Mancliesier Memoirs, Vol. hi. (1912), No. 5. 



V. Observations upon the Improvement of thef 

 Physique of Manchester Grammar School 

 Boys during the last 30 years. 



By Alkrk]) a. Mum FORI), M.D. 



( Rfccived and read NoTciitber i^th, igir.) 



The importance of taking periodical physical measure- 

 ments of school children consists in the fact that they can 

 be used to give an index of growth, not only of a group, 

 but also of individual members of the group. They are 

 necessary if we arc to examine the forces which act on 

 health during school days. 



Taken together with other details of school advance, 

 they serve as useful records in studying the individual. 

 In a healthy body, growth of all the tissues : — muscles, 

 bone, brain, takes place corncidently, though not neces- 

 sarily in equal [proportions. 



The actual fact under consideration is that the boys 

 at the Manchester Grammar School to-day, in growth of 

 bodily framework, are 6 to 9 months ahead of their 

 predecessors thirty years ago. I should like to make a 

 few general observations on facts which influence bodih'^ 

 growth. 



There is a natural variation of total groivth due to 

 difference of tfinate pozuers of different individuals. And 

 there is also great variation between the powers of the 

 separate tissues of the same individual, so that at first it 



February 26th, igi2. 



