sEvUKL.K "/•• I'AirrrinTiox. 



271 



is an alteration in the circulation, and consequently a -general dis- 

 turbance which has been hitherto desij^'nated " intlainniatory " or 

 " an^iotenic fever"; but in animals this change in the circulation does 

 not occur. Therefore, this " angiotenic fever " should not be present. 



4. Lact.\tion. — Before parturition, preparation for the secretion of 

 milk is already being made in the mammary glands, and immediately 

 preceding that event a thin serous or milky fluid can often be expressed 

 from the teat ; while immediately after delivery, the a'dematous tume- 

 faction which had been observed in these glands for some time begins 

 to disappear as they increase in voluiiie, become firmer, tenser, and 

 more sensitive, and receive a larger quantity of l)lood. Tlien their 

 activity is suddenly brought into full operation, and their secretion 

 reaches its maximum. At the same time this fluid is modified in quality 

 in a notable but gradual manner, so that it is very dilTerent tliree or 

 four days after parturition from what it was on the first or second day 

 — being colostrum at the early period, and milk subsequently. 



Colostrmn. — The first milk, or "colostrum," secreted after deliveiy 

 is a viscid, dirty-white, or yellowish fluid, sweet, though unpleasant to 

 the taste, and of a greater density than that of ordinary milk, being in 

 the Cow 1-Oo6. When allowed to stand for some time it has a thick 

 layer of tough cream ; it coagulates at a comparatively low temperature 

 into a semi-solid mass. It is very rich in solid elements, these varying 

 according to individuals, and even breeds. The fat globules are present 

 only in comparatively large number, and are less in size than in milk 

 at a later period ; but there are numerous colostrum corpuscles — bodies 

 of a large size, spherical or ovoid in shape— often agglomerated in 

 masses by a tenacious viscid matter, and among them many leucocytes 

 endowed with movement, as well as pus cells. 



The colostrum corpuscles appear to be only leucocytes or epithelium 

 from the walls of the milk ducts, and undergoing degeneration. 

 Boussingault gives its composition in the Cow as follows : — 

 Water .... 75-8 



Albumin and casein - - 150 



Butter - - - - 2-6 



Milk-sugar - - - - 3 "6 



Salts - - - - 3 



But a more recent analysis by Chapelle, shows it to be composed of : 

 Albumin - - - - 15-997 



Casein . . - - 2552 



Butter ... - 5-390 



Lactose ... - 1-361 



Salts ... - 5-300 



Water - - - - G9-700 



Dumas gives the colostrum of various animals as below : — 



