LIPID CONTENT AND COMPOSITION OF ANIMAL 555 



a'. Skinfold Measurements: Although the assessment of the thickness of 

 the skin and subcutaneous tissue has long been a standard procedure for 

 the grading of live turkeys, 168 it has not generally been applied for the de- 

 termination of the nutritive condition in other animals or in man. In the 

 case of the turkey, fatness is judged on the basis of skinfolds on the side of 

 the breast, and is rated from 1 (skin equaling or exceeding 0.18 in. in thick- 

 ness) to 9 (skin paper-thin, 0.03 in. in thickness) ; in the latter case the skin 

 appears devoid of fat. 



Keys and Brozek 166 cite the time-honored custom of assessing the nutri- 

 tional status of human subjects by pinching the skin between the thumb 

 and forefinger. This procedure lacks precision, and can be considered to be 

 at best only a very rough approximation. Meredith and Stuart 169 proposed 

 a quantitative procedure involving skinfold measurements below the 

 scapula and above the crest of the ilium. The results are assessed on a 

 scale of 1 to 5. Different standards are employed for the sexes, as well as 

 for each year from the ages of four to eighteen. 



Special calipers were employed by Franzen 170 for measuring the thickness 

 of skinfolds; systematic studies of the different types of calipers were 

 made by Sandler. 171 Although variations in results are entailed by the use 

 of different types of calipers, quite consistent data have been obtained in the 

 case of a single observer using a particular procedure, as reported by Tanner 

 and Weiner 172 and by Newman and White. 173 



For uniform results, it is necessary that the determination of skinfold fat 

 be measured at comparable sites. Several different sites were employed by 

 Franzen, 170 while Matiegka 174 tested seven specified locations. In choosing 

 the area for comparison in different subjects, it is essential that the fold 

 must be capable of being lifted, and accurately located in different sub- 

 jects. 175 According to Keys and- Brozek, 166 the minimum number of areas 

 include one on the upper arm (midway on the posterior line), below the 

 scapula, and above the iliac crest (in the mid-axillary line). Although 



168 S. J. Marsden and J. H. Martin, Turkey Management, 5th ed., Interstate, Danville, 

 111., 1949. 



169 H. V. Meredith and H. C. Stuart, Am. J. Public Health, 37, 1435-1438 (1947). 



170 R. Franzen, Physical Measures of Growth and Nutrition, School Health Research 

 Monogr. No. 2, Am. Child Health Assoc, New York, 1929, p. 108. 



171 B. Sandler, unpublished work; cited by A. Keys and J. Brozek, Physiol. Revs., 83, 

 245-325 (1953), p. 258. 



172 J. M. Tanner and J. S. Weiner, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 7 (n.s.), 145-186 (1949). 



173 R. W. Newman and R. M. White, personal communication, 1951 ; cited by A. Keys 

 and J. Brozek, Physiol. Revs., 33, 245-325 (1953), p. 261. 



174 J. Matiegka, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 4, 223-230 (1921). 



175 D. A. W. Edwards, Clin. Sci., 9, 259-270 (1950). 



