15. If, after the navel-string has been secured, bleeding should (in the absence of the medical man) occur, how must it be restrained?
The nurse or the attendant ought immediately to take off the rag, and tightly, with a ligature composed of four or five whity-brown threads, retie the navel-string; and to make assurance doubly sure, after once tying it, she should pass the threads a second time around the navel-string and tie it again; and after carefully ascertaining that it no longer bleeds, fasten it up in the rag as before. Bleeding of the navel-string rarely occurs, yet if it should do so—the medical man not being at hand—the child's after-health, or even his life, may, if the above directions be not adopted, be endangered.
16. When does the navel-string separate from the child?
From five days to a week after birth; in some cases not until ten days or a fortnight, or even, in rare cases, not until three weeks.
17. If the navel-string does not at the end of a week come away, ought any means to be used to cause the separation?
Certainly not; it ought always to be allowed to drop off, which, when in a fit state, it will readily do. Meddling with the navel-string has frequently cost the babe a great deal of suffering, and in some cases even his life.
18. The navel is sometimes a little sore after the navel-string comes away; what ought then to be done?
A little simple cerate should be spread on lint, and be applied every morning to the part affected; and a white-bread poultice, every night, until it be quite healed.
19. What are the causes of a rupture of the navel? What ought to be done? Can it be cured?
(1.) A rupture of the navel is sometimes occasioned by a meddlesome nurse. She is very anxious to cause the navel-string to separate from the infant's body, more especially when it is longer in coming away than usual.
