102 



Scientific Proceedings (126) 



50 (2010) 



The height-weight index of the newborn infant. 



By RICHARD E. SCAMMON. 



[From the Department of Anatomy, University of Minnesota, 

 Minneapolis, Minnesota.] 



The material used in this study consisted of the records of the 

 heights (or lengths) and weights of some 4,200 living newborn 

 children from a number of European clinics. The lengths were 

 all in centimeters, the weights in grams. The cases were grouped 

 according to their lengths in centimeter intervals, the group of 

 shortest infants including those from 47 to 48 cm. and the group 

 of longest cases including those from 56 to 57 cm. in length. 

 The males and females of each group were considered separately. 

 The average weight and the standard deviation, the probable 

 error and the coefficient of variability of the weight were de- 

 termined for each group. The ponderal or height-weight index 

 of the average weight for each group was also worked out ac- 

 cording to the formula : 



Weight 



P. L —A- x iooo. 



Heights ^ 



These indices were determined both on the pound-inch (avoirdu- 

 pois) and the centimeter-kilogram (metric) basis. The results 

 obtained are shown in part in the graph below and may be sum- 

 marized as follows : 



(1) With the increase in total body length in the latter part 

 of prenatal life the height-weight index drops slowly, there be- 

 ing a decline of 1.5-2.5 per cent, (avoirdupois index) or 0.4-0.8 

 per cent, (metric index) between the average for 47 cm. and that 

 for 50 cm. of total body length. In infants over 50 cm. in total 

 body length the index declines much more rapidly, falling from 

 an index of the average of 89.50 per cent, for males and 88.12 

 per cent, for females (avoirdupois) at 50 to 51 cm. to one of 

 79.91 per cent, for males and 80.08 per cent, for females at 56 

 to 57 cm. of body length. The drop in the metric index for the 

 same period is from 25.99 per cent, to 22.94 per cent, for the 

 males and from 25.60 per cent, to 23.24 per cent, for the females. 

 This agrees with Bardeen's findings 1 that longer newborn infants 



i Bardeen, C. R., PubL 272, Carnegie Inst, of Washington, 1919. 



