GROWTH AND NUTRITION 97 



It will be noted that the average weight of the pigs from 

 mothers receiving corn alone was lowest, that the weight of 

 those from mothers receiving the protein supplement was high- 

 est. 



The authors report that the vigor of the pigs was also 

 markedly affected. Both calcium and protein improved the ra- 

 tion in this respect, though apparently the protein was most 

 effective. It was also shown that the size of the bone (front and 

 hind shins) was increased, though in this regard the calcium 

 seemed most effective. 



IV. Prenatal Nutrition and Postnatal Growth 



It seems fairly certain then that the state of nutrition of the 

 mother during pregnancy may have considerable effect on the 

 weight or vigor of the newborn young. Exaggerated cases of 

 maternal nutrition may have a decidedly adverse effect. It is, 

 of course, obvious that apparently normal mothers not infre- 

 quently give birth to undersized and subnormal young. The 

 question arises then, what is the relation between the condition 

 and weight of the young at birth, to the subsequent rate of 

 growth. 



This question has been investigated by Camerer, 48 who 

 studied the records of 138 infants, divided into three groups 

 according to weight. The first weighed less than 2000 grams, 

 another between 2000 and 2750 grams, and the third over 2750 

 grams. The weights of these were studied over a short period of 

 time, and the percentage increment of weight was correlated 

 with the weight at birth. He found that the percentage incre- 

 ment was 427 in the first group, 219 in the second, and only 195 

 in the third and heaviest. 



It will be noted that the growth records for the infants just 

 described represented but a few days, so the question naturally 

 arises, What is the relation between birth weight and mature 

 size, and also between birth weight and rate of growth? It would 

 seem that data on this topic are not numerous, but Professor 



