MILK. 163 



who have borne many children than in those who have had 

 but a single child. 



Mucous corpuscles are also occasionally eucountered in the 

 colostrum. They are, however, neither very generally pre- 

 sent, nor do they occur in any very great numbers. 



The colostrum, or first milk, is possessed of purgative 

 qualities. 



PATHOLOGICAL ALTEEATIONS OF THE MILK. 

 Persistence of this Fluid in the condition of Colostrum. 



It has been stated, that usually by the end of the twenty- 

 fourth day after childbirth, and frequently at a much earlier 

 period, the colostrum has lost all its distinctive characters, 

 and the milk has arrived at its perfect condition. 



This transformation of the colostrum into fully elaborated 

 milk, it has been observed, is not always effected in the time 

 named : it may be accomplished in either a shorter or a longer 

 period ; thus the milk in some cases loses the chief characters 

 of colostrum in as short a space of time as three or four days, 

 while in others it retains them for months after the birth of 

 the child, and even until the end of lactation. 



This persistence of the milk in the state of colostrum may 

 be present without any suspicion of its existence being enter- 

 tained, the milk exhibiting its ordinary outward appearances. 



It is therefore, only by means of the microscope, that its 

 true condition can be ascertained. Examined with this instru- 

 ment, the characteristics of colostrum will be detected ; thus 

 the globules which do not float freely in the serum, and which 

 are large and ill-formed, will be seen to adhere together in 

 groups, as though held in union by some viscous substance, 

 and intermixed with them will be noticed numerous colostrum 

 corpuscles. 



It cannot be doubted but that such persistence of the milk 

 in the form of colostrum exerts a most injurious effect upon 

 the child : the colostrum is, as we know, possessed of pur- 



