Height and Strength of above 800 Individuals, 199 



I was careful to obtain a fair average of persons of all degrees 

 of height and strength, in which respect the Scotch average is 

 more unexceptionable than the others. There is always a ten- 

 dency in such cases to get too high a development, because 

 diminutive persons are the least likely voluntarily to come for- 

 ward. An example of this is found in the mean height ob- 

 tained by M. Quetelet, from a register of 80 individuals at 

 Cambridge between the ages of 18 and 23, giving a mean of 

 69*6 inches instead 68'7 as my experiments indicate. 



The numerical results derived from the graphical process 

 before described are given at the close of the paper, and seem 

 to warrant the following conclusions : 



1. That in respect of weight, height, and strength there is 

 a general coincidence in the form of the curves with those of 

 M. Quetelet. 



2. The British curves seem to have more curvature for the 

 earlier years (14« to 17)j or the progress to maturity is then 

 more rapid, and somewhat slower afterwards. If we may de- 

 pend upon the English curves, this is more strikingly the case 

 in natives of that country than of Scodand, at least in point of 

 weight and strength. 



3. The tables incontestibly prove the superior development 

 of natives of this country over the Belgians. The difference 

 is greatest in strength (one fifth of the whole) and least in 

 weight. 



4. In comparing natives of England, Scotland, and Ireland 

 more doubt arises, owing to the difference in the number of 

 experiments; those for Ireland are confessedly most im- 

 perfect. Yet I conceive that the coincident results in the 

 three tables entitle us to conclude that the Irish are more de- 

 veloped than the Scotch at a given age, and the English less. 

 Some qualification is, however, due, in consequence of the re- 

 mark (2.); for in the earlier years (14 — 17) it would even ap- 

 pear that the English so far get the start of the Scotch, as not 

 onl}' relatively but also absolutely to surpass them (in strength 

 and weight) ; but between 17 and 19 they lose this advantage. 

 I am disposed to think that this appearance of a result is not 

 accidental. 



5. The maximum height seems scarcely to be attained even 

 at the age of 25. This agrees with M. Quetelet's observations. 

 Both strength and weight are rapidly increasing at that age. 



6. In the given period of life (14 — 26) all the developments 

 continue to increase; and all move slowly from the com- 

 mencement to the end of that period. Hence the curves are 

 convex upwards. [This is not the case below the age of 14, 

 for weight and strength. Quetelet. J 



