Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-07
Health Talks by Dr., Brady
a Hcit for Navel Rupturc

Umbilcal hernia (naveI brcech or rup,ure)
is common condition in infants and in many
cases is amcnablc to simple treatment Dro-
vidcd the treatment is efficient or coursc
there Is small chance for spon ncous cure II,
any hernia after the FIRST six months Of life.
lhcre are two methods of support i'm COM
mon use in the treatment OF umbiljcal hernia
IN INFANTS, but neither is satisfactory The
first method consists in the apDlicatiou or :,
button. penny or other round, Nat hard OBJ
Jcct padded with cotton or wool and covered
with cloth to the bulging or protrilsion at
the navel and retaining this support by means
OF Il belt or by criss-cross strips of adhcsiy.
plaster attached tn the skin. The objection tn
this method is that the button or pad tends
rather to keep the muscles spread apart mt
the navel aud to oppose "A natural tendency
toward closure of the defect
The second method consists simDlv of tho
application of adhesive plaster strips across
the abdomen ut the level of the navel in such
""hher as to cover the defect and draw tho
SKIN and muscles closely together about n
rms would he better support. hut the draw
nack is that the skin under the adhesive Mas
Ter becomes eNcoriated and so the plaster
must ne r'appiiod at frequent intervals by
'ns nurse or mother, who may not do such an
eiecuVe job as the doctor did in the first
place. "
Ihcre are various ready made umbiIic,,
tH OF TnSS'S Tor these cases, hut none
'rt satisfactory than the two methods
OF homemade" origin just described
I'F frank II BrundaGc, Of Buffalo has do
Hised a new umbilical hernia belt which INV
nanny mother can make and which is prob
AMY preferable to either of the older methods
"f treatment for navel rupture The Bruudurc
hcli iaceS AT front and back with a lace n nd
'Ecicts, with q flap under the lacinl- nj m.
.p"ck ana IN" tw" edges slightly overl,uniu,,
III inc 'front.'. Tho belt is made Of shoe, i'm q,
or muslin. with its front edges doubled aud
Stltchcd around to hold a row of five oyc,o,..
attached to these edges are Insertions az
woven elastic the width of the hoIi "a IN 4 :,
'hchcs) and about four inches long. stitched
10 the outer edges OF the woven elastic inscr
tions are strips of Shooting or muslin about
the same width and long enough To roach
around to the spine. whore they are double
stitched and fitted with five cyelets win :,
zap under one end. Upon what Is 10 he Tho
inside surface Of the elastic part of tho he,,
three pieces Of ordinary soft rubber tubing.
a hltle shorter than the width of the bolt
are attached parallel, with tho eyelets in IN.
emu ana about an inch apart. This may he
re"aiiS done by sewing three little pockets
AT the upper and lower edges OF the inner
surface or the woven elastic insertions into
when the ends of the rubber tubes are slippcd
iheSc ruhbcr tubes 20 next the skin upon
Which thcy make sufficient tension when the
pelt Is applied, to puckcr the skin somewhat
and draw the muscles over tho umblicol do
rect Make the belt inch or more short Of
the measurement around the abdomen Mt Tho
navel and adjust by lacing ut the back but
apply II in such manner as to reduce or press
back into the abdomen any buIyinr M ,b.
navel.