Apgar et al., 1958:
Scoring at one minute was done because this represented the time of
most severe depression:
"In the Sloane Hospital the cord has been cut by this time,
and the infant is in the hands of an individual other than the
obstetrician. . .
In many hospitals, such is not the case. Those obstetricians
who practice slow delivery and delayed clamping of the cord
until pulsations of the umbilical artery cease still have the
infant in the sterile field.
However, if the obstetrician is reminded of the passage of
time by another observer, he may assign a score even
though the cord is still attached."
Apgar et al. (1958) JAMA 168:1985.
Note the importance
given to the "sterile field."
Note that "slow delivery"
was still widely practiced.