392 



THE MILK OF MAMMALS OTHEB THAN THE COW. 



consumption, and, with the exception of that of the sow, are 

 worthy of a more detailed notice. Human milk, the natural 

 food of infants, will also be dwelt on. 



TABLE CVIL— COiMPOSiTioN of Mammalian Milk. 



Water. 



Per cent. 

 87-32 

 86-04 

 79 -ie 

 82 -03 

 88-2 



89-80 

 90-12 



91-50 

 75-44 

 81 63 



69-50 

 86-55 



86 57 

 67-85 

 84-04 

 41-11 



48-67 



Fat. 



Pur cunt. 

 3-75 

 4-63 

 8-63 

 7-61 

 3-3 



1-17 

 1-26 



1-59 

 9-57 

 3 33 



10-45 

 3-15 



3 07 

 19-57 



4 55 

 48-50 



43-67 



Human Milk— Appearance. — In appearance human milk has 

 usually a chalky white, somewhat watery appearance ; some 

 specimens, usually those high in proteins, have a marked yellowish 

 tint. A red coloration, due to blood, has been noticed by Carter 

 and the author. 



Properties. — The fat globules, according to Pizzi, vary in 

 size from 0-009 mm. to 0-0009 mm. Carter and the author have 

 observed also that they are, on the whole, smaller than those of 

 cows' milk. 



The taste is rarely, if ever, sweet, but rather saline. The 

 reaction to litmus paper is almost always alkaline. The acidity 

 is about 3-0°. 



Composition. — Human milk appears to be more variable in 

 its composition than that of the cow. This is probably due to 

 the fact that, while the cow is forced to adopt regular habits and 

 leads a life which is very regular, the many occupations and 

 duties of woman do not permit of this. 



Table CVHI. gives the mean composition of human milk 

 according to recent observers. 



