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"Whilst the changes for the reproduction of the species are proceeding in the uterus, Nature is not unmindful or regardless of the wants of the offspring so soon as it shall be born; but in all the class Mammalia she has provided glands to supply bountifully, by the secretion of milk, that nourishment which the young animal will require soon after it begins to breathe.
The Breasts, or Mammae, are formed for this purpose; and soon after the commencement of utero-gestation, they begin to receive an additional supply of blood to prepare for the new secretion; and thus, by an admirable foresight, when the link which united the offspring to the mother is broken, a new and entirely different mode of nutrition is substituted for that which it had previously received."
"Mammary ducts injected with red, yellow, black, green and brown wax." (detail)
'Ducts and Glandules'
Regarding the figure on the right:
"Ducts injected more minutely with yellow, red, green, blue and black [wax]. This preparation shows two additional circumstances: -First, the glandules from which the ducts begin are seen filled with wax. Secondly, at the lower part of the preparation the separate ducts are seen passing above and beneath each other, to render the breast a cushion; whilst at the upper part the ducts are single."
'The Nipple in its Changes'
These figures represent subjects aged from two through to old age. The examples in the first row are from pre-pubescent girls. Various influences - pregnancy, lactation, multiple or no offspring and menopause - are said to affect the appearance of the remaining figures. A few of these nipple drawings were derived from cadavers. It all seems fairly random, although obviously meant - from the accompanying notes - as a general guide to physiological and appearance changes. [this plate in particular has been extensively background cleaned]
'Ligamenta Suspensoria and Sections'
Seen most specifically in the middle figure, ligamenta suspensoria (aka Cooper's ligaments
*, after the author of this book) is a network of fibrous connective tissue throughout the breast. It provides structural support for
all the anatomical components and is responsible for giving the breast its characteristic shape.
'Ducts, Glandules and Cells'
The top figure shows wax-injected milk ducts leading from small secretory glandules to the nipple. The bottom figure is a magnified version of one of those tracts and the middle drawings show the glandules at higher magnification again.