(1) An underweight male newborn revealed a complex pattern of abnormal findings including severe neurologic dysfunction, a catlike cry, defective ossification of the calvarian bones, hypertelorism, downward slanting palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, a short and flat nose with a flattened bridge, broad thumbs, clenched fingers 3--5 on the right hand, simian creases, a congenital heart defect, internal hydrocephalus, and bilateral hydronephrosis.
(2) Clinical symptoms were catlike cry in early infancy, severe mental and motor retardation, failure to thrive, hypertelorism, antimongoloid slant of the eyes, ptosis of the eyelids, epicanthus, micrognathia, dermatoglyphics abnormalities, and partial syndactyly between 2nd and 3rd toes.
(3) The basic medical disorder includes dysmorphic facies, mental retardation, and a striking catlike cry in infancy.
(4) Clinically, this infant had a shrill catlike cry and facies of the cri du chat syndrome.
(5) I would try to steer clear of him, but, catlike, he would suddenly reappear, and disarm me with some Delmore Schwartz line about love or courage.