The statistical data on the malformation occurred in Italy from 1956 to 1958 have been examined. It has been seen that their number is almost constant (i. e. some 1,500 per year). The ratio of alive malformed to dead malformed is of 3:1, but the number of deaths by congenital malformations increases considerably during the first year of life, mostly due to inner organ malformations, non detectable at birth.

50% of the cases of harelip die during the first year of life. The most serious malformations are those concerning the central nervous system, while the most common ones, are those affecting the locomotive apparatus.

The number of malformations has not been influenced by the very insufficient diet during the four years of war, neither by the 1957 « asiatic influenza ». The malformation index, furthermore, appears almost constant in the time and in the various regions, showing the highest figure in Lucania and Friuli (3.05) and the lowest ones in Campania (0,89), Sicily and Liguria (1.21).