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the incidence of dangerous abnormalities in the few, has still to
be proved. The present Maternity and Child Welfare services
are now to be spht on this unproved assumption.
Holland, E. (1935), Medical Officer, April 13th (145).
Menzies, H. (1945), Medical Officer, July 21 st (21).
Nixon, W. C. W. (1948), Health Educational Journal, April (71).
Thomas, R. C. (1946), Lancet, January 19th (101).
THE CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS.
My Annual Report for the year 1945 contained details regarding
arrangements for the special care of premature infants, along with
an analysis of cases which occurred during that year.
As the information was not included in my last Annual Report,
I submit hereunder in tabular form the necessary information
regarding premature births during the years 1946 and 1947. It
will be seen that, of 4,554 births during these two years, 258 were
premature (i.e., 5.66 per cent.). Of these 258 premature children,
150 were born in hospitals and 108 at home.
There are still no special facilities in local hospitals for the
nursing of small premature babies born at home.