The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01

II an operation is indicated at the
time of birth for some congenital
defect it had better be done within
the first As hours rather than
later. Curiously, a new born baby
stands surgery better than when it
is a week or two or a month older.
A frequent congenital anomaly
is hernia. 1t may be Of the inguinal
variety essentially the same as the
common hernia of adults, or UNI
bilical tat the navel.
Ingsinal hernia in a baby is
more easily repaired after the first
year. So the best advice is to wait.
The yarn truss, although not cura-
tive, should be used until time for
the operation. When the hernia is
too big for the truss to hold it. or
because Of the inaptitude of the
parents or the intolerance of the
child, operation IS advisable re-
CARELESS of age.
Umbilical Hernias
Umbilcal hernias which pro-
trude only one-half to one inch
above the level of the abdominal
wall, and with a ring that admits
only the tip of the little finger,
can almost always be cured by
strapping with adhesive tape. So
it is better to withhold surgery on
these until it is seen whether con-
servative treatment will be success
full. Some umbilical hernias, how
ever, require surgery as soon after
birth as possible. 1t is for the sur.
geon to decide which these are.
Undescended tests, which may
be mistaken for hernia should not
be operated on until between nine
and twelve years.
Among other congenital defects,
harelip should be repaired as early
in infancy as possible during the
third or fourth week Of life when
the feeding habits have become es-
tablished and a continuous weight
gain is apparent. The longer the
operation is delayed the larger the
defect becomes because of the lat
eral pull of the muscles of the face
and lip.
Operation for Harelip
If the harelip is complicated by
cleft palate, repair should not be
undertaken in early infancy be-
cause the tissues on either side of
the mouth are too narrow. The
best time is at the age of one and
a half to two years. Great i'm
provement has been made in these
operations, not only in principle
but in the skill of'those who now
undertake such procedures. If the
nose can be closed off and the pos
terror palate repaired, the child
will be able to speak and eat with
out difficulty.
What we have been describing
are congenital defects. The dis
eases mot defects) for which SUI
gerry is indicated and which ap-
pear in the early period of life are
few and not very frequent. APP
pendicitis leads in frequency the
list with intestinal obstruction
second. In both of these surgery
is indicated as soon as the dag
nosis is made.
Both appendicitis and intestinal
obstruction present the symptom
complex known as the acute abdo-
men. The adult with an acute alb
domen will tell you about pain, but
the baby can't tell. so you have to
guess from the signs - restless
ness, distention, vomiting over and
over again, passage Of one bloody
stool, otherwise constipation, fe-
yer, crying.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
S. B.-What is the value Of
colonic irrigation? They are rec
commended for the treatment and
prevention of innumerable dis
eases.
Answer:-They are not good for
anything, and if used regularly
sooner or later make a complete
invalid of anyone.