654 OF SECRETION. 



is tainted with the peculiar odour of the animal, which is more intense if the 

 individual be dark-coloured. The milk of the Cow will usually answer very 

 well for the food of the infant ; care being taken to dilute it properly, accord- 

 ing to the age of the child, and to add a little sugar. It is an interesting cir- 

 cumstance, lately ascertained, that the milk of Carnivorous Mammals, fed ex- 

 clusively on animal diet, contains scarcely a trace of sugar, whilst the caseine 

 and butter are abundant. 



859. From what has been stated of the close correspondence between the 

 elements of the Blood and those of the Milk, it is evident that we can scarcely 

 expect to trace the existence of the latter, as such, in the circulating fluid. 

 To what degree the change, in which their elaboration consists, is accom- 

 plished in the Mammary gland, or during the course of the circulation, there 

 is no certain means of ascertaining. The recent discovery of the usual pre- 

 sence of the organic compound named kiesteine (which is nearly related to 

 caseine), in the urine of pregnant women, seems to indicate that the conversion 

 of albumen into caseine takes place in the blood, this curious excretion being 

 the means of preventing its accumulation in the circulating fluid, previously 

 to the time when it is secreted by the mammae.* It is evident that this secre- 

 tion cannot serve as the channel for the deportation of any element, the accu- 

 mulation of which would be injurious to the system; since it does not occur 

 in the male at all; and is present in the female at particular times only. Yet 

 there is reason to believe that if, whilst the process is going on, it be suddenly 

 checked, the retention of the material in the blood, or the reabsorption of the 

 secreted fluid, is attended with injurious consequences. Thus if, when the 

 milk is first secreted, the child be not put to the breast, an accumulation takes 

 place, which, if not relieved, occasions great general disturbance of the system. 

 The narrowness of the orifice of the milk-tubes obstructs the spontaneous exit 

 of the fluid, especially in primiparse; the reservoirs and ducts become loaded; 

 further secretion is prevented ; and a state of congestion of the vessels of the 

 gland, tending to inflammation, is induced. The accompanying fever is partly 

 due, no doubt, to the local disturbance; but in part also, there seems reason 

 to believe, to the reabsorption of the milk into the blood; this cannot but be 

 injurious, since, although but little altered, the constitution of milk is essen- 

 tially different, especially in regard to the quantity of cry stall izable matter 

 (sugar) which it contains. The instances of the vicarious secretion of milk 

 are not numerous ; and in no instance is there any proof that the elements of 

 the fluid were pre-existent in the blood. Some of the most curious are those 

 in which it has been poured out from a gland in the groin ; but it is probable 

 that this was in consequence of the existence of a real repetition, in that 

 place, of the true mammary structure, this being the situation of the mamma? 

 of many of the inferior animals, of which the analogues in Man are usually 

 undeveloped. 



a. The following is a more unequivocal case of vicarious secretion ; and it is peculiarly 

 interesting us exhibiting the injurious effects of the re-absorption of the secretion, and the 

 relief which the system experienced when it was separated from the blood by the new 

 ehannel. "A l;i< ly of delicate constitution (with n predisposition to pneumonia) was pre- 

 vented from suckling her child, as she desired, by the following circumstance. Soon after 

 her delivery she had a severe fever, during which her breasts bceame very large and hard; 

 the nipples were swollen and firm; and there was evidently an abundant secretion of 

 milk; but neither the sucking of the infant, nor any artificial means, could draw a single 

 drop of llni 1 from the swollen glands. It was clear that the milk-tubes were closed; and as 

 the breasts continued to grow larger and more painful, purgatives and other means were 

 employed to cheek the secretion of milk. After three days the lever somewhat diminished, 

 and was replaced by a constant cough, which was at first dry, but soon after was followed 



' See Dr. Golding Bird, in Guy's Ho?p. Rep., vol. v. 



