A STUDY OF INFLATION OF THE LUNGS OF THE NEWBORN—A Preliminary Report

There seems to be no reasonable doubt that the lungs in a newborn expand progressively during the first few days of life. Some degree of atelectasis seems to be perfectly normal. This is indicated by a number of roentgenographic studies (including those here reported); by the reported findings of pathologists; by the fact that in experimental animals the lungs inflated very unevenly; and by the fact that aeration of only a portion of the lung is needed for complete oxygenation of the blood. The relation of atelectasis to neonatal death is not entirely clear and is probably not always the same. The infant may die from other causes before the lungs are fully expanded. Atelectasis may develop secondarily to other debilitating conditions. The frequent coincidence of prematurity and extensive atelectasis is impressive. It may be that the lungs are so incompletely formed that they cannot expand. On the other hand, atelectasis and massive collapse in the adult is a serious condition and there seems to be no good reason to suppose that this cannot also occur in infants and be serious per se.The air pressures found necessary to expand the lungs in rabbit fetuses were found to be about ten times what adult humans use in quiet respiration and were of about the same magnitude as the pressures found necessary to expand the lungs of stillborn humans. An attempt to produce atelectasis in newborn rabbits by chilling was most inconclusive. Atelectasis did develop in three of 15 animals used in the experiment, but the relation to chilling was not at all clear.     

THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE AGING — Public Health Aspects

In preliminary analysis of nutritional, physical and laboratory data obtained in a study of 577 persons 50 years of age and over in San Mateo County, a number of factors of possible significance were noted.Of the 577 persons examined, 243 were referred to private physicians for a total of 377 conditions requiring attention.Obesity and hypertension were the most common causes for referral. More women than men were overweight. Anemia was noted more often in women than in men. Serious anemia was of higher incidence in the higher age brackets. In a number of cases in which there was high glucose content in the blood there was no trace of sugar in the urine.Abnormally low content of ascorbic acid in the blood was of high incidence among persons of low income, of lesser incidence in the middle income group, and did not occur in persons in the high income group.     

DIVERTICULITIS OF THE COLON—Surgical Treatment

Appropriate surgical treatment of diverticulitis of the colon can result in a highly satisfactory proportion of permanent cures, with an operative mortality of 2 to 5 per cent.Colostomy is a valuable emergency procedure for the control of severe infection or the relief of obstruction but is not a satisfactory definitive treatment for the cure of diverticulitis. Definitive surgical treatment requires resection of the involved segment of colon.Three indications for surgical intervention in “uncomplicated” diverticulitis are: (1) continued or repeated attacks, (2) persistent deformity as seen by x-ray examination, and (3) persistent blood in the stools.Although a three-stage operation is usually considered a safer procedure, one-stage resections may be safely and satisfactorily employed in many instances.