THE MAMMARY GLANDS 



Mammary 

 glands not 

 organs of 

 internal 

 secretion. 



Mammary 

 glands are 

 accessory 

 reproductive 

 organs. 



In spite of many assertions to the contrary, based on 

 pure conjecture, I do not think there is any evidence 

 that the mammary glands are organs of internal secre- 

 tion in the accepted sense of the term. As already 

 suggested, it is probable that every cell in the body should 

 be considered to be an organ of internal secretion, but 

 apart from such a generalization we cannot place the 

 mammary glands in the same category as the ' regulators 

 of metabolism - previously mentioned. 



The mammary glands have a definite function to 

 perform : they abstract from the maternal economy 

 nourishment for the infant after birth, and in this way 

 carry on the function performed by the placenta before 

 parturition. There is not, of course, an exact analogy 

 between the two, but the general principle is the same 

 in both cases, after due allowance has been made for the 

 altered circumstances and environment after birth, 

 which induce pulmonary respiration, digestion and other 

 developments making for independence in the child. 



It is obvious, therefore, that maternal lactation is 

 of more importance to the child than to the mother. 

 Hence, we may look upon mammary secretion as a side- 

 issue — even if it be an important one — so far as the 

 maternal economy is concerned. 



Well-developed breasts form one of the secondary 

 characteristics of the female sex ; but only so as evidence 

 of her ability and readiness to perform the functions of 

 reproduction. 



In the human subject if the mother cannot nurse, 

 both she and the child may suffer ; but, on the other 

 hand, the absence of mammary secretion subsequently to 



