of various Medicines upon the Milk, is another im- 

 portant question, which has not yet been sufficiently investigated. As a 

 general rule, it appears that the most soluble saline compounds pass into the 

 milk as into other secretions ; but there are many exceptions. Common salt, 

 the sesqui-carbonate of soda, sulphate of soda, iodide of potassium, oxide of 

 zinc, tris-nitrate of bismuth, and sesqui-oxide of iron, have been readily de- 

 tected in the milk, when these substances were experimentally administered 

 to an ass; and ordinary experience shows, that the human infant is affected 

 by many of these, when they are administered to the mother. The influence 

 of mercurial medicines taken by the mother, in removing from the infant a 

 syphilitic taint possessed by both, is also well known. The vegetable purga- 

 tives, especially castor oil, senna, and colocynth, have little efiect upon the 

 milk ; hence they are to be preferred to the saline aperients, when it is not 

 desired to act upon the bowels of the child. 



5. Salivary Glands and Pancreas. 



862. The structure of the Salivary Glands and Pancreas in Man, bears 

 considerable resemblance to that of the Mammary glands. In some of the 

 lower tribes, however, they are much simpler. Thus, in the Echinodermata 

 and in Insects, the Salivary glands have the character of prolonged coeca, 

 more or less convoluted ; and the Pancreas of Fishes presents itself in the 

 form of a cluster of short cosca round the pyloric extremity of the stomach, 

 and opening into it by distinct orifices. The accompanying figure will give 



* Bulletino delle Scienze Mediche. Apr. 1839; and Brit, and For. Mod. Review, Jan. 

 1840. 



