524 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



is occasionally seen in pregnancy (Slocum,^ Halban ^). Under 

 the name of dermographismus, Freund ^ describes a phenomenon, 

 often met with in pregnancy, similar to the iache cSrehrale of 

 meningitis and other nervous affections. It may be elicited 

 even in the early stages of gestation, and is best shown by 

 stroking the skin over the sternum or fundus uteri. 



e. The Mammoe. — The growth of the mammary glands is 

 brought about by the development of new vesicles, the widening 

 of existing blood-channels, and the formation of new vessels.* 

 Even in the first haK of pregnancy, and sometimes in the first 

 weeks, the mammae contain colostrum, a milky fluid composed of 

 proteins, albumen, globuUn, and casein, the carbohydrate lactose, 

 fat, free fatty acids, lecithin, cholesterin, free glycero-phosphoric 

 acid, and urea (Winterstein and Stickler *). 



^ Slocum, " Hair Development in Pregnancy," New York Med. Bee, 1875. 



^ Halban, "Zur Frage der Graviditatshypertrichose," Wien. klin. Woch., 

 1907. 



' Freund, " Die Haut bei Schwangeren," Verhandl. d. vi. deutsch. Der- 

 matologen-Kongr. zu Strassburg. 



" See Chapter XIII. 



^ Winterstein and Stickler, " Die chemische Zusammensetzung des 

 Colostrums," Zeitachr.f. phys. Chem., vol. xlvii., 1906. 



