Abstract
The author studied on the growth and the death of premature infants born in 1954-1956, in Ikuno-ku of Osaka city.
The results obtained are as follows;
1) The frequency of premature infants are 6.5%, and percentage of group of 2.0-2.5kg birth weight to total is 78%,1.5-2.0kg 18%, under 1.5kg 4%; by month of gestation,10months 72%, under 9 months 28%; and half of premature infants are under 2.0 kg birth weight.
2) The physiological loss of body weight after birth of premature infants is longer than that of mature infants.
3) Body length, body weight, chest circumference and head circumfeence of premature infants above 2.0 kg birth weight, get nearly at those of mature infants in 10 months old, but not those of premature infants under 2.0 kg birth weight.
4) The physical growth of premature infants of breast feeding is retared than the physical growth of those fed on artificial feeding or mixed feeding.
5) Infant mortality of premature infants is 68.6 per 1,000 live births, three times of that of mature infants.
