本书由美国加州大学医学院H.William Taeusch教授和宾夕法尼亚大学医学院Roberta A.Ballard教授主编，有85位教授参与编写。本书被认为是最系统、最权威的关于新生儿疾病方面诊断治疗的参考书。新版吸收了最新进展，延续了注重临床、对疾病都附有简要诊断及有效治疗学评述的优点，增加了神经肌肉、心血管、遗传以及呼吸系统疾病的内容，并添补了母婴医学及宫内胎儿外科手术等相关内容。全书有700余幅插图。

PART Ⅰ INTRODUCTION

PART Ⅱ MAJOR INFLUENCES ON FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

PART Ⅲ MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE

PART Ⅳ GENETICS AND METABOLISM

PART Ⅴ NEWBORN STABILIZATION AND INITIAL EVALUATION

PART Ⅵ NEWBORN：GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CARE

PART Ⅶ INFECTIONS AND IMMUNOLOGIC DEFENSE MECHANSMS

PART Ⅷ RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

PART Ⅸ CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

PART Ⅹ NEUROLOGIC SYSTEM

PART Ⅺ GASTROINTESTINAL AN NUTRITIONAL CONDITIONS

PART Ⅻ BILIRUBIN

PART Ⅰ INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 History and Epidemiology

Mary Ellen Avery and Douglas Richardson

EARLY HISTORY OF CARE OF INFANTS

In the late nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century, deaths from infectious diseases in the first years of life were so common that it is not surprising to find so few students of premature birth and so few articles concerning the special needs of low-birth-weight infants. These small infants were not expected to live. In fact, in the 1940s, some authorities thought of birth weights under 3 pounds as incompatible with life, although rare exceptions have always been noted, as in the case of the Dionne quintuplets, each of whom weighed under 3 pounds. Dafoe, who delivered them on May 28, 1934, wrote,"There were no scales small enough to measure accurately the separate weights of the babies, but on May 29 [second day] their combined weight was 13 pounds 6 ounces." They were born about 2 months early. Marie, the smallest, weighed 1 1/2 pounds. Yvonne, the largest, weighed nearly 3 pounds.(Accurate scales arrived on the 6th day.)