OBSTETRICS, OR MIDWIFERY 767 



rub it gently with a sponge dipped in warm, weak 

 suds made of castile soap. If the surface is covered 

 with curd-like matter, as is sometimes the case, it 

 should be smeared with a mixture of equal parts of 

 egg and sweet oil beaten up together. After the bath, 

 the surface of the skin should be anointed with a little 

 olive oil or vaseline. If some portions of the curdy 

 matter seem to be firmly adhesive to the skin, no vio- 

 lent efforts should be made to remove them, as they 

 will dry and disappear in a short time without further 

 attention. After being thoroughly washed, the child 

 should be carefully examined to see that it possesses 

 no deformity. The outlets of the body should receive 

 particular attention, as in some cases the anus or ure- 

 thra are closed. 



The best method of dressing the cord is this : Grasp 

 the cord with the thumb and finger close to the body, 

 cutting it off at ligature. Squeeze out all its con- 

 tents by pressure with the thumb and finger of the 

 other hand, keeping a firm grasp upon it with the thumb 

 and finger first applied so as to prevent hemorrhage. 

 Now apply another ligature about an inch from the 

 end of the stump. By this means the cord will be very 

 greatly reduced in size and may be much more easily 

 dressed than when treated in the usual way. Make 

 an opening through the center of a properly prepared 

 layer of antiseptic cotton, large enough to lay over 

 the cord. Slip this over the cord, then fold up the 

 edges around the cord, lay flat upon the abdomen, and 

 cover with a proper bandage. "VAHien treated in this 

 manner, the stump of the cord will usually separate 

 in four or five days, and the resulting raw surface will 

 quickly heal. It is generally customary to next apply 

 what is termed the belly-band. This is not so important 



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