20 



sequent year up to the 25th. The hearing and sight of children 

 should be tested at frequent intervals, for it not unfrequently 

 happens that children are blamed for carelessness and inattention 

 when they are really suffering from loss of sight or hearing, and 

 these defects, if detected, can often be remedied or their advance 

 arrested. The colour of the hair and eyes is liable to change during 

 childhood and youth, and should be recorded. The age at which 

 the hair becomes grey should be noted ; also that at which baldness 

 appears. "With regard to the strength of pull, he observes that, 

 though an interesting observation, it is not one of primary import- 

 ance ; indeed, it is one of some uncertainty, as shown by the great 

 range over which the recorded pulls extend, — ^the highest pull 

 recorded by the Anthropometric Committee having been 1501bs., 

 and the lowest 201bs. The pull most frequently observed was, for 

 an adult male 77^1bs., and for an adult female 401bs. It is difficult 

 to get the subject to exert all his strength, and to do it in the right 

 direction. 



In comparing weights, the weight of the clothing has, of 

 course, to be taken into consideration. In a careful examination 

 of the weights of boys at Christ's Hospital, made by Sir Rawson 

 Rawson, the weights were taken without coats, waistcoats, or shoes, 

 and the weight of the remaining clothes worn when weighed was 

 ascertained to be 2J pounds. If the weight of clothes should be 

 more than usual, — say, should exceed 71bs., — the circumstance 

 should be noted, in order to enable the necessary correction to be 

 made. The height, weight, and chest girth of these boys has been 

 recorded for a considerable time, and shows between the ages of 

 9 and 17 an average growth from 51 inches to 63 inches; an 

 increase in average weight from 591bs. to 1041bs., or 6^1bs. per 

 annum ; and in chest girth from 25i to 30^ inches. The relation 

 between the three measurements was very close, the weight and 

 chest girth increasing steadily with the height ; one boy of 5ft. 9in. 

 heading the whole of the list of 1936 with a weight of 1351bs. and 

 a chest girth of 33^ inches. 



The ratio of weight to height among people generally varies 

 from 2 to 2jlbs. to the inch of height. Among the lower averages 

 are letter-carriers and militiamen ; among the higher, the lire 



