THE ANALYSIS OF MILK SECRETED BY A SUCKLING 
DOE KID. 
BYiit. 1, Eee 
(From the Department of Biochemistry of the Maryland Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station, College Park.) 
(Received for publication, January 18, 1918.) 
The literature written on the secretion of colostrum contains 
various theories advanced to account for the appearance of colos- 
trum instead of normal milk immediately following parturition. 
Some authorities believe that imperfect functional activity of 
the mammary glands at this time is responsible for the secretion 
of a fluid so different in composition and consistency from nor- 
mal milk. Still others are of the opinion that the newly born 
require a food of the nature of colostrum for the first few feed- 
ings before they receive milk; that the colostrum was provided 
by nature to compensate for this need. 
In the newly born there is sometimes a secretion from the 
mammary glands known as ‘‘witches milk.” This fluid has a 
qualitative resemblance to milk but differs widely quantitatively 
from normal milk. It is often secreted at birth but disappears 
soon afterward. ‘There have been instances in which young ani- 
mals have been reported as secreting milk usually as a result of 
mechanical manipulation of the udder or by being suckled. 
Whether the first milk so secreted was normal milk, colostrum, 
or of the nature of ‘“‘witches milk’”’ is not, to my knowledge, 
recorded. 3 | 
On May 2, 1917, a one-half breed Saanen milk goat at this 
Station was delivered of twin doe kids. One kid was sold when 
about 3 months old. The other kid appeared perfectly normal 
but was observed to have an exceptionally well developed udder 
when about only 2 months old. Its udder was not manipulated, 
suckled, or treated in any way to stimulate its development. 
When 4 months and 4 days old, on September 6, 1917, its udder 
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