The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett.

  • Birkett, John, 1815-1904.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    retracted, or is so diminutive and badly developed, as to be incapable of answering the ends for which it is in- tended. There is generally a trace, at least, of this organ to be detected. Amastia (a priv., and iulckjtoq a teat) is a suitable term to express this condition. Pleiomastia, (ttXeiov and paarog). There are ex- amples, however, of the existence of supernumerary nip- ples; and this anomaly occurs as follows,—viz. two upon each breast, or two or more upon either the right or the left. They may be situated near together, and possess an areola in common, or they may be separated and encircled by an areola distinctly denned. The milk flows as freely from the supernumerary as from the normal nipple. As many as five, and each with its areola, have been seen upon one breast. (G. Hannseus, Diet, de Sc. Med., art. Mamelle.) INCONTINENCE OF MILK. The retentive power of the mouths of the ducts on the nipple is sometimes so greatly diminished as to permit the milk when formed to flow away continually. Since, as I have shown in another place (page 34), the yellow elastic tissue forms the chief uniting medium in this organ, a want of it, or a loss of tone in its fibre, may be the reason why this accident occurs. Astringent lotions, or even cold, which is known to