Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c11.24

c11.24

breasts should not be too raised, or should not hang loose and low, should not be too thin or too full, possessing good nipples from which the child can suck without trouble. The effect of raised breasts is that the mouth of the child opens wide (which may cause dislocation of jaw); the loose breasts would cover its nose and mouth, so that it may suffocate. Signs of healthy milk are that it mixes with water when put in it, is cold, clean, thin, ( white ) as a shell, does not produce bubbles or threads (in water), does not float on the surface or does not sink. By such milk the child grows and nourishes and becomes healthy and strong (Car 4.8.51 f.; Su 3.10.25; 31; AS 6.1.172). Bad milk floats on water, is dark-red, dry, frothy, light, not satisfying the child, causing diseases of vāta, having sour aftertaste, constipating etc., if it is affected by vāta. It produces yellow stripes in water, is black, blue or copper-red, causing diseases of pitta, very warm, bitter, sour and pungent in aftertaste etc., if it is affected by pitta. It sinks in water, is very white, sweet, of saltish aftertaste, sticky, causing diseases of kapha etc., if it is affected by kapha ( Car 4.8.54; Su 3.10.31 f.; AS 6.2.177; AHr 6.2.2-4 ). Defective feeding of the mother or of the nurse is considered as the chief cause of such derangement of the doṣas ( Su 3.10.32; AS 1. c. ). Milk is the sweet extract of the digested food which is gathered in the breasts from the whole body (Su 2.10.16). The mother's milk can entirely dry up by vehement passions like anger, grief, sensual love and also by unhealthy food and drink. In order to increase the milk the woman should eat barley, wheat, rice, flesh of swampy animals, sour gruel, garlic, fish, vegetables, spirituous drinks with the exception of rum, milk, flesh-broth, and the like. Evasion of exercise and cheering are also recommended ( Su 3.10.30; AS 6.1.172; Car 4.8.51 ).