REMARKS ON THE SUBJECT OF LACTATION,

&c. &c.

REMARKS

ON THE SUBJECT OF

LACTATION;

CONTAINING

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

HEALTHY AND DISEASED CONDITIONS OF THE BREAST-MILK;
THE DISORDERS FREQUENTLY PRODUCED
IN MOTHERS BY SUCKLING;

AND

NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIVE CASES;

PROVING THAT, WHEN PROTRACTED, IT IS A COMMON
CAUSE, IN CHILDREN, OF

HYDRENCEPHALUS, OR WATER IN THE BRAIN,

AND

OTHER SERIOUS COMPLAINTS.

BY

EDWARD MORTON, M.D. Cantab.

FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, AND MEMBER OF TRINITY
COLLEGE; CANDIDATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS,
LONDON; LATE PHYSICIAN TO THE WESTERN DISPENSARY,
AND TO THE ROYAL METROPOLITAN
INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN, &c. &c.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.

MDCCCXXXI.

LONDON:
Printed by William Clowes,
Stamford Street.

TO

Sir HENRY HALFORD, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., F.A.S.,

PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, LONDON,
PHYSICIAN TO THE KING, &c. &c.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES

ARE,

WITH HIS PERMISSION,

AND WITH

A GRATEFUL SENSE OF THE HONOUR THUS CONFERRED UPON THEIR
AUTHOR, MOST RESPECTFULLY

DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

Several cases which I witnessed led me to believe, some years ago, that inflammation of the brain, or its membranes, might be produced in children, owing to their being suckled for an undue length of time. Since that period, having enjoyed opportunities of observing infantile diseases on a much more extended scale, and my attention being expressly directed to the point in question, I not only became fully convinced of the correctness of my previous conclusions, but was induced to carry them still farther.

My opinions on this subject were briefly drawn up and published in the Medical and Physical Journal for August 1827, and have not passed altogether unnoticed by my professional brethren[1], some of whom have done me the honour to speak of them in flattering terms, while no one, I believe, has attempted to disprove the existence of the important fact I was the first to announce.

The bare statement of that fact was, indeed, nearly all that my approaching departure from England, at the time last mentioned, left in my power: upon the present occasion I have offered arguments for, and endeavoured to anticipate those against, the deductions I then made public; and however imperfect may have been my success in either, the welfare of society at large is too deeply involved in the establishment of my opinions with respect to the custom I condemn, (if those opinions be correct,) for me to hesitate while again committing them to the press in a more extended form.

These considerations, I respectfully submit, will render any apology for the appearance of the following pages unnecessary, and will, I trust, secure for them a candid and favourable reception from the Profession and the Public.

15, Eaton Street, Grosvenor Place,
October 8, 1831.

CONTENTS.

ERRATA.

Page 10,

for two read a few.

Page 52,

dele comma between the words Tabes and Mesenterica.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Breast-Milk, &c. &c.

No sooner has the child been ushered into the world than the breasts of the mother pour forth their milk for its sustenance. This bland fluid is secreted from the blood, and varies, in quality and quantity, according to the time which has elapsed from delivery, being peculiarly and wonderfully adapted at every period to the wants of the individual for whose use it is destined. Thus, that first