BLEEDING FROM THE NAVEL-STRING.
Bleeding from the navel-string will sometime take place hours after it has been supposed to be carefully secured. This will arise, either from the cord being carelessly tied, or from its being unusually large at birth, and in a few hours shrinking so much that the ligature no longer sufficiently presses on the vessels. In either case, it is of importance that the attendants in the lying-in-room should understand how to manage this accident when it occurs, that it may not prove injurious or fatal to the child.
THE MODE OF ARRESTING THE BLEEDING.—The clothes of the child and the flannel roller must be taken off;—the whole cord without delay must be unwrapped, and then a second ligature be applied below the original one, (viz. nearer to the body of the infant,) taking great care that it shall not cut through the cord when drawn very tight, but at the same time drawing it sufficiently tight to compress the vessels.
The ligature should be composed of fine linen threads, three or four thicknesses, and not of tape or bobbin, or any substance of this nature, as it cannot be relied on for this purpose.