he separation of the
navel string and its detachment, and the perfect closure of the opening
takes place at the same time, between the fifth and the eighth day after
birth.

If this does not occur, the bowels are very apt to protrude through the
opening, and if allowed to do so for weeks or months, the opening
becomes so dilated that its closure is impossible, and the child grows
up afflicted permanently with rupture through the navel. This is always
an inconvenience, sometimes even a source of serious danger; but if
means are taken to prevent the condition becoming worse, nature seldom
fails eventually to bring about a cure, and to effect the complete
closure of the opening.

If the muscles on either side do not come into apposition, but leave a
cleft between them, the infant should constantly wear a broad bandage of
fine flannel round the stomach, not applied too tightly, in order to
give support. The circular bandages of vulcanised india-rubber with a
pad in the centre are nowise to be recommended. The pad is apt to become
displaced, and to press anywhere but over the navel, while its edges
irritate the infant's delicate skin, and the pressure which it exerts if
it is sufficiently tight to retain its place interferes with
respiration.

A pad composed of pieces of plaster spread on wash-leather, and of
graduated sizes and kept in place by adhesive strapping,[7] answers the
purpose of preventing the protrusion at the navel, and of thus
facilitating the closure of the ring better than any other device with
which I am acquainted. They need, however, to be continued even for two
or three years, and though they should have been left off it is wise to
resume their use if the child should be attacked by whooping-cough,
diarrh[oe]a, or any other ailment likely to occasion violent straining.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] These plasters for ruptured navel in sets of a dozen are to be had
of Ewen, 106 Jermyn Street, St. James's, London, and I dare say at many
other places besides.

CHAPTER V.

ON THE DISORDERS AND DISEASES OF CHILDREN AFTER THE FIRST MONTH, AND
UNTIL TEETHING IS FINISHED.

=Infantile Atrophy.=--In by far the greater number of instances, the
wasting of young children is due to their being fed upon food which they
cannot digest, or which when digested fails to yield them proper
nourishment. I quoted some figures in my introductory remarks, to show
from the evidence obtained at Berlin how much larger was the