Surgery On Day-old Baby

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 2

Surgery On Day-old Baby

(N.Z. Preu Association) NAPIER, November 13. A four-day battle to keep alive a baby girl born with peritonitis has been successful at Napier Hospital. She is Anita Mary McCormick, daughter of Mr and Mrs Peter McCormick, of Te Awa avenue, Napier. This is their first child. The medical superinten-

dent (Dr. J. R. Grimoldby) said today the case was the first he had known. Hospital staff and relatives of the baby girl today were full of praise for the doctor who performed an operation when the baby was less than 24 hours old. The baby was born at the McHardy Maternity Home, Napier, at 6.15 p.m. on Friday. Doctors noticed a swelling in the stomach and the 7 lb 4oz girl was transferred to an incubator at Napier Hospital. Christened on the Saturday, the baby was X-rayed twice, but because of her size the cause of the swelling was not discovered. At 6 pan. on Saturday a doctor decided to operate. Dr. Grimoldby said today the operation was difficult because of the size of the

child. “More difficult was the diagnosis,” he said. “Something always causes peritonitis, and the cause is still not known in this case.” The baby’s condition deteriorated on Sunday but by Monday she had picked up again. She is now doing well.