SWELLING OF THE BREASTS.
At birth, or two or three days subsequently, the breasts of the infant will frequently be found swollen, hard, and painful, containing a fluid much resembling milk. Nurses generally endeavour to squeeze this out, and thus do great mischief; for by this means inflammation is excited in the part, and sometimes abscess is the result.
If the breasts are simply slightly enlarged, it is unnecessary to do any thing more than rub them occasionally and very gently with warm almond oil, and a little time will restore them to their proper size.
If, however, they are inflamed, hot, painful, with a red surface, and unusually large, a bread and water poultice must be applied every three or four hours, which will generally prevent either the formation of matter, or any other unpleasant consequence. In a few days, under this treatment, they will usually subside, and be quite well.