The umbilicus was completely obliterated.

Dade believed that this hernia was caused by the weakening of the abdominal walls from a blow, and considered that the protrusion came from an aperture near the umbilicus and not through it, in this manner differing from congenital umbilical hernia.
A peculiar form of hernia is spontaneous rupture of the abdominal walls, which, however, is very rare.

There is an account of such a case in a woman of seventy-two living in Pittsburg, who, after a spasmodic cough, had a spontaneous rupture of the parietes.

The rent was four inches in length and extended along the linea alba, and through it protruded a mass of omentum about the size of a child's head.

It was successfully treated and the woman recovered.