DELAYED ONSET OF "THREE MONTHS'" COLIC IN PREMATURE INFANTS

SO-CALLED three months' colic,which is manifested by severe, prolonged, paroxysmal crying in infants during the early weeks after birth, is a well recognized problem among practicing physicians. Despite many advances in methods of infant care little has been accomplished toward providing an adequate explanation of the cause of this condition nor has its prevention or treatment been worked out.

It is well recognized that this type of behavior is seldom manifest in nurseries for newborn infants, although some infants seem to give indications of a tendency to colic by their excessive irritability and their unusually large food requirement. These indications are seldom enough to warrant the prognosis of excessive crying after dismissal from the nursery. It has been noted that full term infants frequently begin to cry in increasing amounts a few days after going home from the nursery for newborn infants. In the experience of my colleagues and me,