THE SMALLEST BABY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 April 1927, Page 9

THE SMALLEST BABY.

CLAIM FROM -OAMARU. CHILD OF lib Soz. (by telegraph—press association.; OAMARU, April 12. The smallest baby horn to live is bring claimed by several localities, but so far none of •‘those published approach to within ounces of a baby girl born at the Oaramu Private Hospital 17 years ago.

The child weighed lib Soz., and has grown up to he heavier and taller than most girls of her age. A.s the- little one- was weighed it was photographed by the local medical man. If any honours are attached to the prize for midgets, Oamaru -stands out in assured expectancy of winning the feather-weight championship.

In connection with the above, the following, which we acknowledge to the “New Zealand Herald” is of interest: It was a premature assertion in the recent cable message that an infant born at Battersea, London, which at birth weighed 21b 2oz and was 15in long, was “the smallest baby in the world.” While not broadcasted, it was long ago disclosed in the tabulations that are part- of the Dominion’s -system of Karitane hospitals that New Zealand has twice beaten the Battersea record. A baby in. Christchurch is said to have weighed 31b 12\oz at birth, but details of this case are meagre. There is, however., substantial proof that a two-year-old Dunedin child, Mavis McCurdy. weighed but lib 13)oz at birth, and that its development to normal health, was entirely due to Karitane treatment.

Auckland is the native city of air infant whose weight at birth nine- months ago was 2oz less than tlie Rattonsea record. This was Doreen, the child of Mr and Mrs D. Johnson, of Beckenham Avenue, Mount Ro-skill. Her* length was not measured at birth, hut after dropping in weight to 11b 15)oz in two weeks, she was at the end of the first month 21b 7- t -oz in weight, and 14)in long.

Tlie matron of an Auckhmcl hospital says it is fairly common for babies to be born weighing 31b. which is 41b below the normal weight. They have a good clin.nce of survival if tlieir weight is not lielow 3lb.