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were within the first 24 hours. A further six occurred within 48
hours of birth. Six more followed within the next fortnight and
one at one month
With all the excellent new equipment available at the hospitals
for the care of premature infants it is obvious that these
were incapable of survival.
(2) Congenital Malformations. Six deaths were primarily from
this cause and in three other cases this was a secondary cause.
The malformations included serious deformities of the brain,
nervous system, intestinal canal and respiratory system. Only
one case of pyloric stenosis, which died at one month, stood any
chance of survival
(3) Birth Injuries. The four deaths under this heading resulted
from the hazards, to the brain and its blood vessels, by birth.
Two were due to cerebral haemorrhage and two to cerebral damage
Two died one day after birth, one after two days and the fourth
by the fourth day
(4) Atelectasis. Of these two deaths one was at three hours
after birth and the other, at one day, was associated with an
aspirative pneumonia
(5) Broncho Pneumonia and other Diseases of the Respiratory
System Six deaths came under this heading, two of which were
associated with prematurity and lived for only one and 10 days
respectively Spastic quadrlplegia was a contributing factor in
a child who lived for one month The other three infants suffered
from serious lung conditions; two died from acute capilliary
bronchitis at three and four months respectively the third,
aged three months, died in hospital from acute tracheobronchitis.
Both cases of capilliary bronchitis occurred in the home. It is
possible that early removal to hospital of these cases might have
afforded some slighter chance of recovery but this condition, in
the young, is a very grave state and even hospital treatment may
not prove successful.
(6) Other Causes. The five deaths listed here were
(i) Haemolytic disease of the newborn (at six hours).
(ii) Toxaemia of Pregnancy with cerebral damage as a contributing
cause (at two days).
(iii) Intracerebral Tumour in a hydrocephalic child (at 11 months).