730 A MANUAL OF VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY 



colostrum, and some peculiarities in its composition, have already 

 been dealt with. In appearance it is a yellowish-white fluid of 

 an alkaline reaction, sweetish taste, and remarkable for the 

 amount of protein it contains — as much as 15 per cent., whilst 

 ordinary milk only contains 4 per cent, or 5 per cent. Examined 

 microscopically, colostrum is found to contain bodies termed 

 ' colostrum corpuscles.' These are large granular corpuscles 

 containing fat. The use of colostrum is to act as a natural 

 purge, by which means the intestinal canal of the newly-born 

 animal is cleared out. 



