Remarks on the Subject of Lactation | Page 2

to be necessary for the
welfare of the newly-born infant. Afterwards, ceasing to possess this
aperient property, it is calculated solely for affording nutrition; and
finally, at a certain period from delivery, it gradually becomes
impoverished, loses its former healthy qualities altogether, and acquires
others which are injurious to life. This important change, as above
noticed, generally happens at a certain period after delivery; varying,
however, somewhat in particular women, and in the same female on
different occasions: but, from disease, or other circumstances, the milk
may become deteriorated before the time to which reference has just
been made. If, for instance, the mother labour under any serious
disorder, it is universally admitted that her milk may also become
unhealthy; and this may take place even a short interval after delivery.
Although we cannot explain how the brain and nerves act, and probably
never shall be able to do so, yet we are well aware that their influence
is absolutely requisite for the healthy performance of every function in
the human body.
That mental inquietude will impede digestion is a fact familiar to
almost every one; but, I believe, it is not so generally known, that it
will with no less certainty retard and alter the nature of the secretion
furnished by the breasts of the lactescent female. Violent affections of
the mind will cause the milk to become thin and yellowish, and to
acquire noxious properties: even the fond mother's anxiety, while
hanging over the couch of her sick infant, will be sufficient to render it
unfit for the sustenance of the object of her solicitude.
The state also of the stomach and bowels and the diet of the nurse
materially and constantly influence the nature of the lacteal secretion.

The milk, besides, is liable to deterioration from another cause, namely,
the recurrence of the usual periodical appearance--for should this take
place in a nurse, it is agreed that her milk is liable to produce disorders
in the child who imbibes it; which could not happen, if the former
possessed its ordinary component parts, and retained its natural
properties.
The recurrence, moreover, of pregnancy in the lactescent female may
render the milk of a bad quality, and will invariably lessen its quantity.
Mr. Burns asserts that in these cases the milk 'does not become hurtful,'
but in this opinion I must beg leave to differ from him; since I have
repeatedly seen it, from this cause, palpably altered in appearance, and
have observed diarrh[oe]a and great debility produced in the children
who were suckled with it.
An almost universally received opinion among females, and, indeed,
one very frequently entertained by members of the medical profession,
is, that while a woman continues to nurse her infant she will not again
become pregnant; but this, as a general proposition, is unquestionably
erroneous; it is even doubtful whether such opinion will hold good in a
majority of instances. The continuance of lactation will very generally,
it is true, tend to prevent the recurrence of the periodical phenomenon;
yet, nevertheless, it will not in every instance prevent pregnancy[B].
Should, however, a woman with an infant at the breast again become
pregnant, (a circumstance that very frequently occurs, and of which,
from the general though not invariable absence of those criteria by
which this fact is accustomed to be recognised, she is not aware until it
has made some progress,) one of two things will usually take place;
either she will miscarry, or her milk will become impoverished in
quality and diminished in quantity. Nor is this wonderful:--it was not
intended by Nature that the processes of pregnancy and lactation should
go on simultaneously, but, on the contrary, that the one should
commence when the other had terminated; and experience sufficiently
proves that they will not proceed well together: the reason of which, as
it appears to me, may be easily given. During pregnancy, and
particularly during its latter periods, the vessels of the womb gradually
enlarge, and a much greater quantity of blood than usual is determined

to that organ for the increase and perfection of the embryo and its
appendages; which, after delivery, becomes transferred to the breasts to
supply the material for the secretion of the milk: but if, during
pregnancy, lactation be also persevered in, the blood becomes directed
at the same time to two different parts of the body, somewhat remote
from each other, namely, to the womb, and to the breasts; hence,
neither is likely to receive its due proportion of this vital fluid, and,
consequently, the functions of one or the other, or both, are liable to
become impeded or suspended. If the breasts continue to receive a
sufficient quantity of blood, the secretion of milk goes on properly, but
the womb is deprived of its necessary supply; the