COLOSTRUM. 



311 



One hundred cubic centimetres contained 



Fat, ... 0-15 gramme. 



Sugar, ... 0-80 



Soluble proteins, . 1 -38 



Colloidal proteins, 4-39 



Calcium phosphate, 0-11 



Other salts, . 0-38 



Total solids, 



. 7-21 



The composition of the fluid secretion approaches more nearly 

 to that of milk. 



Four or five days before parturition the secretions are replaced 

 by colostrum proper. 



True colostrum is an opaque yellow liquid of pungent taste ; 

 sometimes blood is present, which shows its presence by a reddish 

 colour. 



It is curdled by heat, acetic acid, mercuric chloride, and rennet 

 (though the action of this is not so rapid as with milk). It has 

 a slimy, viscous appearance, and, if left to stand, has a tendency 

 to separate into two layers. 



The proteins probably consist of casein, albumin, nuclein, and 

 much globulin, while lecithin, cholesterol, tyrosine, and urea 

 are present. Proteoses and peptones have been found. 



The sugars of colostrum consist of milk-sugar, dextrose, and, 

 possibly, other sugars. 



The fat differs from that of milk ; the melting point is high 

 (40 to 44 C.), and the amount of volatile acids low. Pizzi found 

 that a few hours (3 to 6) before parturition the Reichert-Wollny 

 figure of the fat was 4-4 to 4-7, and six hours after calving 6-2 to 

 6-3 ; a rapid increase was noticed, and in from three to six days 

 a normal figure was reached. 



The ash of colostrum has, according to Fleischmann, the 

 following composition : 



Per cent. 



Potash, . 7-23 



Soda, 

 Lime, 

 Magnesia, . 

 Ferric oxide, 

 Phosphoric anhydride 

 Sulphuric anhydride, 

 Chlorine, . 



oxygen equivalent to chlorine, 



103-22 

 3-22 



100-00 



The best defined characteristic of colostrum is the presence of 

 the " corps granuleux " of Donne, which consists of clusters of 



