418 



THE GLANDULAR ORGANS. 



The secretion is a thick yellowish fluid, of an alkaline and some- 

 times acid reaction, and a specific gravity that is much higher than 

 that of true milk. In the cow this varies between 1.046 and 

 1.080, and in the human female between 1.040 and 1.060. This is 

 principally owing to the presence of large amounts of lactalbumin 

 and lactoglobulin. As a consequence, the colostrum coagulates 

 on boiling, while true milk, as we have seen, is then covered merely 

 by a skin, which is composed of casein and calcium phosphates. The 

 total quantity of the coagulable albumins may reach 15 per cent., 

 while in milk about 0.5 per cent, is the rule. 



The amount of casein and of mineral salts in colostrum is also 

 somewhat greater than in milk, and it is further stated that more 

 lecithin and cholesterin is present. The quantity of fat is practi- 

 cally the same, while that of lactose is somewhat smaller. As a 

 result of the increase in the amount of albumins and of mineral salts, 

 the total solids are also proportionately increased, and may amount 

 to 25.3 per cent, in cows' colostrum, as compared with 1 2.8 per cent, 

 in the case of the milk. 



The quantitative composition of the colostrum after parturition is 

 rapidly altered, so that after a few r days already the normal compo- 

 sition of true milk is approached. This is well shown in the follow- 

 ing table, which is taken from Gautier. The results have reference 

 to the human being and the cow, and are expressed in percentages : 



HUMAN BEING. 

 Nine days be- Dayofpartu- Twenty-four Nine days later. 



Cow. 



Immediately Twenty-four Three days Average of 

 after partu- hours later. later. 30 analyses, 



rition. 



Water . 73.07 82.38 78.70 74.05 



Solids 26.93 17.62 21.30 25.95 



Albumins .... 16.56 4*0 7.50 13.62 



Casein 2.65 4.50 7.30 4.66 



Fat 3.54 4.75 400 3.43 



Lactose 3.00 2.85 1.50 2.66 



Salts and extractives 1.18 1.02 1.00 1.58 



So-called witch's milk is the fluid which can be expressed from 

 the mammary glands of both sexes immediately after birth. Its 

 qualitative composition is the same as that of milk. Like the colos- 

 trum, it is said to contain colostrum-corpuscles. According to 

 Schlossberger, Hauff, and others, it contains from 1 .05 to 2.8 per 

 cent, of albumin, 0.82 to 1.46 per cent, of fat, and 0.9 to 6 per 



