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UMBILICAL HERNIA
If you notice that your baby has a little lump which protrudes from his umbilicus when he cries or coughs, it is likely that he has an umbilical hernia. This is very common and is caused by the ring which normally surrounds the umbilical cord failing to close completely after birth. An umbilical hernia generally does not cause problems, and usually does not persist beyond 5 years of age. In rare cases, a small loop of bowel can be trapped in the opening and may require surgical removal. Umbilical hernias which do not disappear or are larger than 2-3 cm can be repaired surgically — this is usually for cosmetic rather than medical reasons. Do not tape the hernia — it does not help and may damage the baby’s tender skin.
WIND (FLATULENCE, EXCESSIVE GAS)
Passing bowel gas is a normal and necessary function in humans. Bowel gas is released by gas-producing foods and by the swallowing of air. Children swallow large amounts of air when sucking on empty bottles, and when crying. Carbonated drinks cause excess wind, as do foods which are difficult to digest, such as beans. Occasionally excess wind is a sign of milk intolerance, and gas is increased during bouts of diarrhoea or with marked constipation. No treatment is necessary for excess wind, except perhaps teaching your child, when he is old enough, to pass wind in a socially acceptable manner!
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When children are sick they tend to vomit more readily than adults. It is often a single event and the child is back to normal again soon afterwards.
Cause
There are numerous causes of vomiting, but the most common is that associated with any infection, either viral or bacterial, even the common cold. Motion sickness is another cause of vomiting. Vomiting can sometimes occur in association with more serious illnesses such as appendicitis or meningitis.
Projectile vomiting, which is a forceful throwing up of the contents of the stomach, is characteristic of pyloric stenosis.
Young babies tend to vomit up small amounts of milk after feeds. This is called posseting, and is normal. It can usually be reduced if you burp your baby a little more during feeds.
Clinical features
Vomiting is often accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Dehydration is one of the serious risks of vomiting, especially in young babies .
Treatment
Medications against vomiting should not be used in children due to the risk of serious side effects. The most important part of the treatment of vomiting is adequate fluid replacement to prevent dehydration.
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NAUSEA
Nausea is the feeling that you want to vomit. It is also known as being bilious or nauseated. Young children will not be able to tell you that they feel nauseated, but they may look pale and sweaty, and complain of a stomach ache. Older children will be able to describe additional symptoms such as dizziness.
Cause
There are many causes of nausea in children, but by far the most common are gastroenteritis, ear infections and motion sickness.
Treatment
Medications against nausea should not be given to children, due to the risk of serious side effects. If your child has nausea it is advisable to see your doctor.
SWALLOWED FOREIGN OBJECT
Babies and toddlers tend to explore things by placing them in their mouths and so they may swallow something which is not food. Many objects will be passed in the stools. If your child does not vomit, cough or complain of abdominal pain, simply sift the stools through a fine wire mesh for the next few days until the object appears. The commonest objects swallowed are coins and beads. Sometimes an X-ray may be taken to locate the object inside the gastrointestinal system.
If your child swallows a sharp, or poisonous object such as a battery or nails or pins, you should seek immediate medical attention. These objects can be life threatening. See also Essential first aid in Chapter 1 for Choking and poisoning.
When to see your doctor
Take your child to hospital immediately if he is choking, coughing, vomiting or having difficulty breathing, or if you are not sure what he has swallowed.
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Pyloric stenosis is a condition which can affect young babies during their first few weeks of life. It occurs more commonly in boys than in girls. The outlet of the stomach into the intestine (the pylorus) is normally surrounded by a sphincter of muscle which prevents food from moving backwards. In babies with pyloric stenosis there is a thickening of this muscle and this causes a blockage.
Cause
The exact cause of pyloric stenosis is not known but it is thought to be influenced by genetic factors.
Clinical features
The classic sign of pyloric stenosis is projectile vomiting, which is a very forceful throwing up of the contents of the stomach, and results from a build up of stomach contents which cannot pass on to the intestine. The baby may also fail to gain weight and may be constipated. The baby is usually restless and cries a lot. He may wish to feed immediately after vomiting because he is hungry. If not diagnosed early, the baby is at risk of becoming dehydrated. Occasionally a lump can be felt in the upper abdomen during feeding.
Investigations
A barium meal is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis, although this may be unnecessary if the doctor can feel the lump.
Treatment
If there is a strong suspicion that your baby has pyloric stenosis, he will be admitted to hospital immediately for surgery. An operation will be performed to release the blockage by splitting the overgrown muscle fibres of the pylorus. This operation usually has no complications and the baby can be taken home after a few days.
When to see your doctor
See your doctor immediately if your baby has the symptoms described.
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If the child passes a bowel movement into the potty, praise him profusely. However, it is then important not to give him the idea that he is expected to do this every time. Revert back to the low key suggestion that he sit on the potty, and don’t be distressed if, after initially delivering the goods, he then resists or doesn’t do it again for a long time. This is a crucial stage, for if the child suddenly becomes aware of just how much this miserable bowel action means to his parents, then he just may realise at the same time the sort of power he wields.
Once this process has taken place, at some stage the child will begin to use the potty regularly, initially for faeces and then soon after for urine, at which point the child is essentially toilet trained. However, parents must expect that it may not go so smoothly — there may well be stops and starts, as well as frequent accidents. Again, it is important to be relaxed and low key about these as well.
There are several other points that are worth emphasising:
1. Never punish your child for any ‘mistakes’ in toilet training, or to subsequent accidents, no matter how frustrating they are to you. This will only make matters worse, and will most likely delay the completion of successful toilet training. Praise and encouragement are always a much better strategy, not only for toilet training but in all interactions with children.
2. Let the completion of toilet training be the child’s accomplishment rather than yours. You can share his pride, but it is important to allow your child to determine the timing and the pace of his toilet training.
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Vitamins and their place in human nutrition are very poorly understood by most people.
Sold and swallowed in large quantities to give instant energy, restore potency or prevent colds, they represent an expensive, but also a probably useless fad.
The vitamins are organic chemicals present in small quantities in food, and are necessary for the normal nutrition of the body.
Vitamins are divided into two groups — the water-soluble vitamins (the  group and Vitamin C) and the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
The body requires a certain minimal amount of these chemicals daily for the proper maintenance of health. If the diet contains less than the required amount for long enough, then signs and symptoms of a deficiency state will occur.
However, taking an excess quantity of vitamins — above that necessary for health — provides no extra benefit. In fact, with some of the vitamins, such as A and D, definite disease states may occur from excessive intake.
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The heart is a pump and regular, sustained exercise makes the heart work harder and so improves its efficiency.
The heart rate slows and the stroke volume — the amount pumped with each beat — increases. The coronary arteries dilate and become permanently wider.
Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is associated with a laying down of the atheroma or fatty tissue along the inner walls of the artery. This — like rust in a pipe — narrows the artery and can obstruct the blood flow. Widened arteries can take a great deal more build-up of atheroma before the narrowing obstructs the blood flow.
The lungs become more efficient and develop a greater capacity. But exercise also has other effects on the body.
Those who exercise regularly appear to become addicted to it. Certainly it gives a good reason for stopping smoking. You can’t really become fit while you continue to smoke.
Some experts have come up with a reason why those who push themselves hard with physical exercise seem to enjoy it despite the pain of aching limbs and a panting chest.
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If the woman is not awake for several hours after the birth, she may be separated from her baby and miss the initial “bonding” or closeness to the baby.
Following a general anaesthetic and a caesarean section, the woman may be nauseated and the bowels may not start working for one or two days. The abdomen is full and bloated. It may be necessary for her to have intravenous feeding. Despite all this, it is still possible for her to breast feed.
If time allows, most surgeons use the “bikini” cut. This incision is transverse across the abdomen and low so that it is hidden in the pubic hair. Despite having had a caesarean section, a woman can still wear brief bathers without a scar showing. Under emergency situations, the doctor may have to work through the older incision from the navel down.
Caesarean births are increasing, and this is not just for the convenience or financial gain of the doctor. Because modern medicine has made this operation so safe, it can be used more frequently in the interests of the baby.
Because of the possibility that what is hoped to be a natural birth may run into complications, all pregnant women should discuss a caesarean with their doctors.
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Since time immemorial man has regarded honey and pollen as ambrosia—the food of the gods. Honey is mentioned in the Bible as a specially blessed food. In cave paintings from the Neolithic age (about 15,000 years ago) are illustrations of honey combs being gathered for food. Honey has been found in 3,000-year-old Egyptian pyramids. Pythagoras, a great Greek scientist (600 B.C.), recommended honey for health and long life. Throughout the ages honey has been regarded as a divine food with age-retarding and rejuvenating properties.
The miraculous powers of pollen were also recognized by man in the early ages. Ancient texts from Egypt, Persia and China refer to it. Greek philosophers claimed that pollen held the secret of eternal youth. Pollen was revered as nature’s own propagator of life. Raw, unstrained honey, with large proportions of pollen, was used by the original Olympic athletes for extra energy and vitality.
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In studying Misdiagnosis, we need first to learn the topography, that is, the divisions of the iris.
Nearly every iris researcher has tried to evolve something special for himself, with the result that varying perceptions and interpretations are current. With goodwill, all might be reconciled.
These differences are inevitable, for one investigator had no academic training, and presented his observations in the language that was familiar to him, while others had already studied medicine and made use of scientific qualifications. Some considered the colour changes more (Liljequist), while others were chiefly concerned with the location of signs (Peczely). It should also not be forgotten that many signs may appear according to the locality, and in consequence of nutritional and climatic influences.
This article will endeavour to present the best, the most useful, and generally considered most important information from all systems. What is the most important?
If one wishes to commence something it is usual to make a plan, either on paper or at least in the head. We shall also do so. For the purpose, the iris is divided radially and circularly.
Radial division: The pupil is surrounded by a circular formation—the iris. We will begin with the radial division of this circle.
The figure shows three possibilities—division of the iris into minutes, hours and degrees. The division into degrees 1-360 is too small for the purpose. The hourly division 1-12 is indeed familiar to everyone, but is rather crude for the precise location of iris signs, whereas the radial division into minutes 1-60 is suitable for all purposes. For those who wish to keep to the degree or hourly division it will suffice, but in this book, the 1-60 division will be followed.
Circular division: Now note the second most important aspect of iris topography, namely, the circular division. From the pupil to the outer border of the iris the area is divided by concentric rings. Each of these divisions is called a Zone.
In comparing the available literature in this respect we find considerable differences. Not only are many zones specified, but their names are very different. Peczely names three zones—a stomach, an intestine and an outer zone. He speaks, however, of regions. This division, with slight differences, is also given by Felke, Hense, Anderschou, Collins, Kronen-berger, Baumhauer and Maubach. Vannier, Wirz and Kritzer specify only two regions. Schnabel mentions three zones. However, he names as the first zone the one he calls the ‘Neurasthenic ring’, as the second the stomach, and as the third the intestinal zone. Frau Pastor Madaus, Frau Eva Flink and Struck divide the iris into three large zones or six small regions—or as we would now say—zones. Dr. Bernard Jensen of California also names six regions, not including the pupillary margin. Thiel is a particular exception, he has specified several narrow and wide rings in his system. In connection with this, there are also various interpretations.
In this article the division of the iris according to Frau Eva Flink will be adopted, using the designation Zone. Passing to the consideration of the iris structure, we note immediately around the pupil a fine dark-to-light brown border which is quite narrow, and which we designate: Pupillary margin. The real objective of observation is the ‘edge’ around the pupil. The alternative term—Neurasthenic ring—was coined by Rudolph Schnabel. Colour changes and organic lesions of this ring indicate disturbances of the central nervous system.
The iris itself is divided into three major, or six minor equal zones. On examination of the iris a particularly striking change in the course of the iris fibres is noticed. This interruption in the course of the fibres, which normally includes about one-third of the iris, is called the Iris-wreath. On close examination we find this first one-third division, i.e. the first major zone, normally subdivided, and including the first and second minor zones. This part of the iris is also known as the pupillary zone. If the iris-wreath is not visible, then one has to reckon with pathological disturbances.
The further division of the outer two-thirds of the iris, also called the ciliary zone, is less striking in terms of change in the iris fibres. However, this area is arbitrarily divided into two major, i.e. four minor equal zones. That it is important to examine the iris according to this division will be seen later from the study of the positions of the organ and disease signs.
This scheme of division was first introduced by Frau Pastor Madaus in her system. Frau Eva Flink and Colleague Struck also made use of the same schema. If we bear in mind the three major and six minor zones, as seen in a normal iris, there will be less likelihood of misinterpretation. The First Major Zone contains the organs of food preparation and resorption:
First minor zone—stomach.
Second minor zone—intestines.
The Second Major Zone contains the organs of transport and utilisation, with elimination through the kidneys:
Third minor zone—blood and lymph vessels.
Fourth minor zone—muscular system.
In this zone we also have the positions for the organs: heart, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas and gall-bladder.
The Third Major Zone contains the organs for body support and ultimate utilisation, including detoxication and elimination:
Fifth minor zone—skeletal system.
Sixth minor zone—skin.
Detoxication: liver and spleen. Elimination: through nose, mouth, urethra, anus and total skin.
Sectoral division: Besides the division into zones, it is necessary to define the exact position of individual organs. For this purpose, the iris is divided into sections by drawing lines from the outer border to the pupil. Frau Madaus writes in her article on this method:
The division of the iris into one-half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth, including the
‘change-over’ and insertions, establishes the mathematical structure and harmonic relations of Misdiagnosis in general. Each division shows a front and back or sideview of the body. Furthermore, it establishes as lying diametrically opposite each other, that which naturally belongs and functions together.
In these words, the so-called ‘change-over’ is explained.
If a diagram of the iris is divided into four equal quadrants by a vertical line drawn from top to bottom, and a horizontal line drawn from right to left, the body divisions belonging together will not be under one another, but opposite each other.
Thus, in the iris, the areas for face and neck lie in the upper nasal quadrant, chest and abdomen in the lower temporal quadrant. Occiput and clavicle lie in the upper temporal, and the back in the lower nasal quadrant. In other words: by ‘change-over’ one understands that the front view of the body lies in the upper half of the iris nasalwards, and in the lower half of the iris temporal wards. Correspondingly, the posterior body lies in the upper half of the iris temporalwards (laterally) and in the lower half of the iris nasalwards (medially).
The above will have clarified the concept of ‘change-over’, so let us pass on to consider the above-mentioned dividing lines and their interpretation.
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