ULCERATION OR IMPERFECT HEALING OF THE NAVEL.

The cord separates from the navel generally some time between the fifth and fifteenth day from delivery, and the part usually heals without giving the slightest trouble.

This, however, is not always the case, for sometimes a thin discharge will take place, which, if the part be examined, will be found to proceed from a small growth about the size, perhaps, of a pea, or even less.  This must be removed by applying a little powdered alum,—­or, if this fail, it should be once or twice slightly touched with blue-stone, and afterwards dressed with calamine cerate.

At other times, though fortunately very rarely, excoriation of the navel and the parts around takes place, which quickly spreads, and assumes an angry and threatening character.  If, however, the attention of the medical man is called to it early, it will always do well:  until his directions are given, apply a nicely made bread and water poultice.

BLEEDING FROM THE NAVEL.

Sometimes, a day or two after the cord separates, or at the time of separation, bleeding takes place from the navel:  fortunately, this very seldom occurs; indeed, it is very rarely met with; and I only mention it, to observe that, upon its occurrence, the point of the finger should be placed over the part, and pressure steadily applied until medical assistance is obtained.

Now and then, in these cases, a growth sprouts up and bleeds.  Let this be touched with lunar caustic, or any other astringent application, or let pressure be employed, still it will bleed,—­not freely or in a stream, but there will be a constant drain from the part, and the infant, as a consequence, will waste, and be brought to death’s door.  Excise it, it will only make matters worse.  The treatment in this case consists in simply winding a piece of very narrow tape round the growth, and then leaving it untouched.  The bleeding will soon cease; the fungus will sprout over the upper margin of the tape; in a very short time it will, as it were, strangle the disease, which subsequently falling off, a complete cure is accomplished.

JAUNDICE.

It frequently happens, during the first or second week after birth, that the skin of the child becomes very yellow, and it has all the appearance of having the jaundice.  This gives rise to great distress to the parent when she perceives it, and she becomes very anxious for the medical man’s next visit.

Now, ordinarily, it is of no consequence; commonly disappearing spontaneously, and requiring no medical treatment.  If, however, it does not go off in two or three days, a tea-spoonful of castor oil should be given once, or oftener, if necessary.

It is, of course, possible for an attack of real jaundice to occur at this early period, and a disease of a very serious nature will then have to be dealt with; but, except as a consequence of malformation (a very infrequent occurrence), it is not likely to arise; and therefore jaundice during the first and second week after delivery need not create alarm.