Asphyxia Neonatorum.

I have presented the material in three sections, the first concerns the antenatal events leading to foetal anoxia, the second deals with the management of labour, and the third discusses methods of treatment which may be applicable in domiciliary midwifery. I have quoted fairly extensively from the National Perinatal Mortality Survey (1961) carried out in 1958 under the auspices of the National Birthday Trust Fund, and I think this is justified because if one excludes congenital abnormalities, the causes of asphyxia neonatorum and perinatal death are very similar, the differences being those of degree. The perinatal mortality is an index of obstetric performance which is in general use now, and comprises the total of stillbirths and deaths in the first week after delivery. The problem. In general terms the problem of the prevention of asphyxia neonatorum is an exercise in thinking in terms of foetal oxygenation. It is now known that there are many factors operating at all stages during pregnancy and delivery which may interfere with the transfer of oxygen via the placenta to the foetus, and it is necessary to consider these factors systematically at each examination of the patient. It is true that one will occasionally encounter a case of intrapartum or neonatal death from asphyxia in which there appears to A report on an Upjohn Travelling Scholarship.