WEIGHT INCREASE AND INCREASE IN STATURE. 6j 



In this table let us first consider the figures relating 

 to the male child and to the man. On comparing the 

 proportion of the different systems in the new-born with 

 the adult, the following relations are worthy of remark : 

 the percentage of the skeleton, fat and skin, taken 

 together, is but slightly smaller in the new-born. The 

 percentage of the viscera in the new-born is nearly 

 twice, that of the central nervous system more than 

 eight times, that found in the adult, whereas the pro- 

 portional weight of the muscles shows only a trifle more 

 than one-half its adult value. The purely constructional 

 parts of the body, the skeleton, fat and skin, which are 

 also formed predominantly of connective tissue, have 

 therefore not varied their proportion during growth ; 

 while the nutritive and controlling system, that is, the 

 abdominal and thoracic viscera and the brain, have 

 undergone a relative diminution, having in a most 

 remarkable way been outgrown by the muscular system. 



On comparing the female child with the woman, 

 most of the preceding statements might be repeated. 

 On comparing the two sexes it is found that the in- 

 crease in the proportion of the muscles is less marked 

 in the woman than in the man, while the increase in the 

 fat is greater. Indeed in both the female child and the 

 woman the percentage of fat is high as compared with 

 the other sex. 



On considering the new-born child, we are impressed by 

 the fact that the great vegetative system represented by 

 the viscera of the trunk is in early life of proportionally 

 large bulk. Since with advancing age the constructive 

 processes become slower and finally cease, the duty of 

 maintenance being alone performed, it may be inferred 

 that the demands on this system made by the enlarging 

 muscles soon match its powers of performance. With 

 a slight change of terms, the relations of the central 



