New regulations governing newborn services in Massachusetts hospitals became effective on September 15, 1970. For many years, emphasis has been on the development of special nurseries for premature infants as part of the newborn services. More recently pediatricians have recognized that other newborn infants have problems that require special attention. The experience in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States has been that mortality can be reduced by the treatment of such infants in special-care nurseries.As new technics become available for the diagnosis and treatment of newborn infants who require special care, the Department's new regulations will stimulate improvement . . .