two weeks interval to see if sufficient of the connective tissue has developed to close the canal. If the hernia is not overcome and recurs injections may be repeated.
Case Reports
Case 1.
Case 1 A. G.—Italian child, age twenty-eight months, female. (Ass. Civ. Char. Disp.) Umbilical hernia protruding about one-half inch and with an opening which may be filled by tip of index finger.
Parts thoroughly sterilized, hernia reduced and contents held in abdominal cavity by pressure of index finger of assistant. The margins of ring and the skin covering hernial opening injected with paraffin of melting point 108. In effort to avoid puncturing of hernial sac and throwing paraffin into the peritoneal cavity the skin of sac injected with the paraffin. About half dram amount used. Operation Jan. 17, 1905. Jan. 18, 1905. Temp. normal. Parts sensitive. Cries and struggles when parts touched. May 13, 1905. Last examination. Skin somewhat red. Paraffin mass easily palpable. Skin red but not sensitive.
Case 2.
Case 2 A. C. C.—Disp. W. P. Swedish boy, age 2 years and 9 months. Injected Feb. 3, 1905. Hernia as large as walnut. Reduced. Finger of assistant holding in contents. Injection made into tissue surrounding the hernial opening with view of crowding margins together. Half dram injected. Child crying forced contents into sac. Reduced and injection under skin of sac and around margins of opening to plug. Nearly dram paraffin used, melting point 108.
Parts moderately sensitive at end of week. No redness though paraffin mass palpable close under skin and intimately connected with it. April 11, 1905. Last examination. No redness, no tenderness, no recurrence.