Abstract
1) Statistical study was conducted on the deliveries, especially, on the incidence o premature infant, at the Kanazawa National Hospital, during the last four years.
2) Possible errors of measurements, which may occur in the clinical measurement was also examined.
3) The premature babies (2, 500g to 1, 501g of body weight at birth), except highly premature (under 1, 500g of body weight), were divided according to the weight by each step of 100g into 10 groups, and the averages in each group were sought for body weight, crown-heel length, thorax circumference and head circumference. Generally each measurement value was in proportion to other ones.
4) Indices which may indicate degree of prematurity were sought from the relationship between body weight and other measurement values.
These indices showed, generally, increase from the standard value in accordance with the advance of prematurity.
The indices of this kind may be used as one of the objective standard for the judgement and grouping of premature infant. They indicate degree of disproportion of body of premature infant.
