, surgical interference is more than
likely necessary. Often the external opening alone is missing.
Sometimes there is a complete closure or atresia of the lower part of
the colon.

BLEEDING FROM THE NAVEL

There should be no hemorrhage from the umbilical stump after it has
been properly tied, but occasionally a bit of blood is found upon the
dressing and a second tying of the cord stump is necessary. The cord
drops off in eight or ten days, and the umbilicus that is left may be
moist or it may bleed slightly; if such is the case, great care should
be exercised in bathing this ulcer that has been left behind. It
simply should be touched with alcohol, a bit of boric acid powder
applied, and a small piece of sterile gauze be placed over it. In the
course of two or three days it will entirely heal. Care should always
be exercised in washing the umbilicus. Extensive hemorrhage from this
portion of the body is rare, but it does happen occasionally and is a
severe condition which demands surgical attention.

If the umbilicus remains moist and foul smelling, general blood
poisoning of the infant may easily follow. Thorough dusting with boric
acid powder, with possibly a little oxide of zinc, will usually effect
a cure promptly, but should the condition continue, which it does only
in rare instances, the doctor may have to cauterize it.

CHAPTER XXVIII

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

Never under any circumstances knowingly expose a child to any of the
so-called "childhood diseases." The old method of "have the child get
them as quickly as possible and get over them," has laid the
foundation for many chronic disorders later in life. For instance, eye
troubles and running ears are often the sequelae of measles; chronic
coughs, tuberculosis and bronchitis frequently follow in the wake of
whooping cough; heart disorders follow diphtheria, while kidney
disease often follows in the course of scarlet fever.

CATCHING DISEASE

Under all circumstances keep the children away from these dangerous
childhood diseases. When a contagious disease breaks out in a school
and the little fellow has, along with the other pupils, been exposed
to it, begin at once systematically to keep the nose and throat very
clean with such well-known sprays as the champhor-menthol-albolene
spray, which should be used in the nose morning, noon, and night.
Throat gargles, such as listerine, or equal parts of alcohol and
water, help to keep the throat i