LACTIFEROUS GLANDS. 121 



The Breasts are two in number, one on either side; they are 

 situated on the same level, in front of the pectoralis major mus- 

 cle, and between the arm-pit and the sternum. They are 'he- 

 mispherical, and have their base united to the muscle by a ffrin 

 lamina of loose, extensible, cellular substance, containing, even 

 in corpulent women, but little fat. The skin which covers the 

 front of this gland is very fine and thin, so that the blood which 

 circulates in its veins may be readily seen. Between the skin 

 and the front surface of the gland, there is a considerable thick- 

 ness of cellular adipose matter, which, from its superabundance 

 in some individuals, gives to them an appearance of having 

 the glands enormously enlarged. There is, however, a great 

 variety in the size of the glandular structure itself; for, in fe- 

 males who are youthful and giving suck, they are much larger 

 than in such as have passed the period of child-bearing, and 

 whose health is impaired. When all the fatty matter has been 

 removed from a breast, and it is permitted to repose, upon a 

 table, its hemispherical shape disappears, and it then seems 

 rather a flattened circular disk, of from four to five inches in di- 

 a meter. 



The mamma is of a very light pink colour; and though very 

 flaccid and yielding on being handled, its texture is actually ex- 

 tremely tough, and is cut only by much force. With the ex- 

 ception of bone, it dulls a knife sooner than any other tissue 

 of the body. Its grosser arrangement consists in lobes of dif- 

 ferent sizes, united in such a way by cellular texture, that, though 

 they can be pulled somewhat apart, they cannot be entirely se- 

 parated without injury. These lobes, when examined through 

 the skin, give to the gland a knotted feel, and are sometimes 

 partially affected by inflammation, so as to become still more 

 distinct. The Lobes are composed of Lobuli, which are resolva- 

 ble by maceration and particular modes of treatment, into 

 small graniform masses (acini) about the size of millet seed, 



Thinking that there might be an internal state approaching- to hermaphrodism, he 

 informed me, on inquiring, that in earlier life he had the common inclinations for 

 the female. He also informed me that this unusual development took place seven 

 or eight years ago, owing to an excessive salivation; but, as he has a reserve on 

 the subject, this statement may, probably, be received with some qualifications. I 

 have also seen a second case, in which the voice is weak and feminine, but the ge- 

 nital organs have not been examined. July, 1826. 

 VOL. II. 12 



