Sometimes there has been seen two and even three nipples on one breast, and in a few cases one of the breasts has had no nipple at all. The two glands are not immediately connected, but have a very intimate sympathy with each other. The size of the breast depends more upon the thickness of the layer of fatty substance, than upon the development of the gland, so that one female, with a very full bosom, may have but little milk, while another, whose breast is but little prominent, may have a superabundance. The graceful swell of the fully developed breast is, however, a matter of positive utility, as well as of beauty, because it better adapts it to the use of the child, and probably also adds to its _pleasure_, as any one may readily conceive who will observe the delight with which an infant, even when not nursing, will often caress it. Sir Astley Cooper says, "The natural obliquity of the Mamella, or nipple, forwards and outwards, with a slight turn of the nipple upwards, is one of the most beautiful provisions in nature, both for the mother and the child. To the mother, because the child rests upon her arm and lap in the most convenient position for sucking; for if the nipple and breast had projected directly forwards, the child must have been supported before her, in the mother's hands, in a most inconvenient and fatiguing position, instead of it reclining upon her side and arm. But it is wisely provided by nature, that when the child reposes upon its mother's arm it has its mouth directly applied to the nipple, which is turned outwards to receive it, whilst the lower part of the breast forms a _cushion_, upon which the cheek of the infant tranquilly reposes." With the exception of the dark _areola_, or circle, and the little tubercles around the nipple, the breast is of the most delicate structure and color, so that it blushes, or reddens, like the cheek, from any sudden emotion, and goes pale during fainting. As a general rule no milk is secreted in those who have not become pregnant, nor in those who have passed the turn of life, but occasionally exceptions are observed to this rule.