$(1)$证明:∵$∠ACB = ∠ADB = 90°,$$M $是$ AB $的中点
∴$Rt∆ABC $中,$CM = \frac 12\ \mathrm {A}B,$$Rt∆ABD $中,$DM = \frac 12\ \mathrm {A}B$
∴$MC = MD$
又∵$N $是$ CD $的中点,∴$MN⊥CD$
$(2)$解:∵$AB = 50,$∴$MD = \frac 12×50 = 25$
∵$CD = 48,$∴$ND = \frac 12×48 = 24$
又∵$MN⊥CD$
∴$MN = \sqrt {MD^2-ND^2} = \sqrt {25^2-24^2} = 7$