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Litchfield, H. R.: Asphyxia Neonatorum—An Evaluation—Etiology and Treatment
fiR7
The Newborn G~ri,
R. M., and Bayona, E.: The Vaginal Contents of the Newborn: Obst. y ginec. latino-am. 2: 532, 1944.
The Genital Crisis,
The authors studied the secretion of the vagina in 200 newborn babies. The changes w-ere the same in full-term and premature babies. These are as follows: during the first 3 or 4 days, there is a preponderance of cells belonging to the upper layers of the mucosa, w:b.ereas in the second week of life, there is a gradual increase of cells from the deeper layers. Some leucocytes and Doderlein bacilli may be found on the third day of life, but they are short lived because two weeks later none can be seen. Babies who undergo genital crisis have red blood cells in the vaginal smears. In the opinion of the authors, the genital crisis is only an accentuation of a complicated process which all newborn girls undergo, and which should be called a birth crisis. J. P. GREENHILl,, Hnyworth, N. Sanford, and Sbmigelsky, Irene: Pediat. 26: 149, 1945.
Purulent Parotitis in the Newborn, J.
Purulent parotitis, according to the number of reported instances, has been considered a rare occurrence in the newborn. The authors report five infants with purulent parotitis during this period. A definite routine of treatment by administration of sulfathiazole and incision of the gland when fluctuation has occurred, resulted in the recovery of all fi\·e cases. JAMES P. MARR. Ho•ward, Philip J.: Paroxysmal Tachycardia in an Infant the Fourth Day of Life. Reoovery With Digitalis, J. Pediat. 26: 273, 1945. Paroxysmal tachycardia in the newborn is unusual, and differs from the disease in older children, mainly by its characteristic of persistence until cardiac failure and sometimes death follow, unless proper treatment is given. The author reports such a case, and ouUines the therapy. JAMES P. MARR. Litchfield, H. R.: Asphyxia Neonatorum-An Evaluation-Etiology and Treatment, .T. Pediat. 26: 279, 1945. It is now generally accepted that the respiratory function is under the control of a medullary center which is activated by the carbon dioxide of the blood. Thus, when the blood carbon dioxide reaches a critical concentration, the center is stimulated and res:piratory movements result with the inhalation of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon diox:ide. In asphyxia, due to the failure of the respiratory center to respond to the normal stirnulus o£ blood carbon dioxide, there is a progressive aeeumulation of this gas; with a cor.responding lowering of oxygen concentration. The longer the asphyxia lasts, the more serious it becomes, since the oxygen content of the blood may fall so low. As etiologieal factors, the author lists excessive sedatives during labor, the anesthesia ilur.[ng delivery, together with trauma from abnormal presentation or difficult operative proeedures. He discusses his objections to old and worthless procedures of resuscitation, such as ''slapping, swinging, and tubbing, also mouth to mouth breathing.'' The author mentions the little value of the Drinker respirator, inhalator, pulmotors, and resuscitators. His object is to recommend after delivery immediate removal by suction catheter of ~,n mucous plugs and fluid, injection into the umbilical vein of *o alpha-lobeline, and after respiration has begun, to follow up with pure oxygen supplied through a face mask. ThiEl is an extremely important article, and deserves to be read in full by all obstetricians. JAMES
P.
MARR.
The Newborn G~ri,
R. M., and Bayona, E.: The Vaginal Contents of the Newborn: Obst. y ginec. latino-am. 2: 532, 1944.
The Genital Crisis,
The authors studied the secretion of the vagina in 200 newborn babies. The changes w-ere the same in full-term and premature babies. These are as follows: during the first 3 or 4 days, there is a preponderance of cells belonging to the upper layers of the mucosa, w:b.ereas in the second week of life, there is a gradual increase of cells from the deeper layers. Some leucocytes and Doderlein bacilli may be found on the third day of life, but they are short lived because two weeks later none can be seen. Babies who undergo genital crisis have red blood cells in the vaginal smears. In the opinion of the authors, the genital crisis is only an accentuation of a complicated process which all newborn girls undergo, and which should be called a birth crisis. J. P. GREENHILl,, Hnyworth, N. Sanford, and Sbmigelsky, Irene: Pediat. 26: 149, 1945.
Purulent Parotitis in the Newborn, J.
Purulent parotitis, according to the number of reported instances, has been considered a rare occurrence in the newborn. The authors report five infants with purulent parotitis during this period. A definite routine of treatment by administration of sulfathiazole and incision of the gland when fluctuation has occurred, resulted in the recovery of all fi\·e cases. JAMES P. MARR. Ho•ward, Philip J.: Paroxysmal Tachycardia in an Infant the Fourth Day of Life. Reoovery With Digitalis, J. Pediat. 26: 273, 1945. Paroxysmal tachycardia in the newborn is unusual, and differs from the disease in older children, mainly by its characteristic of persistence until cardiac failure and sometimes death follow, unless proper treatment is given. The author reports such a case, and ouUines the therapy. JAMES P. MARR. Litchfield, H. R.: Asphyxia Neonatorum-An Evaluation-Etiology and Treatment, .T. Pediat. 26: 279, 1945. It is now generally accepted that the respiratory function is under the control of a medullary center which is activated by the carbon dioxide of the blood. Thus, when the blood carbon dioxide reaches a critical concentration, the center is stimulated and res:piratory movements result with the inhalation of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon diox:ide. In asphyxia, due to the failure of the respiratory center to respond to the normal stirnulus o£ blood carbon dioxide, there is a progressive aeeumulation of this gas; with a cor.responding lowering of oxygen concentration. The longer the asphyxia lasts, the more serious it becomes, since the oxygen content of the blood may fall so low. As etiologieal factors, the author lists excessive sedatives during labor, the anesthesia ilur.[ng delivery, together with trauma from abnormal presentation or difficult operative proeedures. He discusses his objections to old and worthless procedures of resuscitation, such as ''slapping, swinging, and tubbing, also mouth to mouth breathing.'' The author mentions the little value of the Drinker respirator, inhalator, pulmotors, and resuscitators. His object is to recommend after delivery immediate removal by suction catheter of ~,n mucous plugs and fluid, injection into the umbilical vein of *o alpha-lobeline, and after respiration has begun, to follow up with pure oxygen supplied through a face mask. ThiEl is an extremely important article, and deserves to be read in full by all obstetricians. JAMES
P.
MARR.