Experiences Gained in a Thirty Year Study of Prematurely Born Infants

IF I were to discuss with you the general subject of the premature infant, I would probably bring you little that is new since most of us have gained similar results through our experiences. However, our greatest contribution lies in the fact that we are presenting a long range life history of our smallest graduates in a broad review of the results to date, leaving a more detailed description of the individual infants for future publication. Much has been accomplished in our time in lowering mortality and morbidity among premature infants but it must be remembered that in these small infants, even with the best of nursing care and most modern equipment, the death rate cannot be cut beyond an irreducible minimum, largely because of their immature development at birth. I am sure it is obvious to all of us that, if we are going to reduce the number of premature deaths, our hope lies in the first week and especially in the first hours of life of these babies. In the general hospital this will require cooperation betwen the obstetrician, the pediatrician and the nursing supervisors of the two departments. Our Premature Infant Station was started in 1922 with a capacity of eight cribs, the objective being to provide care for premature infants born in homes or in hospitals not equipped with the necessities for their complete care. The activities of the station have been made possible through the financial assistance and endowment of the Infants Aid Society of Chicago.