Milk Secretion. 23 



Although Basch could not establish a quantitative increase by sev- 

 ering the nervus spermaticus oxternus, he found qualitative 

 changes (formation of colostrum). 



Pfaundler concludes from these and other experiments that 

 an action of the peripheral nerves on the development of the gland 

 and its functions, especially from a qualitative point of view, must 

 figure in the consideration, but that these influences have only slight 

 importance. 



Insignificant as well in their results on the secretion were the 

 severing and re-sectioning of the spinal cord, or interference with 

 the sympathetic system. Basch again observed the formation of 

 colostral milk after re-sectioning of the coeliac ganglion. From 

 this he concludes that the regulating influence of the nervous 

 system exists through reflex action, especially from the sympa- 

 thetic, but that at the same time the gland is also capable of 

 independent secretion. 



As a matter of fact far reaching influences of a nervous 

 character are observed. 



1. Psychic influences. 



2. Eeflexes, which are caused by local stimulations (sucking 

 milking electrical stimulations, etc.). 



3. Reflexes from the genital region. 



These points are only briefly mentioned here, since the various 

 conditions will be discussed in subsequent chapters, when consider- 

 ation will be given to the quantitative and qualitative changes 

 which appear under varying influences. 



An active part in the emptying of the milk from the cisterns, 

 and in the passage from the upper part of the duct and alveolar sys- 

 tems, is played by the sucking and pressure exerted during the. 

 milking (pressing outwards, sucking from the gland), massage of 

 the udder (pressing out into the cistern), the contractility of the 

 tissue (elastic fibres, involuntary musculature, filling of the blood 

 vessels), and the vis a tergo of the newly formed secretion. 



