WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE DOES THE PREMATURE INFANT PREFER?

At first glance it may seem to be easy to find the most beneficial thermal environmental condition for the young premature infant. Whoever is of this opinion may be surprised to find an elaborate new article by Glass, Silverman, and Sinclair. appearing in this issue;1 it gives the impression that still more data are needed before a definite answer can be given to this question, particularly if age is included as a variable. Thus, a commentary on past achievements in this field as well as on the questions still open to discussion may not be out of place. A crucial point in the history of thermal premature care arose, in my opinion, with the introduction of the modern type of transparent incubator, in which the baby was placed unclothed.