A.—4a

she thinks of." The best that could be done was to ask the month of the baby's birth and then calculate its age. Even this information was not too reliable, and was checked by the weight. Average Weights. After more than two years'-work in the district there are on record from 275 to 357 weighings in each age class. In compiling the statistics babies brought to the clinic at birth or immediately thereafter were separated from those brought later in life. Definite age information was available in the case of a new-born infant, and by tracing the baby's record it was possible to obtain weights at definite and trustworthy ages. 274 babies were weighed at birth or during the first week ; IQ9 of these were carried through to the end of the second year. Since the work began the number of weighings in each, age class ranges from 109 to 274. While larger numbers are more desirable for arriving at averages, it was thought that an average based upon the known weights and ages might serve to check statistics of children of all ages brought to the clinics. In Tables A and B appended to this report are found the records of the babies brought to the clinics at birth or during the first week, and the weights of all other infants whose ages were more or less uncertain. Each of the tables was used to work out the average weights at certain ages. Table B cheeked with A proved to be reasonably accurate and reliable for statistical purposes. Combining the two tables there were available from 274 to 357 babies in each age class for arriving at the average weight. Summaries of the two tables, separate and combined, follow :—

SUMMARY. Table A. —Babies weighed since Child-welfare Work began in Western Samoa.

Table B. —Babies brought to Clinic at Age of Three Months or More.

Tables A and B combined.

A comparison of average weights in Western Samoa with those in the United States and New Zealand, the only countries for which statistics are at hand, show certain interesting differences. Babies of Western Samoa are slightly heavier at birth, and continue so during the first six months. At nine months of age the European babies have caught up with the Samoan babies. At twelve months the Samoan baby is from 1 lb. to 3 lb. under weight, and at two years it is 3 lb. to 4 lb. under the average in the United States.

4—A. 4a.

19

Age. | Number weighed. Total Weights. Average Weight. lb. oz. lb. oz. One week .. .. .. .. .. | 274 2,100 0 7 10-6 One month.. .. .. I 274 2,506 2 9 2-4 Two months' .. .. .. .. 270 2,959 10 10 15-3 Three months .. .. .. ! 252 3,347 5 13 4-5 Six months.. ., .. .. .. 210 3,612 6 17 3-2 Nine months .. .. .. .. j 176 3,305 4 18 12-4 Twelvemonths .. .. .. .. 14-3 2,799 10 19 9-0 Eighteen months .. .. .. .. ; 114 2,393 14 20 15-9 Twenty-four months .. .. .. 109 2,508 7 23 0-2 I

I *T Age. Number weighed. | Total Weights. Average Weight. _ ! lb. oz. lb. oz. Three months .. .. .. .. 85 1,149 2 13 8-3 Six months .. .. .. .. 149 2,541 12 17 0-9 Nine months ... .. .. .. 166 3,151 11 18 5-8 Twelvemonths . .. .. . .. 242 4,763 2 19 10-9 Eighteen months .. .. .. 204 4,324 10 21 3-1 Twenty-four months .. .. .. 248 5,86.1 15 23 10-2

Age. Number weighed. I Total Weights, j Average* Weight. lb. oz. lb. oz. One week .. .. .. .. .. j 274 2,100 0 7 10-6 One month.. .. .. .. .. 274 2,506 2 9 2-4 Two months .. .. .. .. 270 2,959 10 10 15-3 Three months .. .. .. .. 337 4,496 7 13 5-5 Six months.. .. .. .. .. 359 6,154 2 17 2-2 Nine months .. .. .. .. 342 6,456 15 18 14-0 Twelvemonths .. .. .. .. 385 7,562 12 19 10-3 Eighteen months .. .. .. .. 318 6,718 8 21 2-0 Twenty-four months .. .. .. 357 8,370 6 23 7-1