IDIOPATHIC SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRING HYPOGLYCEMIA IN INFANTS<subtitle>Clinical Significance of Problem and Treatment</subtitle>

Abstract

IN KEEPING with tradition concerning the choice of subject for a presidential address, I originally prepared a semiphilosophical dissertation for this occasion. Now, I must apologize to you for the sin of "deviation," because I suddenly decided only a few days ago to scrap that laboriously composed oration and substitute a résumé of some observations that my associates and I have made during the past few years in dealing with the clinical problem of spontaneous hypoglycemia in infants. My seemingly impulsive decision to change to the latter title was the direct result of my seeing the seventh young child, among a series of cases recently examined in our clinic, who had suffered irreparable brain damage from severe hypoglycemia. Three of these were children who were victims of the misuse of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The remaining four were examples of severe spontaneous hypoglycemia in infants who were