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COncerning the first generation of Milke, there is vpon record a solemne edict of Hip∣pocrates in his Booke de natura pueri. As soone as the Infant beginneth to moue, the milk giueth warning thereof vnto the mother. For the explication of which sentence, there
are two Problemes to bee discussed. The first, why at that time the Milke should begin to * 1.1 be generated. The second why the infant should not be nourished out of the wombe with the same wherewith hee was nourished in the Wombe. The resolution of the first que∣stion will haue some difficult passages in it. For seeing that the Milke is onely ordained for nutrition, and that therewith the infant in the womb is not nourished, but onely after the birth, why is the Milke generated before the seauenth month, til when there is no vse of it, or why doth it not flow from the womb to the brests presently, or soone after conception, * 1.2 as well as in the third and fourth months. Hippocrates in the Booke before quoted, answe∣reth this Question thus, That the infant in the third or fourth month becomming great, dooth straine or presse the vessels which are ful of bloode, and by this compression there is an expression made vnto the vpper parts.
This reason is indeede very true, but verie subtle and obscure, wherefore we wil paine * 1.3 our selues a little to make it manifest. In the first months, Natures expence of blood is ve∣ry great. First of all, because the Parenchymata or substance of the bowels and all the fleshy parts are generated, and afterwardes for the nourishment and growth of them all, so that there remaineth little or no ouer plus of the Mothers bloode. But when the infant be∣ginnes to mooue because there is alreadie a perfect conformation of all partes, Nature thereafter onely entendeth nourishment, which nourishment requireth but a small quan∣tity * 1.4 of Aliment, because there is but small and slender exhaustion or expence in the parts, and therefore in the veynes of the Wombe, there must needes be an ouer-plus of bloode: these Veines being pressed by the motion and weyght of the Infant, which now is growne great, doe driue the blood vnto the vpper parts, and rather into the Dugges then into a∣ny other, as well because of the commodiousnesse and fitnesse of the way, as because of the societie and simpathie that is betwixt the wombe and the breasts. Add heereto a third cause which also is the finall, and that is the wonderfull prouidence of Nature, whereby the blood is accustomed by little and little to be transported vnto the place where it shall bee * 1.5 turned vnto Milke, and so remaine a plentifull fountaine for the nourishment of the infant after it is borne into the world.
And that is the reason why women are not so much troubled with bleedings at the nose, * 1.6 and with Haemorrhoides, because bloode affecteth the way vnto the wombe, to satisfy the ende or intent of Nature, which is the generation and nourishment of an infant. Giue mee leaue also to giue another reason of this refluence of bloode from the Wombe vnto the Dugges, which is, That the infant might haue occasion offered it to seeke a way out of the Wombe. For, if all the blood were still reserued in the vessels of the wombe, and no part of it discharged or sent away other whether, the Child would neuer striue to come foorth, hauing alwayes nourishment enough at hande to content it: for Hippocrates * 1.7 saith, that the onely cause of the strifte of the Infant in the byrth is the vvant of Nourish∣ment.
It behooued therefore, that in the thirde and fourth Moneths Nature should by degrees transferre the bloode vnto the Dugges to accustome her selfe to leade it thether for the nourishment of the Infant when it is borne, as also to defraud the infant nowe be∣com'd better growne of his nourishment, whereby hee might bee prouoked to seeke for it other where. Some thinke, that the blood returneth vnto the brests after the infant beginnes to mooue, to bee kept as it were in store, that thereby at time of neede, and in great want the infant might haue blood so prepared and whitened into Milke to sustain his necessitv.
And this Hippocrates seemeth to intimate in his Booke de Natura pueri, where he saith, * 1.8 That the infant with this milk, is somewhat and sometimes norished, which saying of Hippocra∣tes I do thus interpret, The childe is nourished with milke, that is, with the blood conteyned in the veines of the dugs, which is the next and most immediate matter of the milke, or, if the infant should bee extreamly affamished before the time of the birth, I thinke that the white milke may returne from the paps to the vessels, and be there boiled and conuerted in∣to blood by the sanguifying vertue of the veines, which is neuer idle or asleepe. And that the milke may returne from the paps vnto the vessels, and be againe altred into blood, is ap∣prooued by the daily experience of nurses and women in child-bed.
The second Probleme was, why the Infant is not nourished with the same Aliment * 1.9 without and within the VVombe; for within the wombe it is nourished with verie pure bloode, vvithout the wombe with sweete milke. Dinus answereth, That the bloode being * 1.10
hotter then the Milke, if it should passe all the three concoctions in a childs bodie, it would at length become vnmeete for nourishment, because by too much heate it would contract a bitternesse: but the Milke which is of a more cold temper is more easily mittigated, and groweth rather sweete then bitter by the three-fold concoction. But is it rather an inhu∣mane * 1.11 and beastly thing for children to be blood-suckers: or shall we say that therefore the Infant after byrth is not nourished with bloode, least by his sucking hee should open the the mouths of his Mothers Veines, and so the blood which is the treasure of nature should flowe away.
And whereas some affirme, that after wee are born, it is necessary that our Aliments * 1.12 should passe all three concoctions, and that it is not possible that the stomacke should chy∣lefie the blood, and therefore Infants are not nourished by bloode but by milke: I say this reason is false and full of error, for whatsoeuer is taken vnto the stomacke, if it may be assi∣mulated, it may also be turned into a creamy substance, and many there be who drinke the * 1.13 blood of Swine and Goats, the noysome excrements whereof are auoyded by the guttes and the seidge. Now the excrements of the guts, are onely excrements of Chylifica∣tion.
Other things which may concerne this or anie other of the Naturall parts which be∣long vnto Nutrition, because wee imagine that they are easilie knowne, or if hard yet gene∣rally * 1.14 agreed vpon, we do willingly passe ouer, iudging it sufficient that we haue thus long detained the Reader in these Labyrinthes of Controuersies, which notwithstanding as it may be they will not be thought necessary for all, so we presume that they wil not be irkesome to any man, whose Stomacke standeth to these delicacies of Nature, nor vnprofitable for those to whose proper element they belong. Now it is high time to returne to our Anatomical History of the Natural Parts belonging to Gene∣ration.
Why the milk is generated the 3 or 4 moneth.
Question. Hippocrates. Solution.
A darke sen∣tence of Hip∣pocrates ex∣plained.
Why the blood retur∣neth from the wombe rather to the Dugges then to any o∣ther part.
The proui∣dence of Na∣ture.
Why women bleed not at the nose, nor are troubled with Haemorhoids.
Hippocrates. The true cause of the trauel.
Hippocrates ex¦pounded.
The second probleme.
Dinus answer▪
Another an∣swere
Obiection.
Answer.
The coaclusi∣on of these controuersies