CHAPTER IV. 



ON THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF VARIOUS PHYSICAL AND 

 PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS. 



Our knowledge, in quantitative terms, of the degree of interrela- 

 tionship of the various physical characteristics of man is now very 

 extensive indeed. Relatively little is known of the closeness of inter- 

 dependence of physical magnitudes and physiological activities in 

 series of individuals; yet it seems clear that this subject should 

 receive careful quantitative treatment. Again, it seems to us self- 

 evident that the determination of true quantitative measures of the 

 degree of interdependence of the various physiological activities should 

 make possible material advances in our knowledge of these functions. 



This position will be justified whatever the outcome of actual 

 investigations. If it be shown that various physiological measurements 

 are correlated with physical characteristics, such relationships must 

 form part and parcel of our system of knowledge concerning human 

 morphology and physiology. If, on the other hand, it be found that 

 between certain of the physical and physiological measurements there 

 is no sensible relationship, it will be clear that the physical character- 

 istics need not be considered in the selection of individuals which 

 may be regarded as comparable for use in studies of such physio- 

 logical activities as have been shown to be uncorrelated with physical 

 characteristics. 



Again, if various physiological activities be shown to be correlated, 

 a knowledge of the intimacy of the interdependence of a great variety 

 of physiological functions will contribute materially to our compre- 

 hension of the human body as a coordinated whole. Since our general 

 experience of comparative and experimental physiology is such as to 

 render it rather difficult to conceive of an entire lack of interdependence 

 between the great majority of the physiological activities of the organ- 

 ism, those which show minimum intensities of relationships will be of 

 particular interest. 



In this chapter we shall discuss the correlation between the two 

 physical characteristics available, stature and body-weight and various 

 physiological measurements pertinent to metabolism investigations. 

 Another physical characteristic is body-surface area, but since this is 

 to receive special attention in a subsequent chapter, it will be left out 

 of account here. 



We shall, first of all, deal with the relationship between stature and 

 weight on one hand and pulse-rate on the other. We shall then con- 



71 



