What, when, are we to do with sore nipples? an affection apparently so trifling, and yet one which causes an amount of suffering that can be adequately appreciated only by those who are brought to endure it? Are we to suppose that it is the order of nature that women should thus suffer in that most important matter, the rearing of their young? Do we find any analogy in nature by which we are led to such a conclusion? It is very plain, I think, that we do not. All mammiferous animals, when left to themselves, nourish their young without disease or pain. Thus, too, would it be with the human species, did we, as the animals, live in accordance with the natural laws.
Let us look, then, for the causes here concerned.
1. The general Condition of the System.—In consequence of the ill-governed habits of the generality of females, both in pregnancy as well as at other times, a great amount of morbid matter is formed in the system. Too much food is eaten generally, and of improper kinds. The blood, fluids, and secretions of the system generally are in an impure state. Thus it is, that when a small wound or abrasion is made, the part does not readily heal. A drunkard’s system often becomes so impure that he festers and dies of a mere pin-scratch. Thus we see that the condition of the living body may be modified at pleasure to an almost indefinite extent. Women, particularly, who are, or who ever expect to be pregnant, cannot be too particular—cannot take too much pains, in order to preserve a pure and healthy state of the general system. Depend upon it, this will tell when they come to that ever-important period of nursing the new-born babe.
2. Cleanliness.—Many, no doubt, get sore nipples, in great part, because of their want of attention to cleanliness. Wash the nipples often, and keep them at all times most scrupulously clean, if you wish to prevent them becoming diseased. Nowhere is it more necessary that this ever-important duty should be strictly observed.
3. The Dress.—It is said that the Greek women were in the habit of supporting their bosoms by a certain contrivance called strophium, and the Roman women by one called fascicola, which were not at all liable to compress or countersink the nipple, as carpenters would say. The breast should always be left free to grow in all its parts; and if there had never been any corsets, busks, or tight dresses among us, we should not meet that troublesome affection, the countersink of the nipple. If young ladies could know how great an amount of suffering they are rendering themselves liable to, when they compress their bodies in this way, they would, I am sure, one and all, avoid that which can do them no good at the time, and must end in inevitable harm. Sad is it to think that they have never been taught on the subject; their mothers are not acquainted with it, nor are there any popular works treating of these matters from which they can gain the information which would prove of such signal benefit to them. It is, then, with feelings of earnest regard for the condition of the sex, that I prepare this work for those who stand in so much need of that information which it attempts to put forth.
With the view of drawing out the nipple more effectually, it is sometimes asked of the physician, whether it is not advisable to have the breasts drawn by a young puppy, or by a friend, before the birth takes place? An objection to this practice is, that in consequence of the sympathy that exists between the breasts and the womb, exciting the former before the time of the full period of pregnancy might, or, rather, would cause pains in the latter before the proper time; in other words, premature labor would be likely to result. Besides, it is the order of nature that drawing the breast be practiced only after the birth has been accomplished. Nothing whatever can be gained by drawing the breast before delivery.
Sore nipple may arise from a variety of causes. The breast sometimes becomes so inflamed, so hard, so obstinate—all, perhaps, in spite of the best that we can do—that it is found impossible to extract any milk whatever from the lactiferous tubes. Under such circumstances the frequent sucking of the nipple by the child, or, what is worse, by the use of the miserable instruments which have been contrived for drawing the breast, it is often made very sore. At other times, too, the patient’s system appears to be in a state highly calculated to favor cracking or chapping of the surface, such as we observe in many persons, who, when they commence bathing, find their hands and feet becoming very sore. These are always evidences of impurity in the body, and the proof of this fact is found in the circumstance, that if they set resolutely at work to renovate their health by the hydropathic treatment, they become cured of the symptoms, just in proportion as they become firmer and more vigorous in general health.
We need not expect to remedy sore nipples to any great extent so long as the breast remains inflamed. We must first cure the breast, and then with reasonable care and attention the nipple will soon heal of itself. But if the general system is at fault, the blood impure, and the skin at any moment, on the application of a little moisture, liable to crack, then our object should be to employ such a course of constitutional treatment as is calculated to improve the system generally. Sore nipple often consists “in a long, narrow ulcer, wide as a horse-hair, and a sixteenth of an inch long; this ulcer is so small, that it requires a good light to see it; and even then it often cannot be detected, except by bending the nipple over to the opposite side, which discloses it.” This ulcer is often so exceedingly painful, that the mother is unwilling to nurse the child as often as it should be done; thus exposing her to the evils of an over-distended and inflamed breast; and we may judge something of the anguish which the poor patient endures, when we see the tears streaming from her eyes every time the child attempts to nurse. We see, too, how difficult it must be, in many cases, to cure this kind of sore nipple, since every time the child takes it into its mouth it holds and stretches the part, thus causing the crack to become larger and worse.
A great variety of the so-called remedial substances have been tried for the cure of this affection. I would not say that none of the ointments, washes, powders, etc., which have been thus employed have any good effect. But one thing I am confident of, which is, that the water-dressing, that is, fine linen compresses or lint, wet in the purest and softest water, and often changed, to prevent their becoming too warm, in connection with appropriate constitutional treatment, will be found the best that can be resorted to.
Some have recommended very highly the use of nitrate of silver in curing sore nipple. Sometimes, perhaps often, it seems to work well, but by high authority in the profession it is affirmed that in many cases the disease is only made worse; nor has any rule been ascertained by which it can be determined beforehand as to whether harm or good will be the result in any given case.