CHAPTER IV.
The Breasts, orMammæ, are not needed in the process of generation, nor are they absolutely necessary even after birth; but as they are naturally associated, in the majority of cases, with infantile nutrition, and are besides liable to many derangements and diseases during pregnancy and child-birth, it is advisable to give some account of them.
When one of the breasts is dissected it is found to be composed chiefly of a singular body called theMammary Gland, which resembles somewhat a very firm piece of fat, of a yellowish drab color. In the substance of this Gland are an immense number of little cells, or vessels, in which, by some unexplainable process, the milk is secreted, or made from the blood. From these little vessels there proceeds small tubes which gradually unite into larger ones, and these again into larger ones still, until at last all the milk is poured into a few tubes, or canals, which terminate in the nipple. The outer mouths of these terminal canals are only slightly contracted together, so that the suction of the child's mouth, or even the pressure of the milk, when the breast is full, will force them open and allow the fluid to flow out.
The following plate represents the structure of the Breast, and explains, as far as it can be explained, the manner in which it performs its functions.
PLATE XII.—a.a. a.The cut edges of the skin.—b. b.The flaps of the skin thrown back.—c. c. c.The fat which covers the breast.—d. d.The cells of the Mammary gland.—e. e. e.The Tubes or canals, which convey the milk from the Gland to the Nipple.—f.The Nipple, cut down the middle, to show the ends of the milk tubes terminating in it; these are usually about fifteen or eighteen in number.—x.Shows a bunch of the little cells, with the tubes proceeding from them, as they appear when injected.
PLATE XII.—a.
a. a.The cut edges of the skin.—b. b.The flaps of the skin thrown back.—c. c. c.The fat which covers the breast.—d. d.The cells of the Mammary gland.—e. e. e.The Tubes or canals, which convey the milk from the Gland to the Nipple.—f.The Nipple, cut down the middle, to show the ends of the milk tubes terminating in it; these are usually about fifteen or eighteen in number.—x.Shows a bunch of the little cells, with the tubes proceeding from them, as they appear when injected.
Structure of the BreastTHE FEMALE BREAST.Plate XII.—a.This Plate represents the structure of the Breast, and explains the manner in which it performs its functions.
Structure of the Breast
THE FEMALE BREAST.Plate XII.—a.This Plate represents the structure of the Breast, and explains the manner in which it performs its functions.
THE FEMALE BREAST.
Plate XII.—a.
This Plate represents the structure of the Breast, and explains the manner in which it performs its functions.
Sometimes there has been seen two and even three nipples on one breast, and in a few cases one of the breasts has had no nipple at all. The two glands are not immediately connected, but have a very intimate sympathy with each other. The size of the breast depends more upon the thickness of the layer of fatty substance, than upon the development of the gland, so that one female, with a very full bosom, may have but little milk, while another, whose breast is but little prominent, may have a superabundance. The graceful swell of the fully developed breast is, however, a matter of positive utility, as well as of beauty, because it better adapts it to the use of the child, and probably also adds to itspleasure, as any one may readily conceive who will observe the delight with which an infant, even when not nursing, will often caress it. Sir Astley Cooper says, "The natural obliquity of the Mamella, or nipple, forwards and outwards, with a slight turn of the nipple upwards, is one of the most beautiful provisions in nature, both for the mother and the child. To the mother, because the child rests upon her arm and lap in the most convenient position for sucking; for if the nipple and breast had projected directly forwards, the child must have been supported before her, in the mother's hands, in a most inconvenient and fatiguing position, instead of it reclining upon her side and arm. But it is wisely provided by nature, that when the child reposes upon its mother's arm it has its mouth directly applied to the nipple, which is turned outwards to receive it, whilst the lower part of the breast forms acushion, upon which the cheek of the infant tranquilly reposes."
With the exception of the darkareola, or circle, and the little tubercles around the nipple, the breastis of the most delicate structure and color, so that it blushes, or reddens, like the cheek, from any sudden emotion, and goes pale during fainting.
As a general rule no milk is secreted in those who have not become pregnant, nor in those who have passed the turn of life, but occasionally exceptions are observed to this rule.
Bandelocque tells us of a girl onlyeightyears of age, who suckled her little brother more than a month! And Sir Hans Sloane tells us of a lady agedsixty eight, who nursed several of her grandchildren, though she had had no child herself for twenty years! Dr. Francis, of New York, describes the case of a lady who continued to secrete milk regularly forfourteen yearsafter having lost her child, so that she could always nurse an infant; and Dr. Kennedy relates an instance of another who continued to suckle children, uninterruptedly, forforty-seven years, and who had milk perfectly sweet and good even wheneighty-one years old!Dr. Clark, of Alabama, informs us that a married lady, who had never been pregnant, was requested to take charge of an infant during the night, and that to quiet it she had put her nipple in its mouth. This was done frequently, and to the great surprise of all it induced a flow of milk. A singular circumstance connected with this was that the lady soon after becamepregnant, though previously barren! This will not appear so surprising, however, to those who know the connection between the breasts and the womb, and who have observed the mysterious bond of sympathy by which their functions are united.—(See the articles onMenstruation, and onSterility, in my "Diseases of Woman," for other instances of this kind.)
The structure of the male breast is precisely thesame as that of the female, but it is seldom developed. Instances have been known, however, of the milk being secreted in men, and of children having been nourished by it! Humboldt gives us an instance of this kind, and Professor Hull, of Maryland, exhibited a colored man to his class, in the year 1827, who had a large full bosom, like a female, and who had often officiated aswet nursein the family of his mistress. The secretion appears to have been established by his putting the children that he had to nurse to the nipple, to quiet them. When the milk was not needed it was found as difficult to dry it up as it is in some females, but it was soon made to flow again, by applying a child to the breast for a few times. This man differedin no other respectfrom any other man!
In the females of some races of the human kind, the mammæ attain a surprising length, and become very flaccid, so that they hang down to the hips, or lower, and may be thrown over the shoulder for the child to nurse from while carried on the back. Some suppose this to constitute a real variety of the human race, but others suppose it to result merely from habit, which is probably correct.
When the breasts are small sized in young females, their growth may often be promoted, but the means need not be pointed out here.
SECTION II.SIGNS OF PREGNANCY, AND THE MEANS OF DETECTING IT; ITS DURATION, AND THE PERIOD AT WHICH THE FŒTUS CAN LIVE.Itis always desirable, and frequently of the first importance, to be able to know whether a female is pregnant or not, both to the accoucheur and to the individual, or even to be able to judge whether she is probably or possibly so, or not. Sometimes this can be decided positively, but more frequently it is a matter of great uncertainty. The presumptive and positive signs on which a judgment can be formed are of various kinds, most of which can be readily observed, and easily made use of by any person in possession of the information already given in the preceding section. They will be set forth in the following Chapters, together with such other matter as appertains to this part of the subject, in such a manner as will make them available either for professional or for private use.
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY, AND THE MEANS OF DETECTING IT; ITS DURATION, AND THE PERIOD AT WHICH THE FŒTUS CAN LIVE.
Itis always desirable, and frequently of the first importance, to be able to know whether a female is pregnant or not, both to the accoucheur and to the individual, or even to be able to judge whether she is probably or possibly so, or not. Sometimes this can be decided positively, but more frequently it is a matter of great uncertainty. The presumptive and positive signs on which a judgment can be formed are of various kinds, most of which can be readily observed, and easily made use of by any person in possession of the information already given in the preceding section. They will be set forth in the following Chapters, together with such other matter as appertains to this part of the subject, in such a manner as will make them available either for professional or for private use.